Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
âNo matter how busy I am, you still have to tell me something that big,â Su Xiaoxue said. âIâve already asked for leave. Iâll come tomorrow.â
âAlright, tell me what time youâll be here, and Iâll pick you up at the airport,â Wang Yao said.
After chatting with Su Xiaoxue for a long time, he hung up.
Without him noticing it, there were only two more days before it was his sisterâs marriage. Wang Yao thought about it. He posted a message on Weibo so that no one would come and wait for nothing.
Life was a struggle.
Some people chose to die rather than live humbly. Some people chose to live because as long as they were alive, there would be hope and possibilities.
...
Thousands of miles away in southern Yunnan...
Alive! I am still alive!
A middle-aged man panted heavily.
His face was still a little bit bruised, but it had faded compared to the previous couple of days. Most importantly, he could feel that his body was recovering and the fatal factors in his body were fading. There was nothing better than living. If there was only one thing, it would be to live a happy life.
âMaster, I am still alive!â He looked up at the sky. The sun was shining so brightly it was surreal.
Ha-hah! He was happily laughing. Tears of joy were flowing.
...
In the mountain village, Jia Zizai went to Zhong Liuchuanâs home alone.
âWhat are you busy with?â he asked.
âReading.â Zhong Liuchuan put down the scripture in his hand. âDo you have something to ask of me?â
âNothing,â Jia Zizai said. âJust hanging around,â
âSit down.â Zhong Liuchuan made him a cup of tea.
âWhat are you reading? Huangting Jing?â Jia Zizai asked. âTut, tut, youâve indeed changed into a different person.â
âArenât you the same?â Zhong Liuchuan asked. âHave some tea.â
âThank you.â
Jia Zizai drank a cup of tea. He carefully looked at Zhong Liuchuan. The manâs appearance had not changed, but his temperament had changed quite a lot. The kind of sharpness he once possessed had been hidden. He used to be like a sword. Now, he had added a sheath on the outside. Inside, he was just as sharp, if not sharper.
âWhat are you looking at me for?â Zhong Liuchuan asked.
âIâm thinking that if we were to fight again, I would be the one who will lose, right?â Jia Zizai replied.
Zhong Liuchuan just smiled. He had been practicing every day and sparring occasionally with Wang Yao. He had benefited a lot from sparring with a highly skilled person. His vision had broadened by leaps and bounds. The practice on Dongshan Mountain had been of great benefit to him. The neixi in his body, although small, had some structure and great power when he controlled it with his mind. However, as his practice became more profound, he found additional shortcomings. His original fighting mindset had also faded. When there was nothing to do, he would meditate, chant sutras, and drink tea, living the typical lifestyle of a mountain hermit.
âIt has been beneficial following Sir, right?â Jia Zizai asked.
âI have benefited a lot, and my life has changed since then,â Zhong Liuchuan said.
âOh, donât tempt me here,â Jia Zizai said. âWhat do you think I should do to make Sir accept me as an apprentice?â
âDidnât Sir say to wait for a year? Heâll consider after your heart has become peaceful and calm,â Zhong Liuchuan replied.
âConsider? Does that mean it will depend on my performance?â Jia Zizai asked.
âYes, thatâs what he meant,â Zhong Liuchuan said.
Jia Zizai downed the tea in his cup.
âI am satisfied with my life now,â he said. âI donât have to worry all day. I donât need to do things that I hate. Iâm going to get two sets of tea sets. Iâll have a cup of tea when Iâm free. By the way, I went to the mountain to have a walk today. I found that many parts of the mountains are empty. No one is planting things there. Itâs a pity. Iâm going to contract two plots of land to plant vegetables, fruits, and so on. Itâs going to be all-natural, green, and pollution-free.â
âMmm.â Zhong Liuchuan nodded. He had already contracted a plot of land on Dongshan Mountain. He had planted some vegetables and herbs. He treated it as a pastime. He was very interested and cared about it. In autumn, the growth of those vegetables and herbs was not as ideal as he expected.
âI originally wanted to live next door to you. After thinking about it, Hu Mei and I both...â Jia Zizai paused a moment before saying, âBy the way, we got our marriage certificate. Did you know?â
âCongratulations,â Zhong Liuchuan said. He felt that Jia Zizaiâs thinking was jumping around too quickly. It seemed that once the burden on his body had been lightened, his mentality had greatly changed.
âWell, why donât I ask Hu Mei to introduce someone to you? What kind of girls do you like?â Jia Zizai asked.
âHave some tea.â Zhong Liuchuan poured him a cup of tea.
âWhat do you mean by this?â Jia Zizai asked. âHey, could it be that you have a problem with your orientation?â
âWhat problem? What orientation? You think too much,â Zhong Liuchuan calmly replied.
âActually, Hu Mei still has some friends,â Jia Zizai said. âThere is one Iâve met several times. Sheâs beautiful, virtuous, and of a suitable age. Iâd introduce you guys someday if youâd like.â
Zhong Liuchuan did not speak. He quietly stared at Jia Zizai.
âI can verify they are not people like us but ordinary people who are absolutely innocent,â Jia Zizai said.
âIf thereâs nothing else, I still want to read,â Zhong Liuchuan said.
âOh, wait, are you free at noon?â Jia Zizai asked
âWhat is the matter?â Zhong Liuchuan asked.
âAt noon, come over to my house for lunch and have a taste of Hu Meiâs craftsmanship. Call Sir along as well,â Jia Zizai said.
âSir will not be at home at noon,â Zhong Liuchuan said. âHe has gone to Haiqu.â
âThatâs OK. You can come alone. We two brothers shall have a drink,â Jia Zizai said.
