Chapter 498: Dreaming of a Little Fox

Shi Jinhe said, "Brother still thought things through. I only left money for the old lady."

In a couple days I'll go to Li Jiayou's house, take the old lady to the nursing home, so he can enjoy his peaceful old age.

No, take a couple days, you go handle it tomorrow, I'll cover the cost.

Although I'm no longer chairman of Da Heng Group, I still have some money." I said.

Brother, I'm not short on this money either. Tomorrow I'll handle it, you can relax. Don't argue with me about it—I'll pay, we can split the cost.

Okay, that's settled. You go handle it, I'm at ease. When you get to Li Jiayou's house, tell him, mutter a few words in your heart, and say that we brothers haven't forgotten him.

Sigh, I just didn't expect he'd leave in such a hurry.

Li Jiayou also knew that Da Heng Group had run into trouble; he'd asked about you several times. In the end he said, the person he owes the most apology to is you,

You've always been good to him; back then, letting Dayun go, he had a misunderstanding about you.

Actually, you gave him money to take Dayun to see, but he couldn't bear to part with it.

He regrets it now; if he had listened to you, taken the money to Dayun's home, maybe Dayun would have followed him and borne him a few children, and his life wouldn't have ended up like this.

Li Jiayou's remorse is sincere.

He kept muttering until death, 'Brother is a good person.' After Shi Jinhe finished speaking, his eyes welled up again.

Hearing Shi Jinhe say that, I suddenly felt moved inside,

Only then did I realize what I had been doing earlier; back then I took out three thousand yuan, gave it to Li Jiayou, and told him to take the money and bring Dayun back,

so she could see her child—what mother doesn't want to see her own child?

If that really wasn't possible, bring Dayun's child to stay with us,

Only then could we keep a woman's heart.

Otherwise, who would willingly stay with you for life?

As a result, Li Jiayou couldn't bear to part with it, and he never gave the money to me.

He kept it saved himself.

Sigh, Dayun ran away, and he actually blamed me for deliberately letting her escape.

He never looks for the cause in himself, then deliberately acts against me.

Even on his deathbed he figured it out—what good does understanding then do?

He went off alone, lonely.

No one was there to cry for him.

All his life, he was willing to spend on cigarettes and alcohol, yet unwilling to spend money on a woman.

In the end, no one could keep him.

Being willing to spend is not waste,

being willing to spend reflects one's attitude toward money—it's a way of spending on one's loved ones nearby.

so that the people around you can truly feel that you love them.

I despise most the men who can squeeze water out of money,

or the men who haggle at the vegetable market,

men shouldn't quibble over money—money isn't something you save by scrimping,

remember this: saving from your mouth, how much can you really save?

Money is earned.

Back then Li Jiayou generously took the money and brought Dayun to acknowledge kin,

if Dayun had followed him, life would have been completely different.

he and Qiao Jie wouldn't have run into trouble either.

the whole trajectory of life would have been different, including mine.

At this moment I took a puff of smoke,

"Forget it, don't mention him anymore—it's the middle of the night. If he's gone, let him go; as long as we have no guilt toward him, that's enough. Caring for his mother well also counts as making it up to him."

"Jinghe, since you want to quit your job, follow me to Niushiling; let's be clear—if your wife scolds you, don't blame me."

Shi Jinhe laughed,

"My wife won't scold you—she's always been grateful to you."

"You got her a job at the mine, giving her security. Now she doesn't need to work; she just stays home waiting for retirement."

"She often murmurs in my ear, not knowing how to thank you."

"Brother, you can relax—I came to Niushiling voluntarily."

"I'm just here to mooch meals off you, and I'm happy about it."

After hearing Shi Jinhe's words, my heart felt warm and cozy,

being able to hear the gratitude from those around me is the most comforting thing.

I feel that a family's harmony is closely tied to the woman. If the woman is sensible and knows gratitude, the family basically does well.

If the woman is meddlesome, greedy for money, fond of food, and lazy, the family is basically ruined.

I said, "It's getting late; let's rest. Tomorrow we have plenty to do."

You go first to Li Jiayou and settle his mother properly.

Then bring the people to Niushiling,

tear down the houses,

ask Qiao Jie what kind of houses to build.

you don't need to worry about the costs." I arranged.

"Brother, I'll follow you. Okay, we won't drink now—there's plenty of time for drinking later; as long as I'm with you, my heart is at peace." Shi Jinhe sighed.

Then we turned off the lights and went to sleep.

I slept for half a day but still couldn't fall asleep,

As soon as I closed my eyes, I would think of the wind on that ridge, whooshing.

I seemed to be lying again in that shed on the construction site,

One person there keeping watch.

Outside, a heavy snow was falling.

I huddled in the shed, smoking and watching the snow outside,

The silent snow, blown by the mountain wind, swirled on the ridge.

Suddenly a pair of eyes appeared, staring at my shed,

Then it cautiously extended its claws,

It was the little fox.

Its fiery red fur made the little fox look like a beautiful maiden.

She was searching for the food I had left for her.

I watched the little fox and thought in my heart,

How many years have passed since I last dreamed of you?

Are you still okay?

Have you been reborn?

But the little fox didn't answer me.

It remained cautious, searching in the snow.

Soon it found a sausage.

I said, "Eat up, little fox."

After eating, dance for me.

The little fox seemed to hear my words, nodding its head toward the shed.

After the little fox ate the sausage,

then it shook its fiery red big tail,

and began to dance in the snow.

I smoked and watched appreciatively,

Suddenly, the dancing little fox abruptly turned around,

Its face began to change,

turning into Song Erguang's appearance,

I jumped in fright, about to say something,

the little fox changed its face again, this one resembling Li Jiayou's, black as an iron pot,

Li Jiayou, Song Erguang, the little fox—their faces kept swapping back and forth.

I couldn't tell anymore whether it was the little fox, Li Jiayou, or Song Erguang.

They jumped and bounced in the snow,

waving at me, calling me over to dance with them.

I watched, feeling very nervous inside,

I wanted to shout, but couldn't make a sound.

I felt something pressing on my chest.

What's going on,

At that moment, I heard Song Erguang say, "Second brother, I don't want to die."

Li Jiayou panted, "Jianqiang, I'm sorry to you,"

The little fox wagged its tail at me,

My mind went into chaos,

All I wanted was to shout out,

Suddenly a hand grabbed me,

With a yank, it pulled me awake,

It was Shi Jinhe,

"Brother, what's wrong? Did you have a nightmare."

I hastily opened my eyes,

Shi Jinhe was holding my hand,

"Well, yes, I dreamed of Song Erguang and Li Jiayou. We chatted last night and summoned them. They're old friends, coming to see me."

I smiled and looked out the window; by now the sun was already high.

I rubbed my eyes and got up from bed.

Shi Jinhe said, "Brother, I heard the elders say that dreaming of the dead means your body is weak; otherwise they couldn't cling to you."

Looks like you're too weak; you need to tonic up properly.

I stood in the room and stretched lazily,

"What's there to tonic? Let them come if they want; I have nothing to feel guilty about toward them."

"Their coming is just to have a chat with me."

"Sigh, they just don't want to leave."

But this is fate.

Humph, there's nothing to be done.