The number of students participating in the summer camp who play Go is not many. This hobby is difficult to sustain unless one likes it and has support from family members.
Cen Huai'an and Xiao He set up the game board in the dormitory. They bowed to each other and sat down. Cen Huai'an handed the black pieces to Xiao He, saying, "We don't need to guess who goes first; you can start."
Xiao He wasn't polite with him. Regardless of who goes first, without skill, one cannot win.
It's unclear who opened the door to Cen Huai'an's dormitory, but students from other dorms gradually entered. The entire dormitory was filled with students from the summer camp.
They couldn't understand the game board, but they could feel the intense atmosphere between Cen Huai'an and Xiao He.
"Who can understand this?"
Someone asked softly, afraid to speak loudly and disturb their Go match.
The questioned student shook his head. He didn't know either, but this Go game seemed quite exciting.
Xiao He's Go skills improved a lot, showing talent in the eyes of others. However, Cen Huai'an improved even more. With his excellent skills from the beginning, it was impossible for Xiao He to win.
If it were a regular game, Cen Huai'an would slow down the pace, allowing Xiao He to experience the changes in the game and learn something from it.
However, it was already late, and there were classes the next day. Therefore, Cen Huai'an didn't plan to play slowly with Xiao He.
At the beginning of the game, the situation seemed calm. Xiao He felt it was similar to before, challenging but hopeful.
However, as the game progressed, he felt the difficulty, and with astonished eyes, he looked at Cen Huai'an. "Why has your skill improved so quickly?"
How could Cen Huai'an tell him that he had concealed his strength when they played before? All he could do was nod and say, "My great-grandfather has strict demands on me."
Xiao He's face showed the struggle, his eyebrows furrowed tightly as he looked at the board, thinking hard about where to make his move.
As for the other students around, their hearts lifted along with the intensity of the game, and at this moment, their gaze turned to Cen Huai'an, who appeared somewhat young and inexperienced.
This kid, who seemed several years younger than them, was really impressive. But then again, thinking about it, being able to participate in national competitions at this age and still attend a summer camp made him a formidable presence that should not be underestimated.
This game of chess much like the first game Cen Huai'an played with Grandpa Jiang, only the roles were reversed, and Cen Huai'an became the one in control of the game.
He didn't rush Xiao He; as long as Xiao He wanted to continue, Cen Huai'an patiently waited. However, some of the surrounding students couldn't wait any longer and wished they could play for Xiao He, even though they didn't understand how to make the moves.
Xiao He finally chose to admit defeat. He held out for quite a while, but he also knew that he couldn't beat Cen Huai'an.
Placing the pieces on the board in his right hand, Xiao He looked at Cen Huai'an and said, "Although I lost this time, I won't always be a loser. One day, I will defeat you."
Cen Huai'an tidied up the pieces, looked up with a serious expression, and said, "I'll be waiting for you."
He wouldn't give Xiao He a chance to win against him.
"An'an, your Go skills have improved again."
A familiar voice came from the crowd, and Cen Huai'an turned to see Hong Youxuan standing by the door, smiling gently at him.
"Brother Youxuan?" Cen Huai'an was somewhat surprised and delighted; he hadn't expected to encounter so many familiar faces at the summer camp.
Hong Youxuan was in high school, attending the summer camp for high school students. High school and junior high school boys lived in the same building.
"I heard someone was playing Go, and I thought it might be you, so I came to take a look."
Hong Youxuan's eyes were still on the partially finished game board, contemplating whether he and Cen Huai'an could win if they played.
The answer was no, on the road of Go, Cen Huai'an was running farther and farther away.
"We haven't played Go for a long time," Cen Huai'an said, looking at Hong Youxuan.
The smile on Hong Youxuan's face became even gentler. "We both had the same idea. I'll come find you tomorrow night."
Xiao He looked at Hong Youxuan with a curious expression, thinking to himself, "Indeed, the capital city really has hidden tigers and dragons.
