Chapter 187: Hand Cream

Lei Dongchuan looked over; that had happened many years ago. The newspapers were old, and he remembered some of the reports on them. If one were to talk about it, his memory of that jewelry competition at the time wasn’t as profound as the earthquake that happened that summer.

He flipped through them, and among the clipped reports, there was indeed one about the Dongchang earthquake.

It was just that perhaps the layout was too small or for some other reason, it was only a small section, mainly still revolving around Master He.

After Lei Dongchuan held it in his hand and looked at it, he said:

“These are reports from many years ago. I remember I was only seven or eight when the earthquake happened. I stayed in the countryside for a long time during summer vacation, and Grandpa He seemed to be over there too… The countryside was a bit better, I heard it was severe in the city and at the mines.”

Fang Qi, on the side, was also looking with lowered eyes, but didn’t respond.

It was only after Lei Dongchuan called him that he returned to his senses, his complexion looking not too good, and only after a while did he say:

“Sorry, I just recalled some things from the past…”

The memory of the earthquake was something the people of Dongchang small city could never forget; it was a trauma in his life that could never be forgotten.

Not only did houses collapse in many places, but there were also severely affected areas where many people died.

Lei Dongchuan patted him on the shoulder and said: “It’s in the past.”

He had Fang Qi pack these newspaper clippings into a file bag to store them properly, and then made another call to Boss He to inquire.

Boss He answered the phone quickly, but regarding the matter Lei Dongchuan asked about, he said somewhat apologetically:

“Dongchuan, I just got the news too. You know, this is a family business, and it’s not like I’m the only one who decides. The trouble caused by some juniors in the family… I asked for a long time before hearing this… What was sent to you is all the information I could get.”

“President He, can you let me contact the person on your side directly?”

Although Boss He had the intention to make friends, he was still more protective of his own, and euphemistically said:

“That’s probably not very convenient. That nephew of mine in the family made some bad friends. I’ve already punished him. As for those people, he also came into contact with them by accident, only knowing the other party was interested in these things and asked about Dongchang, but they used fake names. Even if we trace it, we can’t find anyone.”

After he finished speaking, he asked again:

“The clippings you found are all about things that person brought over, and there are quite a few things mentioned about Master He. Do you also know Master He of Baohua Silver Building?”

“We have some contact.”

“Then you can look into it yourself. I can only ask for this much, and can’t help with the rest.”

“Alright, thank you.”

Fang Qi listened on the side, slightly furrowing his brows and saying:

“Boss, is President He truly unaware of the warehouse smashing?”

Lei Dongchuan: “Hard to say.”

Lei Dongchuan hung up the phone but didn’t let himself get tangled in that sentence of Boss He’s.

Old He was protective of his own. He couldn’t have been completely unaware of what the younger generation below him had done. Thinking about it, it was because Baichuan had weight in its words after this acquisition. After weighing the pros and cons, the He family chose a gentler way of cooperating. These things sent over were the He family’s stance; regardless of what happened before, they would choose Baichuan as a friend in the future and would not participate in such things again.

Fang Qi: “Then if it isn’t the He family, who would it be? Is it really aimed at Master He?”

Lei Dongchuan:

“Grandpa He acts low-key. Even those who are close only know about the relationship between Zimu and him. If it were truly aimed at the old man, his gold workshop in Dongchang and Auntie Dong’s garment factory are much easier to retaliate against than Baichuan.”

Lei Dongchuan lowered his head and picked up a report. This clipping had news on both sides intact; one side was Master He being invited to be a judge, and the other side was a report on the aftermath of the earthquake in Dongchang small city.

“After the earthquake, went to be a judge with Grandpa, Auntie Dong donated money and goods. As for the family—”

He thought seriously for a long while, but didn’t remember the family doing anything bad.

If one really had to say it, it was his father presiding over the disaster relief work in the mining area and then investigating and removing people from office.

But publicly and privately, Father Lei didn’t do a single thing wrong.

……

Lei Dongchuan analyzed for a while, pondering that it was possible Master He was just a lead, and this matter was still aimed at Baichuan.

He put away the file and said to Fang Qi:

“Don’t tell anyone about this matter for now. After I investigate, then I’ll make plans.”

“Alright.”

Perhaps because he just saw the report on the earthquake, Fang Qi’s complexion didn’t look good. Lei Dongchuan vaguely remembered him saying that his family members died in the earthquake, and the poverty of his family over these years was also because of this. Knowing he had been stimulated, he simply gave him a day off to let Fang Qi go back and rest.

