Chapter 446: The Pocket Money Grandpa Gave Me
Bai Zhi naturally sat down opposite the old man.
"Grandpa, if you don't mind that my chess skills are not very good, then I'll play a game with you."
Grandpa Lu said, "Look at what you're saying, kid. I'm just passing the time. I usually play chess by myself when I have nothing to do. Would I complain about having a companion?"
After Bai Zhi took her seat, she and the old man set up a chessboard.
She's really not good at Chinese chess; she can only say she recognizes the pieces and knows the basic moves.
Even so, Old Master Lu was already very happy.
Having someone to accompany you is always better than playing alone.
None of the younger generation in the family liked to play with this old geezer.
It's rare to find someone with such patience like Bai Zhi.
Grandpa Lu was moved and gratified.
The children raised by their own former squad leader are truly heartwarming.
Although Bai Zhi's chess skills were average, Grandpa Lu let her win and played along with her, and the game lasted for a long time before it ended.
In the end, Bai Zhi's defeat wasn't too bad.
"Grandpa, shall we continue?" Bai Zhi asked with a smile.
Grandpa Lu put away the chessboard. "One game is enough. Playing too many games is too much of a mental strain."
Bai Zhi smiled but didn't say anything.
She knew very well that even if the old man was still not satisfied, he wouldn't keep her company.
The old man was very sensible.
They were afraid the younger generation would get annoyed.
"Xiao Zhi, is there something you need from me?" After putting away the chessboard, Grandpa Lu looked at her and asked with a smile.
Bai Zhi replied with an awkward laugh, "Grandpa, there is indeed a small matter I'd like to discuss with you."
Bai Zhi didn't hide anything and briefly mentioned the conflict between her uncle and maternal grandfather.
The Lu family had actually sensed something was amiss when they proposed marriage.
Previously, it was only due to the father and son's incompatible tempers.
Bai Zhi then brought up the story of how her maternal grandmother and Old Lady Zhou were locked up in the cowshed together back then.
“I heard that there was another grandmother who was locked up with my maternal grandmother back then. Grandma Zhou had Alzheimer’s disease and could not communicate normally, so she could not provide strong evidence. Therefore, I wanted to find that grandmother surnamed Chen.”
Upon hearing this, Old Master Lu nodded thoughtfully, "I see."
"If you're looking for someone, I can help." Grandpa Lu looked at her and asked, "Xiao Zhi, are there any other clues?"
Bai Zhi replied, "I only know that Grandma Chen's name was Chen Zhen. After she was exonerated, she seemed to be engaged in scientific research."
"Chen Zhen? Someone who does scientific research?"
Grandpa Lu stroked his chin, lost in thought.
Bai Zhi sat opposite the old man, watching his expression and reaction.
She nervously pursed her lips.
If Chen Lin's great-aunt was named Chen Zhen, then the old man shouldn't have reacted this way.
The Lu family and the Chen family have known each other for many years, so he should know the name of Chen Lin's great-aunt, right?
So while the old man was deep in thought, Bai Zhi whispered the clue she had found, "Grandpa, I was chatting with Deputy Director Chen at the hospital yesterday, and he mentioned that his aunt is also a researcher, and coincidentally, her surname is Chen."
Bai Zhi looked at him and tentatively asked, "Grandpa, do you know what Chen Lin's great-aunt's name is?"
"Chen Lin's great-aunt?"
Grandpa Lu continued stroking his chin and said, "When you mentioned doing scientific research just now, my first thought was of her, but I don't remember if her name was this."
"Are you familiar with each other?" Bai Zhi asked softly again.
“When Lu Ye first met the Chen family, he was already in elementary school. He was close to Chen Lin, but their parents were just acquaintances. Because of their different jobs, they didn’t have much interaction.”
The Chen family is an intellectual family; they are in the military.
Back then, we all lived in the same alley, but we weren't close enough to pry into each other's private affairs.
Chen Lin's great-aunt is also rarely seen.
Grandpa Lu's reaction left Bai Zhi somewhat disappointed.
Isn't this Chen Lin's great-aunt's name?
So, is it just another disappointment?
She had memories of her past life, but she had never met Grandma Chen in that life.
The other party contacted her uncle directly and talked to him about her maternal grandmother.
Looking at her dimming eyes, Grandpa Lu gently comforted her, "Xiao Zhi, don't worry, I'll ask around."
"Thank you, Grandpa."
Bai Zhi was completely open with Old Master Lu, and the old man always cared about her affairs.
It can be considered a mutual trust between grandfather and grandson.
"Grandpa, I have to go now. My uncle said he's coming to Nancheng to discuss business, and I'll have dinner with him tonight."
Upon hearing that Ye Tiandong had come to Nancheng today, Old Master Lu asked, "Should we invite your uncle to our home?"
"No, he's quite busy. I doubt he'll stay long. I'll meet with him, and he'll probably go back tomorrow."
Bai Zhi was about to leave when Old Master Lu called out to her, "Xiao Zhi, wait a moment."
Grandpa Lu got up, walked to the cabinet by the bed, opened the cabinet door, and took out a brown paper envelope from the drawer inside the cabinet.
Then he handed it to Bai Zhi and said with a smile, "This is your allowance from Grandpa. Take it and buy some clothes."
Bai Zhi never expected that the old man would give her pocket money. Looking at the old man in front of her, she felt a surge of happiness from being pampered by her elders.
But she still politely declined, saying, "Grandpa, I have money."
"Here you go. I heard that Lu Ye got a house. He's a rough old man, so he probably doesn't have anything at home. Use the money to buy some daily necessities. It's almost Chinese New Year, so buy a couple of new outfits too."
Although she was very touched, Bai Zhi felt embarrassed to accept the old man's money.
She waved her hand and declined, saying, "Grandpa, I really have money. You can keep it for yourself."
Grandpa Lu insisted on giving it to her, saying, "It's not much money, just enough to buy some clothes, shoes, and daily necessities. Don't think it's too little. I don't usually have any expenses. If I don't give this retirement pension to you younger generation, what am I supposed to take it to my grave?"
The second son's family is wealthy, and his children don't even care about his meager pension.
The old man remembered that when Lu Ya was in middle school, he gave her twenty yuan as pocket money, but Lu Ya complained that he was stingy, saying that her father gave her fifty yuan every week.
From then on, he rarely gave money to the younger generation.
Bai Zhi married into the family; her children are sensible and know how to be grateful. She is capable of earning money, yet she has always remained low-key, hardworking, and simple.
He was happy to give her money.
"Thank you, Grandpa."
A warm feeling washed over Bai Zhi, and her eyes involuntarily welled up with tears.
"Go."
Bai Zhi took the envelope and left the old man's door.
As luck would have it, he ran into Wang Shufen as soon as he stepped outside.
Wang Shufen's gaze instantly and precisely landed on the envelope in her hand.
Bai Zhi greeted her, "Second Aunt."
Wang Shufen smiled, her eyes darting around, and asked her, "Xiao Zhi, what are you carrying?"
"It's nothing. It's a letter my grandfather wrote to his old comrade-in-arms, and he asked me to deliver it when I go to the army."
After Bai Zhi finished speaking in a calm tone, she turned and went upstairs.
Upon hearing this, Wang Shufen's expression was full of inquiry, her gaze still following the envelope.
letter?
But why does it look a bit bulging?
Bai Zhi went back to her room, opened the envelope, and found a thousand yuan inside.
This must be several months' worth of the old man's pension.
With a grateful heart, she put the money in her bag, put on her cotton coat, said goodbye to her parents-in-law before leaving, and headed straight to the train station to pick them up.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com