Chew Slowly Chapter 10

The red brick wall surrounding the courtyard was low, allowing a clear view of the interior. The old Xu family home was ancient, and compared to the residents down the slope, it seemed utterly devoid of life. Chen Zongqian had asked Granny, and she said the house had been empty since the old man passed away, with only Xu Qiaochuan returning a few days ago.

He was probably back to deal with Lu Xiaoyun’s belongings. After Lu Xiaoyun married, she distanced herself from her maternal family, so Xu Qiaochuan could only bring her things back here.

He called out once, but received no answer. Chen Zongqian waited for a moment and then caught a faint, subtle smell of burning—like paper or cloth. The scent grew clearer, and fearing something might have happened inside, Chen Zongqian pushed the door open without hesitation.

“Xu Qiaochuan?” He followed the smell toward the kitchen and indeed found a figure in the dim, cramped space.

Xu Qiaochuan was startled by the sudden voice, shaking violently and nearly falling off his chair. Chen Zongqian stood at the kitchen entrance, his tall frame blocking much of the daylight, allowing only a few dazzling streaks to spill through.

That light made Xu Qiaochuan’s eyes ache, and he instinctively looked away.

The kitchen had poor ventilation. Thick smoke billowing from the earthen stove couldn’t dissipate, stinging Chen Zongqian’s eyes as well. He covered his mouth and nose but continued walking toward Xu Qiaochuan. After only two steps, Chen Zongqian felt his heart pound violently, like a drum.

Xu Qiaochuan grabbed his hand.

Besides thunderstorms and typhoons, summer in Pingzhou Port was defined by perpetual dry heat. In this weather, only air conditioning and fans offered relief. But Chen Zongqian hadn’t expected someone’s hand to be so cold in summer, utterly devoid of warmth; it felt like being touched by ice.

“Why are you here? Why are you here…” Xu Qiaochuan repeated mechanically twice, unable to immediately process Chen Zongqian’s sudden appearance. Without waiting for him to figure it out, Chen Zongqian pulled him outside.

Under the bright daylight, Chen Zongqian finally saw Xu Qiaochuan clearly. He looked much more haggard than the last time they met, tears streaming down his face, yet he seemed unaware. It wasn’t until Chen Zongqian handed him the handkerchief from his pocket that Xu Qiaochuan reacted, frantically wiping his face with his hand.

The two remained silent for a while before Chen Zongqian offered, “My condolences.” Xu Qiaochuan shook his head, the meaning unclear.

What had been burning in the kitchen stove were joss paper and paper ingots—a rural custom requiring burning not only at the grave but also some at home. Chen Zongqian watched him busy himself with the cleanup. Once the joss paper was burned, a booklet-like object remained beside the small stool.

Xu Qiaochuan was confused and distracted. When prompted, he remembered the photo album. Chen Zongqian asked if he intended to burn it, and Xu Qiaochuan nodded. This was the item Lu Xiaoyun cherished most, but he felt no attachment to it.

“Isn’t this part of your memories?” Chen Zongqian couldn’t help but say a few extra words when he encountered him. This was also the photo album Yao Can had constantly mentioned.

Xu Qiaochuan patted the dust off the cover, not even bothering to open it. Lu Xiaoyun used to drag him to take photos every year, calling it a keepsake, but Xu Qiaochuan couldn’t recall when or where they were taken. Taking photos with Lu Xiaoyun was an annual obligation, and Lu Xiaoyun treated it like a mandatory ritual.

As for the significance, Xu Qiaochuan still couldn’t understand it. He looked blankly at Chen Zongqian and asked, “Lawyer Chen, am I just an ungrateful wretch who doesn’t know how to appreciate anything?”

He looked pitiful with his head bowed. Chen Zongqian sighed, thinking of everything he had endured recently, feeling a pang of sadness.

