[Urban] My Flirtatious Wife (Complete) - Episode 28

In Chapter 28 of the second volume, a story of photographs,

the Buddha said that death may not be painful, but the fear that the fact of death brings to the living far exceeds death itself. Death is the beginning of new life, and reincarnation is the birth of the next life, but the lingering attachment at the time of death is painful.

Before this, I had never felt the word "death" so close to me. In my entire life, I had only had two close encounters with death, once with someone else and once with myself.

Back in 2002, after failing to get factory jobs in Sanzao, Zhuhai, nineteen of us boys took a bus to Dongguan that very night. We stayed at a job placement agency near the Dongguan Bus Terminal, paying ten yuan a day including sleep. Nineteen of us shared a room. The principal told us to wait patiently until some of us got jobs in factories in Dongguan. The remaining seven boys, including myself, ended up in a small factory in Gongming, Shenzhen, which produced loudspeakers. Unfortunately, after three days of work, we just wandered around the workshop doing nothing. With nothing to do, of course, we didn't get paid. After discussing it, the eight of us decided to go back to Dongguan to continue our search. At the factory gate was a road. I only learned later, when I walked it often, that it ran from Huangjiang in Dongguan through Gongming to Songgang. The road had extremely heavy traffic and frequent pedestrian crossings, but there were no traffic lights or pedestrian overpasses.

Our group of naive young men walked out of the factory and came to the roadside, intending to cross to the other side to wait for a bus. But for some reason, one of my classmates, surnamed Zhu, seemed oblivious to the approaching vehicles. While all seven of us stopped, he walked towards the other side, seemingly unaware of the approaching cars. Tragedy struck at that moment. A speeding Jinbei van struck him with a bang, sending him flying several meters before being stopped by the median strip. He landed on the ground, foaming at the mouth and convulsing. I was stunned. The Jinbei van driver also got out of the vehicle, looking at my classmate with a bewildered expression. On the windshield of the van was a dent the size of a football, with black hairs still clinging to the shattered fragments.

However, this classmate was incredibly lucky; despite being hit so badly, aside from a broken hand, he was unharmed. But the shock I felt that time was indescribable; it was my first direct experience of death.

The second time was when he jumped off the overpass, but that felt more like a long dream. Waking up abruptly meant starting a new life, nothing more. So, that near-death experience didn't affect me at all.

But now, the thought of my father leaving me forever pierces my heart like a thousand knives, a pain that reaches my very soul. I lean against the bed, holding my father's slightly cold hand, and sobbed uncontrollably.

After a long while, my father gently patted my head and said in a hoarse voice, "Silly boy, you're so old, still crying? Haven't you cried enough?"

"Dad…"

My heart ached even more. My father must have been prepared, but what about me? Was he really going to leave us? I can't even imagine the unbearable pain I would feel when the mountain that sustained my life suddenly collapsed.

My father, as if comforting himself and me alike, sighed and slowly said, "Shizi, few people live to seventy. Your father has lived for over fifty years, and I'm content. Shizi, from childhood to adulthood, I haven't treated you well. I haven't been able to provide you with good living conditions or send you to university, and I regret that. I've always hit and scolded you. But what father wouldn't love his children? I hit and scolded you because I knew I couldn't spoil you like a rich man could. I just wanted you to experience more setbacks from a young age, so that when you grow up, you'll become more..." Be strong. Remember, no matter what, you should be grateful to the person who hurt you, because they taught you independence. Dad is very pleased to see you live alone for so many years, but my only worry now is that you haven't started a family yet. I used to think that if I could hold my grandson before I died, I would have no regrets.”

I listened attentively to my father, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably. If I had understood my father's good intentions sooner, perhaps I would have spent more time building a bridge of communication between father and son, and our hearts could have been closer. I wiped away my tears and snot, stood up, and forced a smile at my father. "Dad, don't say that. I know you're very good to me, very good to us. We're family. I'm your son. No matter what happened before, all I want now is for you to rest well. You'll get better slowly, you know? You can't leave us..."

I paused, then said, "Dad, wait a moment, I need you to see someone."

I let go of my father's hand, walked out of the main room, and saw that my mother had returned and was talking to Xiaoxue. My mother's Mandarin wasn't very good, so she sounded a little stuttering.

"Mom..."

I called softly. My mother turned around, her face filled with sorrow, and reached out to hug me. Who can understand the pain of enduring the impending departure of a loved one and being powerless to stop it? After a long while, my mother let go of me, turned around and looked at Xiaoxue with a tender expression, asking me, "Shizai, is this the little girl in the photo? She's even prettier than in the picture. My Mandarin isn't very good, can you introduce her?"

"Yes,"

I replied, turning around and pulling Xiaoxue over to introduce her to my mother, "Her name is Xiaoxue, her surname is Gu. Mom, you can just call her Xiaoxue too."

I then introduced my mother to Xiaoxue, and Xiaoxue affectionately called out "Auntie," which brought a rare smile to my mother's face—a very gratified smile. I then whispered to Xiaoxue, "Xiaoxue, my dad's inside, would you like to come in with me for a moment? Aren't you scared?"

Xiaoxue glared at me and spat, "You're crazy, what are you afraid of? That's your dad."

With that, she darted into the inner room before me, and my mother and I followed closely behind.

Seeing the loving look in my father's eyes, I secretly felt fortunate to have brought Xiaoxue back with me. I smiled and said to my father, "Dad... this is my girlfriend. I sent you a photo last time, you should have seen it. Her name is Gu Hanxue, I usually call her Xiaoxue."

Hearing my introduction, my father's pale face trembled slightly. He repeated to himself, "Gu Hanxue... Xiaoshi, where is she from? Guangdong?"

"No, I heard her say that her hometown was originally Jiangsu, but she moved to Guangdong for work,"

I replied. My father let out a long "Oh." I turned to Xiaoxue and said, "Xiaoxue, this is my dad. He... well, you know."

Xiaoxue ignored my sad expression. She walked a few steps and sat on the edge of the bed, took her father's hand, and called out, "Dad..."

Just as I was about to be surprised, she comforted me, "Don't worry, get some rest, you'll get better soon. Xiaoshi and I will stay at home for a while. Once you're better, I have a lot of things I need your help with."

My father smiled and said happily, "Okay, okay, what do you need my help with?"

Xiaoxue pouted and said aggrievedly, "It's Heshi from your family. He always bullies me. Can you teach him a lesson? I know he listens to you the most. Hehe..."

"Heh... okay, no problem,"

my father replied, then looked up, staring at me seriously, and said in our local dialect, "Did you hear that, you brat? Do you often bully her? You don't even know how to cherish such a smart girl. Where else do you think you can find someone like that?"

I was both amused and exasperated. What was this all about? She'd only been here a few minutes, and she'd already destroyed our decades-long father-son bond? I gave a bitter smile and said, "Dad, don't listen to her nonsense. How could I dare bully her, ha..."

"It'd better not be...cough...cough."

My father said, then suddenly coughed weakly. I quickly told Xiaoxue to leave, and I got a glass of water for him.

Xiaoxue and my mother both left, leaving only my father and me in the room. After coughing for a while, he quieted down, closed his eyes to rest, and then suddenly opened them again, his face grave. "Shizai," he said, "there's a wooden box under my bed. Can you get it for me?"

I didn't know what my father intended to do, but I still did as he asked and brought out a wooden box from under the bed. It was a pine box, about half a meter square, and because of its age, some parts were riddled with small holes from insects. The box wasn't locked. I patted the dust off the box, opened it, and asked my father, "Dad, what are you looking for?"

