Chapter 209 This Modern World

Chapter 209 This Modern World

“This…” Jiang Yutang pointed at the painting in disbelief.

Grandpa also stood up, looking at the ancient painting with emotion, and said, "This painting is an antique that I collected many years ago. It is at least several hundred years old... This child looks exactly the same. I don't know if it's a coincidence or if the person in the painting has some connection with Lanzhou."

Jiang Yutang held the ancient painting, her face full of surprise, and turned to look at Cheng Lanzhou.

Cheng Lanzhou stared intently at the figure in the painting, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, before slowly shaking her head: "I have never seen this painting before, nor do I know anything about it."

Seeing this, Grandpa smiled and waved his hand, "Alright, alright, let's not talk about these brain-taxing things since we've just been discharged from the hospital. You all rest first, I'll go to the market to buy some groceries and cook a good meal tonight to help us recover."

"Grandpa, you don't need to go anymore!"

Jiang Yutang immediately stood up and volunteered, "I'll take him to the supermarket and buy some groceries. You can just boil water and wait for us at home."

She had long wanted to show Cheng Lanzhou the experience of a modern supermarket, and this was a good opportunity for him to get to know the world better.

Grandpa nodded: "Okay, then be careful."

After leaving the antique shop, Jiang Yutang took Cheng Lanzhou's hand and walked towards the nearby supermarket.

Along the way, she told Cheng Lanzhou about interesting things.

"Look, it's that guy who sells oranges. He used to sell watermelons; I bought those dozen or so watermelons from here and carried them home. And that pharmacy..."

Cheng Lanzhou listened patiently to what she was saying, his eyes filled with a tenderness like melting ice cream, sweet and cloying.

As soon as Cheng Lanzhou stepped into the supermarket, she was stunned by the sight before her.

The automatic staircase and the shelves filled with all sorts of goods were dazzling to him.

"This is... the supermarket you were talking about?"

“Yes.” Jiang Yutang nodded with a smile, pulled him to the snack area, picked up a bag of potato chips and handed it to him.

"They sell everything here—food, clothes, household items, you name it. My little shop is actually a bit like this, but much smaller."

Cheng Lanzhou looked at her with a serious expression: "It's alright. Once Danzhou develops further, we'll open an even bigger one."

Jiang Yutang's eyes lit up, and she said with anticipation, "That's exactly what I was thinking! When the time comes, we'll expand the scale, bring over modern goods, and help the people of Danzhou get rich together!"

Cheng Lanzhou felt a warmth in his heart as he looked at the light shining in her eyes. He reached out and gently ruffled her hair, saying, "Whatever you want to do, I will support you."

The two chatted and laughed as they strolled through the supermarket, with Jiang Yutang introducing various novel products to Cheng Lanzhou.

Although Cheng Lanzhou was unfamiliar with many things, she adapted very quickly.

Jiang Yutang walked ahead, chattering incessantly, while a man in casual clothes followed them quietly for quite some time.

Just as the two walked into the fresh produce section, and Jiang Yutang was looking down to select pork, the man suddenly stepped forward and reached out to pat Cheng Lanzhou on the shoulder.

"Hello, sir! I am..."

Before he could finish speaking, Cheng Lanzhou reacted instantly, grabbing the man's wrist and slamming him against the nearby shelf.

The goods on the shelf swayed slightly from the impact, and the man winced in pain, crying out, "Ouch! That hurts!"

"What's wrong? What happened?!"

Jiang Yutang was startled and quickly turned around. Seeing this, she hurriedly grabbed his hand and said, "Let him go! The area is very safe; there's no danger!"

Cheng Lanzhou frowned, looking at the man warily. Only after confirming that he meant no harm did she slowly release her grip.

The man rubbed his wrist, which had been pinched red, and looked at Cheng Lanzhou with a mixture of grievance and excitement.

"Sir, you're amazing! My name is Zhang Tao, and I'm a talent scout for an entertainment company. I think you have exceptional looks and a unique charisma, making you very suitable for a career in the entertainment industry. Would you like to consider it?"

"The entertainment industry?" Cheng Lanzhou looked at Zhang Tao with a hint of curiosity.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yutang immediately stepped in front of Cheng Lanzhou and politely declined Zhang Tao's offer with a smile, saying, "I'm sorry, he has no plans to enter the entertainment industry. We have other things to do, so we'll be leaving now."

After saying that, he grabbed Cheng Lanzhou, picked up the groceries they had bought, went to the checkout, and quickly left the supermarket.

Zhang Tao chased after them to talk, but as soon as he got close to Jiang Yutang, Cheng Lanzhou glared at him and sent him packing. He could only watch their figures disappear at the supermarket entrance with regret.

Back at the antique shop, Jiang Yutang told her grandfather about meeting the talent scout at the supermarket.

After hearing this, Grandpa looked at Cheng Lanzhou with more approval in his eyes: "What are your plans after you retire?"

Cheng Lanzhou glanced at Jiang Yutang with a half-understanding look, pondered for a moment, and then solemnly replied, "I want to help Yutang with her work."

Jiang Yutang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She had indeed said that she was running around doing business and negotiating cooperation in order to fool her grandfather.

Grandpa nodded in satisfaction, a relieved smile on his face: "Good! Good! With you helping Xiaoyu, I feel much more at ease. I'm getting old and have long wanted to retire to the countryside. Running this antique shop is tiring."

"Really?"

Jiang Yutang's eyes lit up, and she excitedly grasped her grandfather's hand.

"That's wonderful, Grandpa! If you want to go back to the countryside, we'll find a few people to help you move and pack up the antique shop. Then you can retire in peace! We'll come back to visit you often!"

Grandpa smiled and nodded: "Okay, after I finish dealing with things here, I'll go back to the countryside, grow some vegetables, raise some flowers, and enjoy a few days of leisure."

The date was set quickly.

Jiang Yutang contacted a moving company and began organizing the items in the store.

The antique ornaments on the shelves were carefully wrapped, the books and albums were sorted and packed into boxes, and all of Grandpa's treasured old items were counted and stored away.

When the movers arrived, Jiang Yutang directed them as they moved the items, then turned to ask her grandfather, who was sorting small items nearby.

"Grandpa, what do you plan to do with this antique shop? Will you sublet it or sell it outright?"

Grandpa put down the rag in his hand, looked at the shop he had guarded for most of his life, his eyes filled with a hint of reluctance, but also a sense of relief.

"I'll leave this shop to you. When you're tired from running around doing business, or if you want to find a place to rest, this will be a safe and comfortable place to stay."

Jiang Yutang felt a warmth in her heart and nodded knowingly: "I will take good care of this place."

This shop is not only my grandfather's livelihood, but also a longing he cherished for most of his life. Let's keep it as a way to hold onto something.

Cheng Lanzhou's abdominal wound has not fully healed yet. Although he cannot lift heavy objects, he can always lend a hand with small tasks.

Grandpa was increasingly pleased with his son-in-law and privately talked about it with Jiang Yutang.

"This young man is a reliable and hardworking talent; you haven't misjudged him."

Jiang Yutang looked at Cheng Lanzhou, who was working diligently not far away, and couldn't help but smile: "That's right, this is the person I picked."

While tidying up, Grandpa sat on a small stool by the door and suddenly asked, "Lanzhou, if you have time another day, let's arrange a time to have a meal with your parents."