cast a peach

Chapter 68 Zhao Hongliang

There is a folk proverb that says, "After Laba, it is a new year."As soon as Laba is over, time flies, and it will be New Year's Eve in the blink of an eye.

After the Laba Festival, there will be a busy final week in a few days. The exam is not too difficult for Zhao Guangshui. She wanted to go back to the capital immediately after the exam, but she had to wait a few more days for her mother.

Originally, my mother promised that she would go back to the capital with her this year, but I didn’t know what was holding her back. The scheduled return date was changed again and again, and in the end it was shelved like this, and she didn’t mention going home for the New Year, just let Lian Keqin Take Zhao Guangshui away first, and she will watch it at her own discretion, and choose another time to return to the ancestral house.

Zhao Guangshui heard that the subtext of his mother was that he might not be able to go back this year.Even if you want to go back, it will probably be in the next year.

But fortunately, her expectations for her mother had long since been wiped out by the blows and disappointments day after day and year after year. She was not disappointed when she heard the words, but returned to the capital impatiently.

The day when she really returned to the capital happened to be New Year's Eve.

She hasn't seen Grandpa for half a year and misses him very much.

In fact, Zhao Guangshui has many opportunities to go back to see grandpa. After all, the transportation is so developed now, and she has no financial considerations or burdens. As long as she wants to, she can fly back to see grandpa anytime.

It's just that grandpa was worried about her studies and said, "Since I'm out, it's not good to be in love with home." She wanted to go back to see grandpa several times, but was comforted by grandpa and refused.

She is a child brought up by her grandfather himself. She has been weak since she was a child, and often gets sick. He is decisive, looking at his only granddaughter who always loves her very much, wishing he could keep her by his side and hold it in his palm all the time, and refuses to take her out to meet people easily, without hurting her in the slightest.

He still doesn't know how to get along with children, sometimes the education is too strict and it's not easy to get close, but after all, the grandparent and grandson have depended on each other for several years and have a deep relationship.

Zhao Hongliang lost his wife in his prime, mourning unceasingly. His late wife was obsessed with academics, leaving him nothing but a room of books and a bright young daughter.

I don't know whether it's luck or misfortune, but the appearance of her daughter Zhao Zhihua is very similar to her mother's, almost carved out of the same mold.

When his wife was there, Zhao Hongliang looked at his daughter and felt full of warmth. Now that his wife has passed away, seeing his daughter again is like seeing an old friend. The grief is unbearable, and he dare not face it. He simply throws his daughter to the nanny to take care of him. Grieving, day and night, and sometimes being sent out to work for half a year, he ignored his daughter. When he came to his senses, although he had a bright future, his only daughter was completely crooked.

As a last resort, he had no choice but to apply to the leader for a transfer back to Beijing, and personally correct his daughter Zhihua, trying to bring her back on the right path.

But he was still very young at that time, and he didn't know how to get along with adolescent girls. Zhao Zhihua's appearance was like her mother's, but his temperament was like his. When two equally sharp knives collide, they can only hurt both sides. Endless quarrels and resentments.

In the past, he was willing to harden his heart and let her beat and bump his daughter, but everyone has seen the result.

Zhao Zhihua has a fierce temper, is extremely proud and stubborn, and refuses to obey him at all. In his twenties, he abandoned his father and left home for a man without hesitation, and never came back. It was not until a few years later that he hugged him back in Chuchun with a blank face. A baby, without saying a word, just stuffed the child less than half a year old into the hands of the nanny, and then left again without looking back.

At that time, the capital was still very cold, and the power of winter had not been greatly weakened by the warming of the atmosphere in the following years. In such a cold early spring, the snow on the roadside had not yet melted away, and Zhao Zhihua wrapped the child in swaddling clothes. Thin layer, the nanny grandma took over the swaddle in a daze, and looked down, only to find that the child's lips were purple from the cold.

This child is Zhao Guangshui.

Later, Zhao Hongliang invited famous doctors to recuperate her granddaughter's body. The doctor pressed her pulse and only sighed softly. After coming out, he whispered to Zhao Hongliang who was waiting outside full of expectations. It's not good, I can only raise it slowly in the future, and I'm afraid it will be short-lived and easy to die.

