Chapter 1871: Stubborn as a Dead Duck

The audience's focus directly led to a surge in Zichen's enthusiasm for telling the story; that past event was already quite fascinating, and with his appropriate embellishments, it became even more so.

Lao Litou wasn't satisfied after hearing it once, so he wanted to hear it a second time, and after the second time, he wanted to hear it a third... and so, Zichen told it several times in a row.

The villain finally received his just deserts, and Lao Litou was full of spirit, as if he had suddenly become several years younger.

The old man felt satisfied, but he still had doubts: "Are you bragging? That person was very wicked and cunning; could you really make him end up so miserably?"

Zichen: "Don't you usually watch TV or go online? Everything I just said is on there."

Without waiting for the old man to answer, he already knew the answer—it was indeed the case.

The last time he went to Lao Litou's home, he truly hadn't seen a television there, let alone a computer.

What his home had the most of were various figures and objects carved from all kinds of vegetables, all of them vivid and lifelike.

Only because of such focus could one become a leader in this industry.

Lao Litou said: "I don't watch them. Once I'm discharged, I'll go buy a TV to watch. I always thought watching TV was boring, but I never expected I'd missed out on so many good things."

A misunderstanding of many years was resolved.

Zichen asked him: "You misunderstood my master back then; shouldn't you say sorry to my master now?"

Lao Litou was awkward: "This matter can't be blamed entirely on me. Why didn't he explain it clearly to me? He just let me guess wildly. That's right, I don't like rich people, and I have a prejudice against them, but I wouldn't have ignored him just because he married a rich man's daughter."

This guy knew perfectly well that he was in the wrong, but he still didn't want to say anything soft.

Today, Zichen finally learned just how unwilling to change a stubborn person can be.

He asked: "Then if my master comes to see you, would you welcome him?"

Lao Litou's expression froze, and he suddenly buried his head under the quilt, which began to heave violently.

He must have been crying, and he must have been very regretful in his heart, but this was a person who, even when regretful, didn't want it to be seen.

Zichen stood up, pretending he hadn't noticed anything, and said to Lao Litou: "I'm leaving. You get some good rest. Your daughter will be here in a while, and I also need to go see my master; it's been a while since I've seen the old man."

A hand reached out from under the quilt and waved at him, meaning for him to leave quickly.

Since he didn't object, that meant he had tacitly agreed.

Tacitly agreed to Zichen's plan to reconcile the two.

Chen Family Village.

Gu Zhihao was startled to see Zichen: "Why are you here so late? Did something happen?"

Zichen nodded: "Yes, but it's not a bad thing; it's a good thing. Master, I've come to bring you good news."

"What good news could I possibly have? You're just trying to coax me."

Zichen said: "I know the reason why Lao Litou broke off relations with you back then. Do you want to hear it?"

Gu Zhihao's eyes instantly went round; he grabbed Zichen by the shoulders, his expression agitated: "Tell me, hurry up and tell me."

He had a mind to tease his master, so he didn't say it directly, but instead kept him in suspense.

"Master, I'm hungry. Go make me something to eat. I can only tell you after I'm full; it's a long story..."

"You brat, I'll kick you!"

Although Gu Zhihao was burning with impatience, he couldn't bear to let his disciple go hungry, so he went to the kitchen to cook for him.

Soon, a bowl of noodles was placed on the dining table, along with two side dishes.

But Zichen poked at them with his chopsticks and complained that it was too simple: "You're being too perfunctory with me. I solved a decades-old mystery for you, and you just cook me a bowl of noodles? I'm not having it..."

Gu Zhihao really did kick him this time.

He kicked his disciple on the backside: "Are you doing this on purpose, kid? Stop keeping me in suspense and tell me quickly. Once you're done, I'll make you a full Manchu-Han feast if you want."

Shi Yuke also took her husband's side and urged her nephew: "Hurry up and tell him. Look at how anxious you've made your master; don't bully us honest folk..."

Fine, since his aunt had spoken, Zichen stopped teasing him.

Actually, explaining it was simple; it was just a matter of one sentence.

Zichen said: "Lao Litou broke off relations with you back then not because you were marrying my aunt and becoming a rich man, but because he thought you were in league with Huo Zhenteng."

"Huo Zhenteng caused him a lot of suffering too."

Gu Zhihao:...

Zichen was indeed hungry, so he buried his head in his noodles after explaining.

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The next day.

Early morning.

The doctor came to the Hospital Ward for rounds, and after a simple examination of Lao Litou, told him he could prepare for discharge.

After being discharged, he should pay attention to resting at home and avoid emotional agitation...

Before the doctor could finish speaking, he saw Lao Litou's breathing become rapid and his expression become agitated again.

The reason was simple: he saw Gu Zhihao arriving.

Although the two hadn't seen each other for over twenty years, they recognized each other at a glance.

Both had grown old; their hair had turned white, the wrinkles on their faces had increased, and their backs were hunched, but this didn't affect the fact that both were equally agitated.

"Old Gu..."

Just those two words, and Lao Litou could no longer control his agitated emotions.

Tears streamed down, and soon he was sobbing uncontrollably.

"Hey, don't cry, don't cry. I don't blame you. Didn't I come here to see you..."

Gu Zhihao was quite moved at first; he thought Lao Litou was tearful because of guilt, but he didn't expect Lao Li's next words to be just as infuriating: "You old thing, it was clearly something that could have been explained in one sentence, so why didn't you explain it to me for so many years? You made me hate you for so long..."

Gu Zhihao:...

Even Zichen, who was standing to the side, felt his mouth twitch.

Are there really people like this?

Is it really that hard to admit a mistake?

It was clearly his own fault, something everyone could see on the surface, yet he insisted on pushing the blame onto others; he is as stubborn as a dead duck.

Fortunately, Gu Zhihao did not hold it against him.

"Big Brother, it was my fault; I misunderstood what you meant. It's all my fault..."

It was a case of Zhou Yu beating Huang Gai—one was willing to hit, and the other was willing to take the beating—so there wasn't much for others to say.

Zichen and Li Xueer exited the Hospital Ward and sat on the bench outside to chat.

Li Xueer: "Thank you."

Zichen: "You're welcome. I didn't do it entirely for your father; I also did it for my master."

Li Xueer: "I am willing to work at your restaurant. Can I wait until my dad is discharged from the hospital?"

"Really?" Zichen was pleasantly surprised.

"Mm."

She nodded earnestly: "My father said that one must know how to repay kindness. You have been a benefactor to our family, and I cannot act as if it were only natural."

Li Xueer was a very straightforward girl, not at all pretentious; although she felt uncomfortable when her confession was rejected, she kept things separate—a favor is a favor, and it cannot go unpaid.

Besides that, there was another very important reason: she did not want her father to have to run a street stall at his age and work so hard every day.

She had already grown up and could take on the heavy responsibility of supporting the family.