Faced with her grandfather's scrutinizing gaze, Zhu Fanfan became wary: "What do you want to do? I'm warning you, Grandma is upstairs, or I'll call for help."
Zhu Jiabao found it amusing: "If I really schemed against you, could you handle it? Your Grandpa Ji and your godmother have the same weakness: they like good-looking people, especially cute children, and they'll grant their every wish."
Isn't this a case of "beauty is justice"? Zhu Fanfan understood and confidently followed her grandfather to Grandpa Ji's house.
Upon arriving at the Ji family home, Zhu Fanfan greeted him sweetly with a smile, repeatedly calling him "Grandpa Ji." Ji Yuchen, unable to resist, sighed and asked, "So, what do you two want?"
Zhu Fanfan tugged at Grandpa Ji's sleeve and shook it, saying in a pitiful voice, "Fanfan has been working overtime at the hospital lately, and I'm so tired. I want to rest on Grandpa Ji's recliner. Grandpa Ji, please make one for me~~~ Grandpa Ji~~~"
Ji Yuchen had practically watched Zhu Fanfan grow up, and he would always speak softly to Zhu Fanfan, saying, "Our little Fanfan is so tired, it's no wonder. Grandpa Ji will make you the most comfortable place to lie down."
Zhu Jiabao: ...It's really unnecessary. I'm so old, even if I strain my voice, I'm still an old codger.
Zhu Fanfan continued, "Grandma is so tired too, Grandpa Ji, can you make one for my grandma too? I'll trade it for my grandpa doing hard labor."
Zhu Jiabao protested: "Why should I do the work?"
Ji Yuchen sneered, "Because you're the one who lies on the recliner the most after it's set up."
Don't think he didn't see it. It was Zhu Jiabao who wanted the recliner and persuaded Fanfan to come over. He even used Yumin as a shield. Yumin came from a poor background and could endure hardship. Her only treasure was her medicinal herbs. She didn't have much need for material things. But Zhu Jiabao was just like a young master who loved pleasure.
Zhu Jiabao naturally protested his innocence: "It was originally for my wife to rest. What's wrong with me feeling sorry for her? What's wrong with me lying down when she's not?"
If his wife wanted to sit in the recliner, what could he do besides get up quickly? The old bachelor didn't understand.
Ji Yuchen didn't believe it: "Whether I do it or not is my business. I haven't agreed yet. You still want to lie down? Then lie down on the ground!"
Zhu Jiabao winked at Zhu Fanfan, who immediately came up and whined, "Grandpa Ji~~~ Grandpa Ji~~~"
Ji Yuchen lost his temper: "For Fanfan's sake, you pay ten yuan and I'll make it for you."
Zhu Jiabao got angry: "Are you robbing me! I'll provide the materials, and the tools won't wear out. Even including my wear and tear fee, the labor cost is only ten yuan. Why don't you ask for twenty yuan?"
Where would he get the money? He handed it all over. Besides, do you know how much an ordinary worker earns in a month? Do you know how much an ordinary soldier earns? He's asking for ten yuan without even checking if he has any.
Ji Yuchen scoffed: "Take it or leave it. I'm already being cheap with my handicrafts. You make several hundred a month, can't you even afford ten yuan? I'm not charging for Fanfan's little recliner, so what?"
Zhu Jiabao immediately replied, "Look how anxious you are! I was just worried that your cooking was too cheap, so I wanted to give you twenty yuan."
Zhu Fanfan: ...Does it have to change so quickly?
Ji Yuchen didn't bother with his attitude: "I still have some timber here, consider it a gift. If it weren't for Yumin, I would have kicked you out. I wouldn't even look at someone offering me fifty yuan. I only accept a token amount because I'm afraid others will come up and ask me to make things. The country doesn't allow buying and selling now, wouldn't that make me make a mistake? Don't give me the money, just give me ten yuan worth of grain, consider it our exchange."
Zhu Jiabao: ...You actually know that accepting money is a mistake?
A few days later, the recliner was finished. Zhu Jiabao and Zhu Fanfan came over to get the recliner. As the father and son took turns lifting the recliner over their heads and walking out, Ji Yuchen rolled his eyes and turned the recliner on a switch. The recliner immediately folded up into a piece of wood, and even had a handle for carrying it.
Zhu Fanfan found it amazing and showered him with compliments: "Grandpa Ji is so amazing! The area has shrunk so much, I can still lift it! Grandpa Ji, you are incredible! Grandpa Ji, you are the most amazing person in the world..."
Ji Yuchen, who had originally wanted to make a few sarcastic remarks about Zhu Jiabao, said smugly, "It's nothing special, not that amazing. As long as Fanfan likes it, it's worth it."
In fact, Ji Yuchen felt very guilty. Every time he saw Fanfan's appearance as a New Year's picture doll, he felt that his wish would definitely come true. He would make a wish silently in his heart. Although it never came true, he was happy to see Fanfan.
Lost in Zhu Fanfan's constant praise, Ji Yuchen even gave away quite a few of the little trinkets he had made until Zhu Jiabao could no longer carry them all, at which point he grabbed Zhu Fanfan and ran away quickly.
Looking at the sharp wooden sword, the incredibly realistic wooden guns, and even the bomb models, Zhu Fanfan felt that she probably couldn't handle them.
When Zhu Jiabao returned home, he ran into Ming Zhengyang. Ming Zhengyang saw him carrying a stool and followed him in curiously. Zhu Jiabao pressed down on a part of the wood, and the stool seemed to deform, making a series of cracking sounds, revealing a reclining chair in front of him.
Following the same method, Zhu Fanfan quickly made a delicate little recliner. The recliner fit her perfectly, and its exquisite design featured a lifelike phoenix that seemed ready to take flight.
Zhu Fanfan exclaimed in surprise, "Grandpa, you can put snacks and water cups here. There's also a small flat area for reading, and a hand-cranked fan on it. In the summer, you can use it to cool off when there's a breeze. Grandpa Ji is so amazing! No wonder you're a descendant of Lu Ban!"
Looking at the recliner he could only lie on, Zhu Jiabao fell into deep thought.
Ming Zhengyang was overjoyed to see this: "Why didn't I think of making a recliner? I'll go to Old Rooster's house right away and order one."
Without waiting for a reaction, he ran off. Zhu Fanfan asked curiously, "Will Grandpa Ji make it for my godfather?"
Zhu Jiabao wasn't sure: "I would if my hands were itchy."
This little chore is just something the rooster does when he's bored, but it depends on whether he's willing to do it.
A short while later, Ming Zhengyang returned angrily, complaining as soon as he entered the door: "This old rooster actually charged me twenty yuan and made me bring my own materials. It's too much of a rip-off."
Zhu Jiabao then asked, "You rejected him and scolded him?"
Ming Zhengyang paused for a moment, then cleared his throat: "I've already agreed. I'll find fault with him when he finishes."
The Zhu family father and son: ...Are you sure that if you nitpick, they won't just kick you out?
Ming Zhengyang felt a little uncomfortable being stared at: "I just felt sorry for him because he was all alone, and I wouldn't make things difficult for him easily. What are you looking at? Do you think I'm the kind of unreasonable person?"
Zhu Jiabao: ...You're not, but you're a petty, vengeful old rooster who's also the kind who'll take action.
Ming Zhengyang gave a haughty snort and walked away with his head held high. Halfway there, he remembered that he had come to the Zhu family to ask Zhu Jiabao when he would get together with his old friends.
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