Chapter 161: Not Recognizing Each Other
"Haitang, you're still young. You don't understand that some love is heavier to keep in your heart than to express it out loud." Old Master Lu warned earnestly, "Since he wants to hide it from you, just pretend you don't know when you go there."
"Grandpa, this..."
"You have a heart. When you see him, just accompany him and be filial to him. Your feelings come from the heart, and you can feel each other. That's enough. Why do you have to be so rigid about recognizing each other?"
"Grandpa, I understand. I believe that one day, we will be able to recognize each other. I'm not in a hurry." Although he said he was not in a hurry, a tear could not be held back and fell.
Lu Liangchen gently wiped Jiang Haitang's tears: "Don't cry, you will have family in the future, Haitang, this is a great joy."
In order to make Jiang Haitang happier, Lu Liangchen said in a relaxed tone: "I was wondering at the banquet why Grandpa Jiang gave me a dowry instead of a meeting gift. So that's why! Grandpa Jiang has a lot of good things. In the future, maybe I will have to rely on Tangtang for support."
These words made Jiang Haitang burst into laughter.
Early the next morning, Lu Liangchen took Jiang Haitang and Xiao Taozi to the Jiang family.
As if he knew they were coming, Jiang Guozhu arranged guards to wait for them at the door early in the morning.
Jiang Guozhu also lives in the compound, but the location is relatively remote and some distance away from the Lu family's small building.
Moreover, Jiang Guozhu lives in a two-story building, which is much smaller than the Lu family's.
Pushing open the wrought iron gate, the guard saluted them.
"The Chief has been waiting for you for a long time!"
Perhaps he heard the conversation outside, Jiang Guozhu opened the door and walked out.
He was wearing a half-worn military coat and looked very simple. If such an old man walked outside, others would never guess that he was also a resident of the compound.
"Come in quickly, it's cold outside." He tried his best to keep his voice steady, but his voice was as dry as if it had been polished by sandpaper.
Jiang Guozhu's eyes were fixed on Jiang Haitang, and he ignored everyone around him.
When Xiao Taozi came running over, Jiang Guozhu realized that there was another little baby.
"Is this the little girl you adopted?" Jiang Guozhu asked Lu Liangchen.
Lu Liangchen nodded: "Yes, Grandpa Jiang."
As Lu Liangchen spoke, he naturally helped Jiang Guozhu into the house.
Jiang Guozhu did not refuse, but smiled faintly.
He liked Lu Liangchen, but he never thought that Lu Liangchen would one day become his grandson-in-law.
He suddenly felt that this brat whom he had watched grow up was a bit annoying. The granddaughter he had just met would become a member of this brat's family in the future.
The cabbage was eaten by someone else's pig before it was properly grown. How frustrating! Who can understand?
Lu Liangchen didn't know that this was what the old man was thinking. If he knew, he would probably discuss who was the reason why Haitang was able to come to the capital!
When they sat down in the house, the aunt who took care of Jiang Guozhu immediately brought them candies and made tea and sugar water for them.
Jiang Guozhu opened a biscuit box on the table, which contained White Rabbit milk candy.
He grabbed a handful and gave it to Xiao Taozi.
"Come here, little girl, here's some candy."
Little Peach immediately smiled and said, "Thank you, Grandpa!"
"You should call me great-grandfather, little one." Jiang Guozhu corrected Xiao Taozi with a kind smile.
Little Taozi was a well-behaved girl and immediately replied, "Thank you, great grandfather." But she suddenly reached out to stop him and took out a piece of fruit candy from the brass cigarette case, "Girl, save this candy for later.
There was a huge handful of White Rabbit candies in Xiao Taozi's hand, but she couldn't fit any more. So she had to put the candies on the table.
Jiang Guozhu's mind and eyes were all focused on Jiang Haitang, and he didn't notice that Xiao Taozi's small hands couldn't hold so many candies. He just smiled and asked, "Why did you put them down? Little girl, don't you like candy?"
Little Peach nodded heavily: "I like eating candy."
She carefully peeled a White Rabbit candy, then tiptoed to put the candy into Jiang Guozhu's palm: "Grandpa, this candy is for you. Eating candy will make you happy!"
Jiang Guozhu froze in place, his Adam's apple rolling violently. This little girl actually gave him candy.
Jiang Haitang has been looking at Jiang Guozhu. She can see that Jiang Guozhu's eyes are always focused on her.
Even when talking to Xiao Taozi, she looked at him out of the corner of her eye.
"You have taught this child very well." Jiang Guozhu said to Lu Liangchen and Jiang Haitang.
"This child likes Haitang, and it has always been Haitang who taught him most." Lu Liangchen said very humbly.
"Grandpa Jiang, this is the food I made myself. It's very soft. Please try it and see if you like it." Jiang Haitang did not answer Jiang Guozhu's words, but handed over the two lunch boxes in his hand with a trembling voice.
"Xiao Li, take out the snacks in the lunch box and put the snacks you bought this morning in it to satisfy the child's craving." Jiang Guozhu immediately made arrangements.
The Xiao Li that Jiang Guozhu mentioned was a middle-aged woman in her forties or fifties. When she heard what Jiang Guozhu said, she hurried over and went back to the kitchen with two lunch boxes.
