Chapter 8#

Chapter 8 Change (2)

Leaving Zhengde Garden, half of the afternoon had already passed. Gu Chenzhou drove towards the Xicheng Cemetery.

Since Shen Rou passed away more than ten years ago, every one or two months, Gu Chenzhou would go to the cemetery where his mother was buried to pay his respects. When he was young, it was because of fear and nostalgia. When he grew up, although he no longer felt fear about the future, he had developed a habit. Every time around this time, he would come over, sit for a while, talk, and feel calm from the bottom of his heart.

In three years, this strictly managed private cemetery had not changed much. Gu Chenzhou walked up the steps. When he arrived at the location of the tombstone, he found that someone had arrived one step ahead of him.

It was a twenty-year-old young man with hair dyed golden yellow and pierced ears. His clothes were loose and printed with a big skull, which did not match the huge bouquet of lilies in his arms. At this moment, he was bowing his head and saying something to the tombstone. He bowed a few times before placing the lilies in his arms in front of the tombstone.

Gu Chenzhou approached the tombstone. Private cemeteries would not let people in casually. From the first glance, he recognized the other party: the seventh young master of the Shen family, Shen Hui, one of his twelve cousins.

The person paying respects also sensed someone approaching. He turned his head casually, and after seeing clearly who it was, his expression immediately turned into surprise: “Cousin? Why are you here? When did you come back from abroad?”

This was saying that it was all a coincidence.

Gu Chenzhou smiled: “Came to pay respects.” He stood empty-handed. In comparison, Shen Hui seemed more sincere.

Shen Hui immediately knew that what he said was wrong: his mother was here, so it was only natural for him to come over. But why was he here himself? He immediately smiled and said: “What a coincidence. My parents were supposed to come today, but they were called away temporarily, so they let me come alone to pay respects first. I didn’t expect to meet Cousin Chenzhou. If they knew earlier, my parents would definitely have pushed those things aside. They haven’t seen Cousin for a long time. Grandpa too, every time everyone sits together for a meal, Grandpa talks about you.”

“I have already told Grandpa about my return, and I will go over in the next two days.” Gu Chenzhou said.

“That’s good, now everyone will be present for the meal.” Shen Hui said, his gaze turning to the small photo on the tombstone, “If Auntie were also here, Grandpa would be so happy. Grandpa only had Auntie as a daughter. Although Auntie’s health was not very good back then, it wasn’t any acute disease. How could she suddenly…” At this point, he noticed that Gu Chenzhou’s expression was indifferent, so he stopped abruptly and said, “Cousin, since you are here, I will go back first.”

“Say hello to Uncle and Aunt for me.” Gu Chenzhou said.

“I will, they will be very happy to know you are back!” Shen Hui finished speaking, bowed to the tombstone again, and then turned to leave.

Gu Chenzhou waited until Shen Hui’s figure disappeared from sight before sitting down on the ground. He placed his hand on the stone tombstone. The stone, warmed by the sun, carried heat and slightly burned his palm.

“Mom, I’m back.”

“Grandpa is fine, and Grandpa Shen is also fine. Grandma looks a bit older. Minister Gu… Dad’s health and career are both good.”

“Don’t worry about me angering him. No matter what, he always has a well-behaved good son.”

“I am also fine. I learned a lot abroad, and I won’t go out again this time.”

“There are some things I don’t quite understand…” His fingertips rubbed the stone tablet. The carefully polished stone was smooth, with no flaws except for some edges. He stood up and gazed at the tombstone:

“I will figure it out.”

“I will remember that I am a descendant of the Gu family.”

Walking out of the cemetery, the setting sun just dyed the asphalt road red. Gu Chenzhou was just about to walk to his car when an off-road vehicle honked at him twice.

Gu Chenzhou looked in the direction of the sound: “Why did you come over?”

“Shouldering an important task,” Wei Xiangjin said, “According to the old chief’s instructions, welcome Young Master Gu to my house for dinner.”

Gu Chenzhou couldn’t help laughing: “It should be so, I should visit Grandpa Wei.”

“Not only my grandpa, my grandma is also thinking of you.” Wei Xiangjin said. The two families lived next door, and the two grew up together. Both families treated the other child as their own grandson, “Now that you are back, I estimate that you won’t be free for at least one or two months. Just visiting the elders will take ten days.”

