Stepping through the gate, they entered a quiet courtyard. The flowers and plants were already yellowed and their leaves had fallen, and a wintersweet tree in the corner has yet to bloom.
Although the house had been renovated, it still exuded an air of decay and age.
Duan Yuyan pulled Zhou Yan inside and asked in a low voice, "What are you going to say when you see my grandmother later? Do you need my help?"
"Just don't say anything. I'll sound out the old lady's opinion first. If it's not what she thinks, we shouldn't play matchmaker." Zhou Yan paused, also speaking softly.
Duan Yuyan raised her eyebrows slightly, revealing a hint of worry: "Don't bring up a grandfather for me. I don't care, but I'm afraid my dad and my uncle won't be able to handle the unexpected arrival of a father."
Zhou Yan looked at her: "You said you'd sell me the house for ten thousand yuan after I resolved the old lady's worries, is that still true?"
"Don't worry, I keep my word." Duan Yuyan nodded and continued walking forward: "My grandma is practicing calligraphy in the study room, come with me."
Zhou Yan followed, carrying the container, his eyes scanning the surroundings. The mansion was larger than he had anticipated, with two courtyards and quite a few rooms. The overall layout was exquisite and ingenious, and many rooms were empty and locked.
Walking through the corridor, they arrived at a room with an open door.
Duan Yuyan stepped forward, knocked on the door, and looked at the old lady writing at the long desk, saying, "Grandma, that grandson of Zhang Ji Braised Food has brought braised beef."
"What do you mean by 'that grandson'? Hong Kong people are a bit impolite, aren't they?" Zhou Yan raised an eyebrow, his gaze following her into the room.
The study room was decorated in an antique style, with bookshelves on one wall filled with ancient books.
A long solid wood table was placed by the window on the right, with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones displayed on it.
An old lady sat at the table, facing slightly towards the door, wearing a black three-quarter sleeve cheongsam. Her back was ramrod straight, her silver hair neatly tied up, adorned with a peach wood hairpin, and she held a calligraphy brush in her hand.
Zhou Yan's gaze fell on her face. Fine lines were already etched at the corners of her eyes, but her profile remained soft, as elegant as ever, now with a touch of solemnity.
In a daze, he seemed to see Miss Qiu, carrying a blue and white porcelain container, turning around, her shoulders trembling slightly, tears streaming down her face at the foot of the Suji stone bridge.
She was still the same girl; more than forty years seemed to have only added a few fine lines to her face before she aged gracefully.
Mr. Duan did it, he must have treated her extremely well.
Hearing the sound, Qiu Qi's hand trembled slightly, and a drop of ink spilled onto the paper, spreading into a blotchy mess.
She turned to look at the doorway, her gaze falling on Zhou Yan, who stood there holding a porcelain container. She was slightly dazed.
That boy standing in the sunlight, always standing like this at the door, holding that blue and white porcelain container.
Unfortunately, it wasn't him after all.
Qiu Qi put down her brush and smiled, "Are you Zhang family's grandson?"
"Yes, my grandmother asked me to give you her regards." Zhou Yan nodded with a smile.
"She...remembers me?" A hint of surprise appeared on Qiu Qi's face.
"Grandma saw your wedding with Mr. Duan at the Feiyan Restaurant when she was young, and it left a deep impression on her." Zhou Yan said, stepping forward and placing the porcelain container on the table. "Miss Duan said you wanted braised beef, so I specially braised some for you today."
Looking at the porcelain container with the enamel lid, Qiu Qi reached out, almost touching the lid, but then stopped, a hint of hesitation on her face.
Duan Yuyan clenched her fists nervously, her eyes fixed on Qiu Qi. It was the first time she had seen such an expression on her grandmother's face—not the usual serene elegance, but a hint of…panic.
Zhou Yan stood quietly, waiting for her to lift the lid.
After a moment's hesitation, Qiu Qi finally lifted the lid.
In the white porcelain container, pieces of braised beef were arranged in a circle, layered neatly.
Qiu Qi stared blankly at the beef in the container, her lips pursed, and two streams of tears finally slid down her cheeks.
Forty eight years had passed, and in this same study room, the braised beef in the porcelain container looked exactly the same.
She stood up, holding onto the table, walked to the cabinet next to the bookshelf, opened the cabinet door, and took out a blue and white porcelain container.
Zhou Yan looked at the blue and white porcelain container she brought to the table. The glaze had been scratched many times, a corner had been broken and repaired, and a crack stretched across half the bowl, but the peony at the bottom still bloomed with unparalleled beauty.
