Chapter 1654 - 301:

Li Zhiyuan lay down on the wicker chair beside him, playing chess while recounting his previous experiences.

This game of chess reached a critical point, and his past story was narrated until the soup boiled over Aunt Liu's stove:

"Time for breakfast!"

Li Zhiyuan led Alii downstairs, peeled a salted duck egg, and heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

"Oh hey, ah~~~"

Li Sanjiang stretched his body lazily, then tilted his head, made a series of sounds in his throat, and spat forcefully outside the yard.

Despite his gait still leaning forward, not fully upright, his old vigor seemed completely restored.

Aunt Liu: "Uncle Sanjiang, you're looking great today, with your great-grandchild back, nothing's more effective than elixir."

Li Sanjiang laughed heartily, replying: "Of course!"

After breakfast, Li Sanjiang wanted to go for a walk; he had been bedridden for a while and was itching to go out.

Li Zhiyuan stepped forward, trying to persuade him: "Grandmaster, you've just recovered, you should rest for a couple more days."

Li Sanjiang shook his head: "Old folks don't stay in bed long in the village, too much rest and people will start asking if they need to prepare yellow paper and Yuanbao for me."

Li Zhiyuan accompanied the Grandmaster for a walk.

They had just left the small path for the village road when they heard the sound of a tricycle behind them; Run Sheng was riding out.

"Marquis Runsheng, off to West Pavilion to see Shan Pao?"

"Yes, bringing some food supplies and money for card playing losses."

"Alright, take care on the way."

"Will do, Mr. Li."

Run Sheng looked at Xiao Yuan, smiled, and rode off on his tricycle.

Arriving at the village below Xiting Town, from a distance Runsheng could see smoke rising from his family's chimney.

Parking the tricycle in the yard, Run Sheng entered the house and lifted the stove lid; inside, sweet potato porridge was cooking, but no one was there.

Run Sheng checked the rice jar; there was still rice, and salted fish and sausages hung from the beams.

Early that morning, after visiting a neighbor's ceramic jar, Mr. Shan, tying his trouser belt, entered through the kitchen side door.

Seeing Run Sheng there, he quickly retreated two steps, hiding behind the wall to swiftly secure his trouser string before stepping back inside.

"Marquis Runsheng, so you're back."

"Yes, I'm back, grandpa."

Mr. Shan intentionally raised his voice: "Haha, eating too much sweet potato used to burn my heart, but it's been some time since I ate it, now I actually miss it, good thing I've cooked a lot, let's enjoy it and nourish our stomachs together."

Indeed, quite a lot was cooked; during busy farming periods, villagers liked cooking a large pot of porridge in the morning, letting it cool and solidify, and allocating parts for fixed meals in morning, noon, and evening.

Of course, Mr. Shan didn't do this due to little time for farming; it was purely out of laziness.

Run Sheng served two bowls of porridge on the table, placed a couple of pickled cucumber strips in his grandfather's bowl, and peeled a salted duck egg for him, then lit a cigarette for himself.

Mr. Shan strolled around the yard, stretching and shaking his arms and legs, saying:

"Sigh, eating refined grains consistently, I'm not as strong as before. People shouldn't indulge much; too much indulgence weakens the body. Been smoking mild cigarettes recently, yesterday someone gave me a strong one, and darn it, I wasn't used to it, scratched my throat, haha!"

After speaking, when no response came, Mr. Shan puzzledly walked inside:

"Marquis Runsheng, has Meng Meng gone to the supply and sales cooperative on foot? The tricycle is still here."

Seeing two bowls of porridge on the table, Mr. Shan scratched his head and said "Oh", then:

"Meng Meng didn't come today, no wonder."

Mr. Shan felt like a student achieving good grades, eagerly awaiting praise, only to discover their parent hadn't arrived, naturally feeling a bit disenchanted.

After sitting down, he rummaged in his pocket and placed some money on the table.

Though not much, the paper bills were meticulously folded, and the coins stacked, sorted deliberately in advance.

The cards were played, losses occurred, but everything wasn't lost, family food and drink remained, a significant improvement compared to before.

Picking up chopsticks, Mr. Shan took a few bites of porridge, then put down the chopsticks and said to Run Sheng:

"Marquis Runsheng, once you return, tell Meng Meng that this time we have surplus money and food... "

Mr. Shan frowned, waved it off, saying:

"No, can't say that, she'll think you're siding with me, conspiring to trick her."

After pondering, Mr. Shan continued: "Brought money, right, Marquis Runsheng?"

Run Sheng nodded, took two batches of money from his pocket, one for daily expenses, the other much thicker, meant for card losses.

Mr. Shan smiled, took the money, and arranged it neatly, saying:

"Alright then, in a few days I'll visit Marquis Sanjiang, check on that old rascal, and buy Meng Meng some things to take along instead of going empty-handed.

Marquis Runsheng, do you know what Meng Meng likes? Certainly not clothes from this old man, but she loves snacks, I'll buy some from each variety at the supply and sales cooperative.

Zhang Sanhou goes to the city daily for work, I'll find him tonight, ask him to buy some hot pot soup base bags from the city, she surely loves those."

Mr. Shan rambled on with plans.

In his lifetime he never married, when he took Run Sheng in to raise, he didn't quite understand how to play the role of a good grandfather (father); anyway, since childhood, Run Sheng was robust, if he fell or bumped, self-care sufficed, he didn't fall ill, and when food was scarce, the two endured hunger together, telling stories until Marquis Runsheng slept.