As the Go match concluded, students from other dorms gradually left. Hong Youxuan and Xiao He also departed. After closing the door to Cen Huai'an's dorm, a student couldn't resist asking him, "You can play Go? That's impressive!"
Cen Huai'an remembered him, Wang Aihua. His self-introduction at the opening ceremony was interesting, joking about his parents' personalities. Unlike others, he left a lasting impression.
Cen Huai'an nodded at him. "Just a hobby."
Wang Aihua leaned over, grinning, "I think it's more than just a hobby; your skill level is not low. I remember you said you're eleven, right?"
After celebrating his birthday during the Lantern Festival, Cen Huai'an turned eleven. He started junior high school earlier than the typical age, making him three or four years younger than his classmates.
Cen Huai'an nodded, not mentioning his age; his appearance alone revealed his youthfulness.
Wang Aihua immediately showed admiration in his eyes and gave Cen Huai'an a thumbs up. "Impressive! You're definitely a genius! Do you know about the Youth Class?"
These outstanding students usually had well-informed families. Those who agreed to send their children to the summer camp cared about their future and naturally inquired about good opportunities for their children.
Cen Huai'an knew about it, as Great-Grandpa Jiang had mentioned it to him. He had also looked into the admission requirements for the prestigious Youth Class. At that time, he had considered giving it a try.
However, Chu Xia didn't agree with him going now.
Cen Huai'an was still too young and hadn't experienced many things. Exposing him to advanced education prematurely wouldn't be good for him.
Geniuses were most prone to psychological issues, and the current Youth Class was still exploring how to nurture these children. Cen Huai'an's temperament had not yet settled, and at his age, attending the Youth Class would do more good than harm.
Now, Cen Huai'an lives a very happy life. The knowledge in the classroom is straightforward, and he can learn Olympiad math and Go on his own. The teachers don't bother him, and he is content with his school life.
Cen Huai'an thought about it himself; he wouldn't want to leave home, leave his mom and dad to join the Youth Class.
He looked at Wang Aihua. "I know."
Wang Aihua casually pulled over a chair, sat beside Cen Huai'an, and picked up an apple to munch on. "Have you ever thought about participating in the Youth Class selection?"
Cen Huai'an replied, "I'm not going to the Youth Class. I like the school I attend. Besides, I don't think I'm a genius; I just started school early."
Cen Huai'an had never mentioned skipping grades in elementary school publicly, and in middle school, he followed the regular curriculum.
He didn't find school boring, and Chu Xia didn't let him continue skipping grades.
Wang Aihua, not knowing much about Cen Huai'an, nodded while munching on the apple. "I've heard that the Youth Class is full of geniuses. My mom wanted me to give it a try, but I refused. Going there is just asking for trouble. I'm not that stupid."
Two other boys from the same dormitory overheard the conversation and looked over. One of the slightly chubby boys said, "I tried, got rejected, hehe."
He scratched his head good-naturedly. "It means I'm not a genius."
The leaner boy said, "I have self-awareness. I'm not a genius, so I won't do things I know are impossible. It's embarrassing to fail at something you know you can't do."
Cen Huai'an's eyebrows furrowed. The words made him uncomfortable. He looked at the chubby boy, and indeed, a hint of embarrassment appeared on his face.
"If you're afraid to try anything you might fail at, you'll never make progress. How can one make progress?" Cen Huai'an said this and carried a basin of water to wash up.
Wang Aihua chuckled and also picked up a basin of water. "Great minds think alike. Cen Huai'an, wait for me; I'll go with you!"
The chubby boy picked up a basin of water and hurriedly followed. Only the lean boy remained in the dorm, feeling a surge of frustration. Through gritted teeth, he said, "You're all so ambitious. There will be times when your efforts are in vain."
The chubby boy was named Li Lianyu. He placed the basin of water next to Cen Huai'an and grinned at him, "Cen Huai'an, thanks just now."
Cen Huai'an was currently brushing his teeth and couldn't respond properly. He just waved his hand.
After finishing brushing his teeth, he said to Li Lianyu, "I was just saying what I wanted to say. You don't have to worry about it."
