Zhou Yan had expected him to use a friend as an excuse, but he hadn't anticipated such a frank admission.
"Master, aren't you called Wang Ran?" Zhou Yan asked in surprise.
"The case lasted for over a year. After your grandfather, Brother Zhou, submitted the evidence he gathered, it attracted the attention of higher-ups. Later, they found an informant in the Jiangdong guerrilla force who had previously been in contact with me, thus proving my undercover identity." Grandpa Wang said calmly.
"After I got out of the Rongcheng prison and returned to Jiazhou, the organization originally wanted to assign me a job, but I refused and became a librarian at the Jiazhou Library.
I have no relatives left in this world, so I changed my name to Wang Ran, wanting to sever ties with the past and immerse myself in books to numb the pain and torment in my heart.
A few years ago, after retiring, I returned to Suji and volunteered to take over the town library, which had been closed for many years. Eight years have passed in a flash. I keep company with books, occasionally exchanging a few words with fellow book lovers who come to borrow books."
"I never thought there would still be people in this world who remember me." Grandpa Wang looked at Zhou Yan, a smile appearing on his face: "Is Sister Zhang still in good health? She and Brother Zhou are my saviors, rescuing me from dire straits twice.
To my shame, I am a coward; I have never dared to go to her all these years.
I was afraid my identity would cause her trouble, and I was also afraid to face my past self."
"You are a true warrior, how could you be a coward!" Zhou Yan sat up straight, his face filled with admiration. "My grandmother is in good health; she eats meat everyday and drinks two liang of liquor."
So that's why Grandpa Wang changed his name. He used books to numb himself. For him, who had lost his family, it was also a way to heal himself.
"She can eat and drink well, that's good. Her life hasn't been easy." Grandpa Wang sighed. "When you have some free time, could you show me the way to visit Sister Zhang in Zhou Village?"
"No problem, I'll come find you then." Zhou Yan nodded. The old lady still missed this fourth young master Wang, feeling he had suffered a lot. If she could see him again, she would be quite happy.
People of their generation, every meeting was one less chance.
Zhou Yan filled Grandpa Wang's glass with liquor, clinked glasses with him, and then asked curiously, "What happened to your fiancee who loved beef? My grandmother said that exactly two years after you left, a very beautiful girl came to Suji with the blue and white porcelain container that you always used. She bought a portion of braised beef and left crying while carrying the beef."
Grandpa Wang's glass trembled slightly, spilling liquor that soaked his clothes. He stared at Zhou Yan, his eyes already reddening, and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "She... really came?"
Zhou Yan nodded.
He had seen it with his own eyes.
Grandpa Wang smiled, but tears finally streamed down his face as he murmured, "Two years, she's so foolish... she really waited for me for two years..."
Zhou Yan remained silent; he could roughly guess what the letter said.
Miss Qiu, truly a woman of her word.
At that time, the adjutant must have already come knocking on their door, and perhaps the Duan family was also in contact with the Qiu family.
She waited until the very last day, personally coming to Suji, probably wanting to bid farewell to Wang Yu with that braised beef.
She had a clear conscience, and no regrets towards him.
In that cannibalistic world, beauty is a curse, not a blessing. She couldn't control her own fate, but she undoubtedly made the best choice for everyone.
"She married a good man, a man who protected her very well." Wang Yu wiped away his tears, a hint of relief in his smile:
"I'm actually quite happy. If she had married me, she would have suffered terribly for the rest of her life. I would rather die for her than see her suffer even the slightest bit."
"He did what I couldn't do, allowing her to live with dignity."
Zhou Yan remained silent, understanding his thoughts, but still couldn't help asking, "So, you were there that day?"
Grandpa Wang suddenly looked up, staring intently at Zhou Yan.
Zhou Yan felt slightly guilty and explained, "On their wedding day, my grandmother happened to be in Jiazhou. She said she saw someone squatting by the roadside who looked a bit like you…"
"It wasn't me, just a stray dog." Grandpa Wang shook his head with a wry smile.
It really was him. Zhou Yan thought of the figure squatting by the roadside, indeed looking like a stray dog.
He had already rushed back to Jiazhou, yet ultimately chose to let go and offer his blessings.
