Chapter 21
As the sky darkened, the tearoom's downlights shone with a warm, orange-yellow glow, a bit dim but not bright. Chen Mushan lit some incense, and a celestial aura lingered behind the tea table. Chen Liuchi was startled at the sight, thinking his father was about to ascend to heaven.
"What are you standing there for? Come here." Chen Mushan spoke with a powerful voice, and the surrounding atmosphere instantly moved from the fairyland to the courtroom.
Chen Liuchi sighed, moved over reluctantly, sat down opposite the tea table, picked up the small pot and poured tea for his father.
Neither of them spoke for a moment. The incense had burned down to its last vestiges, and the fragrance wafting from the copper censer grew fainter. Father and son stared at each other in silence through the thin veil of smoke for a moment, before Chen Liuchi finally gave in and spoke first. "Aren't you going to get tea? Which box do you want?"
Chen Mushan snorted at his son, but he put down the teacup gently in his hand, saying, "Don't give me that. Don't you know what I want?"
Chen Liuchi was really confused at this moment. Did his father really know about him and Cen Zhao's affair? But it didn't look like a storm was about to come. It must be for something else...
"I heard from your eldest brother that Jiang Bozheng is out of prison."
The moment the name sounded, all speculations suddenly disappeared. Chen Liuchi's eyes paused slightly, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He was safe.
"Yeah, I just found out a few days ago."
Chen Liuchi put down the teapot, his expression becoming more serious. "It seems he has made some meritorious contributions in prison."
Chen Mushan was more informed than him, or rather, he paid more attention to Jiang Bozheng than he did, and knew more clearly: "On the one hand, it's a meritorious service, and on the other hand - he's probably dying."
"Jiang Bozheng suffers from uremia and his condition is not optimistic, but I heard that he has found a suitable kidney donor and will be able to undergo surgery soon."
Chen Liuchi frowned when he heard this: "What a coincidence? There's a kidney source right after I get out?"
For some reason, he suddenly remembered Jiang Lainan, whom he saw at the city bureau gate that day. Is he a suitable kidney donor?
No, Jiang Lainan should not do such a thing. Her hatred for the father and son of the Jiang family is definitely the deepest and heaviest among all the victims. How could she possibly do such a saintly thing as donating a kidney to the beast Jiang Bozheng?
Chen Mushan raised his eyes and looked over, his gaze deep in the dim light: "After he came out, I asked someone to keep an eye on him and find out which hospital he is in now."
Regarding what happened back then, both Shenmaoyuan and Chenmushan cared more about it and felt resentful about it more than Chenliuchi.
Chen Liuchi naturally understood his father's implication and shook his head slightly. It wasn't that he was particularly kind, but he truly didn't want to have anything to do with Jiang Bozheng anymore. Those who are barefoot are not afraid of those who wear shoes. He was living a comfortable life now, so there was no need to bring trouble upon himself.
Chen Mushan knew his son well enough to understand what Chen Liuchi meant simply by the way he stroked the teacup. In a society ruled by law, he certainly wouldn't want to do anything out of line. He simply informed Chen Liuchi that unwillingness and inability were two different concepts.
"I just want to know who provided Jiang Bozheng's kidney."
After a few seconds, Chen Liuchi raised his eyes and looked at his father for a second. "As for the rest, we'll talk about it later."
Chen Mushan nodded, clinked his teacup, and the topic was over. He turned around and took out a box of tea leaves from the cabinet behind him: "Go and pour the tea."
Chen Liuchi took the tea leaves, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "We'll meet today, but we won't meet again in the future. I have other plans."
Chen Mushan scoffed when he heard this: "What are you going to see? If it was really a good thing, would I hide here?"
What's the meaning?
Chen Liuchi was stunned for a moment and pointed outside: "That junior high school classmate..."
Chen Mushan was annoyed: "I want to ask your mother to use her connections to get a teaching position at the university. You are so young, but you don't want to follow the right path. Instead, you are thinking of these crooked ways."
Chen Liuchi relaxed his grip on the breath he had been holding. He joined his father in making a few indignant accusations, then was ready to run away with the tea box in his arms.
"etc."
Chen Mushan suddenly spoke from behind: "What plan did you just mention?"
Chen Liuchi choked and secretly wanted to slap himself. How could he fail so quickly? However, this level had to be passed sooner or later, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to prepare for it earlier.
Thinking of this, Chen Liuchi took his foot back and stood in front of Chen Mushan obediently: "I thought you were going to arrange a blind date for me, but I said no, I already have someone I like."
These words were said so frankly that Chen Mushan was stunned.
He looked closely at his little son in front of him, as if he had thought of something, and an indescribable emotion flashed across his eyes.
Chen Liuchi didn't say anything more. He understood the principle of gradual progress from the basics to the advanced. Since this wasn't a blind date, he still had time and didn't need to rush.
"Good."
