I'm back in 1990

Chapter 548: Chatting with My Brother-in-Law

Unfortunately, Huang Xiaochuan's words were too confident. When he accompanied Lao Huang to the hotel, they found no one there. Fortunately, Huang Yanguang had the hotel receptionist leave a message for Huang Xiaochuan.

It turned out that after learning of Huang Yanguang's arrival, the city government sent someone to pick him up and take him to the city government.

Upon hearing this news, Huang Xiaochuan shook his head speechlessly. He knew that even if Huang Yanguang returned tonight, it would be very late. Currently, the investment promotion work of various departments in Shanghai is in full swing, and well-known overseas Chinese entrepreneurs like Huang Yanguang are naturally on the important list. Therefore, as soon as Huang Yanguang entered Shanghai and checked into the Ritz-Carlton, the news was reported up the chain of command.

Huang Xiaochuan had no choice but to say to his father, "Dad! Let's go home first. The people from the city government have taken them away."

After hearing this, Lao Huang put his hands behind his back, turned around and walked out of the hotel. Huang Xiaochuan quickly followed.

When they arrived home, Zeng Lijuan was already there. Seeing the father and son return together, she asked, "Xiaochuan, when did you get back?"

Huang Xiaochuan replied, "I came back this afternoon, Mom. When did you learn to dance with a sword?"

Zeng Lijuan was just starting out and was really into it. She showed off, saying, "I've only been learning for a few days, it's pretty easy. Shall I show you?"

Huang Xiaochuan quickly stopped his elderly mother: "Mom, how about we go out and have some fun tomorrow? I'm starving."

Upon hearing that her son was hungry, Zeng Lijuan quickly instructed the family's nanny to serve the food. Nothing was more important than her son than sword dancing.

"Xiaoliu, is dinner ready? If it is, let's eat!"

The nanny called out loudly from the kitchen, "Aunt Zeng, it's ready! Please have a seat!"

Old Huang didn't rush to eat. He called Zeng Lijuan aside and talked to her about Huang Yanguang.

When Zeng Lijuan heard this, her mouth dropped open in astonishment. She never imagined that her son would actually find a relative after a trip to Singapore.

However, she was quite wary, and she asked Lao Huang, "Don't you think it's a scam?"

Old Huang was displeased upon hearing this: "Do you think our Xiao Chuan is stupid? Would he bring back a liar?"

Zeng Lijuan thought about it and realized it made sense; how could her most promising youngest son have brought a swindler back?

"Since that's the case, where is your uncle? Shouldn't we go and pay our respects to him, as it's only proper?"

Old Huang said, "You don't need to tell me. Xiao Chuan and I went out just now to pick up Uncle from the hotel. I thought we should invite him over to meet us and have a meal. Unfortunately, we were too late. Uncle was taken away by the city government. We'll have to wait until tomorrow."

Then Lao Huang added, "Go buy some groceries yourself tomorrow, buy a lot, so you can invite your uncle over for lunch."

Zeng Lijuan glanced at Lao Huang unhappily: "Do you even need to tell me that?"

After dinner, Huang Xiaochuan told his parents and mother that he was going home.

Before leaving, Zeng Lijuan told him something else: "By the way, Yu Min and her family of three came to Shanghai. You should treat them to a meal, after all, you are her brother-in-law."

Huang Xiaochuan laughed upon hearing this: "Yue Zhiyuan is here?"

Yue Zhiyuan is Yu Min's husband and is related to Huang Xiaochuan by marriage. Huang Xiaochuan prefers Yue Zhiyuan's personality, which is cheerful, generous and steady, the complete opposite of Yu Min's stingy and mean nature. Despite their different personalities, the two have always been harmonious before and after marriage. According to Yue Zhiyuan's mother, Zheng Aiying, it's like a steamed bun and a cake.

When Huang Xiaochuan returned home, Yu Min and her family of three were there. Yu Xiang was talking to them, while Huang Zeji and Huang Ruiying were playing with Yu Min and Yue Zhiyuan's son, Yue Xiaoyong.

Upon seeing Huang Xiaochuan's sudden return, Yu Xiang immediately stood up and complained, "When did you get back? Why didn't you call ahead? Have you eaten yet?"

