Chapter 58: A Pair of Gold Bracelets!

On Yingshi's bed, that pale sheet bore a splash of crimson so strikingly bright!

Old Luo turned his head, wearing a most fascinating expression as he looked at Liu Haizhu beside him.

This blockhead, haha, finally figured things out after all?

"Wagadagah!"

Luo Xiaoni threw her arms around Old Luo and burst into tears on the spot. "Wuwu... It wasn't easy at all, my brother-in-law finally won over my sister!"

Looking back, Niuniu gave Liu Haizhu a tear-blurred look that clearly said: I have high hopes for you.

"Haha!"

Old Luo rubbed his palms and picked up his little granddaughter with a happy grin, then walked away.

'Rumble!'

...Nine-layered mysterious thunderbolts,

...one after another,

...came crashing down squarely on this rascal's head,

...blasting him until he was tender on the outside and crisp on the inside, ...blasting him into utter bewilderment.

Luo Yingshi smiled at him with crescent-shaped eyes, offered no explanation, and walked over to gently push him aside.

Then came a sharp 'Snap!' as she closed the bedroom door.

"Wait, no..."

The rascal was practically losing his mind. If you're going to shut the door, at least give me some explanation, damn it?!

The rascal stiffly turned his head around,

only to see the old man and his granddaughter both staring at him with matching smiles.

"Um, what?" Liu Haizhu stammered. "Old Luo, have you had breakfast?"

Old Luo smiled and nodded. "Don't worry about me, I ate before I came."

"Oh,"

The rascal scratched his head and, carrying a complex mix of emotions, walked back into the kitchen.

Why?

But why?

Was there actually a trace of secret joy lingering deep within his heart?!

Armed with a thick dishcloth, Liu Haizhu carried a large basin of lean-meat noodles oozing with savory bean paste out of the kitchen.

Catching the enticing aroma, Old Luo ambled over, but little Niuniu rolled her eyes and blocked the soup basin with both hands. "Hmph, didn't you already eat? This is made by my brother-in-law for me!"

"Swish!"

What kind of person was Old Luo? He was so shrewd that even a pulled hair of his would be hollow inside... With a chuckle, he pulled out a thick stack of banknotes and laid them on the table.

The moment Niuniu saw the money, her face instantly lit up with a grin as she scooped it up and stepped aside.

Old Luo picked up a small bowl, ladled out a portion to taste, and looked up to ask, "Is there any sugar?"

Hearing this, Liu Haizhu's eyes flickered, and he gave a thumbs-up. "You really know how to eat, Elder."

***

"Creak!"

Yingshi's bedroom door opened, and all three of them turned their heads to look at her.

With a bashful glare at Liu Haizhu, she scooped up an armful of bedsheets and darted into the washroom.

In an instant, Liu Haizhu understood everything, and the puzzle was solved!

Aunt Flo... It was bloody Aunt Flo all along?!!

Not long after they finished breakfast,

Ding Zhiwei and the others arrived. Ah Gang had two dark circles under his eyes, but his expression was still quite excited.

Except...

With his jaw dropping in utter amazement, Liu Haizhu stared at Broken-Finger Song standing at the doorway with a bruised and battered face, asking in total bewilderment, "What happened to you? Who beat you up?"

Before Da Song could utter a word, the rascal furrowed his brow and began counting on his fingers, "Was it you, unlamented big boss, or Ah Hua, or Honky Nam?"

Da Song stood frozen on the spot with wide eyes, utterly choked for words for a long time.

Could the truth really arrive this abruptly???

Meanwhile, Luo Yingshi casually brushed a lock of hair behind her ear and offered Da Song a healing, gentle smile.

Ah Gang glared with saucer-like eyes and roared, "Make yourself clear! I certainly didn't hit you!"

Broken-Finger Song lowered his head. "I fell down by myself!"

"Oh dear, oh my..."

Filled with heartache, Liu Haizhu pulled Da Song over. "Come, come, let me take a look!"

This was a prized general he had managed to snatch away from the blockhead Gang with such great difficulty, and the rascal's eyes turned red with sympathy. "How could you fall so hard?"

