Volume 2 Cold Dew Chapter 42 Giant Clam
After helping Jiang Mo change the bed sheets and playing games with him for an hour, Jiang You went back to the master bedroom to sleep.
Close your eyes and fall asleep.
At ten o'clock on Saturday morning, Jiang You was standing downstairs of Xu Zhihai's house carrying a box of yogurt.
He pressed the doorbell of Room 302.
After confirming his identity on the intercom, the door opened and he climbed up to the third floor. He saw Xu Zhihai standing at the door of 302 waiting for him.
“You’re finally here.”
Xu Zhihai noticed the yogurt in Jiang You's hand.
"What are you doing with this?"
"I picked it up when I passed by the supermarket," Jiang You followed Xu Zhihai into the supermarket, "Where are Mr. Zhao and Liu Jun?"
"In the study. They arrived at nine o'clock."
Jiang You put the yogurt on the coffee table in the living room.
Xu Zhihai took Jiang You into the study.
The study is very large, with bookshelves on three sides, a table in the middle, and the chessboard on the desk.
Zhao Lijun and Liu Jun were playing chess face to face.
After hearing the noise, Zhao Lijun raised his head and said , "Xiao Jiang, you're here. When I arrived this morning," he pointed at Xu Zhihai, "he kept nagging and even said he would ask Liu Jun to bring you back from home."
"I'm here now."
Jiang You pulled a chair and sat down at the table. He watched them play chess and said, "In order to wake up today, I set ten alarm clocks. Now my head is full of alarm sounds."
"Have you had breakfast?" Zhao Lijun asked.
"I have eaten. I had noodles at Xiaofangzhai."
"Old Yin's noodles are delicious."
As they were talking, Xu Zhihai's wife Zhang Qiu came in with a cup of tea. Jiang You stood up, took the tea, and said, "Thank you."
Her gray hair was combed neatly and she was wearing a gray cashmere sweater and a plaid skirt.
"You are Xiao Jiang," Zhang Qiu said with a smile, "My teacher Xu mentioned you to me and said that you are good at chess."
"It's okay, it's okay." Jiang You said modestly.
Zhao Lijun and Liu Jun looked up at each other and continued to play chess.
"You guys go play, I'm going out."
Jiang You waited until Zhang Qiu walked out of the study before he sat down again.
Xu Zhihai sat down on another chair and said, "Wait until they finish this round, then we'll start?"
"Okay." Jiang You took a sip of tea.
Sweet, with a fruity aroma.
"I don't think we can finish it today."
"If I can't finish it, I'll come back tomorrow."
Xu Zhihai was satisfied. He thought for a moment and stood up. He took out a box from the bookshelf and handed it to Jiang You. "Guess what this chess piece is made of?"
Jiang You opened the chess box, untied the bag, and took out a white piece.
White. Fine texture.
"It seems to be some kind of stone?"
"They are all stones. This is made of giant clams. Unexpected, right?"
"Giant clam?" Jiang You took the chess piece in his hand and looked at it for a while. "I really didn't expect it. I have only seen giant clam Buddhist beads. They are pretty good-looking chess pieces. They are a little thicker than the clam stone."
Xu Zhihai took out a few key chains made of giant clam chess pieces. He handed one to Jiang You, and gave one each to Zhao Lijun and Liu Jun. He said, "Take these back and play with them."
Xu Zhihai sat down again. "My wife cooked at noon. This morning, she and I went to the market to buy vegetables. We bought swimming crabs and shrimps, all alive."
"Eh? That's a treat."
Xu Zhihai nodded. "You've had breakfast, so I'll let you try some of her homemade cakes. They're no worse than those sold in other shops."
"Let's eat it in the afternoon, afternoon tea."
"What do you think of this tea?"
Jiang You took another sip and tasted it carefully, "Is this fruit tea? "
"Yes, my student returned home last month and brought it to me."
“It’s delicious.”
"You really think it tastes good?"
"I like sweet ones."
"Then take a box home to drink after you finish playing chess."
As they were talking, Zhao Zhijun and Liu Jun had finished their game.
Liu Jun wins by half a point.
They gave their seats to Xu Zhihai and Jiang You.
After Xu Zhihai grabbed a handful of chess pieces, Jiang You guessed it was an odd number.
Xu Zhihai released his hand, leaving a total of six black pieces. So Xu Lao played black and Jiang You played white.
Zhao Lijun and Liu Jun watched the game and took notes.
"Your daughter is not at home today?" Liu Jun asked.
"She is sleeping in her room," Xu Zhihai put the black chess piece on the top, "She is going out in the afternoon for a date."
"Is she dating someone?" Zhao Lijun asked with some surprise in his tone.
"yes."
Zhao Lijun thought for a moment, "She is thirty-six this year, right?"
"He's thirty-eight years old," Xu Zhihai sighed, "That student of mine, two years younger than her. My wife wants them to see everything. She doesn't object."
"Isn't that good? You're a student, why are you sighing?" Liu Jun was memorizing the music score.
"His family is quite complicated, they live in the countryside of Xinlong," Xu Zhihai sighed again, "As for my daughter, she was too picky before, and all my friends are taking care of their grandchildren..."
"It has to happen quickly," said Zhao Zhijun.
The game entered a sticky state.
Xu Zhihai stopped chatting with Zhao Lijun and focused on placing the chess pieces on the board.
After playing a game of chess, Zhang Qiu pushed the door open and said lunch was ready.