Chapter 5: Trouble Ensued

As dusk filtered through the branches of the old locust tree, it bathed the stone slabs in a golden light. The distant sound of bells drifted by, and the evening breeze carried the sweet aroma of steamed rice cakes into our nostrils.

Jiang Yanwan got off the bus and saw a tricycle selling steamed rice cakes: the old man was going to a banquet that night, so it would just be him and Lin Mingzhi left, and they would just have to make do.

Subconsciously, she thought of Lin Sicheng again: That bastard hasn't been back for more than two months, I wonder if he's lost weight?

Is 600 yuan too little? Is it enough to last a month?

If I had known, I should have let Gu Ming bring more.

With that thought in mind, the old man stared as the tricycle pulled up in front of her, and Jiang Yanwan cut off two jin (1 kg).

As Lin Mingzhi entered the residential area carrying steamed rice cakes, a beep sounded behind him. A slightly worn-out Hyundai had stopped at the entrance, and Lin Mingzhi poked his head out.

Jiang Yanwan glanced at her watch: 6:10?

The funeral home closes at six o'clock. It's more than 20 kilometers from my home, and it used to take Lin Mingzhi at least half an hour to drive there.

Why are you up so early today?

"Left early!"

Why?

"Your precious son is home."

Jiang Yanwan's eyes lit up: "Really?"

“My dad said it, how could it be false? He said it was Lin Sicheng who called him, and he canceled all his dinner appointments that night.”

"You bastard, you've finally grown a conscience?" Jiang Yanwan cursed, then happily got into the passenger seat. "Drive faster!"

"It's just a few steps, how much faster can it be?"

After replying and seeing that there weren't many people on the side road, Lin Mingzhi stepped on the gas.

...

The stairwell was narrow, and the terrazzo reflected a dazzling light. Jiang Yanwan took long strides, climbing three steps at a time.

Lin Mingzhi followed behind, watching his wife's high heels with concern: If she twists her ankle, she'll be bedridden for at least half a month.

In a flash, the two reached the third floor. Jiang Yanwan took out her key and glanced back again.

His eyes were slightly cold, carrying a hint of warning, and Lin Mingzhi immediately understood: "Don't worry, I promise I won't say anything about him today."

Jiang Yanwan didn't move, her eyes remaining cold and indifferent.

Lin Mingzhi thought for a moment, then sighed helplessly: "I promise I won't mention the postgraduate recommendation, and I won't let Dad mention it either, okay!"

"You think you can control your dad? But if you dare to speak up for him today, I'm not done with you..."

Lin Mingzhi raised his hands in surrender: "Okay, okay!"

Jiang Yanwan snorted and opened the security door.

The kitchen range hood was on, and the sounds of knives chopping vegetables filled the air, along with the unique aroma of braised pork.

Jiang Yanwan breathed a sigh of relief: it must be her father-in-law cooking.

For three generations, his eldest grandson was the only son in his family, and he was his lifeblood. But extremes beget their opposites; the father-in-law's strict and meticulous control actually provoked Lin Sicheng's rebellious nature.

Unfortunately, the grandfather and grandson were exactly alike in personality, both stubborn. Over time, this created a rift between them.

However, it seems that my father-in-law is in a good mood today. I'll have Lin Mingzhi persuade him again later, and try not to mention things like whether or not he'll be recommended for graduate school or what his job arrangements will be after graduation. Let's get that bastard home first.

After changing her mind, she put on slippers, walked through the living room, and paused for a moment.

The father-in-law sat on the sofa, staring at a bottle of wine in his hand, his eyes unfocused, as if he were in a daze.

A liquor box sat at his feet, with the words "Maotai" standing out prominently.

"dad!"

Lin Changqing snapped out of his daze: "You're back?"

"Okay!" She put down her bag and glanced into the kitchen.

Through the frosted glass, two blurry figures could be seen around the kitchen counter.

"Who's in the kitchen, Lin Sicheng and Gu Ming?"

"That's right!" The old man put down his wine bottle. "Chengwa wouldn't let me in, saying he wanted to show us his skills!"

