As news of the Wang family's confiscation spread like wildfire through the capital, Su Jinli, Siyan, and Nianli were on their way to their maternal grandparents' home. The carriage slowly moved forward, the scenery outside the window shifting like a moving scroll. As the carriage entered Yangzhou, the fresh air was filled with the fragrance of earth, flowers, and plants, with a faint hint of tea.
Siyan excitedly leaned against the car window, his eyes wide, like a curious little monkey. "Mom! Is that Grandpa's tea plantation?" He pointed at the tea trees that covered the distant hills, his voice trembling with excitement. The tea trees, like a green ocean, rippled in the breeze and shimmered with a captivating luster in the sunlight.
Su Jinli looked in the direction of Si Yan's finger, and the tea trees instantly brought back memories of her biological mother. When her biological mother was alive, she had told her countless times that her grandfather was a well-known tea merchant in his youth, and that he had an indissoluble bond with tea throughout his life. But when the carriage slowly stopped in front of a vermilion lacquered gate, Si Yan's eyes were caught by the eye-catching "Wukui" plaque on the lintel. He stared at the plaque blankly, his face full of confusion, and couldn't help but ask, "Mom, didn't my grandfather sell tea? What's the story behind this 'Wukui'?"
At that moment, the door creaked open, and a vigorous old steward emerged, stroking his snow-white beard and wearing a genial smile. "Young Master, our master was a genuine champion of martial arts during the Ming Dynasty!" The steward's voice was resonant and powerful, remarkably clear in the tranquil atmosphere.
As he spoke, an old man in a blue cloth shirt walked out of the yard with steady steps. In his hands, he held two buckets of water steadily, and his steps were firm, as if the two buckets of water were nothing. When his gaze fell on Su Jinli, his originally calm eyes suddenly reddened, and tears of excitement flashed in his eyes. "Li'er..." The old man's voice trembled slightly, filled with endless longing and emotion, "You look so much like your mother."
Seeing this, Su Jinli quickly bowed respectfully. However, before she could say anything, Nianli, like a cheerful little bird, suddenly broke free from her hand and flew into the old man's arms. "Grandfather! I want some osmanthus cake!" Nianli's voice was clear and melodious, echoing in the air like a silver bell.
The old man couldn't help but burst into laughter, his hearty laughter seeming to dispel all the gloom in the world. He lifted Nianli onto his shoulder and said lovingly, "Okay! Grandfather will do it for you right away!" With that, he turned and walked back. Su Jinli followed behind, inadvertently catching a glimpse of the calluses on the old man's sleeves. Those calluses were thick and rough, the unique marks left by years of sword-wielding, as if silently telling of the old man's past glory and vicissitudes.
Time passed quietly in the warm atmosphere, and before we knew it, it was dinner time. The table was filled with a variety of delicious dishes, exuding an alluring aroma. Grandfather brought out a plate of carefully made osmanthus cake. Its golden color, dotted with osmanthus flowers, and exuding a rich sweet fragrance, instantly caught Siyan's attention. Siyan's eyes lit up, and he couldn't wait to reach out and grab two pieces, mumbling incoherently, "Delicious, really delicious!"
However, at this moment, Nianli suddenly pointed at her grandfather's chopsticks and screamed in surprise: "Grandpa's chopsticks can fly!" Her little face was full of disbelief, her eyes were wide open, as if she had seen some magical sight.
Everyone looked in the direction of Nian Li's finger, only to see the old man's chopsticks, holding the food, dangling steadily in mid-air, as if controlled by an invisible force. The old man smiled faintly, a smile tinged with mystery and pride. Then, with a flick of his wrist, the chopsticks flicked like a nimble little bird, and with a flick, a peanut flew into Si Yan's mouth like an arrow from a bow. "Si Yan, do you want to learn?" the old man asked with a smile, his eyes full of love and expectation for his junior.
Si Yan was still chewing on the osmanthus cake. When she heard the old man's words, she nodded vigorously, looking very cute. But unexpectedly, Su Jinli gently tapped her head. "Eat first." Su Jinli said with a smile, her eyes full of tenderness and doting. Then, she raised her head and looked at her grandfather. After a moment of hesitation, she asked softly, "Dad, you back then..."
"That's all in the past," the old man gently interrupted her, a flicker of desolation in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. He handed Su Jinli a piece of braised pork and said, "After your mother left, I felt like a piece of my heart was missing. So, I left my martial arts school and came to Yangzhou to grow tea, hoping to find some peace in the fragrance of tea." The old man's voice was low and slow, as if every word was filled with endless longing and helplessness.
Su Jinli felt a pang of grief at hearing this. She knew full well that her grandfather had a deep affection for her mother, and her mother's passing was a heavy blow to him. Over the years, her grandfather had endured this pain alone, silently guarding his mother's memories in this tea garden in Yangzhou.
After dinner, Grandfather brought Siyan and Nianli to the courtyard. Moonlight streamed across the courtyard like water, casting a silver veil over everything. Grandfather stood in the center, sword in hand, demonstrating his swordsmanship for the children. His physique was slender, his blade dancing with energy, each move imbued with power and beauty. The sword's cold gleam shone in the moonlight, echoing with his resolute gaze, bringing back memories of the days when he galloped across the battlefield.
Si Yan and Nian Li were stunned, their eyes full of admiration. Si Yan couldn't help but ask, "Grandfather, your swordsmanship is amazing! When can I be like you?"
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