Chapter 64 of 100

Chapter 64

5 min read1,205 words

When Xu Chunliang found his grandfather, the old man was sitting in the park playing chess with someone. Xu Changshan was a skilled chess player, often winning, but he found it increasingly uninteresting. This made him think of his old friend Gao Hongtang, the father of Gao Xinhu, who was truly his match in chess.

In his seventies, with fewer and fewer friends around, he couldn't help but feel a sense of loss whenever he thought about it.

Seeing his grandson come to find him, Xu Changshan got up and left.

"What? Didn't they invite you to stay for dinner?"

Xu Chunliang smiled and said, "Why do I feel like you're jealous?"

Xu Changshan laughed heartily, "Why would I be jealous of a young girl? Speaking of which, do you have any feelings for that Pei Lin?"

Xu Chunliang interrupted him, "Grandpa, are you doubting my judgment?"

"That girl is quite pretty, though."

"Your standards are outdated."

Xu Changshan said, "Alright, they are outdated. I'll see what kind of girl you can find in the future."

Xu Chunliang said, "A man should establish his career before settling down. Matters of the heart should take their natural course. Of course, you don't need to worry. With someone like me, there's no shortage of potential brides."

Xu Changshan nodded, "Old Gao's granddaughter is quite nice. You two grew up together. I wonder if that girl has a boyfriend yet?"

Xu Chunliang smiled inwardly, thinking his grandfather had a lot on his mind.

Xu Changshan wanted to buy some koi fish for the pond in the backyard and suggested they visit the flower and bird market. Xu Chunliang had nothing else to do, so he offered to accompany him. The old flower and bird market in the city center was set to relocate next month, and it was currently bustling with people and chaos.

As they approached the market, a Toyota Land Cruiser honked behind them. The road was already a mix of pedestrians and vehicles, so the presence of a car wasn't unusual, but it was rare for someone to honk so aggressively in a busy area.

Xu Changshan was startled and instinctively moved to protect his grandson, stepping to the side. The Toyota Land Cruiser accelerated past them, its wheels splashing mud onto Xu Changshan's pants.

Xu Chunliang immediately recognized the car as belonging to Shi Zhiwei. It could have been a coincidence with another car, but this one was definitely intentional.

Xu Chunliang was furious and shouted, "Get out of the car!"

Xu Changshan quickly held back his enraged grandson, "Forget it. A moment of patience brings calm, and a step back brings a broader horizon. It's not worth having a conflict over such a small matter."

The Toyota had already sped away, turning a corner.

Hearing his grandfather's words, Xu Chunliang had no choice but to let it go. Although the old man wasn't injured, he was still visibly shaken by the sudden honk, his face pale and his pants splattered with mud.

Xu Chunliang made a mental note to settle the score. A gentleman's revenge is ten years in the making. This was the second time Shi Zhiwei had provoked him. Shi Zhiwei should be grateful that he hadn't caused trouble for him, yet he had now deliberately provoked him. He would make Shi Zhiwei pay a heavy price.

The flower and bird market was soon to be relocated, and many vendors were having sales. Xu Changshan looked at the flowers, birds, fish, and insects, feeling more relaxed.

Xu Chunliang wasn't particularly interested in koi fish; he was mainly there to accompany his grandfather. He also took the opportunity to look at some pet snakes and insects, but none of them caught his eye. He was more interested in their toxicity than their appearance, and most of the pets were bred, lacking the wildness he sought.

After more than an hour at the market, they were hungry. Xu Changshan suggested they go to Wu Yue Noodle Shop near the old city wall.

As they entered, Xu Chunliang saw Shi Zhiwei's car in the parking lot. It was a small world, and he hadn't expected to run into him so soon.

If it weren't for the surveillance cameras around the parking lot, Xu Chunliang would have removed all four of his tires. They chose a window seat, and Xu Chunliang kept an eye out but didn't see Shi Zhiwei in the dining area, guessing he was in a private room.

From their vantage point, they could see Shi Zhiwei's car. Xu Changshan's anxious mood had calmed, and he ordered two bowls of braised pork noodles. As they ate and chatted, Xu Chunliang mentioned his recent visit to the museum.

Xu Changshan was shocked to hear that all the oracle bones he had donated had been destroyed. It affected his mood. So much time had passed, and neither the museum nor Bai Mushan had informed him, the donor, about this. Although the ownership of the artifacts belonged to the state after donation, such a significant event should have been communicated to him, as a basic sign of respect to the donor.

Moreover, these oracle bones had been passed down through generations. Donating them to the state wasn't a loss, but their destruction was a great pity. Xu Changshan regretted it, thinking that if he had kept them at home, they might still be intact.

Seeing his grandfather's worried expression and affected mood, Xu Chunliang regretted telling him. He comforted him, "Grandpa, since they've already been donated, don't take it to heart. By the way, haven't you been in touch with Bai Mushan all these years?"

Xu Changshan thought for a moment, "We've had a few phone calls, mostly about whether we had any other oracle bones. That was many years ago."

"Did you tell him about the rubbings?"

Xu Changshan shook his head, "I had forgotten about them until you found them."

Xu Chunliang instructed his grandfather not to tell anyone about the dragon bone and the remaining rubbings, saying he wanted to keep them as a memento to avoid attracting the attention of the cultural relics department.

Xu Changshan agreed. In fact, he no longer wanted to donate any more artifacts, not because he didn't support the state's efforts to protect cultural relics, but because the management departments had disappointed him.

As they finished their noodles, Xu Chunliang saw Shi Zhiwei leave with a young, provocatively dressed woman. They were laughing and chatting, not noticing Xu Chunliang in the dining area.

Xu Chunliang made an excuse to leave early, saying he had something to do. Outside, Shi Zhiwei was reversing his car.

Xu Chunliang quickly walked to the roadside, got into a waiting taxi, and asked the driver to follow the Toyota.

Xu Chunliang敏锐地察觉到石志伟和那个女人的关系不太正常，果然，没过多久，就看到石志伟开车进入了全季酒店的停车场。