The atmosphere of the youth Go exchange meeting is not as noisy as many other activities. Everyone, guided by teachers or elders, gets to know young people learning Go.
If they feel like they can chat with each other, they will find a game board and sit down to play a match together.
There is no host, and everyone's activities are very free, following the rules of the exchange meeting, and no one is loud.
If the young people encounter problems, they can also ask the seniors at the Go exchange meeting, and everyone is willing to help.
Cen Huai'an enjoys the atmosphere of the exchange meeting. After getting to know some senior Go players and their students with Grandpa Jiang, he was invited to play Go.
Grandpa Jiang doesn't follow him all the time; he goes to chat with his friends.
Some senior Go players don't like to talk to peers. They stroll around the venue, stop when they see an interesting game, and guide the juniors after the game ends, answering the questions they encountered during the game.
Cen Huai'an played Go with a girl, Zhao Qi, who is older than him. Zhao Qi's father is also a famous Go player, and she has been learning from him since she was a child.
Zhao Qi knows Hong Youxuan and has heard him talk about Cen Huai'an. Hong Youxuan has repeatedly praised Cen Huai'an's remarkable talent in Go, saying he is the most talented young person he has ever seen.
Zhao Qi remembered this person and thought that in the future, she must have the opportunity to play a game of Go with Cen Huai'an and see if he is as talented as Hong Youxuan said.
So today, when Zhao Qi was talking with her father and Cen Huai'an's great-grandfather, she kept observing Cen Huai'an. When the adults finished talking, she immediately invited him to play Go.
Cen Huai'an also wants to exchange Go skills with different people. Different people have different styles of playing Go.
After starting the game with Zhao Qi, Cen Huai'an sat upright, observing Zhao Qi's way of playing Go.
Zhao Qi was also observing him.
"Hong Youxuan says your Go skills are very strong."
Cen Huai'an played a black stone and said, "Brother Youxuan is also very strong."
Zhao Qi glanced at him, "You two are really boring, your words are so hypocritical!"
Cen Huai'an frowned and looked at her. He spoke the truth and didn't tell lies.
Cen Huai'an didn't like what Zhao Qi said, nor did he like the way she spoke. His sister, Zhang Lu, also spoke straightforwardly, but it was always the truth. She wouldn't judge people without understanding them clearly, and she never spoke condescendingly.
Cen Huai'an didn't want to argue with Zhao Qi about this, and he didn't say anything more, focusing on the game.
Zhao Qi snorted and remained silent.
Zhao Qi's playing style and the way she spoke just now were different. She played very cautiously, not rushing in without thinking.
But the more one focused on defense, trying to make it perfect, the easier it was to reveal flaws.
Cen Huai'an had been playing with her for dozens of minutes and had already discovered two fatal flaws in her game. Once he attacked, he could directly end the game.
However, he wanted to ponder Zhao Qi's style a bit more. Those he had played Go with before didn't have this kind of style. Cen Huai'an wanted to see how many flaws Zhao Qi would expose in her playing style until the end.
Because the outcome was certain, Cen Huai'an played neither too tight nor too loose. He was still thinking about how to patch up those loopholes if he played the way Zhao Qi did.
Zhao Qi learned Go from elementary school. At first, she didn't realize it, but later on, she discovered that Cen Huai'an could have defeated her a long time ago.
Now, he was still playing, deliberately avoiding the winning moves. Zhao Qi thought he was playing with her. Why not win and instead play around the board, deliberately teasing her?
She slammed the stone onto the board, her eyes filled with anger, staring at Cen Huai'an. "Is playing tricks fun? Hong Youxuan often praises you, but I don't think you're that great! Even if your Go skills are high, with a bad personality, you're still very annoying!"
Zhao Qi's voice was loud, and everyone suddenly heard the dispute. Those who had been watching the two play Go, including Hong Youxuan, Hong Yuande, and Grandpa Jiang, were surprised by Zhao Qi's sudden anger. They didn't think Cen Huai'an was playing tricks on her.
Grandpa Jiang and Zhao Qi's father walked over, and Hong Youxuan and Hong Yuande also joined them.
"Zhao Qi, what's going on?" Zhao Qi's father came over and frowned at Zhao Qi, his expression very serious.
Grandpa Jiang walked to Cen Huai'an's side, patted his head, and told him not to panic. He understood his great-grandson; he was not as Zhao Qi described.
Zhao Qi, upon seeing her father, immediately burst into tears, complaining to him that Cen Huai'an was playing Go too aggressively.
