Chapter 322: Chapter 321

In the evening, when the couple entered the bedroom to rest, they started talking about Old Mr. Lian.

Wang Liansheng said, “The wound has basically healed, and the old gentleman can be discharged in a day or two.”

Ling Chengyan’s lingering question surfaced again, and after a moment of pondering, she said, “Did Old Mr. Lian say anything after calling you over?”

Wang Liansheng looked up at his wife, smiled, and said, “What could he say? At his age, after going through such a car accident, he was frightened, and it’s normal to want someone familiar around to connect with.”

“The people in his factory…” Ling Chengyan asked again.

“Chen Xiong was just a manager he hired in Hai City, strictly speaking, not his trusted confidant.” Wang Liansheng patted the bed, indicating for Ling Chengyan to lie down, and then tucked her in, saying, “When people are on the edge of life and death, they are always terrified and panic-stricken. I suppose he called me because he thought I am upright from enough encounters like this.”

Ling Chengyan glanced sideways at him with a smile, which made Wang Liansheng a bit flushed in the face, and he lowered his head to give her a quick, gentle kiss, laughing, “Am I not allowed to praise myself? You don’t praise me!”

The first sentence clearly carried a playful tone, but the latter sounded somewhat aggrieved.

Ling Chengyan couldn’t hold back and started laughing. Wang Liansheng raised his eyebrows, pretended to stretch out his hand to grab her, but without moving, he followed her in laughter.

Two days later, Old Master Lian was smoothly discharged from the hospital and returned to his small courtyard to recover temporarily.

Wang Liansheng didn’t need to run to the hospital every day, but he still visited the old master daily, helping solve some small daily issues, like buying gas, or running errands for some things. These were not major tasks but were very heartwarming.

In the blink of an eye, it was late December, and soon it would be New Year’s Day.

Old Master Lian had fully recovered and was ready to go back to celebrate the festival.

That day, as Wang Liansheng was getting ready to go to work, his aunt stopped him: “Isn’t that old gentleman not going anywhere for the Gregorian calendar’s new year? You should ask him where he plans to spend it. If he doesn’t have any official matters, invite him over to our house for the New Year.”

Old Mr. Lian had spent a Spring Festival at the uncle’s house before, and now, after his car accident, it was close to the New Year again. With a kind heart, the aunt remembered it again.

During the holidays, our country’s old tradition is to gather and be lively, so the aunt felt it better to invite Old Mr. Lian to avoid him being lonely.

Wang Liansheng smiled, agreed, and walked out.

In his heart, he thought that someone like Old Mr. Lian would not spend the festival alone as he would have plenty of invitation offers. But since the older gentleman mentioned it, he too went along with it. When he saw Old Mr. Lian in the Lian Family, he relayed his aunt’s words.

He hadn’t expected Old Mr. Lian to agree, but surprisingly, the old man nodded enthusiastically, “Sure, I also like the homey atmosphere, and the two kids are close to me too.”

Wang Liansheng was somewhat surprised but quite delighted. Though this old gentleman had the business acumen, overall, he was a respectable old man. Moreover, as the old man said, the uncle, aunt, and the two kids had a good impression of him. His presence at home for the New Year would surely make everyone happy.

Wang Liansheng took out a few sets of theater and movie tickets from his bag and handed them over, “Around the New Year’s Day, some renowned actors from the National Peking Opera Theater will be performing several big shows. There are also performances by our province’s dance theater and drama theater. These are the tickets; I’ve brought some for you to see if you have time.”

The old gentleman was very interested and changed to his reading glasses to look closely at the tickets. Then, looking over the top of his glasses at Wang Liansheng, he smiled, “I remember your uncle and aunt love opera. It’s just right with these tickets; we can take the kids too.”

Wang Liansheng didn’t decline and readily laughed, “Alright, then you guys go together; it’ll be lively.”

On New Year’s Day, Ling Chengyan had to spend it with the soldiers in the troop.

Wang Liansheng’s job was during the day, and in the evening, he got home early, put on an apron, and cooked up a table of dishes.

When the dishes were set, Old Master Lian cheerfully instructed, “Since we’re celebrating, open a bottle of the wine I brought for your uncle and aunt to try.”

Wang Liansheng had prepared a ten-year-old bottle of Maotai, which Ling Chengyan took out before leaving home.

His wife liked to collect wines, buying a couple of bottles now and then, storing them at home. Over the years, she’d quietly amassed dozens of bottles. During their recent move, they packed several large boxes. Usually, Wang Liansheng didn’t pay much attention, but this time he realized just how many treasures his wife had collected.

The Maotai was opened, and so was the wine. His uncle tried a bit of the wine, shook his head, and went back to drinking liquor. His aunt liked the sweet white wine and even let the kids try a little for the taste.

After a few rounds of drinks, Ling Chengyan returned home.

She had already eaten with the troop, but she joined in for a cup of wine at home, set it aside, and along with the finished-eating aunt, they began preparing dumplings for midnight.

On New Year’s Day, known commonly as the Gregorian New Year, it wasn’t usually celebrated as grandly. But since Old Master Lian was there, the aunt had solemnly prepared everything, even up to the style of officially celebrating the new year with dumplings at midnight.

Over there, the kids also finished eating and left the table.

Shi Tou somehow nestled into Old Master Lian’s arms, listening to him chat about the past with his uncle and Wang Liansheng.

Little Xin and Little Yu washed their hands and came over to help make dumplings, dividing into two groups. The TV was on, but no one was watching carefully, and everyone chatted and laughed, all lively. Before anyone realized, it was midnight.

The leftovers were cleared away, and the plump, round dumplings were served. Everyone had a few dumplings, marking the solemn end of the Gregorian New Year.

Old Master Lian, having had some wine, was not made to leave, so he stayed in the same room with his uncle and Wang Liansheng, continuing to chat about their past and casual tales.

Little Xin, Shi Tou, and Ling Chengyan shared a room, while the aunt and Little Yu shared a bed, each settling down to sleep.

The next morning, Little Yu, Little Xin, and Shi Tou all received New Year gifts from Old Master Lian, all stylish items. Little Yu and Little Xin each got a small personal music player for learning English. Shi Tou received a handheld game console, one you could play games with in hand.

The children were all very happy, thanking him with gleeful smiles, and walked around wishing everyone a happy New Year.

Ling Chengyan also brought out New Year gifts for the three elders, including Old Master Lian. It was a set of leather goods: a leather hat and leather coat made from fur materials she bought during her trip to Meng Province, custom-made by an old tailor. The design was modernized, not hindering wearing a coat outside.

Old Master Lian put it on, grinning, and showed it off, “Do I look good?”

Little Xin and Shi Tou both gave double thumbs up, praising, “Grandpa Lian, you look the most handsome!”

After the New Year, the kids returned to school to prepare for their final exams. Old Master Lian quietly departed from the Eastern Province, returning to Hai City. It was said he would stay in Hai City for one to two weeks before flying to the United States.

At night, during their bedtime chat, Wang Liansheng said to Ling Chengyan, “I heard the old man plans to move all his companies back to the country.”

Ling Chengyan responded, “Returning to one’s roots.”

Two days after Old Master Lian left, the second brother of the Ling family came by with two jars of pickled goods. He said he got them when delivering goods to Jinmen Port, one jar of pickled crabs, and another jar of crab paste, both authentic Bohai blue crab pickles.

Father Ling loved this taste. Big brother Ling teased, “The old man loves this flavor, always saying that one crab claw can be paired with a round of drinks.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep