Chapter 401 Extra: Fireworks of the Great Era 1
It was seven years later that Pei Xiao visited the Xiling base again.
During these seven years, Pei Qing was the one who handled all the meetings and communications, and Secretary Jin would take notes and come back to discuss with him.
Now that a new order has been re-established, Pei Qing has slowly let go and handed the power of the Pei family into his hands.
This was Pei Xiao's first time attending a meeting at Xiling Base after taking over the job of Patriarch.
Time passed silently. In the past seven years, Xiling Base had changed a lot, yet it seemed as if nothing had changed.
The Shen family is still in power in the association, but many new families have also emerged.
The struggle between the old and new families always leads to all kinds of troubles.
It was the same in Dongchao, Beichen and Nanjun, but there was no major chaos in Xiling base. No matter whether it was a new or old family, they all behaved well and abided by the law.
The reason is that Professor Si has been staying in the Xiling base for the past six years and has not gone out to wander around.
Those who wanted to cause trouble or had bad intentions were all intimidated by his violent methods.
Moreover, the Shen family also has Qin Huai, who likes to watch the fun and never mind getting involved... Anyone who has lived through the end of the world knows about the notoriety of these two people.
But Si Xu has a high prestige among the people and those with special abilities. If you want to cause trouble for him, you have to worry about being drowned in everyone's saliva... In short, he is a person you can't afford to mess with.
Pei Xiao declined to comment on this assessment.
The head of the Pei family from the Dongchao base came to visit, and the Shen family arranged for the second young master, Shen Bai, to receive the distinguished guest.
After not seeing him for a few years, the man seemed to have not changed much, except that his temperament was more stable than before.
Seeing Pei Xiao, the corners of his mouth curved up noticeably. As the other person approached, he said helplessly, "The Patriarch of the Pei family is really very busy. After all these years, he's willing to come and visit us at Xiling. It's our good fortune."
When old friends met, they felt less reserved. Pei Xiao also laughed: "I haven't seen you for a few years, and you're teasing me as soon as we meet. Your welcome ceremony is really special."
"That's right. After all, it left a deep impression on you, so you'll want to come again next time."
The two joked around for a bit, and Shen Bai took him to visit the rebuilt Xiling City.
“Whether the virus has been completely eradicated is still under investigation, so the city wall will be preserved for now, just in case.
“The laboratory was renovated and renamed the Xiling Research Institute.
“Schools have reopened, but there aren’t many students and it’s hard to find teachers…After all, only a few people survive after a disaster.
"When my eldest brother heard that you were coming, he went out with his sister-in-law. He knew very well what he owed you. No, it should be said that our Shen family owed you something."
Hearing this, Pei Xiao, who had been nodding with a smile, stopped smiling, frowned, and interrupted Shen Bai: "You don't owe me anything."
Just like Jiang Ran said, before Pei Wan'er died, none of her relatives had ever given her any warmth, but after her death, they all threatened to avenge her...
Pei Wan'er was a victim of the intrigues between the two elders, and also a victim of the power struggle between the Shen and Yu families. All those people who are alive now are her debtors, so how can there be any distinction between close and distant relatives?
Unexpectedly, he would answer like this. Shen Bai smiled unexpectedly and did not continue the topic.
The streets are bustling with people.
The two chatted as they walked and soon arrived at the residence arranged by the Shen family for VIP guests.
"You've come a long way, so take a good rest today. There will be a fireworks display tonight, and I'll have Yaoyao pick you up."
Pei Xiao and Shen Yao were college classmates and had a closer relationship.
Pei Xiao nodded in thanks: "Thank you for your trouble, um..."
"Um?"
"...Nothing." After a pause, he added, "Let's talk tonight."
Seeing that Chen Bai was about to leave, he couldn't ask the question that had been bothering him for a long time.
…
After a two-hour break at noon, Pei Xiao went out alone without waiting for Chen Yao to pick him up. He was very familiar with the Xiling base and didn't want to trouble others at the moment, so he planned to go out for a walk by himself.
Today is Mid-Autumn Festival, and there's a fireworks display at Xiling Base. The streets are bustling with activity, and small vendors have already started setting up stalls in the square.
