Nine Star Burden - Chapter 647
Chapter 647: The best outcome
The siblings returned to the cold jiangbin city from the rainy Chengdu and took the high-speed rail to Yali.
Yali city, or Yali town to be exact, was located 200 kilometers Southeast of jiangbin city.
Although it was a small town, there was a huge ski resort here.
Although it was almost November and the event was about to start, Jiang Xiao and Han Jiangxue were not in the mood to ski.
In the afternoon, Jiang Xiao and Han Jiangxue took a taxi to a slightly dilapidated residential area according to the address given by Zhang songfu.
Jiang Xiao and Han Jiangxue strolled around and found that the living area was not bad. There were a pharmacy, a fruit store, and so on. The two of them found a hotel and booked a standard room.
It was a small hotel in a small town, so of course, she couldn’t expect the conditions to be good. Han Jiangxue understood what Jiang Xiao meant-he didn’t want her to go with him.
In the hotel, Jiang Xiao looked at the mirror and changed his appearance. He then walked out of the bathroom and looked at Han Jiangxue.””Doesn’t he look like me when I was thirty years old?”
Han Jiangxue was obviously stunned for a moment. Jiang Xiao, who was supposed to be young and inexperienced, looked extremely mature at this moment. Was this the middle-aged Jiang Xiao?
Jiang Xiao continued,”wouldn’t it be cooler if I had a beard?” he asked.
While speaking, a beard appeared above Jiang Xiao’s lips and his buzz cut turned into short, curly hair that was the length of a finger.
Han Jiangxue pursed her lips slightly and seemed to be able to see Jiang Xiao in his Prime. His face had changed, but his bright eyes remained the same.
He was no longer that ignorant teenager. After days and nights of hard training, participating in big and small battles, step by step reaching the top of the world, and winning the World Championship, his temperament had been honed, and it was far more attractive than his appearance.
“I don’t want my beard,” Han Jiangxue said softly.
Jiang Xiao shrugged his shoulders and wiped the beard off his lips before turning around to leave.””I’ll come back as soon as possible. ”
Jiang Xiao put on his hat and walked out of the hotel. He bought some fruits from a nearby fruit and vegetable store and picked up a box of milk before walking into the dilapidated residential area across the street.
He quickly arrived on the third floor and took a deep breath. He put down the milk box and knocked on the door gently.
“Thump! Thump! Dong!”
No one answered.
Jiang Xiao knocked on the door again … There was still no reply.
Jiang Xiao took off his hat and grabbed his curly hair. Aren’t you at home?
He waited for four hours. At Sixo’ clock in the afternoon, Jiang Xiao finally saw Zhang songfu’s father.
In fact, since FiveO’ clock in the afternoon, the residents had been returning one after another. When they passed the third floor, they all looked at the man waiting at the door with curious eyes. Some of them even looked rather emotional.
It seemed like … They knew who lived in Room 301 and had seen such a scene.
A tall and thin man walked to the second and a half floor and saw a slender figure leaning against the door of his house. There was a milk box beside his feet with a few bags of fruit on it. The man immediately asked,””And you are?”
Jiang Xiao turned around. He initially thought that she was just another passer-by, but to his surprise, she had returned.
The residential area might look old and broken, but because of its age, the neighbors were very familiar with each other, and the occupancy rate was very high …
Jiang Xiao looked at the man who was in his fifties and tried to look for traces of Zhang songfu and his son on his face.””Uncle Zhang?”
Mr. Zhang nodded gently and sized Jiang Xiao up. He then said with a smile,””Song Fu’s comrade?”
Jiang Xiao nodded repeatedly. It seemed that this kind of situation had happened many times and Mr. Zhang was already experienced.
Seeing that Mr. Zhang was in a good state, Jiang Xiao asked with a smile,””How did you know?”