After listening, Zhao Qi's father's frown deepened, and his gaze towards Cen Huai'an became somewhat unfavorable.
Cen Huai'an wasn't afraid, nor did he avoid Zhao Qi's father's gaze. He calmly explained why he played that way.
"I wanted to observe how Zhao Qi's game would develop until the end and how I could win the game using her method. I didn't mean to play tricks on her. I'm sorry; I didn't realize it would cause a misunderstanding."
Grandpa Jiang patted Cen Huai'an's head, walked to the game board, looked for a while, and then said to Zhao Qi's father, "Zhao Li, come and look at this game. If An'an was intentionally playing with your daughter, he wouldn't play like this."
In the world of Go, it is commonly said: "The onlooker sees more than the players." Zhao Qi, being in the game, only saw Cen Huai'an not winning when he could have, making it seem like he was playing with her.
But when viewed from a broader perspective, it wasn't the case.
Grandpa Jiang continued, "After the first time An'an could have won against Zhao Qi, he stopped playing according to his own ideas and started coordinating with Zhao Qi, allowing her to fully express her own ideas."
The teachers who had been watching Cen Huai'an and Zhao Qi play also spoke up, telling Zhao Qi's father that there was a misunderstanding, and Cen Huai'an indeed had no such intentions.
The Go exchange meeting is meant for young people to exchange Go skills, and the senior players don't want any unpleasant incidents at the beginning.
After Zhao Qi's father finished looking at the chessboard, his forehead gradually relaxed. However, he still harbored some resentment for his daughter's crying and said with a hint of anger, "This indeed easily leads to misunderstandings. Even if he could end the game, not doing so is also a way of showing off. Don't do this next time."
Grandpa Jiang frowned upon hearing this and was about to speak when a contemptuous laughter interrupted, "This is the best joke I've ever heard. Talking about showing off in Go? If you lack the skill, you lack the skill. If someone is genuinely outplaying you, you have to endure it! Playing Go has its rules, and if you can't handle this, you better quit early."
In the world of Go, players encounter all kinds—some play fair, while others resort to deceitful tactics.
In the exchange meeting, everyone follows conventional styles, and there's no room for unorthodox playing styles. However, as one participates in more matches, including international ones, various playing styles emerge.
Therefore, in learning Go, the first thing to practice is temperament. If one's temperament is unstable, overly concerned with winning or losing, easily discouraged by a loss, or dislikes a particular playing style, attributing it to a lack of character in the opponent, they won't achieve much in Go.
Zhao Qi's crying stopped, and she glared angrily at the speaker. Clearly, Cen Huai'an had a bad character. Why couldn't she say that? She's not someone who can't accept defeat!
Zhao Qi's father was also furious, immediately saying he wouldn't let his daughter learn Go. Who was this person with such a big attitude?
Everyone looked towards the speaker, and upon seeing who it was, Zhao Qi's father's words were immediately stifled.
The speaker was Hong Yuande, the president of the Chinese Go Association. Although Grandpa Jiang had high-level Go skills, he was not a member of the Go Association and primarily engaged in translation activities.
Hong Yuande looked at Zhao Qi's father and asked, "Do you think there's anything wrong with what I said?"
Zhao Qi's father's face turned red. He had many things to say, but facing Hong Yuande's gaze, he muttered, "No."
As Hong Yuande spoke, others dared not interject. Grandpa Jiang said, "An'an, address him."
"Grandpa Hong."
This time, Grandpa Jiang was very satisfied with what Hong Yuande said; he articulated everything Grandpa Jiang wanted to express.
Zhao Qi cried even harder, feeling that Hong Yuande was showing favoritism. Clearly, she also knew Grandpa Hong! She angrily grabbed her father and wanted to leave.
"Dad, I don't want to participate in this chaotic exchange meeting anymore. They just protect people with bad character!"
This statement not only offended everyone at the Go exchange meeting but also criticized the hosting Chinese Go Association. The expressions of those around instantly turned unpleasant.
Hong Yuande looked at Zhao Qi, shook his head, and spoke sternly, "The exchange meeting is a place for mutual learning and practice. I am not favoring anyone; I always speak based on facts. Zhao Li, if you don't educate Zhao Qi properly, her path in Go will be limited to this."
Hong Yuande and Zhao Li were somewhat acquainted privately; otherwise, Hong Youxuan wouldn't have known Zhao Qi, as Hong Yuande had once provided guidance to Zhao Li.