He hadn't expected her to still have this container.
The mottled, broken marks made Zhou Yan think of Wang Yu; how similar he was to this blue and white porcelain container!
The two container, placed side by side, looked almost identical in size.
Qiu Qi wiped away her tears, examined the container for a long time, then turned to Zhou Yan and asked, "Did you arrange these?"
"My grandmother said that back then, the fourth young master of the Wang family always brought a blue and white porcelain container when buying braised beef, always telling her to arrange it nicely so he could give it away as a gift." Zhou Yan nodded.
Tears welled up in Qiu Qi's eyes again as she softly said, "Thank you, you're so kind."
Zhou Yan looked at the blue and white porcelain container on the table and said, "This... this should be the same blue and white porcelain container from back then, right? I didn't expect you to still have it."
Qiu Qi's fingers gently caressed the blue and white porcelain container, her gaze slightly dim. "This is the last thing he left me. Keeping it is a memento. After all, I don't even know if he's alive or dead."
"You don't want to go to Hong Kong because of him?" Zhou Yan asked gently, but his words were unusually direct.
Duan Yuyan leaned forward slightly, her eyes full of anticipation. This gossip today was truly juicy and substantial; she was finally getting to witness the gossip of her grandfather's generation.
It has to be Zhou Yan; she would never dare to hand over that knife.
Qiu Qi's gaze drifted out the window. After a long silence, she slowly spoke, "I want to see what he looks like, to know how he's been all these years, I want to see him again. I'm here; if he's still alive, he can find me."
Zhou Yan and Duan Yuyan exchanged a glance, and the other silently gave him a thumbs up.
"He's still alive." Zhou Yan said.
Qiu Qi turned abruptly to Zhou Yan, her voice trembling slightly: "Where is he?"
"Suji." Zhou Yan replied. "I went to see him before I came. He said that not disturbing your life was his last act of dignity and tenderness, so he hasn't sent you a single letter or come to see you all these years."
"But the letters he wrote to you filled a large box. For decades, he never stopped. Stamps were affixed, addresses were written, and then they were locked away in the box."
Qiu Qi's mouth gaped slightly, her eyes filled with shock and heartache. Her hands, resting on the table, clenched into fists, trembling slightly, and tears streamed down her face.
Duan Yuyan looked at Qiu Qi, who was in tears, her eyes glistening with tears, "This tragic love story is so heartbreaking! How could Grandma have missed such a good person back then? Was Grandpa really a villain?"
She quickly looked up at Zhou Yan, realizing what he meant: "No! Brother? If you do this, I might really get another grandfather!"
"Is he... alright?" Qiu Qi finally spoke, looking at Zhou Yan.
"He's fine, healthy and in good spirits." Zhou Yan nodded, looking at her, "Would you like to see him? He said that if you're willing, he'd like to see you too."
"Yes." Qiu Qi didn't hesitate for a moment, her eyes lighting up, and she stood up, saying, "Shall we go now?"
The old lady's decisiveness surprised Zhou Yan.
But wasn't this the same Miss Qiu who dared to resist the adjutant's coercion, waited until the two years agreement was fulfilled, and even made a special trip to Suji to bid farewell to Wang Yu?
She was elegant, but never weak.
"Let's meet at nine o'clock tomorrow morning under the banyan tree at the Suji Bridge. I'll arrange the time with him." Zhou Yan said.
At noon, he got Grandpa Wang drunk in an attempt to get information out of him. He didn't want Grandpa Wang to appear as a drunkard during their hard-won meeting.
"Okay." Qiu Qi nodded and looked at Zhou Yan softly, saying, "Thank you for your help. I still don't know your name."
"My name is Zhou Yan. You can just call me Little Zhou." Zhou Yan smiled.
"Alright, Little Zhou, you and Yuyan are about the same age, so just call me Grandma." Qiu Qi said with a smile. "Sit down, I'll have Chen Sanmei pour you some tea."
Zhou Yan glanced at his watch; it was already four o'clock. He shook his head and said, "No need, Grandma Qiu, I should go back to the restaurant. If I get back too late, there won't be enough time to prepare the dishes."
"Grandma, he runs a restaurant in Suji, and business is booming." Duan Yuyan finally chimed in.
"Alright, business is important then. Don't let it interfere. Come for tea another time." Qiu Qi quickly replied.
"Let's go, Little Zhou, I'll see you out." Duan Yuyan said with a smile to Zhou Yan, leading the way to the door.
