Chapter 1300: The Foreign Guest
“You’re a guest from out of town?” The man put down his broom. “If you don’t mind, come in and have some tea.”
Xu Huo followed him into the tea room and glanced at the architectural blueprints spread out on the table. “These houses look quite new. Are you planning to tear them down and rebuild?”
“My family members have been moving away one after another. Leaving them empty is a waste, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to renovate. These houses are in the old style; kids nowadays don’t like them.” The man brought over a teapot and teacups, casually setting the blueprints aside before asking about Xu Huo’s background.
“I came because of your reputation.” Xu Huo lifted his backpack and was about to take out the book inside when the bald-headed child he had encountered earlier charged in like a cannonball, blocking his path. “You thief! You stole the fruit, and now you want to steal my home too?”
The little bald-headed boy, thinking himself worldly-wise, said, “I’ve heard people talk about it. Some people live by being thieves. Stealing a few things is one thing, but now you want to take over the nest and drive out the original owners. And if someone comes to drive you away, you shamelessly claim the house is yours!”
Xu Huo smiled, took out the book, and placed it on the table, then opened his bag for the boy to see. “I didn’t steal any fruit.”
The little bald-headed boy glanced at it, seeming a bit confused, but his mind worked quickly. He immediately said, “I get it! You’re a player! So you can hide things in the game!”
“You need to leave! Our family doesn’t welcome you!” The little bald-headed boy pulled out a slingshot toy tucked into the back of his pants, aiming it at Xu Huo. “If you don’t go, I’ll hit you.”
The man frowned, let out a low reprimand, and then apologized to Xu Huo.
Xu Huo didn’t mind. Instead, he said, “This really is a good place.”
Elsewhere, a child this age would already have a basic understanding of players. But here, the children had no fear or wariness of strangers and no clear concept of what a “player” really was. They naively believed players were just adults who could be “chased away.”
The child didn’t understand, but the adult did. The man across from him looked a bit angry and was about to drive the little bald-headed boy away, but Xu Huo took out some candy and snacks he always kept on hand. “I drank your tea. Can I exchange these for it? I don’t have any money, but trading things doesn’t make me a thief, does it?”
The child’s eyes were already drawn to the colorful wrappers. Pretending to be calm, he said, “That’s not stealing. Lots of people in the city trade things for things. But I can only agree if my dad says it’s okay.”
Xu Huo smiled and looked at the man across from him.
Zhuang Shanbai nodded, signaling for the child to take the things and share them with his friends. The little bald-headed boy politely greeted Xu Huo before hopping away.
“Thank you,” Zhuang Shanbai said. “Most outside players wouldn’t be so patient with children.”
“I have kids at home too.” Xu Huo took a sip of tea and pushed the book in front of him a little. “Besides, I really did come because of your reputation. I want to learn about the legendary figure in that book.”
Zhuang Shanbai’s gaze lingered on the book for a second before he said, “I don’t know why you want to know about my great-uncle, but everything I know is written in that book. I was born late; I never met him.”
Xu Huo glanced at the fruit orchard outside. “Is living here his arrangement?”
Zhuang Shanbai gave a helpless smile. “My great-uncle didn’t actually have a good relationship with my parents’ generation. You know, he was very powerful. For someone that strong, helping out his family would have been effortless. But he forbade the descendants of the Zhuang family from entering the game. Not only that, he secretly warned the 001 District Government and local powers that if anyone facilitated it, he would wipe out their entire family.”
“That last part was his exact words. Listen to that—how could family relations be good after that?”
“I’m not someone who likes taking risks, and I enjoy a peaceful life, so his decision didn’t bother me. But my aunts and uncles hated him for it.”
“The only one in the family who had a somewhat decent relationship with my great-uncle was my father, though it wasn’t exactly close. It’s just that my father was willing to listen to him and move. My father was the one who held the family together. Because of his insistence, the whole family moved to this remote city to live in seclusion.”
His gaze fell on the blueprints beside him, and he said softly, “Not everyone can endure such peace.”
“During the time my father was sick until he passed away, most of the family had already moved out. They wouldn’t come back to visit even once a year, just occasionally sending someone to pick fruit…”
“People’s desires vary greatly.” Xu Huo swirled his teacup. “Many people in other districts dream of living a life like this.”
“My father said the same thing. Maybe it’s because they haven’t had that experience, so they don’t understand,” Zhuang Shanbai said with deep emotion. “Seeing it on a message collection terminal is different from experiencing it firsthand.”
“Do they still live in this city now?” Xu Huo asked.
Zhuang Shanbai shook his head with a lonely expression. “They’ve scattered to different cities. Some have moved several times and haven’t even told me their addresses.”
“Then your relatives are quite heartless,” Xu Huo said flatly. “Old Mr. Zhuang set up a defense barrier over the entire city. That was quite thoughtful.”
Zhuang Shanbai was slightly surprised. “The entire city? You must be mistaken. There’s only a defense barrier in our family’s orchard, so ordinary people can’t just walk in.”
Xu Huo gave a faint smile. “The barrier outside isn’t meant to keep people out.”
Zhuang Shanbai didn’t quite understand, so he just refilled Xu Huo’s tea and said, “Actually, it doesn’t matter whether these defenses exist or not. We’ve lived well all these years. Even when we go out, no one bothers us.”
“Most people in District 001 don’t even remember my great-uncle anymore, so naturally, they don’t remember us.”
Xu Huo didn’t follow up on that topic. Instead, he said, “It’s getting late. Can I stay here for the night?”
Zhuang Shanbai looked at the very bright sky and said, “You’re most welcome.”
“Can I take a look around these houses?” Xu Huo added.
Zhuang Shanbai agreed and said, “Except for the main house where I live now, which is locked, all the other rooms are open. You can look around, but a lot of the furniture is covered with dust covers, so it’s a hassle to take them off.”
He didn’t offer to guide Xu Huo and instead planned to continue his own work.
Xu Huo started his tour from the right side, glancing over things quickly before returning to the main house.
By then, Zhuang Shanbai was preparing dinner. Xu Huo offered to help, and the former didn’t refuse, even calling over the little bald-headed boy, who had just come back from playing.
Thanks to the snacks and candy, the little bald-headed boy had traded for quite a few vegetables and fruits. He skillfully used the kitchen tools and quickly made a fruit platter, inviting Xu Huo to join him.
Xu Huo patted his head and asked if he could write.
The little bald-headed boy proudly said he had learned quite a few characters from his father and could read books and write a diary. To prove it, he went to get his study notes.
“The child is very cute…” Xu Huo stood behind Zhuang Shanbai and said slowly, “You couldn’t stay alone; you needed a child. So you chose your own son, didn’t you?”
(Chapter End)