Permanent Pass!
These five words made Lin Zhixia feel better.
Lin Zhixia walked up the stairs and entered a long corridor. The ceiling was adorned with exquisite reliefs. Tall sculptures were placed around it and various items were displayed in glass cabinets. She stopped and watched silently.
Jiang Yubai stood beside her, like a tour guide in a museum.
Lin Zhixia pointed at a crudely crafted wooden bowl and asked him quietly, "Is this an antique?"
Jiang Yubai was about to speak when Lin Zhixia seriously suggested, "Jiang Yubai, don't tell me yet. Let me guess. I've read a lot of antique appreciation books, maybe I can guess the age and origin of these things."
Jiang Yubai looked at her quietly, and she said more excitedly: "I can definitely guess it!"
Jiang Yubai suddenly smiled: "Are you sure?"
"Don't you believe me?" Lin Zhixia was full of fighting spirit.
Jiang Yubai turned sideways and took a step back: "Observe carefully, if you guess right..."
Lin Zhixia played her favorite gambling game with Jiang Yubai again: "If I guess right, you will call me Teacher Lin. If I guess wrong, I will call you Teacher Jiang, and please tell me the correct answer."
Jiang Yubai was absolutely sure. He raised his head slightly and agreed readily, "No problem."
Lin Zhixia was extremely alert and examined the shabby collection from all angles.
She searched her memory, repeatedly dug up the details, and finally came to the conclusion: "This wooden bowl is likely to come from a traditional tribe in Africa. I have seen something similar on the Discovery TV channel. Two explorers went to an African tribe to experience life. The locals used wood to make bowls in this shape... That's right, Jiang Yubai, this must be an African collection in your home. You also treated it with antiseptic treatment. It is probably a wooden bowl produced in modern times with tribal cultural value."
"It's a bowl made by my grandfather himself." Jiang Yubai corrected.
Lin Zhixia was shocked: "Really?"
Jiang Yubai described in detail: "In the last century, my grandfather was doing business in Southeast Asia and offended the local gangs. The pots and pans in his house were smashed. He made a wooden bowl himself. Later, he was reselling small electrical appliances, and his enemies came to his house. He threw the wooden bowl on the ground, making some noise, and took advantage of the enemy's distraction to escape in the dark."
Grandpa Jiang Yubai's experience was beyond Lin Zhixia's imagination.
Lin Zhixia held her breath: "Your grandfather's life is like a movie."
"It's hard to tell the truth from the false," Jiang Yubai said, "What the adults say may not be true."
Lin Zhixia praised: "Jiang Yubai, your critical spirit is worth learning from."
Then, Lin Zhixia asked again: "Where are your grandfather's enemies? Where are they now?"
"They're all dead." Jiang Yubai relayed his grandfather's words honestly.
Lin Zhixia concluded solemnly: "I understand. This thing is the symbol of your family spirit."
Jiang Yubai nodded: "It's our family's spirit to run away in the dark when we encounter bad guys."
Lin Zhixia laughed out loud, "Hahahahaha," "You're so funny."
She took a step and trotted along the smooth marble floor, shouting as she ran: "Teacher Jiang, Teacher Jiang, Teacher Jiang!" Then she said: "Teacher Jiang, look, do I look like Duan Qiyan now?"
"Why do you want to imitate Duan Qiyan?" Jiang Yubai questioned her.
Lin Zhixia tilted her head: "Because it's fun."
Jiang Yubai asked again: "Can you imitate someone?"
"I'll try!" Lin Zhixia declared, "Now I'm going to imitate Jiang Yubai."
Jiang Yubai suddenly felt a little nervous for some reason. He stood under a chandelier, the bright light falling on him, making him look like an alien from outer space.
Lin Zhixia straightened her back and walked towards him slowly: "Jiang Yubai."
Jiang Yubai turned away and ignored her.
Lin Zhixia ran to the front of him and called him again: "Jiang Yubai."
Jiang Yubai turned in another direction again.
Lin Zhixia insisted on talking to him face to face, but he told her: "Are you imitating me? I can't be like you..."
"Like me?" Lin Zhixia asked him confidently.
Jiang Yubai couldn't find the right adjective.
Lin Zhixia jumped and circled around him: "No matter which direction you are facing, I can turn to your front. You are the sun, I am Mercury. You are the earth, I am the moon. Can you calculate my revolution period, Jiang Yubai?"
Jiang Yubai asked back: "Why do you like to circle around me?"
"I don't know," Lin Zhixia replied, "just like I don't know why you like hanging on the horizontal bar in the playground."
