aircannonsinc Chapter 195 Yan Bugui's Triumph
Chapter 195 Yan Bugui's Triumph
A hot wind, carrying the smell of coal smoke, swept through the alley, stirring the bamboo curtains hanging on the doors under the eaves of the neighboring houses, making a soft rustling sound.
Lin Zhou and Lou Xiao'e could hear Yan Bugui humming a selection from "The Fisherman's Revenge" from afar. These days, he was living a leisurely and carefree life.
Yan Bugui, his body hunched over, held a small shovel in his hand and carefully watered and loosened the soil of the "Clivia" on the flowerpot stand.
His movements were slow and meticulous; the way he gently pinched the orchid leaf between his two fingers revealed a sense of refinement!
He bought this flower from the flower and bird market last year. It was just an inconspicuous little seedling at first, but after more than half a year of his careful care, it is now lush and full of pink and white flowers, which have become a beautiful sight at the hanging flower gate.
After retiring, Yan Bugui didn't have many other hobbies. He spent his days tending to this shelf of flowers and plants, watering them every morning and pruning them every evening, putting in even more care than he used to when he was grading students' homework.
After all, during those difficult times, it was these flowers and plants that brought back a lot of food and money from those old-fashioned people.
"Last night, I fell asleep fully clothed after drinking too much, when the rooster's crow in the fields startled me from my dream..."
He hummed a tune, not very high, but with a melodious air of self-satisfaction.
The wrinkles at the corners of her eyes trembled gently with the rhythm of her humming. Her gaze fell on the clivia in full bloom, her eyes full of affection, but in her heart she was thinking about something else entirely.
If we're talking about who lives the most comfortable life in this courtyard house these days, Yan Bugui would consider himself second to none.
When he retired a few years ago, he was still worried about living off his meager pension, and he felt somewhat uneasy.
After all, he still has his wife and son at home. Although Yan Jiecheng got married early, he used to work in a factory, and his wages, after deducting his pension and rent, were barely enough to make ends meet.
As a father, he always wanted to scheme and take advantage of others, but he didn't have any good ways to do so.
But who would have thought that this guy's wife actually has a knack for business and opened a small restaurant last year, following the trend.
At first, he was very nervous, fearing that he would lose his investment and not be able to get back the money he had lent out. He secretly scolded his son countless times for "taking the capitalist road".
But looking at it now, that restaurant is thriving.
Every evening, Yan Bugui would find an excuse to take a stroll and wander around the vicinity of the restaurant. From afar, he could see people coming and going at the entrance, with a constant stream of customers coming and going. From time to time, he could hear the sounds of drinking games and laughter coming from inside.
Occasionally, he would deliberately approach the restaurant entrance to listen to customers' opinions. Once, he actually overheard two diners chatting near the entrance, saying:
"You know what, the Sichuan food at this Chunfeng Restaurant is really authentic and the portions are generous. No wonder it's so popular every day!"
At that moment, he was overflowing with pride, but he pretended to walk away casually, while he pondered those words over and over in his mind.
"Hmph, only my son, Yan Bugui, could have this ability."
He was secretly pleased with himself. He paused with the shovel in his hand, accidentally knocking off a petal. Feeling sorry for it, he quickly reached out and caught it, gently placing it on the porcelain plate beside him.
Thinking back over the years, who has been the most prominent person in the courtyard? It's Sha Zhu!
With his excellent cooking skills, he was very popular in the factory canteen. People in the yard and the factory would politely call him "Master Sha Zhu" when they went to get food.
But what about now? Sha Zhu is still working as a cook in his son's restaurant.
Although it was just an employment relationship, and Sha Zhu was paid wages, he had no subordinate relationship with the Yan family. But in the eyes of outsiders, it was as if "Sha Zhu was working at the Yan family's eldest son's restaurant".
Thinking of this, Yan Bugui's tone unconsciously rose a few notches, the last note lingering long, carrying an undisguised sense of exhilaration.
Now, the old neighbors in the courtyard look at him with a mixture of envy, jealousy, and a hint of flattery.
When the neighbors in the front yard saw him, they would always smile and say:
"Uncle, your family, Jie Cheng and his wife, have really made something of themselves these days!"
"Oh my! Uncle San, you have no idea, your Jiecheng Restaurant is doing better and better!"
These words were sweeter to Yan Bugui than eating aged honey.
He has always claimed that his family is a scholarly family and that he values his reputation the most.
When he was young, he always wanted to make some achievements at school so that his colleagues would look up to him, but he never succeeded.