Although Hong Yuande's subsequent words were sincere, judging from the expressions of Zhao Li and Zhao Qi, it seemed they weren't receptive. They still thought he was biased.
Hong Yuande didn't bother saying anything more.
At this point, the whole scene became quiet, with only the sound of Zhao Qi's sobbing. The vice president of the organizing committee spoke, "President, shall we continue?"
Given that a little girl was crying so loudly, and considering the girl's feelings, they needed to maintain face. Besides, what's the point if someone is emotionally shaken to the extent they can't play Go? That wasn't the purpose of the exchange meeting.
The exchange meeting resumed its previous atmosphere, and Cen Huai'an continued playing Go with others.
However, both Zhao Li and Zhao Qi were unconsciously avoided.
Cen Huai'an didn't mind. It wasn't until lunchtime that he noticed the two were no longer at the exchange meeting.
Having lunch together, Hong Youxuan said to Cen Huai'an while eating, "Don't mind what happened earlier. Zhao Qi tends to take things too seriously."
Hong Youxuan and Zhao Qi usually had a good relationship. She wasn't a bad person, just someone who liked to be particular about things. Once she set her mind on something, even if she knew she was wrong, she would persist and refuse to change.
Cen Huai'an took a sip of porridge and said, "She's not my relative or my friend. Why should I care about her?"
Hong Youxuan paused for a moment, then burst into laughter. He had forgotten that Cen Huai'an never cared about people who didn't matter to him.
The first day of the Go exchange meeting was dedicated to self-exchange among young players. As the exchange meeting approached its afternoon end, Cen Huai'an and Grandpa Jiang walked out of the building, only to see Chu Xia sitting on the corridor outside, gazing at the setting sun in the west.
"Mom!"
Cen Huai'an's eyes lit up when he saw Chu Xia. He quickened his pace, walked over, and held Chu Xia's hand.
Chu Xia withdrew her gaze and smiled at Cen Huai'an, giving a gentle pat to the hat on his head. "Good, you've taken care of yourself even when Mom isn't around."
At this moment, Grandpa Jiang also walked over. "Chu Xia, when did you arrive?"
"Just arrived. I wandered around the Youth Palace and came over when I confirmed that you would be finishing soon."
The buildings of the Youth Palace were quite scenic. In the future, when the Youth Palace was no longer in operation, this place became a cultural attraction for visitors.
Grandpa Jiang, being elderly, walked slowly. Chu Xia and Cen Huai'an stood by his side, accompanying him as he made his way out.
Jiang Zhida, leaning against the car window, held a cigarette between his fingers. He took a puff, blowing out a smoke ring, his gaze unfocused as he looked into the distance.
"Dazi!" Grandpa Jiang didn't like seeing him smoke. "Put out the cigarette!"
The perplexed expression on Jiang Zhida's face instantly disappeared. He grinned again, extinguished the cigarette, and tossed it into the trash bin. "Grandpa, waited for you guys for so long, got bored."
Chu Xia glanced at Jiang Zhida and then joined Cen Huai'an, Grandpa Jiang, and Jiang Zhida as they sat in the car.
Grandpa Jiang took the front passenger seat, leaving the rear seats for Chu Xia and Cen Huai'an to chat.
"Huai'an, did you have fun at the exchange meeting today?"
Cen Huai'an nodded, his eyes shining. "Yes, Mom. I played Go with many people and learned a lot of new things."
If he continued to learn on his own, his chess strategy would become fixed. Today, when playing Go with others, Cen Huai'an discovered several interesting playing styles. He refined them in his mind, planning to try them out when playing with others tomorrow.
Cen Huai'an didn't mention the incident with Zhao Qi; it was just a minor episode.
Listening to Cen Huai'an's cheerful tone, Chu Xia's smile grew even wider. "Did you make any new friends?"
Cen Huai'an shook his head. "I only played a game of Go with each person, not much interaction."
Chu Xia felt a bit worried. Cen Huai'an had been in the capital for a while, and besides Zhang Lu and Jiang Weixian, he only knew Hong Youxuan. She was afraid he might feel too lonely.
After hearing Chu Xia's concern, Cen Huai'an thought for a moment and said, "Mom, I'll try to make a new friend tomorrow."
Chu Xia patted his head. "Friends are not made by trying hard. They happen when you meet like-minded people. If you can't make one, it's okay. After all, you already have some friends from the northwest and Liangzhou."
At Grandpa Jiang's house, Chu Xia spent some time with Cen Huai'an, chatted with Jiang Shengnan who came to visit, and then prepared to return to the research institute.
