Wang Xiaoke felt a small surge of excitement when she heard the boy’s words.

“Alright, let’s go check it out.”

The two of them headed in the direction he pointed. After passing through a peach orchard, the scenery opened up to reveal a sprawling vineyard.

The little boy, who had been sticking close to Wang Xiaoke like a shadow, suddenly dashed forward as if a fish returning to water. He shouted in his soft, childlike voice, “Grandpa! Grandpa!”

“Minyang, you little rascal! Where did you run off to? You nearly gave your grandpa a heart attack! Do you have any idea how worried I was?” An elderly voice called out. Wang Xiaoke guessed it must be the boy’s grandfather.

The old man wore a traditional tang suit, exuding an air of authority. Despite his advanced age, he stood tall and robust, radiating energy with no hint of frailty.

Seeing his grandson return, the tension on his face relaxed a bit. He gently stroked the boy’s thick, soft hair, as if handling a precious treasure.

“Grandpa, this big sister brought me back,” the little boy finally remembered Wang Xiaoke’s presence and introduced her by pointing in her direction.

Following his grandson’s gesture, the old man turned to Wang Xiaoke and smiled warmly. “Young lady, thank you so much. This old man owes you a debt of gratitude.” With that, he bowed deeply to her.

Wang Xiaoke was flustered and quickly stepped aside. Scratching her head, she said with embarrassment, “It was nothing, really. I just lent a small hand. You don’t need to be so formal.”

“But it’s thanks to your help. This boy may be clever, but he’s still young. If he had run into bad people, I’d never be able to face his parents again,” the old man said. Seeing Wang Xiaoke’s bashful reaction only deepened his smile.

Wang Xiaoke waved her hand dismissively. “There’s no need for thanks. Honestly, your grandson is very smart. Even if I hadn’t helped him, I’m sure he would’ve figured out a way to find his way back.” She spoke sincerely.

Hearing this, the old man couldn’t help but laugh heartily, clearly well-aware of his grandson’s little antics.

The old man was very talkative, and as their conversation continued, the two found themselves talking about a variety of topics, enjoying each other’s company.

“Young lady, I don’t think I caught your name?” the old man eventually asked.

“My last name is Wang. You can just call me Xiaoke,” she replied with a smile. She had taken a liking to the old man, who reminded her of a kind and loving elder.

“Judging by your attire, you must be from the city, right?” The old man squinted slightly, his tone casual.

“Yes, I came here to take care of some business,” Wang Xiaoke said, suddenly remembering her purpose for coming. She asked, “Are you a local, sir?”

“Yes, this area has been my family’s ancestral home for generations,” the old man replied, taking a sip of tea.

Wang Xiaoke felt like she had struck gold. She had been fretting about finding someone to ask for directions, and now she had stumbled upon this helpful local guide. Of course, she wouldn’t let this opportunity go to waste.

“Do you know a family here with the surname Xiao? How do I get to their house?” she asked eagerly.

“What do you need from the Xiao family? As far as I know, they don’t have any relatives with the surname Wang,” the old man said, his gaze curious.

“My family runs a winery, but we’re currently facing some difficulties. We’re short on grape supplies. I heard the Xiao family grows a lot of grapes, so I came hoping to convince them to sell some to us to ease our urgent need.” Wang Xiaoke explained her purpose clearly.