pertwk Chapter 309 Liuyang Boy & Baoqing Mange
Chapter 309 Liuyang Boy & Baoqing Mange
Lin Yan smiled upon hearing this, his eyes gentle and kind. "Old man, there's no need to worry. I am indeed from Hong Kong, and my surname is Lin." He nodded slightly to the old man. "May I ask how you are addressed, sir?"
"My surname is Yang." The old man's gaze locked onto him like a hawk's. "As far as I know, there is currently no travel between the mainland and Hong Kong. May I ask how Mr. Lin managed to enter the country?"
"Naturally, they were smuggled in," Lin Yan replied casually, his smile undiminished.
Before the old man could finish speaking, the guard behind him suddenly reached out and pressed his hand against his waist. Lin Gang was already right in front of him, his iron-like hand gripping the guard's wrist at a vital point, and the pistol was now in his hand.
"Old Master," Lin Yan dusted off the front of his coat, "it's not good for those around you to be so impatient. People should always be allowed to finish speaking."
Old Yang calmly observed the composed young man before him, and instead, he became somewhat intrigued: "Then I'll listen attentively."
Lin Yan grinned, revealing his teeth: "Don't be impatient, sir. I have special permission—if you don't believe me, you can send someone to the West Flower Hall to ask. That old man there will naturally give you an explanation."
Yang Yong's heart skipped a beat, the words "Xihua Hall" echoing in his mind. Even someone of his rank needed to be informed of the entrance to that place. But the vigilance honed by years of military service immediately suppressed his suspicion—although domestic spies had been mostly apprehended in recent years, what if this slick-haired young man was a fugitive?
He remained outwardly calm, only giving the guard, Xiao, a meaningful look. Xiao understood, turned around, and strode away across the ice.
"Young man." Yang Yong took a half-step forward, leaning on his cane, and swept the hem of his school coat across the ice. "Since we're waiting for news, why don't you tell me the origin of your attire?" His thin fingers lightly tapped Lin Yan's suit and coat. "Are Hong Kong compradors dressed this ostentatiously these days?"
"Mr. Yang, I would like to change my clothes, but I really can't find any suitable clothes because of my height. Anyway, I don't go out often, so I'll just leave it as it is. Come, come, please sit here."
Lin Yan gave the small stool to Old Yang.
"Lin Gang, give the gun back to Old Yang. You come here and keep an eye on the fishing rod."
Old Yang scrutinized Lin Yan's tall figure, a knowing glint in his eyes. Lin Yan deftly moved a small stool in front of the old man: "Please sit down and talk, sir."
He nodded slightly to Lin Gang, who immediately stepped forward, raised his pistol with both hands, and returned it. After Old Yang took the gun, Lin Gang silently retreated to the side of the ice cave and steadily held the gently swaying fishing rod.
Lin Yan casually leaned another fishing rod against the ice, a faint smile playing on his lips. "The fish in this lake are rather reserved; they haven't made a move all day."
About half an hour later, as Lin Yan was struggling with a fish that wouldn't bite, hurried footsteps came from the ice in the distance. Xiao led a man in a military overcoat on a brisk walk, the frozen ice creaking under their feet.
"Reporting to the Commander!" Xiao stood at attention and saluted. "This is Comrade Li Shengli, the head of the guards at Xihua Hall."
As Yang Yong rose to return the greeting, Li Shengli strode up to Lin Yan. Seeing the young man frowning at the motionless fishing float, a smile spread across his resolute face: "Comrade Lin, it's been five years, hasn't it? The last time was under the crabapple tree in Xihua Hall."
Lin Yan shoved the fishing rod into Lin Gang's hands with a annoyance: "Brother Li, you scared all my fish away." The fishing line swayed gently in the wind, as if echoing his complaint.
Li Shengli knew perfectly well that the young man was throwing a tantrum, but he deliberately put on a stern face: "Fine, I'll compensate you with a ten-pound carp later." He lowered his voice, "The master knows you're back and wants to see you. When is a convenient time?"
Lin Yan brushed the ice crystals off his coat. "I don't like going to Xihua Hall; there are too many rules." His eyes were clear as he looked up. "If you have time, sir, you might want to come and visit me. Grandpa Dan came back with me this time; it's a good opportunity to have him take your pulse."