"Sister-in-law, I'll drive you."
Jiang Zhida took the car keys and followed her outside.
As the car started and drove a distance, Jiang Zhida's brow remained furrowed, and he didn't say anything.
Suddenly, Chu Xia broke the silence in the car, "Dazi, if you have something to tell me, just say it."
She had noticed that he had something on his mind during the Go exchange meeting.
Jiang Zhida smiled, and his previously troubled expression disappeared. "I knew I couldn't hide anything from my sister-in-law. Actually, it's nothing major. Recently, Xiao Ran and I are considering building a factory in Guangzhou. A few days ago, we received bidding news for the land we wanted. Xiao Ran went to check it out, but we don't have enough money. Now we're contemplating whether to give up on bidding for the land and rent a factory or take a loan and bid."
At this time, loans were mostly provided by the government, and private loans weren't as common as in the future. Everyone had concerns about borrowing money.
Chu Xia held her bag, looked ahead, and asked, "Which part of Guangzhou are you bidding for?"
"Not in Guangzhou, it's in Deep City."
Jiang Zhida mentioned a location, and Chu Xia's eyes widened suddenly. Without hesitation, she said, "Buy it! Take a loan and buy it!"
Jiang Zhida looked at Chu Xia in surprise, "Sister-in-law, don't you need to think it over?"
"What's there to think about? If you can get the land, get it!" Land in Deep City, the developed areas now were bustling in the future. Holding such a piece of land was almost a guarantee of not losing money.
Hearing Chu Xia's enthusiastic tone, Jiang Zhida's spirit immediately soared, and a strong momentum burst out in his eyes. "Great, let's do it! Acquire the land!"
After returning home, Jiang Zhida called Qian Ran, "We're participating in the bid. I'll go to the bank for a mortgage loan. Once I get the money, I'll come to you!"
Qian Ran was bewildered by Jiang Zhida's sudden decision, "Hold on, brother, didn't we say we need to think about it more?"
"No more thinking." Jiang Zhida wiped his face and said, "If we're going to do it, let's go big. Even if we fail, we can still rent a factory."
If they succeeded in the land bid, they would have their own factory.
Encouraged by Jiang Zhida, Qian Ran also became spirited, "Brother Dazi, we will definitely succeed in the bid!"
In his mind, he could already see the factory buildings standing on the land. The excitement in his heart was uncontrollable.
After hanging up the phone, Qian Ran immediately started using his connections, gathering information about the competitors and figuring out how to acquire the land at the lowest cost.
Back at home, Chu Xia was also unable to suppress her excitement. Entering the bedroom, she picked up the passbook and started counting the savings.
Chinese people had a strong inclination towards buying property, and Chu Xia was no exception.
With the current dividend and her previous savings, there was a total of several tens of thousands of yuan. However, it wasn't enough to buy a traditional courtyard house. To afford one like the type Grandpa Jiang and Jiang Shengnan lived in, with a good location and a spacious house, she needed at least a hundred thousand yuan.
When Cen Zhengnian returned, he found Chu Xia sitting in the bedroom, holding the passbook, lost in thought about something.
Approaching her, he placed his hand on her forehead. Having just returned from outside, his hand still carried the chill of the outdoors.
Chu Xia pushed away his hand and looked at him, saying, "You're back? I haven't cooked yet."
Cen Zhengnian replied, "I'll do it later. What's wrong with you?" He looked at the passbook in her hand, sensing that she had something on her mind.
"I'm thinking whether to keep this money for buying a courtyard house or give it to Dazi for bidding on the land."
Cen Zhengnian gazed at her, a gentle smile appearing on his lips. "You already have an answer, don't you?"
Chu Xia hugged his arm and sighed, "Give the money to Dazi. The hard-earned money I saved for buying a house will be gone."
She pretended to cry with a "wuwuwu" sound, and Cen Zhengnian's smile deepened. The current Chu Xia was so adorable that it softened his heart.
"Well, then don't give it to Dazi."
Chu Xia let go of Cen Zhengnian and retorted, "Hmph, you're still his cousin. When Dazi faces difficulties, you don't even offer to help."
Cen Zhengnian placed his hand on her head, gently rubbing it, and said, "I only help you and An'an."
Chu Xia's brows and eyes all curved up, and she hugged Cen Zhengnian's arm again. She lowered her head to count the money in the passbook, closed it, and said, "Forget it, forget it. The more I look, the more it hurts. I'll send it to Dazi tomorrow. Anyway, most of it is from dividends, so it doesn't hurt to give him."