"At the very bottom, there's a notebook. Take it out,"

my father said slowly, a glint suddenly appearing in his eyes, as if he had suddenly cried.

Under a pile of old clothes, I found a notebook, one that the older generation often used. The red cover had a picture of Chairman Mao waving at Tiananmen Square, now faded and dull from the passage of time. I flipped through it; it was blank, but a yellowed black-and-white photograph fell out from the middle of the notebook. I picked it up from the ground and looked at it. Inside were two young men, about eighteen or nineteen years old, wearing Zhongshan suits, their short hair standing on end. From their straight noses, I saw my father's shadow. But the other person seemed familiar, yet I couldn't quite place him… I flipped the photo over and suddenly noticed a few lines of tiny writing. I went to the window and examined it closely. I was stunned. On the back of the photo were written: Zhang Qingsong, Gu Yuantao, 1972 at the Gongnong Photo Studio.

Gu Yuantao was clearly my father's name! No wonder he looked familiar. But why was he in a photo with my father? My heart was filled with doubt. I went back to my father's bedside and asked, "Dad... this photo?"

My father's face was already covered with cloudy tears. He struggled to sit up and pulled another photo from under his pillow. It was one of the photos I had sent home last time. He placed the two photos together on the bed and said in a trembling voice, "Shizai... what a coincidence. I never thought that after so many years, I would see this person again. Actually, since you were little, haven't you always thought that your father was mysterious? But after seeing these today, you should understand everything. I've told you everything, but I hope you won't try to change anything, because that's the past generation's business. You just need to listen, understand, and continue to live your life well, understand?"

I nodded solemnly.

My father took a sip of water and slowly told me a story that I found both bizarre and infuriating…

Chapter 29 of Volume 2: The Times and Old Grudges

. My family's house was divided into two parts. One was shaped like the Chinese character "田" (field). The lower right corner was the main room, the upper right corner was my parents' bedroom, the upper left corner was where I slept on the first floor when I was home, the upper floor was the bedroom for guests, and the lower left corner was a storage room. In front of the 田-shaped house was a small, single-story building used for cooking and storing farm tools. The roof of the single-story building was a cement structure, where crops that needed to be stored after harvesting were dried and stored.

Although it was summer, dinner in the countryside was quite late. After dinner, it was completely dark, and apart from the television in the house, everything was quiet. Seeing Xiaoxue staring intently at the television, I slipped to the roof, sat down, lit a cigarette, and smoked quietly. From the grass in the ditch below, I could hear the chirping of insects. It was supposed to be a peaceful and tranquil night, but my heart felt like a rout from a defeated army, utterly disorganized…

Just as I was finishing my cigarette, Xiaoxue suddenly appeared behind me, patted my shoulder, and sat down beside me. She must have come running up to me after suddenly disappearing from my sight. She sat with me silently for a long time, then a gentle breeze blew by, and I suddenly smelled the delicate fragrance of her hair. Sigh… I turned and looked at her slightly haggard face, feeling a pang of heartache. I said softly, “Aren’t you sleepy? You didn’t sleep at all last night. Why don’t I ask my mom to boil some water? You can take a shower first and then go to bed.”

Xiaoxue turned her head, smiled, and said, “Heh… I’m not sleepy. Let’s sit a little longer. It’s still early.”

As she spoke, she leaned her head slightly against my shoulder, looked up at the vast starry sky, and suddenly sighed, “It’s so quiet here.”

I looked at the distant, continuous, dark mountain ranges in the twilight and said with a wry smile, “Yes… it’s so quiet. It’s so quiet that it always makes me feel like I’m in heaven. Look, so many mountains, surrounding us, doesn’t it look like a cage?”

Hearing this, Xiaoxue raised her delicate fist and gently punched me, pouting as she said, “Nonsense, so you mean we’re in jail?”

“Heh…”

I smiled wryly again, then called out seriously, “Xiaoxue.”

“What? Why so serious?”

She looked up and stared at me with wide eyes.

"I'm sorry to have troubled you. Actually, you probably didn't expect to end up in a place like this, did you? Isn't it strange that such a place exists?"

I said apologetically.

"Get lost, what's with all this talk about being tired? What kind of person do you take me for? To be honest, I really didn't expect you to be born in a place like this. I originally thought you were just someone who grew up in a town, because you can always tell a person's character and manners from their actions, hehe... But looking at you, apart from being a bit lecherous, I don't see anything else that suggests you grew up in the countryside."

Xiaoxue pinched me, seemingly very dissatisfied with my apology.

"Ugh... Does growing up in the countryside mean you're lecherous?"

I was dumbfounded by her theory.

"Haha...no, I was talking about you, not anyone else. You're different."

Xiaoxue said with a laugh, then suddenly looked surprised and asked, "That's strange, you cook? Why don't you use gas? Even if you don't have gas, you must have coal, right? Why are you still burning firewood? It's made the house all black."

"...Well, how am I supposed to answer you? If we're talking about coal..."

Before I could finish, Xiaoxue suddenly pointed to the sky and exclaimed, "Shooting star!"

I looked up and saw a shooting star, with a long tail, streaking quickly down and disappearing into the horizon... Xiaoxue gave me a push and urged, "Hurry up and make a wish."

Saying that, she closed her eyes, lowered her head, and clasped her hands together in front of her chest...

Make a wish? I had never heard of a shooting star granting someone's wish. The only memory I had of a shooting star was when I was very young, when my father told me, "A star in the sky represents a person on earth. Every time a star falls from the sky, someone on earth will die."

Watching the shooting star disappear into the distance, a sudden chill and fear gripped my heart.

About a minute later, Xiaoxue opened her eyes and asked me, "What did you wish for?"

I smiled bitterly and asked in return, "What did you wish for?"

Xiaoxue smiled slightly and said, "I wished that Uncle would get better soon."

Upon hearing this, my eyes welled up with tears. If her father had possessed such kindness at her age, he wouldn't have ended up in such a miserable state. The old stories my father had told me that afternoon flashed before my eyes...

In the early 1950s, my father was born in a medium-sized city in northern Jiangsu, which was also Xiaoxue's hometown. My father's father was the vice-principal of a university. Because of his amiable nature and rigorous scholarship, he was quite respected both inside and outside the city. Since my mother died early, my father was very sensible from a young age. From elementary school to middle school and high school, his grades were always among the best, which made my father's father very proud.

Another thing that made my father's father proud was my aunt, my father's younger sister, who was a year younger than him and whose grades were equally impressive. But Gu Yuantao was different.

Gu Yuantao, like his father, was born in the early 1950s. As neighbors, he played with his father and his sister from a young age. Through elementary school, middle school, and high school, the three were almost inseparable, like siblings.

At that time, the political situation was turbulent. Starting in 1966, schools became battlegrounds of the Cultural Revolution. His father's father, by maneuvering between the two sides, managed to avoid persecution and barely maintain the stability of the school.

In 1971, my father, aunt, and Gu Yuantao all passed the entrance exam for the city's top high school and studied together. Unfortunately, after entering high school, Gu Yuantao, who matured earlier, gradually lost interest in his studies. He devoted most of his attention to his aunt, who was growing taller and more voluptuous, and became increasingly resistant to my father. He tried to find opportunities to spend time alone with his aunt, but she was focused solely on her studies and completely ignored his attempts to flatter her. In those simpler times, my father was oblivious to all of this. But Gu Yuantao remained persistent and relentlessly pursued her. One day, he seized an opportunity to confess his feelings to his aunt. Surprised, she hurriedly told my father's father. Gu Yuantao was severely reprimanded and harbored resentment. That same year, a shocking event occurred: Lin Biao's counter-revolutionary attempt failed, and he died in a plane crash while trying to escape.

