Even in the afternoon, the park was bustling with people, including young couples walking side by side and elderly couples supporting each other...
Most of the people there are elderly men and women walking their birds and playing cards.
Xiao Weiguo and Feng Wanlin walked through the shade of the trees and soon arrived at the center of the park.
Here, there is a rest area for tourists, with many stone tables and benches.
Many elderly men and women play cards and chess at these stone tables, and some women even gather together to knit sweaters and chat.
At the far west end of the crowd, several old men were gathered around a stone table, each on a small stool, playing chess.
One of the old men spoke with a northern accent and was making a lot of noise while playing chess.
"Old man, are you trying to tell fortunes? Speak so slowly and deliberately. Are you leaving or not? If you're not leaving, we'll find someone else."
The old man held two large walnuts in one hand, crackling and rubbing them together, while constantly urging them on.
"A vaulting horse or a flying elephant would be fine, otherwise the chariot will fall off."
"What, you want to use a cannonball as a stepping stone? Watch closely, if you use one, you won't even have a cannonball left..."
In short, he kept babbling on and on, occasionally letting out a loud laugh as he spoke.
The old man playing chess opposite him was getting increasingly annoyed by what he was saying, and his hand holding the chess pieces became even more hesitant.
The talkative old man, seeing him hesitate with the chess piece in his hand, finally couldn't resist and snatched it from his grasp, placing it on the chessboard with a snap.
"Oh dear, playing chess is driving me crazy. You can just leave it here."
This time, the old man on the other side finally couldn't take it anymore.
He pulled on the chessboard with both hands, scattering all the pieces, and then snorted angrily.
"Hmph, you old geezer, your mouth never stops all day long, just like an old braying donkey. If I ever play chess with you again, I'm your pet."
After saying that, the old man picked up his small stool and left angrily.
Seeing the two old men bickering, everyone at the table burst into laughter.
The talkative old man was scolded, but he seemed completely unconcerned. The others pointed at the old man's departing figure and laughed as they cursed.
"Hey everyone, look! This stubborn old donkey's getting impatient, he's getting impatient, hahaha..."
There were people nearby making jokes.
"Alright, Lao Bai, if you make him so angry that he has a heart attack, do you think his son will let you off the hook?"
The old man, called Lao Bai, seemed completely unconcerned.
"Do you think I'm afraid of those few bastards from his family?"
An old man came over and pushed him aside with a stool.
"You should rest for a bit, it's our turn."
Old Bai wasn't annoyed. He shifted his position and sat down to the side, ready to watch the battle.
"Let's make it clear beforehand: we will observe the game without speaking."
The old man sitting opposite him immediately warned Lao Bai.
Not to be outdone, Lao Bai rolled his eyes at the old man.
"The ground stinks, but people can't even say it."
Amidst the chatter and laughter of the group of old men, the chess pieces were rearranged.
At this moment, Feng Wanlin led Xiao Weiguo to the chess table.
"Grandpa Bai."
He called out to the old white-haired man.
This talkative old man was none other than Bai Zhenxuan, the former second-in-command of the province, who had already retired.
Xiao Weiguo stood next to Feng Wanlin and sized her up.
He was probably in his seventies, with sparse silver hair, wearing a plain Zhongshan suit and old cloth shoes. His attire was very ordinary, and no one would guess that he was once a powerful and influential figure, a governor of a region.
Bai Zhenxuan only looked up when someone called him, his gaze leaving the chessboard.
"Oh, it's Lin girl, what brings you here?"
As he spoke, the old man walked over with a smile, carrying his small stool.
Feng Wanlin went up to the old man and hugged his arm affectionately.
"Grandpa Bai, I missed you, so I came to see you."
Bai Zhenxuan turned his head and looked her over.
"Look at me? My two little paws are empty?"
Feng Wanlin pretended to be angry and pushed the old man's arm.
"You know I'm poor, and you have the nerve to ask me for things?"
The old man sighed and shook his head.
"You, why did you give up being a princess to become a lousy researcher? What, are your two rascal brothers bullying you?"
Upon hearing this, Feng Wanlin's face showed a slightly unnatural expression, and she inadvertently glanced at Xiao Weiguo.
However, she quickly disappeared from the scene, her face once again beaming with a smile.
"Isn't it nice to be here? It may be poor, but it's peaceful."
Then, he pulled Xiao Weiguo over and continued talking.
"I'm not afraid of being poor. This is my boss; he's rich. Didn't I bring you something?"
Xiao Weiguo quickly bent down and smiled.
"Hello, Mr. Bai, my name is Xiao Weiguo, and I am a friend of Sister Wanlin."
As he spoke, he handed over two packets of tea and a bag of fruit that he was carrying.
There weren't many items, and they weren't worth much money, because when he bought the gifts, Feng Wanlin had reminded him not to buy anything expensive, otherwise he wouldn't even be able to get into Old Master Bai's house.
Bai Zhenxuan glanced at Xiao Weiguo, but didn't take the item. He asked Feng Wanlin, who was standing next to him.
"Your boss? What, is this kid your department head?"
Xiao Weiguo looks to be only in his early twenties, so it's practically impossible for him to be a leader within the system.
"No, Grandpa Bai, he and I are from the same hometown, Shang County. He opened a clothing company there. I mortgaged my house in my hometown to him as a share. I've made some money in a year, otherwise I wouldn't even be able to afford food."
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