Chapter 288: The Old Fellow

In the blink of an eye, it was mid-February, only a few days away from the Spring Festival. The three grown women and two little girls were having a great time playing outside and wouldn't be back for a few more days.

Wang Yan had long since resigned from his job as a public school teacher and started working on his "proper" business. However, it must be said that the reaction to Wang Laoshi quitting the education industry was quite significant. After all, it was only the first semester, and the children whom parents had gone to great lengths to get enrolled had only been taught halfway; now that he was leaving, wouldn't that money have been spent in vain? The school administration had also wanted to persuade Wang Laoshi to stay, but knowing that Wang Mou was truly a big shot, they just said a few symbolic words and left it at that.

If one had to say who was the most reluctant to see him go, it would be the students. Wang Laoshi's teaching style was not bound by convention; he was free and easy. Moreover, he was knowledgeable about everything from astronomy to geography, and he was humorous and witty. Sometimes, while teaching a text, he would drift into discussions about social conditions, covering politics, economics, history, and even geography. The most crucial part was that they could actually understand such profound topics. Being middle schoolers, this group of half-grown kids knew what was good, and listening to the teacher tell stories in his spare time was a gain in itself.

Of course, since Wang Yan had made his decision, he certainly wouldn't leave any room for doubt; he left cleanly and gracefully.

As time passed, only those students who had already entered university or were already working, and who had once attended the Thirteenth Middle School, would, in their leisure time, recall the afternoons when the setting sun shone through the windows. Amidst memories of the innocent bickering and play with classmates, they might perhaps remember that one humorous, witty, and erudite Chinese teacher who gave them strength and shaped their good habits...

After resigning, Wang Yan had already toured research institutes in several cities. After gaining a rough understanding of aerospace engineering, he finally stopped in the capital. The route was very clear: from the large engine thrusters down to the smallest screws, he spent over a year going through his memories from start to finish. Of course, he couldn't memorize the key technologies, but he knew the direction and the process. With these, coupled with massive resources and time, he could reach the level of Chinese aerospace as it stood in early 2018, and surpassing it would naturally follow.

After all, China only started its efforts in 1956, launched its first satellite in 1970, achieved manned spaceflight in 2003 of the new century, reached the moon in 2007, and by 2021 in the real world, the Tiangong space station was put into use. From 1956 onwards, generations of Chinese aerospace workers took sixty-five years to achieve today's accomplishments.

It wasn't that Wang Yan was engaging in historical nihilism or denying the great achievements of the nation's backbone. It was just that he was too much of a big shot. If nothing else, at any given time, his disposable resources were far greater than those of the newly established New China in 1956; the starting point was different. Plus, he was taking technologies that had already been verified as successful and turning back to research them from the very basics; the speed was different.

Moreover, if he were lucky enough to have another intimate contact with the respected Old Brother Su, or if he stood in the Western camp, infiltrated their interior, and cooperated with the foreign devils on research, it would be even faster.

Recently, every time Wang Yan woke up or went to sleep, he would silently mutter to his "Living Father," asking him to take care of his good big son...

Mainly, he was now a person who did what he thought of, and his ideals were so grand that no matter how much time he had, he felt extremely pressed. Besides, he had no way to continue researching artificial intelligence now. Although the limits of "Chaos" were far from being fully developed, he couldn't produce it in the real world; no matter how many processes or directions he remembered, it was useless. And just by relying on binary AI technology, he was already at least eight blocks ahead of all major countries in the real world, including his motherland.

Furthermore, artificial intelligence was realized through code, and programming was a form of thought. Although he lacked hardware support, he possessed a brand-new programming language based on binary, and he could use this advancement to raise the upper limit of binary AI to a certain extent on the existing foundation; he truly had no rivals.

So, now that he had a long-term plan, it was only right to start early.

On the other side, Su Daqiang leaned against the door frame, watching the back of the little nanny as she packed her things, unable to help but sigh: "Little Cai, I really owe it to you for taking care of me for over a month."

"Teacher Su, please don't say that. This is my job; taking care of you is what I should do." Cai Genhua smiled gently: "In the future, you must take good care of yourself when you're alone. Please, take care."

After gaining his trust, Su Daqiang told her everything; she knew the situation of the Old Su family like the back of her hand. She didn't ask about the house, to avoid suspicion. But now, for such a lonely old man to have no one to take care of him while living in such a large house was truly a pity.

"You take care too." Su Daqiang sighed with an "Aiyou": "Little Cai, I really can't bear to see you go. Those little bastards of mine—the ones abroad are abroad, the ones in jail are in jail, and there's one ungrateful wolf who doesn't care about me. Here at home, it's just the two of us; you are the person closest to me. I really can't bear it..."

