Chapter 3131: Precious Chess Pieces

Before the Spring Festival, Su Xinghui met with Premier Nan again. This meeting didn't last long, just over ten minutes, because Premier Nan's affairs before the Spring Festival were too busy, and Su Xinghui didn't want to occupy too much of Premier Nan's time.

The meaning of his meeting with Premier Nan was just to wish Premier Nan an early New Year in advance. This layer of meaning was reached, and that was enough. In addition, he also reported his work in Baozhou during this period to Premier Nan.

Premier Nan's term of office had less than a year left. This term of premier also made him physically and mentally exhausted. He was obviously much older than when Su Xinghui first met him a few years ago, which made Su Xinghui very worried. However, he certainly wouldn't say it out. He just said things like Happy New Year to Premier Nan, and then picked some good things about his affairs in Baozhou to tell Premier Nan.

Premier Nan was still very satisfied with his work in Baozhou, listening and nodding repeatedly. When Su Xinghui said goodbye, he also wished Su Xinghui's family a Happy New Year and everything went well.

Coming out of Premier Nan's place, Su Xinghui was also very emotional. This respectable old man was really dedicated to the country and the people! His help to himself was also very great. It could be said that Su Xinghui's growth to the current level was inseparable from Premier Nan's kind care. Therefore, Su Xinghui was exceptionally respectful to him.

On the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, Hou Guangbi arrived in the capital accompanied by several sons, nephews, and grandsons, and moved into the courtyard bought by Hou Wenhai. In this way, he became a neighbor of the Su family.

Of course, if it was a neighbor, the two families were still a bit far away, separated by two hutongs, but it took four or five minutes to walk, which could be called a neighbor.

On the day Hou Guangbi moved into the courtyard, the Su family went to visit Hou Guangbi together. Speaking of which, Su Xinghui hadn't seen Grandpa Hou for a year.

Although the old man Hou was already an old man in his eighties, after returning to the country, he handed over all affairs to his children and grandchildren and enjoyed his old age. After returning to the country, his mood was getting better and better. Plus he practiced the Five Animal Frolics taught by Su Xinghui, his body was getting stronger and stronger, and it seemed that his body was better than when he was in his seventies a few years ago.

He saw Su Xinghui's family and heard Niuniu calling "Grandpa, hello" crisply. He was so happy that he couldn't close his mouth, and immediately touched a meeting red envelope and stuffed it into Niuniu's pocket.

Su Xinghui still planned not to accept it, because he saw that the red envelope was thick, and there was a lot of money in it. However, Hou Guangbi sank his face and said: "You gave it to Niuniu, it has nothing to do with you. If you don't let the child accept it, don't enter my house in the future."

Su Xinghui had to give up. He let Niuniu thank the old grandpa, and Niuniu took out the red envelope and handed it to Lu Xiaoya. He had always handled the red envelopes he received in previous years like this.

Hou Guangbi didn't care who Niuniu gave the red envelope to, as long as he accepted it. He smiled and said: "Xinghui, I heard that you helped Wenhai buy this courtyard?"

Su Xinghui said: "I did help find it."

Hou Guangbi said: "This courtyard is good. I just like to live in such a courtyard. That kind of building, I can't get used to it no matter what. The courtyard is so grounded, and this room is generous and beautiful. Every morning when I open the door, the sun shines in. This courtyard can also practice boxing, raise flowers, and feed fish. How good."

It could be seen that the old man Hou was very satisfied with this courtyard. His old house in Shangjun County was also a courtyard. Although the layout and regulations were somewhat different from the courtyard in the capital, it was generally the same, and it was also what he was used to living in.

Even when he was in France, he lived in that kind of Chinese-style manor. He didn't like living in that kind of building very much. Being able to live in such a courtyard in the capital, of course, there was nothing to be dissatisfied with.

Su Xinghui smiled and said: "Brother Wenhai bought this courtyard, just hoping that you can live in it for a good period of time. When the weather is warm, take you to see the capital. There are still many places worth seeing in the capital, such as the Forbidden City, such as the Great Wall, etc."