"See you later." Zhou Yan said to Qiu Qi, following Duan Yuyan out the door.
"You're amazing! You managed to get my grandma's worries out of her with just a few words. My dad and I worked on this for half a year, and it wasn't as good as what you did in a day." Duan Yuyan slowed down and walked alongside Zhou Yan, looking at him with admiration.
"I told you, I'll be an excellent partner." Zhou Yan said, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Don't get too cocky. If my grandma and that Grandpa Wang rekindle their romance and have a passionate twilight love affair, and she doesn't want to go to Hong Kong and insists on staying at the Qiu family mansion, then I won't be able to sell this house to you." Duan Yuyan said, her brows furrowed, her face full of worry.
She was now frantically praying that this outcome wouldn't happen.
Otherwise, if this turned out to be a situation where she'd found a father figure for her dad, her dad would most likely come all the way from Hong Kong tomorrow and give her a good beating.
"You have so little faith in your grandfather? I think you're overthinking it." Zhou Yan said with a smile.
Duan Yuyan thought for a moment and then said, "They meet tomorrow morning, so let's arrange for them to have meal at your restaurant. Please save me a table."
"Tomorrow's the weekend, so you need to make a reservation first. Whatever dishes you order, I'll buy the ingredients accordingly to avoid waste." Zhou Yan replied.
"Then let's get one of everything on the menu." Duan Yuyan said without hesitation.
"If the driver doesn't come, the three of you won't be able to finish seven dishes." Zhou Yan shook his head.
"Then I'll have twice-cooked pork, crucian carp with perilla leaves, beef with dried bamboo shoots, and braised pork ribs."
"Okay." Zhou Yan nodded, not expecting to take on an order at the same time.
"Tell me, who exactly is Wang Yu? What is he doing in Suji now? What does he look like? Is he a good match for my grandma?" Duan Yuyan asked curiously.
"You'll find out tomorrow morning." Zhou Yan stepped out the door, hopped on his bicycle, and waved goodbye. "See you tomorrow."
"Ugh! You…" Duan Yuyan stamped her foot, hands on her hips. She hated people who kept her in suspense or those who wouldn't let her keep it a secret!
Yan Fei had just sat back in the driver's seat, feeling annoyed about the lost bonus, when he saw the culprit come out of the Qiu residence, ride away on his bicycle, and not forget to make an appointment with Miss Duan to meet tomorrow?
Looking at Miss Duan, stamping her foot and putting her hands on her hips, this girlish behavior was something he hadn't seen in the past six months.
Miss Duan is like a fairy, aloof and cold to everyone outside, just like Old Mrs. Qiu.
"Sigh... Oh well, at least I got my salary." Yan Fei resisted the urge to slam on the gas and run Zhou Yan over, and continued to mourn the bonus he had lost.
When Duan Yuyan returned to the mansion, she saw her grandmother taking out one cheongsam after another from the wardrobe and trying them on in front of the mirror. Seeing her come in, her grandmother smiled and asked, "Yuyan, which one do you think will suit me to wear tomorrow?"
Looking at the old lady's gentle smile, Duan Yuyan felt a mix of emotions. In the six months they had lived together, she had rarely seen a smile on her grandmother's face, and she had never asked her which cheongsam she should wear.
"Grandma, what kind of person is that Wang Yu?" Duan Yuyan asked curiously as she approached.
"Him..." Qiu Qi looked at herself in the mirror and smiled slightly. "Everyone says he's a good-for-nothing who spends his time walking birds and fighting crickets[1], but they don't know that he's thoughtful and considerate. Every time he delivers braised beef, he secretly brings me a small bag of candied fruit. Everyone says he's an uneducated playboy, but when the country was broken, he was the one who climbed over the wall at night to go out of Sichuan to fight the Japanese."
"Before he left, he asked Sister Zhang to give me a serving of braised beef and a letter. He dedicated himself to the country, making a two years promise with me. I never imagined that forty seven years would pass in the blink of an eye, and I've never seen him again."
"His image is blurred in my memory."
"Look, I'm not the same person I used to be."
Qiu Qi took a step forward, her fingers tracing the fine lines at the corners of her eyes, and chuckled softly, "Getting old, but still able to see him again, that's good."
"You're not old at all, still beautiful!" Duan Yuyan shook her head, thought for a moment, and then mustered her courage to whisper, "Grandma, did Grandpa steal you away back then?"
Upon hearing this, Qiu Qi turned around and looked at her, reaching out to pat her head and smiling: "Don't talk nonsense. Your grandfather pulled me out of the mud and has protected me all my life."
