Chapter 1177: Chapter 1177: Small Town Inn
They had just crossed the bridge when they encountered several elderly people gathered at the foot of the bridge playing chess.
Some of them had gray hair, but their spirits were exceptionally high, and their voices were full of vigor that could be heard from the other side of the bridge.
Lucy, who loved gossip, immediately introduced Hannah, "The one standing on the side watching, dressed in a little vest and looking quite spirited, is Grandpa Wilson."
He was the old flame of Granny Amy, as mentioned by Granny Li just before, Old Wilson.
Grandpa Wilson, in his youth, had been to the battlefield, a good-natured man who would lend a hand wherever there was a need, living alone for many years, recently he has been seen more often with Granny Amy.
Probably what Granny Li referred to as the stirring of a romantic heart.
As they were talking, Grandpa Wilson also looked over, greeting them, "Busy, huh? Out and about so late."
Lucy greeted him and repeated what she’d said earlier, saying she was going to meet a friend.
Grandpa Wilson recognized them and nodded, "Alright, if you need help, just speak up. Although I’m old, I still have strength."
George said, "You’re too kind."
After a few words, the chess game on the other side entered a crucial phase.
Some were shouting "Play this move, play this," while others were yelling, "No, no, that won’t work."
It ended up confusing the two players, who for a good while, couldn’t figure out where to make their next move.
After saying goodbye to Grandpa Wilson, they walked a few more steps to reach the place where they were staying temporarily in the town.
It wasn’t any grand hotel but a small inn.
Everything inside and out was neatly tidied, with several wooden tables and chairs arranged in the lobby and old-fashioned windows that pushed open. On the windowsills, there were several pots of green plants, which bloomed with unnamed small white flowers.
Hannah gave it an extra glance, stepped over the threshold, and before she could proceed further inside, she ran right into a human wall.
Though the entrance of the inn was rather spacious, it seemed like the person had bumped into her.
Dressed in black clothes, a black hat, and with the brim pulled down low, it was almost impossible to see the person’s features in the dim night; one could barely make out their slightly pale complexion.
"Sorry," the man said, his voice low, after which he quickly left.
He looked in a hurry, and once he turned around, he completely disappeared into the night.
Lucy couldn’t help but mutter, "What a strange person."
Hannah withdrew her gaze without saying much.
It was the off-season for tourism, and there weren’t many guests at the inn; only a woman stood at the front desk.
She was the owner of the inn, who had married into this small town in her earlier years and was nearing forty but still retained her charm, embodying the unique aura of the water towns in the Jiangnan region.
The weather in October was unexpectedly hot at night. The owner wore a retro-style cheongsam, holding a small fan in her hand, and greeted them with a warm smile upon seeing them.
On the front desk were an abacus, an account book, and a few writing brushes hung in one corner, with an inkstone set on the right side.
Everything around had an ancient charm, including the people.
It was as if time had stopped in this small town, traversing thousands of years, yet nothing had changed.
The room had been booked in advance, and after informing the owner, she bent down to find the keys to hand over and then bowed her head to check and scribble in a book for a moment.
Lucy, unable to wait, eagerly started to introduce Hannah to the history of the inn, having done her research before coming—rumor had it that the inn had several hundred years of history.
Once she started talking, she couldn’t stop, chatting away merrily all by herself.