In 1973, the three graduated from high school together. The father and aunt were admitted to university, but Gu Yuantao, due to academic difficulties, failed and stayed on to repeat his studies. The father and aunt went to university in another city. However, Gu Yuantao turned out to be a narrow-minded and petty man. Ever since he failed to win the heart of the woman he loved and was instead severely reprimanded by his father's father, he had been determined to take revenge.

In 1974, when schools across the country organized Red Guards and launched the vigorous "Criticize Lin Biao and Confucius" movement, he felt his opportunity had arrived. The so-called "Criticize Lin Biao and Confucius" movement arose because Lin Biao, during his time in power, was extremely Confucian and anti-Legalist. His saying, "Of all things, this is the greatest: to subdue oneself and return to propriety,"

was based on Confucius's concept of "propriety," restricting people's sight, hearing, speech, and actions, allowing them to think and act only within the scope of his established "propriety." This is what he meant by "Do not look at what is contrary to propriety, do not listen to what is contrary to propriety, do not speak what is contrary to propriety, do not do what is contrary to propriety." This contradicts Confucius's saying, "The people may be made to follow, but they may not be made to understand." "Their ultimate goal was to try to maintain the crumbling slave system. One wanted restoration, the other wanted to restore the rites; weren't they birds of a feather? So Confucius also suffered. And when Confucius was in trouble, his father's father was in imminent danger.

Because he was a student who had repeated a grade, Gu Yuantao considered himself to be very knowledgeable. He led the university's Red Guard squad, singing all the way, "Pick up your pens, make them into weapons, concentrate your firepower to fight the gangsters, revolutionary teachers and students rebel together, be pioneers in the Cultural Revolution..."

and marched to his father's house. At his in-laws' house, finding the door locked, he kicked it open and ransacked the place. He smashed anything of higher quality, calling it a remnant of capitalism; he burned any nice clothes, claiming them as supplies left by counter-revolutionaries; and he destroyed books, labeling them as a poisonous stain of Confucianism. Thus, his father's father's lifelong collection of books was completely destroyed in a single fire. His father, returning home from school just then, witnessed this and, overcome with rage, died on the spot.

Upon realizing he had caused a death, Gu Yuantao fled in disgrace…

His father and his sister, studying far away, were shocked to hear the devastating news. His aunt wept uncontrollably, but his father, quick-witted, immediately took leave and returned home. However, as the saying goes, misfortune never comes singly; he was involved in a car accident, and his aunt also perished. Thus, a once happy family was shattered by Gu Yuantao's single wrong decision.

Naturally, his father could no longer continue his studies, so he boarded a train heading south with only a schoolbag, wandering… wandering… until finally settling down… In this small mountain village, he married my mother when he was nearly thirty…

As my father finished speaking, tears streamed down his face. This was the first time in so many years I had ever seen my father cry, truly. Even when I was young and we couldn't afford to go to school, my father would go out early and return late to the deep mountains to chop firewood to sell. No matter how hard or tiring it was, he only shed blood and sweat, but never tears… But today, he cried. I stood helplessly by the bedside, not knowing how to comfort him. Perhaps, after suppressing

his emotions for so many years, it was time for my father to shed a tear… After recalling all this, I suddenly found my own tears falling uncontrollably. But I wondered what Xiaoxue would think if I told her everything. I didn't even dare to analyze it carefully. In this vast sea of people, why did I meet Xiaoxue? Was it really for a future story? The future? What should I do in the future? A surge of anger rose in my heart…

If it weren't for what Gu Yuantao did back then, I would never have… Born and raised in such a small mountain village, my father wouldn't have been so easily defeated by illness and taken his life. I should have had a knowledgeable grandfather, a warm home, and my father and I wouldn't have had to trek through mountains to chop firewood for tuition. I could have gone to a top high school and a prestigious university… I'm speechless. What am I now? All of this is thanks to Gu Yuantao. One day, I will repay him, for my father's sake and for my own!

However, I am not someone who is blinded by hatred. I know very well Xiaoxue's place in my heart. I cannot hurt her again. Everything I do must be based on this principle.

After coming down from the roof, I boiled a pot of water, let Xiaoxue take a bath, and then took her upstairs to sleep. Then I quickly washed myself and lay down in the room downstairs. As soon as I lay down, a wave of weariness washed over me. Just as I was about to close my eyes, my phone on the bedside table suddenly lit up. I picked it up and saw that it was a call from Xiaoxue upstairs.

"Hello? Why aren't you asleep yet?"

I asked softly.

To my surprise, her voice was even softer than mine, as if afraid of startling a mosquito, and she said in a trembling voice, "He Shi, I'm so scared... This room is so dark when the lights are off, and it seems like something keeps making noise upstairs."

Because it's a tiled house, there's a small triangular attic between the tiles and the roof partition; this is what Xiaoxue meant by upstairs. I smiled and said, "You're not used to sleeping in this kind of bed, are you? It's this dark in the countryside, and there are no streetlights. Go to sleep, it's okay. That thing darting around is probably a cat. Aren't you afraid of cats?"

I didn't dare tell her that the thing darting around was more likely a mouse.

"Oh... I'm not afraid of cats."

Hearing it was a cat, she hung up the phone. But less than two minutes later, the phone lit up again, and she said in a still trembling voice, "I... I'm still scared. It doesn't look like a cat. It won't squeak, will it?"

"Huh?"

I was dumbfounded. I couldn't exactly imitate a cat's meow to convince her it was real.

"Hurry up and think of something, or I'll run downstairs and sleep with you, okay?"

Xiaoxue was anxious, looking like she was about to cry.

"No, I'll go upstairs instead. Don't be afraid, I'm coming up."

I hung up the phone, grabbed my clothes, and climbed up to the second floor. Since it was a wooden floor, I had to walk very quietly, afraid of startling my parents next door.

When Xiaoxue saw me come up, she immediately wasn't afraid anymore. She turned on the light and smiled, offering me the space outside to sleep. As soon as the light went out, sure enough, there was a "rustling" sound from the attic again. It really was mice. Actually, not to mention her, I'm also afraid when I sleep alone. It was probably a few mice fighting. Suddenly, one of them screamed. Xiaoxue was so frightened that she immediately hugged me tightly. Her soft, delicate body was warm to the touch, and a woman's unique fragrance filled the air...

But at this moment, my mind was in turmoil, so how could I have the mind to think about those ambiguous feelings of softness and warmth?

Chapter 30 of Volume 2: Family Affection Endures

Just as dawn was breaking, I was awakened from my sleep by my father's cough, and then I heard I heard my mother get up to pour water, followed by my father's persistent coughing… The coughing grew louder and louder, and my heart skipped a beat. I quickly got up and went downstairs to my father's bedroom. The door was open, and I went in to find my father, his eyes vacant, leaning against the headboard, coughing incessantly with a towel over his mouth. The tearing sound tugged at my heartstrings with each cough. My mother, carrying a bowl of water, sat anxiously on the edge of the bed. Turning around and seeing me come in, she said helplessly, "He's been like this a lot lately…"

Before she finished speaking, my father suddenly stopped coughing, his eyes tightly closed, and he lay motionless on the bed.

I was stunned. I wanted to go over and do something, but I found myself helpless and unable to do anything. My mother, however, was quick to react. She quickly helped my father sit up, pinched the acupoint between his nose and upper lip, and called to me, "Xiao Shi, come quick… pinch here, I'll go call the doctor."

