Chapter 493: A Walk on the Ridge

Qiao Jie fell silent after I finished speaking.

Qiao Jie has always been someone with few ideas, and in the past she listened to me about many things.

She still listens to me now.

I continued, "Qiao Jie, just now on the streets of Niushiling, I saw a decent inn.

We'll stay in the inn for the time being.

Tomorrow I'll find a construction crew and start renovating Qian Niang's house.

After the renovation is done, you and Qian Niang can move there to live.

Let your house become vacant; I'll think later what to use it for.

Qiao Jie said, "Alright, I listened to you before, and I still listen now. After all, I'm Sun Yansheng's wife."

I smiled but said nothing.

Qian Niang and Ru Meng walked over.

Qian Niang said, "Er Hai, help me get in touch with my maternal nephew; I want to stay at my parents' home for a few days."

It's been so many years, and I haven't visited my parents' home yet,

This trip back to Niushiling is a good chance to visit my parents' home."

I said, "Alright, mother, give me the number and I'll contact them right away."

I just told Qiao Jie that we will stay in the inn for now.

Tomorrow I'll contact the construction crew and start building the house."

"I'll go with your plan, mother has no objections; since I'm returning to Niushiling, just seeing you again puts my mind at ease," Qian Niang said, then gave me a phone number.

I took out my phone and called.

After contacting Qian Niang's nephew, we headed to the inn in Niushiling.

We booked two rooms.

We arranged for Ru Meng and Qiao Jie to share a room, but Ru Meng refused; she wants to go with Qian Niang to visit relatives.

I had to agree.

Soon Qian Niang's nephew arrived by car.

He picked up Qian Niang and Ru Meng.

Before leaving, I gave Qian Niang ten thousand yuan so she could go back to her parents' home and receive money; returning there makes her face shine.

Qian Niang was very happy and took Ru Meng to stay at her parents' home for a few days.

Staying in the inn with Qiao Jie felt awkward.

Qiao Jie looked at me,

I looked at Qiao Jie.

Both fell silent.

I didn't want Qiao Jie to be alone,

so I said to Qiao Jie, "You rest in the inn while I go up the ridge alone."

Qiao Jie nodded in agreement.

I left the streets of Niushiling and headed toward the iron mine on the ridge.

The road up the ridge has been paved with concrete, though there is little traffic.

I walked up alone in long strides.

At a corner, I saw a large rock.

Suddenly I recalled that years ago I once fed Little Fox here.

That Little Fox was so cute.

Its fiery red fur and human-like nature meant that as long as I gave it food,

it would dance for you.

It was the only living companion I had on the ridge.

I stared at the big rock.

It lay there quietly, unchanged for decades.

I wonder if Little Fox has already been reincarnated.

I hope Little Fox has a good rebirth, I whispered to myself.

I kept walking upward until I reached a cliff.

I know this place; it's where Hu Zheng had his car accident years ago.

Hu Zheng harassed Zhou Wei; there was no choice, I could only eliminate him by this method.

Li Ming secretly helped, getting me through that difficulty; otherwise Song Erguang would have sued me.

Thinking of Song Erguang gave me a chill.

That Song Erguang contracted an unclean disease and died.

I will never forget the way Song Erguang died.

All I can do is mutter in my heart,

"Brother Erguang, rest in peace; Xiao Shitou has also grown up, so your heart can be at ease."

After I finished muttering, my heart felt much warmer.

I kept walking up the ridge and soon arrived at the iron mine's main gate.

The iron mine gate was tightly shut; production had ceased.

I originally intended to check the dormitory I built inside the mine, but the gatekeeper wouldn't let me in.

There's nothing I can do,

I could only climb up the ridge alone.

Going east from the ridge, that's the road to Beishan.

Since no one walks it, this mountain trail is almost invisible.

Back then, I came out via this road,

and I also returned via this road.

Qiao Jie also came this way to see me.

That winter, snow fell everywhere,

Qiao Jie came to my worksite.

When I opened the door and saw it was Qiao Jie, I was filled with hot tears.

I remember swearing then to love Qiao Jie well for a lifetime.

But that vow couldn't withstand the test of time.

Qiao Jie is still Qiao Jie, but I have changed.

Going around the iron mine,

I climbed up onto the ridge,

The mountain wind whooshed against me.

In the past, I most liked coming here alone,

then shouting loudly into the distance, letting out all my unhappiness.

I stood here again, gazing at the distant mountains,

then a surge of breath rose from my heart toward the distance,

and I let out an 'Ah.'

My voice echoed in the valley.

Then I shouted again, 'Sun Shengsheng!'

The echo in the distance repeated 'Sun Shengsheng.'

'Wang Xinsheng.'

'Wang Xinsheng.'

'Zhao Jianqiang.'

'Zhao Jianqiang.'

'Zhaoerhai.'

'Zhaoerhai.'

I shouted all my names.

Let them all come back to life.

After shouting, I felt much better.

I headed down the ridge.

I really wish to see the bustling scene of the old worksite again.

I, Li Jiayou, Song Erguang, Shi Jinhe, and Shi Yong bustled back and forth on the worksite.

Sometimes Wu Xiezi would come over with a cigarette dangling from his lips, watching us work,

"Shengsheng, this spot needs an extra three centimeters of thickness—did you hear that?

How many hoops were used on that rebar?

And how was the reserved pipe opening left?

Did you look at the drawings?"

Wu Xiezi lectured us.

Hearing Wu Xiezi's lecture, I quickly nodded,

then I took out a cigarette from my pocket,

and proactively clipped the cigarette onto Wu Xiezi's ear,

Wu Xiezi would then take the cigarette down, look at it, sniff it, and put it back on his ear,

"Is this White General cigarette? It's not White General, I don't smoke."

"Manager Wu, don't worry—I know you like White General cigarettes; I've saved some in my pocket for you." I said with a smile.

"Shengsheng, you're so sensible." Wu Xiezi said, laughing and patting my shoulder.

Wu Xiezi also died.

I could only take out a cigarette,

and say toward the distance, 'Manager Wu, have a cigarette—White General, you like it.'

After saying that, I tossed the cigarette into the distance.

I slowly came down from the ridge; it was already evening.

I felt that returning to Niushiling this time was like crossing over once,

letting me return to the past.

Back then, it wasn't extraordinarily wonderful or happy, but there was always something nostalgic.

Because those times held my youth.

They held my feelings.

The road underfoot grew firmer, with newly paved cement everywhere; I no longer had to walk that uneven mountain trail.

The road kept getting better, and we kept walking faster.

I felt that sometimes I should sit down and wait a bit for our souls.

We walked too fast; even our souls couldn't keep up.

Coming down from the ridge, we reached Niushiling Town; all the shops in town were open for business.

Suddenly, there were many more people.

Some were buying things, some were selling things.

I saw a shop selling pork baked buns.

Then I hurried over,

I called out to the boss: "Boss, give me two baked buns, the fatty kind, with chili."

The boss happily agreed,

Soon he made two baked buns for me.

After I received them,

I first held them to my nose and smelled them,

They smelled really good.

Then I took big bites; they were so fragrant, the taste of the past came back.