Cen Huai'an didn't like the things Hou Yongjin said, so he argued with him based on his own feelings, not just because of Li Lianyu.
However, Li Lianyu felt that Cen Huai'an was helping him. He started hanging out with Cen Huai'an and Wang Aihua, and later enjoyed going to classes and meals together. He also got to know Zhang Lu, Xiao He, Tang Song, and Hong Youxuan.
But Hong Youxuan, attending the high school student training camp, had different classes and activities. There weren't many times he could meet Cen Huai'an and the others.
In addition to assigning talented professors to lecture, Jinghua University also arranged various practical activities for them.
On the first day, Cen Huai'an couldn't hide his abilities.
While the professor was lecturing, he occasionally mentioned knowledge beyond the scope of middle school mathematics. Some students, who were proficient, could answer, but when faced with more profound questions, Cen Huai'an could still solve them.
Everyone soon discovered that this student, younger than them, was not only proficient in Go but also much stronger in mathematics.
When Cen Huai'an received the first prize in the math competition, these students from the math class got to know him, and now their impression of him was even more profound.
Cen Huai'an's classmates secretly called him: that terrifying being.
***
Cen Huai'an wasn't at home, leaving only Chu Xia, Cen Zhengnian, and three dogs. Chu Xia suddenly felt that the house was not as lively without Cen Huai'an.
However, Chu Xia continued to cook every day. If Cen Zhengnian came home early, he would take over the cooking duties. Without An'an, Cen Zhengnian and Chu Xia had fewer constraints at home, and surprisingly, their relationship improved.
Even Ye Xingxiu noticed that Cen Zhengnian had been in an unusually good mood these days.
As a married man, he understood. He nudged Cen Zhengnian with his elbow, lowered his voice, and raised an eyebrow, asking, "Having a good time in the world of two without children?"
Cen Zhengnian glanced at him and pushed him away, saying, "You and your wife enjoy it every day. I don't have your experience."
Speaking of this, Ye Xingxiu frowned and looked distressed, "I don't know why, but my wife has been avoiding my touch these days."
He really couldn't figure it out. They were doing well before, enviable to everyone with their sweet relationship. Now, he genuinely missed the time just after they got married.
Cen Zhengnian said, "It's your own wife; you figure out the reason."
Just then, Yan Heming walked in. Cen Zhengnian had calculated some data and wanted to discuss it with them, throwing the troubled Ye Xingxiu to the sidelines.
***
"Chu Xia, can you check if I'm fully recovered? I've finished all the medicine, and I don't feel uncomfortable anymore."
Chu Xia was now in the hospital, and this time there was no need for a prescription. She raised her hand to check Ye Xingxiu's wife, Shi Qin's pulse
After releasing her hand, Chu Xia wore a relaxed smile. "Your illness has improved. In the future, pay attention to the things I mentioned. Your health depends on your own care."
The heavy burden on Shi Qin's shoulders seemed to disappear suddenly. Even her face brightened, and she held Chu Xia's hand with great joy. "Thank you! Thank you, Chu Xia."
Chu Xia patted her hand, feeling quite pleased. It was the joy of healing a patient after a long time.
Shi Qin shared with her, "You don't know, even if I hadn't recovered from my illness, I wouldn't know what excuse to use to refuse Ye Xingxiu. They are busy with scientific research every day, yet they still have the energy to think about such things?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Xia subconsciously thought of Cen Zhengnian from last night, coaxing her to stay in the living room. If she hadn't firmly disagreed and if there weren't dogs in the living room, Cen Zhengnian would have really tried.
At this moment, the thoughts of Chu Xia and Shi Qin suddenly overlapped.
Chu Xia nodded and said, "Maybe he's not tired enough."
Shi Qin agreed wholeheartedly, "When we get home, I'll have Xingxiu do the chores. That way, he won't have the energy to focus all that enthusiasm on me every day."
Chu Xia ate grapes, silently thinking in her heart: The chores at my home are already being done by Cen Zhengnian, and it's still the same.
