CHAPTER 62: CHAPTER 59: FATHER AND DAUGHTER MOOCH A MEAL

"It seems the Jiang Family treats you well." Mr. Jiang had been observing her since she came in, and he couldn’t help but say, the little girl had changed so much, she was like a whole new person. After hearing about her impressive feats just now, Jiang Kangsheng almost didn’t recognize his daughter.

Her logic is clear, she’s brave and cunning, holding the entire situation in her hands. Although there are many questions, one has to admit, the little girl has progressed rapidly. Where is that daughter who once refused to go to the countryside, cried and made a scene, even threatened to jump into the river?

It’s like heaven and earth.

So to say, going to the countryside wasn’t a bad thing? Besides, Nanxi City is chaotic these days, the countryside is safer.

"Yes, they treat me very well. ... Dad, how about you? Are you doing well?" She genuinely called out to him, not just out of obligation.

It was rare for the little girl to think of showing concern for him. He initially wanted to put on a front, but then remembered the two rabbits and the braised meat she had given last time, and instantly, any irritation vanished.

"Of course, I’ve been living well. Plenty to eat and drink."

Really?

Jiang Mingyue wanted to know the truth of this statement and attempted to use her spiritual power, but was immediately repelled.

"Do you still remember the chess games I taught you?"

"Of course I remember."

"Coincidentally, your Uncle Zhu has a set of chess here. Let’s play a game, father and daughter, and I’ll see if you’ve regressed?"

Jiang Mingyue’s alertness went off: Was Mr. Jiang testing her?

But then she thought, although the original persona was temperamental, she was a top student who studied diligently, and naturally, she wasn’t bad at chess. Also, she herself was well-versed, so there shouldn’t be any flaws to expose.

In fact, Jiang Mingyue was overthinking it. Mr. Jiang just wanted to relive the memories of teaching his daughter to play chess, from her sitting on his lap learning one piece at a time, to playing a game of chess as father and daughter. To him, these were his eternal treasures.

In recent days, he had come to terms with it. The little girl wasn’t wrong, the fault was his. It was because she couldn’t bear to leave them that she made those seemingly unreasonable actions.

And yet he believed that woman’s whispers, claiming the little girl only wanted a good life, and if her biological parents were wealthy, she’d have run away faster than a rabbit. Laughably, he believed it.

The little girl he raised with his own hands, he knew her best.

During the days she was in the countryside, he felt increasingly lonely, as if overnight he had become a solitary old man.

Tossing and turning, he realized that all these years, it wasn’t just him raising her, but she accompanying him along the way, bringing him joy—he needed her.

Just like that, the father and daughter, with minds think in different directions, managed to create a serene picture of time.

When Zhu Hongwen returned after handling matters, he saw the father and daughter playing chess by the window, just as he’d seen many years ago. One occasionally took a sip from a teacup, while the other never stopped chewing, with cheeks puffed out. On his plate, there was only one last twisted dough left.

Zhu Hongwen: "..."

"You’re back, how did the matter go?" Mr. Jiang was the first to see his old friend. Jiang Mingyue immediately fixed her gaze on Zhu Hongwen, waiting for the answer.

Zhu Hongwen couldn’t help but smile. The father and daughter both had the same posture, each holding a chess piece in hand and staring at him for the answer.

So, what does it matter if they’re not related by blood? They are still a real father and daughter.

"As the little girl wished, Mr. Yang’s reputation has been cleared and he’s been released. But about that Zheng Honglian... although she admitted to slandering Mr. Yang, she reported Zheng Gang for stealing national assets on the spot, adding another witness to Zheng Gang’s crime. Offsetting merits and demerits, she was also released."

Jiang Mingyue: "..." Ruthless!

There was some regret that she didn’t bury the person who defamed her teacher, but Zheng Honglian was already on her blacklist, no rush.

"Girl, you must be hungry. Come on, let me take you two for a nice meal."

Having been busy all morning, Jiang Mingyue was also hungry and promptly packed the chess set into the box.

There were some words she wanted to say quickly.

She had remembered who this person was, though he didn’t appear much in her memory, she knew he was a good person. But it was such a good person who became the leader of the management office. Now he may be powerful, but in a decade’s time, people like him would be attacked by everyone, like rats crossing the street. Given Uncle Zhu’s age, it would be a miserable old age.

"Uncle Zhu, just a moment, I have a few words to say. Today, for Mr. Yang’s incident, if no one had found evidence for him, wouldn’t he have been dragged into the street, placarded, spat on, insulted at will, pelted with stones, rotten eggs, and leaves? At best, sent to a farm; at worst, lost his life?"

"Girl..."

"Uncle Zhu, I want to say, this won’t be the only incident like this. If you arrest someone based only on a report and determine them guilty, better err on the side of caution, what if someone took advantage of this loophole and a good person is destroyed with a single letter?"

"Girl..."

"Uncle Zhu, switch places, would you want such a thing to happen to you?"

"Certainly not. I understand your meaning, little girl. You’re worried about countless good people being wronged and destroyed, and you’re also worried that I, an old man, won’t have a good end."

Jiang Mingyue felt like applauding him.

Mr. Jiang also seriously considered: "Old Zhu, why don’t you find an excuse to resign?"

Zhu Hongwen only thought for a moment before smiling calmly: "If I resign, someone else will immediately take over. Since I discovered this loophole, why not let me plug it? Although my personal power is weak, I will do my best to ensure those who pass through my hands don’t bear injustices."

Mr. Jiang sighed: "You’re still the same. Well, the times are what they are. If you can’t change it, you’d better take control of it yourself."

Zhu Hongwen: "The little girl is so perceptive. Thank you for coming today. I will immediately release your teachers if they’re truly innocent. Otherwise, I’d become the sinner."

The state-run restaurant called Red Star was bustling during the dinner rush, and one must admit, there were always patrons with money, in any era. They waited a while before an empty table became available.

"Order whatever you like." Zhu Hongwen smiled warmly, pointing to the menu on the wall.

Jiang Mingyue didn’t look closely, casually listing dishes: "Braised fish, stir-fried pork with green peppers..." It wasn’t until she spoke that she realized she had unconsciously listed Mr. Jiang’s favorite dishes. Once, Mr. Jiang had always brought the original persona here for meals, it was close to home.

And whenever they ordered, the bad-tempered girl would always choose the dishes Mr. Jiang loved first, while Mr. Jiang would add those his daughter enjoyed.

"Ha ha... Old Jiang, just look, Yueyue has you deep in her heart!"

Mr. Jiang was also quite moved. He thought the little girl held grudges and would never forgive him in this lifetime, but he didn’t expect...

Mr. Jiang held back the overwhelming emotions threatening to spill over, his voice unsteady as he added his daughter’s favorite two dishes, just like before.

"Squirrel fish, fish-flavored shredded pork. That should be enough."

Zhu Hongwen burst out laughing: "You have the nerve? Four dishes, and all meat ones, you’re eating up all my meat." It made him heartache.

With his old friend making such a disruption, Jiang Kangsheng also lightened up, "Who said to order whatever we liked? Turns out, you’re a talker."

"Alright, alright, in front of Yueyue, I won’t argue with you. I’ll go order the dishes."