His deepest pain must be that he couldn't protect her.
Zhou Yan hesitated for a moment, then offered the most direct line: "And then, did you contact her?"
"Some people, once missed, are missed forever, no matter how deep the affection, it's all in vain." Grandpa Wang shook his head with a smile and said slowly, "Not pestering, not slandering, not disturbing, that's the basic dignity of being a person, and it's also my last act of tenderness towards her."
He leaned against the wall, swaying slightly as he got up, opened a cabinet, and took out a box, placing it on the table.
Click.
The small lock opened, and he solemnly opened the box.
The box was neatly stacked, filled with letters.
Hundreds of letters, sealed in envelopes, stamped, and addressed, yet never sent.
Some envelopes were yellowed, others still new, spanning decades.
"I wrote her so many letters, every year, every month, but I never sent them." Grandpa Wang gently stroked the envelopes, as if counting the rings of his own years, and murmured, "If she received them, she would probably be distressed, wouldn't she? She's so happy; she shouldn't be troubled by someone like me."
"But what if she waited for your letters every year?" Zhou Yan looked at him. "She doesn't even know if you're alive or dead. I think she would worry about that. If she knew you were still alive, even just a letter to let her know you're safe would make her happy, wouldn't it?"
Grandpa Wang paused, remained silent for a long time, and then whispered, "Perhaps, I'm just a coward."
"Duan Yuyan is her granddaughter, you should have guessed that." Zhou Yan looked at him.
"You…how did you know?" Grandpa Wang looked at Zhou Yan, his eyes filled with confusion.
"Old Mr. Duan passed away three years ago. Old Mrs. Qiu now lives in the Qiu family's old house. She doesn't want to retire in Hong Kong, nor does she want to live in the renovated Duan family's old house." Zhou Yan didn't answer his question, and continued, "Who do you think she's waiting for?"
"She…" Grandpa Wang's eyes held surprise, confusion, and a hint of joy.
"Duan Yuyan came to buy braised beef on Old Mrs. Qiu's orders. She's never forgotten Zhang Ji's braised beef from the stone bridge at Suji." Zhou Yan's tone softened slightly. "Duan Yuyan came to me to explain, so I asked my grandmother, and I guessed you might be the person she's waiting for."
Grandpa Wang's breathing became noticeably erratic; he gripped the table, his eyes brimming with tears.
"Is she… alright?" Grandpa Wang looked at Zhou Yan.
"I haven't met her yet, and I don't know her situation." Zhou Yan shook his head, looking at him. "But I'll be sending some braised beef to the Qiu residence later to see her. I want a definite answer from you now: if Qiu Qi is waiting for you and wants to see you, will you see her or not?"
"These hundreds of letters, do you intend to deliver them to her personally?"
Grandpa Wang gradually straightened his chest, his gaze becoming resolute. "If she's waiting for me, I will see her!"
"You're a real man!" Zhou Yan stood up, capping the bottle. "Then I'm leaving. Drink less, and wait for my news."
Grandpa Wang watched Zhou Yan ride away on his 28-inch bicycle, suddenly realizing something: "You little rascal, you deliberately got me drunk to trick me into talking?"
Zhou Yan pedaled faster, pretending not to hear, a smile playing on his lips, but his eyes were already moist.
Zhou Yan went to the supply and marketing cooperative and found a white porcelain container with a shape similar to the blue and white porcelain container he remembered. It cost him 68 cents. Then he went back to the restaurant, cut up the remaining braised beef, and neatly arranged it in the container according to his memory.
Pretty good!
It looks quite presentable.
To ensure the person involved could instantly recall the memory.
He placed the beef, still in its original container, into a large enamel basin, then into a clean cloth bag, added a pair of clean chopsticks, and Zhou Yan pushed the bicycle out again.
"Going out again? Where are you going?" Aunt Zhao asked casually as she played cards with Zhao Hong and two other women who had set up stalls at the door.
"Jiazhou—" Zhou Yan's voice drifted back.
Outside the Qiu residence, Zhou Yan parked and locked the bicycle, opened the bag, and lifted the enamel basin.
Sigh.
As expected, it was a complete mess from the bumpy ride.
