So, over time, bit by bit, the old General also felt that playing like this was meaningless.

In fact, he wasn't playing chess, but rather enjoying the fun of arguing with someone. As people age, they become more childlike, and their childlike innocence is awakened. The disagreements weren't about interests, but delight.

Lin Chuan played chess with the old General, and after a few games, the old General won with great satisfaction and flair.

"General, your chess skills have improved very quickly," Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"Of course," the old General replied with a smile, "I've been practicing day and night. Do you think my chess skills wouldn't have improved? Besides, I often study chess manuals and watch classic battles, so I'd say my skills are decent now. Although I wouldn't say I'm very strong, I could probably beat you without much difficulty."

"Absolutely," Lin Chuan chuckled and said, "Haven't you already won several rounds against me?"

"You didn't hold back, did you?" the old General asked.

"Of course not," Lin Chuan shook his head and said, "I was using all my ability just now. Now I can't compete with you anymore."

"Haha, finally, there's a time when you admit defeat," the old General laughed heartily.

After a few games, two hours passed by just like that. Time slowly moved past five in the afternoon. The sun gradually began to set in the west. Golden rays were cast upon the beautiful horizon, and the endless clouds seemed like golden dragon scales. It was very captivating.

In the last game, Lin Chuan cleverly let a piece go, and the old General successfully won the final round.

"Haha, I've won again," the old General laughed heartily.

"General, your chess skills have improved once more," Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"Is that so?" the old General grinned and said, "Today, we played four games in total, and I won all four. Lin Chuan, this isn't your usual level. I don't believe this is your true ability."

"It's your skills that have improved," Lin Chuan hastily said.

"Nonsense!" Suddenly, the old General glared angrily at Lin Chuan and said, "You think I don't know about your little tricks? If you hadn't slipped in the last game, I really would have believed my skills had improved, but you deceived me."

"Uh..." Lin Chuan was taken aback.

"In the last move, you clearly could have checkmated me, but you didn't," the old General said with a cold smile, "You chose a policy of appeasement instead. You deliberately employed a delaying tactic, thinking I would appreciate it. But let me tell you, the chessboard is like a battlefield. On the battlefield, delaying even a minute can be fatal. Do you think you were being merciful? In reality, you were being the cruelest, cruel to yourself, do you understand?"

"I..." Lin Chuan was dumbfounded.

"Lin Chuan, I hope you can understand, you can't be too merciful," the old General looked at Lin Chuan seriously and then earnestly said, "Excessive mercy is cruelty towards yourself. If you don't understand this point, you're going to suffer greatly."

"Yes!" Lin Chuan nodded and said, "I will remember the General's teaching."

"It's good that you've remembered," the old General nodded and said, "Let's go, come watch the sunset with me. As people get older, they enjoy watching the sunset."

"Alright, I'll accompany you," Lin Chuan closely followed behind the old General.

The two climbed to the top floor of the General's residence and stood on a platform there, which was the observatory of the General's residence. This platform was the highest point in the area, offering a great view of the sunset.

Although it was only a little after five, the sun had already tilted to the west and was about to set behind the mountains.

The setting sun illuminated the clouds in the west, with clusters of clouds in gold, yellow, and orange... looking as beautiful as a colorful bouquet of flowers, pleasing to the eye. The sun, sinking into the clouds, resembled a diminished fireball, turned into a giant disk, seemingly hanging in the air within reach, prompting a desire to reach out and touch it.

The sun slowly descended, falling through the high buildings in the horizon, casting light on the beautiful clouds, creating an image like a mirage. The whole world was bathed in this twilight glow.

The old General watched the sunset in the west with a solemn expression, observing as the beautiful sunset gradually faded into a dark red glow.

"As people get older, they enjoy watching the sunset," the old General repeated the previous phrase, paused, and continued, "A person's life is like the sun. When it first rises, it seems incredibly beautiful and grand; by noon, it becomes a blazing fireball, as if showing its might and power to the world; however, once it reaches sunset, it seems as if bidding farewell to the world, with its light dimming, like the aging skin of an old man. Its light is no longer dazzling, no longer fiery, but turns into a gentle glow."

"Yes," Lin Chuan nodded.

"When people get old, they tend to enjoy watching the sunset, because I feel like my life is gradually approaching its end." The old General sighed helplessly, then said, "I seem to have a special fondness for this sunset. I've discovered that I've completely fallen in love with this piece of evening glow."

