After lunch, Xu Qinghe took out his chessboard, a simple board he had painted himself with a brush. It was very crude, paired with a set of large chess pieces. Seeing that he didn’t move, Xu Qinghe asked, "You don’t know how?"
Pei Yicheng nodded. Besides medicine, Grandpa’s greatest passion was playing chess. However, due to his busy clinic, Grandpa didn’t have much time to play.
Xu Qinghe took the red pieces and started setting them up.
Pei Yicheng earnestly arranged his pieces, pouring into it the same spirit he had for his college entrance exams.
Xu Nianji, holding his son in the cool room and looking at the two of them playing chess under the big tree in the courtyard, said, "Nian’an, it seems that Dad has softened his heart after that talk with Yicheng."
"I hope he can do as he said and not bully my little sister."
Xu Nian’an spoke thoughtfully, recalling his sister’s moved expression, which he had seen. He couldn’t imagine how his sister would react if Yicheng went back on his words.
"If he bullies her, won’t you and I be there?" Xu Nianji kissed his son’s face and added, "And our Zhuangzhuang will protect his aunt too, right?"
"Exactly, big brother. I think we need to try even harder to become even stronger," Xu Nian’an said seriously, crafting plans for the future. "I want to expand my Beautiful Boutique across the country."
"That’s a great idea."
Xu Nianji affirmed, having his own ideas about what he wanted to do in the future. He couldn’t just keep delivering goods. Seeing more of the world had broadened his ambitions. "I’ll start by distributing our chili sauce nationwide. Later on, I’ll branch out into other things."
"Big brother, let’s work hard together!" The thought of his Beautiful Boutique expanding nationwide filled Xu Nian’an with fiery enthusiasm. He wanted to be a good doctor but also aimed to make more money to give his family a better life.
Under the lush tree, a cool breeze swept by as Pei Yicheng conceded, "I lost."
"Haha~" Xu Qinghe joyfully declared, "Another round."
Pei Yicheng reset the board. With the experience from the first game, he roughly knew the level of his uncle’s skills, similar to his grandfather’s. He had an idea of how to play to make his uncle happy.
After three games, Pei Yicheng lost twice and won only with great difficulty.
"Uncle, you’re really good," Pei Yicheng praised him.
Xu Qinghe, beaming with joy, responded, "Not bad, not bad."
Xu Qinghe grew happier with each game. Winning against Pei Yicheng, winning against a college student made him feel especially joyful, even more so than when he won against Xu Yuchun. Playing chess with Pei Yicheng made him feel as if his skills had significantly improved. The next time, he planned to challenge Yuchun.
As for Xu Nian’an, forget it; that boy always beat him.
Xu Nian’an, having heard that Xu Qinghe had won three games, had already come over to watch. After observing a game, he thought silently, "Dad, he’s just humoring you!"
Xu Nian’an was itching to play chess with Pei Yicheng too, but Xu Qinghe, thrilled, kept pulling Pei Yicheng into game after game, playing continuously until Pei Yicheng left and he reluctantly said, "Come back next time."
"Sure, I’ll go back and hone my skills," Pei Yicheng said earnestly.
Hearing this, Xu Nian’an rolled his eyes. You mean to hone them so my dad won’t realize you’re letting him win on purpose?