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墨書 Inktalez
The car slowly drove along the road, with vehicles coming and going beside it, and tall buildings towering as if in the clouds.
S City developed rapidly; in just a few years, it reached its current prosperous state.
In the car, Grandpa Zhang and Uncle Jiang reminisced about old times, sharing stories from their youth and discussing the development of S City.
Shu Ran sat quietly in the back, listening attentively, a gentle smile lingering on her lips, occasionally chiming in with a comment or two in their conversation.
Before long, the car turned into the suburban area.
Shu Ran gazed out the window, where a large villa came into view, surrounded by lush greenery. Here, away from the city's noise and bustle, only tranquility remained.
Uncle Jiang got out of the car and handed the keys to the guard nearby, then respectfully led them toward the villa. Shu Ran supported Grandpa Zhang as they slowly followed behind.
As soon as they entered, a series of coughs could be heard, somewhat severe.
An elderly man was seated upright in a redwood chair in the living room, surrounded by several servants. One servant held water and medicine, assisting him in taking his medication. Uncle Jiang quickened his pace and approached him, bowing slightly as he said, "Old Qin, Grandpa Zhang has arrived."
Old Qin waved his hand to signal the servants to step back, and Uncle Jiang helped Old Qin to his feet.
As Grandpa Zhang entered, Old Qin's slightly aged voice rang out: "Old Zhang, it's been a while; I hope you have been well."
"Been well," Grandpa Zhang replied as he stood at the door, exchanging smiles with Old Qin.
The two old friends, who had known each other for decades, greeted each other warmly.
The servant brought in tea, and Old Qin sat across from Grandpa Zhang, chatting animatedly.
It was then that Old Qin noticed a lovely young girl sitting quietly beside Grandpa Zhang. She had been there for quite some time, silently observing, and seemed very well-behaved.
"Who is this young lady?"
Grandpa Zhang glanced at Shu Ran and introduced her to his old friend, "This young lady is Shu Ran, my adopted granddaughter whom I often mention to you. I brought her here today to witness our chess game and broaden her horizons."
Turning to Shu Ran, he said, "Shu Ran, quickly greet Grandpa Qin."
Shu Ran smiled lightly and called out cheerfully, "Grandpa Qin."
"Ah."
Old Qin listened to her voice and looked at her well-mannered demeanor; he couldn't help but like her more and more.
He teased, "Old Zhang, where did you find such an adorable girl? Tell me so I can go pick up a couple myself someday."
Grandpa Zhang laughed heartily and boasted, "This girl isn't just any random pick; she's my little granddaughter, Zhang Jingsheng's. She must be one in a million. Besides, don't you have a grandson? I heard from Xiao Jiang that he's doing quite well in his career."
Upon hearing his grandson mentioned, Old Qin felt a headache coming on and quickly waved his hand. "Don't mention that little rascal; just thinking about him makes me angry. He comes to see me once or twice a week, never staying more than two hours each time. He's busier than the president! Having a granddaughter is much better; people say girls are like warm little quilts."
"I think your granddaughter is quite nice. So, little girl, do you need a grandpa?" Old Qin said with a smile as he turned to Shu Ran.
Shu Ran did not respond, only smiling brightly.
Grandpa Zhang could hear the implication in the words, realizing that this was an attempt to pry into his family.
"Hey, hey, hey, I say, don't set your sights on my granddaughter! I only have one granddaughter. You should have your grandson marry a daughter-in-law and then have her give you a great-granddaughter. That way, you can play with the kids and everyone will be happy."
Old Qin sighed and said, "I wish I could, but my grandson is solely focused on his career and hasn't even thought about marriage." After saying that, he shook his head. "Alright, enough of that. Let's play a game of chess. If you don't come, I can't find an opponent and I lose interest in playing."
...
The servant set up the board and brought the two elderly men a fresh cup of tea.
He politely offered Shu Ran some snacks to keep her entertained while watching the game.
They began to guess who would go first. Old Qin played black and made the first move. Both players had their formations set up evenly.
Grandpa Zhang was cautious with every step, thinking carefully, while Old Qin also responded earnestly.
As they reached the middle game, the battle between the black and white pieces intensified, with Old Qin gaining the upper hand.
The situation on the board became increasingly dire as Old Qin's attacks grew fiercer, tightly surrounding the white pieces.
Sweat beaded on Grandpa Zhang's forehead as he hesitated, unsure of how to proceed.
Shu Ran watched with great interest, having her own thoughts. Grandpa Zhang's moves were steady, but Old Qin's aggressive attacks put him at a disadvantage as he slowly began to feel anxious.
Old Qin was enjoying a leisurely moment when he caught sight of Shu Ran's expression and suddenly felt inspired. "Hey, Old Zhang, why don't you let your granddaughter give it a try? You always praise her talent; let me see it for myself."
Grandpa Zhang, who was deep in thought, considered Old Qin's suggestion and agreed.
"Come here, Shu Ran. Look at the board and share your thoughts."
Shu Ran, absorbed in the game, felt relaxed and walked up to the board.
After thinking for a few minutes, she focused her mind, picked up a white stone, and gently placed it on the board.
Old Qin and Grandpa Zhang leaned in to take a look. They saw that the situation on the board became clear instantly; just one white stone allowed the previously surrounded white stones to break free.
Old Qin suddenly burst into laughter and exclaimed with admiration, "Old Zhang, your granddaughter is truly a treasure! At such a young age, her skills are already at this level."
Grandpa Zhang nodded in agreement. "Indeed."
In front of the two old chess masters, she didn't dare boast and quickly replied, "It's just that those involved are often confused while bystanders see clearly."
This made Old Qin even more envious of Grandpa Zhang for having such a granddaughter.
...
After finishing the game, it was already past noon.
Old Qin invited Grandpa Zhang to stay for lunch. Given their long-standing friendship, Grandpa Zhang accepted without hesitation.
Old Qin instructed the kitchen to prepare a full table of dishes. He chatted with Zhang Lao while eating, occasionally serving food to Shu Ran and telling her not to be polite.
Just as they were eating, the sound of a sports car braking came from outside the villa.
Old Qin heard it and smiled, saying, "What a coincidence, I was just mentioning it, and now they have arrived."
The midday sun was scorching, and heat waves filled the air outside.
The newcomer grabbed a glass of ice water from the servant and drank it all before slowly walking into the kitchen.
As he reached the kitchen door, Uncle Jiang quietly reminded him, "Young Master, we have guests at home today."
He was somewhat puzzled; his grandfather had grown older and was not very fond of socializing. The few visitors were relatives from the Qin family. However, it was unusual for there to be such a grand occasion, especially with Uncle Jiang stationed at the door.
"Which guest?"
"It's Old Qin's old friend, Zhang Lao. This time he brought his granddaughter along. Old Qin seems to really like this young girl," Uncle Jiang replied.
"Mm," he acknowledged and then pushed open the kitchen door.
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