Yu Min and Yue Zhiyuan also stood up to greet Huang Xiaochuan.

"My brother-in-law is back!"

"Brother-in-law!"

Before Huang Xiaochuan could even greet his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Huang Ruiying rushed over excitedly.

"dad!"

Huang Xiaochuan quickly hugged the little girl who was rushing towards him. Huang Zeji didn't come over, but he also called out, "Dad!"

After giving Huang Ruiying a hug, Huang Xiaochuan smiled at Yue Xiaoyong and said, "Xiaoyong, how about letting your uncle give you a hug?"

Yue Xiaoyong was only three years old. Since he rarely saw his uncle Huang Xiaochuan, he was naturally unfamiliar with him. He stared at Huang Xiaochuan with his big, dark eyes but didn't say a word.

At this moment, Yu Min picked him up and pointed to Huang Xiaochuan, instructing her son, "This is your uncle! He's Xiaodong's and Xiaoduo's father! You have to call him uncle, okay?"

Yue Xiaoyong then timidly called out in Yu Min's arms, "Uncle!"

However, it seems they still won't give Huang Xiaochuan a chance to hug him.

Huang Xiaochuan quickly smiled and replied, "Hey! Xiaoyong is such a good boy!"

Then Huang Ruiying chimed in, "Dad! I'm a good girl too."

Yu Xiang said angrily, "What do you mean 'well-behaved'? You're the naughtiest one, cutting Da Gun's fur all messy."

Upon hearing this, Huang Xiaochuan exclaimed, "Oh, right? Why didn't I see Big Stick and his wife?"

So he asked Yu Xiang, "Where are Da Gun and Qing Qing?"

Yu Xiang said angrily, "I sent it to my uncle's house. If I left it at home, my precious daughter would drive me crazy sooner or later."

Huang Xiaochuan looked at his precious daughter with a conflicted expression. This girl seemed incredibly cute on the surface, but in reality, she was a little devil that even a dog would hate. What if she was still like this when she grew up? What a headache!

With his sister-in-law's family there, Huang Xiaochuan left the little girl aside and started attending to Yu Min and Yue Zhiyuan.

"When did you arrive?"

Yue Zhiyuan chuckled and said, "I've been here for almost four days. I'm so glad you're back. I was wondering where you'd gone. Did you hide because you were afraid I'd come looking for you to drink?"

Upon hearing this, Huang Xiaochuan thought, "Hey! This is a challenge coming to our door? They've got some nerve!"

"You want to drink? No problem, how about we drink?"

Yu Min glared at Yue Zhiyuan with displeasure: "What's there to drink? We've already eaten dinner, let's talk about it tomorrow!"

Yue Zhiyuan laughed and said, "I didn't say I wanted to drink now. I made an appointment with my brother-in-law."

Huang Xiaochuan chimed in, "That's right. Besides, Zhiyuan and I haven't seen each other in a while. What's wrong with having a few drinks and chatting?"

Yu Min rolled her eyes at the two of them, then complained to Yu Xiang, "Big sister, look at those two, they're inseparable."

Yu Xiang then said, "My dad asked me when you're coming back. He wants you to come over for dinner when you get back. If you're free tomorrow, how about we go over there?"

Huang Xiaochuan thought for a moment, then realized that his father was hosting Huang Yanguang for dinner at home tomorrow, which conflicted with the schedule. So he said to Yu Xiang, "My dad is hosting dinner at home tomorrow, how about we go to your parents' place the day after tomorrow?"

Yu Xiang asked, "Who is Dad inviting to dinner?"

Huang Xiaochuan briefly explained the situation: "It's an elder in the family, my father's cousin, my grandfather's cousin. He came all the way from abroad and plans to visit his hometown."

Upon hearing this, Yu Xiang stopped insisting that Huang Xiaochuan go back to her parents' home with her the next day.

"Then I'll call my mom tomorrow and tell them you're back. We'll come over the day after tomorrow."

Huang Xiaochuan pointed at Yu Min and her husband and said, "Why bother making a phone call? Just have Yu Min talk to our parents when she gets home tonight, okay?"

