Chapter 56: It's Because I'm Too Eager to Make Progress!

After Tang Ye caught sight of Hong Ruilin, he suddenly accelerated, his footsteps like the wind.

"Fast, fast, fast! Flying away..."

Nini shook her little head, her pigtails bobbing up and down, and she laughed even harder.

Gu Wenqin actually couldn't quite keep up!

Once Tang Ye walked near, Hong Ruilin gave him a good scolding right off the bat.

"Why didn't you give me a heads-up before coming?"

"Isn't this to give you a surprise?" Tang Ye placed Nini steadily on the ground. "Call him Great-Grandpa."

Nini sized up the old man before her, hesitated for a moment, then timidly called out, "Hello, Great-Grandpa..."

Hong Ruilin froze in place, speechless for a long while, then suddenly felt a stinging sensation in the corners of his eyes and hurriedly forced himself to hold it back. "Good baby, wait for me a moment."

Having said that, Hong Ruilin turned back, squatted down, and with a beaming smile, stuffed a handful of candies into Nini's palm.

Nini looked at Gu Wenqin cautiously.

Gu Wenqin nodded with a smile.

A sweet smile appeared at the corners of Nini's mouth, and she politely said, "Thank you, Great-Grandpa."

She peeled one candy and quickly popped it into her mouth.

Then she peeled another and put it into Hong Ruilin's mouth.

The wrinkles on Hong Ruilin's forehead smoothed out instantly, as if he were a dozen years younger, and he laughed heartily, "Hey, thank you, Nini. What a sensible baby."

Tang Ye picked up a hoe and spat twice into his palms.

He began to till the soil.

"Old man, leave this to me; you go talk to Nini."

Hong Ruilin hurriedly took off his coat and liberation shoes, and beckoned to Tang Ye.

"Change into these before you work! Don't get your clean clothes dirty."

Tang Ye took the clothes and shoes from Hong Ruilin's hands, put them on quite naturally, and bent down to dig the earth.

Gu Laotou smiled from across the courtyard wall and said, "Lao Hong, you're pushing Little Tang around again, treating him like free labor!"

Tang Ye mocked himself, "It has nothing to do with the old man; it's just that I'm too eager to make progress!"

"Hey, you brat!" Gu Laotou felt it was quite dull and turned to go inside.

Hong Ruilin, holding Nini, commented on Tang Ye, "Don't say, he really looks the part."

Tang Ye was full of energy, swinging the hoe until it flew, and before long he had plowed a ridge, laughing proudly, "My grandmother lived in the countryside, and every autumn harvest, my dad would take me to the village to help. I'm a farmer's grandson."

Gu Wenqin couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing; her original nervous mood quietly eased.

No wonder Hong Ruilin treated Tang Ye differently; who wouldn't like a young man who is attentive, hardworking, and quite humorous?

Gu Wenqin didn't stay idle either; she found a watering can and watered the flowers and plants in the corner.

A bright and delicate oval face flitted in and out of view through the vine trellis.

She wore a black long dress that made her skin appear even fairer and smoother; when she watered the plants, viewed from behind, the curve of her waist was like the neck of a swan, adding a touch of charm.

After Tang Ye finished digging the ground, he washed his hands and walked into the kitchen to get busy.

Gu Wenqin felt awkward being with Hong Ruilin, so she simply followed Tang Ye to help out.

Gu Wenqin had just set down the washed vegetables when she suddenly heard a commotion outside; it sounded like Nini was crying, so she hurried to run out of the kitchen.

Tang Ye subconsciously turned to look at Gu Wenqin, only to see her step into a pile of rotten vegetable leaves. He warned her to be careful, but it was already too late, so he hurriedly stepped forward and supported her waist from the side-rear.

Because there was water on the ground, it was too slippery, and Tang Ye lost his balance and fell to the ground, his backside feeling a sharp pain as if it had shattered into several pieces.

Gu Wenqin sat on Tang Ye, as if sitting on a thick cushion, feeling no pain at all, but she could feel her heartbeat accelerating rapidly, as if it were about to jump out of her chest.

Tang Ye realized his hand was in an inappropriate position and hurriedly pulled it back.

The height of Gu Wenqin's prone body didn't change much, but the material of her base layer was tight and clung to her skin, her silhouette like a smooth moon bridge.

At this moment, she lost her strength, her head felt dizzy, and she felt as if she had been drinking alcohol.

Tang Ye's vision was blocked by Gu Wenqin's thick, black hair, and he couldn't help but lose focus.