"Of course I can't bear to leave you either, Teacher Su. We've gotten along really well during this time; you are a good man. But I have no choice. The one paying my salary is your second son who is in jail; I'm just a nanny working for a living. I can't help it, Teacher Su; one has to make a living, right?"

Su Daqiang patted his forehead: "How about I pay your salary, Little Cai?"

"Teacher Su, don't talk nonsense." Cai Genhua chuckled, lowering her head to continue packing: "My monthly salary plus living expenses is at least six or seven thousand, and that's not counting your living expenses. How could your little pension be enough?"

Looking at Su Daqiang, who was utterly disappointed, his face drooping, his eyes filled with reluctance, Cai Genhua said: "Even if I didn't take your salary and took care of you for free, your pension would be just enough for the two of us to spend. But if we lived together, it wouldn't be proper or legitimate; wouldn't that make us a laughingstock?"

Hearing this, Su Daqiang, whose eyes were filled with disappointment and reluctance, instantly felt a jolt. Looking at the beautiful figure before him who seemed to realize she had spoken out of turn and was packing in a panic, his heart began to flutter. The old fellow, who hadn't felt such passion in years, even felt a sensation, stiffening just a little bit.

Su Daqiang hurriedly shook his head, dispelling the beautiful thoughts in his mind. With a sudden resolve, he walked into the room in two or three steps and grabbed the little nanny's hand: "Why wouldn't it be proper or legitimate? Little Cai, wouldn't it be proper and legitimate if I married you?"

Cai Genhua, who had been struggling, seemed to lose her strength upon hearing this. She blankly raised her head to meet Su Daqiang's eyes, which were shining frighteningly bright. She gratefully pulled her hands away, touched her face, smoothed her hair, and with a wandering gaze, acted shyly like a young girl in love: "Teacher Su, you mustn't say such things again. We've only known each other for a little over a month; please don't be impulsive about such a big matter."

"I'm serious, Little Cai. Yes, I admit, when you first came, I didn't like you, but that was because I was angry at my son. I thought he was just finding a nanny to monitor me, and that you couldn't do anything right. But Little Cai, after we lived together for a while, I discovered that you are so gentle and considerate, and you know how to take care of people. I've felt much younger lately. Little Cai, I'm not looking for a free nanny; I really... I really like you. Do you know, Little Cai, you were so beautiful when you read poetry to me, and when you did housework..."

Su Daqiang, like a withered tree meeting spring and blooming again, confessed his true feelings and said: "You are my soulmate, Little Cai. At this point, I won't hide it from you; I've had this idea for a long time, but because of my old face, I could never bring myself to say it. These words have been bottled up in my heart for a long time; if I don't say them today, I'm afraid I won't have another chance."

Perhaps thinking of her mother who had passed away many years ago, Cai Genhua shed tears of emotion. There was joy, anxiety, and hesitation—it was extremely complex: "Teacher Su, I am very happy that you said this, because you thought the same as I did, and I admire you very much too. But Teacher Su, the gap between us is too big. You are so outstanding, and I... how could I be worthy of you? Besides, you'll be sixty-four after the New Year, and I'll only be forty-eight. Others will scold me, saying I'm after your pension and greedy for your house."

"Good, Little Cai, as long as you have this thought, everything else is not a problem. As for what others say, let them talk! We are living our own lives." Su Daqiang took the little nanny's hand again: "You said our age gap is large, and that's true; I will definitely go before you. How about this: I'll give you half of the house. It's my way, as a man, to give you some security, so you won't be left without a place to land in the future."

Cai Genhua hurriedly waved her hands: "No, Teacher Su, you are too impulsive. Besides, will your children agree to this?"

"The one living with me is you, not them. Besides, who among them cares about me? Do I need their agreement? It's settled, Little Cai. Just tell me what you think."

Cai Genhua hesitated for a long time before pulling her hand away again: "How about this, Teacher Su. This is such a big matter, I'm afraid you're being too impulsive, and in my heart, I really don't know what to do. It just so happens that the New Year is almost here, and I have to go back to my hometown in Jiangxi Province. Let's both calm down, okay? If you still think of me when the time comes, then I'll come back, okay, Teacher Su?"

"I am very calm, and I've thought about it very clearly, Little Cai. Let's go get our marriage certificate tomorrow, get married, okay, Little Cai?"

"Teacher Su, you have to give me some time to think it through. Such a big matter cannot be done on impulse." Cai Genhua didn't even know how much determination it took for her to say these words, and she hurriedly lowered her head to pack her luggage, avoiding being seen through. What if this old bastard changed his mind? But she couldn't agree too easily; this was very important.

