Chapter 496: Drinking Together

Shi Jinhe entered the house and saw Qiao Jie was also there.

After seeing Qiao Jie,

he didn't know how to greet her,

"Sister-in-law, no, Qiao Jie. Good." he said, scratching his head.

Qiao Jie laughed,

stood up,

"Jinghe brother, we haven't seen each other in years. I still like hearing you call me sister-in-law."

Shi Jinhe looked at me,

feeling embarrassed, not knowing how to address Qiao Jie.

"Jinghe, don't overthink it, it's just a title. You can call me Qiao Jie or sister-in-law. Sit down, I've been waiting for you." I said.

"Then I'll call you sister-in-law. I'm used to it. Sister-in-law, hello." Shi Jinhe laughed.

"Jinghe, sit down quickly." Hearing Shi Jinhe call her sister-in-law, Qiao Jie was very happy.

She pulled a stool over and placed it in front of Shi Jinhe.

Shi Jinhe then sat down and placed the food and wine on the table.

I said, "It seems we both had the same idea—I bought food and drink, and you did too."

"Yeah, brother, after I hung up the phone with you, I quickly bought food and drink and drove over from home. I haven't seen you in over a year."

"Sigh, after you and Shi Yong ran away from there, we lost contact."

"I kept worrying that something might have happened to you,"

"I worried every day."

"Today I finally got to see you, brother, and I'm so happy." After saying that, Shi Jinhe began to wipe his tears.

When Shi Jinhe cried, Qiao Jie also started crying along with him.

I said, "Enough, I'm doing fine, why are we crying?"

"Back then, Shi Yong and I fled in a hurry, with no time to explain to you."

"Sigh, this past year I've been through too much."

"Come on, Jinghe, let's have one,"

"Let's drink to living safely."

Shi Jinhe quickly raised his cup and clinked it against mine,

then we drank it all.

Shi Jinhe wiped his mouth,

"Brother, let's talk properly—how did you overthrow them? I admire you so much. You managed to get through such a tough road, and the Da Heng Group has returned; why did you come to Niushiling to do what?"

"I just can't figure it out—you should be leading tens of thousands of troops in the Da Heng Group to expand the market."

"Could it be that you want to develop Niushiling?"

Listening to Shi Jinhe's question,

I felt like laughing,

wondering how to tell him,

"Jinghe, I'm already tired and want to rest; the Da Heng Group's affairs have been handed over to Zhao Xiaohua. Let him handle it. I came to Niushiling mainly to reminisce about the past, and then to build a house for Qian Niang."

"Qiao Jie, come along with us. In the future she also wants to spend her remaining years here."

"Yeah, Jinghe, your brother is right—we're old now and just thinking about how to spend our remaining years."

"This Niushiling is nice."

"It's especially suitable for retirement."

"We've thought about building a villa here, so we can spend our final days in the countryside." Qiao Jie also said from the side.

Shi Xihe looked at us,

then he said, "Brother, sister-in-law, I think it's a bit early for you to retire at your age. I believe in building a house in Niushiling."

"Tell me what you need me to do—I have hundreds of people under my command."

"With a single order from me, they'll come; tell me what kind of house you want built in Niushiling."

"I, Shi Jinhe, will take care of it for you."

"Jinghe, don't bother with this—the Da Heng Group side is also busy. I'll just find a construction crew here and get it done quickly." I hurriedly said.

At this point Shi Jinhe got anxious,

"Brother, do you look down on me?"

"If I can't even handle this small thing, then from now on you won't have this brother."

After saying that, he stood up.

Shi Jinhe also has a straightforward temperament.

I hurriedly said, "Jinghe, sit down, look how worked up you are. Alright, let you handle the construction. Tomorrow bring your people and first demolish Qian Niang's house."

"Qiao Jie, are you also going to build?"

Qiao Jie nodded and said, "Yeah, if we're building, let's do it together. I want to build a villa—the kind that's especially popular in the countryside. It has a bathroom and kitchen; I've often seen it on TV, and the decoration can be luxurious, not inferior to city houses."

"Sister-in-law, this is a small matter—we can build apartment buildings, let alone a villa. I have the blueprints; don't worry, I'll arrange people to come tomorrow. First we'll tear down the house, then build it, and I guarantee you'll be satisfied." Shi Jinhe said.

Seeing Shi Jinhe's enthusiasm, it would be hard not to use him. If I hired an outside construction crew, Shi Jinhe would surely cut ties with me.

So let's give this job to him.

I'd also be relieved.

"Alright, that's settled. Jinghe, tomorrow bring your people and demolish Qian Niang's house. Then it's Qiao Jie's house."

Just build two more villas and it'll be fine. The cost….

I haven't finished speaking,

Shi Jinhe got anxious again,

"Brother, if you bring up money, it means you look down on me."

"Okay, I won't mention money. Let's drink, Qiao Jie— the three of us together, I never imagined we'd end up drinking at Niushiling. Just thinking about working there back then feels great." I said, raising my cup.

"Working with my older brother is great. You're generous, never worrying about money— only following you makes me feel most at ease. I remember you left Niushiling not long after starting work there, and then Li Jiayou took over. That guy Li Jiayou…." After Shi Jinhe said that, he regretted it.

Because Li Jiayou, I, and Qiao Jie had something unspeakable happen between us.

As soon as Shi Jinhe brought up Li Jiayou, the atmosphere became a bit awkward.

I and Qiao Jie didn't speak.

The two of us held our cups there, then we just stared blankly.

Shi Jinhe quickly said, "My big mouth— I shouldn't have brought him up, geez."

I hurriedly said, "Jinghe, I was just about to ask you— before anything happened to me, I heard from Shi Yong that Li Jiayou had a serious illness; how is he now?"

Shi Jinhe lowered his head and said softly, "He's dead. Li Jiayou is dead."

"'Ah, when did he die?' I asked urgently."

"'He died at the start of spring. Sigh, lung cancer. He held on for half a year. I helped bury him.' Shi Jinhe said painfully."

Hearing the news of Li Jiayou's death, I still felt terrible— after all, we were brothers who grew up together, he was our eldest, no matter what happened between us,

he had once been my friend.

Upon hearing Li Jiayou's death, Qiao Jie panicked and her cup fell to the ground.

Qiao Jie hurriedly said, "Sorry, my hand slipped."

"'We won't drink this cup of wine,"

as a toast to Li Jiayou, no matter what,"

he's still our eldest brother.' I finished speaking and poured the wine onto the ground.

Shi Jinhe also followed my example,

"'Eldest brother, may you rest in peace.'"

Qiao Jie picked up her cup,

and said to me and Shi Jinhe, "You two brothers drink, I'm tired and want to go rest. You should also drink less— we're not young anymore."

After saying that, Qiao Jie stood up and left.

I hurriedly said, "Qiao Jie, tomorrow you take Shi Jinhe to look at the houses, tell him how to demolish them."

Qiao Jie nodded and left.

After Qiao Jie left, Shi Jinhe quietly asked me, "Brother, are you and Qiao Jie okay again?"

I quickly waved my hand and said, "Nothing of the sort, Jinghe, don't imagine things. It's impossible between us."

Qiao Jie, living alone in Lanling, Qian Niang felt sorry for her and brought her to Niushiling to keep her company.

Coincidentally, Qian Niang took Ru Meng to visit relatives.

I and Qiao Jie are temporarily staying in a guesthouse.

It's your fault we met. There's no going back for us.