Nini walked over from outside at this time, showing no signs of crying. Seeing Tang Ye and Gu Wenqin fall, she clapped her hands heartlessly, "Great-Grandpa, come look, Mommy and Uncle Tang both fell down, silly, silly, silly."

Gu Wenqin hurriedly scrambled up from the ground, rubbing her waist, and glared at Nini, "You heartless little rascal, Mommy has fallen, and you're still gloating."

Thinking Gu Wenqin was angry, Nini hurriedly and obediently cupped her palm to her mouth and blew on it repeatedly, "Mommy doesn't hurt, baby will blow it for you."

Tang Ye hurriedly got up and tried twisting his waist; there was no major harm.

He thought to himself, luckily Nini appeared in time.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have known how to resolve the awkward scene from just a moment ago.

Hong Ruilin also followed over from outside.

"Are you two alright?"

"I heard Nini crying and in my haste, I took a tumble," Gu Wenqin hurriedly explained.

Hong Ruilin took Nini's soft little hand and said with a smile, "The kitchen floor is too slippery, and there's a fire, it's not safe. Come, let's go back to playing chess with Great-Grandpa; this time Great-Grandpa will let you win, and I won't let you cry again."

Tang Ye washed his hands clean and caught a glimpse of a water stain and dirt on the lower back of Gu Wenqin's waist.

He thought about it, but fearing it would be awkward, he didn't remind her.

However, Gu Wenqin later went to the restroom, and when she returned, the water stain and dirt had disappeared, looking as good as new.

Tang Ye was secretly surprised.

That position was a visual blind spot; how did she discover it? And how did she clean it?

Quite magical...

Half an hour later, Tang Ye had made several home-cooked dishes: braised green beans, tomato and egg soup, oil-baked cucumber, and radish and pork rib soup.

Gu Wenqin tasted a bite and exclaimed, "I didn't expect your cooking to be quite good."

Nini ate with great relish, not needing anyone to feed her, and finished a bowl of rice in no time.

Hong Ruilin took a sip of white liquor, the pungent, spicy sensation sliding down his throat.

He never expected to experience the joy of family life in his twilight years.

Yet, he said aloud, "Stop praising him; this kid can't handle praise."

After the meal.

Tang Ye and Hong Ruilin set out the chessboard.

Hong Ruilin knew Tang Ye had a favor to ask, but until Tang Ye said his goodbyes and left, he never brought it up.

After seeing off Tang Ye, Gu Wenqin, and Nini, Hong Ruilin tidied up the chessboard and discovered a document left on the chair.

Hong Ruilin couldn't help but laugh and scold, "This brat, he's usually thick-skinned and says whatever is on his mind, but today he's changed his tune—he's quite composed!"

Hong Ruilin ducked into his study and put on his reading glasses.

After skimming the project summary, he was quickly drawn in by the material.

An hour later, he finished reading the material and pondered for a long time.

Afterwards, he dug out the first page of his address book from the drawer, found the number, and dialed it.

"Zhao, it's been a long time since we last spoke. I wouldn't come to your door without a reason. I'll get straight to the point. Secretary Chen is your student, right? Help me pass on a document! You owe me a favor from back then, and you must repay it. Once it's done, I'll treat you to a bottle of twenty-year-old Moutai."

"Old man Hong, you don't ask for favors easily!"

"I'm not as stubborn as you think. When I encounter the right thing and the right person, I know how to be flexible when it's called for."

"Fine, I'll help you pass on the document," Zhao reminded him, "Whether it succeeds or not depends on whether the material is solid enough."

Hong Ruilin laughed confidently, "Don't you know me by now? I only fight battles I'm sure of winning!"

……

Inside the taxi.

Having played all day, Nini looked exhausted; she was held on Gu Wenqin's lap, sleeping soundly.

Tang Ye sat in the passenger seat, occasionally turning his head to glance at Gu Wenqin and Nini.

Tang Ye indeed had selfish motives for taking Gu Wenqin to visit Old Hong.

Gu Wenqin likely knew it!

Although Gu Wenqin had her eyes closed, she was actually wide awake.

Every time Tang Ye looked at her and Nini, her emotions were like a calm lake disturbed by a pebble.

The waves were small, but they stirred up ripples.

She knew that Tang Ye must have had a purpose in taking her to see Hong Ruilin.

She had not the slightest complaint against Tang Ye.

He had helped her too much.

If she could do something to help him, it was not worth mentioning!

……