With this thought, Chu Xia felt much better in her heart.
***
The next day, Chu Xia found Jiang Zhida in front of the Capital City Youth Palace just as he was about to leave in his car.
"Dazi, wait!" Chu Xia hurriedly called out to him.
She quickly walked up to Jiang Zhida, handing him the passbook, "The password is An'an's birthday. Take it and bid for the land."
This passbook was specifically set aside by Chu Xia for buying a house, separated from the usual family expenses passbook.
"Sister-in-law, I don't want it!" Jiang Zhida, as if holding a hot potato, quickly pushed the passbook back into Chu Xia's hands, "The loan is enough."
"Take it, just in case. Anyway, it's the dividends I've earned in these three years, and it's perfect for you to use. Zhengnian also agrees with this idea."
Chu Xia insisted, handing him the passbook again, "Don't refuse, or I'll be angry."
Jiang Zhida took the passbook, and Chu Xia waved to him before turning to leave.
Looking at the passbook in his hand, Jiang Zhida suddenly felt his eyes welling up. He took a deep breath, rubbed his eyes, and got into the car with the passbook.
He knew that Chu Xia had always wanted to buy a courtyard house. She had asked him about the prices of such houses before.
Now that she had given him this money, Jiang Zhida had only one thought in his mind: the bid must succeed!
***
The Youth Go Exchange lasts for a total of five days. The first three days are dedicated to the teenagers' self-exchange, while the last two days focus on guidance from the seniors.
During the chess games, participants, including Cen Huai'an and his peers, no longer play against each other but face off against the senior players. Anyone can challenge a senior, except for their own teachers.
As soon as the vice president announced this rule, Cen Huai'an stood in front of Hong Yuande and said, "Grandpa Hong, I want to play against you."
"Very ambitious!" Hong Yuande praised with a resounding voice. In previous exchange events, no one dared to challenge him because of his imposing presence, and many children were intimidated.
They found a nearby chess table and, without flipping a coin to decide who goes first, Hong Yuande directly let An'an play as the black pieces.
The president of the Go Association playing against Cen Huai'an, who had been the most outstanding in the past three days, attracted a crowd of spectators. People gathered to watch the match, and many refrained from playing themselves, choosing instead to observe the game between the two masters.
Hong Yuande's Go skills were superb, on par with Grandpa Jiang. Since Grandpa Jiang wasn't solely dedicated to Go, Hong Yuande's level exceeded his.
Everyone held their breath as they watched the intense game between Hong Yuande and Cen Huai'an.
Hong Yuande's playing style was different from Grandpa Jiang's. It carried a fiery temperament, but within the boldness, there was finesse. Underestimating him would lead to falling quickly into his traps.
Despite it being winter, Cen Huai'an's forehead was already covered in sweat.
Hong Yuande was exceptionally strong, and Cen Huai'an felt the difficulty of every move. However, he didn't give up, realizing that Hong Yuande intended to teach him through the game. Despite the challenge, he persevered.
The seniors watching the game nodded approvingly at each other, expressing admiration. Some even looked towards Grandpa Jiang with envy. This young player was starting to shine in the world of Go, and his future brilliance would only grow.
Grandpa Jiang enjoyed the attention and, with a benevolent gaze, looked at An'an, thinking of taking him to eat his favorite sweet and sour spare ribs later.
Cen Huai'an persisted for an hour, but he was at a loss, unable to discern where to make his move. Everywhere seemed like a trap, and no matter where he played, it resulted in a loss. He put down his piece and said, "Grandpa Hong, I've lost."
Hong Yuande laughed heartily and said, "To last this long against me is quite impressive. Actually, you could have played here..."
Through this game, Hong Yuande corrected some of Cen Huai'an's bad habits in playing Go. He advised, "Sometimes, being too aggressive requires taking a break, or else you'll exhaust yourself."
Cen Huai'an's eyes sparkled. Despite losing the game, he felt extremely satisfied both mentally and physically. "Thank you, Grandpa Hong. I'll remember that."
The lessons learned from this game would take Cen Huai'an a while to digest, so he didn't seek out other seniors for matches. Instead, he sat beside the endgame, pondering on his own.
Occasionally he sought advice from Hong Yuande or Grandpa Jiang when faced with difficulties.
During lunchtime, Grandpa Jiang took Cen Huai'an to eat sweet and sour spare ribs. However, he was stopped by An'an.
"Great-Grandpa, you can only have one piece, not more," An'an declared.