Unable to speak harshly to him, Chen Zongqian offered gentle comfort: “How can you say you’re ungrateful when you came back here to see her off? If you’re this sad, don’t torment yourself. Your mother wouldn’t want you to be unhappy.”

Xu Qiaochuan nodded silently. He still didn’t quite dare to look Chen Zongqian in the eye, feeling that today was as unbelievable as that night.

Had Chen Zongqian come for him this time too? Xu Qiaochuan couldn’t help but wonder why this gentle man had come looking for him. The more he thought, the more worry crept into his eyes. He couldn’t hide his inner turmoil, and Chen Zongqian noticed it all.

The old house was dilapidated, but Xu Qiaochuan had stayed for two days and tidied up roughly. There were chairs and hot water to receive a guest. Yet everything felt strained. Xu Qiaochuan felt embarrassed bringing him into the living room, but Chen Zongqian was composed and natural, showing no sign of distaste.

The living room was simple: an old rattan chair, now unused due to the owner’s passing, and a square table piled high with clutter. The wall calendar was stuck on November, four years ago. Chen Zongqian also saw many awards bearing Xu Qiaochuan’s name. Just from these, one could tell that a bright, clever, and well-behaved child once lived here.

Xu Qiaochuan was nervous. His life experiences always made him look down, afraid to look at many things.

“I came over abruptly. I hope I’m not disturbing you,” Chen Zongqian said politely. The more polite he was, the more anxious Xu Qiaochuan became.

Chen Zongqian felt helpless, so he dropped the small talk. He explained that after Lu Xiaoyun’s death, a dispute arose regarding the distribution of the estate. Xu Jian had even caused a scene at the Law Firm, though thankfully without causing any substantial harm.

The general context was clear, and Xu Qiaochuan quickly understood: “So, are you here for that letter of commitment and those IOUs?”

Before Chen Zongqian could nod, Xu Qiaochuan added, “But Lawyer Yao handled her case, and her assistant wasn’t you. Marital disputes aren’t your specialty, right? Lawyer Chen, my mother couldn’t afford you.”

Xu Qiaochuan had Chen Zongqian’s business card and had searched for his information carefully on his phone. The name was visible on Shengda Law Firm’s official website. Although Xu Qiaochuan didn’t fully grasp all the details, based solely on that brilliant resume, he knew what an exceptionally capable lawyer this was.

“You’re not here for her.” Xu Qiaochuan was sharp. He lowered his eyes, thinking with a hint of disbelief, Could he be here for me?

He knew this lawyer was extremely astute, but he hadn’t expected Chen Zongqian to seemingly possess the ability to read minds.

“That’s right, I’m still here for you,” Chen Zongqian said, unfazed by being exposed. His frank demeanor made Xu Qiaochuan choke on his words. Chen Zongqian continued, “I came to see how you are doing.”

Chen Zongqian asked about his school situation… Xu Qiaochuan frowned. To graduate quickly, Xu Qiaochuan had accepted the settlement and apology. He had forgotten about school matters the moment he left, never deliberately recalling them, nor did he have the emotional capacity to think about them.

After graduation, he followed the contract provided by the school to become an apprentice at a hardware mold factory. He hadn’t actively told his parents, simply taking a few things and leaving, with no attachments. In the future, he would live a mundane life—if he could survive, he would live; if not, he would die. Either way, it didn’t matter.

It wasn’t until the news of Lu Xiaoyun’s death arrived. That woman, who both hated and loved him, had only listed Xu Qiaochuan’s phone number in the contact section.

Xu Qiaochuan rarely allowed himself the chance to feel sad, but Chen Zongqian always managed to make him feel heartache with just a few words, stirring up unwarranted feelings of grievance.

When asked how he was doing, Xu Qiaochuan originally thought he didn’t care—he never had—but he couldn’t utter that answer. He couldn’t say anything at all.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t answer your call that day.” Chen Zongqian overstepped once, reaching out to wipe away his tears.

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Apologies, I’ve been unwell recently and my condition isn’t great.