"On our wedding day, the moment he lowered his head and carried me out of the car, I knew I had chosen the right person. He was such a proud man, yet he was willing to humble himself for me."
"He always said he had wronged me, but we were born in a chaotic world, surrounded by tigers and wolves. I was the one who forced him to bow his head and even wander from place to place."
"Choosing a good partner and grow old together. He did it, and so did I."
Duan Yuyan stared blankly at her. Her grandmother's smile was full of sweetness, and she even saw a hint of girlish shyness.
She ended a relationship that was destined to end, and then devoted herself wholeheartedly to her marriage with her grandfather.
"I think this one is quite nice, light green, elegant and flattering." Duan Yuyan picked out a cheongsam from the wardrobe and said with a smile, "It will definitely make his eyes light up!"
"Okay, then wear this one." Qiu Qi nodded.
...
As Zhou Yan passed the town library, Grandpa Wang, reclining in his chair, seemed distracted. Seeing Zhou Yan, he immediately stood up, his expression slightly tense: "What...did she say?"
"It's settled. Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, under the banyan tree by the stone bridge, she'll meet you." Zhou Yan said with a smile. "Master, Grandma Qiu still cares about you quite a bit."
Grandpa Wang smiled with relief. "That's good. It's good to see her again."
"You can change into something more presentable tomorrow. I'll head back now and come find you again tomorrow morning." Zhou Yan said with a smile, then rode off on his bicycle.
The factory was about to close, and he was in a hurry to get back and cook.
"Something more presentable?" Grandpa Wang glanced down at his clothes, thought for a moment, then closed the library door and rode his bicycle towards the supply and marketing cooperative.
Grandpa Wang, who had worn two sets of clothes patched and mended for many years, surprisingly replaced his entire outfit from head to toe.
...
Aunt Zhao and the others had already gone to rest.
Zhou Yan, having finished his run, took a shower and was now calculating the dishes ordered by the guests who had made reservations for tomorrow.
Another weekend had arrived in the blink of an eye.
Thirteen tables had been reserved today, four more than last week, all for groups of four or more people—a significant increase.
After settling the accounts, he put the money back in the cash register and went upstairs to lie down.
The day had passed quickly, but it had been quite fulfilling.
Although he didn't know what the outcome would be tomorrow, but he wasn't anxious.
On the contrary, he felt quite satisfied.
What a wonderful coincidence! Two people who hadn't seen each other for nearly fifty years were once again bound together by a portion of braised beef.
He was both a witness and a driving force.
Whether or not he could acquire the Qiu family's old house was no longer so important at this moment.
His only thought at that moment was that when they met again, they would still be each other's unforgettable, cherished memories.
...
It was 8:30 in the morning.
Zhou Yan had already brought all the groceries he bought back to the restaurant and was heading straight to the town library.
In front of the library, Grandpa Wang, dressed in a smart Zhongshan suit, trousers and cloth shoes, was grooming his hair in front of the mirror. His silver hair was parted in a neat two eight style and combed meticulously. He looked full of energy.
"You're here." Grandpa Wang said, adjusting his clothes and looking at Zhou Yan. "How is it? Is it alright?"
"Great! Just as upright as when you were young!" Zhou Yan nodded. He changed his clothes and stood up straight, looking exactly like a retired cadre, the kind of guy that dancing grandmas in the park love.
"You talk as if you've seen what I looked like when I was young. Back then, I wore suits and leather shoes; I was much more dashing than I am now." Grandpa Wang laughed.
I really have seen it. I admit you weren't exaggerating; you were really handsome!
"Let's go, let's get there a little earlier." Zhou Yan said with a smile.
"Okay." Grandpa Wang nodded.
It was only a few minutes walk to the stone bridge. Zhou Yan pushed his bicycle, and he and Grandpa Wang walked unhurriedly towards the bridgehead.
Zhou Yan was a little nervous, while Grandpa Wang seemed relaxed and at ease.
"Master, you two have been separated for so long, what do you intend to say?" Zhou Yan asked with a smile, genuinely curious.
Master Wang smiled and said, "In this long-awaited reunion, instead of talking about longing, you said: 'Tonight, I light a silver lamp and gaze upon you again and again, fearing that this reunion might be as unreal as a dream.'
Instead of expressing joy, you said: 'When we meet with smiles, it feels as if jade branches and trees are leaning against each other, bathed in the warm sunshine and radiant glow.'
Instead of discussing the future, you said: 'Life is full of gatherings and separations, let us enjoy our reunion together.'"