"What? He showed off his skills? Whether it's even edible is another question..."

Before he could finish speaking, Lin Mingzhi was elbowed in the stomach.

Jiang Yanwan glared at him: "Even if he brings out a bowl of something today, you have to smell it and say it smells good."

Lin Mingzhi understood immediately, snorted, and slid open the kitchen partition.

Gu Ming clumsily chopped the garlic sprouts, while Lin Sicheng tossed the wok, "whoosh," a burst of flame erupted, then another burst of flame.

It was a bit noisy, and no one noticed that someone was standing outside the kitchen.

Smelling the enticing aroma and glancing at her son's thin profile, Jiang Yanwan's eyes welled up with tears, and she reached out to the man's waist.

Lin Mingzhi was utterly astonished, thinking to himself that his son actually had this skill. Suddenly realizing something was wrong, he acted swiftly, grabbing his wife's hand: "What are you doing?"

"He's even learned to cook now, which shows how much hardship our son has endured. It's all your fault..."

Of course, the father-in-law is the one to blame the most, but who else should he blame but Lin Mingzhi, who is his son, husband, and father?

"Jiang Yanwan, aren't you ridiculous? He went to university, not a vocational school!" Lin Mingzhi sneered. "Why don't you ask him who he studied with, and how he learned so much?"

Huh?

Tears welled up in her eyes, but Jiang Yanwan quickly wiped them away: "That bastard's dating someone?"

Otherwise, who taught him?

Upon hearing the sound, Lin Sicheng turned his head and paused for a moment.

Dad is still the same, carefree and irresponsible. Mom is only in her early forties, but there are already faint lines at the corners of her eyes. Her eyes are misty, as if she's about to cry.

Lin Sicheng recalled his past life: it took him several years after graduating from university to resolve his inner conflicts and return home more often. But his grandfather passed away less than two years later, his parents grew old, and he began his life as a migrant worker in Beijing.

From then on, his career grew bigger and bigger, he earned more and more money, and his fame grew higher and higher, but he spent less and less time with his parents. Sometimes, he might not be able to get together with his parents even once a year.

Now I think: Was it worth it?

A lump formed in his throat, and Lin Sicheng grinned, "Dad, Mom!"

Jiang Yanwan sniffed: "Let me do it!"

"Mom, it's almost done, just the lamb left, five more minutes!"

Looking at the dishes already prepared on the stove, Jiang Yanwan's tears, which she had just held back, welled up in her eyes again.

Lin Mingzhi sensed something was wrong and took two steps back.

"Why are you hiding? Bring out the dishes!"

"Oh, oh~"

...

There are meat and vegetables, chicken and fish, and the main dish is hand-pulled mutton, which is exceptionally fresh.

Lin Sicheng opened the glass, and the clear liquid slid down the sides, forming silvery threads like pearls. The aroma of the wine gradually spread, rich and fragrant.

After pouring the drinks, he placed a cup in front of each person.

Four people, young and old, with eight eyes, blinked and blinked.

It's amazing enough that he could prepare this whole meal, but what's more surprising is Lin Sicheng's expression: devout, serious, relieved, apprehensive, and even a little uneasy.

The old man took the wine glass and smiled gently: "Have you gotten into trouble?"

"without!"

Although his grandson was stubborn, he never lied to him. The old man smiled again: "You're dating someone?"

Lin Sicheng shook his head: "Grandpa, no!"

The old man nodded, trying to sound joking: "This wine isn't cheap, it costs more than a month's salary for your dad. You've struck it rich?"

Lin Mingzhi and Jiang Yanwan were both stunned: they thought that the case of wine was bought by the old man.

A box costs 3,000 yuan, while Lin Sicheng's monthly living expenses are only 600 yuan. Where did he get the money?

It can't be that they took some crooked or evil path, can it?

"I didn't have class in the afternoon, so I went to Xiaodongmen with Gu Ming to look for my grandfather. He wasn't there, so we just wandered around..."

