Golden Phoenix Square.

Next to the Moat.

Cross a bridge and you’ll arrive.

It used to be the go-to spot for residents living around the East Gate for walking and leisure, but as the city gradually declined, more people moved outside, and this once bustling plaza grew increasingly deserted.

In the afternoon.

Hardly anyone is around.

I remember in the past, vendors would start setting up stalls here from noon.

On the opposite side.

The ancient city wall stood like a silent elder, calmly watching over its descendants.

"Uncle, are you a lawyer too?"

The young boy Wei Wujie took a deep breath of fresh air.

For kids at this age, mental health is far more important than academics, so Fang Weiguo and his wife specifically asked Jiang Chen and Fang Qing to take him out for a walk.

"Have you ever seen such a handsome lawyer?"

While being with Boss Jiang wasn’t all about happiness, at least it was impossible to feel depressed, and the young boy was quietly amused.

"What are you laughing at? Am I not handsome?"

The wind blew over the Moat, and Jiang Chen walked beside the boy, unhurriedly.

What was he thinking about at that moment?

He was realizing that he had reached the age where he was being called "Uncle."

"Uncle, you’re definitely not a lawyer."

Wei Wujie said decisively, avoiding the question of whether someone was handsome, as kids wouldn’t lie, right? ~

"Why?"

"Because lawyers wouldn’t care about whether they’re handsome or not."

"..."

Jiang Chen was speechless, then smiled, raised his hand to pat the boy’s head, "You must do well in school, right?"

The boy’s freshly washed face looked a bit embarrassed, "Always just in the top ten."

Jiang Chen’s smile grew wider, and he playfully tousled the boy’s hair again.

"That’s enough, you can’t be too excellent. If you’re too excellent, you won’t be able to become a bricklayer in the future."

What does it mean to joke without tiring?

Knowing that the boy’s father was sitting in the bureau, otherwise if his father knew, he would definitely punch him.

The boy suddenly quieted down, not minding the other messing up his hair. He turned his head slightly, quietly watching Boss Jiang.

"What are you looking at me for?"

Jiang Chen rubbed his hair again, what kind of good person? Only bullying kids!

"I said I want to be a bricklayer, and they all laughed at me, but Uncle is different from them."

Boss Jiang, "neither arrogant nor impatient," finally spared the other’s head and withdrew his hand.

"Those people are short-sighted. When you grow up, the world will be turned upside down. By then, technical jobs will be the most scarce, and bricklaying will definitely become a higher-paid and respected profession than it is now. Classmate Wei Wujie, you have great foresight."

Wei Wujie’s eyes lit up, "Really?"

"Uncle is a big figure, never lies to kids."

The boy blinked.

"A big figure?"

Boss Jiang straightened up, calm and commanding, "Mm."

"How big?"

"Bigger than anyone you’ve ever seen."

"Bragging."

Wei Wujie said, "I’ve seen our school’s principal!"

"..."

Boss Jiang was speechless, probably with crows flying over his head.

Mm.

In the world of kids.

The principal is the top figure.

Fang Qing, who was quietly following behind, stopped eavesdropping, quickened her pace to catch up with the two, and walked alongside them.

"I’m curious what you’ll be like when you get old."

She said, handing an ice lolly to the tall and the small, keeping one for herself.

The shell will wither, wealth will devalue, only a rich soul is eternal.

Jiang Chen chuckled, looking at the statue in the distance, "I’ll definitely be a charming uncle."

"An uncle full of nonsense?"

Boss Jiang pretended not to hear, took the ice lolly, "They still sell green tongues now?"

This ice lolly was something he ate when he was a kid, he had a special fondness for it, very chewy, like jelly, could still stretch when it melted.

Fang Qing’s choice of this ice lolly was very fitting.

Otherwise, why do they say telepathy between people is rare and fortunate?

"Thank you, Auntie."

The boy politely accepted the ice lolly, "Did Uncle have green tongues when he was a kid too?"

"What’s wrong? Look down on uncle?"

Jiang Chen said, "Uncle even ate McDonald’s when he was a kid."

If it weren’t for the kid between them, Fang Qing would have wanted to kick him again.

"Do you eat McDonald’s? Uncle will treat you."

Jiang Chen was unusually generous. Actually, he did eat McDonald’s when he was a child, but only once or twice a year, and he had to wait for his birthday or some special festive occasion.

Across the road at the mall, there’s a McDonald’s on the first floor.

"Thank you, Uncle, I’m not hungry now."

Having just eaten, he really wasn’t hungry. Jiang Chen took a bite of the green tongue, "Tell me if you feel like eating."

Seriously, calling him Uncle repeatedly in an old-fashioned way really gave off some elder-like demeanor.

The reason it’s called Golden Phoenix Square is because of the giant phoenix statue standing in the center of the plaza, shining golden in the sunlight, as if ready to take flight. The pedestal is adult-high, and Jiang Chen remembers climbing up there to play cards when he was a child.

Ahead of the phoenix statue is the children’s amusement park, where business was very slack in broad daylight, and the ticket sellers were napping.

"Wanna play?"

Jiang Chen asked, eating the green tongue.

The young boy Wei Wujie shook his head, but his eyes were glued to the amusement rides, unable to look away.

"I’ll go buy tickets."

Jiang Chen, who couldn’t afford to play before but now had a decisive and generous spirit, ran to the ticket booth and spent a hundred bucks on a pass.

"Play as much as you like."

He returned, showing off the ticket stub.

The young boy clutched the ice lolly, feeling embarrassed.

"When you grow up and make money, remember to pay me back."

Jiang Chen said seriously.

The young boy’s eyes lit up, and he nodded vigorously, "Okay! Pinky promise!"

"Pinky promise!"

Fang Qing observed the two, big and small, interlocking their fingers together.