***
Zhang Lu is an outgoing person, much like Wang Aihua. After they met through Cen Huai'an, they hit it off instantly, and Cen Huai'an couldn't even join in on their conversations.
During dinner today, the two of them discussed the current popular singers.
"I absolutely love Fei Xiang! He's handsome, sings well, and it's like he's a warm flame in the winter, warming my heart!"
Zhang Lu exclaimed excitedly, standing up and imitating Fei Xiang's style, drawing the attention of several people.
Unfazed, she sat back down after singing a few lines and asked Cen Huai'an and Tang Song, "How was it? Did I imitate him well?"
Cen Huai'an replied, "Very much so."
Tang Song nodded, with only the bright figure of Zhang Lu in his eyes. "Very nice."
Wang Aihua had a different opinion. "I think Jacky Cheung's songs are also great..."
The two compared these two singers, one saying one was good, the other saying the other was better, almost starting an argument.
However, when it came to studying and doing exercises, they all became good and friendly classmates.
For Cen Huai'an, the overall experience of the summer camp was enjoyable.
He could exchange ideas with students from all over, receive guidance from professional professors for difficult questions, and have the company of friends like Xiaohe and Wang Aihua. He felt fortunate to be a part of this summer camp.
However, there were also some unhappy moments, mainly involving Cen Huai'an's roommate, Hou Yongjin. With a strong and sensitive ego, he often intentionally caused trouble in the dormitory over trivial matters due to their unpleasant encounter on the first day.
When Hong Youxuan and Xiao He came to play chess with Cen Huai'an, he found it disturbing. Slamming the table and standing up, he confronted them angrily, "If you guys don't want to study, I still want to. This isn't your dormitory. Coming here every day, aren't you afraid of disturbing others?"
Cen Huai'an immediately turned his gaze towards him, furrowing his brows. Hou Yongjin, for some reason, felt a chill down his spine and inexplicably started to feel scared.
"Why... Why are you looking at me? What, you want to hit me!"
Cen Huai'an glanced at him without saying a word. He then turned to Hong Youxuan and Xiao He, saying, "Let's go outside."
Indeed, the dormitory wasn't his alone.
Hou Yongjin thought that Cen Huai'an was intimidated by him, so he became even more presumptuous. As long as he was studying, others weren't allowed to make any noise. However, whenever there was any commotion, he would loudly complain.
But when others were studying, he completely disregarded their peace. Wang Aihua and Li Lianyu had good temperaments and didn't want to argue with him.
At first, Cen Huai'an ignored him, but he became increasingly overbearing.
During one of Cen Huai'an's study sessions, Hou Yongjin made a loud noise. Cen Huai'an stood up, expressionless, and calmly walked over to Hou Yongjin. He forcefully pressed him against the table, saying, "Do you really like this table so much? Always banging on it."
"Huai'an, what are you doing?!"
"I'm helping you get closer to the table you like so much."
Cen Huai'an grabbed his head and, with what seemed like considerable force, slammed it towards the table, as if he intended to bash him to death.
Hou Yongjin, with wide eyes and faced with the approaching table, shouted in terror, "Ah! No, no! I was wrong!"
When the table was only a centimeter away, Cen Huai'an stopped, released Hou Yongjin's arm and head, saying, "I forgot to tell you, I practiced martial arts since I was little, and... I've even helped carry dead bodies."
In reality, when Cen Huai'an was a child, he saw a homeless old man frozen to death on the street and covered the man's body with a tattered sack.
Nevertheless, even with just this, it scared Hou Yongjin. He collapsed onto the chair, trembling like a sieve, saying, "I... I need to find a teacher."
Wang Aihua and Li Lianyu were also astonished by Cen Huai'an's actions, but they couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction, as they had wanted to teach Hou Yongjin a lesson countless times before.
"Go ahead," Cen Huai'an said nonchalantly, sitting back down to continue his studies.
Hou Yongjin rushed to the teacher in charge of their group, ready to complain. However, images of Cen Huai'an's intense gaze as he prepared to strike him flashed in his mind, making it seem like he was about to be beaten to death.