Feeling this genuine affection, Da Song was on the verge of tears.

'Creak!'

Right at that moment,

a taxi pulled to a stop outside the courtyard.

Out stepped

a brightly dressed, flamboyant middle-aged old man, carrying an oversized sack as he got out of the car.

"This should be the place, right?"

After stepping out, the middle-aged man smacked his lips and cast his gaze over the exquisite little courtyard.

"Old Uncle!"

Liu Haizhu shouted, waving vigorously.

Could this old uncle possibly be even more flamboyant today?!

Tsk tsk, look at that outfit...

When a middle-aged man decided to be stylish, nobody else stood a chance.

"Haha,"

Old Wan walked over with a smile, appraising the place. "Not bad, not bad at all. This place has real character."

Luo Bingrun narrowed his eyes and looked at the newcomer with a profound, knowing smile.

"Come, come, come,"

Liu Haizhu introduced enthusiastically, "This is Mr. Luo."

"...And this is my uncle, Wan Dagun."

Old Wan stepped forward and shook hands with Old Luo. "Hello, comrade."

"Hello to you too,"

Old Luo patted the back of his hand. "I've heard Haizhu mention you. We'll have a meal together later, and from now on, our two families will be like one."

"Haha, I'd love nothing more!"

Looking slightly bewildered, Old Wan turned his head and asked, "What on earth did you tell Elder Luo?"

Liu Haizhu replied, "I told him you raised me."

Hearing this, Old Wan glared at the rascal before turning back to look at Luo Bingrun with a smile. "This kid has always been used to running wild; I'll have to ask you to keep an eye on him in the future."

"We have plenty of time, we'll take it slow." With eyes as sharp as an eagle's, Luo Bingrun swept a brief, meaningful glance over him before his smile immediately returned. "Come, let me introduce you. These are my two granddaughters, Luo Yingshi and Luo Nini."

"Hello, Uncle,"

Luo Xiaoni stepped forward, shyly tugging at the corner of her clothes and waving sweetly.

Old Wan raised an eyebrow, instantly finding her immensely endearing. "You must be Xiaoni, right?"

"Mhm."

Old Wan grabbed the oversized sack beside him. "Here, this is for you."

"What is this?" Luo Xiaoni felt like she couldn't even get her arms around it.

"Foreign goods," Old Wan beamed from ear to ear. "The latest model of Barbie dolls."

"Thank you, Uncle!"

Luo Niuniu was instantly overjoyed. Whether her joy was genuine or put on, she certainly looked happy enough.

'Smooch!'

She hooked her little hand upward, pulled down Old Wan's weather-beaten face, and planted a kiss right on it.

Old Wan blinked.

"Aww," Xiaoni pulled a fierce little face to scare him. "Uncle, your beard is so prickly."

"Haha!"

"Haha!"

Old Luo burst out laughing, and even Da Song, who had been pulling a long face off to the side, couldn't help but chuckle.

"You must be Yingshi, right?" Old Wan's eyes sparkled, giving her ten thousand points of approval in his heart—the little rascal certainly had an eye for quality!

"Yes,"

Yingshi responded softly, stepping forward. "Hello, Uncle."

"Hello, hello!"

With some excitement, Old Wan pulled a box out of his pocket. "Child, our hometown is poor. We don't know anything about your fancy diamonds and platinum around here, but this is the real deal. Don't look down on it, now."

Taking it from him, Yingshi felt its surprising heft. She opened it to find—goodness gracious—a pair of heavy gold bracelets.

Luo Yingshi slipped them straight onto her wrists. "I love them."

Uncle Wan: "Haha, that's wonderful!"

Liu Haizhu froze in his tracks.

He tugged at his uncle's sleeve and asked in a low voice, "What money did you use to buy these? They must have cost a fortune! I'll pay you back later!"

Glaring fiercely, Old Wan rebuked him domineeringly, "Get lost! These are my life savings! I bought them for my own nephew's bride, what does it have to do with you?!"

Hearing this from such an eccentric and unconventional uncle, Yingshi's pretty face flushed red.

A faint shyness washed over her; this uncle of theirs was certainly sincere.