After retiring, I hope my children will be successful, so they can increase my retirement savings and make me look good.
Now that his son's restaurant is thriving, he has finally regained his reputation.
Although he had never taken advantage of anyone at the restaurant, because Jie Cheng was very shrewd and kept perfect accounts, and even when he went to eat, he had to pay the full price, no one except his own family knew about this.
Outsiders only know that Yan Jiecheng is Yan Bugui's son, and that Yan Bugui has a son who owns a restaurant. That's enough.
"My recent frown is all because of Ding Zixie's improper conduct..."
He continued humming, his fingers darting among the flowers and leaves, but his gaze unconsciously drifted toward the gate of the courtyard house.
At this time of day, when people in the courtyard are gradually going home, he can stay by the hanging flower gate, tending to the flowers and plants, and also "bump into" the neighbors who are returning from get off work, listen to a few flattering words, and feel extremely comfortable.
Just then, a series of footsteps approached from afar, accompanied by children's laughter, breaking the tranquility of the hanging flower gate.
Yan Bugui subconsciously stopped humming and looked up. He saw a stylishly dressed woman leading two children in front of him, followed by a very elegant man who looked very familiar.
The man was tall and straight, wearing a clean polyester shirt, with a calm demeanor, and looked completely unfamiliar.
Yan Bugui's gaze first fell on the woman. Her long dress made her look noble, and her long, wavy hair made her look very fashionable.
Then his gaze shifted to the two children. Both the boy and the girl were pretty, especially the girl, who was dressed like a little princess, with bright, sparkling eyes, making her exceptionally adorable.
The two children walked hand in hand, skipping and hopping along, whispering something to each other, looking innocent and carefree.
Finally, his gaze settled on Lin Zhou. There was something very familiar about this man.
Yan Bugui couldn't help but start calculating how he could gain an advantage:
Judging from his clothes and appearance, he doesn't seem to be from an ordinary family, and his temperament exudes an extraordinary air.
He instinctively straightened his back, put down the shovel, and smiled just the right amount—a smile that was both dignified of an elder and warmly neighborly—asked:
"Hello, are you here to see someone?" Yan Bugui spoke first, his voice gentle and familiar.
He deliberately slowed his speech to make his tone sound more friendly. At the same time, his gaze lingered briefly on Lin Zhou, a hint of inquiry in his eyes, which he quickly concealed.
He was calculating in his mind how to gain an advantage later, how to appear polite while also figuring out the other person's background.
Lou Xiao'e heard Yan Bugui's greeting, stopped with a smile, and greeted him in return:
"Uncle, it's been so many years. You're still tending to the flowers and plants here, just like before."
As she spoke, she tugged at Chen Jiaming and Chen Jiaqi beside her, "Quick, call him Grandpa Yan."
The two children obediently called out in unison, "Hello, Grandpa Yan." Their voices were clear and melodious, like silver bells.
Yan Bugui was taken aback by what he was told. What did that mean?
He adjusted his glasses and looked closely at Lou Xiao'e before recognizing her as Xu Damao's ex-wife!
He immediately smiled so broadly his eyes narrowed, and he nodded repeatedly to the two children, saying:
"Oh, good boy, so well-behaved."
"You're Lou Xiao'e! I heard your family went to Hong Kong all these years ago, so you've come back?"
As he spoke, his gaze inadvertently swept over Lin Zhou again, and he suddenly remembered that it was this same person who had inexplicably come to the courtyard last year, claiming to be Lou Xiao'e's friend.
He also revealed the secrets of many people in the courtyard, causing a commotion among the residents before it finally subsided.
Moreover, his eldest son, Yan Jiecheng, argued with him for a while, saying that the reason they couldn't have children was because their family's food was too poor and their health was severely depleted.
Lin Zhou followed Lou Xiao'e into the hanging flower gate, nodded politely to Yan Bugui, but did not speak to him.
"Yes, Uncle! Our family was framed, so we had no choice but to leave and hide!"
"We have other things to do, so we'll go in first, Uncle."
Yan Bugui quickly waved his hand: "Hey, you guys..."
He wondered what Lou Xiao'e might be up to this time, and it certainly wasn't anything good. He was prepared to stop them, but he didn't seem to have any reason to do so.
He watched the group walk away into the courtyard, then looked down at the flowers and plants on the flower stand beside him and could only sigh inwardly.
"This is really a headache! Ruihua, Ruihua! Come out quickly! There's something to see!"