Chapter 495: Xiao Long Doesn't Want a House

I picked up my phone and saw it was Xiao Long's call,

I quickly answered,

"Grandpa, where did you and Grandma go? Why aren't you at the hotel?" Xiao Long asked on the phone.

"Xiao Long, I've brought your grandma to Niushiling. Your grandma has been constantly saying she wants to return to Niushiling, so I agreed and brought her here to have a look."

"Your family's old house has collapsed; I was just thinking of rebuilding it for you." I said.

"Grandpa, is Grandma wanting to return to Niushiling because of her argument with my dad? Grandpa, if you're going back to Niushiling, I'll go back too." Xiao Long said.

"You child, stop talking nonsense; your grandma and your dad never argued."

"What are you coming to Niushiling for? Just stay with Fang Rui properly. By the way, has Xiao Shitou contacted you?"

"Grandpa, Xiao Shitou contacted me; he wants to give me the keys to two houses. I'm even more confused—why are you giving me the keys to a new house?" Xiao Long asked, not understanding.

"Xiao Long, these past few days your dad has been wanting to return to your family's former property."

"As for me, I've also inquired about this; returning would be difficult."

"After all, it's all been legally confiscated; you understand the situation."

"But your dad can't let go of this; he insists on going back."

"I've advised him, but he won't listen."

"I've thought about it; your family can't live long-term in a hotel."

"So I asked your Uncle Xiao Hua for two properties—one for your dad to live in, one for you as a wedding home. Once you have the keys, you can start renovating."

"The renovation money is here with me; you and Fang Rui discuss what style to renovate in. Xiao Long, did you hear? Take the keys." I explained to Xiao Long on the phone.

"Grandpa, I can't take this house; we already owe you too much."

"Everything in my family needs you to worry about."

"These two properties."

"I can't take them; I want to settle the house matter myself."

"If I can't even buy a house, what value does my life have as Li Xiaolong?"

"Grandpa, you're giving me this for free—I can't accept it." Xiao Long directly refused.

"This kid, he's got some ambition."

"I still underestimated this brat."

"After hearing Xiao Long finish speaking, I felt quite happy inside,"

"People, one must have ambition; you can't forever live on handouts."

"I can only advise: 'Alright, we're one family, we can't speak of two sides. Xiao Long, this house is my gift to you, a reward for your care of your great-aunt."

"That should work. Besides, Fang Rui followed you and doesn't even have a place to live—what's that?"

"Your grandma just hopes you marry early and give her a great-grandchild."

"Grandpa, I truly don't want the house. If Fang Rui sincerely wants to be with me, she'd be willing even without a house; if she doesn't want to be with me, buying a villa would be useless."

"I like most what you said: people must rely on themselves."

"I also want to rely on myself, using my own ability to buy Fang Rui a house."

"Only then do I feel like a real man." Xiao Long said firmly on the phone.

"I silently shouted in my heart: Good. Really a good kid. People must rely on themselves; society should be like this."

"Since Xiao Long doesn't want it, I won't persuade him anymore."

"Xiao Long, I respect your opinion. You're an ambitious child."

"Alright, Grandpa, I won't ask you to leave the house behind; from now on, whenever you need it, the house will be available to you at any time."

"Xiao Long, come over tomorrow; I have something to discuss with you." I said.

"Okay, Grandpa, I'll come over tomorrow morning." Xiao Long said.

After hanging up the phone,

Tomorrow, I want to chat with Xiao Long and ask about his plans.

What he plans to do, so I can prepare for his future.

At this moment I lit a cigarette,

standing in the guesthouse room,

and I recalled the scene of our first stay at a guesthouse after I first brought Qiao Jie to meet Qian Niang that year.

Qiao Jie tightly hugged me…

Sigh, nowadays Qiao Jie lives next door to me, but we can never go back to how we were.

Really, we can't go back.

With the passage of time, people's feelings change most easily.

Love between men and women, loving a lifetime, loving ten thousand years—it's too hard.

Vows as enduring as dried seas and rotting stones are easy to say, but hard to keep.

I can say this: if a man and woman are separated for three months or more than a year, their feelings will deteriorate.

Between husband and wife, try not to separate.

Otherwise, you'll both lose each other.

Just as I was wandering in thought, a knocking sounded outside,

No need to ask—Shi Jinhe has come.

I hurried to the door and pulled it open,

and saw that Qiao Jie was standing at the door,

Qiao Jie then said somewhat helplessly: "Jianqiang, I can't sleep; I want to come talk to you."

Hearing Qiao Jie say that, I did not refuse Qiao Jie.

Qiao Jie followed me into the house,

seeing the table inside laid out with cooked food and wine,

"Are you drinking alone?"

"No, I'm waiting for Shi Jinhe; he said he'd come over tonight."

"Shi Jinhe has come to Niushiling," Qiao Jie asked.

"Yes, after hearing I'd returned, he insisted on seeing me and came all the way to Niushiling," I said with a smile.

"Your brotherly bond is truly great—better than a married couple. Ah, Niushiling, this is where we had our best times.

Do you still remember?

It was right there in the guesthouse.

I remember,

Jianqiang, I've let you down in some ways—you were caught and thrown into prison,

how could I have slept with Li Jiayou?

Jianqiang, have you forgiven me?

After saying that, Qiao Jie poured herself a cup and drank it down.

"Qiao Jie, those are all past events; why bring them up? I've already forgiven you.

Actually, if it weren't Li Jiayou, there would still be someone else.

"Qiao Jie, the one who should really apologize is me—I have a health problem.

If I weren't ill, none of this would have happened.

It's all in the past. Don't bring it up again.

"Qiao Jie, we're both middle-aged now.

"What should be forgotten ought to be forgotten as much as possible." After saying that, I also poured a cup and drank it in one gulp.

"But I can't forget. Jianqiang, I truly can't forget. How are you and your health? Sometimes when I dream, I still see us together…." Qiao Jie reminisced.

I hurried to stop Qiao Jie from reminiscing,

I really don't want to reminisce with Qiao Jie,

I prefer to reminisce alone.

"Qiao Jie, stop bringing those things up—if you do, we won't be able to talk at all." I said angrily.

"You still have that temper, old man—I know I'm getting old. All right, let's not mention it.

"Jianqiang, once the house is built, bring Zhou Wei over—should we live together?" Qiao Jie said.

"Let's talk about that later; we need to see Zhou Wei's health condition.

"After we finish with the house, I'll go with you to see Sun Dajun and check how that brat's reform in prison is going." I deliberately changed the subject.

As soon as I mentioned Sun Dajun, Qiao Jie immediately changed,

"Jianqiang, you don't hold a grudge against Dajun. That's great—let's go see him together and have him apologize to his face.

"As long as you can still acknowledge this child, I'll have no worries. Dajun, my son." Qiao Jie burst into tears again.

I sat silent, smoking.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside,

the door was shoved open,

As soon as I heard the footsteps, I knew Shi Jinhe had arrived,

all I heard was Shi Jinhe's loud voice,

"Brother, I'm here."

Indeed, Shi Jinhe had come, carrying wine and dishes; it seemed he was thinking the same thing as I was.

That's just us brothers having a good drink together.