Chapter 489: Seeing Qiao Jie Again

I hesitated at the doorway for a moment.

Still I did not knock.

I took out a cigarette and took a puff.

To calm my mood.

Then I raised my hand and knocked on the security door.

I knocked for a while, but no one inside responded.

I could only increase the force, pounding hard on the door,

I saw rust falling from the door.

If no one still responds, I will go ask the property management.

Soon someone inside responded,

It was Qiao Jie's voice,

"Who is it?"

I felt the voice sounded somewhat hoarse and unfamiliar.

"Me." I replied at the doorway.

As soon as my voice fell, I heard Qiao Jie say from inside: "Jianqiang, is Jianqiang here?"

The door opened quickly,

Qiao Jie appeared before me,

At this moment I looked at Qiao Jie's appearance, her face had many wrinkles, and her hair was mixed with white.

Qiao Jie really had grown old.

Actually Qiao Jie is only three years older than me; how did she age so quickly,

it seems the matter of Dajun hit her too hard.

Upon seeing me, Qiao Jie did not speak,

she stared straight at me, then tears streamed down.

Then she turned and went inside.

I then followed Qiao Jie inside.

The interior decoration is still nice; it was done by Sun Dajun.

It just feels desolate.

At this moment Qiao Jie took a towel and began to cover her face while crying bitterly.

I did not know how to comfort Qiao Jie.

I wanted to pat Qiao Jie's shoulder, but I hesitated a bit.

Because Qiao Jie and I have been separated for too long.

We no longer have that former intimate relationship.

I merely smoked while watching Qiao Jie cry,

without saying a word.

After a while, Qiao Jie finished crying.

Wiping her eyes she said: "Why did you come? Are you here to see if I'm dead?"

"Why can't I come?" I retorted.

"I ask you, how did Sun Dajun end up in prison? Is it your doing?" Qiao Jie asked directly.

"Qiao Jie, I say it's not my doing; do you believe me?"

"You have changed; your words are no longer trustworthy."

"I haven't changed. We haven't changed; it's time that has changed. Sun Dajun wasn't put in prison by me; it was his godfather Niu Ju who put him in,

he colluded with Kang Yali, the two of them set up a scheme,

and they screwed both of us over.

I fled, and Sun Dajun went to prison." I said calmly.

Upon hearing me say that, Qiao Jie's expression also changed,

she no longer glared at me with her eyes,

she just fiercely said: "I knew it was that woman Kang Yali's doing, a stinking old woman; I really want to tear her *."

"Our Dajun also somehow got infatuated with her, alas, what a sin."

After saying that, Qiao Jie started crying again.

I became a bit anxious,

"Alright, stop crying, Qiao Jie; Sun Dajun going to prison is also a good thing. He's a brainless person, how many bastard deeds has he done? Helping outsiders to deal with his own father.

Is there such a son?

His crime won't be sentenced too heavily; he'll be out in a couple of years and it'll be fine."

"You say that, do you still have any conscience, Zhao Jianqiang? Your son going to prison is a good thing.

What kind of mind are you harboring?

Zhao Jianqiang, leave; I don't want to see you again." Qiao Jie shouted again.

"Are you done or not? Sun Dajun is your son. I watched him grow up; can I not feel heartbroken seeing him in prison?

I am also anxious, but what can I do? My status is that of a fugitive.

I also have no way to save him.

You should go blame his godfather Niu Ju.

Hmph, ever since Sun Dajun became Niu Ju's godson, he no longer sees me as his father.

"Qiao Jie, don't cry—I've come to see you, I want to tell you everything's all right."

"Niu Ju is also inside—he got what he deserved. I don't even have a chance to scold him. All right, you've finished looking at me; I'm still alive, not dead. You may go."

"Hmph, everything's all right—it's thanks to you, Zhao Jianqiang, not me." Qiao Jie said to me without yielding.

This Qiao Jie,

I really feel both heartache and anxiety.

"Qiao Jie, we're all all right now. Don't cry and make a fuss—my godmother is still waiting downstairs. She's even come up to see you." I said.

I don't want to keep getting entangled with Qiao Jie like this.

Upon hearing that the godmother had come, Qiao Jie didn't even have time to wipe her tears.

She just stood up straight away.

"The godmother's here—why didn't you tell me sooner, making her wait downstairs all this time? What's this come to?"

Having said that, she rushed downstairs.

Qiao Jie's temper is still the same as before.

I followed her downstairs.

When Qiao Jie reached downstairs, she threw her arms around the godmother and called out, "Godmother, you've come."

"Qiao Jie, I've come to see you—how long has it been since we two women last met? Are you all right?"

"Godmother, sigh, these days can't be mentioned." After saying that, Qiao Jie actually flung herself onto the godmother's shoulder and burst into tears.

The godmother gently patted Qiao Jie's back.

"I knew this would upset Qiao Jie. Child, just cry a little—crying too long hurts your health. Stop crying now."

Qiao Jie listened to the godmother, then rose from her.

Wiping her tears.

Sigh, in this short while Qiao Jie has cried three times.

At that moment the godmother said, "Ru Meng, hurry and call 'madam'."

Ru Meng looked at Qiao Jie and whispered, "Auntie."

Qiao Jie looked at Ru Meng, reached out, and stroked her hand.

"Ru Meng, right? You've grown into a young lady—how's your mother doing?"

"My mother's still the same," Ru Meng replied.

"Alas, Zhou Wei is also a miserable wretch—we're all harmed by Zhao Jianqiang." Qiao Jie directly pointed the blame at me.

I could only bitterly smile and shake my head.

The godmother said, "That damned Er Hai is good for nothing. All right, Qiao Jie, I'll scold him when I get a chance. Come, help me upstairs to talk."

"Godmother, let me carry you upstairs," Qiao Jie said.

"I'm over seventy and can still walk—why would I need you to carry me?" the godmother laughed.

So Qiao Jie helped the godmother upstairs.

Upon reaching the fourth floor,

The godmother sighed, "Really getting old,"

"Sigh, each year is worse than the last—climbing up to the fourth floor is a struggle. It'd be better to live in the countryside, where there's no stairs."

I helped the godmother onto the sofa,

"Mother, look at what you're saying—you're not old at all. Qiao Jie, pour mother some water."

Qiao Jie poured a cup of water each for the godmother and Ru Meng.

The godmother took it, looking at Qiao Jie,

"Qiao Jie, you're getting old too—your hair's gone gray. Why don't you dye it?"

Qiao Jie's eye rims reddened again,

"Godmother, what would I dye it for, and who would I dye it for? After Sun Dajun's accident, I went gray overnight."

"Godmother, you tell me why my life is so bitter."

I lost my husband young, and after finally finding a man to lean on, he ran off.

In my old age I hoped my son would support me, but he too has been taken away.

"Godmother, what should I do?"

Hearing Qiao Jie say that, my expression grew complicated—since Ru Meng was nearby, I didn't want her to know too much.

Otherwise it would affect the image I have in her mind.

The godmother laughed, "Qiao Jie, back in Niushiling you were ever so optimistic—you never let anything bother you, and we two women could talk all day without running out of things to say."

"Sigh, ever since we moved to the city,"

"people's hearts have grown distant."

"Let's not bring up Qiao Jie's past; we should look forward."

"Your life isn't bitter—what's there to be bitter about?"

"Sun Dajun's just been locked up for two years; he'll be out in another two."

"By then we'll find a wife for Sun Dajun, and you can just wait to hold a grandchild."

"What grandchild? Godmother, why did you all suddenly come to see me?" Qiao Jie asked.