I rushed forward, pinching my father's philtrum to help my mother, and anxiously asked, "Where are we going to find a doctor at this hour?"

"I'll go get Wenlian, he should have some medicine..."

My mother hadn't finished speaking when she was already out the door. Wenlian, whom my mother mentioned, was a barefoot doctor in our village, and also the person I hated most, because when I was a child and sick, he would always stick a shiny needle into my bottom.

Less than a minute after my mother left, my father suddenly woke up, and surprisingly, his cough had stopped. He seemed much better, so I was relieved and happily asked, "Dad, are you feeling better?"

My father smiled sadly, "Yes, I'm feeling better... I need some water."

I quickly brought him some water from the table and fed it to him. After drinking the water, my father's complexion improved considerably, even regaining some color, and his eyes brightened. I was puzzled. Why was this happening? Suddenly, a phrase came to mind—a final burst of energy before death? Good heavens! Is this real?

My father seemed to understand what I was thinking. He smiled and said with a hint of comfort, "Shizi, I think I'm not going to make it..."

I grabbed my father's hand and cried out, "No...no, Dad, don't say that. Mom has already gone to call the doctor. Here, drink some water, drink some more water, and you'll be fine."

My father reached out and touched my shoulder, sighing, "Sigh...Shizi, although I haven't read much of what you read in school, I remember there was a text in your elementary school textbook that said, 'Everyone dies eventually, some deaths are heavier than Mount Tai, some lighter than a feather.' Remember? I'm a farmer. Regardless of whether it's Mount Tai or a feather, I only understand one thing: death is the law of life, and no one can avoid it." "No. Understand? Now that you're all grown up, you should understand these things. There's only one thing I want you to do: take good care of your mother, okay? I've felt so guilty towards her all my life, I've let her down so much. Actually, you see your mother and I arguing all the time, it's all because I'm incompetent and have a bad temper, sigh… So after I'm gone, you must take good care of your mother. I know you will, because you're grown up and understand."

My eyes stung, tears finally fell, and I couldn't speak. I could only nod and throw myself into my father's arms, crying. When was the last time I was held in my father's arms like this? My father, like me, was a stubborn man. Once he made up his mind, nothing could change it, and in that era, his temper was even worse than mine. From childhood, my father never bathed or dressed my sister; unless there were guests, he would rather drink water than cook; when he argued with family members, he never admitted defeat, he would either throw or smash things. This was the only time in my life I ever saw my father bow his head to his family. Perhaps this is what they mean by "a dying man speaks kindly, a dying bird sings mournfully"? Maybe when people pass away, they think of all the regrets of their lives?

When my mother and the doctor entered, my father had already closed his eyes, leaving us forever. My mother wailed and collapsed to the ground. And I, I had lost consciousness, staring blankly at my father's full head of silver hair, like the dandelions I picked in the fields when I was young, drifting peacefully, taking root wherever they landed. My father was gone, truly gone, gone forever, so decisively, so without regret. In this life, I will never see him again. I cannot express the pain in my heart at this moment. The only thing that keeps me going is my father's last few words: "You must take good care of your mother!"

A village is one big family. Dr. Wenlian helped us set off a string of firecrackers. Men, women, and children from the village all came, their faces filled with grief, silently mourning, offering heartfelt comfort…

Uncle Dehong was an elder in the village. Although only a little over ten years older than my father, he was responsible for organizing almost all the funerals and weddings in the village. Many years had passed since I last saw him; he was still as kind as ever, but his face bore the marks of time. As I lay on the edge of the bed, sobbing, Uncle patted my shoulder. “Child…get up. Your father is a good man; he will have a smooth journey.”

I seemed not to hear him, remaining motionless.

“Child, get up. You’re still young and don’t understand these things. It’s summer now; we can’t delay too long. I’ve already sent someone to fetch a geomancer. Get up quickly, help your father clean his body, and dress him in his burial clothes,”

Uncle said slowly.

His words were like a bucket of ice water poured over a hot summer day, instantly bringing me to my senses. I wiped away my tears and turned around, only to see Xiaoxue standing not far behind me, her eyes red, probably woken by the firecrackers. I went to her side and said softly, "Xiaoxue, go upstairs first. It'll be too chaotic here."

Xiaoxue looked at me affectionately, her eyes full of encouragement, then turned and went upstairs.

My tears fell again onto my father's pale, thin body. I wiped them away, picked up the black burial clothes, and awkwardly dressed him. Meanwhile, the villagers had already invited a geomancer to prepare the coffin and write the funeral rites. My mother was helped to a nearby room by some of the village women to avoid witnessing these scenes and becoming even more grief-stricken… That afternoon, the geomancer set the funeral date for a week later.

I spent a week in a daze, completely at the mercy of Uncle Dehong. I did whatever he told me to do; I gave him whatever he wanted. My mind was filled with images of my father, his angry spitting and his joyful laughter. Every moment I spent with my father, every expression of his, his voice and smile—all these memories are pulled from my mind like threads being unraveled, unfolding like scenes from a movie.

This was the first time I'd come to this river with my father. He went down to collect some kind of waterweed, which could be used as pig feed. Watching him dart about in the river like a fish, I, standing on the bank, felt a strong urge to swim and begged him to teach me. My father couldn't resist, so he took me swimming in the shallow water near the bank. But as soon as I entered the water, I cried out. The water temperature was so different from the water on the bank! I got goosebumps all over and kept yelling that I wanted to get out and not swim anymore. My father laughed a few times, helped me to the bank, and I sighed, turning my head with lingering fear… but my father was gone! Where did he go? I shouted loudly, but apart from a faint echo from the opposite bank, I heard nothing… I sat on the pile of pebbles and cried helplessly…

Suddenly, a tingling, warm feeling spread across my face. I opened my eyes; it was all just a dream. Xiaoxue was lovingly wiping away my tears. I checked the time: two in the morning. Tomorrow was my father's funeral. Why did I have such a dream tonight? Was it my father appearing in my dream?

A few “patter” sounds came from the window, and a dampness rushed in—rain, splashing against the glass in the wind. It was raining again, that gloomy spirit…

The cemetery wasn't far from the village, about a kilometer away. I held my father's portrait, barefoot, walking aimlessly through the mud. The rain was pouring down, showing no sign of stopping. Behind me, eight strong young pallbearers chanted as they struggled to carry the coffin; behind them followed the long funeral procession of the village, some with umbrellas, some wearing raincoats and straw hats, and others like me, soaking wet and without any tools. Xiaoxue wasn't in the crowd, because for the time being, she had nothing to do with us. Thinking of her, I felt a sense of emptiness, yet I dared not think about why…

My father's funeral was quite grand, typical of rural people—a love of face, a love of showing off. My father was like that when he was alive, often telling us about how others were doing, how their children went to such-and-such universities… I think if my father knew in the afterlife, he would be pleased with my actions. But even with the most lavish funeral, could my father return to my side? Could I stand before him again and call him "Dad" affectionately?

After the funeral, I suppressed my grief and planned to bring my mother to live with me in Zhuhai for a while. No matter how I pleaded with my mother, she refused to come with us. She just lost her appetite and kept stroking my father's photo. Helpless, I decided to stay at home for a while until my mother calmed down before making another decision.