As the old General's words fell, the sun quietly disappeared beneath the horizon. On the edge of the sky, only a mass of fiery clouds remained, resembling a large fire that hadn't yet extinguished. However, this mass of fiery clouds gradually dimmed, losing its glow, eventually quieting down, and losing its luster.

"General," Lin Chuan smiled and said, "This sunset is for a better sunrise the next time. Human life is perpetually renewing, forever continuing. The birth and death of humanity are the continuous inheritance of human will, aren't they?"

"Hmm!" The old General nodded, and said, "Lin Chuan, your words have indeed awakened me quite a bit."

"General, your life has been glorious, noble, and worthy of praise." Lin Chuan looked at the old General with a smile and said, "An ordinary person's life is far less than a ten-thousandth of yours, your life is so full of splendor."

"You kid, stop flattering me." The old General laughed heartily and said, "However, I am still very satisfied with my life."

"Hehe, I'm not flattering you." Lin Chuan let out a chuckle and then said, "I'm just speaking the truth. I'm not flattering you."

"Haha..." The old General laughed heartily and said, "By the way, when do you plan to marry that girl from the Tang family?"

"This..." Lin Chuan hesitated slightly and said, "It's not time yet, at least I don't have enough money to hold a decent wedding."

"Not enough money?" The old General was taken aback and said, "That's simple, I'll..."

"No!" Lin Chuan resolutely interrupted the old General and said, "I won't take a cent of your money. Since I'm going to marry Xiao Yu, I have to save enough money with my own hands. Don't worry, I will definitely succeed."

"I never worry about you, kid." The old General chuckled.

Tang Yumeng's father gave me three conditions, each of which I must complete one by one. Even for the cost of the wedding, I will save every penny myself. I won't use anyone else's money at all.

"I'm returning to Jiangbei City tomorrow." Lin Chuan looked at the old General.

"Go ahead." The old General smiled and said, "Actually, you don't belong to the military, nor to this country. I know, you belong to all of humanity."

The old General's words somewhat embarrassed Lin Chuan. Indeed, his words were a bit overstated. Lin Chuan's face turned a bit red upon hearing them. Awkwardly, Lin Chuan said, "General, I will always be your grandson."

"Hahaha..." Upon hearing this, the old General was instantly delighted.

............

The next day, Lin Chuan boarded a plane alone back to Jiangbei City. Tang Yumeng stayed in Beijing for the time being; this was her first time returning home in five years, so she decided to stay a little longer. Lin Chuan returned to Jiangbei City.

At the airport, Zhou Rui waited outside in her car.

Seeing Lin Chuan emerge from the airport, the long-silent Zhou Rui finally revealed a bright smile.

"Lin Chuan, you've finally come back?" Zhou Rui excitedly waved at Lin Chuan.

"Hmm." Lin Chuan nodded and said, "How did you know I was coming back?"

"Sister Tang Yumeng sent me a message." Zhou Rui smiled and said, "She asked me to pick you up. Now that all the brothers of the Jvyi Gang are not in the country, so only I can pick you up."

"There are so many people in the company, couldn't you just assign a driver?" Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"How could that work?" Zhou Rui linked her arm with Lin Chuan's and then said, "You are at least our company's boss, and I'm just your employee. If we let someone else come, wouldn't that be too disrespectful to you? If I come myself, it's different."

Zhou Rui drove Lin Chuan back to Jiangbei City.

Sichuan University Group has now become the hottest enterprise group in Jiangbei City. Everyone knows the background of the Sichuan University Group, and the officials are even more aware of the deeper background behind it. So, generally speaking, if Sichuan University Group has any minor violations, the authorities would usually turn a blind eye. Sichuan University Group's development is on the rise. With the spring, the business of the arena has started to pick up. Half is supplied to the market, and the other half is internally consumed.

The business of Haiqing Pool has been handed over to others for management. With Jvyi Gang as backing, hardly anyone dares to make trouble. Nowadays, such businesses are basically monopolized by the people of Jvyi Gang, making it no exaggeration to describe it as earning a fortune daily. Sichuan Restaurant, with its booming business, approaches an affordable level for the masses, while the dishes are commendable. Of course, to cater to high-end business, apart from the main hall, other areas still follow the previous rules, thus catering to not only the consumption of the masses but also the high-end consumer groups. As a result, the business of Sichuan Restaurant is also extremely booming, with queues in the main hall endless.

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