The Game of Life-Chapter 631 - 629: Snap

Chapter 631 -629: Snap

Jiang Feng and the others at the hospital were unaware of the unexpected arrival of these two guests, not even Jiang Yong knew.

Since Jiang Feng had to rush back to work at Taifeng Building, he didn’t stay long at the hospital. After Jiang Weiming finished his meal and Mrs. Zhu washed the lunch box, Jiang Feng left.

After the midday business was over, Jiang Feng, following Wang Xiulian’s recommendations, selected seven or eight boxes of local specialties with very beautiful packaging that were very suitable for gifting. Once he had chosen them, he packed these specialties into two large boxes and then took a taxi to Benevolent Doctor.

Upon arriving at the main entrance of Benevolent Doctor, Jiang Feng did not go in but went straight to the rental room Jiang Yong had. Jiang Yong’s room was on the third floor with average conditions and very simple furniture; its biggest advantage was its proximity to Benevolent Doctor, separated only by a street.

After carrying two large boxes of specialties upstairs, Jiang Feng found the door open and went straight in.

Jiang Yong was packing up.

...

He didn’t bring much when he arrived, his suitcase wasn’t even full. During his time in Beiping, he had gradually acquired quite a few things, making packing a bit troublesome.

“Uncle Jiang Yong, if there’s anything left unpacked, let me help you,” Jiang Feng said, setting down what he was holding.

Jiang Yong only then noticed that Jiang Feng had arrived, and he was surprised to see the large and small packages in his hands, “Why did you bring so much? I thought it was just some trinkets.”

“It just looks a lot because the packaging is quite elaborate; there’s not much inside,” Jiang Feng explained. “It’s suitable for gifting. Uncle Jiang Yong, you don’t come to Beiping often, so since you’re here, you might as well take more back with you.”

“Then thank you very much,” said Jiang Yong, who did not refuse and continued to pack.

Packing with two people was certainly faster than one. Jiang Yong had planned to leave by 3 PM, but with Jiang Feng’s help, they had finished packing by 2:40 PM. Despite the numerous items, Jiang Feng’s assistance made it much easier to carry them, underscoring the importance of an experienced person for sending off travelers.

On the way, Jiang Yong gave Jiang Feng detailed introductions to several Beiping magazines suitable for advertising and handed over the contact information for the magazine editors. These magazines were not limited to food ones; Jiang Yong also recommended tourism and other relevant magazines that could carry ads, not even omitting the fashion magazines.

The conversation continued all the way, touching on areas Jiang Yong was familiar with and making him more talkative until they reached the airport and had to handle luggage check-in.

“Feng, you should go back first. It’s almost time for my flight, and you should head back to rest sooner,” Jiang Yong said as he took out his phone to check the time, but he noticed an unread message from Jiang Yanlu.

After reading the message, Jiang Yong replied with a stern face.

“Feng, Jiang Yanlu just asked me for the address. He might come to Beiping in the next few days to visit your granduncle Weiming. I gave him your contact information and told him to add you as a friend, so approve it when he does,” Jiang Yong said.

Jiang Feng quickly nodded and took out his phone, “Okay.”

Three minutes passed, and Jiang Feng did not receive any friend request.

Jiang Feng: ?

Jiang Feng gave Jiang Yong a puzzled look.

“Don’t worry about him,” Jiang Yong said. “That’s just the way he is—always dragging his feet, vacillating, and hesitant. Even adding a WeChat friend gets delayed. He’s living more and more in the past.”

At Jiang Yong’s urging, Jiang Feng returned the way he came. Initially, he had planned to go directly back to Taifeng Building, but the more he thought on the way, the more he felt something was off. The game wouldn’t give him a side quest for no reason. If Jiang Yanlu planned to come over in a couple of days, why would the game give him the side quest today?

Unless…

The character from the plot had already entered the map.

That explained why Jiang Yanlu hadn’t added him on WeChat—not because of procrastination but because there was no need. After all, if he had already arrived and obtained the address, why go through the extra step of adding Jiang Feng, his nephew whom he had never met?

Thinking about the side quest that seemed to have a deeper meaning, Jiang Feng grew more and more uneasy and immediately changed course to Benevolent Doctor.

When Jiang Feng arrived, the hospital room was already noisy. It wasn’t exactly noisy from arguing, as no one was quarreling, but the atmosphere was tense as if swords were drawn.

The infamous scumbag Jiang Zhe occupied the center position, a look of arrogance and deserving of a beating on his face. The infamous scumbag’s son, Jiang Yanlu, stood at the edge, looking like he desperately wanted to say something but didn’t dare, like he should perhaps persuade them but couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Mrs. Zhu was somewhat confused by the situation and didn’t dare to act rashly, standing closest to the door just in case things took a turn and she needed to call for assistance.

Zhang Li sat in front of the hospital bed like nothing was happening, peeling an apple for Jiang Weiming. Jiang Weisheng was also in the ward, with a stern face and a look that was extremely intimidating.

