Chapter 394: Chapter 394: Intertwined Branches
The matter in the alley was left behind by Yi Roujing and her group, as Xu Ancheng caught up, Elder Tong was happily holding Baozi’s hand, with Yi Roujing following a step behind, occasionally looking back, her eyes questioning when she saw Xu Ancheng.
"It’s nothing, I’ll tell you the details later," Xu Ancheng said in a low voice.
"What are you two whispering about?" Elder Tong looked back, seeing Xu Ancheng catch up, he saw the couple whispering, with a slight look of disdain, "I’m not foolish now, my heart isn’t soft either, the Wang Qianjin family won’t be able to take advantage of me."
"It was you silly boy, I gave everything to you, put it in your name, what could they do now?" Elder Tong snorted, "They’d love to suck me dry, yet you, when given something, push it away, foolish to death."
Yi Roujing found it amusing, still remembering the last meeting where Elder Tong was full of praise for Xu Ancheng, saying how smart he was, calling himself the foolish one, yet now the tune had changed instantly, truly like an old child.
"Great-grandpa, my dad is really smart," Baozi spoke up for Xu Ancheng.
"Smart, smart, but our Baozi is the smartest of all," Elder Tong said cheerfully, "Are the lotus pastries tasty? What about the buttered abalone? Great-grandpa still has lots of good things, why not come stay at great-grandpa’s house for a while?"
"Will I go alone?" Baozi looked up and asked.
"Considering it’s for Baozi’s sake, your mom and dad can come too," Elder Tong chuckled.
"Thank you, great-grandpa," Baozi thanked him, and enthusiastically invited, "Great-grandpa can also come stay at our home, Beiluo Lane, Baiqian Village, even the small western-style house, you can stay."
"Who wants to stay in the small western-style house, I don’t want it; I want a courtyard house." Elder Tong had his own insistence.
"Then go to Beiluo Lane, grandpa’s and grandma’s house is a courtyard house, with lots of people living together, it’s very lively," Baozi said.
"Oh my, Baozi knows what being lively means now?" Elder Tong laughed and asked.
"It’s when very close people live together, eating, sleeping, chatting... doing lots of things, all happily, that’s lively," Baozi explained based on what he had seen.
"Then great-grandpa can’t move in, great-grandpa doesn’t know them, never met, and I’m older than them, they’d feel constrained, it wouldn’t be lively at all." Elder Tong replied.
"But everyone’s unfamiliar at the start," Baozi replied naturally.
Upon hearing this, Elder Tong was taken aback, then smiled, "This little guy knows quite a bit."
When the four arrived at Beiluo Lane, they happened to meet Ding Anguo and others at the entrance, who were there to pick up Professor Tian.
"Baozi."
"Sir Tian." Baozi, holding Elder Tong’s hand, adorably bowed towards Professor Tian, mindful of Elder Tong’s age, so Professor Tian refrained from approaching to hug him.
"Elder Tong, this is Professor Tian from Qing University; Professor Tian, this is Elder Tong."
Elder Tong and Professor Tian exchanged greetings.
"Elder Tong, that’s my brother Anguo, this is my brother-in-law Huang Xiaobao, both are from Qing University, my sister Ding Anmin, and this is their son Mantou."
"Brother—" Mantou had already walked over, holding Baozi’s other hand, his little head curiously tilted back, looking at the first-time met Elder Tong.
"That’s great-grandpa," Baozi explained to Mantou.
"Hello, great-grandpa," Mantou obediently greeted, following Baozi’s lead.
"Ah, good, good, both have such white little names, no wonder they look so good," Elder Tong praised with a smile.
Today, Beiluo Lane was bustling, Li Hongying had prepared two large tables full of dishes, and Elder Tong as well as Professor Tian were introduced to everyone.
"Seems like this pair is the newly wedded couple," Elder Tong said, looking at Zhou Zeyuan and Yuan Xiangyu. Both of their faces were full of joy, with a slight shy awkwardness; it was clear they were newlywed.
Zhou Zeyuan and Yuan Xiangyu glanced at each other upon hearing this, their eyes filled with affection for each other, unable to suppress their smiles.
Yi Roujing took out the small rectangular box that Elder Tong gave her on the way, handing it to Yuan Xiangyu, "A wedding gift."
"Hmph, I still remember, although it was understandable, it didn’t stop me from sulking," Yuan Xiangyu didn’t take it, arms crossed, acting proud.
"Once you see it, you won’t be mad," Yi Roujing raised an eyebrow, piquing Yuan Xiangyu’s curiosity, who pouted and took the box, opening it at once.
Inside was a gleaming gold bracelet, the bottom and side of the bracelet were smooth and flat, the top closed with an interweaving shape, with a cat’s eye stone embedded in the center, simple and elegant but with a unique top, blending into a refined beauty.
"Wow, so beautiful," Yuan Xiangyu exclaimed, taking the bracelet for a closer look, and handed the larger band to Zhou Zeyuan.
"Is this the intertwined branches?" Professor Tian asked from a distance after glancing over.
Elder Tong’s eyes sparkled with approval, "As expected of a Qing University professor, a keen eye."
"You can call me Shuowang, old sir," Professor Tian said with a smile.
"The name’s quite nice as well," Elder Tong couldn’t help but compliment again; he liked names that sounded good, displayed knowledge, and perceptive eyes.
"Intertwined branches? So these interweaving ones mean that, that’s great," Yuan Xiangyu lovingly stroked the bracelet and immediately slipped it onto her wrist.
"Hmm, you’re forgiven, Roujing, you’re so thoughtful," Yuan Xiangyu hugged Yi Roujing and bounced up and down.
Elder Tong scolded playfully, "Kids these days, really..."
"Elder Tong, your craftsmanship is amazing," Zhou Zeyuan gave a thumbs up, complimenting Elder Tong.
"Worthy of being Ancheng’s friend, knows how to speak well," Elder Tong smiled and took out a square little box, which Yi Roujing thought looked like a ring box.
"This is from the old man, happy wedding."
Zhou Zeyuan and Yuan Xiangyu, feeling a bit shy, glanced at Xu Ancheng before accepting it. Inside was a pair of gold rings, but intricately made in the same style as the bracelet, with the entire ring interwoven like intertwined branches.
The woman’s ring was thinner, the man’s thicker, fitting just right on Yuan Xiangyu’s ring finger.
Elder Tong had prepared quite a number of things, red envelopes, small gifts — everyone in the house received something, including Li Hongying and Ding Weihuo, whose faces turned quite red.
"No need to refuse, I am the eldest here," Elder Tong’s words left everyone unable to argue.
Professor Tian received his own red envelope with a smile, then began distributing the gifts he had prepared for everyone, red envelopes, and wood carvings, all his own handiwork.
"I didn’t expect you to have such skills," Elder Tong said upon receiving a pair of wooden lotuses, immediately recognizing they had learned of his preferences in advance, with detailed carving and exquisiteness.
"Are you interested in learning my skills, you have the foundation for it, would pick it up quickly," Elder Tong found himself tempted.