It wasn't like in the original story where she was discovered for keeping fake accounts and stealing money, forcing her to hope for a quick resolution. Now, Su Daqiang was just a lonely old man, very easy to manipulate. She didn't need to be so urgent; what if, just in case, Su Daqiang sensed something was wrong? So, she played hard to get, betting on how important she had become in Su Daqiang's heart over the past month. Besides, coming back after the New Year would only be a little over a week. Looking at Su Daqiang now, there was basically no problem.

Su Daqiang felt he was a reasonable man with poise and couldn't force a woman to do the most basic things. Looking at the beautiful figure packing, he pondered for a long time and sighed: "Alright, anyway, I've told you my intentions; you think it over carefully. You don't need to pack so much; it's only a few days before you come back after the New Year. Just take what you use often, to save the trouble of moving it back and forth."

Cai Genhua wiped her tears and smiled gently in response: "Okay, Teacher Su, I'll listen to you and take less. I've already prepared everything for the New Year for you. You must take good care of yourself these few days... wait for me to come back."

"Good, good, good, Little Cai, you are so considerate." Su Daqiang was satisfied and nodded repeatedly: "It just so happens I'll go inquire about the house these two days."

"Inquire about the house?" Cai Genhua raised her head upon hearing this, realizing her reaction was a bit too much, and hurriedly gave Su Daqiang a smile: "Teacher Su, isn't this house yours? What is there to inquire about?"

Su Daqiang naturally didn't notice Cai Genhua's impropriety and waved his hand with a smile: "The house is of course mine, but this house is a bit complicated. When I bought it, I only paid a little over a third of the down payment, and the remaining loan was over three million. I'm old, so I could only take out a seven-year loan. The monthly payment is over forty thousand, which is too much pressure. So, in the end, the deed was written in my second son's name, and he took out a twenty-year loan in his name, only needing to pay over twenty thousand a month. The loan is being paid by my eldest son in America; he transfers the money to the card every month."

Cai Genhua tried her best to restrain herself and asked: "Then, Teacher Su, if you say it like that, the house has nothing to do with you. Why did you say you wanted to give me half?"

"Listen to me finish. At the time, the deed was written in my son's name, but later we did a notarization stating that I have 100% ownership of this house, so legally the house is mine. But I don't know if I can notarize it again to give you half, which is why I have to go inquire about it."

"Teacher Su, if I really am with you, it's because of you as a person; it's absolutely not because I'm after your house."

"Of course I know you aren't that kind of person, but I am a man, and I want to give you security; I can't let you suffer after I'm gone." Su Daqiang was full of masculine spirit and waved his hand: "If there's no way to notarize half of this house to you, I'll just notarize a will and leave half to you."

"Teacher Su..." Cai Genhua looked at him with deep affection, twisting and turning.

Looking like this, with this voice, a normal person would definitely get goosebumps and have their hair stand on end. But as the saying goes, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder," and in Su Daqiang's eyes, this was the most beautiful thing ever. He subconsciously bowed slightly, suppressing the old fellow who was once again rising, his gaze wandering: "That, Little Cai, you pack. I've been standing for a while and I'm a bit tired; I'm going to watch some TV." After saying this, he turned and fled in a panic.

Everyone is a born actor, and most women are good actors. Although Cai Genhua didn't have much education and her experience was limited, she knew what to do at this moment, just as she understood the key to playing hard to get—she was self-taught. She immediately chuckled just right, and seeing Su Daqiang disappear, she lowered her face to pack her things.

The old thing was quite good at bluffing. If she hadn't held her ground just now, she would have almost given herself away. She didn't know much else, but she understood wills; they were legally recognized. She had learned quite a bit on her phone in her spare time. But if it came to that, she would really have to live with him... but then she thought, actually, there was nothing wrong with that. She would just wait for this old bastard to die, and she wouldn't have to suffer or go out to work anymore; that was pretty good.

A loan of over three million; looking at this house, the down payment must have been at least two million. She had been working as a nanny for many years, and now she made over five thousand a month—even if it were six thousand, those two million were money she couldn't earn in nearly thirty years without eating or drinking. Even if she only got half, it would still take fifteen years to earn it. And in fact, she had worked for so many years, and between eating and drinking, she didn't even have two hundred thousand in her hands...

Looking at it this way, she definitely wouldn't lose out; it just depended on when Su Daqiang died. If this old bastard lived another twenty years, she would really be trapped. She had to study this carefully...