"Little girl, your name is Xiao Taozi, right? Grandpa has some delicious snacks here. Try them and see which flavor you like." Although Jiang Guozhu was talking to Xiao Taozi, his eyes were always on Jiang Haitang.
"Grandpa Jiang has a lot of delicious food here, Haitang, we are so lucky today." Lu Liangchen smiled and made fun of it.
After hearing this, Jiang Guozhu immediately picked up a piece of dessert for each of the three of them.
"This is osmanthus cake, this is rose cake, and this is cow tongue cake. I remember Liangchen has loved eating cow tongue cake since he was a child. Osmanthus cake and rose cake are both sweet. I think you should like them, right?"
Jiang Guozhu was very excited and had no time to sort himself out, so what he said was a bit illogical.
But Jiang Haitang understood that this was a question asking her whether she liked sweets.
"Thank you. I like sweet-scented osmanthus cakes and rose cakes. We have roses in Jincheng too, and they're great for making tea or cakes. I'll send you some when I get back."
As Jiang Haitang spoke, tears were about to fall.
But she knew that she couldn't say anything, not even call him grandpa.
She finally understood what Grandpa Lu said, "Some love feels heavier when hidden in the heart than when spoken out."
Fortunately, it is already 1975, and soon this storm will pass, and she and her grandfather will finally recognize each other.
"Liangchen, Haitang and Xiaotaozi are both very good. You are a man, so you must take good care of them in the future." Jiang Guozhu said to Lu Liangchen earnestly.
Lu Liangchen followed the old man's meaning and replied: "Grandpa Jiang, don't worry. They are one of my closest people. I will definitely take good care of them and won't let them suffer any grievances."
"You can stay here with me for lunch today."
"I was planning to have dinner with you today." Lu Liangchen said with a bright smile, "My grandfather said that the food here is much better."
"Okay, okay, okay, I'll pick up some delicious food and cook it for you." Seeing Lu Liangchen agreed in one breath, Jiang Guozhu immediately said yes.
"Xiao Li, please cook all your specialties today. I want to entertain this family of three." Jiang Guozhu said excitedly.
He has lived for most of his life, and now there is a day when he has his granddaughter and grandson-in-law to eat with him. This is something he never dared to imagine before.
At noon, Aunt Li prepared lunch. She didn't find it strange. After all, the Lu family and the Jiang family had a good relationship. She always knew that Jiang Guozhu loved the Lu family's children as if they were his own younger generations.
She wanted to set the table, but Jiang Guozhu had already started doing it himself. Perhaps because of excitement, his hands were shaking violently, and the edge of the white porcelain bowl made a crackling sound.
"Grandpa, let me help you!" Little Taozi stood on tiptoe to reach higher to help. Her little head accidentally rubbed against the back of the old man's hand, and it made his eyes hot with itchiness.
When Haitang was a child, she must have been as cute as Xiaotaozi, right?
It’s a pity that he didn’t know about Haitang’s existence for so many years, otherwise, he would definitely find the child and raise him.
Jiang Guozhu gently stroked Xiao Taozi's delicate little face, as if he was stroking his granddaughter when she was a child.
When Aunt Li brought out the braised pork, she happened to see Jiang Guozhu touching Xiao Taozi's face affectionately. She just sighed.
She has been taking care of Jiang Guozhu for several years, and she has seen the hardship and misery that the old general has been living alone.
In his heart, he must want a grandson to be by his side, right?
She placed the braised pork in her hand on the table and said with a smile, "Knowing you were coming, the old general has been extremely happy since last night."
Jiang Guozhu said uncomfortably, "Xiao Li's braised pork is the best. Try it and see if it suits your taste."
"Grandpa Jiang, if I have time someday, I'll make you some braised pork. But, does the doctor allow you to eat braised pork?"
"Allowed, allowed." Jiang Guozhu immediately nodded repeatedly, his eyes full of desire.
"Grandpa Jiang, in order to eat the braised pork with crabapple, you must follow the doctor's instructions carefully. I've already asked the doctor, and you're eating irregularly. This will harm your health in the long run."
Jiang Guodong said quickly, "I will listen to the doctor and will strictly follow his instructions in the future."
In the past, as a childless and alone person, he had long felt that life had no meaning.
But now it’s different. He has a granddaughter, and even for his granddaughter’s sake, he has to live well.
He can't just watch his granddaughter get engaged, he also has to watch her get married and have children, and he also has to watch his great-grandson.
When Aunt Li brought out the spicy and sour fish, she happened to hear Jiang Guodong say these words. She couldn't help but sigh that the old general could be so obedient at times.
In recent years, the doctors were almost driven to death by his stubbornness and his disregard for his health. They tried threats, inducements, and all sorts of other methods, but the old general just refused to cooperate.
If I had known that the old general would be so obedient and agree to the Lu family’s children coming, I should have invited them to come and persuade him earlier.
"Try this." Jiang Guozhu picked up a piece of trembling braised pork and put it into Jiang Haitang's bowl with trembling hands.
The amber sauce condensed on the meat pieces, shining glossily in the porcelain bowl.
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