Chapter 2394
Adding Feet to a Snake
He Ping stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the traffic below crisscross like ants, his fingers unconsciously tapping out the rhythm of Go pieces on the seam of his trousers.
This is a habit he has when he's thinking, a small gesture he's had since he was a child learning chess.
Behind me came the sound of leather shoes clicking on the marble floor, a steady, unhurried rhythm.
He Ping, dressed in a Zhongshan suit, turned around.
He Xinghua was taller than he had imagined, wearing a well-tailored dark gray suit, with one button undone at the collar of his shirt and no tie.
His facial features were more defined than He Ping's, with higher brow bones and slightly sunken eye sockets.
He doesn't look much like He Yuzhu, but He Ping always feels a sense of familiarity about him.
"He Ping?" He Xinghua spoke first, speaking fluent Mandarin from Beijing.
He Ping extended his long, slender, fair hand, smiled, and said, "Xinghua!"
He Xinghua grinned, revealing a hint of the roguish charm of He Yuzhu.
He reached out and shook hands with He Ping. The two were not at odds; instead, their eyes were full of smiles.
The two did not argue about who was older or younger.
In fact, He Ping and He An are older than He Xinghua.
When He Xinghua and He An were discussing their ages, He Xinghua used the traditional Chinese calendar, which uses the nominal age (虚岁), while He An used the actual age (实岁).
Of course, that's not important.
After all, He Xinghua and He An got along very well.
But when he faced He Ping, it was impossible for him to argue about who was bigger or smaller.
Unless He Yuzhu is in front of them now.
This is not only about their ages, but also about each of them representing their biological mother.
After all, according to traditional views, the eldest son is still the eldest, and the legitimate son is also the eldest.
It just doesn't make sense.
“An An has been in Hong Kong for the past two years thanks to your care, Xing Hua.”
"She has mentioned you many times!" He Anxian said first.
"It's okay, An'an is fine."
"I get along very well with her!" He Xinghua felt a little embarrassed.
This is Tam Family Restaurant on Hong Kong Island, the same restaurant owned by Ho Tai-ching.
Lou Xiao'e booked the entire second floor today to create a quiet environment for the two brothers to meet.
In fact, Lou Xiao'e was currently sitting in the next private room, accompanied by Guo Shumiao.
She was still a little worried, afraid that the two brothers would fight.
But as it turns out, Lou Xiao'e's worries were unnecessary.
He Ping and He Xinghua are both brothers who are very shrewd and considerate of others.
The two chatted happily and there was no sign of them getting upset.
"Shumiao, is Xinghua really my son?" Lou Xiao'e asked Guo Shumiao beside her in a low voice.
“Uh…” Guo Shumiao was completely bewildered.
Lou Xiao'e wasn't even sure if the son she gave birth to after ten months of pregnancy was real, so how could she, an outsider, say anything?
But the cheerful laughter and chatter from next door, as people talked about their childhoods, made her quite suspicious.
She looked at Lou Xiao'e suspiciously for a while with her still alluring peach blossom eyes, and asked uncertainly, "Sister-in-law, did you really...?"
Before she could finish speaking, Lou Xiao'e slapped her.
Lou Xiao'e said, embarrassed and annoyed, "I know my own son perfectly well."
The two brothers are talking about a dog now; He Ping is referring to the little black dog that his family used to keep.
He Xinghua also knows Xiao Hei very well; he has seen a very detailed description of him in He Yuan's comics.
"…I remember in Sister Yuanyuan's comics, there was a time when you and An'an went to the market to buy tofu and were bullied by other dogs on the way. Sister Yuanyuan took Xiao Hei to get revenge for you, right?" He Xinghua asked curiously. "Yes, our Xiao Hei is usually quiet, but when he gets angry, he's quite formidable."
My sister said that when Xiao Hei got there, he only made eye contact with the dog in the factory before rushing up and locking the dog's throat.
With a couple of flicks, they snapped the dog's neck..." He Ping excitedly described their childhood highlight to He Xinghua.
"That dog, it's gone now, isn't it?" He Xinghua asked again.
"They're long gone."
The animals being raised at Dad's school now are Xiao Hei's great-grandchildren.
"Have you seen it before?" He Ping asked casually as they chatted happily.
He Xinghua shook his head awkwardly. Although he had been to Beijing, he didn't seem to have really been involved in He Yuzhu's life up close.
"Next time you go to Beijing, I'll take you to see him."
I can't tell them apart anymore. I don't know if those puppies are Xiao Hei's grandchildren or its great-grandchildren.
They all look about the same size.
Sister Yuanyuan can recognize her.
She's friendly with those dogs. He Ping naturally extended an invitation to He Xinghua.
What else can we do? We'll exchange a few awkward words, and then fall silent.
This was not the reason why He Yuzhu asked him to come to Hong Kong Island.
“Okay!” He Xinghua readily agreed.
"By the way, where are you planning to go this time? I can help arrange it," He Xinghua said after a pause.
He Ping shook his head, thought for a while, and said honestly, "I really haven't thought about it yet."
I used to play Go in Beijing, but then my dad said...
I plan to come out and see the world, and then go back to continue my university studies.
To be honest, I am very unfamiliar with the outside world.
A couple of days ago, when An'an took me to play on Hong Kong Island, I felt like an idiot, not understanding anything.
He Ping came out this time not just to meet He Xinghua.
He really did see a lot of things, scenes he had never seen before in Beijing.
Bright lights and dazzling lights, extravagant and decadent lifestyle.
He finds many things unsettling in this glitz and glamour of the world.
However, the mindset he developed from playing Go since elementary school has made him unable to show his emotions, putting on a very calm appearance when looking at everything new.
"If you have time, I would like to invite you to visit Little Life and Malaysia."
And then there's Komoute, where you can find oil just a few meters down the ground; they're incredibly wealthy.
"I recently made an appointment with a big shot over there to discuss investment and our mainland's bid to host the Asian Games..." He Xinghua extended the invitation to He Ping in a serious tone.
"Isn't that place very close to Er Yi's house?" He Ping asked in surprise.
“Yes, those two families are neighbors,” He Xinghua said.
"It seems my brother-in-law is away on a business trip over there!" He Ping said halfway through, but his expression immediately turned serious.
There are some things that Xiao Song can say at his home.
But once we're outside, we can't say that.
Just like his father said, the things that are commonly heard in their family might become secrets outside.
"Shh... this needs to be kept secret," He Ping whispered to He Xinghua.
Xiao Song went to Er Yi's house on a business trip, although he said it was just a normal business cooperation.
But He Ping knew exactly what his brother-in-law did and what kind of business he could do in that place.
Therefore, his instruction, though spoken subconsciously, felt somewhat superfluous. (End of Chapter)