Terrified, he clung to the teacher, requesting to change dormitories, claiming that his current roommates were excluding him. When asked how he was being excluded, he stubbornly refused to provide details, insisting on the need to change dormitories.
As he wasn't an officially enrolled student, and seeing Hou Yongjin cry so miserably, the teacher, hesitant to even enter the dormitory, reluctantly agreed to his request.
There happened to be a three-person dormitory available, and Hou Yongjin moved there. Cen Huai'an's three-person dormitory remained unchanged.
Wang Aihua was thrilled. If Cen Huai'an didn't mind close interactions, he might have even lifted him in a hug.
"It seems you have a way. Have you really learned martial arts?"
"Yeah," Cen Huai'an nodded.
Wang Aihua gave him a thumbs up. "Impressive! I thought you were just scaring Hou Yongjin."
Cen Huai'an flipped his test paper and said, "I did scare him a bit." He wouldn't resort to physical violence at the summer camp, and his mom wouldn't approve of him casually hitting people.
Li Lianyu chimed in, "Huai'an, you did something I wouldn't dare to do. I really admire you."
Wang Aihua was intrigued by Cen Huai'an's martial arts background and asked him many questions.
Cen Huai'an, realizing he couldn't continue with his test, put away his paper and began chatting with Wang Aihua and Li Lianyu.
"I started learning when I was six."
"Not too hard on you, I hope."
Wang Aihua clapped his hands and said, "No wonder you go jogging every morning. Is it a task assigned by your martial arts teacher?"
Cen Huai'an nodded, "It's not just jogging."
Except for windy or rainy days when he would practice indoors, he would go outside for training at other times.
After half a month of summer camp, Cen Huai'an and his friends, including Zhang Lu, gained a lot. They made new friends and broadened their horizons.
When it was time to part ways, Xiao He, Wang Aihua, and the newly acquainted Li Lianyu were reluctant to see him go.
As Wang Aihua boarded the car, he kept talking to Cen Huai'an, "Don't forget my address, remember to write me a letter!"
***
Cen Huai'an returned home on his own without telling Chu Xia and the others. He took a bus and arrived home directly with his luggage.
Along the way, he also took a portion of the journey with Zhang Lu and Tang Song.
There were no surprises at home; no one was there except for Huangzi, Heizi, and Ban Dian.
Ban Dian had grown quite a bit, and when he saw Cen Huai'an coming back, he excitedly wagged his tail and ran towards him, panting happily as he circled around Cen Huai'an.
Huangzi and Heizi also came running, continuously rubbing against Cen Huai'an's legs.
Cen Huai'an placed his luggage aside and petted each of their heads.
Unaware of Cen Huai'an's joyful reunion with his dogs, it was not a peaceful day in Chu Xia's department.
"Teacher, why didn't you approve my transfer application?"
Cheng Jun wanted to transfer out of the Traditional Chinese Medicine department, and he had already found a department willing to accept him. However, he was stuck at Dr. Yan's place.
"You haven't learned anything in the Traditional Chinese Medicine department. Transferring you to another department wouldn't be helping people; it would be harming them."
"Teacher, I really don't have a talent for Traditional Chinese Medicine. Please agree to let me transfer. It's a waste of your efforts for me to stay here and not learn anything."
Dr. Yan still refused, saying, "If you can't pass in my department, I can't agree."
If Dr. Yan didn't agree, Cheng Jun's application for the head of the Chinese medicine department wouldn't be approved, and he wouldn't be able to go to the other departments.
Frustrated, Cheng Jun scratched his head forcefully, looking quite agitated. "Teacher, what do I need to do for you to approve my transfer? I'll kneel down for you, is that enough?"
Cheng Jun actually knelt down, banging his head heavily on the ground. "Teacher, I'm begging you!"
Dr. Yan looked at his current state, let out a heavy sigh, and the usually gentle and smiling face revealed a sense of frustration and exhaustion.
He furrowed his brow and said, "Get up first."