Gu Chenzhou smiled casually, got into Wei Xiangjin’s car and said: “I’ll take your car back, I’ll find someone to drive mine back later.”

Wei Xiangjin was a little strange, but didn’t think much about it. He just thought Gu Chenzhou was too lazy to drive. He started the car and said: “I just saw your cousin coming out. It’s the seventh one, called Shen Hui, right?”

“En.”

“One a month for twelve months, I can name all those cousins of yours,” Wei Xiangjin turned the steering wheel and teased, “Why don’t you just express your attitude? It’s not easy for them to rack their brains to meet you by chance like this.”

“Grandpa has already planned it.” Gu Chenzhou never expressed his opinion on such matters, and then changed the subject, “Haven’t been back for three years, how is the West Ring Road?”

“Want to race cars?” Wei Xiangjin thought for a while, “Nothing has changed. It’s just that the ever-victorious general has changed from you to He Hailou. He is like you, the kind who dares to speed up. If you want to play, we can go together later.”

Still not interested in drag racing as before. Gu Chenzhou pressed his neck, which was stiff from leaning against the seat, and didn’t answer Wei Xiangjin, but asked: “Having driven an off-road vehicle for so long, don’t you plan to change to a more comfortable one?”

Wei Xiangjin, who was driving, immediately raised his eyebrows: “What car is more comfortable to drive than an off-road vehicle?”

No plan to change cars. Gu Chenzhou’s fingers tapped lightly on the armrest. Others didn’t know, but he knew clearly that Wei Xiangjin’s car was modified, with thickened steel plates, bulletproof glass, and safety measures were very well done. Moreover, the safety of off-road vehicles themselves was much higher than ordinary vehicles… Plus Wei Xiangjin’s habit of never drag racing unless necessary, what kind of car accident could make him die on the spot?

A dream, even if it lasted for a month, Gu Chenzhou could only remember some very impressive major events. This was the result of him deliberately recalling and recording after listening to the suggestions of some experts in this field later. In the first few days, he even just repeated the process of being awakened constantly but remembering nothing. But even if he deliberately memorized it later, he still had no impression of some details, or the process that constituted the result of the event: for example, the He family’s rise to power - why did the He family rise to power? Wei Xiangjin’s car accident - when and how did Wei Xiangjin have the car accident?

Or maybe these processes never appeared in his dream…

The ringtone of the mobile phone interrupted Gu Chenzhou’s thinking. He glanced at the number on the screen and picked it up: “Zhengjia?”

“It’s Big Brother…” Gu Zhengjia, who took the initiative to call, sounded less natural than Gu Chenzhou. He said, “Big Brother, where are you now?”

“Heading to Tianrui Garden.” Gu Chenzhou said, “What’s the matter?”

“Um, it’s like this. Dad has a temporary dinner tonight and won’t come back to eat. Mom… Auntie received the news after frying the dishes, and now she has to go to the dinner with Dad. There is quite a lot of food at home, just… asking if Big Brother wants to come back and eat together.”

Gu Chenzhou was about to say: “I’m going to Old Master Wei’s house tonight—”

“Go back,” Wei Xiangjin, who heard the phone call from the side, suddenly interrupted, “I’ll tell Grandpa, he guarantees to be happier than you going to eat at home.”

The relationship between the two families was indeed good. If it were another old man, Gu Chenzhou would never do this. Only Old Master Wei, who watched him grow up, Gu Chenzhou knew that the other party really hoped he was well, just like his own grandfather. He was no longer polite and said to the phone: “I’ll be there soon.”

Through the phone, Gu Zhengjia’s exhalation could be heard. His voice sounded a little more relaxed: “Then I’ll wait for you, Big Brother.”

Here Gu Chenzhou made a decision, and there Wei Xiangjin also picked up the phone and called home to explain to Old Master Wei. After a while, his expression became a bit strange: “Oh, oh, I know, Grandpa… I understand, I will definitely pay attention… Okay, goodbye Grandpa.”

“What?” Gu Chenzhou asked.

“You have to call back again to ask your brother if there is food for me. The old man instructed me to follow along, and then report to him about your getting along.”

“You are not a qualified spy.” Gu Chenzhou couldn’t help saying.

“What spy, obviously I’m undercover for you!” Wei Xiangjin retorted, “First-hand news, 100% accuracy, you should be secretly laughing.”

Gu Chenzhou really laughed: “No need to call, there must be a share for you.”

“Hmm?”

