Jiang Jianmin's lips curled up slightly into a faint smile as he spoke softly.
"This place is quite extraordinary. Its magnetic field is very unique; without specific road signs to guide you, it's incredibly easy to get lost once you enter. Furthermore, if you go just a bit further up, even compasses lose their function, and electronic devices will experience interference."
Hearing this, a flash of surprise crossed Jiang Cheng's face. He widened his eyes and asked in disbelief, "Are you serious?"
Jiang Jianmin nodded with certainty.
"You should have heard of the Bermuda Triangle."
Jiang Cheng replied, "The Bermuda Triangle in the North Atlantic is a paradise for many explorers, but of course, it's also a nightmare. It's said that very few return safely."
"Yes, there are many places in this world with abnormal magnetic fields, and the Bermuda Triangle is one of them. There's also Shennongjia in our country, which has a special magnetic field where it's very easy for things to go wrong. Mount Wawu in Sichuan also has a unique magnetic field and is known as 'China's Bermuda.' While the magnetic field in this garden isn't as strong as those, it's precisely because of that that it's quite suitable for living."
After listening, Jiang Cheng looked around at his surroundings with a face full of amazement.
No wonder he felt something was a bit different from other places the last time he came.
"I didn't expect Kyoto to have a place like this."
Jiang Jianmin pulled his phone out of his pocket, took a casual glance, and then followed up by saying, "Oh, your mother sent a message saying she's back. Let's hurry home too..."
Jiang Cheng nodded obediently and immediately followed his father, Jiang Jianmin, toward another small path leading down the mountain.
Along the way, while observing the nearby flowers and plants, he asked, "Where did Mom go so early in the morning?"
Jianmin answered with a smile and a relaxed tone, "Your mother, she couldn't wait and ran over to Xiangshan early this morning to visit your maternal grandfather."
Upon hearing this, the expression on Jiang Cheng's face instantly froze, followed by a look of complete bewilderment.
"I actually have a maternal grandfather??" Jiang Cheng muttered to himself in disbelief, his eyes wide.
Seeing his son's shocked reaction, Jiang Jianmin couldn't help but laugh and teased, "Of course. Did you think your mother popped out of a crack in a rock??"
"Holy crap, and I haven't gone to see him since I arrived in Kyoto?? This... this..." Jiang Cheng looked at his father, Jiang Jianmin, in shock.
Jiang Jianmin waved his hand dismissively and comforted him, "No rush. I know you have good manners, and your grandfather and the others will understand. You can go when the timing is right."
His thoughts involuntarily drifted back to his childhood.
Back then, he didn't understand what it truly meant to be 'dumbfounded'.
Jiang Cheng remembered asking his mother, Li Yan, out of curiosity: "Why do other children have maternal grandfathers and grandmothers, but I don't?"
Every time Li Yan heard this question, her expression would become somewhat complicated.
After hesitating to speak, she would simply tell Jiang Cheng helplessly, "Your maternal grandparents live in a very distant place. They like a quiet life and don't wish to be disturbed by others."
For a long time, those words 'a very distant place' were automatically translated in the depths of young Jiang Cheng's heart into another meaning.
That was, his maternal grandparents had already passed away... Yet, he was only being told now that his maternal grandparents were actually in Kyoto??
Seeing that Jiang Cheng seemed a bit depressed.
Jiang Jianmin quickly changed the subject, saying, "Oh, right, there's another good place in Kyoto called Yuquan Mountain. When your mother has some free time, let her take you there to have a look."
"Yuquan Mountain? That name sounds quite familiar."
Seeing that Jiang Cheng was somewhat interested, Jiang Jianmin began to explain patiently.
"Yes, Yuquan Mountain is not simple. It's one of Kyoto's famous restricted areas. Many very important historical relics are preserved within that mountain. If you want to gain a deep understanding of our Huaxia nation's long history and culture, visiting there is definitely the right choice. Besides, the scenery is quite nice."
After listening, Jiang Cheng followed up with confusion, "This is the first time I've heard of a place being a restricted area."
"That's right, ordinary people can't get in. I lived there when I was a child and only moved here later. That place is not only a feng shui treasure of Kyoto, but during the Liao and Jin dynasties, it was a royal palace. It remained a royal garden through several subsequent dynasties, with sixteen scenic gardens built inside. Emperor Qianlong even named the spring water there the 'Number One Spring Under Heaven'."
Hearing this, Jiang Cheng said with a hint of anticipation, "Then I must find some time to properly appreciate this legendary spring water!"
Although the journey down the mountain was relatively easy, because Jiang Jianmin had lacked exercise for a long time, he was still breathing slightly heavily.
He caught his breath and continued, "If you want to see the spring water, you're going to be greatly disappointed. I remember when I was a child, most of the many spring eyes on Yuquan Mountain still flowed with clear, sweet water. But now, with the sharp drop in Kyoto's groundwater level, many of the spring eyes have already dried up..."
"Ah?..."
"I've only heard about it; I haven't gone to see it myself. But the water flow is very low, not like it used to be. In recent years, due to the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, I heard the water level has risen quite a bit. It should recover somewhat in a few more years."
Jiang Cheng supported Jiang Jianmin: "If that place is so good, why did we move?"
Jiang Jianmin chuckled, "Silly child, your grandfather has retired and is in good health. Isn't it better to move here for his retirement? This place is no less than that one. That area is now a residence for high-level officials and a military stronghold; why would we go in there?"
Jiang Cheng instantly understood Jiang Jianmin's words.
Inside, his grandfather would probably be in a state similar to Qiu Zheng's current status... Jiang Cheng didn't leave the house for two consecutive days.
He stayed home the whole time with his two grandfathers to prepare goods for the New Year.
The New Year's goods in Kyoto were quite different compared to those in Chengdu.
There were not only various pastries, like ox-tongue biscuits and hawthorn shortbread.
There were even menus for spiced beef and braised pork hock.
There were even more varieties of preserved fruits.
One could say that before the New Year had even arrived, Jiang Cheng had been fed a bellyful of New Year's treats by his two grandfathers.
As night gradually fell and the city lights began to glow.
Jiang Cheng drove the dark nights sound conspicuously toward the Dance Academy.
Before, his father had always been instilling the idea of keeping a low profile in him.
But after these past few days, under the double-layered doting of his two grandfathers, Jiang Cheng had long forgotten what the words 'low profile' meant.
In no time at all, that sports car, moving like a bolt of lightning, quickly arrived at its destination—the Dance Academy.
Jiang Chu Ran's rehearsal schedule during this period was exceptionally tight; every day she was like a wound-up spring, not daring to stop for a moment.
She could only squeeze out over an hour of dinner time to meet with Jiang Cheng.
The car slowly stopped at the school's back gate.
Seeing Jiang Cheng get out of the car.
Jiang Chu Ran's heart couldn't help but throb wildly.
With a hint of shyness, she reached out and gently took Jiang Cheng's arm.
She tilted her head up slightly, her large, watery eyes looking at Jiang Cheng.
She spoke softly, asking, "Um... can you eat things like stone pot bibimbap?"
Jiang Cheng nodded naturally, "Why not? You've been dancing for a long time; you look very tired."