So I took on the responsibility of getting up at six every morning to boil water, cook rice, and then feed the pigs. Around noon, I would prepare the dishes and bring them to my mother. Occasionally, when I had a spare moment, I would chop firewood on the earthen platform by the door and dry it… Xiaoxue became my assistant. I thought she would find it hard, but she happily enjoyed the rural life with its glaring smoke. One minute she'd be clamoring to go water the vegetables in the garden, the next she'd say she wanted to feed the pigs by herself.

Sigh… In this world, those who haven't experienced the hardships of rural life think the countryside is some kind of paradise the man from Wuling stumbled upon…

Chapter 31, Returning to Zhuhai

“Hey… when are we going back?”

In the darkness, Xiaoxue turned over, her breath sweet as orchids, and whispered in my ear.

These days, sleeping has become the most painful thing for me. Xiaoxue is the kind of person who's very restless in bed; she likes to put her feet up and use my hand as a pillow. Sometimes she's at the head of the bed before falling asleep, but when I wake up, I find her at the foot. Even worse, my hand is pinned down by her, so I dare not move. Even though I don't shower and go to bed until after 10 pm every day, I still can't escape this torment. And these days have really been tough on her, following me around all day, cooking, washing clothes, watering the vegetables, and weeding. The rural sun is also quite harsh; Xiaoxue's skin cream ran out in less than a month, and now her skin is tanned to a bronze color. I guess when she goes back to Zhuhai, her mother won't even recognize her.

"What? Only two months, and you're already tired of it?"

I reached out and pinched her cheek, noticing that her skin wasn't as smooth as before. Poor thing…

"No, actually I quite like it here, it's just… I don't think you can stay here like this forever. You still have your life to live, your things to do. As they say, a good man's ambition lies in all directions. You don't want to stay at home farming, do you?"

Xiaoxue suddenly grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze.

I chuckled and asked, "So many excuses, I bet you're worried about turning into a country bumpkin, aren't you? Look how tanned you've gotten these days, I think you're almost a country girl yourself."

Xiaoxue playfully punched me on the head, crying out in grievance, "What! Nonsense. I'm not worried at all, my skin will lighten up quickly. I'm really worried about you, afraid that staying at home for too long will dull your ambitions, and you won't even remember what the outside world is like."

I felt a pang of shame. What ambitions had I ever had? In the past, I was like a beggar wandering the streets, always thinking only about the next meal, never planning how to live my life. But if I truly wanted to spend the rest of my life with Xiaoxue, I absolutely couldn't continue down this path of despair. A life without goals is like a ship without a destination, forever drifting with the wind, never reaching the other shore. I sighed and said, "Actually, I've thought about these things too, but I'm worried about my mother and want to stay home and spend more time with her."

"Isn't that easy? Just ask your mother to come back with us!"

Xiaoxue seemed excited to see that I was interested in returning to Zhuhai.

"Silly boy, do you think I haven't thought about it? I mentioned it last time, but she wouldn't agree. Besides, my mother is so old; unlike us young people who can adapt to any situation, this is where she's lived for decades. Leaving here will change everything."

Thinking of my mother's unbearable pain last time, my heart sank.

Xiaoxue reached out and hugged my neck, snuggling close, and chuckled, "That's because you're too silly. I'll come tomorrow."

Xiaoxue draped one leg over me and quickly fell asleep, but I couldn't sleep for a long time. Staying—I didn't want to stay either; I loathed this cage surrounded by mountains. Leaving—I couldn't bear to leave my mother. Sigh…a dilemma.

The next day, early in the morning at breakfast, Xiaoxue excitedly invited my mother to stay. My mother paused, then turned to look at me. Not sure if she hadn't understood, I explained in our local dialect, "Mom, we'd like you to come with us to Zhuhai for a while."

She shook her head, saying, "No, no, it's so far, I won't go."

With Xiaoxue and I by her side these past few days, my mother's spirits had improved considerably, though she was more often silent. But overall, she had accepted the fact that my father was gone and was gradually emerging from the shadow of grief.

"Mom, it's not far, just a few hours away, and we have a car. If you get carsick, you can stop and rest anytime,"

I smiled and persuaded her. Xiaoxue didn't understand what we were saying, but watched with wide eyes, nodding occasionally.

"No need, Shizi, I know you mean well, but I've lived here since I was little, I've never left. Now that your father has just passed away, I can't leave even more. Besides, the pigs and chickens at home need someone to take care of them. If I go with you, who will take care of them?..."

Before my mother could finish speaking, my phone suddenly rang. I took it out and saw it was a Zhuhai number. Confused, I told Xiaoxue to continue persuading my mother while I went outside and answered the phone.

"Hello? Xiaoshi, do you still remember who I am? Why haven't I heard from you in so long?"

Surprisingly, Yu Yanfang's voice came through the phone.

"Oh, Manager Yu, of course I remember. Is there something you need?"

I've always disliked Yu Yanfang; she always speaks so bluntly, like a carefree little girl. So, although we've been intimate, I don't feel any distance between us.

"Oh? That's alright. What? Can't I call you if there's nothing wrong? I just missed you after not seeing you for so long. Where are you now? Are you free to have dinner together tonight?"

Yu chuckled, and I got goosebumps all over.

"Heh… I'm at my hometown right now, I'm afraid we can't meet,"

I replied coldly.

"Oh, no wonder, sometimes when I called you, the call wouldn't go through. I thought you'd become an immortal, no longer concerned with worldly affairs. Haha... I haven't even settled the accounts for the past two months. Call me as soon as you get back, okay?"

So, her ultimate reason for contacting me was money.

In truth, I was deeply grateful to Yu Yanfang; without her help, my father might not have received timely treatment in the early stages of his complications. But what hurt me was that she always used this as an excuse to repeatedly humiliate me. I was somewhat speechless with anger, and said stiffly, "Manager Yu, there's no need for us to meet again. I'll transfer your money to you from the bank. I'm very grateful for your help, but I've done a lot for you these past few days, enough to repay the debt I owe you. And I really dislike this feeling of being bossed around, understand?"

Yu probably hadn't expected me to retort so boldly. After a moment of silence on the phone, she suddenly laughed provocatively, saying, "Oh... oh, Xiao Shi has grown up, huh... I haven't been bossing you around. I've said it before..." We're just taking from each other, needing each other. You got what you wanted, and I got what I wanted. Okay, since you don't like it, I won't force you. But there's something else. Your girlfriend? I think her name is Xiaoxue? Her phone number is ********? I don't know if this number will still go through, I'll try it later..."

I panicked, my attitude softened, and I hurriedly stopped her, "No, please don't call. I'll find you as soon as I get back to Zhuhai, okay?"

Yu Leng coldly snorted and said, "Whatever, you decide."

Then, the phone went dead.

I went back inside, and Xiaoxue was just coming out with the dishes. I was about to ask her something when she raised an eyebrow, pouted, and shook her head. I knew she must have failed to persuade my mother. I went over, and my mother was washing vegetables. When she saw me, she smiled, seemingly comforting me, "Shizai, there's no need to say anything more. I won't go to Zhuhai with you. Don't worry, Mom will be fine on her own at home. But you've been home for so long, hurry back to work. Don't neglect your important business."

I sighed deeply, unsure how to react. Thinking about it from another perspective, even at my mother's age, I would never leave this hometown where I've lived for so many years. After all, I know every blade of grass and tree here; I'm used to the fragrance of every inch of soil; I'm used to listening to the chorus of insects beneath every bluestone slab.