Hearing the words, Zhao Hongliang felt as if he had been slapped in the head, and he froze for a long time, not knowing what to say, and he sent the doctor away calmly. When he turned around, the girl who looked like a pink dumpling was timidly poking her head at the door frame, and was staring at him quietly.

Zhao Hongliang squatted down, touched her soft hair, and asked softly, "What's wrong, Xiao Shui?"

Zhao Guangshui looked at him uneasily, lowered his head and didn't speak, just pinched the corner of his clothes for a long time.

So Zhao Hongliang didn't force him to ask, but just waited quietly and patiently.

"Grandpa, am I going to die?"

It wasn't until that evening, when the twilight fell and the setting sun fell down inch by inch like a dome, that the young girl asked thoughtfully after Zhao Hongliang taught her to read "The Analects of Confucius" as usual.

That day, I just talked about Confucius' view of life and death. The sage said, "If you don't know life, how can you know death."

Zhao Hongliang was silent for a long time, and did not say a word for a long time.

The spring breeze gently blows over this noble and old house. There are swallows nesting under the eaves of the wooden brackets. It is time to return to the nest in the evening. The swallows bring food to feed their children, chirping and making noise.

According to the old customs in the north, it is a good omen for swallows to build a nest in a human's house, so Zhao Hongliang did not allow anyone to destroy the nest.

Zhao Guangshui also waited quietly and patiently for Grandpa's answer.

Grandpa finally spoke.

The thin and tired old man pressed his cold fingers on the girl's head, and made a soft promise:

"Xiao Shui, you will die after Grandpa."

"As long as I'm alive, I won't let you die."

He said.

In the next few years, he continued to look for famous doctors everywhere. He didn't care if it was traditional Chinese medicine or Western medicine. As long as it was useful, he would be the guest of Zhao's family. Just to keep my granddaughter safe and healthy.

One year when he was about to be promoted, he was even caught in the braid because of this, and was anonymously reported to his superiors on the charge of engaging in feudal superstitions, so he stayed at the original level for several years.

It was the first time in Zhao Guangshui's life that he came to Jiangcheng to study alone. It was Xiaoshui's decision. Zhao Hongliang was very unhappy because Xiaoshui's score could have been admitted to the best university in Beijing.

He was reluctant to let his granddaughter go, and worried about whether she could take care of himself.

But at this time, Zhihua told him that Mingli suggested that Xiaoshui could stay with her for a while. Jing, after careful consideration, acquiesced in this decision.

Tan Mingli, as he remembered, was the granddaughter of his old friend Tan Jingshan, the eldest daughter of the Tan family, an extremely outstanding girl.

Seeing that young girl at Xiaoshui's birthday party a few years ago, Zhao Hongliang's eyes were venomous, and he could see at a glance the strength and pride beneath her gentle surface.He admired and liked this child, and he didn't mind building momentum for her in front of everyone as Tan Jingshan wished. He went along with the flow and personally wrote a picture for Tan Mingli. From then on, he used Zhao Hongliang's reputation to almost elevate her status as the heir of the Tan family. It's a certainty.

But Tan Mingli failed to take charge of the Tan family as he imagined. Instead, he got married quickly after graduating from university, and never heard from him again.

Once the proud daughter of heaven was broken, Zhao Hongliang couldn't help but think of his daughter who was embarrassed by a man, so he never praised Tan Mingli in front of Xiao Shui, and even specially warned his relatives not to do it in front of Xiao Shui. mention her.

He was afraid that his precious granddaughter would follow in the footsteps of his daughter and Tan Mingli.

Fortunately, Xiaoshui has a clear mind, is upright and kind, and apart from his weak body, nothing else worries him at all.

"Grandpa," Zhao Guangshui hopped into the inner room and called him with a smile, "I'm back!"

The young girl has just grown up, slim and beautiful, with a fresh and lively youthful atmosphere on her body, with light in her eyes, which suddenly illuminates the ancestral house like the best morning sun in spring.

Behind her was a very tall and thin woman with a pale complexion, wearing a black coat, and carrying a suitcase. Seeing his gaze, she bowed her head respectfully to him: "Grandpa Zhao, hello."

"My surname is Lian, you can call me Xiao Lian."

Xiaoshui told him in advance that this is the life assistant sent by her mother, who is specially here to take care of her.