Cheng Jun refused to get up, still kowtowing and saying, "Teacher, I will kneel here until you agree. Since you don't value me, and with Luo Chu Xia here, letting me leave should make everyone happy, right?"
Chu Xia didn't expect to get shot while she was lying down. She wasn't going to let Cheng Jun use this as an excuse to leave. "Teacher has always treated both of us equally. Cheng Jun, if you want to leave, don't splash dirty water on me and Teacher."
Dr. Yan stopped Chu Xia from speaking further and looked deeply at Cheng Jun. "Have you really made up your mind to leave the Traditional Chinese Medicine department?"
Cheng Jun nodded with exceptional determination.
"Alright, I agree."
Cheng Jun was overjoyed, "Thank you teacher, thank you teacher!"
However, Chu Xia furrowed her brows. Dr. Yan was not someone who casually changed his mind.
Watching Cheng Jun leave happily with the approved application in hand, Chu Xia looked at Dr. Yan in confusion. "Teacher, are you really at ease letting him go to another department?"
Dr. Yan said, "His heart is not here anymore, and keeping him won't be useful. He's still an intern, and even if he goes to another department, it's the same as now."
What Dr. Yan didn't say was that after Cheng Jun's scene in his department, doctors from other departments would also be wary of him.
Dr. Yan didn't know what connections Cheng Jun had, but he had already planned to talk to the dean. The affiliated hospital couldn't afford to have disruptive elements.
For doctors who treat patients, their hearts must be upright first.
The affiliated hospital was quite large, with various departments and multiple floors. Given the size and infrequency of encounters, Chu Xia didn't bother to follow up on Cheng Jun's subsequent actions after leaving.
However, when she returned home and saw Cen Huai'an, it brought Chu Xia great surprise.
***
The weather was getting hotter, and the continuous chirping of cicadas outside made people increasingly irritable.
In the afternoon, when Chu Xia entered the hospital with an umbrella, a nurse who was on good terms with her rushed over and said, "Cheng Jun was transferred from your department, right?"
Chu Xia, putting on a white coat, nodded in response, "Yes. Why? I haven't seen him since he left."
Glancing around, the nurse whispered, "He got into big trouble. He prescribed the wrong medication to a patient. If it wasn't for the fact that the doctor who was giving the medicine found something wrong when the patient was picking up the medicine, it could have been fatal!"
Chu Xia's hands stiffened in the motion of putting on the coat. A sense of fear welled up from her heart, and she grabbed the nurse's hand, "But he's still an intern, right? How could he have the authority to prescribe medication to patients?"
Intern doctors don't have the autonomy to treat patients; they can only learn under the supervision of senior doctors and aren't allowed to prescribe medication independently.
The nurse's information was quite accurate. She grabbed Chu Xia and said, "It was the doctor who was with him that made Cheng Jun write the prescription, and he got it wrong."
Chu Xia breathed a sigh of relief. She had thought doctors at the affiliated hospital wouldn't be so irresponsible, and Cheng Jun wouldn't dare to prescribe medication independently, especially considering his future.
"You said Cheng Jun graduated from medical school. How could he make a mistake in writing a prescription?"
The nurse was puzzled. She couldn't understand why Cheng Jun, who had been trained by doctors and even learned from her, could make such an error.
Chu Xia hadn't seen the specific incident, so she didn't know.
However, two days later, she found out. Cheng Jun admitted that he was absent-minded when the doctor was talking about the prescription. Afraid the doctor would blame him, and having just heard the patient's condition and the treatment plan from the doctor, he took the initiative to write a prescription.
However, he only listened to half of the instructions, and the written prescription was incorrect. This nearly resulted in a disaster.
Since Cheng Jun hadn't officially become a regular staff member, the hospital directly dismissed him after this incident. The affiliated hospital didn't want him anymore.
Moreover, the reason for his dismissal was recorded in his file, making his path as a doctor come to an end.
When Chu Xia returned home and told Cen Zhengnian about it, she looked into his eyes, leaned close, and said with a smile, "You were right. Without me doing anything, Cheng Jun brought calamity upon himself."
