Chapter 136: A Flower on Wangfu Pool West Street

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

Lin Xiyu blinked, saying nothing.

"About the engagement, I've already told them."

Guben said confidently: "They all agreed. Otherwise, how would Sixth Grandfather know about this and rush over from BJ to attend the Engagement Banquet?"

Lin Xiyu asked hesitantly: "Did your maternal grandfather and grandmother agree because of Sixth Grandfather's face?"

"Yes, and no."

Guben smiled as he explained: "Grandmother has completely given up, and that's partly because of Sixth Grandfather, but as for Grandfather, you'd never guess..."

"What reason?"

Lin Xiyu's curiosity was piqued by him.

The reason naturally had to do with the Dragon Bed, involving too many secrets to be spoken plainly.

Guben, understanding her thoughts, made something up on the spot: "After Zhang Xiaoqian's father got into trouble, Grandfather also realized the risks of being an official. He's no longer as obsessed as before with getting me into politics. If I'm not pursuing an official career, there's no need for a political marriage. Rather than taking a risk and gambling on it, it's better to marry a girl from a clean, humble family, live in marital harmony, and have peace and safety—that's better than anything..."

"Is that really what your grandfather thinks?"

Lin Xiyu believed his words, and her eyes lit up instantly.

"Really."

Guben nodded solemnly: "Truer than gold."

"That's great. Now I can rest easy."

Lin Xiyu was delighted and gave him a happy smile.

"Can we go now?"

Guben reached out and made a gesture of invitation.

"Do we really not need to buy any gifts or anything?"

Lin Xiyu still had her concerns.

"Really, no need."

Guben glanced at his watch again, then pulled her away.

"Hey, hey, hey, slow down. I haven't even figured out what to say when we meet..."

Lin Xiyu's protests were useless, and before long he had pulled her into the adjacent alley, and they disappeared from sight.

——

Wangfu Pool West Street and Xi Gengdao Street were not far apart; it was only a few minutes' walk.

Guben's grandfather's house was right next to Wangfu Pool. Looking out from within their own courtyard wall, one could see the clear, limpid pool water.

Lin Xiyu followed Guben to his grandfather's house, observing the location up close for the first time.

Standing under the wall and looking back, a sudden flash of insight struck her, and she realized: "No wonder you know everything about our swimming. It turns out you can see it from the courtyard."

"Don't make me sound like a peeping tom..."

Guben flicked her forehead: "Why would I watch you swim? With that free time, I'd rather do a few more practice tests."

"You really haven't seen?"

Lin Xiyu narrowed her eyes, eyeing him suspiciously.

His courtyard wall wasn't high. Given his height, he could see just by tiptoeing.

She didn't believe it. He had lived at his grandfather's house for so many years; how could he remain pure and undistracted, immune to outside temptation?

"You really want to watch us swim that much?"

Seeing her cling to the issue, Guben's black-bellied factor kicked in, and he felt like teasing her again.

"Ptooey."

Lin Xiyu's ears turned red, and she spat at him: "Who wants you to watch?"

"Your ears are red."

Guben gave a teasing smile: "No reason to be guilty, then?"

"Who's guilty?"

Lin Xiyu's eyes flickered slightly, and she avoided his gaze.

"Really not?"

Guben smiled and stepped forward, leaning down until his nose was almost touching hers.

Lin Xiyu, annoyed and embarrassed, was about to retort when a clear, light cough suddenly came from behind them.

Guben recognized the familiar voice and whirled around, indeed meeting his grandfather's teasing, smiling eyes.

"You brat, it's high noon and you're not home eating. What are you doing here?"

Grandfather was wearing a practice outfit and holding a long sword. He had clearly just returned from morning practice at Jiefang Pavilion.

"Grandfather, why are you only back now?"

Guben was surprised for only a second, then immediately put on a fearless expression.

"It just happened today."

Grandfather pretended not to see the person hiding behind him, smiling and chatting with him: "A few old buddies came all the way from the West Suburbs to Jiefang Pavilion to play chess with me. I was in a rare good mood, so I played a few extra games with them."

"No wonder. I was wondering why you were so late today. Turns out old acquaintances came..."

In front of his grandfather, Guben took Lin Xiyu's hand and gave her a reassuring look.

Lin Xiyu's ear roots burned hot, and she subconsciously wanted to pull away from him.

Guben didn't let go, but held her even tighter.

Lin Xiyu panicked inside and stomped hard on his foot.

"Ouch."

Guben wailed in pain, nearly jumping up from the ground.

"Why are you shouting so loud?"