She suddenly stopped and thought: "I often observe your every move."
In the corner of the corridor stands an antique bronze mirror inlaid with shells.
Jiang Yubai glanced in the mirror and straightened his clothes. Lin Zhixia's voice sounded again: "Sometimes, I can guess your inner thoughts. For example, now, you pay attention to your appearance because you want to keep a good state for me to observe."
Jiang Yubai paused in smoothing his sleeves.
He changed the subject: "I have some private collections."
"Your personal collection?" Lin Zhixia came over with great interest.
Jiang Yubai led her across the corridor. He pressed a password and opened a security door. They walked into an inconspicuous little room. The relief on the roof was light-permeable and ventilated. The light was cut into a painting, illuminating a wall.
Lin Zhixia looked around, in a trance.
"This was definitely not made by your grandfather himself." Lin Zhixia pointed to a glass cabinet.
"These are the sculptures I collected." Jiang Yubai introduced.
Lin Zhixia squatted in front of the glass cabinet: "Traditional Chinese handicrafts?"
Jiang Yubai squatted beside her: "Traditional craftsmanship, contemporary works."
On the first layer of the cabinet is a stone sculpture of a landscape, with exquisite craftsmanship and ingenious shape. The mountains and rivers are majestic and magnificent, and the blue lake is sparkling, as if it has just been blown by a breeze.
"You can touch it with your hands." Jiang Yubai suggested.
Lin Zhixia shook her head like a rattle: "No, they look so precious, I can't touch them."
Jiang Yubai said: "Things are dead, people are alive, you are more precious than them."
Jiang Yubai was right, and Lin Zhixia was encouraged. She carefully opened the cabinet door and came across the jade carving of mountains and rivers. She said, "I guess the mountains are jasper, the trees are moonstone, and the lake is amazonite."
"Yes." Jiang Yubai agreed.
Lin Zhixia asked him, "Why do you collect carvings?"
Jiang Yubai recalled the past: "I went to visit my grandfather's house, and he asked me to pick a few things to take away..."
"No wonder!" Lin Zhixia suddenly realized, "I was just wondering why these treasures looked like they were collected by grandparents. It turns out they really came from your grandfather's house."
Then, she said shyly, "Jiang Yubai, the present I give you for your eleventh birthday is just like this stone sculpture, with a big tree, a pond, and a small house."
Jiang Yubai casually revealed: "I put it in my study."
"Your study room?" Lin Zhixia was overjoyed. "That's great. It can accompany you to study every day."
Lin Zhixia's happy mood emanating from the bottom of her heart infected Jiang Yubai.
In this bright and transparent room, the air was extremely fresh and sweet. Jiang Yubai reached out and opened another cabinet door, and Lin Zhixia saw several more clock crafts.
Jiang Yubai invited her to appreciate: "An antique European clock from the 18th century."
Lin Zhixia nodded repeatedly: "Yeah! They are both table clocks. I've seen them in the European history books in the library."
She examined it closely, trying to remember every detail.
Jiang Yubai handed her a pair of gloves. She put them on immediately and gently touched the 18th century clock and 17th century tableware. She also played a historical time travel game with Jiang Yubai.
Jiang Yubai plays the king and Lin Zhixia plays the queen.
Lin Zhixia was calm and composed, holding a scepter. She imitated the lines from Shakespeare's work "Richard III" and declared war on Jiang Yubai: "The rising sea is the prelude to a storm. Your Majesty Jiang Yubai, your era is facing a change..."
Jiang Yubai actually defeated her with words: "It was you who gave me the crown. It was also you who crowned me. Have you forgotten?"
Lin Zhixia was stunned.
Jiang Yubai's words were so light that Lin Zhixia was completely defeated. Lin Zhixia immediately changed her tone: "Well, let's reconcile."
Jiang Yubai lowered his head and smiled. Perhaps because they were the only two people in the room, he had no worries and naturally replied: "How do you want to reconcile with me?"
Lin Zhixia said: "Sign the contract."
Jiang Yubai's current role is "King Jiang Yubai", and a wise king should remain calm in the face of adversity. He raised his scepter with one hand and calmly replied: "I can't sign a contract with you."
"Why?" Lin Zhixia asked.
Jiang Yubai explained: "A lawyer must be present when signing the contract."
Lin Zhixia said with a smile: "As expected of you, Mr. Jiang."
Jiang Yubai took a step back, and Lin Zhixia chased him and shouted, "Little Jiang, Little Jiang, Little Jiang." He held the scepter across her and reminded her, "Boundaries, grasp the boundaries."