Grandpa Jiang protested, "Your parents aren't here, and I haven't had this in a long time. Let me have a few more."
"No way!" Cen Huai'an was dead serious. "Even if my parents aren't here, I'm supervising you."
Helplessly, Grandpa Jiang looked at him, but Cen Huai'an remained firm. He could only eat the plate of vegetables with less oil and salt that An'an specially ordered for him.
On the last day of the exchange, Cen Huai'an continued to contemplate the game with Hong Yuande rather than seeking matches with other seniors.
He believed in the principle of quality over quantity, understanding that finding many opponents wouldn't be useful if he didn't absorb knowledge.
As the Spring Festival approached, Cen Zhengnian's elder brother and his family also returned to the capital.
Since arriving, Chu Xia hadn't met Cen Zhengnian's elder brother and had only heard about him from Cen Zhengnian and Jiang Shengnan.
Cen Zhengnian's elder brother is named Cen Zhengshi. He worked in the military in the northern part of the country and had settled his family there. Due to his busy schedule, it had been a long time since he returned home to visit his parents.
This time, he would bring his whole family to the capital, a surprise for not only Chu Xia but also Jiang Shengnan.
Upon hearing the news of their return, Jiang Shengnan immediately began organizing the west wing of the courtyard.
The family had previously stayed there, and the beds and various furniture were still intact, needing only to be set up with bedding.
Cen Zhengshi called Jiang Shengnan when they were already on the train. It was too late to buy additional items, so they had to make do with what was available.
Chu Xia and An'an came over to help. Jiang Shengnan informed them, "Your big brother's family has two kids, one in the third year of junior high and the other, the same age as An'an, in the fourth grade of elementary school."
An'an was in the second year of junior high due to his early enrollment and skipping a grade. Chu Xia usually refrained from stating An'an's specific grade to others because it was hard for them to believe.
Jiang Zhida went to Shenzhen, it was the security guard Xiao Zhu who picked up Cen Zhengshi's family.
Cen Zhengnian took special leave to come to the courtyard. It had been a long time since he last saw his older brother. The two brothers had grown up together and had a deep bond.
As the sound of a small car approached from outside, Jiang Shengnan stood up in excitement.
Although Father Cen had a calm expression, Chu Xia noticed that his hands were tightly clenched into fists.
Jiang Shengnan was the first to walk out of the courtyard gate, followed by Father Cen. Chu Xia, along with Cen Huai'an and Cen Zhengnian, came last.
The first person to get out of the car was a man wearing a military coat. He appeared to be in his thirties, with traces of the years on his face. However, a resemblance to Cen Zhengnian could still be discerned.
Seeing Jiang Shengnan and Father Cen, he walked over and knelt in front of them, banging his head heavily on the ground. "Dad, Mom, I'm sorry, I've been unfilial!"
He wanted to continue bowing, but when Jiang Shengnan squatted down to hug Cen Zhengshi, she patted his back heavily. Tears fell as she exclaimed, "How can you be so heartless? How can you stay away from your parents for so long?"
"Sorry, Mom, I'm sorry!" Cen Zhengshi's eyes were also red as he tightly buried himself in Jiang Shengnan's embrace
Beside them, Cen Zhengshi's wife embraced their son and daughter, watching the scene in front of them, her face showing confusion.
Cen Zhengnian's eyes were also somewhat red, and he whispered, "I'm sorry to Mom and Dad too."
After coming to the capital, he hadn't returned to the Northwest. Even when he was in the Northwest, he rarely went home. Both he and his big brother owed their parents.
"Alright, get up. It's embarrassing to make a scene outside," Father Cen blinked forcefully, trying to put on a stern fatherly expression.
The group entered the courtyard.
Jiang Shengnan realized she had lost her composure and started talking more to Cen Zhengshi's wife and their two children.
Chu Xia, along with Cen Zhengnian and Cen Huai'an, walked at the back, leaving space and opportunities for Cen Zhengshi's family.
Cen Zhengshi's two children, a son named Cen Huaize and a daughter named Cen Huaixin, were not familiar with their grandparents, let alone Chu Xia's family. Therefore, their curious gazes occasionally turned toward Chu Xia, An'an, and Cen Zhengnian.
When they locked eyes with Chu Xia's family, they weren't shy at all. With great courage, they stared back, not afraid of being caught peeking.
In the living room, after everyone had settled down, Jiang Shengnan began to introduce Chu Xia and Cen Zhengshi's wife to each other. Cen Zhengshi's wife had a meaningful name, Xi Wang.
