1990s: Spring Water Family

Chapter 22 Older Man and Younger Woman
The mountain bike was at the suspect's house. It had only been half-disassembled when the police broke down the door and caught the suspect red-handed.

This incident caused quite a stir and spread quickly, causing the man's relatives to suffer as a result and be ostracized by everyone.

The gossip and pointing fingers from their neighbors made them feel ashamed, and the family moved away soon after.

Just as the demolition was taking place, their family became one of the first to move out of the entire old town.

Lin Xiyu later heard that the suspect had a criminal record; he had committed offenses while working and was fired for theft. After that, he had been unemployed, staying at home doing nothing, drinking heavily, and beating his wife.

Having such a scumbag as your neighbor is bound to make you feel uncomfortable.

Then she thought about Gu Bin's family background, which was far inferior to her own. Making friends with him would be like climbing up her own ladder, let alone anything else.

The fragile seed of love, barely sprouting, was cruelly crushed by reality. She was depressed for several days until Li Yan called to say that she had communicated with the tourism bureau and that the documentary filming had officially begun. They would be filming on location at her home. Only then did she temporarily put the matter out of her mind, rouse herself, and welcome the arrival of the production team.

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Gu Bin's maternal grandfather lived on Wangfuchizi West Street, which was also a courtyard house. Its size and layout were not much different from No. 9 Donghua Street. The only difference was that only one family lived there, making it a small, detached house.

The bicycle was found, and Gu Bin went home. He saw that his grandfather happened to have some free time and was sitting under the shade of a tree studying chess. Gu Bin moved a small stool over and joined him.

"Xiao Bin, you're back just in time. Play a few rounds with Grandpa."

My maternal grandfather loves playing chess, but he's a complete idiot at it. He's been playing for decades and his skills haven't improved at all, but he doesn't seem to realize it. He likes to play chess with whoever he can find.

Gu Bin could beat him when he was ten years old, and his current level is far superior to before. Playing chess with him on purpose is just to make the old man happy.

"Xiao Bin just got back, hasn't even had a sip of water yet, and you're already asking him to play chess with you?"

Grandma lifted the curtain and came out of the south room, feigning displeasure, and placed a glass of chilled plum juice in front of her grandson.

My maternal grandmother was twenty years younger than my maternal grandfather. When she was young, she was a leading performer in the military arts troupe. She was beautiful and could sing and dance.

My maternal grandfather was a veteran of the Red Army. He joined the Nanchang Uprising at the age of 17 and devoted himself to the revolutionary cause during the War of Resistance Against Japan, remaining unmarried. After liberation, when he was quite old, he finally married my maternal grandmother under the care of a highly respected senior leader.

The couple is a typical older man and younger woman, and they have a son and a daughter.

Grandpa considered himself a rough and uncultured man, and that marrying Grandma was an immense blessing. Therefore, he listened to Grandma's every word and was somewhat henpecked.

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"Grandma, what are we having for dinner?"

Seeing that his grandfather was keeping his head down and not saying a word, Gu Bin picked up the plum juice, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, and immediately felt refreshed.

"What do you want to eat?"

When Grandma saw him drink the plum juice, her smile became even more kind and gentle.

"Braised pork knuckle".

"Okay, Grandma will go buy it for you right away."

"I want to eat the braised pork knuckle from Lu Ji's on Furong Street. That one is delicious."

"Okay, I'll buy from that store."

Grandma was craving braised pork knuckle, and of course she wouldn't refuse. She took off her apron and went out the door.

"You little rascal, you're getting more and more cunning."

Grandpa watched Grandma walk out of the yard, then chuckled and put down his chess piece: "So, what did you want to say by deliberately sending your grandma away?"

(End of this chapter)