Cen Zhengnian, looking at Chu Xia up close, felt a slight churn in his throat. With a smile in his eyes, he gazed into hers and said, "Someone like Cheng Jun isn't worth having in your thoughts."
As Chu Xia approached him, looking at Cen Zhengnian's flawless face, unchanged from years ago, so handsome that people couldn't help but focus on him.
Chu Xia couldn't resist the temptation to cup his face. Smiling with narrowed eyes, she asked, "Then what is worth having in my thoughts?"
Cen Zhengnian gently lifted her, his voice low and husky, saying, "Me, and An'an."
As the lights went out, the summer fan whirred, but it couldn't dispel the heat emanating from the bed.
Without Cheng Jun, Chu Xia's days at the hospital became more comfortable. Under the guidance of Dr. Yan, she learned a lot.
Dr. Yan had a completely different style of traditional Chinese medicine from Dr. Tang. While they were equally strict in treating illnesses, their treatment plans differed.
Dr. Yan emphasized nurturing, focusing on the gradual improvement of the patient's overall health while treating the illness. On the other hand, Old Lady Tang is concerned with curing the disease first and then nourishing the body.
Therefore, their prescriptions varied.
Chu Xia absorbed the essence of both doctors' medical knowledge and developed her own approach to treating patients. Regardless of the method, their shared goal was to help and rescue the patients.
On Sundays, Chu Xia took Cen Huai'an to visit Grandpa Jiang's house as usual. The alley was shaded by many trees, providing some relief from the summer heat.
But it's the height of summer now, so it can't be much cooler.
Jiang Zhida wasn't at his partially constructed entertainment venue; instead, he was at Grandpa Jiang's house, enjoying the breeze from the fan and taking the opportunity to discuss some matters with Chu Xia.
Luo Peng listened without expressing any opinions.
Cen Huai'an, Zhang Lu, and the other two each held half of a small watermelon, happily digging in. Jiang Weixi, in particular, had watermelon smeared all over her face and clothes, laughing joyfully.
While they were chatting, Second Uncle Jiang and Zhou Huaying rushed in anxiously, a mix of panic and anger on their faces. "Dad, Zhiyi is too bold. She only left a letter at home and secretly went to Guangzhou alone!"
Zhou Huaying handed the letter to Grandpa Jiang, visibly upset. She vented her frustration, "I've been telling you to manage Zhiyi properly. You insisted on discussing things with her, saying it shouldn't be a one-sided decision. Now, look, you've allowed her heart to grow bigger, and she just ran away!"
This accusation was aimed at Grandpa Jiang's interference in family matters. Second Uncle Jiang couldn't let Zhou Huaying speak of his father that way. His eyebrows raised, he retorted, "Huaying! Watch your words. Zhiyi running away is not my dad's fault. How can you blame him for managing our own daughter?!"
After reading the letter, Grandpa Jiang slammed the table with frustration and glared at Second Uncle Jiang and Zhou Huaying. "I told you not to force Zhiyi, but you still did it, didn't you? Instead of letting her find a good job at a good unit, you confined her at home, forcing her to study for postgraduate exams. Huaying, why don't you lock yourself in a room and try it? In my opinion, Zhiyi did the right thing by leaving!"
"Dad!" Second Uncle Jiang and Zhou Huaying shouted in unison. One tried to stop, and the other expressed anger. "I manage my own daughter for her own good. How can I be wrong? That unit she wanted to go to is in the countryside, with poor living conditions and potential dangers. Dad, how could I agree to let Zhiyi go there?"
Grandpa Jiang: "But you can't lock Zhiyi in her room. She's a person, not a puppet in your hands."
Chu Xia stood beside Grandpa Jiang, her eyes constantly observing his condition. He's too old to be angry.
Second Uncle Jiang , fearing that Grandpa Jiang might get angry, quickly pulled Zhou Huaying aside. "Alright, stop talking. Dad, we know we were wrong. The priority now is how to find Zhiyi. She went to Guangzhou alone, and it's dangerous since she's unfamiliar with the place."