Lei Dongchuan took the file bag and went to find Mother Lei.

Their family had always been this way, never carrying anything by themselves. After he went over and told her about the matter, Mother Lei furrowed her brows and thought for a moment:

“Regardless of whether it’s aimed at Old Master He or our family, this matter must be taken seriously. Go tell the studio side to be on guard. Also, pay attention to safety regarding this matter, don’t take action yourself…”

She paused halfway and added an extra instruction:

“Also don’t take your younger brother to ride bikes together, neither of you are safe. Didn’t your Auntie Dong arrange for a driver? Tell the driver where you’re going, don’t go alone.”

Lei Dongchuan nodded in agreement and said to her:

“Mom, I want to get a driver’s license.”

Mother Lei said: “Still too early…”

“Not early. Another two months, after my birthday passes, I’ll be able to drive myself.”

Mother Lei thought for a moment, but still shook her head and refused:

“Just wait for the college entrance exam to be over. Once you do well on it, you can go pick any car you want, and Mom will buy it for you.”

Lei Dongchuan bargained, asking for two cars, saying one was reserved for Bai Zimu.

Mother Lei didn’t know whether to laugh or cry:

“You truly, your younger brother is still small and can’t drive this. Just buy a new one in two years.”

Lei Dongchuan said: “I’ll drive for him, he just needs to sit on the side.”

Mother Lei said: “Alright, alright, you’re always so restless all day long, I promise you. Oh right, don’t tell Zimu about today’s matter, he’s still small. It’s fine for him to use his brains, but don’t let this kind of thing scare him.”

“I Know.”

******

Family compound, Lei family.

Bai Zimu wore a new outfit. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] The down-cotton jacket was red and white, appearing especially festive. He stomped his feet on the steps to rub off some snow before pushing open the door to enter. Upon entering, he first shouted:

“Grandma, I’m back~”

Grandma Lei had been brought to the city to live these past few days. Hearing his voice, she walked out from inside and said with a smile:

“Zimu is back? How much New Year’s money did you get today?”

Bai Zimu didn’t rush to take off his down jacket after entering. He first dug a small red velvet bag out of his pocket. Inside was an old gold ring with an engraved pattern style. He placed the ring in the old lady’s hand and said proudly:

“Grandma, you try it.”

Grandma Lei’s eyesight wasn’t very good. Only after lowering her head to identify it did she say in surprise:

“Yo, where did this ring come from?”

“The past two days I went to Grandpa’s place. An uncle has been making some small trinkets. He also took a plain ring and taught me quite a bit, but those are too difficult. Today I only polished this one.”

Hearing that he polished it himself, Grandma Lei was quite happy and put it on, but this ring was a bit too big for Bai Zimu, so she shook it back and forth on her finger, then took it off and laughed:

“Doesn’t work, it’s too big when I wear it, I’m afraid it will fall off.”

Bai Zimu was somewhat disappointed and put it away in the velvet bag:

“Then I’ll modify it when I go back. Grandma, I’ll measure your size. Tell me what you like in the future, and I’ll make it for you.”

Grandma Lei said: “I don’t really like wearing things on my hands, why don’t you make a brooch for me? Last time I saw one on your table that could move, it was quite pretty…”

Bai Zimu thought for a moment, leaned on the old lady’s shoulder and laughed: “Grandma, that wasn’t a brooch.”

“Then what was it?”

“That’s the guiding turtle I made for you!”

……

Bai Zimu made many small handicrafts. There weren’t many pure jewelry items, but instead quite a few strange half-tech products. Not to mention these past two years, just when he was small he dismantled and modified quite a few things. That “guiding turtle” was a small brass turtle. After he modified it, the small turtle would point the direction, and it would slide its hands and feet like floating on water. Trembling, it was quite cute.

Grandma Lei didn’t really like gold flowers or jade beads, but had a good impression of small animals, finding them lively and cute.

Bai Zimu said: “Wait until some time passes, I’ll mold a small rabbit for you.”

Grandma Lei nodded, then hurriedly said:

“Wait until you finish the college entrance exam. Grandma has plenty of time, slowly waiting for you to make it for me. Now you must focus on studying, and also sleep well, health is the most important.”

“Alright.”

