Chapter 101: Reborn 1987 Chapter 101: Jiang Wenyu 1988

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Protagonist:

Jiang Wenyu

The next morning, Jiang Wenyu's family of three got up early. Chen Lan unusually took the time to wash and dress up carefully, looking more mature in her beauty compared to usual.

Wu Miaomiao and Lin Xiaomei also came early. Both were there to see Chen Lan off.

Xiao Nuannuan clung to Jiang Wenyu's arms the whole time. The little girl's eyes were red, her expression somewhat dazed. This was already an improvement — last night, upon learning she would be separated from her father, Jiang Nuannuan had cried for hours. Chen Lan and Jiang Wenyu coaxed her for half the night before she reluctantly fell asleep.

And this morning, waking up along with the two of them, the child seemed listless, clearly unwilling to part with Jiang Wenyu.

There wasn't much luggage to pack. Once there, Zhong Beiyue would naturally help Chen Lan take care of everything. Honestly, Jiang Wenyu wasn't worried, just reluctant.

They escorted Chen Lan and Jiang Nuannuan all the way to the station. About half an hour remained before departure.

Lin Xiaomei and Wu Miaomiao kept talking with Chen Lan. The two girls were very close to her. Though their ages differed, they were like good sisters.

Meanwhile, Jiang Nuannuan was still held in Jiang Wenyu's arms. Her two little hands clung tightly around his neck, refusing to let go.

Seeing departure time approaching, Jiang Wenyu spoke gently: "Nuannuan, we have to board soon. Didn't we agree on this last night?"

Xiao Nuannuan still didn't speak, only gripping with her little arms even harder. Who knew where this little girl got such strength — Jiang Wenyu didn't dare pull too hard.

Watching the child cling to him like this now, Jiang Wenyu actually felt happy inside. After all, something like that had happened before.

She glanced at Chen Lan, then finally helplessly carried Jiang Nuannuan onto the train. Finding a seat, she sat down first, stroking her daughter's hair, smiling gently: "Nuannuan, I'm on the train too. It's okay."

The latter still wouldn't let go, her little mouth grumbling aggrievedly: "If I let go, you'll run away. I won't!"

Jiang Wenyu smiled wryly, helpless. Jiang Nuannuan's clever streak had never faded. She seemed to have known all along what he intended by carrying her aboard.

At this, Jiang Wenyu switched tactics, chatting cheerfully with Jiang Nuannuan about other things.

Gradually, the latter finally relaxed. The strength in her hands lessened considerably. When Jiang Wenyu talked about happy things, Xiao Nuannuan couldn't help but laugh along.

She was still a little girl, after all. As her father, Jiang Wenyu understood Nuannuan's temperament best. Seeing the moment was about right, he continued: "You're going with Mom. You're responsible for taking care of her."

Jiang Nuannuan hesitated a moment, then nodded seriously. A happy smile finally appeared on her tender little face.

"Dad, will you come find us?"

"Of course. Whenever I have the chance, I'll definitely come see you."

Only a few minutes remained. As Jiang Wenyu got off the train, Chen Lan boarded. The two even embraced for a little while.

The three people outside — Jiang Wenyu and the two girls — and Chen Lan and Nuannuan on the train waved goodbye. Everyone's faces were full of reluctance, but even more so with a composure meant to reassure the other.

Chen Lan's and Jiang Wenyu's gazes were filled with trust and lingering attachment for each other, then both turned to Jiang Nuannuan, instantly becoming that tenderly concerned.

Time was up. The train slowly pulled away.

"Dad!"

In that instant, Jiang Nuannuan still leaned out the window and shouted. The little girl's eye rims reddened in a flash, making Jiang Wenyu's heart tremble violently.

But in the end he held it in, propping up a smile and waving to Jiang Nuannuan until the train had sped away and even the exhaust was gone from sight. Only then did he slowly lower his hand.

He stood dazed in place for a long while. His family's departure filled Jiang Wenyu's heart with a complex mix of emotions.

"Jiang Ge..." The two girls stepped forward, both casting concerned looks at Jiang Wenyu. Jiang Wenyu turned back with a smile: "I'm fine. Alright, they're gone. You two go back to work. I have to return to the company later too."

Naturally, the two didn't say much more. They were indeed worried about Jiang Wenyu's state, but really it was nothing. Although Chen Lan took Nuannuan to Jianghai City, the main purpose was to study at Athena Pavilion, and to give Nuannuan broader horizons.

Moreover, Jiang Wenyu had Zhong Beiyue's contact info. Phones are so convenient now — he could reach Chen Lan and her daughter anytime, anywhere. Still, there were differences.

Back at the company, Li Chen had long known Chen Lan was leaving today. The moment he saw Jiang Wenyu enter, he immediately laughed loudly, slinging an arm around Jiang Wenyu's shoulder, half-joking: "Brother, today marks the start of your solo living life. How about it? Want Big Brother me to teach you to whip up a couple dishes? I'm plenty familiar with solo living!"