Lin Xiyu was startled by him, her heart trembling, her face turning from red to black.

"It really hurts."

Guben made a bitter face and cried injustice: "You stepped on my toe, I just bumped it yesterday, and now you stepped on it again, I bet it's swollen."

"Hahaha."

Grandfather found it funny and helped his grandson out: "Xiyu is here, you're a rare guest, it's been a while since you came home."

"Hello, Grandfather."

Lin Xiyu didn't expect Grandfather to take the initiative to greet her, and she was startled, her heart jumping again.

"What are you calling Grandfather for? Call him Grandfather."

Guben smiled and teased: "Once you've entered my family's door, you have to call me..."

"Doesn't your foot hurt anymore?"

Lin Xiyu was both shy and annoyed, making a move to step on him again.

"It hurts."

Guben immediately gave in, pretending to be in great pain, hopping on one leg a few times and dodging far away.

"Hahaha."

Grandfather watched the two children's intimate interaction, laughing happily: "This kid is a naughty monkey, very unruly, now it's good, finally someone can manage him."

"Who's outside?"

The courtyard gate creaked open from the inside, and Grandma poked her head out from the door crack hearing the laughter.

"Your grandson's wife is here."

In front of Grandma, Guben affectionately put his arm around Lin Xiyu's shoulder.

"Aiyo, you stinky kid, you brought someone back without saying a word in advance."

Grandma cared most about her image, glanced at the artificial cotton jacket she was wearing, slammed the door shut with a bang, and hurried back into the house to change clothes.

"I told you so."

Lin Xiyu was embarrassed for no reason: "Showing up so suddenly for a visit, not good..."

"Hahaha, it's okay..."

Grandfather laughed indifferently and pushed the door open again: "The old woman is already so old, what's there to care about, I think she looks just fine, dressing casually at home, pleasant to look at."

"My grandma also wears a set of artificial cotton at home..."

Lin Xiyu went along with Grandfather's words: "Clothes made of artificial cotton are especially comfortable to wear..."

"These days, even with money it's hard to buy comfort."

Guben smiled and echoed, following the conversation very smoothly.

"Hmph."

Grandfather huffed, laughing and teasing him: "I think you're really very comfortable..."

You've even started flattering your wife.

The words behind couldn't be spoken before they were interrupted by his precious grandson.

"I've always been like this..."

Guben blinked his eyes, deliberately misinterpreting his meaning: "Knowing how to find fun for yourself, you must do whatever is comfortable."

"You little..."

Grandfather laughed in anger and gave him a flick on the forehead: "Stop playing tricks here, don't think Grandfather doesn't know your scheming mind."

"It's a wrongful accusation..."

Guben, fearing Lin Xiyu would misunderstand, quickly declared himself: "I've been upright since childhood, never had any other thoughts."

"Your family's courtyard wall isn't very high..."

Lin Xiyu held back a smile and pointed to the outer wall next to Wangfu Pool.

"It's not very high."

Grandfather didn't think much of it and said casually: "Xiao Bin's height, he can see outside without tiptoeing."

"I think so too..."

Lin Xiyu glanced at Guben, smiling with extra meaning.

Guben: "......."

The feeling of being innocently hit, really not great.

Can this matter be passed over, don't mention it again.

——

While the three were talking and entering the courtyard, Guben's grandma had already quickly changed her clothes.

The old lady was a pillar of the troupe in the army when she was young, and even when old she hadn't changed, still outstanding in appearance and excellent in temperament.

"Are you going to a treat? Dressed so grandly?"

Grandfather saw Grandma had her hair up and put on a lake-green qipao, his right eyelid twitched involuntarily: "Seeing guests at home, no need to be so formal."

"What do you know?"

Grandmother held her head high and thrust out her chest, giving a different reason: "I deliberately put this on so people could see it. She's a public figure now, stealing the spotlight. As an elder, how could I let people look down on me?"

"What are we having for lunch?"

Grandfather chuckled, teasing his old partner: "Why do I smell something sour?"

"Jealousy."

Grandmother gave him a white-eye: "Old Chen vinegar, souring you to death."

"Hehe."

Guben couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"You still dare to laugh?"

Grandmother flashed her beautiful eyes, turning her spear toward him again: "You didn't even say a word in advance before bringing someone here—are you trying to deliberately make Grandmother a laughingstock?"

"Grandmother, saying that wrongs me..."

Guben quickly explained: "I just thought I happened to pass by the doorway, so I didn't come into the house, letting her greet the two elders first, so as not to seem impolite."