Hearing this, Yu Xiang slapped her forehead in frustration: "Look at my brain!"

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Then she started complaining to the little girl: "It's all because you're disobedient, you've made your mother confused!"

The little girl was caught in the crossfire for no reason. She stood there, somewhat puzzled. Why was her mother scolding her again? Had she not behaved well today?

Huang Xiaochuan looked helplessly at his beloved daughter. The couple had an agreement regarding the child: when one parent was talking about the child, the other was not allowed to interrupt or interfere.

Huang Xiaochuan and Yue Zhiyuan started chatting.

"Zhiyuan, you've come at the right time. I just brought back some top-grade Tieguanyin tea. How about I brew some for you to try?"

Yue Zhiyuan was also a tea connoisseur; his eyes lit up as soon as he heard there was good tea to drink.

He urged, "Hurry up!"

"Come on, let's go to the tea room. Yu Min, I'll go have tea with your son Zhiyuan. You and your sister can chat here!" Huang Xiaochuan said to Yu Min as he stood up.

Yu Min naturally wouldn't object if the two of them went for tea.

"You may go!"

The two arrived at Huang Xiaochuan's study, which served as both his study and tea room. However, Huang Xiaochuan would only bring very close people here.

This was Yue Zhiyuan's first time visiting Huang Xiaochuan's teahouse, and once inside, his eyes were immediately filled with wonder.

The large room was divided into two areas by Huang Xiaochuan. One area was the study area, where the desk, bookshelves and chairs were all made of huanghuali wood. These pieces of furniture were made by Huo Miao's father, Old Huo, and his men. Each piece was a fine work of art.

Of course, the other half of the tea room is equally impressive, with tea tables, tea sets, and tea cabinets all made of huanghuali wood. However, these pieces of furniture are not the most valuable items. The most valuable items are the various tea sets collected by Huang Xiaochuan, such as the three-piece covered bowls from the Ming and Qing dynasties, Yongle blue and white porcelain cups, twelve flower goddess cups, and Yongzheng-era imitations of Chenghua chicken cups. Of course, Huang Xiaochuan also has chicken cups from the Chenghua period.

However, that wasn't the best. Huang Xiaochuan's favorite was a Chenghua purple grape cup. Because of the glaze color in ancient times, purple was very rare on porcelain, so this purple grape cup was very rare. Huang Xiaochuan bought it from the Meiyintang Collection at a considerable price.

Besides these gaiwans and teacups, Yixing teapots are also an important part of Huang Xiaochuan's collection. The Yixing teapots he uses are all works by modern and Ming and Qing dynasty teapot masters, such as Gong Chun, Chen Mingyuan, Chen Mansheng, Yang Pengnian, Shi Dabin, Shao Daheng, Gu Jingzhou, and so on.

Chen Mansheng was not skilled in teapot making, but he was very good at designing the shapes of Zisha teapots. He collaborated with Yang Pengnian, a master teapot maker of the same era, to create many masterpieces. Huang Xiaochuan has three of their works here.

However, Huang Xiaochuan treats these tea sets as both collectibles and tools. He usually uses these tools to brew tea. Because the items here are all valuable collectibles, he absolutely does not allow the two little ones to enter this tea room/study. This is also the only room in the house that is not open to the two of them.

Since entering, Yue Zhiyuan has neglected his tea, standing in front of the tea set cabinet with his mouth watering.

While skillfully boiling water and making tea, Huang Xiaochuan said to Yue Zhiyuan, "Zhiyuan, don't look at it through the glass. Take it out and look at it. We're all family, so make yourself at home."

However, Yue Zhiyuan did not think so. Huang Xiaochuan said it, but he could not do it himself. Although he did not know whether the things here were real or fake, he had heard about his brother-in-law's wealth. In that case, the things here must not be fake or imitations, and these things must be precious.

He pointed to a Yixing teapot in the tea set cabinet and said, "Brother-in-law, I've seen this teapot in a picture in a book before. Could this be the same teapot in the book?"

Huang Xiaochuan glanced in the direction Yue Zhiyuan was pointing and said, "I think so? But I haven't read the book you mentioned. This is a Gongchun teapot. It is said that Gongchun is the ancestor of Zisha teapots. He is the one who created Zisha teapots."