However, her appearance was different from the somewhat masculine name "Xi Wang"; she was an exquisite and very feminine person.
Her dressing style, including the clothes worn by her two children, was very refined.
After exchanging greetings, they each took their seats and quietly listened to Jiang Shengnan, Father Cen, Cen Zhengnian, and Cen Zhengshi talk.
The children sat beside the adults, and An'an was fine; he had a calm temperament and could sit still.
Cen Huaize and Cen Huaixin, on the other hand, couldn't sit still for long. They occasionally twisted their bodies, looking at the jujube tree outside, eager to go out and play.
Xi Wang, understanding the personalities of the two children, patted them on the back, urging them to be quiet.
However, the two kids clearly weren't afraid of her. They looked directly at Jiang Shengnan and Father Cen and asked, "Grandma, Grandpa, can we go play in the yard?"
Jiang Shengnan smiled and nodded, "Of course, this is your home. You can play wherever you want. An'an, you can join them too."
Children often don't like listening to adults speak. Since the children were of similar ages, it was better for them to play together to build camaraderie.
An'an, however, didn't want to go out. He wasn't familiar with Cen Huaize and Cen Huaixin and preferred staying by Chu Xia's side.
Chu Xia patted him and asked, "Do you want to go out and play?"
Cen Huai'an looked at Chu Xia, then at Jiang Shengnan, and stood up.
Little did they know, after only a few minutes outside, cries of "Wah, wah" from Cen Huaixin echoed, "Mom! Mom! It hurts!"
The adults' expressions changed, thinking something had happened, and hurriedly ran outside.
What they saw was Cen Huai'an pinning Cen Huaize to the ground. Cen Huaize struggled and kicked, wanting to hit him, glaring at Cen Huai'an with a fierce look. "Let go! Let go of me!"
Cen Huaixin sat on the side, wiping her eyes and crying. Her white coat was now dirty.
Xi Wang's face instantly turned unsightly. She swiftly walked over, wearing small high heels, reached out to grab Cen Huai'an's shoulder, and forcefully pulled him back. "What are you doing?"
Her tone was harsh, and Cen Huai'an was nearly pulled to the ground. He stumbled backward a few steps, and Cen Zhengnian quickly stepped forward to support him.
Chu Xia also ran over, checking on An'an first to make sure he was okay. Then, she frowned as she looked at Xi Wang and the two children, revealing displeasure in her eyes.
Chu Xia knew An'an's temperament better than anyone. He wouldn't casually get into fights. Since coming to the capital, apart from being bullied by others, he had never initiated a physical altercation.
Jiang Shengnan quickly pulled up Cen Huaixin, her face filled with anxiety. "What's going on? How did they end up fighting?"
Xi Wang patted the dirt off Cen Huaize's body and spoke with a cold expression, "Mom, Xiao Ze and Xin Xin just came back and experienced this injustice. Do you have an explanation for this?"
"Xi Wang!" Cen Zhengshi called her loudly.
Xi Wang's voice was even louder than his, full of grievances. "Alright, your whole family is bullying me, an outsider, right? Since you don't welcome us, I'll take Xiao Ze and Xin Xin and leave!"
Jiang Shengnan quickly grabbed her, and Cen Zhengshi reached out to pull her back, frowning. "What are you doing? We came back for the New Year, and it's just a little fight between the kids. Is there a need to blow it out of proportion?"
"Cen Zhengshi, listen to what you're saying! Your son and daughter were bullied, pinned down and beaten! And you're saying it's just a little fight between kids?"
Chu Xia, watching Xi Wang, was surprised. She appeared delicate and refined, seemingly from a good family, but she spoiled her children with no bottom line.
Looking at Xi Wang, Chu Xia said, "The situation isn't clear yet. Don't randomly accuse my son. I know my child; An'an wouldn't randomly bully someone. He has been playing with the kids from the Jiang family for many years, and there has never been a conflict or fight. Why would they suddenly fight when you guys come back?"
Xi Wang exploded, pointing at Chu Xia with anger. "You explain clearly! Don't make baseless accusations against my son! My child wouldn't start a fight as soon as he comes back! Who is favoring whom, who knows!?"
"Enough, stop arguing!" Father Cen suddenly spoke, exuding authority. Xi Wang glanced at him and closed her mouth.
"An'an, you go ahead and tell us what happened just now," Father Cen looked at An'an, who was now the most stable emotionally.
