Street Hustler and His Policewoman Wife-Chapter 144: Memories of Bygone Love

The conversation with his mother revealed to Chen Xiao why Old Chen hesitated to speak.

He now completely trusts Chen Xiao's abilities.

It is precisely because of this that Old Chen's longing over the past decade became even more intense upon seeing Chen Xiao again.

Yet, he was worried.

Worried about causing trouble for his child.

Also worried that after finally being together again, Chen Xiao and Lin Xi might resent him if they were separated once more. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Thus, Old Chen never spoke up.

But his mother is straightforward and never hides anything.

Chen Xiao returned to the main room and saw Old Chen staring blankly at the moon in the yard, so he moved a chair to sit beside him.

"Dad, how about we have a drink together?"

At dinner, Old Chen didn't mention drinking, so Chen Xiao didn't bring it up either.

Now upon hearing this, Old Chen seemed tempted.

"Not too much, right?" Old Chen was a bit uneasy.

Chen Xiao chuckled bitterly, "Not much, just a little bit."

"Alright, I'll get the wine. We've got some braised beef and peanuts in the house."

Just as Old Chen was about to stand up, Lin Xi came out with a small table, smiling, "Dad, you don't need to bother. I brought it over."

Seeing Lin Xi, Old Chen felt a bit embarrassed, but Lin Xi reassured him, "Dad, go ahead and drink. I don't mind him drinking as long as he doesn't act foolish."

"He better not try!" Old Chen glared, causing Chen Xiao to immediately admit his mistake.

Lin Xi set the dishes and poured a glass for each of them.

Chen Xiao took the initiative to toast with Old Chen.

Not long after, with a couple of drinks in, Chen Xiao broached the topic, "Dad, are you thinking about talking to me about Uncle Wan De tonight?"

Old Chen was startled, then glanced back at his wife.

But she was engrossed in watching a TV drama, completely ignoring him.

Old Chen nodded, "Did your mom tell you?"

Chen Xiao affirmed, so Old Chen continued, "Yes, these days I keep dreaming about him. He's as young as he was ten years ago, with slicked-back hair, carrying a radio, looking quite dashing."

"He's jumping and swaying in front of me, but every time, he ends up crying, saying he's miserable and suffering."

Hearing this, Chen Xiao frowned.

His intuition told him this wasn't a good dream.

But when he spoke, he said, "Dreams are always the opposite. Maybe Uncle Wan De is living it up and enjoying life somewhere."

"Can't be. If he really struck it rich, he would have come back in triumph. You might not know him, but as his brother, I do. He always wanted to return home in glory someday, to show his parents who never cared that he, Wan De, was the most successful of the family!"

"But since he left, he hasn't even written a single letter back. It's been ten years, not a word. Sometimes I wonder if I ever really had a brother like that. If I did... where is he now?"

Old Chen said, taking another gulp of wine.

Chen Xiao stayed silent while Lin Xi silently listened and refilled Old Chen's glass.

Old Chen rubbed his face hard, "Your Uncle Wan De was a good man. Besides helping us immensely when you were born, he was the one who pulled me forward all those years. Even when I met your mom and was genuinely happy but too shy to approach her."

"At the time, when I was being bashful, your Uncle Wan De dragged me right in front of your mom, and later took me to propose at your maternal grandfather's house. Your granddad didn't know me well at first, so he deliberately challenged me with many conditions. I was worried, but it was your Uncle Wan De who took me to the city to work."

"We worked for a year, and he gave me all his money. He purposely made excuses saying he won it gambling, so I wouldn't worry. But I knew clearly in my heart. I quietly vowed that when our family thrived, he would be family too!"

"But who would have thought that after Qingming Festival in '91, he abruptly decided to go to the coast for work, claiming you could make more money there. I initially said I'd join him, but your mom clung to me, and I couldn't leave you, so I merely watched him board the bus at the station."

"Even now, I remember Ah De waving at me saying, 'Brother Da Lie, keep the family well.' But then he said, 'Brother Da Lie, slow down, let me have another look.' I scolded him for being sentimental, but he just laughed and got on the bus."

At this point, Old Chen was choked up.

His rough hand wiped his eyes, unable to erase the deep brotherly love.

Chen Xiao took a deep breath, "So, what's your plan now?"

"I heard people say your Uncle Wan De went to a place called Wood Town. Not many people have passed through there. Either dead or suddenly gone, impossible to find no matter how many years pass. Some say he offended someone out there and was thrown into the river."

"But don't the old sayings go, if alive, you see the person; if dead, you see the corpse? These days, he's been in my dreams, Chen Xiao... I feel your Uncle Wan De misses home."

Old Chen paused here.

After finishing the drink, Old Chen spontaneously said, "No more drinks, let's rest early."

Lin Xi nodded and cleaned up the table, then pulled Chen Xiao back into the room.

"What do you think about what Dad said?" Lin Xi asked.

Chen Xiao didn't respond immediately, frowning deeply.

Lin Xi tugged at him, "What are you thinking?"

Chen Xiao smiled and shook his head, "Nothing, just suddenly thought of something."

Lin Xi looked puzzled, "Can you tell me?"

"The dream, the dream my dad mentioned," Chen Xiao said.

Lin Xi was even more baffled, "What's about the dream?"

"The Swallow Lane Fishbone Case, Dali had a dream. In Qingxi, when investigating Xiao Diandian's disappearance, I also had a dream. In the dream, I dreamed of a shadow giving me that dark rag doll. Now, my dad said your Uncle Wan De sent him a dream."

"Wife, why are there so many dreams?"

Lin Xi didn't realize that Chen Xiao truly feared he was living in one long, long dream.

He was afraid everything happening now was false!

But the next second, Lin Xi suddenly pinched his waist, squinting her eyes and smilingly asking, "Does it hurt?"

Chen Xiao gasped, "It hurts a lot!"

Lin Xi laughed, "See, you'd transformed from a jerk into an exceptionally, exceptionally outstanding husband, I even feel like I'm dreaming!"

Chen Xiao smiled bitterly, Lin Xi hugged him tightly and softly said, "Don't doubt it. If you feel those dreams are unreal, haven't you thought maybe they're all clues! Just like Dali, if he hadn't told you the dream, would you have reminded him? If not, could Dali have been more alert? I can't even imagine if Xi Yian and Su Jing had discovered him then, would they have killed him to keep the secret!"

"And with the Xiao Diandian case, why can't it be seen as a sign, suggesting you could catch Chen Yan with Xiao Diandian's help!"

"Moreover, the dream from the Uncle Wan De I've never met, given to Dad, I also think there might be some hidden guidance in there. Shouldn't we investigate?"

After Lin Xi's words, Chen Xiao started to find reason in them.

As a reincarnator, he's already the one without any rationale to speak of.

So the appearance of dreams or visions in these cases doesn't bother Chen Xiao much; if there are any, they were another hidden advantage of his.

If not, even better.

Otherwise, with too many dreams, he really wouldn't be at peace.

"Alright, I'll find a time to walk around Wood Town."

After Chen Xiao spoke, Lin Xi nodded and pinched him again.

Chen Xiao gasped in pain, "Why did you pinch me again?"

"Did you understand what Mom said tonight?"

"Huh? What did she say?"

"The part about her cooking for five or six people."

Chen Xiao grinned, "Oh, that. Shall we work hard?"

"No, I need to prepare, aiming to fulfill Mom's wish all at once."

"Whoa... that harsh?"

"Fun fact: my grandmother had twins, so according to genetics, both Xiaoyao and I have a certain probability!"