Chapter 1601: 1603: Honored Guest Visits

Chapter 1601: Chapter 1603: Honored Guest Visits

Meng Xinian had only returned after half a month.

He had truly been busy before, with no leave, and of course, there was another reason—because he had proposed the idea of adoption. He was worried that his grandparents would think he was coming to pressure them into agreeing to it as soon as they saw him, which might burden them mentally and affect their mood.

But now that Chiang Xiao had decided not to go through with the adoption, he figured his grandparents’ mood might have improved, so he decided to come visit them.

As soon as he stepped in the door, he heard Chiang Songhai humming a tune while playing chess with Xue Liujin.

“Great Officer Meng is here,” Xue Liujin stood up and saluted him.

Every time he saw Meng Xinian in his sharp, upright uniform, he couldn’t help but reminisce about his own youth when he too was full of vigor and spirit.

“Old Xue, please sit down.”

“Xinian, you’ve come just in time,” Chiang Songhai looked up and said, “Your grandma is stewing some beef brisket. Go ahead and ladle yourself a bowl to eat first. It’s still a bit early for dinner, don’t go hungry.”

Meng Xinian noticed that Chiang Songhai’s mood seemed to have returned to how it was in the past, which surprised him a little.

What he didn’t know was how people’s psyche works sometimes.

At first, because of Chiang Qingzhu’s matter, both Chiang Songhai and Ge Liutao had been in unbearable pain, devastated and unable to escape their grief. Then suddenly, they were told that Chiang Xiao was going to be adopted by someone else!

This was even harder for them to accept than the situation with Chiang Qingzhu. The pain from this news overshadowed the pain caused by Chiang Qingzhu, leaving them no time to dwell on their sorrow over her.

And then, when Chiang Xiao announced she wouldn’t be adopted after all, it was like the clouds parted, and the sun shone through.

They realized that the worst hadn’t happened after all—they still had Chiang Xiao with them.

“Alright. I’ll go wash my face and change clothes first.”

Just as Meng Xinian went to wash up and change, Cheng Cheng arrived.

He knocked on the door, and it was Chiang Songhai who answered. At the same time, Chu Liang just happened to return from outside.

“Sir, hello. May I ask, is this Chiang Xiao’s home?”

Sir…

Looking for Little?

Calling him that way seemed to skip a generation somehow.

“Yes, I am her grandfather.”

Grandfather?

Cheng Cheng was taken aback. Such a young grandfather?

In his eyes, Chiang Songhai looked to be at most in his forties. To hear that he was Chiang Xiao’s grandfather really left him a bit incredulous.

“I’m Cheng Cheng. I’ve recently been reassigned temporarily to Meng Xinian’s camp.”

“You’re with Xinian?” Chiang Songhai quickly invited him inside. “Come in, come in. Why didn’t you come with Xinian? He just arrived not long ago.”

Leading him into the house, Cheng Cheng was momentarily dazzled by the courtyard full of flowers.

It was almost winter, and flowers were scarce elsewhere, yet the Chiang Family’s courtyard was blooming with an abundance of vibrant flowers?

The flowers in the courtyard had all been cultivated using the black soil from Chiang Xiao’s space. Their flowering period lasted especially long, with some even adding an entire extra bloom cycle. Precisely because of the beauty of the courtyard, Xue Liujin liked coming over.

“I didn’t come here with him.”

“Sit, sit, sit. Have a seat,” Chiang Songhai gestured for him to sit down and called toward the kitchen, “Ah Tao, we have a distinguished guest. See if you can make a bowl of sweet soup.”

Cheng Cheng hadn’t expected them to be so welcoming, and quickly said, “That’s not necessary. I came this time…”

“Not done being tortured at camp, so you’re chasing him home to continue?” Meng Xinian came downstairs, his sharp brows drawing together when he saw Cheng Cheng.

“Great Officer Meng, these things…”

Chu Liang was holding a pile of items, but a few sheets of paper slipped from his hands and floated to the ground.

One of the sheets drifted near Cheng Cheng. When he saw the simple sketch on it, his eyes lit up, and he stood up to walk over and pick it up.