After a few seconds, Chen Mushan spoke: "I'm surprised that you would take the initiative to like someone."
After he finished speaking, Chen Liuchi's eyes suddenly paused. Chen Mushan's tone and expression were completely different from what he had imagined. In a flash, a bold idea suddenly emerged in Chen Liuchi's mind. He stared into Chen Mushan's eyes, hoping to get more definitive answers to support his inference, but Chen Mushan waved his hand first: "Alright, tell your mother to send them away quickly. It's so late, how can you not eat?"
Chen Liuchi was chased out of the teahouse by his father, holding the tea box. The first thing he did was to take out his phone and send Cen Zhao the good news: [There's a play, baby!]
Before Cen Zhao could reply to his text, Shen Maoyuan came over just in time: "Where's Dad? Mom sent them away. Let's go eat?"
It would have been fine if he hadn't come looking for anyone, but once he showed up, Chen Liuchi wanted to fly up and strangle him: "You Shen Maoyuan, you actually dared to lie about military intelligence!"
Shen Maoyuan was half a head taller than Chen Liuchi and was more sturdy. It would have been easy for him to break free. However, thinking that he was indeed somewhat in the wrong, he could only silently let his brother pinch his neck twice: "Lu Xiaoming was only half obedient. I am also a victim."
Chen Liuchi narrowed his eyes upon hearing this: "It's already gotten to the point where he can even whisper in your ear, and you still say there's nothing between you and him."
Shen Maoyuan shrugged nonchalantly: "It's up to you whether you believe it or not."
Chen Liuchi looked at him suspiciously for a moment, and finally snorted coldly and let go: "You keep talking tough, but when mom arranges a blind date for you, I wonder if you can still be so calm."
After dinner, Shen Maoyuan left with Lu Xiaoming, saying Fu Guang still had work to do. Chen Liuchi was busy replying to Cen Zhao's message and was late, so he had to stay and chat with Zhang Ning and Chen Mushan.
"What's going on with Lu Xiaoming?" Chen Liuchi had been thinking about this, but it was difficult to ask directly, so he could only hint at it. "I remember he didn't live here anymore, so why is he back?"
Zhang Ning was picking up walnut kernels from Chen Mushan's hand and eating them. She didn't even raise her eyelids when she heard this: "He graduated from university and went to Galaxy for an internship. Didn't your brother tell you?"
Chen Liuchi choked and said that he did say it, but he always thought that it was an excuse made by Shen Maoyuan to cover up his mistake.
"Anyway, he's lived close to us since he was little. He used to run around behind you when he was little. Now that he's grown up, it's time for you to let your brother experience what it's like to have a little follower."
Zhang Ning had no objection to the two children being close. Firstly, the two families knew each other well, so there was no burden in being close. Secondly, she didn't know if it was her illusion, but she always felt that her eldest son was more lively in front of Lu Xiaoming. It might be that the child of the Lu family was too lively, barking like a puppy all day long, which made Shen Maoyuan's temper and expression even more lively.
Zhang Ning couldn't help but smile at the thought. She turned around and asked Chen Mushan, who was cracking walnuts nearby, "Is the boss more lively now? He used to be like a little old man under your guidance, working all the time. Now, I hear him call Mingming several times a day."
Chen Mushan stuffed two walnut kernels into her hand unconvincedly: "You are already over 30, you should be more calm. I was his age and had been a father for two years, but he is getting worse as he gets older, hanging out with a kid all day long."
Chen Liuchi listened and felt that the tone of the conversation was not right, and it was not very beneficial to Shen Maoyuan's love life. But at this moment, he must not rush into trouble. He could only try to peel the walnuts quietly and reduce his presence.
Zhang Ning was unhappy to hear this. She had always been a little worried about Shen Maoyuan's personality and temper. She always felt that her eldest son was poisoned by the so-called elite education of Chenmushan when he was young, which made him dull and old-fashioned. As for being a father, with his stern old-fashioned appearance, it would be difficult for him to please girls.
The two of them were arguing with each other. Chen Liuchi couldn't persuade them to leave, so he had to secretly send a message to Cen Zhao, and felt that he would stay at Chen's house tonight.
Cen Zhao figured nothing was wrong, so he replied quickly: "Stay overnight. The weather forecast says there will be heavy rain in some areas tonight, and I'm worried about you driving back."
Chen Liuchi peeked out the window and typed stealthily: [No part of it has reached me.]
Cen Zhao: [Let’s say no to gambling, starting with you and me.]
Chen Liuchi couldn't help laughing: [Got it, Sir Cen!]
"What are you laughing at?"
Zhang Ning had just finished cracking the sunken wood mountain with a nutcracker when she turned around to see her son smiling brightly. That smile was so easy to understand. As someone who had experienced it, Zhang Ning understood it instantly and her eyes lit up immediately: "Second son, are you in love?"
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