The weather was gradually becoming drier, and the late-season rice in the fields was diligently pushing its tender green ears outwards, as if foreshadowing the imminent departure of the scorching summer. I left the remaining few thousand yuan with my mother, and wrote my phone number on a large sheet, sticking it on the wall so she could see it if anything happened. Afterwards, I drove back to Zhuhai with Xiaoxue. Along the way, Xiaoxue couldn't contain her excitement at being home; it seemed the two months of rural life had taken a toll on her. As for me, I kept thinking about how to deal with Yu Yanfang, this woman who gave me a headache.

It was already evening when I parked the car in the garage. Xiaoxue asked me to move back in, but I smiled awkwardly and said, "No, I have a lease for the place I rented. I have to stay for at least six months, otherwise my deposit will be forfeited."

Xiaoxue glared at me. "You care that much about money?"

"Yes! In my eyes, that's not money, it's tears, blood, and sweat!"

I said seriously. I thought of my father again. If it weren't for this evil money, he wouldn't have passed away so early, leaving my mother and me behind.

Seeing that I was angry, Xiaoxue stuck out her tongue and said helplessly, "Okay, then remember to call me three times a day for meals, and also at night. And no going out at night, or else, hmph!"

She waved her fist, threatening me.

"Heh, I know, but I'll be quite busy during this time because I'm looking for a job,"

I said with a smile.

"Huh? Looking for a job again? Can't you work at the internet cafe anymore?"

Xiaoxue asked in surprise.

"Of course not. I didn't even ask for leave when I went back. More than two months have passed. How could I let you work here? Besides, I never intended to work in an internet cafe forever." Before I could finish speaking, Xiaoxue interrupted, "Then why don't you come work at my mom's restaurant with me?"

I shook my head and said, "No, I would have gone long ago. I really don't like those noisy, bustling places."

"Oh, then I'll ask my dad to help me find someone. He'll definitely find a way," Xiaoxue said after thinking for a moment.

Speaking of Xue's father, I was startled. "Him?"

People are truly a contradictory combination. On one hand, I wish I had never met him. On the other hand, I was forced to have a relationship with him because of Xiaoxue.

Chapter 32 of Volume 2: Broken Ties and Severed Relationships .

I took out my phone, about to call Yu Yanfang, when I suddenly remembered Forrest Gump. He was the one in the movie "Forrest Gump," who accidentally became a football star, survived countless battles after enlisting in the army, became a ping-pong star after retiring, and finally became the boss of a shrimp company.

Two years ago, I stumbled upon a clip from *Forrest Gump*, and immediately searched everywhere to buy a copy. Each time I watched it, I laughed with emotion, but behind the laughter lay endless sighs and sorrow, and tears would inevitably well up in my eyes. His mother's words, "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get," prevented him from ever actively pursuing anything, nor from setting any predetermined course for his life. Yet, time and again, he turned adversity into triumph, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Perhaps I lack Forrest Gump's luck; I'm always living in the future, like the man of Qi, anxious and restless, wondering if the sky will fall tomorrow. But what's the use of worrying all day? A person's life is nothing more than that white feather at the beginning and end of the film, destined to land somewhere, experience or witness a certain event, and then drift away with the wind, as if it never existed.

Forrest Gump was always so lucky, turning misfortune into good fortune, and adversity into blessing. I, a common person, am different. Many trivial matters, like annoying flies hovering overhead at dusk in summer, are forever entangled and impossible to shake off. The only thing I need to solve now is how to leave Yu Yanfang's life, sever our relationship completely, cleanly and utterly.

I dialed her number. The phone rang a few times, but no one answered. I quickly hung up, feeling a little anxious. Even if I got through, what should I do? Just then, she called back. In a panic, I pressed the "OK" button.

"Hello? Xiaoshi, you're back?"

Yu seemed quite excited from the start.

I smiled habitually and replied, "Yeah, I just got back yesterday."

In fact, today was exactly seven days since I returned home.

"Haha...you're so good, you really came to see me as soon as you got back."

Hearing that I returned yesterday, she seemed even more pleased, as if she greatly appreciated my actions.

"Heh, I think we should talk, Sister Yu. Name a time, let's find a place."

Not wanting to make things too awkward from the start, I went along with her wishes and called her Sister Yu. But was she really that annoying? I realized I'd had a prejudice against her from the very beginning.

"Okay, wait a minute..."

She seemed to put the phone down and walk away, the sound of her footsteps echoing through the phone. A moment later, Yu returned and said, "Tomorrow night, I'll be free then. You can choose the place, I don't mind. Or, why don't you just come to my place?"

I was startled and hurriedly said, "No, no need, just outside is fine. Let's find a coffee shop, the Miluo Coffee near Yujing Bay, you know it? Let's meet there at 7 pm tomorrow night."

The reason I chose this place was that Yujing Bay was quite far from where Yu lived in Nanping, and in a coffee shop, we couldn't drink alcohol, so there wouldn't be any problem with anyone getting drunk.

"Okay, see you there."

Yu said and hung up the phone. I started to feel melancholy. A familiar feeling welled up from the soles of my feet, as if it were the same scene when I first met her, like a war.

Surprisingly, in late October, there was an unusual haze. Looking around, the world was gloomy, like the murky twilight before Pangu separated heaven and earth; if I closed my eyes and listened carefully, I could almost hear the whispers of mosquitoes from another world. A world that was once out of reach now seemed so close.

After nightfall, the sky became darker than usual, and the streetlights were swallowed up mercilessly by the dark night. I arrived at Yujing Bay at around 6:50. As soon as I sat down, I saw Yu's figure appear at the entrance of the coffee shop. She wore a light beige fitted shirt and black straight-leg pants, which perfectly outlined her full, slender, and beautiful figure. This was the first time I had seen her dressed so simply, exuding the charm of a mature woman.

I waved to her, and Yu smiled and walked over.

"Coming, let's order something first, I'm hungry,"

I said, handing her the menu.

"Huh? So gentlemanly today? You don't have some ulterior motive, do you? Tell me honestly, what are you planning to do now that you're full?"

She seemed to be in a good mood today, joking as soon as we met.

I smiled back, not answering her.

Yu glanced at the menu, then beckoned a waiter over, saying, "A Blue Mountain coffee, and a grain-fed steak, coffee first, steak well-done, with black pepper sauce."

The waiter left. I sighed inwardly: I have to admit, Yu is someone who knows how to enjoy life and has the means to do so, while compared to her, I seem too frivolous and naive.

"Sister Yu."

I looked at her intently and called out,

"What? Why so serious? Is this the first day you've met me?"

Yu seemed a little surprised, because before today, I rarely even looked her in the eye.

I took a bank card out of my pocket and handed it to her. "This is the card you used to lend me money. Now it's back to its rightful owner. The money in it is from business expenses over the past two months. I think I won't be able to help you anymore."

Yu didn't reach for the bank card, but frowned, staring at me strangely, and asked, "What's wrong? Is something the matter?"

I placed the card on the table, leaned back, and sighed. "Heh... nothing, I just feel very tired. I think I need to start my life anew."

"Start your life anew? You mean your previous life, including Xiao Xiaoli and me? Was all a mistake, and you don't want it?"

Yu was somewhat surprised, her tone gradually hardening.

"Heh, a mistake. Maybe we shouldn't have met in the first place, maybe it was a mistake from the beginning."

Faced with her question, I was speechless. In truth, is life something I can control simply by whether I want to or not? Life begins, and whether we like it or not, we all have to live it.

Yu coldly snorted, picked up the coffee on the table, and took a small sip. The atmosphere was somewhat heavy…

“Sister Yu, do you know why I kept giving in to you before? Don’t you think I was always like a weak, impotent man in front of you?”