Jiang Wenyu smiled wryly: "Thinking I'm like you? Cooking and all, I'm no worse than you."

Li Chen perked up at once, firing off questions: "Then do you know how much salt goes in a full plate versus half a plate? Do you know whether to put scallions or garlic in first when stir-frying? Do you know how to remove fishiness when braising fish? Do you know..."

He rattled off a whole string. Jiang Wenyu felt his head about to explode. Finally, his face twitched: "I... I just eat casually. No need to make it so complicated, right?"

Li Chen puffed his chest: "That's where you're wrong! Cooking fried rice and dishes reflects a person's self-cultivation! Just wait — tomorrow, Brother Li will personally teach you to cook two good dishes!"

Li Chen's method of comforting Jiang Wenyu wasn't bad. The latter's mood rarely eased up a bit.

Evening off-work time arrived. Jiang Wenyu pushed his bicycle toward home. On the way, he ran into an old acquaintance head-on.

It was a girl dressed neatly and cleanly. That choppy short hair looked like it had been cut recently. Her face held no expression. She just stopped in place upon seeing Jiang Wenyu. The latter also paused slightly.

"She and Nuannuan left?" The girl spoke first.

Jiang Wenyu took a deep breath, nodded: "Left. This morning. Go tell Father-in-law and Mother-in-law, so they don't worry too much."

The girl was none other than Chen Lan's own younger sister, Chen Na.

After not meeting for a while, Chen Na gave off a different vibe again. With her short hair, she looked more capable and fresh, more like a teacher — though just a music teacher.

The old couple knew Chen Lan and Nuannuan were leaving, but weren't told when. Afraid they'd worry if they came to see them off.

Chen Lan was at ease about the old couple. Today's Chen Na could take good care of them.

The two only exchanged these two brief sentences before Chen Na resumed her stride, bypassing Jiang Wenyu.

Their relationship seemed to have changed, yet also seemed not to have.

"If anything comes up at home, come find me."

Jiang Wenyu didn't move. He just said that one short sentence. It was precisely this sentence that made Chen Na's steps falter slightly, before she left again.

…

Walking down this long street, children on both sides still played happily. Sometimes a child recognized Jiang Wenyu and ran over grinning to ask why Jiang Nuannuan wasn't out playing. Jiang Wenyu could only gently tell them Jiang Nuannuan had gone on a long trip.

Finally home. Pushing open the door, everything inside was as before.

Simple furnishings and ordinary furniture. A compact yet clean and tidy space. To outsiders, this home might seem small. But to Jiang Wenyu's family of three, it was a place of lingering attachment.

They had money to change to a new house, but Jiang Wenyu and Chen Lan didn't do so. Living here seemed the only way to feel that warm life.

The surroundings were very quiet. No more Jiang Nuannuan's usual laughter. No more Chen Lan's cooking sounds from the past. Everything looked so discordant.

He sat at the table, his expression silent, and after a moment let out a heavy sigh.

In the end, there was still a sense of desolation.

He kept smiling bitterly; he had thought he would easily grow accustomed to this kind of life, but the moment solitary living truly arrived, he understood—

"So it's this difficult..."

Leaning back in the chair, his eye was suddenly caught by something; he lowered his head and saw a sheet of paper placed on a corner of the table, and curiously picked it up to take a look.

This was left by Chen Lan; on it was written densely many, many things, every stroke so neat and upright that from the weight of the brush one could see how serious Chen Lan was when writing these things.

Most of it told Jiang Wenyu how to cook and do housework, even writing down the recipes for every dish Chen Lan had made, and at the end there was a passage.

"I will fulfill my dream in Jianghai City; since I've decided to go, I'll do it to the best of my ability. But to me, you are the most important. So... when you want me to come back, I will definitely come back!"

At the end of this passage there was also a simple smiley face, and Jiang Wenyu couldn't help but laugh too.

Setting down this sheet of paper, he gazed into the distance at the sunset outside the window.

"Come back... heh, such selfish words I can't bring myself to say; moreover, in the future I'll definitely be the one going to find you. This home I'll temporarily take charge of."

The sky was clear, the fiery sunset scattering the sun's final rays; looking out, the horizon seemed like a painting from a master's brush, that brilliant and dazzling.

Jiang Wenyu, his future self a tycoon of a generation, inspiring awe in onlookers, his influence in the world making people fear.

And the current him was merely a man about to begin living alone, a husband who misses his wife and daughter every moment, and even more a strongman who looks to the future and determines to seize every opportunity!

In 1988, Jiang Wenyu successfully reached a cooperation agreement with the well-known foreign appliance enterprise "Tranqi"; after acquiring the largest mall in Chema City, the scale of "Miaoshou Jiang" Appliance Company multiplied several times over in a single day.

His name spread throughout the country within half a year.

Jiang Wenyu, for the first time known to people in the posture of a "merchant".