Chapter 537: with translation of chapter title

Hou Laoban immediately twirled the beads in his hand and said, "My apologies, my apologies."

I really wanted to laugh inside—does Hou Laoban truly believe in Buddha, or is he just pretending?

Sigh, nobody knows except him himself.

Forget it, no more joking with Hou Laoban—I've drunk a lot of alcohol, and I'm going upstairs to sleep.

I said to Hou Laoban, "Hou Laoban, it's getting late; I need to go back and rest."

Hou Laoban then turned his prayer beads and said, "Jianqiang, what did you and Tian Shi talk about for so long?"

This Hou Laoban really worries too much.

I looked at Hou Laoban and said, "Hou Laoban, Buddha dislikes nosy people the most."

Don't you know the story of Buddha holding up a flower and smiling?"

Hou Laoban, upon hearing me say that,

"The story of Buddha holding up a flower and smiling—you know it, Jianqiang; I'd like to have a good chat with you about its meaning."

"There are many aspects I still haven't fully grasped..."

I hurriedly said, "Hou Laoban, self-awakening leads to enlightening others. Good night."

After saying that, I quickly took the elevator to rest and sleep.

I didn't want to discuss any philosophical meaning with Hou Laoban.

Even Buddha needs to attain understanding,

not just rely on superficial learning.

Nowadays many monks don't have time to contemplate life's philosophy.

They're busy figuring out how to make money from incense offerings, their minds filled with profit,

How can such monks save others? They can't even transform themselves.

I returned to my room, freshened up briefly, lay on the bed, and thought about my conversation with Tian Shi.

Today the two of us chatted very well,

we said everything that needed to be said,

it seems Tian Shi is someone we can have a deep friendship with.

When I have a moment, I should contact Zhu Sheng to inquire about Tian Shi's situation.

In the future, doing business on this little plot of land in Zaocheng, how could we keep anything from him?

Only by gaining his trust can many things be done easily.

From what I can see now, Tian Shi is a trustworthy person. However, he does have dealings with the Wen Family, and I don't know how deep those ties go.

All of this requires time to understand.

Thinking and thinking, I fell asleep.

Because I drank too much alcohol, I slept very well that night.

The next day after I got up, I first went outside the hotel and ran a lap, exercised, stretched my muscles and bones. A person shouldn't be too idle; idleness most easily leads to illness.

Today I plan to go see my sister.

Since returning from 49, I haven't seen my sister.

My sister has an apartment in Xin Cheng, which I gave her when I was at Da Heng Group.

She never moved; she lives in Lanling County seat.

This time after seeing Zhao Xiaohua, she told me that my sister had moved, relocated to Xin Cheng.

That's great; I'll go to her place in Xin Cheng to see her.

My sister is almost fifty,

her life hasn't been easy—she married a man like Wang Changguang, on whom you can't rely for anything.

Fortunately we can help; otherwise her life would be truly unbearable.

After exercising, I had breakfast at the hotel.

I went to wake Ru Meng up, so she could go with me to see her aunt.

But Ru Meng simply wouldn't get up.

She said school was about to start, so she wanted to sleep in.

She wasn't going anywhere.

How is this child being educated?

Spending money really doesn't produce good children.

I'm very angry, but I don't want to argue with Ru Meng.

In a couple of days school starts, and we'll end up having an unpleasant time again.

What's the point? Forget it—let her not get up.

I'll go see my sister myself.

I drove out of Zaocheng Grand Hotel, then followed Yellow River Road eastward; before long I arrived at the residential complex we previously developed.

After parking the car,

I quickly reached the floor where my sister lives, then took the elevator and knocked on the door.

After knocking for a while, a voice from inside replied, "Who is it? Coming to knock so early in the morning."

The door opened a crack, and through the gap appeared Wang Changguang's head—his hair gray-white, thick glasses perched on his nose, standing in the doorway sizing me up.

"Damn, Zhao Jianqiang, you're back. My goodness, I thought you'd died out there. The money you gave me was all confiscated—am I being deliberately cheated?"

For a person like Wang Changguang, I can't even be bothered to deal with him; he basically can't converse using normal human thinking.

I said, "My sister—are you blocking the doorway because you don't want me to come in?"

After my older sister heard my voice inside the house,

she then came out from the inner room,

"Jianqiang, you're back. Oh dear. Come in quickly."

I then walked into the house,

The room wasn't really decorated. Not even the floor tiles were laid.

The living room was filled with books and documents.

After looking at me, my sister's tears flowed down,

"Jianqiang, my good younger brother, what have you been busy with these days? How come there's been no word at all?"

I laughed and said, "Sis, I've been busy with important matters outside, that's why I haven't come back. Don't cry. When did you all move?"

"Jianqiang, I ask you, how is the Da Heng Group doing?" my sister asked urgently.

"The Da Heng Group—Zhao Xiaohua has always been the chairperson, right? Still the same." I said.

"Really, that's great, Jianqiang—your sister's hard days are over. Wang Changguang, quickly pour Jianqiang a cup of water." My sister said happily while wiping her tears.

I was a bit confused—my sister's hard days are over; could it be that Kong Shi also caused trouble for her?

However, I never heard Kong Shi say anything about it. Besides, my sister is just an ordinary woman.

In the past, when Kong Shi looked for trouble with my sister, what could they find?

"It's all your fault. Zhao Jianqiang, you've really screwed us over." Wang Changguang said angrily.

"Sis, brother-in-law, explain things—how have I screwed you over? The last time we met, I left you a large sum of money; does giving you money count as screwing you?" I asked, somewhat confused.

After Wang Changguang helped us get treasures from the museum, I left him a sum of money.

I know that money was confiscated by Kong Shi, and Wang Changguang also got locked up for a few days.

However, not long after, on my suggestion, Kong Shi hired Wang Changguang to work at the village history office.

Actually, I never screwed him over.

At this moment, my sister took my hand and said, "Jianqiang, you don't know—last time I gave Wang Changguang that money, it was confiscated by the higher-ups, and he was locked up for a few days.

Sigh, Wang Changguang now suspects you deliberately harmed him."

I said, "Sis, regarding that matter, I didn't expect it to turn out badly, but later, brother-in-law didn't you start working at the city Cultural History Museum? That job was actually one I found for him."

"What? Impossible that you found that job—it's the city Cultural History Museum that heard I've been researching village history and specially hired me; what does it have to do with you, Zhao Jianqiang?"

"Don't try to curry favor with me. In short, you deliberately screwed me over—you not only screwed me, but also your sister."

"Tell me, what good can we have with a brother like you?" Wang Changguang said urgently.

I know about Wang Changguang's matter, but accusing me of screwing over my sister is just nonsense—I've never collaborated with my sister on anything.

This Wang Changguang is full of hot air.

I looked at my sister, somewhat bewildered.

After my sister heard Wang Changguang finish speaking, I thought she would complain that he was talking nonsense.

I didn't expect my sister to sigh deeply,

looking at me she said, "Jianqiang, my sister really let you screw her over.

Do you know why we secretly moved to Xin Cheng? Look, this house isn't even renovated.

Do you know why that is?"