Chapter 3386 — The Youngster Left Home; Now the Gray-Headed One Returns
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
Song Xianghua led Xiao Rui out of the car and into the alley. His attire was quite outlandish—like the upper-class dress of the thirties or forties: a bowler hat, a long gown, gold-rimmed spectacles. The getup made many passersby stop and stare.
Of course, these days there were plenty of extras running about—especially in a place like Yanjing. Who knew whether Song Xianghua was an actor?
"You two, this is private property. You can't go in. If you're here sightseeing, please turn around!" Song Xianghua and Xiao Rui had barely entered the alley when a Song family disciple blocked their path.
"You're from the Song family?" Song Xianghua halted, gazing with emotion at every tree and blade of grass here—just as it had been forty years ago when he left. Only, this young disciple before him was a stranger to him now.
"Yes. You know the Song family?" The disciple was slightly taken aback.
"Yes. My name is Song Xianghua," he said with a smile, not at all vexed by the disciple's obstruction. "I am your family head's brother—Song Xiangwen's younger brother."
"Ah?!" The disciple froze at his words. "You... you're telling the truth?"
"If Second Grandpa's words aren't true, then I suppose mine aren't either?" Xiao Rui stepped forward, pulled off her sunglasses, and shot the disciple a glare.
"You... you're... the second young miss?!" The disciple had seen Xiao Rui before, though it was five years ago, when she was only fourteen. This year she was nineteen—five years without coming home—but her features were faintly as they had been, and her voice had scarcely changed, so he recognized her at once. "Second Old Master, Second Young Miss, please come in, come in! This disciple's eyes failed him—my apologies, my apologies!"
"Haha, it's fine, no fault of yours. It would be strange if you did recognize me!" Song Xianghua waved a hand dismissively. "Is my elder brother in?"
"Second Old Master, I'll take you to see the old family head!" the disciple said hurriedly.
"Good, lead the way." Song Xianghua nodded with a smile.
The disciple walked respectfully ahead, guiding them to a courtyard house at the very back of the alley. The gate was guarded too—by a slightly stooped old man, a late Yellow Rank peak expert.
"Song Xiaowu, what do you mean by bringing outsiders here without permission? Don't you know the rules here?" The old man's face darkened as he barked.
"Old Steward, these two are..." the disciple called Song Xiaowu began hastily, trying to explain.
"Xiangda? Is that you, Xiangda?" Song Xianghua's eyes flashed with excitement as he looked at the aged man before him.
"You... you are?" The old steward, Xiangda, turned to Song Xianghua, a flicker of doubt in his eyes.
"I'm Xianghua!" Song Xianghua said excitedly. It was no wonder Song Xiangda hadn't recognized him—Song Xiangda would never have imagined he could return!
After all, so many years without a word, Song Xiangda had even thought he would never see Song Xianghua again in this life!
It was just as the poem said: the youngster left home, and the gray-haired one returns; the native accent unchanged, the temple hair grown thin.