Dispute

As Jin Xingwang's words fell, Grandma Sun fell into silence.

Growing anxious, Jin Xingwang kept glancing at his grandfather across the table, even speeding up the motions of massaging his great-grandmother's shoulders.

At this moment, Jin Wan chimed in to support him: "Mother, this is the first time I've seen Xingwang so eager to learn and seek a teacher. Why don't you help your great-grandson out?"

"Master Gu is no ordinary man. If Xingwang learns from him, it would bring great honor to our Jin family!"

Grandma Sun cast a sidelong glance at Jin Wan, then gently held her great-grandson's hands, pulling him to her side. She asked in a grave tone: "Xingwang, tell Grandma the truth—do you want to become Master Gu's student because he hasn't aged a day and might be an immortal who came down to earth?"

"Uh…" Jin Xingwang was about to deny it, but Grandma Sun continued before he could speak. "Alright, I already know what you're thinking."

Turning her gaze to Jin Wan, she said sharply: "Jin Wan, this must be your idea, isn't it?"

A mother knows her son best. Grandma Sun instantly deduced that this matter originated with her son.

Jin Wan laughed awkwardly. "Mother, nothing escapes you. But I'm doing this for our family's benefit! This is a rare opportunity for us to rise to greatness!"

"Rise to greatness?" Grandma Sun's tone grew heavy as she replied, "Blessings come to those who work steadily and honestly. You've spent your whole life chasing shortcuts, and it still isn't enough for you? Now you want to drag Xingwang into this too?"

Pop!

Jin Wan pulled the cork from the bottle of Fenjiu beside him, poured himself a full bowl, and downed it in one gulp.

"Ha—"

He wiped his mouth and muttered gloomily, "Mother, you talk about being steady and honest, but what has it brought you after a lifetime of making mutton stew? You couldn't even save enough to open a proper shop!"

Grandma Sun replied calmly, "In my lifetime, I've made mutton stew that people praised. That's enough of an achievement for me. You might not understand it, and others may not either, but that doesn't matter."

"As for money—well, this house, and you, were all supported by the money I earned selling mutton stew."

"Isn't that enough?"

Crash!

The liquor splashed as Jin Wan downed another bowl of Fenjiu. Realizing he couldn't win this argument with his mother, he simply fell silent.

"Great-Grandma!" Jin Xingwang suddenly raised his voice, his tone earnest and serious. "I've never asked you for anything before. Just this once—please help me! Do you know that even that fool Hu has free access to Master Gu's house?"

"That mute who can't even get a word out—what right does he have to earn the master's favor? It must have been his grandfather who stepped in and spoke for him, allowing him to follow Master Gu around!"

"Great-Grandma, did you know that fool even bullied me this morning?"

"I refuse to be outdone by someone like him! You have to help me!"

Hearing this, Grandma Sun's expression darkened. "You already went to see Mr. Gu? Judging by your attitude, things didn't go well, did they?"

Realizing he'd let something slip, Jin Xingwang decided there was no point hiding it anymore. He immediately recounted the events of his visit to Gu Ning'an that morning.

"Great-Grandma! Think about it—someone who can bring the dying back to life and make hundreds of silver taels with just a few words—who wouldn't want to become his student?"

"If I learn his skills, maybe I could even help us live longer, or become an immortal who never dies!"

As he spoke, the expression on Jin Xingwang's face grew increasingly exaggerated, his childish features brimming with unrestrained ambition—an overwhelming desire laid bare on the face of a ten-year-old boy.

Grandma Sun gently patted Jin Xingwang's head and said firmly, "Xingwang, even if your great-grandmother had enough influence, I still wouldn't ask for such a favor."

"Why, Grandma?!" Jin Xingwang's face fell in shock.

Grandma Sun replied, "Some things cannot be forced. You already failed this morning, which proves there's no fate between you and Mr. Gu as master and disciple. A twisted melon is never sweet—do you understand?"

Jin Xingwang's face contorted, and he shouted, "I don't understand! I really don't know if you're even my great-grandmother anymore. I'm asking you for such a small favor, and you keep refusing!"

"You're not even as useful as that fool Hu's grandfather!"

The more he spoke, the angrier he became. His face turned red as he pointed at the pancake stove placed to the side and yelled, "You're so forgetful! I told you not to go out and set up your stall, but you insist on going anyway. Do you even know how much money those mutton stew can make?!"

Crash!

The pancake stove fell to the ground with a sharp clatter.

The stove, which had accompanied Grandma Sun for a lifetime, had not been destroyed by years of burning charcoal but was now ruined by her own family's hands.

"Xingwang! Stop this nonsense!" Jin Wan slammed the table, rolled up his sleeves, and walked toward his grandson. "Today, I'm going to teach you a lesson!"

Jin Xingwang, who had been frozen in place from guilt, suddenly bolted at these words. Seeing his great-grandmother's disappointed expression and his grandfather's anger, he turned and ran out the door.

Perhaps he was afraid of being punished, or perhaps he couldn't bear to see the disappointment in his great-grandmother's eyes. At that moment, all Jin Xingwang wanted was to escape...

"Brat, stop running!" Jin Wan chased after him and stormed out of the house.

In an instant, the previously warm and lively home became silent and empty. Only the remnants of the meal, broken fragments on the floor, and the lonely figure of an old woman remained...

...

Later, Jin Wan dragged a limping Jin Xingwang back home.

Of course, the limp wasn't from being beaten. It was the result of Jin Xingwang tripping and falling while trying to escape.

"Go back and properly apologize to your great-grandmother. Understand?" Jin Wan's tone was unusually stern.

Jin Xingwang, fully aware of his guilt, replied softly, "I understand."

Before long, the grandfather and grandson returned to the courtyard. It was pitch black inside, as though Grandma Sun had already gone to sleep.

In the main hall, the table had been cleared of leftover food, and the broken pieces had been cleaned up. Jin Wan approached Grandma Sun's bedroom door and knocked, "Mother, are you asleep?"

Hearing no response after a long moment, Jin Wan pushed the door open and entered.

The room was dark, with only faint moonlight filtering through the cracks in the window, allowing Jin Wan to barely make out his mother's figure.

Grandma Sun was slumped over the table, in front of which sat the pancake stove, now patched up with yellow clay.

As he moved closer, Jin Wan heard faint breathing and let out a sigh of relief.

"Mother, Mother." Gently shaking her shoulder, Jin Wan said softly, "Get up and sleep on the bed. It's too hard sleeping here."

Grandma Sun opened her eyes, sat up, and looked around with a vacant expression in her cloudy eyes. "Who are you?"

"Mother! Don't joke around—it's me, your son!" Jin Wan laughed awkwardly.

Grandma Sun frowned. "My son? Why don't I remember? Where is this place?"

Hearing this, Jin Wan swallowed nervously and said hurriedly, "This is our home. You can't have forgotten that, right?"

"Xingwang! Xingwang!"

"This is your great-grandson. Don't you remember?"

Jin Xingwang lowered his head and said in a subdued voice, "Great-Grandma, I'm sorry."

Grandma Sun stared at Jin Xingwang for a while, then slowly shook her head. "I don't remember..."