"Why are you the same as my brother?" Lin Zhixia said casually.
Jiang Yubai asked back: "How is it the same?"
"That's right. My brother often told me to pay attention to boundaries," Lin Zhixia repeated word for word. "My brother said that girls can't make friends with boys, and a girl's best friends should be girls. This is a serious problem. I had a fight with him."
Jiang Yubai responded coldly: "Good noise."
Suddenly, there were footsteps outside the door. Lin Zhixia also heard her father's voice - she almost thought she was hallucinating.
Lin Zhixia ran to the door and looked outside. She really saw her father and Jiang Yubai's uncle Jiang Shaoqi.
On the wide and straight corridor, the figures of two adult men were very tall. Jiang Shaoqi and Lin Zhixia's father walked side by side. After walking for several steps, Jiang Shaoqi asked: "Is your full name... Lin Fugui?"
Lin Fugui mechanically repeated an action. He clasped his hands together, closing and opening his palms, opening and closing again. He looked at the ceiling and many collections of the private collection and said in a hoarse voice: "Yes, I am Lin Fugui. I am Lin Zhixia's father."
Jiang Shaoqi smiled gently: "I met you in Professor Shen's laboratory."
"I have an impression. I have an impression." Lin Fugui echoed.
It was early March, the temperature was low and had not yet warmed up. Lin Fugui was wearing an old-fashioned sweater with pilling and a faux leather jacket. His clothes were clean and quite comfortable to wear, but when he was in such a luxurious collection room, his clothes and temperament seemed a bit out of place.
Lin Fugui was amazed by the manor. The design of the building and the interior decoration were all things he had never imagined in his dreams. He was anxious to bring his daughter home. After he caught a glimpse of Lin Zhixia, he waved: "Come on, Xia Xia, come here quickly."
Lin Zhixia ran towards her father with a "thump thump" sound.
Jiang Yubai followed her slowly. He hadn't had time to treat her to lunch yet—he had been planning this meal since last month because he wanted to celebrate her success. She had won several gold medals, so it was reasonable to have a celebration banquet.
However, Lin Fugui held his daughter's wrist and asked her: "Xia Xia, say goodbye to your friend."
Lin Zhixia hesitated and said, "Dad, I had a lot of fun with my friend today... Can we have a meal with him?"
But my father said, "Xia Xia, your mother has prepared lunch for you, let's go home."
Jiang Yubai was watching this scene, still acting very politely. He seemed to be able to remain calm in the face of adversity, even though he was experiencing unspeakable loss in his heart. He and Lin Zhixia were just halfway through their historical time-travel game, and they had not yet returned to ancient China from the European continent—Lin Zhixia said that she wanted Jiang Yubai to be a general, and she herself wanted to be the second Empress Wu Zetian.
Lin Zhixia's father came to take her home, and Jiang Yubai had no reason to keep her.
Jiang Yubai looked at his uncle, who immediately started to defend him: "Xiao Jiang, the last time I took you to the university town, I exchanged contact information with Lin Zhixia's father. Lin Zhixia's IQ is 174, and her father and I exchanged phone numbers. That's a parent's consideration, you know? I, your uncle, am a careful person. Today, you invited Lin Zhixia to your home to play. After all, Lin Zhixia is only eleven and a half years old. You have to tell her parents, so I made a call for you..."
Jiang Yubai understood his uncle's good intentions.
Lin Zhixia is still young, and her parents must keep track of her whereabouts.
Although he and Lin Zhixia have a good relationship, Lin Zhixia's parents don't know him. The uncle called and Lin Zhixia's father was probably very nervous. The young girl needs more care and protection.
Jiang Yubai took Lin Zhixia and her father to the parking lot. His family's driver would take them home. He watched Lin Zhixia get into the car, and she rolled down the window and waved at him: "See you on Monday, Jiang Yubai!"
Jiang Yubai stood there and watched the car leave: "See you on Monday, Lin Zhixia."
On the way home, Lin Zhixia's father didn't say a word.
Arriving at the gate of Ancheng Community, Lin Zhixia and her father got off the car, and her father suddenly sighed. The streets of the community were crowded with people on Saturday morning, and the surroundings were filled with conversations, barking dogs, and chaotic footsteps.
Dad took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. Just as he was about to take out a cigarette, Lin Zhixia grabbed his sleeve and said, "Dad, Dad, don't smoke."
Dad called her: "Xia Xia."
Lin Zhixia put her hands behind her back: "Xia Xia is here."
