Chapter 34: Quite a Few People Returning Home This Time

It was the weekend in Chinatown. Chen Siyuan brought Chen Zehan to visit his godfather. As it happened, it was his godfather who had named Chen Zehan.

When Chen Zehan followed Liu Yifei around, he was a little hotshot in a black suit, black sunglasses, and slicked-back hair. But when he came to visit his godfather, he was a young master in a white suit, white shirt, and a fluffy hairstyle.

"Have you decided how you're going to say it?" Before entering the old man's courtyard, Chen Siyuan checked with his son one last time.

Chen Zehan raised his right hand to make an "OK" gesture. "Don't worry, Dad! Grandpa loves me the most; it’ll be fine!"

Chen Siyuan nodded. The bond between Chen Zehan and the old swindler was the perfect example of grandparent-grandchild affection; a hundred words from him were not as effective as a single word from Chen Zehan.

As soon as he pushed open the courtyard gate, Chen Zehan squeezed through like a little monkey. "Grandpa, I'm here!"

Following the cheerful voice, a small figure darted into the old man's arms like a swallow returning to its nest. The old man, who had just risen from his lounge chair, was knocked right back down. He took the opportunity to let Chen Zehan sit on his belly, his face wrinkling into a grin that looked just like an old chrysanthemum.

"My dear grandson, Grandpa has missed you so much!" The old man happily planted a kiss on Chen Zehan’s cheek.

"Grandpa, I missed you too! Let me tell you, when I went to school with my sister yesterday, I discovered something really interesting..."

Though young, Chen Zehan had an incredible gift for expression, turning even the most mundane events into captivating stories. Chen Siyuan found him long-winded, but the old man was thoroughly entertained. Chen Siyuan did not disturb the joy between the grandfather and grandson, instead closing his eyes to rest, preferring to ignore the scene. This was also at Chen Zehan’s request. At home, Chen Zehan had to listen to Chen Siyuan, but once at the godfather’s house, Chen Siyuan had to listen to Chen Zehan. After all, the godfather only listened to his beloved grandson.

"My dear grandson, how have you been practicing what I taught you?" the old man asked with a beaming smile.

"Grandpa, I think there's a problem with the martial arts style you taught me!" Chen Zehan replied with a completely serious expression.

"A problem with the style I taught? What's wrong with it? Tell Grandpa!" The old man was not offended; in fact, he looked delighted.

Chen Zehan flipped off the old man's belly and landed gracefully. "Grandpa, watch closely. I think it should be done like this!" As he spoke, his demeanor shifted entirely, transforming from a wealthy young master into a young sect master. It was clearly the same martial arts style Chen Siyuan practiced, but the difference was night and day. Chen Siyuan had practiced for four years and was only a beginner, while Chen Zehan had been practicing for a little over a year and had already reached a level of mastery. His movements were as smooth as flowing water. Most importantly, the old man by his side was smiling like a blooming chrysanthemum. In all the time Chen Siyuan had known him, he had never seen the old man look like this.

Chen Zehan finished the routine. "Grandpa, did you see? I think this way is correct because it feels the most natural!" Despite just finishing the set, he wasn't even winded.

"My dear grandson, do it one more time. Let Grandpa take another look!" The old man said, his voice dripping with indulgence.

"Okay!" Chen Zehan agreed without hesitation and immediately repeated the routine, identical to the first.

Chen Siyuan, not having the keen eye for it, couldn't see the difference after watching twice. But looking at the old man's reaction, it seemed the boy really had improved the technique. This time, the old man didn't speak; he stood up and followed along, performing the set himself. Watching him was a true pleasure.

"Hahahaha!" After finishing, the old man burst into loud laughter and hugged Chen Zehan, kissing him repeatedly. "You really are my wonderful grandson!"

"Grandpa, so I was right?"

"Right! That's exactly how it should be changed!" The old man glanced at Chen Siyuan. "You're not young anymore, and you still can't master this technique. You should learn from my grandson; you need to be flexible!"

Chen Siyuan didn't care. "Old man, just focus on teaching your grandson."

"Hmph!" The old man snorted, but his face turned back into a beaming smile the moment he looked at Chen Zehan. "My dear, keep coming to visit Grandpa. I'll teach you new skills!" The old man’s tone was entirely ingratiating.

"Grandpa, I'm afraid I can't," Chen Zehan said, shaking his head.

"Why not? Is it your father..." The old man glared at Chen Siyuan.

"Grandpa, we're going back to China!" Chen Zehan said quickly.

"Back to... China?!" The old man was stunned.

"Yes, Grandpa. I have Chinese blood in me, but I'm three years old and I don't even know what China looks like! Grandpa, will you come back with me? Please?" Chen Zehan pouted. It was the first time Chen Siyuan had seen his son act so spoiled.

The old man nodded instantly. "It is time to go back and see. Don't worry, Grandpa will go with you!" As expected, as soon as Chen Zehan asked, the old man agreed without a second thought. "Little swindler—er, Siyuan, you handle my passport!" Even in front of his beloved grandson, the old man still gave Chen Siyuan a bit of face.

Chen Siyuan smiled, reached into his briefcase, and pulled out a passport. "I already took care of it for you." The old man had arrived years ago as an undocumented immigrant, but for Chen Siyuan, securing a legal identity for him was simple. The old man took the passport, checked it, and nodded in satisfaction. He was somewhat useful, after all.

"I'll give you a list; get passports for them too!" After saying this, the old man carried Chen Zehan into the house to get paper and a pen. He wrote down a list in front of Chen Siyuan and handed it over. Chen Siyuan looked at it; there were over a dozen names. Many were big shots in Chinatown that Chen Siyuan knew and were also his clients.

"Old man, are they coming back to China with us too?"

"It's a rare trip back, so we should naturally benefit our homeland. They all have money; it's a perfect chance to support domestic economic development."

Chen Siyuan gave a thumbs up. The old man’s sense of civic duty was impressive. "Zehan, stay here and play with Grandpa. Dad has to go take care of this." With Chen Zehan present, Chen Siyuan and the old man were a bit more restrained.

"Dad, go ahead and get busy!"

As soon as Chen Siyuan left, Chen Zehan stopped acting like a little adult, returning to his childlike nature and running the old man ragged. The old man completely abandoned his dignity, doing whatever Chen Zehan asked. He was essentially a servant, no different from the grandparents in Chinese parks doting on their grandchildren. They say the bond between grandparents and grandchildren is special, and that was no exaggeration. The old man would bicker with Chen Siyuan the moment he saw him, but he was completely wrapped around Chen Zehan’s finger.