This was the most terrifying and gloomy face Feng had ever seen in his life, and he had never understood so profoundly what it meant to “look black-faced.” Jiang Weisheng’s complexion was so frightening that Feng even worried he might suddenly snatch the fruit knife from Zhang Li and give both scumbags a stab each.

As for Jiang Weiming, he was watching TV.

Wait, watching TV?

Jiang Feng found it hard to believe his own eyes for a moment and took another look at Jiang Weiming, who was indeed watching TV, engrossed in it as if the uninvited guests were less captivating than the TV drama’s plot.

“Feng, who are these people?” Mrs. Zhu asked worriedly. “They barged in here so aggressively just now, and the younger one even used foul language as if looking for trouble, but they claimed to be Sir Jiang’s son and grandson. I wanted to go out and call for help, but Sir Jiang wouldn’t allow it.”

“Mrs. Zhu, please step out for a moment and close the door behind you; we might need to discuss some private matters here,” Jiang Feng said in a gentle voice.

“Are you sure we shouldn’t call for help?” Mrs. Zhu was still somewhat uneasy.

“No need, we have enough people here, and even if it comes to a fight, we won’t be at a disadvantage. Besides, my brother is still in the hospital; rest assured, nothing will happen,” Jiang Feng reassured her.

Only then did Mrs. Zhu feel somewhat relieved, quietly closing the door behind her as she left.

“Who are you?” Jiang Zhe had wanted to ask this question from the moment Jiang Feng entered, but since Jiang Feng hadn’t paid much attention to him, instead talking to Mrs. Zhu, Zhe couldn’t find the right opportunity to speak assertively.

Being late to speak, he lost some momentum.

Jiang Feng didn’t answer him but instead took out his phone and sent a message in the family chat:

Change in the ward, come quickly.

Concise and to the point, highlighting the core issue.

After sending the message, Jiang Feng finally felt more confident and glanced at Jiang Zhe, asking lazily, “Who are you? What are you doing here?”

Playing dumb is a basic skill necessary for every good actor.

Jiang Zhe felt his momentum weaken significantly.

As someone who didn’t study when he should have, didn’t earn money when he could have, and didn’t act decently when required, Jiang Zhe, the notorious scumbag, did plenty of illegal and disorderly things over the years for easy and quick money.

Although these were minor engagements, skirting the line between jail and freedom, having been involved with some small gangs that looked no scarier than the Jiang family members, and having been chased by loan sharks in his early years, Zhe considered himself a social creature who had weathered many storms.

As a man of the world, he couldn’t lose in terms of presence.

However, from the moment he stepped into the hospital ward, things hadn’t gone as he expected.

Over the years, Jiang Zhe had been idle, never seeking proper employment. Even after getting married and having a son, he brought his wife and child to live off his parents, playing cards every day, occasionally engaging in illegal activities for quick cash, and not caring about Jiang Weiming’s well-being.

If one had to commend him for something, it might be that since he had been scared stiff by the loan sharks, he never borrowed from them again, eliminating the risk of being caught and maimed.

This was a relief to Jiang Yanlu and his wife, who saw it as an important sign that Zhe had been slowly getting better over the years.

Unfortunately, the blind couple didn’t know that Zhe indeed had not dared to borrow from loan sharks again; he had turned to online loans instead.

There was a time when Zhe’s luck was down, and he kept losing at cards, so he stopped playing. But the itch to gamble was too strong, and with some friends’ recommendations, he began indulging in online gaming.

At first, Jiang Zhe relied on online entertainment to win over 200,000 in just a few short weeks. Logically, one should quit while they’re ahead, but how could someone who gambled to the point of incurring high-interest debts possibly know when to stop? With Jiang Zhe’s unrelenting efforts, his online entertainment profits turned to losses, and the losses grew larger and larger until he had to resort to online loans to cover them. Compounded interest upon interest quickly ballooned to an alarming figure that would necessitate the sale of a house to repay.

As someone who had been pursued relentlessly by usurers and even once threatened with amputation, Jiang Zhe turned his sights to the Jiang Family Members.

Jiang Zhe had always been aware of the Jiang Family Members taking Jiang Weiming to Alan City and then to Beiping. He had even ridiculed them in his heart, considering them nothing more than a bunch of suckers and rich fools for taking care of a useless old man just because of some distant family ties.

Having people take care of a grandfather he never wanted to and had never cared for suited Jiang Zhe just fine. After all, he had seen plenty of such fools before, Jiang Weisheng included, in his mind.

Initially, Jiang Zhe only thought the Jiang Family was wealthy and had never bothered to inquire or care about exactly what they did. It was only after his debts reached a staggering figure and he set his schemes on the Jiang Family that he began to ponder this, and then he realized that the Jiang Family might be even richer than he had imagined.

Rich and kind-hearted, with Jiang Weiming happening to be hospitalized at this critical moment, Jiang Zhe felt that this was an opportunity sent from heaven, and it would be a disservice to himself not to take a hefty slice.

