Chapter 115
Ruijin waited for a while but didn't see his father board the carriage. At first, he thought his father might be sitting outside the curtain with the coachman to drive the horses, after all, the weather was getting hotter, and his tall father suffered most from the heat.
He poked his head out through the curtain, only to see an unfamiliar face: "Dad, who is this?"
Not only was he surprised, but even Zhang Fangyuan didn't recognize the person who had stopped him.
Siyang City was large, so it wasn't unusual for someone to know him when he didn't know them.
Seeing the two confused faces, one large and one small that bore a striking resemblance, the visitor said politely: "Young Master Zhang, our master requests your presence."
Ruijin's thick eyebrows twitched. Though he was used to being addressed this way himself, it was the first time he'd heard someone call his father "Young Master Zhang." He couldn't help but turn to look at Zhang Fangyuan.
"I wonder who your master might be," Zhang Fangyuan said. "Is this regarding business or other matters? I'm currently out with my son and afraid this isn't a convenient time to talk."
"That's alright. Please bring the young master along."
This only deepened Zhang Fangyuan's confusion. He glanced at the other party's carriage, it was an ordinary carriage that revealed nothing special.
"Lead the way then."
Zhang Fangyuan boarded his own carriage and instructed the driver to follow the one ahead.
"Dad, if you have business, the driver can just take me home first," Ruijin offered.
Zhang Fangyuan patted Ruijin's head: "It's fine. Come along, we'll go home right after."
The two carriages arrived one after another at a nearby teahouse. The first carriage arrived slightly earlier. By the time Zhang Fangyuan helped his son down from their carriage, the owner of the first carriage was already standing calmly at the teahouse entrance, seemingly giving instructions to the servant who had stopped Zhang Fangyuan earlier.
From a distance, Zhang Fangyuan swept his gaze over the elderly man. A face that had nearly faded into dust in his memory suddenly became clear again. His brows immediately drew tightly together.
"Young Master, please come upstairs."
Now that he'd seen who it was, Zhang Fangyuan was reluctant to continue, regretting having come at all. But out of respect for his elder, he hesitated, glancing at Ruijin.
The servant seemed to notice his hesitation: "The master hasn't yet met his great-grandson."
Ruijin's eyes widened slightly. If it had been Little Ruili, he would have started calculating, if this person called him great-grandson, what should he call them in return, and how were they related to his father? But his older brother's mind was sharp and clear, immediately understanding this was his father's maternal grandfather.
This relative had never been mentioned at home before, so the children naturally hadn't asked. The sudden appearance of a great-grandfather was rather unexpected.
He followed his father into the teahouse and up to a private room where a white-bearded, stern-faced old man was already seated. A waiter was pouring tea, the old man raised his hand, and the waiter poured another cup for the guests.
"Haven't seen you in many years, you've become a father now," the old man said. After the tea was properly served, he finally looked at father and son. Seeing the well-behaved, handsome Ruijin, his tone softened slightly: "Sit."
"At my age, if I weren't a father by now, what else would I be?"
The old man lifted his eyelids to give Zhang Fangyuan a look, clearly displeased with his manner of speaking.
Ruijin sensed the tension. He quietly sat cross-legged on a small cushion beside the guest seat, preparing to play deaf and dumb like a decorative ornament.
"I hear you've started some businesses in Siyang City that are doing reasonably well, and that the Zhang clan has gathered to build an ancestral hall."
Zhang Fangyuan grew impatient: "Did you call me here just to reminisce, Grandfather? Truth be told, we've only met a handful of times, there's not much to reminisce about."
A loud slap on the table made a dull thud: "Is that any way to speak to your elder!"
No sooner had they sat down than the atmosphere in the private room became tense and confrontational.
Ruijin silently picked up his cup of sweetened water. If they were going to argue, why drag him along? He'd rather be home writing essays. If Little Ruili was here, at least he could help their father argue back. Ruijin's presence here was pointless.
After a long silence, the old man's expression eased slightly: "I've been reassigned to Siyang City. Since you feel we haven't spent enough time together in the past, there will be plenty of opportunities from now on."
Zhang Fangyuan scoffed: "After all these years without contact, and with Mother long gone, you suddenly want to mend relations? I truly don't understand what you're thinking, Grandfather."
"I was stationed in another county before, Siyang was too far to visit often. Now that I'm here, it's only natural we should reconnect."
The old man seemed to find conversing with Zhang Fangyuan quite exhausting. He hadn't much liked this grandson as a child, and the grown man wasn't any more agreeable. By contrast, the quiet, steady boy who resembled his father was far more likable.
Since talking with his grandson only provoked anger, he turned to the child instead: "Ruijin, have you begun your studies?"
Ruijin was surprised this great-grandfather he'd never known remembered his name. After a quick glance at the man's expression, he replied: "Great-grandfather, today I registered at the examination office to take the Tongsheng exam this year."
"Oh?" The old man's expression immediately softened upon hearing this, showing clear interest. "I heard you've only just reached the age for the Tongsheng exam this year, yet you're already taking it. Very good. The more you take it, the more adaptable you'll become."
"Have you read..."
Zhang Fangyuan watched as the old man and the child actually managed to converse smoothly. Growing increasingly irritated, he interrupted after just a few exchanges, claiming Ruijin was tired from being out all morning. Scooping up his son, he left abruptly, unwilling to let Ruijin speak further with the old man.
"Dad, why have you never mentioned Great-grandfather before?"
"There was never any contact to begin with. He's an elder I've barely met myself. We'll keep our distance in the future."
Seeing his father in poor spirits, Ruijin nodded obediently.
Thank you so much for the update!!
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