“Didn’t the phone call just say that they only knew they were going out after cooking?” Gu Chenzhou said.

Wei Xiangjin thought about it, wasn’t that right? Even if it was just to create an opportunity for Gu Chenzhou and Gu Zhengjia to get along, since they said so, with three people in the Gu family, the meal had to be made for three people, otherwise it would seem fake.

Back at Tianrui Garden, it was just dinner time.

Gu Zhengjia was randomly pressing the remote control to change channels in the living room alone. Seeing Gu Chenzhou and Wei Xiangjin come in, he called out in surprise: “Big Brother, Third Brother Wei.”

Wei Xiangjin patted Gu Zhengjia on the shoulder as he walked up: “No food tonight, came to mooch a meal.”

Gu Zhengjia was stunned for a moment, and a few seconds later felt that this was better, and couldn’t help showing a smile: “That’s good, Third Brother Wei rarely comes to eat at home!”

Wei Xiangjin didn’t react much to this. Gu Chenzhou remembered that because of his relationship with his family, Wei Xiangjin rarely visited here, and occasionally had to detour when meeting Minister Gu outside.

Dinner was ready long ago and was already on the table.

Four dishes and one soup, two meat and two vegetable dishes. The soup was abalone steamed chicken soup, which tasted very delicious. It could be seen that effort was put into it, but it didn’t seem exaggerated. Because Wei Xiangjin was at the table, the meal between the two brothers who didn’t have much affection was not dull. After the meal, Gu Zhengjia took the initiative to roll up his sleeves and clear the table, while Gu Chenzhou took Wei Xiangjin upstairs to his room.

“Haven’t been to your house for a long time.” Wei Xiangjin leaned against the wall waiting for Gu Chenzhou to open the door, and said casually.

“Me too.” Gu Chenzhou replied, found the key and unlocked it. As soon as he pushed open the door, he saw that the furniture in the bedroom was carefully covered with cloth covers, and a thick layer of dust had fallen on them and the floor.

Wei Xiangjin looked at the half-inch thick dust on the ground: “…So no one has entered your room for three years.”

Gu Chenzhou was not surprised at all. He first went to open the window for ventilation, then lifted the cloth covers on the desk, cabinet and other furniture, and didn’t forget to say to Wei Xiangjin: “Find a place to sit casually.”

Wei Xiangjin decided to stand to digest food.

Gu Chenzhou didn’t care much. He first opened his desk drawer and took out a few boxes, then went to the safe against the wall and entered the electronic password to unlock it.

Wei Xiangjin, who had nothing to do, walked to the desk and fiddled with the box Gu Chenzhou had just taken out and thrown on the table: “What is this?”

“You open it.” Gu Chenzhou said without looking back.

Wei Xiangjin opened it as told and found a lock on the box, but the quality of this lock was obviously not good. He didn’t use much force, and it broke with a gentle pull.

What does this mean? After studying the lock that was obviously fragile due to human factors, Wei Xiangjin muttered in his heart. Then he glanced into the opened box and was immediately shocked by the colorful contents inside: “You leave these things like this, aren’t you afraid of thieves?”

At this time, Gu Chenzhou also opened the safe. He took out the things inside, pulled out a chair and sat down: “Didn’t get stolen, did it? What thieves can come here?”

This sentence has a lot of meaning. Wei Xiangjin pondered.

Gu Chenzhou had already picked up the other boxes, looked at the lock direction slightly, and broke them open directly.

In an instant, boxes of jewelry appeared under the incandescent lamp, from gem brooches to platinum necklaces, from pearl earrings to diamond rings, everything was there, all shining with unique brilliance under the bright light.

Seeing one box was shocking, seeing more boxes made him numb. Wei Xiangjin noticed the styles of the jewelry in the boxes and found that they were all a bit old.

Gu Chenzhou’s voice also rang out: “These are the jewelry my mom used to wear.” He explained a sentence and closed the lid again, stacked several boxes, and threw them all into the safe to lock. The little bit of stuff left in the safe before was moved to the desk:

A few exercise books, old toys, old photos… and many things that were not very valuable.

Wei Xiangjin stood against the wall and saw Gu Chenzhou find a piece of cloth from the room, wipe the dust off the surface of these things, and then categorize them: exercise books into the drawer, toys in the grid of the bookshelf, photos standing on the desktop…

The electric light on the ceiling flickered gently.