“Dad, stop playing.”
At this moment, Ma Zhendong came over and waved to stop his father. “Your grandson is back.”
“Jinghao is back.”
Upon hearing that his eldest grandson had returned, Ma Jianguo immediately perked up. He stood up and said to his chess opponent, “Old Lin, we’ll play another day. I’m going back to play with my grandson.”
“Go ahead, go ahead. Old Wang, we were playing…” The chess friend didn’t bother with him and continued playing.
“Zhendong is back.”
Seeing Ma Zhendong, Han Anhong seized the opportunity and said with a smile, “I brought some mooncakes and tea for Old Ma…”
Ma Jianguo finally turned his head to look at him. “I say, Old Han, although we are both retired, we can’t be doing this, can we?”
“Old Ma, what are you talking about? It’s just a few boxes of mooncakes and tea, not worth much,” Han Anhong smiled.
“You can take the mooncakes upstairs to eat, but the tea is not necessary.”
Ma Jianguo waved his hand and turned to head back towards his own building. He knew that the tea they drank was worth hundreds of thousands, even millions, per kilogram, and he, Ma Jianguo, couldn’t afford it.
“Old Han, come up and sit for a while.”
Ma Zhendong couldn’t refuse Han Anhong and his son standing outside, but he knew that their purpose in coming today was nothing more than for his second son, Han Qizhi!
“Alright, alright…”
Han Anhong then led Han Yutang, and followed Ma Jianguo and his son upstairs back to the house. Upon seeing his eldest grandson Ma Jinghao, Ma Jianguo immediately put on a kindly grandfather’s smile. “Xiao Hao, you’re back.”
“Grandpa…” Ma Jinghao, who was playing in the living room, ran towards him. Ma Jianguo picked him up and said happily, “Haven’t seen you for two weeks, and you’ve gained a few more pounds, kid.”
“Dad, don’t you have a bad back? Don’t lift him,”
Ma Zhendong quickly stopped his father from lifting his son, lest he hurt his old back.
“Old Ma, you have a bad back?”
Han Anhong immediately came forward, also holding his own old back. “I injured my back falling while climbing mountains a while ago, but an old Chinese doctor cured it. How about I invite that old Chinese doctor over to take a look for you? Yutang, hurry up and call that old Chinese doctor…”
“No need.”
Ma Jianguo waved his hand and said, “My back is fine. Even if it were, I would go to see Xiao Wan. I don’t need any old Chinese doctor…”
Xiao Wan!
Han Anhong muttered to himself.
Ma Zhendong said, “Dad, I’ve already called Yunting and asked him to come and check your back, and to stay for lunch.”
“Okay, I was thinking of asking him over for dinner tonight, but I know people have family reunions on the Mid-Autumn Festival. It’s good he can stay for lunch.”
Hearing that Wan Yunting was staying for lunch, Ma Jianguo shouted into the kitchen, “Old woman, make more dishes. I’m going to have a few drinks with Xiao Wan at noon…”
“I know, do I need to tell you…” Huang Xiue’s impatient voice came from the kitchen.
This scene made Han Anhong and Han Yutang exchange glances, completely unaware of who the “Xiao Wan” they were talking about was. Seeing Ma Jianguo preparing food so enthusiastically for him, it was clear that this Xiao Wan was no ordinary person, perhaps even a very important figure. Otherwise, Ma Jianguo, a retired provincial leader, wouldn’t treat and entertain him with such importance!
“Old Han, please sit.”
Ma Zhendong, seeing that his father didn’t want to deal with Han Anhong and his son, had to greet them himself. He asked, “Old Han, you’ve suddenly visited today, is there anything in particular?”
“Hehe, it’s nothing really.”
Han Anhong’s old face was all smiles as he said to Ma Zhendong, “Just came to give Old Ma some mooncakes and tea, after all, it’s a holiday…”
“If there’s nothing, then you should leave!”
Unexpectedly, Ma Jianguo, who was playing with his grandson on the side, interjected. “I still have to entertain Xiao Wan later, so I won’t be keeping you for lunch.”
Such direct dismissal was probably something only Ma Jianguo could do.
This made Han Anhong and Han Yutang extremely awkward, but they dared not say anything, as he was their former superior.
Just as Han Anhong and his son were preparing to leave, the doorbell rang. Ma Jianguo’s eyes lit up, “Xiao Wan is here. Zhendong, go open the door quickly.”
Ma Zhendong got up to go. This also surprised Han Anhong and his son, who were now eager to see what kind of extraordinary person this “Xiao Wan” they spoke of was…
“Yunting, you’re here.”
Ma Zhendong said with a smile as he opened the door. Wan Yunting immediately raised the gift box in his hand and smiled, “Mooncakes, and tea, distributed by the hospital.”
“Wow, you brought it all. Aren’t you going to save it for your little niece?”
Ma Zhendong was not polite with him and took the mooncakes from his hand. “Come in…”
So Wan Yunting walked in, passing through the entrance hall and into the living room. When he saw Han Anhong and Han Yutang, Wan Yunting’s expression froze for a moment.
“It’s you!”
However, Han Anhong and his son were stunned when they saw that the person who arrived was Wan Yunting, their faces showing disbelief.
“Xiao Wan…”
Ma Jianguo greeted him happily. Then Huang Xiue and his sister-in-law Liu Yajie, who were in the kitchen, also came out. “Xiao Wan, you’re here. Sit down for a while, we’re preparing lunch for you.”
“Auntie, Sister-in-law, just a few dishes will do,”
Wan Yunting retracted his gaze from Han Anhong and his son and smiled naturally at Huang Xiue and the others.
“That won’t do. Since you’re here, we must have a good meal. Wait a moment.” Huang Xiue said happily and continued to prepare lunch in the kitchen with her daughter-in-law…
However, Han Anhong and Han Yutang were currently stunned, staring at Wan Yunting with wide eyes, completely unable to imagine that the “Xiao Wan” Ma Jianguo and the others were talking about was the same young man they had met last night at Fang Guowen’s place, the one who had spoken so arrogantly and even cursed him to die…
“Old man, I heard you have a bad back. Come, let me take a look.”
Wan Yunting completely ignored them and walked over, pulling Ma Jianguo to sit on a chair in the living room. He lifted his shirt and pressed on his back. “Does it hurt here?”
“Yes, yes, it’s here. Actually, it doesn’t hurt much, it just feels a bit sore and tired,” Ma Jianguo said.
…At this moment, Han Anhong and Han Yutang stood stiffly to the side, staring blankly at the scene, completely ignored by the Ma family.
“Did you do any strenuous exercise?”
“Oh my, you can’t hide anything from Xiao Wan. Yesterday afternoon, I was using that equipment for waist exercises…”
“Tsk, old man, didn’t I tell you before that your body had just recovered and you couldn’t do strenuous exercise? Just playing chess is fine.” Wan Yunting said as he massaged his back, chiding him.
“Hehe, I just couldn’t help it. I was betting and competing with Old Lin and those old fellows,” Ma Jianguo said sheepishly like an old child.
This left Wan Yunting speechless. “Your back is just strained. I’ll give you a few acupuncture needles later to dispel the bad energy. Remember, no more strenuous exercise in the future.”
“Alright, alright, I’ll definitely remember what you say.”
Ma Jianguo said with a smile, then he noticed Han Anhong and his son still standing there. He couldn’t help but frown. “Do you still need something?”
“Ah, no…”
Finally regaining their senses, Han Anhong and Han Yutang shook their heads. The father and son looked at Wan Yunting with complex gazes, never expecting such a result…