Pei Xiao stood by the roadside, watching children running past him holding marshmallows, leaving behind a trail of playful laughter.
A scene of harmony - as if the disaster was just a dream.
"uncle."
While he was deep in thought, someone gently tugged at his sleeve and Pei Xiao lowered his head.
The person who was pulling his sleeve was a little girl who looked about four or five years old. She had two pigtails and was wearing a Tang suit. When she looked up at him, her beautiful peach blossom eyes were as clear and bright as black agate.
"Uncle." When he looked at her, she shook his sleeve again and asked softly, "I want to eat marshmallows."
The child he met for the first time asked him to buy cotton candy... Pei Xiao was stunned. He squatted down, looked the little girl straight in the eye, and said softly: "Little girl, where are your parents?"
"Shh..." She put her finger on his lips, looked around like a thief, and whispered, "Mom and Dad don't allow me to eat candy. Mom said it will cause cavities and my teeth will fall out~"
With her tender little hand on her lips, Pei Xiao stepped back a little: "Why is this child so familiar? Or have they met before?"
"Uncle, I," the little girl said with a sweet smile, "I want to eat marshmallows..."
Before she finished speaking, a figure rushed towards her from a distance.
The man moved quickly, obviously heading for the little girl, but Pei Xiao was not slow either - when the man reached out to grab the little girl, he grabbed the child first and dodged the man's hand.
When the man failed to catch him, he stopped and shouted angrily: "Jiang Suiyi! You tricked others into buying you cotton candy again!"
The little girl was held in Pei Xiao's arms. She made a face at the person who came and said smugly, "The wind has stopped. You can't catch me. Lululu~"
The wind stopped? Pei Xiao looked at the man opposite him—oh, it was the guy who had successfully transformed from a zombie into a human.
The person Feng Ting came to arrest was surnamed Jiang? Pei Xiao stared blankly at the little girl in his arms—this child...
"Jiang Suiyi, don't be so complacent. I'll tell Jiang Ran later that you stole cotton candy again today!"
Feng Ting's words confirmed Pei Xiao's guess.
This child is indeed Jiang Ran and Si Xu's...
"You're talking nonsense! I haven't eaten yet!" The little girl waved her fist in protest. "Stop the wind! I have witnesses! I haven't eaten yet!"
She looked at him, aggrieved: "Uncle, you have to prove for me that I haven't eaten the marshmallow yet."
The child was worried about not getting the candy yet.
Pei Xiao's mouth twitched, and he leaned over to put the child on the ground.
"Your name is Jiang Suiyi?" This name is quite similar to the naming style of those two people.
"Yeah." The child looked up at him, "Hello uncle, your name is Jiang Suiyi, Jiang as in river, Suiyi as in casual."
The little girl was very cute when she introduced herself in a sweet way - she looked very much like her mother.
However, asking a random stranger to buy marshmallows was not something Jiang Ran Sixu would teach her.
He was silent. She insisted on looking up at him, blinking her peach blossom eyes and saying seriously, "I know you. You are Uncle Pei Xiao. Mom showed me your photo."
The child's eyes were pure and innocent. Pei Xiao was surprised, but a gentle smile appeared in his eyes: "Your mother...why did she show you my picture?"
"Mom said that you are Dad's relative, and mine as well," Jiang Suiyi said seriously. "Mom also said that you and Dad may seem to have a bad relationship on the surface, but in reality, you love and hate each other, and you both care about each other very much."
Pei Xiao: "..." Is this how Jiang Ran evaluated him?
The man smiled bitterly.
Taking advantage of his moment of distraction, Feng Ting jumped over, grabbed Jiang Suiyi and was about to leave.
"I'll let you run again! Come back with me!"
"Go back if you want! Who's afraid of you?" the child kicked his legs and bluffed. "The wind will stop. Remember, I haven't had any marshmallows today, and you are not allowed to complain to my mother!"
“…”
After walking a distance with the man holding her arm, she turned around and waved to him: "Uncle Pei Xiao, let's watch the fireworks together tonight!"
(End of this chapter)
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