Reborn: Back to the 1980s Chapter 36

Chapter 36

The next day, Old Master Li showed up with Li Xin, and Old Master Zhao came along too. Old Master Zhao was in a great mood. Grinning, he asked Zhao Shenggu, "Lao Li tells me you kids brought me an inkstone?"

Zhao Shenggu nodded. "Yes, Grandpa Zhao, Grandpa Li, please come inside. I'll get the inkstone for you to see. Actually, we had no idea if it was good or bad—we just picked it by feel."

Old Master Zhao beamed. "Well, good or bad, it's the thought that counts!" Once inside, Guan Yuan made tea for them, while Li Xin pestered him for beef jerky.

Old Master Li chimed in from the side, "Xiao Yuan, give the kid some. His mother is so strict at home—she only lets him have one slice a day." He spoke as if his grandson had been treated unfairly.

Guan Yuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but he didn't refuse. The beef jerky they made was really healthy and wholesome. He brought out a big plate of it, and Li Xin was absolutely thrilled—he ran around the room in pure excitement. But when Zhao Shenggu brought out the inkstone, Old Master Li, who had been leisurely snacking on jerky, suddenly widened his eyes. "This is—" His hands trembled slightly as he took it.

Old Master Li shot him a glance, knowing that old fox had a sharp eye. This inkstone was probably something special.

After Old Master Zhao examined it carefully, his voice quivered: "Shenggu, where did you get this?" Zhao Shenggu and Guan Yuan had already prepared their story. "We bought it at a secondhand shop in Harbin. Xiao Yuan and I both thought it looked nice, so we paid five yuan for it."

[The original text uses "Ha City" (哈市), a casual local shorthand for Harbin. I've changed it to "Harbin" throughout for clarity.]

Old Master Zhao clutched his pounding heart. "Incredible! You two kids have the most amazing luck!" Though Guan Yuan had already told him the inkstone's origin, Zhao Shenggu still pretended to be curious: "Grandpa Zhao, is there something special about this inkstone?"

Old Master Zhao took a deep breath before speaking. "If I'm not mistaken, this inkstone was a tribute item from the Kangxi Emperor's reign. Look at the luster, look at the carving—truly exquisite." He gazed at it, utterly captivated, and only snapped out of it after a long while. "I can't accept this."

[The Kangxi Emperor (1654–1722) was one of China's longest-reigning and most successful rulers, whose 61-year rule stabilized the Qing dynasty through military conquests, cultural patronage, and administrative reforms.]

Guan Yuan asked, "Why not, Grandpa Zhao? Don't you love it?"

Old Master Zhao's eyes were glued to the inkstone. "This piece is worth at least ten thousand yuan now. To someone who truly appreciates it, it's priceless. I can't afford to buy this from you."

Zhao Shenggu smiled. "Grandpa Zhao, it's a gift for you. Since we came across it, it's fate that you should have it. Besides, we don't know anything about inkstones—it would be wasted on us. If we need money, we can always earn more."

Old Master Zhao felt a stir in his heart. "You're really giving it to me?" He knew full well how capable these two kids were at making money.

Zhao Shenggu and Guan Yuan answered in unison, "Yes, it's for you!"

After a moment of inner struggle—unable to part with such a rare antique—Old Master Zhao finally relented. "Alright, I'll keep it safe for you for now. If you ever want it back, you can take it anytime."

Old Master Li had grown impatient listening to them go on about the inkstone. "Xiao Yuan, Shenggu, didn't you invite us over for a meal? Why aren't you cooking yet? My stomach's been growling!" He treated Zhao Shenggu and Guan Yuan like his own grandsons, speaking without any formality.

Guan Yuan sighed helplessly. "Grandpa Li, look at the time. It's too late for breakfast and too early for lunch. What's the rush?"

Old Master Li grew agitated. "Of course I'm in a rush! I skipped breakfast just so I could come eat here!"

Old Master Zhao pointed at him, feigning shock. "Your appetite really knows no bounds."

Old Master Li's face darkened. "Well then, if you're so high and mighty, don't eat when Shenggu and Xiao Yuan cook!" 

Old Master Zhao stroked the inkstone and shot back, "Why wouldn't I eat? I'll eat, and I'll eat plenty!"

Old Master Li retorted, "You're not even invited today—Xiao Yuan invited me and Xiao Xin."

Old Master Zhao shot back, "Well, let's see if they kick me out when the time comes."

Zhao Shenggu and Guan Yuan exchanged a glance, leaving the two old men to bicker. Since Old Master Li hadn't had breakfast, lunch really did need to come early. Guan Yuan took charge of the cooking while Zhao Shenggu helped with prep. An hour later, a hearty home-style meal of four dishes and a soup came together—fragrant, colorful, and delicious.

The moment the two old men caught the aroma, they stopped their squabbling, sat down at the table, and dug in with gusto.

Li Xin had his whole face practically buried in his bowl. Old Master Li watched with satisfaction. "At home, we have to chase him around just to get him to eat. Look at him here—he's eating so happily!" He patted Li Xin's back. "Slow down, there's plenty. You won't finish it all." 

Li Xin looked up at the mountain of food on the plates, figured he probably couldn't finish it all, and finally slowed his pace.

Zhao Shenggu had been simmering chicken soup since morning. He filled a bowl for Guan Yuan and set it in front of him. "Have some soup first—it's really good." 

Guan Yuan happily sipped it with a spoon.