Su Daqiang felt his heart pounding like a deer, watching TV in the living room absentmindedly, paying attention to the movement behind him. After a while, seeing Cai Genhua come out, Su Daqiang hurriedly stood up: "That, I'll see you off."

"No need to trouble yourself, I'll just hail a taxi and go back. You must take care, Teacher Su."

"Let's go, I'll see you to the entrance of the residential complex; I'll only be at ease once I see you get in the car."

Su Daqiang took the handbag from Cai Genhua's hand without question, followed her to the entrance, put on his coat, and changed his shoes. He had a thousand words in his heart but remained silent all the way to the outside of the complex.

Waving to hail a taxi, Su Daqiang helped open the rear door: "Be careful on the road, come back early."

"Don't worry, Teacher Su, you must take care of your health. Go back, I'm leaving." Cai Genhua closed the door and waved at Su Daqiang. The driver in the front seat stepped on the gas, merging into the traffic and driving away.

Su Daqiang waved his hand reluctantly and foolishly until he couldn't see the taxi anymore, then touched his chest, smiled, and turned back into the complex. He wasn't stupid; looking at Cai Genhua's attitude, wasn't it a done deal? Good, good...

After experiencing a night without the little nanny, Su Daqiang ate breakfast downstairs and took a taxi to the prison where Su Mingcheng was serving his sentence for a visit. This was the first time since Su Mingcheng had been imprisoned over half a month ago; before that, it was only when he was being taken away that Su Daqiang had caught up and used his old face to say a few words.

At this moment, seeing his second son on the opposite side, dressed in prison uniform, with his head shaved bald, thin, lacking spirit, and with some injuries on his face, Su Daqiang said emotionally: "Mingcheng, were you bullied inside? How did you end up like this?"

Su Mingcheng shook his head: "It's nothing, I accidentally fell. Dad, how have you been lately?"

That injury was from fighting with someone. Now his temper was quite irritable, and there were gossiping players in the same cell; it was inevitable to practice a bit when his temper flared up. However, this was mutual assault, and there were no major injuries, so his sentence wasn't extended, but it wasn't exactly easy either. What kind of place was this?

"Dad is all good, all good. It's just that I dismissed the nanny you found for me before, and now I'm staying by myself. I have arms and legs; I can live on my own."

Su Daqiang knew his second son's character and naturally wouldn't tell him that he was going to marry the little nanny; otherwise, it would really be a big deal.

"Why did you dismiss her? I'll pay for it, Dad."

"You're already like this, and you compensated them thirty thousand before. Keep that money for yourself to eat something good inside. You, you must reform well, perform well, and strive for a sentence reduction to get out early."

Su Mingcheng shook his head: "I know it all, Dad. I still have over twenty thousand in my hands. Leaving a few thousand plus the money I earn working inside is enough to spend. Use the rest to find a nanny for yourself. When this money is spent, go find my eldest brother and let him pay for you. This money is what I should pay; let him cover it first, and I'll slowly pay him back after I get out."

After speaking, Su Mingcheng found the supervisor watching from the side and requested to give his bank card to his father. There was a process for this, and of course, for such a matter, it wouldn't be refused.

Giving the card to Su Daqiang, he told him to keep a few thousand to deposit into the prison account and take the rest to spend. Without saying much more, he waved his hand and left. He didn't have any feelings seeing his father now; it was more of an obligation. He really didn't have the heart for it; after all, he had only been in jail for over half a month and hadn't adapted yet. Knowing his father was still alive was enough. Besides, there were family phones in the prison, which he had used before.

Now he felt that living had no meaning at all. Seven years—he would be forty when he got out. There was no hope; life was dull...

Su Daqiang held the card, struggling somewhat; after all, he had lied to his second son, and now he was taking this money. But then he thought, it was money for a nanny anyway, so it was no different if he used this money to live with a nanny. Thinking this way, he felt much better instantly. He happily deposited fifty thousand for Su Mingcheng and kept the remaining nineteen thousand plus. He considered it his son's filial piety to his father, for his new life.

In the blink of an eye, a few days passed, and it was New Year's Eve of 2017.

In the morning, Su Daqiang called Su Mingcheng, who was far away in America; he knew that it was one day behind there. After learning about his recent situation, he mainly asked if he had found a job. After all, no job meant no money, and no money meant no way to pay the mortgage. If he couldn't pay the mortgage, how could he live a comfortable life with the little nanny?

Su Mingzhe had found a job; he had indeed found a programmer job at the end of last month. After all, the Bay Area was the center of America's high-tech industry, and the world-famous Silicon Valley was there. With so many companies, it was a bit difficult to find a job due to his age, but it was possible to find one; after all, his skills and experience were there. Perhaps it was a turn of luck after his divorce, or perhaps what was meant to come would come; this job he found was quite good. The annual salary was one hundred thousand, ten thousand more than his previous job.

