"Checkmate."

Mr. Zhou picked up the piece and placed it down, grinning as he said:

"Kid, you're not doing so well today! How many games has it been, and you've been losing this whole time. It's no fun!"

Yang Yan glanced at the chessboard and then chuckled lightly:

"I'm done for; you're really sharp today, old man!"

With that, he began to pick up the pieces from the board.

"Alright, enough with the flattery. Those guys should be here by now, let's go and meet them."

"Thinking back to those days when we fought side by side on the battlefield, I really do feel a bit nostalgic!"

Mr. Zhou sighed as he spoke.

Yang Yan and Zhou Hanyun exchanged a smile without saying much.

Old folks, it's inevitable for them to reminisce about the past.

Moreover, those days of war and glory are indeed worth remembering.

For his age, Mr. Zhou is still quite sprightly, able to walk without any assistance.

Considering he's already ninety, having such a robust body is truly remarkable.

This side of the guest room is different from other places; it leans more towards a homely environment, everything arranged very cozily.

And besides, they're all separate rooms, with great privacy.

Of course, there's also a large reception hall here.

At this moment, Yang Yan and the others were heading there.

Mr. Zhou, accompanied slowly by the two on either side, began recounting his history once again to Yang Yan and Zhou Hanyun.

"Sigh! I'm getting old; inevitably, I talk a bit more. You two must be tired of listening, right?"

Zhou Hanyun quickly said:

"What are you talking about! Grandpa, how could we possibly be tired of listening?"

Mr. Zhou smiled, and just as he was about to say more, Yang Yan gently reminded him:

"We've arrived, old man."

"Arrived? Time flies by so quickly!"

Mr. Zhou looked at him with a profound gaze, his words holding a double meaning.

Yang Yan chuckled awkwardly and hurried to open the door for him.

Inside, six or seven elderly people were already seated.

And beside each elder, there were several younger ones attending to them.

Seeing Mr. Zhou enter, they all showed excited expressions.

"Old friends, have you all been well these past few years?"

Mr. Zhou opened the conversation.

"Good, of course, good! Even as the one who seems to be doing the worst, I feel very fortunate; they surely are even better. It's just us old stubborn ones troubling the country."

Another elder seated in a wheelchair responded excitedly.

Just after speaking, he had a violent coughing fit, and the girl with glasses beside him gently patted his back to ease his breathing.

"Grandpa, speak slowly, don't get too worked up. The doctor said your emotions shouldn't fluctuate too much given your health."

The elder regulated his breath and nodded cheerfully:

"Alright, alright; I'm old now, not as capable as before, speaking just a few words and it leads to this."

"Thinking back to my youth, back then, even carrying a machine gun across dozens of miles of mountain road was no problem at all."

At this moment, another elder jokingly remarked:

"You, seeing Old Zhou here, get this excited! When the old chief arrives, don't actually pass out from excitement!"

Just as the elders began exchanging pleasantries and jokes, even bickering, more people entered from outside the door.

The new arrivals were also old men well into their twilight years.

However, some came in wheelchairs, some with walking sticks.

They too were accompanied by young people in their twenties or thirties.

"Old chief, you're here!"

Mr. Zhou hastily got up to greet one of the entering elders.

"What chief? There are no chiefs here today. Old friends, have you been well these days? I missed you all!"

The spirited elder glanced around the room, revealing some emotion in his voice.

Hearing his words, everyone responded excitedly, speaking with the elder.

The elders reminisced there about their days of blood, fire, and passion while the young attendees stood idly aside.

"Alright, we're about to chat up here, you youngsters should go out and mingle by yourselves. We don't need you here."

The old chief commanded almost, observing the bored young ones.

Hearing the elder's words, the older ones briefly instructed their young companions, then let them find a spot to acquaint themselves and connect.

The older generation hoped not only for their generation but also the younger generation to communicate and continue their camaraderie.

After being ushered out by the elders, the youngsters found themselves wide-eyed and slack-jawed.

"Let's go, I'll take everyone to the lounge over there for a sit." One young man observed the awkward scene and suggested with a smile.

Everyone promptly followed suit and silently trailed the man to a nearby lounge.

Noticing some of them gazing in surprise at the lounge, he seemed to swell with a sense of satisfaction.

"Uh, find a seat, and I'll have someone bring some tea over."

Spotting Zhou Hanyun, his eyes lit up, and he spoke with a facade of generosity.

After settling down with Zhou Hanyun, Yang Yan discreetly glanced around.

Judging by attire and demeanor, it was clear not everyone present was making a big splash in life.

After briefly leaving, the young man who led them came back shortly.

Accompanying him were several staff members, carrying teapots.

Once everyone had been served a cup of tea, the staff placed the teapots down and exited.

"Brothers and sisters, let me introduce myself first. I'm Xu Jie from Guang Province, involved in trade, running some trade companies. I hope you all can offer me some guidance!"

This self-proclaimed Xu Jie, seemingly accustomed to such settings, spoke with poise and ease.

"I'm Zhang Yu, living in Fu Province and working at the national tax bureau. This is my wife; we hope to make connections with you all as well!"

After Xu Jie's introduction, another person spoke up seamlessly.

Hearing Zhang Yu mention he worked at the national tax bureau in Fu Province, Xu Jie's eyes brightened, and he intentionally took a seat beside him.

What followed was naturally the time for everyone to introduce themselves.

There were quite a few people here, at least twenty, with doctors, teachers, and even some running small businesses.

Some were even farmers, working the land at home.

"I'm Zhou Hanyun, running small businesses in East Sea City. This one..."

Zhou Hanyun paused briefly before confidently continuing:

"This is my boyfriend, named Yang Yan, and we're both currently starting a business in the Imperial Capital."

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