Zhao Hongliang nodded slightly towards Lian Keqin.

Zhihua did a good job on this... It seems that she still has a daughter named Xiaoshui in her heart.he thought.

"Where's Zhihua? Isn't she coming back this year?"

After waiting for a while, seeing that no one came in from behind, Zhao Hongliang frowned a little and asked in a low voice.

Lian Keqin quickly explained: "Mr. Zhao is a bit busy with work, and said she will come back later today."

Don't be too busy, Director Zhao seems to be in conflict with Li Runyue, and he probably won't return to the capital this year.

But of course you can't tell the old man.

Zhao Hongliang has been in a high position for a long time, and he has a lot of prestige, even if he doesn't deterrence deliberately, he can still give people pressure.It was also the first time for Lian Keqin to see him, and he was somewhat suppressed in front of the old man.

There was a little sweat on her forehead, but she didn't dare to wipe it off. She just bent down respectfully, waiting for the old man's voice.

"Grandpa, I brought you a present!"

Zhao Guangshui saw that Lian Keqin was holding on, so he gently and cleverly distracted Zhao Hongliang's attention, "Look at it."

As soon as Zhao Hongliang's gaze touched his granddaughter, he softened, smiled kindly, walked over with a cane, and touched the girl's head: "Okay, grandpa, take a look..."

Zhao Guangshui smiled and led the old man to the study, turned around and winked quietly at Lian Keqin.

It wasn't until Zhao Hongliang walked out of sight that Lian Keqin breathed a sigh of relief, and he let go of his tense body just now.

God, it's hard not to be nerve-wracking seeing someone you only saw on the TV news as a kid actually seeing them in real life.

Zhao Zhihua didn't come back until the Spring Festival Gala was about to start, and he didn't send a message. Zhao Hongliang knew that his daughter would not come today, so he sighed secretly, but he didn't show the slightest bit on his face. He just smiled kindly at Zhao Guangshui:

"Hurry up and eat, Xiao Shui, we won't wait for your mother."

Looking at Lian Keqin again, he said softly:

"Xiao Lian also eats, don't be restrained, huh? Just treat it as being at home."

Lian Keqin hurriedly nodded in agreement, waiting for Zhao Hongliang to move his chopsticks and toast the old man before he dared to eat.

The New Year's Eve dinner is very rich, not big, only a little per plate, but there are many styles.The chefs in the ancestral house are very skilled, especially Huaiyang cuisine, and every dish is fresh and refreshing.

The burning of fireworks and firecrackers is banned in the capital, so the taste of the New Year is much less than that of previous years, and the ancestral house is quiet and peaceful, making it even less popular.

The three of them finished the New Year's Eve dinner quietly, watched the Spring Festival Gala together, and it was time to rest.

According to the old rules, the Zhao family originally wanted to keep the year old, but since the birth of Xiaoshui, Zhao Hongliang simply canceled it because his granddaughter was weak and couldn't stay up late.Zhao Guangshui was afraid that there would be too many people, so he even gave up the habit of New Year's Eve banquets. During the year, all those who gave New Year's greetings and gifts were gone, and the house was very quiet.

"Xiao Shui, another year has passed."

Zhao Hongliang's old eyes stretched out a gentle smile, and gently nodded his granddaughter's eyebrows as in previous years, and said in a gentle voice: "Healthy New Year. If possible, I hope you will work harder to add meals."

Grandpa's greetings are the same every year, wishing her a healthy New Year and working hard to add meals.Other than that, he wanted nothing else from his teenage granddaughter.

"I also wish you good health and longevity."

Zhao Guangshui said softly.

Back in the room, Zhao Guangshui was still in good spirits, sitting on the bed dangling his legs, showing Lian Keqin her books and treasured toys. She liked some very delicate gadgets, she liked to put together models and puzzles, and she also liked to do handwork.

In her quiet and lonely childhood, she had no playmates, no electronic products, and no constant attention and love from her elders. She was alone for a long time, so she had some hobbies that were different from other children.

Lian Keqin couldn't help smiling when he saw her enthusiastically showing the world map he had put together when he was five years old.

Although he pretends to be steady all day long, he is obviously still a child and likes these things.