“Hehe.” Zhang Heng’s father picked out the keys as he walked up. He smiled and said,”you guys have been on the battlefield. You can tell at a glance … Hurry and come in. ”
Jiang Xiao grinned. Zhang songfu had mentioned before that his father was an old policeman and was rather capable. Besides, his father was also a special police officer. Railway public security.
Mr. Zhang opened the door and gave Jiang Xiao a pair of slippers.””You’ve been waiting for a long time, right? I’ll ask where your aunt is and ask her to come home to cook. We’ll eat at home tonight. ”
Jiang Xiao walked in with some fruits and a milk carton and looked around the small house.
Although the residential building was old, it was very clean. Jiang Xiao placed his things on the coffee table and looked around. The house was about 70 to 80 square meters, with two rooms and a living room. The old couple should be living comfortably.
Ever since he met Mr. Zhang, Jiang Xiao had been secretly observing his expression and could tell that he was in a good state.
Jiang Xiao was looking around the house to find any clues about the living conditions of the old couple when he heard a strong northeastern accent from the kitchen.””Rookie ball? What rookie group, don’t join. Sha Leng is back, there’s a guest at home. ”
After mumbling toot himself, Zhang CI’s father returned to the living room with twice the amount of tea and said,””Sit, sit, quickly sit.”
With an expert leading the way, Jiang Xiao’s northeastern accent also came back.””What’s a rookie ball?”
Zhang Heng’s father sat on the sofa and said,”one Yuan. It’s a farmhouse. I’ll Take You There by car. Food and accommodation are included.”
“Ah?” Jiang Xiao asked,”is it reliable?”
Mr. Zhang: “I don’t think it’s possible either. But your Auntie has attended it a few times. She’s really good at it.”
Jiang Xiao thought about it and thought, is it another way of advertising?
The target audience was not bad. If he served an Auntie of her age well, the advertising effect would be so good that one person could cover an entire district …
After the conversation, the living room fell into silence.
“Ahem.” Zhang CI’s father coughed twice and said,”several groups of Song Fu’s comrades have come. You’re very kind.”
“I’m late,”Jiang Xiao said with an apologetic smile.
Zhang CI’s father waved his hand and laughed.”What’s late or not? Song Fu has many good Brothers. Haha, you’re promising.”
Only he knew what Jiang Xiao meant. He was really too late, be it in the snowfield or here.
“Uncle, you haven’t retired yet?” Jiang Xiao asked.
Mr. Zhang: “it’s still too early. I’m only 53, and I’ll be 60 after retirement. I just got back from work. Your aunt has already retired, but she’s always busy doing rookie shows and square dancing. She doesn’t have any free time.”
To Jiang Xiao, such casual words were already the best outcome.
Jiang Xiao asked,[how old is she? she’s retired so early?]
Mr. Zhang: “she’s a railway worker, a frontline worker. She can retire at the age of 51.”
This old railway …
As the father and son chatted, they started a topic. Twenty minutes later, Zhang CI’s mother rushed back with a bag of vegetables. As soon as she opened the door, she shouted,””Okay, okay, okay. I’ll go and make you two some dishes.”
Jiang Xiao scratched his head and thought, don’t they ask for names?
……
In less than half an hour, four dishes and a soup were already served on the table. The couple didn’t even ask Jiang Xiao when he would return to the team and directly tacitly agreed to it. They also forced him to stay for dinner.
However, Jiang Xiao looked at the white wine in the plastic bottle and felt a little apprehensive.
He wasn’t afraid of industrial-produced white wine, but of folk-brewed ones. Jiang Xiao really couldn’t stand the high alcohol content.
After drinking a jar, Jiang Xiao regretted it and thought to himself that he should have brought second last along so that she could have a good drink with Mr. Zhang …
Mrs. Zhang had short curly hair and was in a good state of mind. She kept making Jiang Xiao eat this and that.
Jiang Xiao finally got to experience what it was like to pick up the chopsticks to eat and then put them down to drink.