Old Master Zhao and Old Master Li were too busy devouring the dishes. Only after they were full did they turn their attention to the chicken soup. 

"That soup smells pretty good," Old Master Li said, sniffing. He scooped half a bowl, took a sip, and his eyes went wide. "Good heavens! Hey, Lao Zhao, we've been missing the real treasure! This soup is outstanding!"

Old Master Zhao was skeptical—the dishes were already delicious, so how much better could the soup be? He took a skeptical bite, and then his spoon started moving a whole lot faster.

Seeing the pot nearly empty, Old Master Li grew anxious. "Hey, you old devil, leave some for me!" The two of them ended up fighting over the last of the soup.

After the meal, the two elders threw all post-meal health rules out the window and slumped back in their chairs to catch their breath. 

"I can't take it. If I keep eating like this, I'm going to eat myself to death," Old Master Li said without a shred of taboo.

Old Master Zhao rolled his eyes. "Can't you say something nicer? I intend to live long enough to keep eating Xiao Yuan and Shenggu's cooking."

For once, Old Master Li didn't argue. "Yeah, you're right. Ever since I retired, I've felt like life was pretty dull. But now—just for the food here—I've got to live well, hahaha!"

Old Master Zhao ignored his foolishness, but secretly made a mental note to take better care of his health.

Once the two elders had rested enough, they asked about Zhao Shenggu's trip to Harbin. Zhao Shenggu told them about their plans. In the hearts of Guan Yuan and Zhao Shenggu, these two old men were open-minded, wise, and like grandfathers to them.

Old Master Li sighed and said to Old Master Zhao, "Incredible. We can't match the foresight these two kids have." 

Guan Yuan felt a little embarrassed—was just borrowing ideas from people who came long after him.

Old Master Zhao nodded in agreement. "Indeed, indeed. This is a great approach. Not only will it get Yuangu meat shop's name out there quickly, but more importantly, it saves you a lot of trouble. If you can expand nationwide, the profits will be substantial."

"The trick is figuring out how to let people know," Zhao Shenggu said, frowning.

Neither of the elders was particularly skilled in business. Guan Yuan's mind automatically conjured images of the overwhelming advertisements he'd seen in later times—through a screen, the whole world could know about something.

But media was still in its infancy, and achieving that kind of reach was clearly impossible. His eyes drifted to a newspaper pasted on the wall, and his eyes lit up.

Of course — why didn't I think of the newspapers?

"Grandpa Zhao, do a lot of people read newspapers these days?" 

Old Master Zhao was still mulling over how to help, but Guan Yuan's question snapped him back. "Oh! How could I have forgotten such a simple method?"

Old Master Li was skeptical. "What could you possibly come up with?"

Old Master Zhao said, "Newspapers! So many people read them now. Pick a newspaper with wide circulation, run your idea in it, and there you have it."

Old Master Li didn't care much for such things. "Will that actually work?"

"Only one way to find out," Old Master Zhao said confidently.

Zhao Shenggu's eyes lit up—this method might actually work. "But finding a newspaper with wide distribution isn't that simple, is it? No one's done this before, so the paper might not even agree to run it."

At that, Old Master Zhao crossed his legs and tapped a rhythm on his thigh. Old Master Li shot him a glance, clicked his tongue, and said grumpily, "This old fellow's third son is the director of a newspaper agency in the capital. He should be able to help you with this."

Hearing Old Master Li's reluctant tone, Old Master Zhao grinned even more smugly. "Exactly. My third son's paper has the biggest circulation outside of the capital's main newspaper. And they've recently launched a new section covering people's livelihoods and the economy. What you're doing is exactly what the authorities are promoting right now. No question—this will work. I'll talk to him about it today."

Zhao Shenggu and Guan Yuan were overjoyed. With Old Master Zhao's help, this would be a whole lot easier.

The two elders strolled around the yard for a while. The sun was starting to set when they finally prepared to take Li Xin home—but Li Xin didn't want to leave. He clung to the doorframe, looking like he was about to cry. "Can't I stay one more day?"

Old Master Li tried to scare him. "Fine, play here by yourself. Your Grandpa Zhao and I are leaving." 

But to his surprise, Li Xin broke into a wide grin and waved at him. "Goodbye, Grandpa!"

Old Master Li clutched his chest, feeling deeply wounded. "We're really leaving! Doesn't Xiao Xin want his grandpa anymore?"

Li Xin rolled his eyes, convinced he'd come up with a brilliant plan. "I don't want Grandpa today—I'll want him back tomorrow!"

Old Master Zhao burst out laughing at Old Master Li's defeat. "Serves you right, you old fool, for teasing him like that."

Zhao Shenggu spoke up, "Grandpa Zhao, Grandpa Li, why don't you stay the night? It's not like you have anything urgent to go back to."

Old Master Li was clearly tempted, but Old Master Zhao hesitated. "I still need to talk to my third son about putting the notice in the newspaper."

Guan Yuan quickly said, "One day won't make a difference."

Old Master Li, eager to stay for dinner, added, "Exactly. Let's stay tonight. Besides, leaving Xiao Xin here alone wouldn't be a good idea."

Old Master Zhao's mouth twitched. "I think you're the one who wants to stay."

Old Master Li didn't care in the slightest. He patted his belly. "So what if I am? That just means I get a few more good meals!"

Zhao Shenggu asked, "Grandpa Li, should we send word to your family?"

Old Master Li waved dismissively. "No need. I told them when we left. If they're worried, they'll send Xiao Zhang to check on us."