"Old Dan is back?" Li Shengli's eyes lit up with joy. "I'll go report right away. I'll call Comrade Lin San in advance once the date is set." As he left, he glanced at the ice cave and added, "The carp will definitely be delivered to your residence tomorrow."
As if remembering something, Li Shengli turned around and gave Yang Yong a crisp military salute: "Commander Yang, this Comrade Lin is an old friend of ours overseas, and his identity is absolutely reliable." He deliberately emphasized the words "old friend," and his eyes glanced at the fishing line still swaying in Lin Yan's hand.
Yang Yong nodded slightly, handed the pistol back to the guard, and took two steps forward. Watching Li Shengli leave, he extended his calloused hand to Lin Yan: "Comrade Lin, I apologize for my earlier rudeness."
Lin Yan casually stuck his fishing rod into the ice cave, then grasped the calloused hand of the man with the gun: "Old Yang, what are you saying?" He bent down, picked up a small stool, and moved aside. "You'd like to offer some pointers? My guy's been guarding this ice cave for ages, and hasn't even seen a single fish scale."
Yang Yong burst into laughter at these words. He took the spare fishing rod from Lin Gang, checked the bait, and skillfully squatted down next to the ice cave. "Fishing is all about stillness. You guys made such a commotion just now..." As he spoke, he flicked his wrist, and the fishing line drew a silver arc in the air before disappearing into the ice cave, swaying gently.
"The bait needs to be kept alive, but not so much that it startles the fish."
Lin Gang adjusted his grip on the rod accordingly, and sure enough, a fish took the bait shortly afterward. A small, silvery crucian carp broke through the water and splashed happily on the ice.
Lin Yan casually lifted the fishing line and called out in the distance, "Xiao Qi!"
The little white dumpling, who was playing and chasing the ice sled, immediately stopped and slid over on the broken ice, its bright red cotton-padded coat leaving a vivid trail on the ice. Lin Yan tossed the still-floating crucian carp into the air, and the little guy leaped up with his hind legs, accurately catching the silver fish in mid-air, and happily devouring it upon landing. The children following behind cheered at the sight, and waves of laughter rippled across the ice.
Xiao couldn't help but exclaim, "Comrade Lin, your dog is truly intelligent and understanding!"
Hearing outsiders praising Xiao Qi, Lin Gang beamed with pride and straightened his back, saying, "Of course! Our young master Xiao Qi is a rare talent, one in a million."
Lin Yan smiled and turned to Yang Yong, who was focused on fishing: "Old Yang, I just heard Brother Li address you as Commander. Could you be Commander Yang of the Beijing Military Region?"
Yang Yong nodded slightly, his fishing rod remaining perfectly still. "Comrade Lin has a good eye. This old man, Yang Yong, fought the Japanese in his youth, dealt with Chiang Kai-shek, and even clashed with the Americans in Korea." He gently tugged at the fishing line, his tone nonchalant. "Now, in these peaceful times, I'm just a leisurely old man who enjoys taking walks and fishing."
Upon hearing this, Lin Yan said solemnly, "A senior like you is a role model for us younger generations to learn from." As he spoke, he casually rubbed the head of Xiao Qi, who was lying at his feet eating fish. The little guy looked up as if it understood, its wet nose lightly touching Yang Yong's trouser leg, as if expressing its respect.
Yang Yong was amused by the little guy and smiled broadly, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothing out: "What a clever little thing."
"Commander Yang, your accent sounds familiar, are you from the South?"
Yang Yong raised his eyelids, a slight moisture welling up in his eyes: "A kid from Liuyang, Hunan, started out at fourteen, carrying sweet potatoes, and followed the group." His fishing rod paused slightly. "Now, it's hard to go back and see the camphor tree in front of the old house."
Lin Yan lightly tapped the ice with his fingertips: "What a coincidence, we're from the same hometown. My ancestral home is also in Hunan, Baoqing Prefecture." He gazed at the fish shadows swaying deep in the ice cave, "At least you, sir, can hope to return to your roots. My grandfather lived in Southeast Asia for three generations, and he doesn't even know which way our ancestral graves face."
Xiao Qi suddenly stood up, placed its front paws on Yang Yong's knee, and gently sniffed the old man's calloused palm with its wet nose. Yang Yong casually rubbed its fluffy head, and the reflection of the old man and the young boy smiling at each other was on the ice.