"We had just arrived in the yard, and Cen Huaixin said she wanted to ride the big horse and asked me to lie down and be her horse. I refused, and when she tried to push me from behind, I dodged it. She accidentally fell and started crying. Cen Huaize, seeing her cry, wanted to hit me. I didn't want to fight him, so I pressed him to the ground."
Cen Huai'an spoke logically and calmly, in stark contrast to Cen Huaize's side, highlighting the difference.
Chu Xia's anger surged as she listened, her face cold as ice. Cen Zhengnian also showed anger on his face.
"Big brother, the education of your child is truly a failure," he didn't leave any face for Cen Zhengshi.
Cen Zhengshi looked embarrassed, "At home, Xiao Ze and I often let Xin Xin ride the big horse. She may be used to it."
Chu Xia retorted, "You can indulge her to ride the big horse, but my son is not her real father or brother. He won't agree to her unreasonable requests!"
"Moreover, this is clearly your son and daughter's fault. Xi Wang came over and pushed my son without distinguishing right from wrong. He's just a child. Can he withstand the strength of an adult? If it weren't for Zhengnian catching him, he would have fallen. Has she considered the consequences? Indeed, every bear child has an unreasonable parent behind them!"
"Who are you calling unreasonable?" Xi Wang didn't believe what Cen Huai'an said at all. Hearing Chu Xia's words, her anger flared up, "My child hasn't spoken yet. Who knows if Cen Huai'an is lying or not."
"Enough!" Father Cen shouted loudly, glaring at Cen Huaize and Cen Huaixin, "Tell me, how did things happen? Is it as An'an said? No lying allowed!"
The two children rolled their eyes, trying to come up with excuses, but faced with Father Cen's stern gaze and the intimidating look from Uncle Xiao Zhu at the side, they couldn't speak out their fabricated reasons. Stumblingly, they said, "Yes... it's as he said."
Xi Wang's face turned red and then pale. She pinched Cen Huaize's arm, "Don't be scared by others, tell the truth, tell the truth."
Cen Huaize shook off Xi Wang's hand, looking a bit impatient. When he met Father Cen's stern gaze, he immediately lowered his head and whispered, "Mom, I'm telling the truth."
Chu Xia found it amusing on the side, "The facts are already out. Xi Wang, are you hoping your child lies and makes up a reason to blame An'an?"
Xi Wang glared at her, "Your son is the one lying!"
She lowered her head and was about to ask Cen Huaixin when Cen Zhengshi rebuked her, "Xi Wang! Are you not satisfied with the commotion? This is the fault of Huaixin and Huaize."
He sighed, "It's all my fault for not disciplining them properly. I've raised them to be so overbearing."
Xi Wang was displeased, "What? Are you blaming me for not teaching the children well? Cen Zhengshi, do you have a conscience? The children are all raised by me. Have you ever helped me with anything? Now it's all my fault. What were you doing before? Moreover, we haven't seen the facts yet. You're already condemning Huaize and Huaixin. Do you still have the responsibility of a father?"
Xi Wang stopped arguing with the others and focused on quarreling with Cen Zhengshi.
Cen Zhengnian watched Cen Zhengshi being scolded by Xi Wang, feeling powerless and almost subconsciously apologized. He shook his head, sighed, and thought, "My big brother is different now."
Father Cen intervened again, "Stop arguing! If you keep quarreling, get out! Xiaoze, Xinxin, come and apologize to An'an."
Xi Wang, upon hearing this, pulled Cen Huaize and Cen Huaixin out and didn't let the two children apologize.
She firmly believed that Chu Xia had been with her in-laws for a long time, and her in-laws were biased towards Chu Xia and Cen Huai'an.
Cen Huaixin immediately went to pull her, and the two tear apart in the yard.
Jiang Shengnan frowned tightly on the side, her expression full of worry. Father Cen's brow didn't ease either.
Observing the ongoing commotion, Chu Xia estimated that it wouldn't end anytime soon.
Getting an apology from Cen Huaize, Cen Huaixin, and Xi Wang might not happen even by the evening.
She shook her head, exchanged a few words with Jiang Shengnan and Father Cen, and left with Cen Zhengnian and An'an.
"An'an, Mom didn't make you wait for apologies from Cen Huaize, Cen Huaixin, and Xi Wang. Do you blame Mom?"
Cen Huai'an shook his head, speaking with determination, "They won't apologize now. Mom, it's right for us to leave."
Chu Xia patted his head and said, "This matter won't be resolved easily."
Cen Zhengnian nodded beside them, "I will make sure that my big brother gives An'an an explanation."