Endless Fall

121 Understanding the Reason

“I know.” Pei Zicheng put away his chess piece and dragged the stool to their side.

He summarized it in a few words, “In order to invest, your father sold the antiques at home without telling Uncle Lin.”

“What antiques?”

“I heard they were some kind of porcelain.”

Lin Jiao frowned.

She recalled the frequent quarrels between her parents during her poor childhood and felt that something was wrong. “Where is the money he got from selling antiques?”

“I lost it all.” Pei Zhen suppressed the emotions in his eyes.

He blew away the tea leaves on the edge of the cup. “First time he invested, Old Lin took half of his savings to help him, but he lost everything.”

Lin Jiao guessed boldly, “Grandpa refused to help him the second time, so he sold the antiques?”

“Right.”

“Did he get the antiques back in the end?”

Pei Zhen nodded.

At the thought of what Lin Kanglu had suffered, Lin Jiao was angry with her father. “I didn’t know he was such a scumbag.”

“It’s all in the past.” Pei Zhen patted her shoulder comfortingly and said gently, “He’s not as frivolous as before.”

“Have you seen him in the past few years?”

“No, I heard it from your brother.”

Lin Jiao replied, “My father talked to me last time. He said he wants to fulfill his filial responsibility to Grandpa.”

“He never went back to visit your grandpa?”

“He did, but Grandpa refused to see him.”

“Old Lin is as stubborn as ever.” Pei Zhen curled his lips at the thought of his stubborn look. “I’ll have a good chat with him tomorrow.”

“Can you persuade him?”

“Of course.” As long as he found where Old Lin lived, he was confident to persuade him.

Pei Qisheng saw through his thoughts at a glance. “Are you planning to stay at Uncle Lin’s house uninvited?”

“What do you mean uninvited?” Pei Zhen picked up a peanut and threw it at his son. “The air in the countryside is good. Can’t I stay there for a few more days?”

Pei Zhi smiled. “I’m afraid you won’t stay there for long.”

“And why is that?”

“He lives in a very remote place. He usually has to grow and pick the vegetables himself. Can you walk in the muddy field with your walking stick?”

“You’re underestimating me!” Pei Zhen threw his walking stick to the side and stood up agilely.

He slapped his thigh. “I’m not a cripple.”

“Are you pretending to be a cripple all these years?” A teasing voice attracted everyone’s attention.

Chu Kui walked leisurely towards the living room.

He was about the same height as Pei Zhen and looked energetic, nothing like an old man in his seventies.

“I’m not crippled to begin with!” Pei Zhen moved to the right and sat in front of the white chess piece, waiting for him to come over.

“Then why do you use a walking stick all day?”

“It’s nothing to do with you whether I use it or not. Hurry up and come over.”

Just as Chu Kui was about to scold him, he saw Lin Jiao from the corner of his eye and smiled. “Jiaojiao, you’re here.”

His expression changed especially quickly, and the gentleness he revealed was a stark contrast to before.

“Uncle Chu.” Lin Jiao placed the peeled peanuts on the small table by the chessboard. “Have some.”

“Sure.” Chu Kui took two to try.

When he picked up the black piece under Pei Zhen’s nagging, he suddenly realized something. “What did you call me?”

“Uncle Chu.”

“Are you in a relationship with Pei Zhi?”

“They’ve been together for a few months.” Pei Zhen swallowed a mouthful of tea. “Is your son, Chu Yuzhou, dating anyone?”

Chu Kui placed a piece on the chessboard. “Yes.”

“With whom?”

“I didn’t ask. I can’t be bothered with him.”

“Is Yuzhou at home?” Pei Zhi held Lin Jiao’s hand that he had not touched all morning and rubbed it gently.

“Yes.”

“Then we’ll go over to see him.”