Standing naked in front of the bathroom mirror, he found that his appearance hadn't changed much, only a bit fairer, a bit thinner, and his hair much shorter. In this world, men's hairstyles were mostly like this.
The bathroom was cramped, with no space for a tub.
Chunliang was puzzled, but quickly found useful information from his memory. The lotus-like fixture above should be it. He touched it, but its texture wasn't metal.
He cautiously opened the valve, and hundreds of water lines poured down.
Chunliang was startled, took a step back, but still got splashed by the hot water. His reaction and movement speed had clearly decreased.
He closed the valve and opened it again, the water lines stopped and restarted. The mechanism was exceedingly ingenious. He soon discovered that the valve could rotate left and right, turning it left made the water hot, right made it cold, truly a masterpiece.
Chunliang repeatedly played with the opening and closing, only after a long time did he start to bathe, washing away the rain stains on his body, washing away the blood of his past life, closing his eyes to fully enjoy the warm water's cleanse.
A colorful centipede about an inch long crawled swiftly along the wall behind Chunliang, approached his heel on the ground, and was about to attack when a hand grabbed it. It was Chunliang who had timely noticed this little bug.
The hundred-legged centipede twisted and turned between his fingers but dared not attack. Chunliang stared at the centipede, eyes bright, opened his mouth wide, and swallowed the centipede in one gulp.
While Chunliang was bathing, Elder Xu was waiting outside the whole time. After waiting for a full half hour, only when Chunliang had washed himself thoroughly from head to toe, did he come out fully dressed.
Looking at his refreshed grandson, Xu Changshan breathed a sigh of relief. The basics of Chinese medicine are inspection, listening, inquiring, and pulse-taking. Decades of practice had given the old man sharp eyes.
After this incident, his beloved grandson was full of energy, showing a clear transformation. There can be no establishment without destruction. This setback was a rare training for him, perhaps it would help him re-evaluate the world.
At this moment, Mrs. Lin had already prepared dinner and called the grandfather and grandson to eat.
A single centipede couldn't satisfy the starving Chunliang. Faced with the food, his fingers were already eager, yet Chunliang didn't forget his manners, serving his grandfather first, every action showing respect.
Xu Changshan didn't have much appetite, smiled and said, "I won't eat, just watching you is enough."
Chunliang nodded, made tea for his grandfather, then sat back at the table to eat.
Xu Changshan held his teacup, watched his grandson devour the food, and felt a bit reassured internally. Every cloud has a silver lining, Chunliang was clearly more mature. In the past, he wouldn't even serve rice for me, or bother to say more than needed.
Which elder doesn't wish for their descendant to excel? But talent differs, and each has their own gifts. The grandson wasn't made for studying and can't be forced. Yet, he refuses to inherit his lineage too. He can't stay idle at home forever at such a young age, can he? Wouldn't he then be cut off from society, becoming more withdrawn?
With these thoughts, Xu Changshan fell into contemplation, only to be interrupted by the visitor's voice.
"Is Uncle Xu here?"
The visitor was Gao Xinhua, the deputy dean of Changxing Hospital. Recently, he'd often visited Huichun Hall. His goal wasn't seeking treatment, as Changxing Hospital was right next to Huichun Hall. The hospital's second-phase planning included the shantytown area that involved Huichun Hall in its relocation range. Others had mostly agreed, but the hardest to persuade was Huichun Hall, as Xu Changshan was greatly respected in this area. If he agreed, the relocation issue would naturally be resolved.
The hospital had offered generous terms, providing cash compensation, the opportunity for Xu Changshan to collaborate and open a Chinese medicine expert clinic within the hospital, or alternatively find a new site to reopen Huichun Hall.
But the old man was stubborn, refusing to move, brandishing the intangible cultural heritage sign, declaring that unless he died, no one should think of moving Huichun Hall.
Because his father and Xu Changshan were close friends, Gao Xinhua had some influence, so the task of persuading Xu Changshan fell on him. He had been running this task from the beginning of the year to the middle of it, from winter to summer, yet Elder Xu's attitude hadn't shifted an inch.
The reason Gao Xinhua came today was that he'd heard about Chunliang's failed attempt to jump into the river. In this information age, no secrets could be kept.
When Xu Changshan saw him, he immediately hardened his face, "How many times have I told you, the relocation discussion is off the table."
Gao Xinhua, with a face full of smiles, said, "Uncle, I'm not here for business today, just stopped by to see you and look at little Cong." As he spoke, he glanced at Chunliang.
Chunliang, his head buried in the red-braised pork, thought, it smells so good! So hungry, he couldn't be bothered with manners.
Xu Changshan didn't want his grandson to hear their conversation, stood up and walked outside. Gao Xinhua hadn't even sat down yet; hurriedly followed him out, pulled out a cigarette and respectfully handed it over at the door.
Xu Changshan took the cigarette, and Gao Xinhua respectfully lit it for him, then lit one for himself. Neither of them spoke, took a few puffs, and Gao Xinhua looked at the bustling road and said, "Municipal planning; by next year they'll build a road here."
Xu Changshan took a heavy drag on his cigarette, glanced sideways at him, and said, "Speak your mind, quit beating around the bush."