Volume 3 Winter Solstice Chapter 3: The End at a Glance
After Yang Xuan left, Jiang You did not continue to gnaw on the pig's trotter. He went to the kitchen, washed his hands, found a Lock and Lock box and put the remaining pig's trotter in it.
I took the box and walked back to the store.
I put the box on the table, put on , then found my shoulder bag and stuffed the box in it.
Then he picked up his bag and walked out slowly onto the street.
More than 20 minutes later, he entered the residential area where Xu Zhihai lived, walked to the door of the apartment building based on his memory, and pressed 302.
A few dozen seconds later, he heard Zhang Qiu's voice, "Who is it?"
"It's me, Xiao Jiang."
With a click, the lock opened.
Jiang You opened the door and went up to the third floor.
After entering the room, Zhang Qiu put slippers at his feet. Xu Zhihai walked out of the study. He looked at Jiang You and asked, "Why did you think of coming here today?"
"I'm here to apologize," Jiang You changed his shoes and took out the Lock & Lock box, "I should have come a few days earlier..."
Zhang Qiu took it, the box was still warm, and asked, "Did you make it yourself?"
She opened the box. "Oven-baked?"
"A friend of mine made this. She used to sell roasted pig's trotters at the night market. She came to my shop and felt hungry, so she made some for herself." Jiang You made up the story.
Zhang Qiu took the box to the kitchen.
Jiang You and Xu Zhihai sat down on the sofa.
"You said you came to apologize, what crime are you apologizing for?" Xu Zhihai asked.
"Your daughter was frightened on the night of the 22nd," Jiang You said, his hands hanging between his knees. "Thanks to your cooperation, all the people in that group were arrested and none of them escaped."
"It's good as long as they catch him. How will they sentence him?" Xu Zhihai asked.
"The verdict is unclear, after all, some crimes are hard to bring to light. But it is certain that he will not be able to harm people again."
"That's good." Xu Zhihai's expression obviously relaxed.
Zhang Qiu cut a plate of fruit and placed it on the coffee table. "Xiao Jiang, why don't you stay for dinner today? Where's your son?"
"I was playing games at home. When I came out, I called him but he ignored me."
"Then bring him here? It's only a few steps away."
"He just ate a pig's trotter. I guess he's not hungry now. I'll go back and bring him something to eat in the evening."
"Did he like the cookies last time?" Zhang Qiu asked.
"I like it very much."
"Then take some back. I also made cranberry flavor this time."
Jiang You laughed, "How can this be so embarrassing? Every time I come here, I eat and take things."
"Last time Jiajia came back, we found out that it was his birthday, but you didn't even tell us so we could prepare a gift..."
Zhang Qiu walked back to the kitchen while muttering.
Xu Zhihai said, "Xiao Jiang, shall we play a game of chess? It's time for dinner after the game."
"Okay."
They stood up and walked into the study room one after the other. Xu Zhihai took out the chess equipment and placed it on the desk. "I haven't been to the teahouse recently because of Jia Jia's matter. Now that there is a result, I can finally rest assured."
He sighed, "I asked myself, I have done nothing wrong to Zhang Lin, I don't know why he wanted to hurt Jia Jia."
Jiang You picked up the black piece and placed it on the small eye in the upper right corner. "Maybe he has read too many ancient stories."
"What's the meaning?"
"In ancient novels about talented scholars and beautiful women, if a poor boy is favored by a teacher, wouldn't the teacher marry his daughter to him and pave the way for him?" Jiang You looked up at Xu Zhihai. "He may have been in middle school for a long time, so when he went abroad, this weakness was caught and exploited."
"That's possible," Xu Zhihai nodded. He placed the white piece on the star position. "Let's not talk about him anymore. When will we continue with our five games?"
"Before the New Year, I bought a seedling tray today and planted all the flower seeds. It will take about ten days for the seeds to sprout. After two leaves grow, they can be transplanted. It will take about 20 days," Jiang You counted the days while playing chess. "Call Zhao Lijun and Liu Jun, so it will be Saturday. Is the 18th convenient for you?"
"That's convenient. Then let's book it on the 18th, and don't change it."
"Yes, yes. If the sun is shining that day, we can put it in the greenhouse. If it's going to rain, we can put it in the house, where it's warm..."
"Shall I bring the chess equipment?"
"Okay, by the way, I also want to buy a clam stone, a moon seal or a practical seal will do."
"Let me introduce you to a seller."
"Okay."
White chess piece attacks the black chess piece's territory.
Jiang You's voice gradually became lower.
The only sound in the study was the sound of chess pieces falling.
When Xu Jiaqi returned home, she saw unfamiliar shoes on the shoe cabinet. She changed her shoes and walked into the kitchen. Zhang Qiu was putting the croaker head into the pot.
Xu Jiaqi covered her nose.
Zhang Qiu saw her and said, "Xiao Jiang came over today and is playing chess with your father in the study. Go make them some tea."
"It's Jiang You, I know."
Xu Jiaqi made two cups of green tea and brought them into the tea room.
After putting the cup down, she glanced at the chessboard.
"Who do you think will win, black or white?" Xu Zhihai asked.
"Black pieces? It seems like there are more black pieces?" Xu Jiaqi guessed.
"I killed the black chess dragon!"
Xu Jiaqi nodded blankly.
"I haven't seen you for a few days. Mr. Xu, your chess skills have improved." Jiang You praised Xu Zhihai .
"Yes, you have to practice hard at home, otherwise it will be too easy for me to win..."
"I haven't played for a long time today, so I'm not very good at it. I'll practice a few more games later."
Seeing that he couldn't get a word in, Xu Jiaqi walked out of the study and helped Zhang Qiu put the dishes and chopsticks on the dining table.
"Sometimes I wonder if I have delayed my daughter's return," Xu Zhihai was in a good mood after winning the game. He drank a sip of tea, "but at her age, she is..."
"It's only thirty-six."
"I'm thirty-eight years old, almost forty."
"I'm counting her actual age. According to the average life expectancy in Tangjiang City, she has only completed the first half of her life. Who knows what will happen next?"
"How old are you? Why do you speak so maturely?"
"I have a son now. I can see the end of my life. First, I raise my son, and then my son raises me. Don't you think so?" Jiang You arranged the chess pieces on the board and put them into jars one by one.
"You!" Xu Zhihai stretched out his finger and pointed at Jiang You. "When your son gets married and forgets about you, I'll see what you'll do then."
"No," Jiang You said confidently, "My son will definitely be filial to me."
Zhang Qiu pushed open the door of the study. "It's time to eat," she looked at Jiang You. "I just made a few dishes. Just eat whatever you want."
Zhang Qiu's casual meal also consisted of three dishes and one soup, plus the pig's trotters brought by Jiang You, a total of five dishes.
After eating a full stomach, Jiang You returned to the insect house carrying two boxes of cookies. He walked up the stairs and opened the door with the key. He sighed, "Tomorrow, I will start losing weight tomorrow."