However, Zhou Huaying suddenly looked at Jiang Zhida, suspicion in her eyes. "Dazi, do you know about Zhiyi going to Guangzhou?"
In the Jiang family, only Jiang Zhida frequently traveled to and from Guangzhou for business. Seeing that Zhiyi mentioned Guangzhou in the letter made Zhou Huaying think of him.
Jiang Zhida smiled, revealing his mischievous side. He had a completely carefree demeanor. "Second Aunt, you know I'm busy with the business at the store in Xidan. I live and eat there, and I haven't seen Zhiyi. How would I know that she's going to Guangzhou?"
Zhou Huaying, however, looked at Jiang Zhida with suspicion. "Are you really unaware?"
Jiang Zhida shrugged. "Really. If I knew, would I let Uncle and Second Aunt worry like this?"
Although Jiang Zhida's attitude showed no concern for Second Uncle Jiang and Zhou Huaying, Chu Xia could sense that Jiang Zhida held some animosity toward them.
Zhou Huaying then turned her gaze to Chu Xia. "Chu Xia, you have a good relationship with Zhiyi. Did she mention going to Guangzhou to you?"
Chu Xia shook her head. "Second Aunt, I'm also very busy at the hospital."
Zhou Huaying looked back at Jiang Zhida and then at Chu Xia, a sense of distrust in her eyes.
Grandpa Jiang, seeing her reaction, slapped the table forcefully. "Enough! Zhiyi leaving is because of you two parents. Huaying, don't look for blame elsewhere."
Zhou Huaying was about to retort, but Second Uncle Jiang stopped her. "Dad, let's focus on finding Zhiyi now. Guangzhou is far away, and the train has all kinds of people. Both Huaying and I are really worried."
No one knew the specific train schedule for Jiang Zhiyi. Although Zhou Huaying suspected Jiang Zhida and both Chu Xia and Jiang Zhida were displeased, they didn't want anything to happen to Jiang Zhiyi.
Jiang Zhida stood up and said, "I'll call Xiao Ran and ask him to find someone near the train station to pick her up."
However, Jiang Zhida couldn't guarantee whether they could find her or not. Moreover, since Jiang Zhiyi was heading towards Guangzhou without a specific destination, she might have gotten off the train midway.
Chu Xia had no friends in Guangzhou. She even inquired if Cen Zhengnian knew anyone there. Regardless of Jiang Zhiyi's intentions, the priority was to find her and ensure her safety.
Now, they could only wait for news.
Chu Xia checked Grandpa Jiang's pulse and admonished him, "Grandpa, you can't get angry anymore. Your body can't handle such intense emotional fluctuations."
While saying this, Chu Xia's gaze fell on Second Uncle Jiang and Zhou Huaying. It was clear that she was referring to the two of them.
No one else had angered Grandpa Jiang, only the two of them who frequently visited. Due to Jiang Zhiyi's matter, Grandpa Jiang couldn't help but get angry each time.
Uncle Jiang showed a guilty expression when Chu Xia spoke. He lowered his head and said to Grandpa Jiang, "Dad, I'm sorry. From now on, I will listen to you and won't let you worry about our family affairs."
Grandpa Jiang waved his hand, clearly not believing his words. "You guys are forcing Zhiyi that hard, how can you make me feel at ease?"
Zhou Huaying remained silent, and Second Uncle Jiang scratched his head, wearing a troubled expression. "We were doing it for her own good."
Grandpa Jiang snorted. "Enough of this. You claim it's for her good, but in reality, you make the child suffer even more."
Second Uncle Jiang fell silent.
Suddenly, Jiang Weixi ran to Grandpa Jiang, looking up at him and said, "Great-grandpa, have some candy. Don't be angry."
Faced with Jiang Weixi's sweet and innocent smile, Grandpa Jiang's lingering anger finally dissipated. A smile reappeared on his face as he took the candy from Jiang Weixi, saying, "Thank you, Xi Xi. Great-Grandpa is not angry anymore."
By evening, there was still no news from Guangzhou about receiving Jiang Zhiyi.