Hou Guangbi nodded and said: "Yes, there are still many places worth seeing in the capital. I am already an old man, a body of wind and candle years, now I should take a look. Otherwise, if I pass away in a few years, then I won't see anything. Isn't it a pity?"

Passing away is Shangjun dialect, which means the meaning of passing away. Su Xinghui said: "Grandpa Hou, you must not say that. Your body is still very good. I think living to one hundred years old is no problem."

Hou Guangbi laughed openly and said: "Alas, what is the point of living so long? Doesn't that make me an old monster? Living to this age, I am already satisfied. I am a person who walked out of that chaotic world. At that time, who could have thought that there would be such a day, and life would be so good? At that time, I always thought that I was not sure about the morning and evening."

Su Xinghui nodded slowly. Yes, people who walked out of that chaotic world were all flustered in their hearts. Looking at that chaotic world, going thousands of miles away, who could have thought that there would be such a day now?

Hou Guangbi said: "Look at the few years our family has returned to the motherland. The motherland is prosperous, and our Hou family is also thriving. We have only returned to the motherland for a few years, but the wealth accumulated has exceeded the accumulation of the past few decades, and even exceeded several times. This is all brought to us by the country! Seeing the development of the motherland and seeing the today of our Hou family, even if I pass away today, I am willing."

Su Xinghui said: "Grandpa Hou, you must not say that. Don't you want to see Niuniu and the others go to college? Don't you want to see them get married?"

Hou Guangbi laughed and said: "That's what I said, but if I can live a few more years, I certainly think it's good. If I can see them go to college and get married, then God is too kind to me in this life."

Su Xinghui said: "Grandpa Hou, do you want me to play a game of chess with you today?"

As soon as Hou Guangbi heard about playing chess, his spirit immediately became better. He smiled and said: "That would be great, is there chess here?"

Hou Wenhai hurriedly said: "Of course there is chess, I will go get it."

Hou Wenhai soon brought a set of chess pieces, followed by Hou Wenchang and Hou Wenyong, who were carrying a chessboard. This chessboard was yellow, about three feet square, very heavy, and there were four feet underneath, just like a tea table.

Looking at the chessboard, Hou Guangbi's eyes shone. After Hou Wenchang and Hou Wenyong put the chessboard in front of him, he touched the chessboard and looked at it carefully. After a long time, he asked: "Could this be a Torreya chessboard?"

Hou Wenhai smiled and said: "Right, Grandpa, this is a Torreya chessboard. It was bought by Xinghui taking me to the antique market. It is an old thing with a history of hundreds of years."

Torreya chessboard, as the name suggests, is a chessboard made of Torreya wood. Torreya, also known as fragrant Torreya, is a very precious wood, and it is the best material for making chessboards. It grows slowly, and a Torreya that can make a whole wood chessboard needs to grow for hundreds of years.

Now fragrant Torreya is listed as a protected tree species, so the material is rare, and there are basically no newly produced Torreya chessboards. Like the chessboard bought by Hou Wenhai, it has a history of hundreds of years, which is a very rare cultural relic.

Torreya can emit a special fragrance, which can calm the mind and calm the spirit, and is good for the concentration of chess players.

Concentration is a very important thing when playing chess. Therefore, when ancient literati played chess, they would light a stick of sandalwood to help the players concentrate. However, if it was a Torreya chessboard, even sandalwood could be saved.

However, this chessboard has a history of hundreds of years. I don't know how many people have played chess on it, so it is impossible to emit any fragrance. Unless another piece is cut, the newly cut side will emit fragrance, but who would do this? Doing so is tantamount to wasting things.

Hou Guangbi touched the smooth surface of the chessboard and looked at the delicate and beautiful texture on it. He seemed to be unable to put it down. He was a person who liked chess, and naturally he also liked chess pieces. He also had various chess pieces at home, but he didn't have such a precious and rare Torreya chessboard. Seeing it this time, he was naturally very happy. ===== CHAPTER 3133 =====