âI do not drink,â Zhong Liuchuan said. âI thank you for your kindness, but Iâll pass.â
âOK, another day then,â Jia Zizai said.
He left while humming a little tune. He was happy and blissful.
âThat mentality of his!â Zhong Liuchuan smiled.
In Haiqu, Wang Yao looked up and gazed at the sky.
The sky in Haiqu was especially blue.
She is here!
A small dot appeared in the sky and quickly approached. It was an airliner. It soon landed.
A young woman in a pair of jeans and a pink blouse, who was the picture of youth and beauty, got off the plane. She was like a blooming peony with unparalleled grace. Wherever she passed, she was the focus of everyoneâs attention, especially the men.
âBeautiful, too beautiful!â A man in a suit was in awe.
âPresident Zhao? President Zhao?â the manâs assistant asked.
âDo you see that woman?â President Zhao asked.
âYes,â the assistant replied.
âI have fallen in love with her just after a glance,â President Zhao said.
âPresident Zhao, your phone call,â the assistant said.
âDonât you see I am busy?â President Zhao looked up and went toward the woman who looked like the fairy in a painting.
âPresident Zhao, your phone call,â the assistant said.
âUgh, that b*tchy woman again!â President Zhao sighed.
âHello, Wife, I have landed in Haiqu. Yes, I just got off the plane,â he said in a gentle tone. âDonât worry. Iâll take care of the task this time. Yep, right, right. No problem. You should pay attention to your health over there. Donât get too tired. Call me if you have any problems. Alright, thatâs it. Love you. Hanging up!â
After hanging up, President Zhao began to look around before he had even put his cellphone away. Oh, where is that beauty?
âSir.â
âYou look beautiful today!â Wang Yao picked up Su Xiaoxueâs suitcase and smiled.
âThank you,â she said.
âThat beautiful lady, excuse me.â At this time, a well-dressed middle-aged man came over to Su Xiaoxue and Wang Yao.
âHow do you do? Let me introduce myself, Iâm Zhao Changsheng, chairman of Changsheng Group. This is my business card.â After opening a business card box, he took out a delicate business card and handed it to Su Xiaoxue with both hands.
âAh, hello, President Zhao,â she replied.
âWell, I think your temperament is very good,â President Zhao said. âWould you be interested in joining our company?â
âIâm not interested, thank you,â Su Xiaoxue said with a smile.
âMaybe you donât know our company very well yet,â the man said. âAbout our company...â
Ah... President Zhao suddenly became speechless. He could open his mouth but could not utter a single sound.
âWhat is happening?â Su Xiaoxue asked
âShall we go?â Wang Yao suggested.
âSure!â Su Xiaoxue held Wang Yaoâs arm as she walked off smiling.
âDid you come alone this time?â Wang Yao asked
âYes, my mother wanted Auntie Lian to accompany me, but I told her there was no need for that as Iâll have you here,â Su Xiaoxue said.
âYes, you have me!â Wang Yao nodded.
âPresident Zhao, whatâs the matter with you?â the assistant asked.
âSir, whatâs the matter with that President Zhao?â Su Xiaoxue asked.
âWell, maybe God thinks heâs too annoying and is asking him to shut up and have a rest,â Wang Yao said with a smile.
Su Xiaoxue laughed happily like a lark.
âHe wonât be mute for the rest of his life, will he?â she asked.
âHow can that be?â Wang Yao replied. âItâs just that he wonât be able to speak for a while. Itâs annoying to see him like that.â
The two got on the bus and headed for the village.
âHave you eaten?â Wang Yao asked.
âYes,â Su Xiaoxue said.
âWhy donât you nap for a while? I will wake you later,â Wang Yao suggested.
âItâs alright, Iâm not tired or sleepy,â Su Xiaoxue replied. âHow about I accompany you so we can talk a bit?â
Su Xiaoxue asked Wang Yao many questions.
âWhat? My brother asked you to join the army?â She was shocked.
âOh, I have accidentally leaked it!â Wang Yao had unintentionally mentioned it. Unexpectedly, Su Xiaoxue had instantly caught on.
âSir, you didnât go to the battlefield to carry out the mission, did you?â she asked.
âNo,â Wang Yao replied.
Su Xiaoxue stared at him for a long time.
âWhatâs the matter? Why are you looking at me?â he asked.
âSir, you lied just now,â Su Xiaoxue said.
âNoooo!â Wang Yaoâs face was a little red.
âLook, your face is red,â Su Xiaoxue said. âDid my brother fool you into going onto the battlegrounds?â
âHa-ha, arenât I fine now?â Wang Yao replied.
âHmph, Su Zhixing!â Su Xiaoxue pouted her little mouth. âYou canât go next time, Sir!â
âSure, sure!â Wang Yao hurriedly promised. âDonât go and look for your brother either. I was the one who asked to go. I wanted to go to the jungle in southern Yunnan to have a look thinking maybe I could find some herbs there.â
âIs that true?â she asked.
âOf course, itâs true,â Wang Yao replied. âBesides, there was no fighting this time.â
âThatâs good,â Su Xiaoxue said.
When the car arrived in the mountain village, Su Xiaoxue took out the gift she had prepared for Wang Yaoâs parents from her luggage. It made the two old people very happy. In fact, Su Xiaoxueâs arrival was the main reason they felt exceptionally happy.
âCome on, you shouldnât have brought something with you!â Zhang Xiuying was more and more satisfied with her future daughter-in-law.
Wang Fenghua was happily smoking. His daughter was going to be married, and his daughter-in-law was joining them. He thought, Isnât that double happiness? Alas, it would be better if the weddings could be held together!