Chapter 321

Hearing Mine Director say that,

I smiled and said, "Mine Director, when the mine was handed to Zhao Xiaoguo to manage before, it caused the shutdown of Qi He Kuang, and I am responsible.

Now I think back and regret it; sometimes I have let you and the big guy down too much."

Mine Director laughed, "Chairman Zhao, what are you saying? Let's not bring up the past; it's the New Year, we look forward.

Today we'll strike it rich."

I happily shook hands with Mine Director,

"Alright, Mine Director, today we'll strike it rich. The canteen has already prepared a New Year banquet for the brothers up the shaft; after you finish your shower, take the big guy to drink."

"Alright, Chairman Zhao, see you later, Shangguan Zhuren. After my shower, I'll take the big guy to the banquet," Mine Director said, then left happily.

Shangguan Zhuren said, "This Mine Director is a reliable person; you don't need to worry about the underground production."

"Indeed, Mine Director has abundant underground experience; I trust him. Let's go, Shangguan Zhuren, it's getting cold outside. We'll return to the guesthouse to rest."

"Let's go. I haven't slept well these days; after you talked with Kong Shi today, sigh, I can finally get a sound sleep," Shangguan Zhuren said, smiling and shaking his head.

"Yes, we can fall asleep, but I'm afraid Kong Shi won't be able to," I said with a smile.

I escorted Shangguan Zhuren back to the guesthouse to rest,

Just as I arrived at the guesthouse, Xiao Feng came over,

"Jianqiang, are you still looking at the mine's financial statements?"

"I'm not looking; with you here, I won't ask about anything."

"You just trust me like that," Xiao Feng asked.

"I don't trust you; who else? Has your brother Jianjun come looking for you?"

"He's here. Apart from asking me for money, there's nothing else to discuss. My brother is finished. At Qi He they've built some entertainment city; it's all about booze and gambling. Forget it; if I bring it up, I get angry."

"Brother Jianjun now just wants to retire; his life outlook differs from ours. It's the New Year; have you contacted Ye Jianming?"

Mentioning Ye Jianming,

Xiao Feng's eyes became moist,

"No, and I don't want to bring him up—bad luck during the New Year."

"Xiao Feng, I can only urge reconciliation. In a marriage, a woman shouldn't be too overbearing, or the household won't stay united. You should proactively contact Ye Jianming and ease the tension between you."

"Is it necessary, Jianqiang? I'm not a child anymore. Lately I've been reflecting on myself."

"When I chose Ye Jianming, I was truly wrong; I wasted over a decade of my life—how many decades does a life have anyway?"

"If I had found someone else, perhaps the kids would already be making soy sauce now. But now I'm truly alone and have no meaning."

"But what's the use of regret? Time once gone never returns."

"Wei Dongqing has gone mad, Ye Jianming has grown old,"

"I suddenly realized I have nothing; living has no meaning," Xiao Feng cried openly in front of me.

"Xiao Feng, don't say that. If you think that way, does my life become even more meaningless? My wife became a vegetative patient, the company belongs to someone else,

I've become a fugitive.

At middle age, there's not even a chance to turn things around. Thinking of this, I should have died earlier; it would have been easier.

Why don't I die? A person needs a purpose in life,

Just like you, even at this age, awakening isn't too late.

Do as you think, and the future will be fine. Trust me,

I will always support you.

"Jianqiang, you're the only one who can counsel me now. I feel exhausted, and I have no one to lean on," Xiao Feng said, wiping tears.

"My shoulder is always here for you," I said, deliberately pressing my shoulder against Xiao Feng's.

Xiao Feng looked at me and smiled,

"Alright, I'm scared; leaning on your shoulder, I don't want to move anymore. When you left Qi He, why didn't you take me with you? I hold some resentment."

"How can I tell you? I was with Zhengzheng's mother, Hui Ling, who was heavily pregnant. I'm sure you know you'd hate me to death.

If I didn't tell you, I could still leave a good impression on you. Let you think of me," I said with a smile.

"You're terrible. When you mention Hui Ling, I recall something: Hui Ling's father, Uncle Xu San, wants to see you. Lately his health has been terrible," Xiao Feng said.

Hearing Xiao Feng say that, I hurriedly asked, "Uncle Xu San, does he live in the mine hospital?"

Xiao Feng replied, "He's been living here all along. Let's go take a look."

I nodded and followed Xiao Feng to the mine hospital to visit Xu San.

We arrived at Xu San's ward,

Xu San was lying on the bed, his eyes blankly staring at the ceiling.

I stepped up to Xu San,

looking at his withered, yellowed face,

then called out, "Uncle, I'm Jianqiang, I've come to see you."

Xu San slowly withdrew his gaze,

looking at me,

after a while,

he finally said, "Jianqiang, are you really Jianqiang?"

I nodded,

Xiao Feng then said beside me, "Uncle Xu, he truly is Jianqiang. The person you think of day and night, who came all the way from elsewhere to see you."

Xu San examined me closely,

and extended his thin hand.

Jianqiang, indeed it's Jianqiang, sit down quickly. You finally came to see me; even on my deathbed I can close my eyes.

Hearing Xu San's sigh, I felt very uneasy.

Xiao Feng brought me a stool,

I sat down by Xu San's bed,

Xiao Feng then quietly closed the door and left,

Only the two of us, me and Xu San, remained in the room,

Xu San's eyes poured out turbid tears,

I wiped them with a tissue,

Xu San spoke softly: "I've suffered all my life; my son is gone, my daughter also left, my wife died before me, and there's no one left to talk to."

Not long ago, Zhengzheng came to see me,

Ah, this child is quite good; after all, he is my only grandson, and he counts as leaving me an heir.

Jianqiang, I have no requests as I near death.

Just let Zhengzheng no longer bear the Zhao surname, let him take the Xu surname, okay?

This is also me, your old uncle, asking you.

No matter who his father is, that doesn't matter,

Jianqiang, you raised him; I know it hasn't been easy for you.

Asking Zhengzheng to take the Xu surname makes my request a bit excessive. But I don't want to go like this, old and without leaving an heir; I feel guilty in my heart.

Jianqiang, can you promise me? I beg you."

After Xu San finished speaking, he extended his withered hand to grasp mine,

pulling hard,

trying to get up to beg me.

This might be Xu San's last bit of strength,

I quickly said,

"Uncle, you don't need to beg me; I promise you. I will certainly change Zhengzheng's surname to Xu, and have him break an old basin for you, strike the banner and shout the road."

Hearing me say that, Xu San slowly lay down,

"Jianqiang, you are a good person. I have lived off your support for all these years without giving anything back; I feel sorry toward you.

I took you in back then, never expecting such gratitude from you—supporting my old age, building me a house, sending off my wife. I, Xu San, owe you,

And now, as I'm about to die, I'm making you change Zhengzheng's surname too; I've put you in a difficult spot.

I know my days are few,

Tell the hospital doctors not to give me good needles or medicine; saving a little is something.

Whether I live one more day or one less, what's the point?

Don't waste money anymore.

I heard from Manager Xiao Feng that Zhengzheng is preparing to study abroad; after I die, don't let him come back.

Also, after I die, bury me in our family's Ancestral Tomb; I wish to reunite underground with Huimin, although this son isn't much, he is still my son.

Ah, Jianqiang, I've said everything I needed to say, and now I have no thoughts left.