Dad didn't take Lin Zhixia home. He found a bench in the community. He asked Lin Zhixia to sit next to him, and then said: "Xia Xia, your friend Jiang Yubai is different from you. Dad is not stopping you from playing with him, but Dad wants to tell you that you have won a world-class competition award and have other friends in school..."
Lin Zhixia stretched out her legs: "I understand."
"You understand? I haven't gotten to the point yet." Dad exclaimed in surprise.
Lin Zhixia looked up at the sky: "Well, I can guess what you mean. You want to tell me that it is very risky for me to be friends with Jiang Yubai."
Dad took out the cigarette box again: "Xia Xia is so smart."
He gave an example: "My father is from the village. In our village, if the son of the village chief bullies others, others will have nowhere to complain. What should we do? We just have to endure it."
"Jiang Yubai is really good," Lin Zhixia argued, "Dad, if you can spend some time with him, you will know."
Dad lit a cigarette. White mist spread out, like smoke and dust, permeating the air nearby.
Lin Zhixia sneezed.
Dad just took a puff of his cigarette and immediately put it out. He threw the cigarette butt into the trash can next to his seat and said in a low voice: "Dad doesn't understand Jiang Yubai. You should pay more attention to it. I'll tell you, and you make your own decision. Hey, you've been abroad and have seen more of the world than me."
Lin Zhixia patted her father on the shoulder and said, "No matter how many places I go in the future, I will always be your daughter and you will always be my father."
This short sentence seemed to move Dad a little. Lin Zhixia took the opportunity to say, "Dad, you must keep it a secret for me. Don't let my brother know that I went to Jiang Yubai's house to play, otherwise my brother will be furious."
The father did not expect his son to be more serious than him. He showed a little surprise on his face: "Has Qiuqiu ever dealt with Jiang Yubai?"
"No, never." Lin Zhixia felt extremely regretful.
Dad thought carefully for a few seconds and agreed: "Okay, Dad will keep it a secret for you, but there won't be a next time. Xia Xia, you still can't go to your male classmate's house before you turn 18."
"After I turn 18, can I go whenever I want?" Lin Zhixia questioned.
Dad stood up and took her home: "By then, you will be an adult and mom and dad will not be able to control you."
Lin Zhixia said nothing. She was afraid that her father would reveal his true identity in front of her brother. She and her father walked into the house one after the other, and her brother was peeling apples in the living room. When her brother saw her coming back, he asked, "Which classmate's house did you go to play, Lin Zhixia?"
My brother sat on a chair, holding an apple in his left hand and a peeling knife in his right hand. He was like a feudal patriarch in the old society, interrogating all the trivial matters within the family. Lin Zhixia avoided his gaze and hid behind her father.
Dad took over the topic: "I just came back from outside and ran into Xia Xia." Then he asked: "Qiu Qiu, are you studying well recently? Are you feeling well?"
In three months, Lin Zeqiu will take the high school entrance examination.
Since the beginning of this semester, Lin Zeqiu has only ranked first in the class once, and his grade ranking is not as good as before. His classmates said that some smart people started studying in the third year of junior high school and their grades improved by leaps and bounds, which is better than Lin Zeqiu who has been working hard all the time - Lin Zeqiu does not believe this statement.
In Lin Zeqiu's eyes, only people like his sister can be considered "smart people." Whether his sister studies or not, she is always the first in her grade, and even the first in the world in the 2007 Romanian Masters.
When his father mentioned grades, Lin Zeqiu was so preoccupied that he completely forgot to question Lin Zhixia.
Lin Zhixia encouraged her brother: "Come on, brother! If you encounter any questions you don't know how to answer, be sure to come to me."
But my brother said, "Forget it."
Lin Zhixia insisted again and again: "I can help you save time!"
Her brother looked at her sideways and said, "You still want to participate in the math competition."
Lin Zhixia explained in detail: "I am not planning to participate in this year's International Mathematical Olympiad. The strongest and most experienced dozen contestants in the winter camp are already in the second round of intensive training. I believe they can win the gold medal."
The elder brother took a bite of the apple and said, "Lin Zhixia, what else are you busy with at school?"
"Information competition!" Lin Zhixia poured herself a glass of water. "It's an information competition for three people. It's fun and the prize money is very high. I just happened to have this opportunity, so I want to give it a try."
Lin Zhixia made her plan and put it into practice soon. She joined the information competition team of the second grade of high school and stood out in the selection competition of the Provincial No. 1 Middle School.
By April, when Lin Zeqiu was still studying hard for the high school entrance examination, Lin Zhixia had already represented the Provincial No. 1 Middle School and entered the final round of the province's high school information subject competition.