Extortion was something Jiang Zhe had done before, an old profession he was adept at. To be on the safe side, he even specifically brought his own father, Jiang Yanlu, along.

Jiang Zhe knew Jiang Weiming wasn’t fond of his grandson, but that was okay, as long as Weiming liked his dad. Regardless of what his dad did, Weiming would always forgive him, and no matter the request, Weiming would ultimately agree.

The plan was perfect, but reality was cruel.

The moment Jiang Zhe entered the hospital ward, apart from the caregiver, everyone he saw was someone he knew. He couldn’t find his intended extortion target, nor a point to cause trouble.

What puzzled him most was that Weiming acted as if he didn’t know them, merely glancing at them and exchanging a few words with the caregiver before continuing to focus on the TV, treating them as if they were air. Other than the caregiver’s normal reaction, everyone else’s response was abnormal.

All this made Jiang Zhe feel like he had nowhere to apply his energy.

Then Jiang Feng walked in, and at last, Jiang Zhe saw an unfamiliar face, thinking his opportunity had arrived. However, this stranger didn’t follow the script, too, and seemed too lazy to bother with him. For some reason, Jiang Zhe always felt this guy seemed to know who he was.

It was simply too strange.

Strange as it was, the show must go on—even if it meant plowing through with a stiff upper lip.

Jiang Zhe wanted to slam the table, only to find it wasn’t within reach, so he fiercely slapped his own thigh to bolster his momentum. “Who am I? I’m here to settle accounts with you all! I ought to ask just what all you people have done to my grandfather. A perfectly fine person, and you’ve turned him into this.”

Zhang Li kept peeling her apple.

Jiang Yanlu stayed crouched in the corner, hesitating to speak out.

Jiang Weisheng’s face grew even darker.

Weiming kept his eyes glued to the television.

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

Jiang Feng pulled out his phone, opened the WeChat group to see if anyone had responded, and if no one did, he was ready to start tagging people one by one.

No one cared about how compelling Jiang Zhe’s performance was.

Jiang Zhe: …

Fuck, why isn’t anyone playing by the rules?

“I’m talking to you!” Jiang Zhe raised his voice. “Let me tell you, today you must give my dad and me an explanation. If you don’t give us a satisfactory answer, I’ll make sure you regret it!”

“I know what your family does for a living, I’m not afraid of you. If you think you can evade responsibility and deny everything, I’ll just go to your Taifeng Building. I’ll let everyone judge, let them all see what you lot have done to my grandfather!”

Still, no one paid him any attention.

Jiang Feng had started tagging people in the group, with Jiang Jianguo and Jiang Shoucheng being the first ones he tagged.

Seeing this, Jiang Zhe got angry too, striding over to Jiang Feng with the intention of grabbing his collar to show him just how hard his fist was.

And then Jiang Weiming spoke up.

“Jiang Yanlu, come here.” He spoke very calmly.

“Dad, Jiang Zhe, he… he’s really just worried about you. I also think …,” Jiang Yanlu couldn’t go on.

“How much does he owe this time?” asked Weiming.

“Nothing, Jiang Zhe, he just wanted to come and see how you were doing, and then he was worried about you. Really, no debts, Jiang Zhe has changed, he really has! He hasn’t encountered any usurers anymore, he just plays mahjong every day, he’s not like before, going out and getting into trouble,” Jiang Yanlu argued desperately.

“How much?”

Jiang Yanlu became scared.

It was at that very moment that he suddenly realized, Weiming was different now.

His tone became very cold, as if speaking to a stranger, his gaze no longer warm, turned sharp and cold, harboring ice blades that could at any moment carve him into a bloody mess.

This was an entirely unfamiliar Weiming, one he had never seen before.

“I … I really don’t know,” Jiang Yanlu said with a timid honesty.

“I’ve always thought I was probably the most failed father in the world, but seeing you like this, I suddenly realize that I might not be the most failed one,” Weiming said.

“Dad, I …”

“Step closer,” Weiming ordered.

“Dad, Jiang Zhe truly …,” as Jiang Yanlu approached Weiming.

Weiming sat up straight, very erect.

“Closer.”

Jiang Yanlu moved closer.

“Slap.”

Weiming slapped Jiang Yanlu across the face.

A slap with full strength that sent Jiang Yanlu staggering, his mouth oozing blood immediately.

“Dad!” cried out Jiang Yanlu, his face a picture of disbelief.

Jiang Feng watched without much reaction, having seen such scenes often, sometimes even starring himself in them.

But Sir generally didn’t aim for the face when hitting someone.

However, from Jiang Weisheng’s surprised expression which revealed a hint of pleasure and Zhang Li’s shock causing her to forget peeling the apple altogether, it was clear that this event was indeed worth a small surprise.

“I haven’t hit you since you were eleven,” said Weiming.

“I thought that since a boy is grown, he needs his dignity, and there are many ways to discipline a child that don’t have to rely on physical punishment.”

“Now I see, you don’t need it.”