I stared at her intently again.

Yu Yanfang raised an eyebrow and asked, “Why? You’re impotent? No way. Inferiority complex? No, it doesn’t seem like it. It’s because I’m rich, right?”

I smiled awkwardly and sighed, “Yes, because you’re rich. Because your money could save my father’s life. But now, everything is in the past. Tides rise and fall, people come and go. When the most important thing in your life is gone, perhaps you will become indifferent to everything. And my previous performance was mediocre, not like a man at all, and that’s why. But now, I think I should live like a man.”

Yu was somewhat saddened by my words and asked in surprise, “Your father has passed away?”

I nodded.

She gave a bitter smile and said, "I'm sorry."

Only then did I realize that women, in fact, all have a sensitive and kind side. It's just that women like Yu are wrapped up too thickly in a worldly veil, making people only see her sophistication and cunning. Once someone touches a corner of her heart, her true nature is revealed.

Later, Yu softened, "Xiao Shi, is it that besides money, I have absolutely nothing to offer that would make you stay by my side? Or am I not as good as Xiao Xiaoli? Don't deny it, I know you still have Xiaoli in your heart. I understand you; someone as sentimental as you wouldn't forget her so easily."

I fell silent, like a wounded beast secretly licking its wounds—a pain that was indescribable.

I looked up, smiled, and countered, "Sister Yu, what do you think I have that makes you treat me this way? Many times, I'm confused myself. What do I have that makes you treat me so well?"

Yu laughed happily, seemingly recalling something she was very proud of. She blinked and said, "Hehe, you just don't understand. No wonder, you're blessed but don't know it. Your asset is something I can never have again in my life: youth. A young heart, a young body, and that boundless energy. Actually, every time I see you in a t-shirt and jeans, I'm reminded of the past. Youth is truly wonderful."

"Heh, you're only about ten years older than me, and you already feel old? I think you're not thinking about your past, but about your first love, aren't you? Ha..."

I seized the opportunity, agreeing with a laugh.

Hearing this, Yu stopped laughing, closed her eyes, and seemed to genuinely recall every little detail of the past. After a moment, she suddenly opened her eyes, glared at me, and spat, "Think of you my foot! None of you are any good. If men are reliable, pigs will fly. Just like you, I was so good to you, and now that I'm no longer of any use to you, you still want to leave me, don't you?"

"Well… actually, I was thinking that maybe we'd be better off as ordinary friends,"

I paused, then said.

Yu seemed annoyed, shook her head, and sneered, "I don't think that's necessary. I don't need a friend like you. Our relationship is either lovers or strangers, it's that simple."

I was stunned, speechless…

I didn't know if I should believe that Yu had genuine feelings for me, yet her strength was something I could never hope to achieve in my entire life. After I answered that I chose to be strangers with her, she fell silent, picked up her coffee spoon, and stirred it incessantly in her cup, round and round… After a long silence, she looked up at me, her face icy, and coldly said, "You can leave now, before I change my mind."

I was startled, my heart, which had been pounding in my chest, finally settled back into my chest. I said "I'm sorry," and walked out of the coffee shop, feeling uneasy and disheveled.

Crossing the road, I stood on the seawall. The twilight was terrifyingly gloomy, and a few lone boats drifted on the sea, their lights flickering and reflecting the few scattered stars in the sky, rising and falling with the waves. The sea breeze whistled past my ears, and a sudden, inexplicable sense of loss welled up inside me: Yu Yanfang, the woman who had once made me lose my dignity, was now gradually fading from my life. But could her departure truly allow me to live like a man? And what should a man's life be like? To roam the world with a sword in hand, a beautiful woman by his side? Or to study diligently by lamplight, achieving fame and success?

The vast sea, like my heart, made me cry out, "Who am I?"

There was no answer, not even one I could find. Only the strong sea wind continued to blow. Perhaps it was trying to carry my confusion away into the distance…

My phone, oblivious to my urgency, rang.

(Chapter 33, Volume 2: A Life of Contentment) As

expected, it was Xiaoxue calling. Perhaps in this world, besides my mother, only she would call me. It's somewhat sad to think that my life is so lonely.

"You idiot, what are you doing?"

Xiaoxue asked sweetly as soon as the call connected.

After witnessing her father's death, Xiaoxue was silent and grieving for a long time. Perhaps it was out of affection for me, or perhaps it was a reflection on the fragility of human life. But soon after, she returned to her usual cleverness and cheerfulness. Ah, old habits die hard. But then again, I have no right to demand that the people around me be as wary and anxious as I am.

"Thinking of you, hehe..."

I said with a smile as I walked along the seawall.

"Hehe, really? Why are you being so good today?"

Xiaoxue laughed happily upon hearing this. I could almost see her excited smile. Suddenly, she looked puzzled. "Hmm? Why is it so noisy where you are? Where are you?"

"Oh, I'm at the beach. I was a little bored, so I came out for a walk,"

I replied casually.

"Really? Why didn't you take me with you for a walk? Are you alone?"

More and more questions arose. It seemed she still didn't quite trust me.

"Of course I'm alone. Who else do you think I was with?"

I felt a little helpless, but this was the bitter fruit of my own actions, and I had to swallow it.

Xiaoxue, however, didn't appreciate my gentleness and teased, "Who knows? You're such a liar, humph!"

"Ugh, why does nobody believe me when I tell the truth? Sigh... Okay, stop guessing. I really am alone, and I'm about to go back now. Did you need something?"

I was both amused and exasperated, so I had to be serious.

"Why can't I call you? I told you to call me every day, but you haven't. Now I have to call you? Do you know how unreasonable you are?"

Unexpectedly, Xiaoxue got more and more excited, harping on the topic, and my head suddenly felt like it was about to explode.

"Alright, haha~~ I'm coming to your place now. If you have any complaints, just say them to my face, okay?"

I smiled again and hailed a taxi.

Hearing that I was coming, Xiaoxue stopped complaining and enthusiastically tempted me, "Then hurry up, I made some soup, almost finished it!"

Ten minutes later, I appeared at Yinshi Yayuan. Actually, my residence was just across from Yinshi Yayuan. I could see Xiaoxue's balcony by looking out the window. Sometimes, I often see a faint shadow of myself, leaning on the balcony railing, gazing at the passing cars below, lost in thought. It feels rather comical. What am I, at such a young age, worrying about? The night I returned, when Xiaoxue asked me to move back in, I was actually quite tempted, but I was also very afraid. I had already hurt her once, and I didn't want to hurt her a second time. And now, staying here like this, I don't even know what I'm doing it for. It's making Xiaoxue lonely, and it's making me suffer even more. Oh well, I'll move back when I have the chance.

As soon as I entered, I sniffed the air a few times. Xiaoxue saw this, covered her mouth and laughed, scolding, "Do you think you're a puppy? What are you sniffing for?"

I scratched the back of my head sheepishly and laughed, "Didn't you say you made soup? Why don't I smell anything?"

"Haha, you're late! It's all gone, it's all here..."

Xiaoxue sat back on the sofa, patted her belly, and pouted her cute little mouth. It was probably still early, as she was still wearing her daytime clothes; a large section of her fair, jade-like arms was visible beneath her short-sleeved t-shirt. Wow, she'd only been back a few days, and her hands, which had gotten tanned so dark at my place, were starting to turn white again.

"Hmph! You tricked me into coming here, and now you have nothing to reward me with. No wonder Confucius said, 'Women and petty men are the most difficult to deal with.'" I

retorted, sulking, and picked up the remote, pretending to press a few buttons before ignoring her.

