“Old man, I brought you some food.” Lin Yu walked into the gatehouse with a lunch box.
“Take it away, I don’t want it. I’m too old to eat this, take it back for your sister.” Zhang Lao Ye looked at the pork head, large intestine, and sausage in Lin Yu’s lunch box and quickly said.
Lin Yu rolled his eyes and said, “You old geezer, you are so picky, you won’t even eat meat? If you weren’t on duty, I would have invited you home for a drink.”
“Old man, just eat it, I didn’t buy this, I hunted it. I hunted over ten wild boars this time, I don’t need your share.”
“Besides, I’m working now, making 50 yuan a month. I also made over 900 yuan just selling the meat from the hunt this time. We’re not short of money. I’ll be able to let you enjoy the good life too.”
Then Lin Yu took out two bottles of wine.
One was a 50-year-old Erguotou, the other was a blood wine mixed with deer heart blood.
Lin Yu hadn’t even given Lin Fu the heart blood wine, so the fact that he gave it to Old Zhang Tou shows the close relationship between the two.
Back then, Lin Fu came back on leave and happened to catch some thieves breaking into their yard. Lin Fu shot two of them and captured one.
But no one expected that this would bring misfortune to Lin Yu and his mother.
One night, Lin Mu took her 6-year-old daughter Lin Miao off work. Lin Miao was too young at the time, so Lin Mu had to take her daughter to work with her.
That night, four people followed them. Just as the four were about to attack, Zhang Lao Ye appeared.
He fired two shots from his box cannons, killing two and injuring two.
It turned out that when Lin Mu was leaving work, Zhang Lao Ye had seen the two men following her suspiciously.
The old man didn’t say anything, just grabbed his two box cannons and followed them, saving Lin Mu and her daughter.
After that, Lin Mu and Lin Fu treated Zhang Lao Ye like their own father.
Later, Lin Yu learned that Zhang Lao Ye was over 50 years old and was an old Red Army soldier.
During the 45th year, he was a regiment commander in the army. However, because he was uneducated, Zhang Lao Ye volunteered to leave the army after liberation, and he didn't stay in the army.
Based on Zhang Lao Ye's rank, he could have lived in a separate house with an assigned bodyguard.
But the old man was stubborn and didn't want to cause trouble for the country.
In Zhang Lao Ye's words, “I can't even read a single word. Why should I stay in that position?”
So he went to the Nanluoguxiang Street Office to be a gatekeeper.
Later, when the old man was drunk, Lin Fu and Lin Mu learned that his only son had died in Nanluoguxiang. That's why the old man insisted on being a gatekeeper here.
Hearing Lin Yu’s words, the old man nodded and said, "That’s good. This time, I, your old man, will also enjoy the filial piety of my grandson.”
“You little rascal, this wine is good, better than the one you bought before. What’s in this red bottle?”
Lin Yu glanced at the old man. This old geezer wouldn’t say anything unless he could take advantage of it. He called him grandson so casually.
It was the 50-year-old batch of Red Star Erguotou, the best batch. It had been aged in cellars for eight years now, how could it not be good?
“That red bottle is deer heart blood wine. I only got three bottles, I have to keep one for my grandpa.”
“You can enjoy more when I catch more mountain deer.”
Hearing this, Zhang Lao Ye was even more satisfied. Even this little rascal seemed more likable in his eyes.
“Good grandson, Grandpa didn’t love you for nothing. I didn’t expect that I would reach the same level as your grandfather with you, this little rascal.”
“Little rascal, let’s talk about it. Be my adopted grandson, you won’t be wronged. This old man has tons of money. I’ll find a good girl for you to marry.”
The old man said with a satisfied smile as he ate and drank.
Lin Yu was stunned. “Old man, some people actively seek promotion, some people actively seek wealth, but no one actively wants to adopt someone as their grandson.”
The old man took a sip of wine and chuckled, “Who told you we’re compatible? I recognized you as my grandson the moment I saw you.”
“So, you were destined to be my grandson. I, this old man, said so. If you don’t agree, I’ll go talk to your grandpa. He’ll definitely give you to me to be my grandson. This is your destiny.”
Lin Yu blinked. “It doesn’t sound like a good thing.”
“This old man’s skills in deception are not inferior to mine. I’m not sure if I can outsmart him.”
Lin Yu shook his head and stood up. "Alright, you drink by yourself. If I stay any longer, I won’t know who’s my grandson.”
“I also invited the two good-for-nothings in our yard to eat. I have to go back and give them a good lecture and wash their brains.”
“You should eat this meat quickly, it won’t last long in this heat. I’ll bring you some more in a couple of days. I have plenty of good things, but I only have three bottles of wine a month. There’s no more, and you can’t buy more yourself.”
“As for you adopting me as your grandson, forget about it. However, when you pass on, I’ll take care of everything, including the mourning rituals. I’ll also cry for you.”
Lin Yu said as he walked out.
Zhang Lao Ye laughed and shouted at Lin Yu, “Isn’t that what grandsons are for? Hahaha…”
Watching Lin Yu’s disappearing back, Zhang Lao Ye closed the lunch box and mumbled as he went out. “You’ve done all the things a grandson would do. This grandpa has to show his appreciation.”
The old man said as he walked towards the street office’s duty room.
Five minutes later, in a certain military compound, an old general named Zhang received a call.
“Brother, don’t worry, I’ll definitely treat this kid like my own grandson…”
Lin Yu walked into the courtyard with a smile.
Sha Zhu had already prepared the meal. Liu Hai Zhong and Yan Bu Gui saw Lin Yu coming back and walked towards the Lin family.
“Lin Ke Chang, we’re bothering you tonight.” Liu Hai Zhong said with official airs.
Yan Bu Gui added a few literary lines: “What a gracious reception we’ve received at the Lin Mansion. I’m deeply honored.”
To Lin Yu’s surprise, Yan Lao Xi didn’t come empty-handed.
“Just a small token of appreciation, a humble gesture to express my gratitude for your warm hospitality.” Yan Bu Gui said with a smile.
Liu Hai Zhong was more straightforward. He carried two wine jars and placed them on the table.
Lin Fu smiled and said, “Old Liu, Old Yan, we’ve been neighbors for so many years, don’t be so formal. Come, have a seat.”