“You children, don’t worry. We’re doing well.” Zhang Heng’s mother stood up and walked to the sink to wash the cucumbers. She was about to add some vegetables to the two of them as she said,”he’s still working. I also have a pension every month. Your team has also taken good care of me. It’s enough for us to live.”
Jiang Xiao burped, reeking of alcohol. He reached out his hand and said,”wait a minute, uncle Zhang. I’ll take a break.”
Zhang CI’s father took a sip of white wine and said with a smile,””Little Jiang, it’s only one tank, why can’t you do it? You’re really a soldier?”
Jiang Xiao gritted his teeth and thought, damn?
If you provoke me again, I’m going to make a phone call and shake you!
Mrs. Zhang placed a plate of cucumber and soy sauce on the table and patted Mr. Zhang’s arm. She glared at him in dissatisfaction and turned to look at Jiang Xiao.”Eat more. Eat some cucumbers to nourish your throat. This lousy wine is too strong. One sip is like a fire.”
Crack.
Jiang Xiao took a bite of the cucumber.”That’s good. Song Fu can rest assured now.”
The wine could be good or bad.
Under the influence of alcohol, such words didn’t seem too appropriate.
Zhang Heng’s mother laughed.”I’ve cried and shouted. My tears have dried up. I still have to live.”
As she spoke, Zhang CI’s mother looked at Zhang CI’s father. The reason why the old couple had survived seemed to have become each other. After all, Zhang songfu was their only child. The blow of a white-haired man sending a black-haired man away was not something ordinary people could bear.
Jiang Xiao sobered up a little and remained silent.
He really wanted to tell the two elders that their child was still alive, and that he was strong enough to live on.
However, second last’s words still lingered in his ears.”Don’t give them any hope, don’t be the last straw.
The “they” that second last was referring to were the soldiers in the upper dimension. This sentence was also applicable to the old couple.
However, Zhang Heng’s father said,”that kid is very promising. He’s doing proper work. Let’s not talk about it anymore. Child, where are you working now?”
Zhang CI’s mother also looked over and asked with concern,””Are you busy? Are you tired?”
Jiang Xiao pursed his lips and shrugged his shoulders without saying a word.
“Secret?” Zhang CI’s father laughed heartily.”You’re just like Song Fu, refusing to answer anything you ask.”
Mrs. Zhang suddenly stretched out her hand and pressed it on Jiang Xiao’s arm.””Little Jiang, since you can take a leave of absence, go back and spend more time with your parents.”
Jiang Xiao nodded firmly.
After a few rounds of drinks and five dishes, Jiang Xiao helped Mr. Zhang to the bed to rest. Under Mrs. Zhang’s repeated persuasion, Jiang Xiao finally left the house.
Although Jiang Xiao drank less than Mr. Zhang because of Mrs. Zhang’s protection, he had also drunk too much and was swaying unsteadily. He walked to the first floor and flashed back to the hotel.
Han Jiangxue was absorbing star power. Upon seeing Jiang Xiao standing in the room reeking of alcohol, she hurriedly got up and walked over.”How is it? Why did you drink so much?”
“It’s difficult to refuse such kindness,”Jiang Xiao said helplessly.
Jiang Xiao then whipped out his mobile phone and handed it to Han Jiangxue.
Han Jiangxue took the mobile phone and unlocked it with her fingerprint, only to discover that it was in the photo-taking mode.
Han Jiangxue clicked on the photo and saw a middle-aged couple sitting at the table in the small kitchen. Mr. Zhang was picking up some food while his mother was talking to him.
Jiang Xiao fell onto the bed and hugged the pillow while saying,””I wanted to ask for the photos directly, but I couldn’t find a suitable reason. I took this secretly when I went to the toilet. I’m going to print it out. ”
“Yes.” Han Jiangxue locked her mobile phone and placed it on the bedside table.”Are you going to die again?”
Jiang Xiao kicked off his shoes and curled up on the bed. He said in a daze,””Who knows?”
