Chapter 303: Seeing Xiao Shitou

Hearing Xiao Feng say that, I felt that Ye Jianming and Xiao Feng were completely over.

Their marriage ending was actually a kind of liberation for both of them.

I said to Xiao Feng: "Xiao Feng, let's not ask about Ye Jianming for now. Have you contacted that Du County in Lanling? Have him come help you. We need to transfer Xiao Fang over to watch Shen Honghong. Then Qi He Mine will be left with just you."

"I haven't contacted Du County yet, and you want to move Xiao Fang away. Okay, I'll contact Du County today and have him come help. Is this Du County person reliable?" Xiao Feng asked.

"He should be reliable, since Qi He Mine gives him dividends. He can't go against money, right?"

"Then it's fine; if you say he's reliable, he is. Are you still coming back for New Year? Qian Niang is asking about you."

"I'm not going back. Tell Qian Niang that Li Ming and Xiao Long are safe, we're all together. We're all safe."

"Okay, Brother Jianqiang, then I'll hang up, someone's at the door." Xiao Feng said and hung up.

I also hung up; for now I don't need to worry about Qi He Mine.

At this moment, Zhang Zong knocked and came in,

"Jianqiang, have you rested well?"

"Zhang Zong, I've rested well. Please have a seat." I said.

"Come on, let's go to the office to discuss something." Zhang Zong said.

"Let's go to the office."

"Right. Let's go, about Xiao Shitou's matter."

"Is this matter so urgent?"

"It's urgent; if Xiao Shitou calls me dad earlier, I'll have a good year." Zhang Zong laughed.

Since I already agreed to Zhang Zong,

I said: "Okay, Zhang Zong, let's go, we're heading to the office."

The two of us quickly arrived at the ninth-floor office.

This was my original office.

As soon as I entered, I felt it was too familiar, as if I had never left.

Zhang Zong pointed at the room's furnishings and said: "Jianqiang, you see that the things in this room have basically not moved.

I know you'll come back sooner or later; I'm just temporarily looking after the room for you."

Hearing Zhang Zong say that,

I laughed,

"Zhang Zong, you are the host, I am the guest. I cannot reverse host and guest."

"What host, what guest—we don't distinguish. Xiao Shitou will come over soon. You and he should talk properly. Once you've worked it out, then talk about me."

After saying that, Zhang Zong retreated from the room.

The room was left with only me,

I stood in the room, carefully examining everything, truly as Zhang Zong said—many things remained unmoved.

The honor certificates our group previously obtained, plus my personal trophies,

are displayed on the display shelf.

Looking at all this, I can't help but feel a myriad of emotions.

For these honors, I have given too much, too much, and also lost too much, too much.

Why would Zhang Zong keep these? It shows he had already made up his mind.

I walked back and forth in the office a few steps, trying to regain the former feeling,

the chairman of Da Heng Group,

the state of commanding tens of thousands of troops.

But after waving my arms a few times, I discovered I couldn't lift them.

Only a few months have passed, and I actually lost the feeling of being a leader.

I stood by the window again, looking outside.

Outside, vehicles on the road streamed endlessly,

how many times at the window, I worried, suffered, and felt helpless about Da Heng Group's tomorrow,

today I stand here again, and everything is like fleeting clouds.

A few months ago I was still the arrogantly powerful chairman of Da Heng Group,

now I am a fugitive hiding everywhere.

The indoor environment hasn't changed; only the person has.

Just as I was feeling myriad emotions,

the room rang with a knocking sound,

I said: "Come in."

Soon someone pushed the door open and came in.

I turned from in front of the window,

looking at the person who entered, it was a young man,

but this young man had unkempt stubble, was unkempt, and looked dejected.

It was Xiao Shitou,

It seems the sudden change in Da Heng Group dealt a heavy blow to Xiao Shitou.

Yeah, the original father became a fugitive, and the enemy wants to be his dad—who could accept that?

Xiao Shitou lifted his head and glanced at me,

"Is Zhang Zong not here?"

Did he not recognize me?

I looked at Xiao Shitou, smiled and said, "Xiao Shitou, we haven't seen each other for a long time; how have you been?"

When Xiao Shitou heard me call his name,

he froze instantly,

and examined me closely,

After a minute, Xiao Shitou whispered, "May I ask who you are?"

"You didn't recognize me? Close the door, and I'll tell you," I said with a smile.

Xiao Shitou closed the door,

I then said, "Xiao Shitou, I am your father Zhao Jianqiang; don't you recognize me?"

Xiao Shitou, hearing that, looked at me carefully,

let out a gasp, then ran to throw himself into my arms, hugging me tightly,

shouting, "Dad, you really are my dad; why are you here?"

When I first saw you, I felt you were my dad, but I didn't dare to admit it.

Dad, where have you been all this time?

Dad, I miss you.

Why didn't you take me away?

Xiao Shitou said while crying.

Seeing Xiao Shitou's crying face,

I couldn't hold back either,

I gently patted Xiao Shitou's back,

"How could dad have abandoned you? Things happened so suddenly then, I had no time to explain."

If I hadn't run, they would have caught me and thrown me into prison. Then we father and son would never see each other again.

Xiao Shitou, dad also misses you. Have you been okay these days?

Xiao Shitou sobbed silently.

He seemed to have been suppressed for a long time,

holding it all inside, never releasing it.

I kept patting Xiao Shitou's back, speaking softly, "Cry, cry, let it out. Today we father and son are reunited again."

Child, this is a joyous thing for us.

At that moment Xiao Shitou sat up straight,

I gently wiped the tears from his face with my hand.

"Xiao Shitou, now that you've grown, child, if you want to mature quickly, you must go through great events and setbacks; only then will you understand society's harshness.

Xiao Shitou, sit down; dad has something to tell you."

Xiao Shitou nodded,

and sat on a sofa,

I took out a cigarette,

and asked Xiao Shitou, "Want one?"

Xiao Shitou took it with both hands,

then produced a lighter and lit it for me,

"I've learned to smoke."

"Dad, since you left, whenever I feel down I want to smoke a cigarette."

I've always had many things I can't understand—how did our Haohao Group Company get taken over?

And why did you and dad become fugitives? My brother Sun Dajun was also arrested.

My mother's fate is unknown,

All this happened so suddenly that I can't accept it.

What on earth is going on?" Xiao Shitou took a hard drag of his cigarette.

Watching Xiao Shitou smoke, I recalled how, back at Niushiling, in my most helpless moments I could only use a cigarette to drown my sorrows.

From Xiao Shitou's face I saw my own reflection.

It was as if that young, future‑confused Sun Yansheng sat before me again.

We both fell silent,

the two of us smoked,

After we finished smoking,

I pressed the butt into the ashtray.

I said to Xiao Shitou, "Xiao Shitou, what happened in between can't be explained in a sentence or two.

We'll explain when we have time. Do you remember that night we drank on the construction site?"

Xiao Shitou replied, "I remember, dad. That time you were drunk and stayed on Uncle Jinhe's bed at the construction site."