When she got along with Zhao Guangshui, she relaxed a lot more casually, sitting cross-legged on the floor casually, and asked the girl:

"Miss Zhao, you are Zhao Dong's daughter, and Grandpa Zhao is Zhao Dong's father. Logically speaking, shouldn't you be called Grandpa Zhao, Grandpa? Why do you call him Grandpa?"

She had been puzzled by this question for a long time, but of course she didn't dare to ask Zhao Hongliang, so she came to ask Zhao Guangshui.

The woman was tall, sitting on the ground with long hands and long legs, and her knees were curled up awkwardly. With her upright and serious face, she looked very cute. Zhao Guangshui couldn't help laughing because of her teasing. Look at your own puzzle and answer:

"That's right...you're right. Originally, it was supposed to be that way."

"But grandpa doesn't agree."

Zhao Guangshui wiped the dust on the jigsaw puzzle, "Actually, I heard that the elders in our family didn't recognize me as a child of the Zhao family at first, because theoretically, I should follow my father's surname and belong to my father's family."

"Then my grandfather got very angry and said that their brains were still living in the Qing Dynasty, and he came to tell him about this. The daughter's child and the son's child are the same to him. There is no distinction between inner grandson and outer grandson, as long as it is me, I am Zhao Hongliang's granddaughter and has nothing to do with anyone else."

Zhao Guangshui closed the jigsaw puzzle in his hand, "It's probably like this."

Lian Keqin was also very emotional when he heard it, and said, "Grandpa Zhao loves you very much."

She lowered her head and glanced at her watch, it was only after nine o'clock, and Zhao Guangshui meant that she wanted to wait until twelve o'clock in the morning to say Happy New Year to Tan Mingli, remembering that she couldn't stay up late, so she suggested:

"Why don't you sleep for a while, huh? I'll set an alarm clock for you and call you at 55:[-], how about it?"

Zhao Guangshui returned to the capital from Jiangcheng today, and was indeed a little tired after traveling all day.She also knew that she was weak, so she didn't object, she just nodded obediently, and said with a little worry:

"Then you must remember to call me."

Wouldn't it be great if she could spend a little more of her concern for Tan Mingli on other things?She is passionate, and she doesn't know if she can warm Tan Mingli's piece of ice and make her iron tree bloom.

Lian Keqin looked at her anxious eyes, couldn't help laughing, then put on a straight face again, and covered her with the quilt:

"Understood, go to sleep with you."

She was so sleepy that she couldn't keep her eyes open, and she still missed Tan Mingli.

Lian Keqin watched her sleep well, and picked up a book to read by himself. When he came back to his senses, the time was almost up.

She gently picked up Zhao Guangshui's cell phone, wanting to turn off the alarm clock for her and let her sleep for a while, but as soon as she got it in her hand, the screen turned on.

The sudden flash of light in the darkness startled her, thinking that she had accidentally bumped into something, she almost threw the phone out.

Then a soft call came from the phone:

"Hello, Xiao Shui."

I rely on...how did I accidentally pick it up.

Lian Keqin remembered the voice, the woman on the phone was Tan Mingli.

Caller ID: Sister Pear.

Hearing that there was no movement from her side for a long time, the woman called again softly: "Xiao Shui?"

Lian Keqin had no choice but to reply in a low voice: "Hello, Xiao Shui is sleeping now, please call back later."

There was silence on the phone for a while, and Lian Keqin almost thought that she had hung up, when the woman spoke again.

Her voice was much calmer and colder than before, and she asked, "Sorry, are you...?"

Good guy, when he heard it wasn't Xiaoshui, his voice changed all of a sudden.

Lian Keqin heard the faint questioning in her tone, and felt amused.

It's strange, Xiao Shui is not her girlfriend, so why should she ask such a question with confidence.

She also came up against the bone, and asked, "What do you think?"

Lian Keqin glanced at the girl, smiled, and lowered his voice: "Of course it's someone close to Xiao Shui."

The woman didn't speak for a long time. When Lian Keqin looked again, he found that she had hung up.

Yo, it's pissed off.

Lian Keqin rolled his eyes in a good mood.I only came to call now to ask, why did the little girl go early?She had long disliked Tan Mingli, a woman.

Tan Mingli...

She thought about it again.

Lian Keqin looked at the sleeping girl and thought, maybe she was wrong before.

It seems that Tan Mingli is not completely devoid of Xiaoshui.