"Besides, Grandmother has been beautiful from youth to old age; all the neighbors on Wangfu Pool West Street know it. Even without dressing up, you're the most beautiful flower on Wangfu Pool West Street. What you wear really doesn't matter to you. Even if you wore artificial cotton, your temperament would still be firmly in your grasp—no one can compare."

"Hmph..."

Grandmother was delighted in her heart, but still refused to let him off: "You little rascal, you're just a smooth talker, only knowing how to say nice things to fool people."

"I suppose so..."

Grandfather was amused and chimed in from the side: "You've praised your grandmother as if she were a flower. So tell me, is your grandmother prettier, or is your girlfriend prettier?"

Grandfather was deliberately setting a trap for him.

This was a deadly question; answering wrong would offend both sides.

Guben met Grandfather's joking gaze, his thoughts racing: "Our eyesight is so good, they must both be pretty."

"Hahaha."

This hit Grandfather right in the heart; the old man grinned, laughing very openly.

"I knew it—he's a little slippery fellow..."

Grandmother also laughed, seeming to scold but actually full of pampering: "Don't try to get a single truthful word out of his mouth."

"What he said this time is true."

Lin Xiyu suddenly spoke, smiling and agreeing: "I can tell—he truly feels Grandmother's beauty is beyond doubt. After the settling of years, that elegant and noble temperament isn't something just anyone can imitate. I hadn't seen Grandmother before, and after seeing her, I feel even more that it's a pity—the Pump Spring Program Crew missed out on a very cultured, story-filled person..."

—

For a moment, there was silence in the small courtyard.

Grandmother took it to heart, stunned for a moment.

"Hahaha."

Hearing these words, Grandfather couldn't help but think of the little girl's excellent performance when he set questions at Daming Lake.

This old man is still very accurate in judging people.

This girl can indeed hold Guben's heart—she has some skill.

"Grandmother, do you believe me now?"

Guben secretly gave Lin Xiyu a thumbs-up: "Xiyu doesn't often praise people. It's only you who could make her say those four words—elegant and noble—as the highest praise."

"Fine."

Grandmother was a bit carried away by their mutual praise: "Seeing how sincere you both are, Grandmother will believe you this once."

"Alright, old woman, stop putting on airs..."

Grandfather laughed heartily: "What's for lunch? Is the rice ready?"

"None."

Hearing "putting on airs," Grandmother was unhappy again and glared at him crossly: "You're playing fast and loose. It's high noon and you haven't come back—how would I know if you've eaten out..."

"Since it's not ready, let's go out to eat."

Guben spoke up for Grandfather: "Grandmother rarely dresses up so beautifully. It would be a pity not to go out for a stroll. We must let people see the true charm of the flower of Wangfu Pool West Street."

"You think Grandmother is a vase?"

Grandfather was amused, grinning and laughing.

"Grandmother has far more charm than a vase."

Guben and the old man played off each other.

"You two are just trying to anger me."

Grandmother laughed in anger, tossing a rag at each of them, slapping it onto their faces.

"Cough cough."

The old man pulled the rag off his face, thick-skinned and flattering: "After all these years, your grandmother still likes to hit me with a rag."

"Beating is love, scolding is affection."

Guben quickly followed the rhythm: "What's rare is the accuracy—every hit lands."

"Xiao Lin, I've made you see a joke."

Grandmother didn't want to deal with them. She turned to Lin Xiyu, smiling and scolding: "These two old men are just like this—can't give a good face, never serious on normal days, just love to anger me."

"This is quite good."

Lin Xiyu held back her smile, saying seriously: "Having two lively treasures to joke and liven things up makes the house lively. Grandmother surely won't be bored."

"You child are truly likable."

Grandmother was happy to hear it. Now her gaze toward her was completely different from when she first entered, as if she were a different person, full of love in her heart and eyes: "Far better than that whatever Count Mayor's daughter. Guben has good taste; he's still accurate in judging people."

"Grandmother."

Guben stopped laughing, looking surprised: "You've met Zhang Xiaoqian?"

"Heh heh, you wouldn't know about that, would you..."

Grandma raised her eyebrows smugly, deliberately selling a secret.

"When was that?"

Guben was truly a bit confused this time: "I don't remember her ever coming to our house, how did you see her?"

"When you were filming the documentary..."

Grandma rarely saw her grandson's surprised expression, and smiled leisurely: "She was making a ruckus in the alley next to Furong Street, broke the camera, I was there at the time, in your Liu Nainai's yard, saw it all clearly, that girl's temper, your Liu Nainai shook her head over and over..."