Upon hearing this, Yue Zhiyuan practically pressed his face against the glass. He stared intently at the Gongchun teapot for a long time, but didn't dare to pick it up and handle it.

Seeing that Yue Zhiyuan liked it very much, Huang Xiaochuan got up and walked to the tea set cabinet, took out the Gongchun teapot, and put it in Yue Zhiyuan's hand. Yue Zhiyuan was so frightened that he quickly put the teapot back.

After putting the pot back, Yue Zhiyuan patted his chest, still shaken, and said, "Damn, if it had broken, we would have been finished."

Huang Xiaochuan, however, seemed completely unconcerned: "It's just a teapot. In the end, it's just a utensil. I've even used it to brew tea a few times. Otherwise, what would I be doing just leaving it there as an object?"

Actually, Huang Xiaochuan was just showing off in front of Yue Zhiyuan. These things are his favorites. Otherwise, why would he forbid his two precious children from entering this room?

But when Yue Zhiyuan heard Huang Xiaochuan's words, his eyes almost popped out of their sockets in shock. What? Use this pot to brew tea? Are you kidding me?

Although the antique craze in China had not yet taken off in 2000, Yue Zhiyuan, a seasoned tea connoisseur and newspaper reporter, knew the value of this Gongchun teapot.

"I'm not watching anymore! Is the water boiling yet?" Yue Zhiyuan simply stopped watching, to avoid feeling itchy inside.

Yue Zhiyuan was captivated by the fragrant Tieguanyin tea.

After a long pause, he finally said, "Good tea!"

Huang Xiaochuan chuckled and said, "I have plenty here. I'll take two jin with me later."

Yue Zhiyuan would never refuse tea: "Then I won't stand on ceremony with you, it's truly excellent tea!"

After saying that, Yue Zhiyuan drank the rest of the tea in his cup in one gulp, and placed the cup on the tea table, indicating to Huang Xiaochuan to pour another cup.

The two of them drank tea and chatted.

"Zhiyuan, how's your newspaper doing these days?"

While leisurely sipping his tea, Yue Zhiyuan responded to Huang Xiaochuan's question: "It's quite good, but after all, it's a local newspaper, not comparable to provincial or national newspapers."

Huang Xiaochuan smiled, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "In a few years, you'll see, newspapers will inevitably be replaced by the internet."

Yue Zhiyuan didn't believe it: "Impossible, right? The internet can replace newspapers?"

Huang Xiaochuan is qualified to speak on this issue: "What's impossible? Think about it, ten years ago, could you have imagined making phone calls with a mobile phone? Could you have imagined connecting the whole world with a computer network?"

After listening to Huang Xiaochuan's words, Yue Zhiyuan thought about it and agreed!

However, he still asked, "Brother-in-law, how did you come to this conclusion?"

Huang Xiaochuan got up and went to the study area, then found several European and American science and technology publications and gave them to Yue Zhiyuan.

Pointing to some of the science and technology articles above, he said to Yue Zhiyuan, "These are some forward-looking papers on the development of wireless communication and networks in Europe and America. After reading these, you will know what it means for technology to have no limits. So, you need to learn to broaden your thinking."

Yue Zhiyuan looked at the publications with a troubled expression: "Brother-in-law, why are they all in English?"

Huang Xiaochuan then realized that the publications he had shown Yue Zhiyuan were all original editions, and he couldn't help but slap his forehead.

"Look at me, it's okay, I'll find someone to translate it for you, then you can read it slowly."

The two then chatted about everyday things, and Huang Xiaochuan inquired about Yue Zhiyuan's parents.

"The two elders have now moved to my elder brother's place and settled in Nanjing to retire. However, the environment in my elder brother's place is indeed much better than in Qingjiang, and the medical resources in Nanjing are also better than in Qingjiang."

Huang Xiaochuan also agrees with Yue Zhiyuan's point of view. Although small cities have their advantages, they still lack medical and educational resources compared to big cities.

The two men chatted and drank tea, losing track of time. If Yu Min hadn't knocked on the door saying the children were too sleepy to stay awake, the two brothers-in-law might have chatted all night.

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