Zhou Yan was filled with respect and silently took out his notebook to write it down.
A master is indeed a master; all those years of studying haven't been in vain.
They walked unhurriedly towards the large banyan tree at the bridgehead. As they approached, they discovered two figures already standing beneath it.
Qiu Qi, dressed in a light green cheongsam, her silver hair pulled up high, adorned with pearl earrings, smiled radiantly at them.
Grandpa Wang paused, staring blankly at Qiu Qi.
Ten meters apart, yet it felt like half a century had passed between them.
Zhou Yan also stopped, moving slightly to the side, ready to watch the master's performance.
Standing beside Qiu Qi, Duan Yuyan covered her mouth, staring at Grandpa Wang in shock and bewilderment.
How could it be this old man?!
Grandpa Wang, who had meal with her yesterday and even paid the bill for her!
He's Wang Yu?
Duan Yuyan looked at Zhou Yan, but he ignored her, refusing to meet her gaze.
Qiu Qi walked towards him, a smile on her face, but her eyes gradually reddened.
Wang Yu's lips trembled slightly; his mouth opened, but he couldn't utter a single word for a long time, until Qiu Qi was right in front of him, before finally uttering two words: "Qiqi..."
"Long time no see, Ah Yu." Qiu Qi said, looking at Wang Yu, her eyes brimming with tears, her smile exceptionally bright.
"Long time no see." Wang Yu smiled as well, as if everything had been resolved in this moment.
He looked at her, his eyes shining with boundless light.
At this moment, Zhou Yan seemed to understand the saying: "I see all living beings as grass and trees, but I only see you as a green mountain[2]."
"Ah Yu, let's go for a walk by the river." Qiu Qi suggested.
"Okay." Wang Yu nodded, walking alongside her.
Zhou Yan and Duan Yuyan stood by the railing of the flood control embankment, watching the two step onto the stone bridge from afar, chatting and laughing, just like long-lost friends reunited.
"Why didn't you tell me Wang Yu was Grandpa Wang?" Duan Yuyan asked.
"If I told you, how could you still feel surprised?"
"This isn't a surprise! This is a shock!" Duan Yuyan gritted her teeth, watching the two figures disappear into the distance, then sighed softly, "I never imagined Grandpa Wang's life would be so full of hardship."
"Life is full of partings and reunions; let's enjoy the time we have together. They are both magnanimous people." Zhou Yan smiled as he watched the two figures walk away.
The old lady's fragmented memory seemed to be driven by some unseen force, prompting him to do this.
Zhou Yan and Duan Yuyan stood at the bridgehead for a long time without saying a word. They simply watched them cross the stone bridge and then sit and chat under the willow tree on the other side of the river.
Both of them had smiles on their faces, but there was a half-meter distance between them.
Zhou Yan turned to Duan Yuyan and said, "If I don't have enough money on hand, can I pay you in two months?"
"Are you that confident?" Duan Yuyan looked at him.
"Grandpa Wang let go back then to fulfill and protect her, and he stopped contacting her later to maintain dignity and avoid disturbing her. He never had any possessive intentions; he only wanted her to live well, and I think he still won't now." Zhou Yan said with a smile.
Duan Yuyan smiled upon hearing this, "My grandma said, 'Choosing a good partner and grow old together.' And she did. I think they'll become good friends."
"Then I'll go back to the restaurant to prepare for lunch time business." Zhou Yan said, glancing at his watch. "Bring them over for lunch."
"Okay." Duan Yuyan nodded, watching Zhou Yan push his bicycle away, and stepped forward, saying, "Zhou Yan, thank you. I've been in Jiazhou for half a year, and this is the first time I've seen my grandma so happy."
"You're welcome." Zhou Yan smiled, pedaling away with a slight upturn to his lips.
Duan Yuyan watched Zhou Yan's retreating figure, a smile also appearing on her face.
In the distance, Yan Fei, standing beside the Crown car, was frantically scratching his head.
Okay, okay!
The buzz cut couldn't be stopped!
The old man couldn't be stopped either!
If the boss finds out, will he tear him apart?
Damn it…
(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
[1] Cricket fighting is a hobby and gambling activity involving the fighting of male crickets. It is not considered a sport.
[2] Meaning: I see everyone else as just a blade of grass, but you are different from everyone else in my eyes. This sentence uses plants and trees as a metaphor for all living beings, while you stand out like a unique green mountain, expressing a unique appreciation and deep affection for you. The emotions are sincere and the artistic conception is profound.