Grandma Lei sat there chatting with him, the grandmother and grandson whispering:

“Zimu, you look so good, do you have any little girls in class who like you? [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Or, do you like anyone?”

Bai Zimu blinked, only smiling without speaking.

Grandma Lei was someone who had been through it all, and seeing this, she also smiled:

“Yo, this must be that you have someone. Are there many people who like you?”

“Not very clear, my brother manages that.”

“Your brother manages this too?”

“Of course, my brother manages everything. He treats me the best. I’ve thought about it before, I want to find someone as good as my brother in the future, capable and amazing…”

Bai Zimu sighed and said:

“It’s just that my brother is too good. Don’t know if I can meet someone like him in the future.”

Grandma Lei was amused until she laughed.

Just as they were talking, they heard noise in the courtyard.

Lei Dongchuan didn’t make much noise when entering. He carried a bag of things, placed it at the door, took off his down jacket while looking at them:

“Grandma, what are you two chatting about? [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] So lively. I heard you two laughing from the courtyard.”

The old one and the young one exchanged looks, not telling him.

Lei Dongchuan leaned over wanting to join in. Grandma Lei pushed him away a bit and said:

“Don’t squeeze over, the sofa is small, don’t squeeze the precious treasure.”

Lei Dongchuan sat half on the armrest, leaning over with a posture of forced conversation:

“Not squeezing. What were you saying just now?”

“Talking about giving grandma a ring!”

Bai Zimu brought the red velvet bag over, took the size for Grandma Lei again, and recorded the number.

Lei Dongchuan saw the small red velvet bag on the table at this moment, took it over and said:

“What’s this? Small Bowl made it?”

Bai Zimu didn’t have time to stop him, and saw the ring fall out, “Brother—”

He reached out to grab it, but Lei Dongchuan held it higher than he could reach, completely unable to touch it, “It’s not finished yet!”

Lei Dongchuan: “Isn’t it pretty good? Grandma wearing it is a bit big, try it on.”

He took that ring and tried it on each finger one by one. Bai Zimu tried to stop him in between, but was hugged backhanded, trapped in his embrace, watching his brother forcibly put the ring on his finger, spreading his five fingers to show him:

“Look, it fits quite well.”

Bai Zimu said with dissatisfaction: “It doesn’t fit at all. You wearing it is too small, this can only be worn on the pinky finger.”

Lei Dongchuan said: “Can wear it, fits well.”

His voice was very low, saying it too firmly, as if recognizing the ownership of this ring.

Grandma Lei didn’t fight him for this. As for Bai Zimu, he was more embarrassed, feeling that the first experimental product wasn’t perfect enough. Amidst his hesitation, Lei Dongchuan insisted on keeping it.

In the evening, someone came to pay New Year’s greetings, sending some rice cakes. Grandma Lei was busy talking to them in the living room, letting Lei Dongchuan go to the kitchen side to carry a box of fruit for the other party to take along.

Lei Dongchuan agreed, got up and went.

Bai Zimu followed behind to help him. However, after circling the kitchen and feeding him two vegetarian meatballs, he didn’t help with much else.

Lei Dongchuan wore that ring for a while, but it was still a bit small, not very convenient for working. Although he didn’t say it, Bai Zimu saw it, took a bottle of hand cream, applied it on his hand, wanting to help him take it off.

“Not small, truly fits well.”

“That won’t do either. There are many people during the New Year, what if someone sees it.”

“…”

Lei Dongchuan swallowed the words that reached his lips. He wanted to tease Bai Zimu, but was afraid of making the little friend angry. In the end, he only laughed and negotiated with him:

“Let me wear it for the winter vacation? Will take it off when school starts.”

Bai Zimu squeezed a lot of hand cream into his palm, melted it, applied it to his hand, and said seriously:

“No, it’s too ugly. I’ll make a better one after some time… to give to you.”

Lei Dongchuan didn’t speak again.

He lowered his head and stared at Bai Zimu taking off the ring for him, watching those hands, a size smaller than his own, gripping it, then once again using the moisture of the emulsion to try and help him take off the pinky ring. The kitchen was very quiet, quiet enough to hear even the smallest sound. Lei Dongchuan leaned there, his body slightly stiff.

Bai Zimu tried several times, furrowing his brows and saying:

“You even said it fits well just now, it’s too tight.”

Lei Dongchuan didn’t utter a sound. After a moment, he changed his posture, lifting his leg slightly to provide cover:

“Take your time, no rush.”