After finding the job, the first thing Su Mingzhe did was call Wu Fei. The result was naturally as expected: Wu Fei only politely said congratulations and asked him to video chat with Mimi, and that was it. As for Su Mingzhe's request for reconciliation, she acted as if she hadn't heard it. Having finally escaped that arrogant man, why would she throw herself back into it? Not to mention that her new man was right there; except for not having a title, he was as good as it got. She would have to be very sick to go back and look for trouble.

This matter was forgotten by her in the blink of an eye, and she continued to happily play with Su Mingyu, Zhu Li, and the two children...

Wang Yan naturally knew this news too. Su Mingzhe not being completely wasted was a bit unexpected, but it was within reason. On one hand, Chinese people had a sense of crisis; on the other hand, just as he said himself, he had worked hard step by step from a small place to the free America, and he had that drive. These two things saved him. Plus, he was also afraid of becoming one of those people wandering the streets, becoming a homeless vagrant. Not to mention rising up, he still had to live.

However, even if he found a job, Su Mingzhe wouldn't come back. His face was already completely lost; what was there to come back for?

Knowing that his eldest son had found a job, Su Daqiang's heart was at ease. However, he didn't intend to tell his eldest son about his twilight romance, because he had already been to America and had felt the slight blame his eldest son had for him. But it didn't matter; as long as he gave money, he had someone to take care of him.

Just as Cai Genhua said, she had long since prepared everything. Su Daqiang busied himself and made four dishes, bought a bottle of good wine, and drank by himself, looking at the lights outside and thinking of other people's reunion. However, he wasn't depressed, sad, or sentimental, because after the New Year, a beautiful life would arrive.

Thinking of the old fellow's passion that day, thinking of the tossing and turning these past few days, Su Daqiang took a sip of wine with satisfaction, humming a little tune, and couldn't help but shake his shoulders and giggle when he thought of the good times...

Su Mingyu and the others came back two days ago, while Wang Yan returned on the 29th. Aunt Zhao, the nanny, had already gone on vacation back to her hometown in Hebei Province, so the cooking was naturally contracted by him. It wasn't that Su Mingyu couldn't cook, but she could only make things edible; after all, she had spent these years working her life away for Meng Zhiyuan, and there were nannies at home, plus Wang Yan, so she never needed to. As for the little girl, that was even less worth mentioning; her not helping was the biggest help.

In the evening, the family of three clinked glasses: "Cheers!"

Wang Yan and Su Mingyu drank white liquor, both taking a sip, while Wang Lin drank fruit juice, which was quite honest, finishing a full glass in one go.

"Hiccup..." After a hiccup, the little girl wasn't embarrassed, picking up a lobster and gnawing on it.

Wang Yan shook his head: "Eat slowly, no one is grabbing it from you. You've been out for so long, haven't you eaten plenty of good food?"

Wang Lin bared her teeth and giggled: "Dad's cooking is delicious."

Wang Yan looked up and laughed; the little girl knew how to flatter now. He turned to ask Su Mingyu: "How was the trip? Don't you want to go to work anymore?"

Before Su Mingyu could speak, the little girl nodded repeatedly, looking very agreeable: "That's right, Dad, it was so much fun, I don't want to go to kindergarten anymore."

"Stop dreaming, eat your food." Su Mingyu pinched her daughter's tender little face and smiled: "It's true. What have I been striving for all these years? I could have been your Mrs. Wang, but I had to work myself to death."

"You're a strong woman, aren't you? Aren't you supposed to be keeping me?"

"The child is here, what nonsense are you talking about." Su Mingyu saw the little girl was busy picking at the meat and didn't notice, so she turned and said: "I really can't stay idle. It was fine when I went out to play with Wu Fei and Zhu Li, but I felt uncomfortable after staying home for two days. Oh my, a life of toil..."

"That's what you say, but I never stopped you. Do whatever you want. Come, Mrs. Wang, I'll propose a toast."

"Dead look." Su Mingyu rolled her eyes, clinked glasses, and drank.

Even during the New Year, the three of them were no different. Besides, the New Year in the South wasn't that lively, so it was just like any other day.

Eating and drinking, chatting about what they saw on the trip, the time passed. The little girl couldn't hold on and fell asleep early. Wang Yan and Su Mingyu draped clothes over themselves and snuggled on the balcony...

One person without a home, one person who had a home but had to pretend they didn't—the two of them formed a new family.

New Year's Eve, for her, was not a very good day, and it was the same every year... ===== CHAPTER 289 =====