Luckily, he had anticipated this. He poured the braised beef into the enamel basin, took out the chopsticks, and rearranged it.
Now it was perfect.
He put the lid back on, and tossed the enamel basin and cloth bag into the bicycle basket.
Zhou Yan stepped forward and knocked on the door of the Qiu residence.
The braised meat shop next door was quiet at the moment. The owner, hearing the knock, came out and glanced at Zhou Yan, somewhat surprised. He smiled and asked, "Hey! It's you again? Here to look at the house for your friend?"
"No, I'm here to deliver braised beef to the Qiu family." Zhou Yan replied with a smile.
"Braised beef?" The owner's smile faded. Looking at the white porcelain basin Zhou Yan was holding, he hesitated. "You, you also sell braised meat? And you're delivering braised beef to Old Mrs. Qiu?"
"Yes." Zhou Yan nodded with a smile. "We're in the same business, we should exchange skills sometime."
The owner's face darkened. Exchange skills? What kind of exchange?
His braised meat shop has been open for over a year. Old Mrs. Qiu only bought some when it opened, and never patronized his business again after that. The reason is obvious.
The neighbors on this street all know that Old Mrs. Qiu is particular about food. Only the time-honored restaurants on Dong Da Street can meet her standards. They are clean and delicious.
The fact that this guy would deliver braised beef to her door shows that Old Mrs. Qiu thinks this beef is better than his.
The sound of a door latch being pulled came from inside. The door slowly opened, and a stocky middle-aged woman opened it, looking at Zhou Yan with some wariness and asking, "Who are you looking for?"
"I'm looking for Miss Duan Yuyan. Please inform her that Zhou Yan has brought her some braised beef." Zhou Yan said with a smile.
"Okay, wait a moment." the woman said, and the door closed again.
In the driver's seat of the Crown parked not far away, Yan Fei sat up abruptly, staring at Zhou Yan: "Huh? This guy even followed her to the Qiu residence! No way! A good woman is afraid of a persistent suitor. Miss Duan mustn't fall for his tricks, or my bonus will be gone!"
Yan Fei got out of the car and strode towards the Qiu residence's gate.
The gates of the Qiu residence opened again, and Duan Yuyan, dressed in a loose cotton dress, ran out, looking at Zhou Yan with some surprise. "So fast! Do you have any definite news?"
Zhou Yan nodded, hesitated for a moment, and said, "However, I don't know if you can handle it."
"What?" Duan Yuyan looked at Zhou Yan, whose expression was somewhat complicated. Her mind was already racing uncontrollably. Her grandmother's lover whom she hadn't seen for decades? Her illegitimate son who had been living away from home? Was Zhou Yan really her cousin?
Zhou Yan, seeing her rapidly shifting eyes, couldn't help but interrupt, "It might not be as complicated as you think."
"Then tell me the gist first, so I can be mentally prepared. I'm dying of impatience!" Duan Yuyan leaned forward again, tilting her ear to the side. "Quick!"
"Before your grandmother married your grandfather, she had a childhood sweetheart engagement, and they were already at the point of discussing marriage. Did you know that?" Zhou Yan asked.
"Huh? There's such a thing? Then isn't my grandfather the ultimate villain who bullies others and steals someone's love?" Duan Yuyan stared wide-eyed, her face full of disbelief.
Zhou Yan was speechless. You really are the ultimate filial child.
"So, my grandma's been waiting for that childhood sweetheart?" Duan Yuyan asked thoughtfully, then pressed, "Is he still alive?"
"He's still alive, but I'm not sure if your grandmother is waiting for him, since I've never even met her." Zhou Yan presented the braised beef. "Why don't we go and ask her ourselves?"
"Let's go! Let's go now! I can't wait!" Duan Yuyan grabbed Zhou Yan and headed for the door, her eyes filled with the determination to watch the show.
As Yan Fei approached, he saw Miss Duan pulling Zhou Yan inside, saying something like, "I can't wait any longer..."
"Eh? No... you both can't do this!" Yan Fei stared at the tightly closed gates of the Qiu residence, feeling utterly exasperated.
Damn it!
He was vigilant day and night, but he couldn't guard against a man with a buzz cut!