Xiaoxue became even more smug, flipping herself onto my lap, facing me, cupping my face in her hands, and teasingly saying, "Oh... little pig's angry, hehe... really angry, come on, be good, eat something first..."

She even grabbed the remote from my hand and shoved it into my mouth. Like coaxing a child, she said, "Come on, come on, sweetie, eat this, it smells so good... You know Confucius, right? Hehe, Jesus even said, 'If someone strikes you on the left cheek, turn the other cheek also,' so since you've already fallen for it, just eat this too, haha..."

I was both amused and exasperated, glaring at her. "Did Jesus say that? It's from the Bible, okay?"

"Hehe, it's all the same. Okay, stop fooling around, wait a minute..."

Xiaoxue released her hand from my neck, got off my lap, stood up, and quickly walked into the kitchen. She's becoming increasingly unruly these days; holding hands and hugging have become commonplace. However, we've known each other for almost a year, and maintaining this relationship is truly remarkable. Most importantly, it's Xiaoxue's innocent and pure heart that makes me unable to cross any physical boundaries with her. Otherwise, how could a hot-blooded young man like me have kept her intact until today? But she was sitting on my lap just now, and I was really itching...

"Wow... so you were hiding it! No wonder I couldn't smell it. What's this?"

A moment later, Xiaoxue brought out two bowls with roosters with iron tails printed on them from the kitchen. I took one of the bowls, picked up a thin, round, stick-like thing inside, and asked, "You didn't make me some kind of tiger penis or deer penis soup, did you? Haha..."

Before I could finish speaking, Xiaoxue gave me a sharp rap on the head. "Tiger my foot! Don't talk nonsense! I'll beat you to death! That's a chicken leg, haha. I chopped off my toes, and that's how it looks. You have such a vivid imagination."

"Oh... it's a chicken leg, but it smells really good. Not bad. If you could get rid of this habit of hitting people, you'd be a typical good wife and mother. Whoever marries you will be secretly laughing in their dreams."

I suppressed a laugh and said seriously.

"What did you say?"

Xiaoxue's big eyes widened. She put the bowl on the coffee table in front of the sofa and pretended to grab me. As I put down the bowl and tried to dodge, it was too late. Xiaoxue, like a policeman catching a thug, bent one leg and pinned me to the corner of the sofa with her knee, her hands scratching incessantly at my waist. Tickling—that was her specialty!

I burst out laughing and immediately raised my hands to beg for mercy, "Hey, stop, stop! You misheard me, I meant, if I could marry you, I'd be laughing in my dreams." "

You're quick to react, but if you dare say that again, I won't let you off the hook."

Hearing this, Xiaoxue happily released me. Sitting back on the sofa, she picked up the soup again, took a couple of sips, and said seriously, "I talked to my dad about your job a couple of days ago, and he called today to tell me it's all settled. Let's go back for dinner together tomorrow night and settle this matter."

I was quite surprised, and choked on a small piece of chicken bone, coughing a few times until I finally coughed it up. Xiaoxue was busy patting my back and offering me water. I smiled apologetically at her and took a sip of water. I asked, "Your dad's back? Do you know what kind of work he does?"

"Ah, I didn't ask carefully, I think it's customs. I'll check now."

Xiaoxue picked up the phone.

I hurriedly grabbed her hand, "No need, haha, we'll know tomorrow. Thank you, haha..."

Xiaoxue's face turned cold, "What are you thanking me for? Wash the dishes."

I laughed twice, picked up the dishes and went into the kitchen. Turning back, I saw Xiaoxue watching TV with great interest again.

Admittedly, Xiaoxue's father was indeed a powerful figure. Through him, regardless of whether I could achieve great success, at least I wouldn't have to worry about everything like before, living in constant anxiety. My future life would be secure. In China, only civil servants are considered to have an "iron rice bowl," with pensions, medical subsidies, housing provident funds… these are advantages that are incomparable to working in a private company. And just Xiaoxue was enough to make it impossible for me to refuse her father's hospitality.

However, a wise person doesn't stand under a crumbling wall. Judging from the dinner between Xue's father and Li Real Estate last time, Xue's father's greed has evolved with the times over the decades. He is definitely not a good cadre like Bao Zheng or Jiao Yulu. Even if he is currently riding high, it may only be because his network of connections is extensive and his position is powerful. Such a mountain may collapse one day. And if that happens, will I be implicated? What about Xiaoxue?

Thinking about it, I felt extremely agitated. I accidentally touched my phone in my pocket and suddenly remembered that I had asked my friend J to help me find a job. I decided to call him first.

"Damn it, I was sleeping soundly. I just hung up the phone, and you're disturbing me again."

As soon as he opened his mouth, he started spewing profanities.

I chuckled and muttered under my breath, "Damn it, were you out stealing last night? Going to bed so early? No wonder my neighbor's water buffalo is missing; you probably stole it to 'tonify' your kidneys."

"Heh...you're the one who needs to 'tonify' your kidneys! You have no idea how strong I am, a hundred battles in one night, haha!"

He got all excited when these physiological issues came up. [·Ebook Download Paradise—www.qisuu.com] "Damn, a hundred battles in one night? You mean with your left and right hands? Heh...alright, stop bragging, let's get down to business. How's the job search going?

I asked you to help me find one last time. "

J yawned, taking a long time to recover. "You mean that thing? Okay, I'm good at planning and strategizing."

"Really? Tell me more?"

I felt a surge of excitement; this way, I wouldn't feel like I was living under someone else's roof.

"Oh, actually, you already know about Foxconn. An old friend of mine is the head of the engineering department there. If you want to get in, he can help, but you'll have to start as a junior engineer." As soon as

J finished speaking, my heart sank from the top of the mountain to the bottom of the valley.

Foxconn, one of the world's leading electronics contract manufacturers, I believe almost everyone in China knows it, but many people don't know that Foxconn is actually a terrible company; instead, countless people are desperate to get in. I've never worked at Foxconn, so I can't be sure if the reports online were true. But let's talk about something recent.

A little over a year ago, when I was doing sales at Xiaoli's company, I did a few business deals with Foxconn. The initial stages went smoothly, from negotiating specifications and prices to viewing prototypes and signing orders—a smooth ride like a BMW with flashing lights. However, problems arose when it came time for monthly payments. Excuses abounded: one minute a part was faulty and needed replacement; the next, some department interfered and demanded design changes. But by this time, the equipment had been in use for almost six months. Was it possible that the equipment was fine when it arrived at the factory, only to discover problems six months later when payment was due?

Frankly, it was a delaying tactic, a way to keep delaying. The longer the funds remained with Foxconn, the greater the potential profits. When a company reaches that scale, the profit generated from a single dollar can be measured in tens of thousands. But since they wouldn't pay, there was nothing the government could do. Taking the contract to court was out of the question, as the government wanted to secure the next deal. Besides, going to court might not be beneficial; their annual tax payments could probably equal the government's annual production value. Therefore, the government would inevitably choose one option—the one that would bring the greatest benefit. So, even after I left Xiaoli's company, 30% of the payments for those deals were still outstanding.

I stood there for a long time before slowly asking, "Is it the headquarters in Longhua? Or the one in Bao'an?"

"It's the one in Huangtian, Bao'an. How about it? Want to go?"

J asked.

To be honest, I was really grateful to him, but I also had such a strong aversion to Foxconn, so I could only sigh, "Heh... forget it, you know how rubbish that company is. I'd better not go. I'll look for something else. Thanks!"

Sigh... life is full of disappointments!

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