Lin Sicheng briefly recounted what had happened. The old man remained relatively calm, but the couple stared wide-eyed.

Lin Sicheng spent thirty yuan to buy a book, and then resold it for ten thousand yuan?

The problem is, the son's tone and expression make it sound like he's earned ten dollars.

More importantly, what he meant was: he didn't need to be given living expenses anymore, as he could support himself with this.

Lin Sicheng, are you kidding me? Even your grandpa wouldn't dare say he doesn't need a pension; he could build up a fortune for you just by picking up scraps.

Thinking about his son's performance at school, Lin Mingzhi frowned, looking like he'd just eaten something disgusting: "You're talking nonsense, like a blind man peeling a sheep's penis!"

He looked around, then reached into his pocket: "Here, take a look. If you've chosen the right one, I'll give it to you... If you really want to make money off this in the future, I definitely won't interfere!"

Jiang Yanwan pursed her lips: If you want to manage things, you have to be able to make the decisions.

Even her opinion doesn't count, because the old man had already paved the way for Lin Sicheng ten years into the future...

Lin Sicheng put down his chopsticks: a glass bottle the size of an egg, with a pond, reeds, and a pair of mandarin ducks painted inside.

The color scheme is quite good, but the drawing skills are only average.

Lin Sicheng smiled and said, "The snuff bottles painted inside by the Beijing school are quite meticulous."

"Leave things unsaid; make it clear!"

“It only has form, but no meaning!” Lin Sicheng thought for a moment, “It must be that the master drew the base on the outside of the bottle, and the apprentice copied it inside the bottle.”

"Don't talk nonsense if you don't understand!" Lin Mingzhi spun the bottle around. "See that? Liu Shouben, the head of the Beijing School!"

Looking at the inscription on the other side, Lin Sicheng almost burst out laughing: If Master Liu had this skill, he would have been cursed to death long ago.

"It definitely wasn't Liu Shouben who painted it, including the background design on the outside of the bottle. At most, it was his apprentice who painted the background, giving it to an even less skilled apprentice to practice on, and then painted the inside!"

What did you say?

Just as Lin Mingzhi was about to argue, he saw the old man's eyes light up, and the words caught in his throat.

Is Lin Sicheng right?

"No... Dad, I've been working on this for so long, and you didn't even remind me?"

"You think something you bought for a few hundred yuan is a genuine Liu Shouben product?"

The old man slowly poured himself another cup, but his eyes were shining.

Jiang Yanwan, her face glowing, took a jade pendant from her neck: "Come, help your mother take a look at this jade."

Lin Mingzhi glanced at it and his heart skipped a beat: "Don't be ridiculous, how would he know anything about jade?"

"Shut up!"

Jiang Yanwan glared at him: "Son, watch closely!"

Lin Sicheng, still oblivious, stared intently: "Machine-carved, the craftsmanship is passable, but the jade quality is poor. It's just ordinary Afghan jade, the kind you can buy two kilograms for a hundred yuan!"

Jiang Yanwan was taken aback, then narrowed her eyes: "Machine-carved, not hand-carved?"

“There’s not a single trace of tool marks, it’s definitely machine-carved!” Lin Sicheng nodded. “It looks like it’s from Nanyang, and it’s been soaked in acid and machine oil… Should we let Grandpa take another look?”

The old man's face was flushed, his eyes were frighteningly bright, but he shook his head like a rattle-drum: "I won't look!"

Jiang Yanwan was stunned for a moment, and then she knew exactly what was going on.

Lin Sicheng wasn't lying: He really does know how. Even someone as composed as the old man couldn't quite control his expression.

Lin Mingzhi was even more horrified, his mouth agape, as if he were terrified.

But why am I so angry?

She gritted her teeth: "Lin Mingzhi, I remember when you gave me the jade, you said it was top-quality Hetian jade, and you spent a full eight thousand yuan on it?"

Lin Sicheng's heart skipped a beat: Oh no, did Dad make a mistake?

Wait, something's not right. That resentful look in his eyes?

Haha, I spoke too quickly and got into trouble...