Chapter 584: Li Ming Has Come Out

Heaven is what believers in Jesus say; we are the Western Pure Land. Hou Laoban said.

They're pretty much the same, Hou Laoban—why are you like this? It really ruins your image in my mind. I always thought you were someone free of lowbrow tastes, but I never expected you to be just like Shi Yong. I laughed.

Hearing me say that, Hou Laoban immediately let go of my hand.

Brother Jianqiang, Shi Yong is a crude man with no taste; how could I be like him? We are people of faith and quality. Miss Yang Tao, farewell—I won't see you off.

Yang Tao disgustedly pulled her hand back,

and said to me, "Jianqiang, let's hurry."

I quickly brought Yang Tao out of the Zaocheng Grand Hotel.

In the car, Yang Tao asked me, "Who does Hou Laoban belong to? He's so disgusting—having someone like him appear in Zaocheng really lowers its status."

"He's Wen Han's man." I said quietly.

"What, Wen Han's man?" Yang Tao immediately fell silent.

"Wen Han has many hidden people in Zaocheng. I never knew Hou Laoban was Wen Han's man; before, Hou Laoban was with Kong Shi, and they were very close."

Only after overthrowing Kong Shi did I realize Hou Laoban was actually Wen Han's man. I don't know how he got involved with Wen Han.

"This guy hides his motives deep; others usually can't see them. So in Zaocheng you must be careful—don't talk recklessly." I advised Yang Tao.

Yang Tao nodded,

"I was saying, Hou Laoban is so arrogant. There's a reason for it—looks like the Wen family has been laying plans in Zaocheng for a long time."

"Yeah, they've long had plans for us ahead; I'm just a pawn they use. If useful, they use me; if not, they discard me."

"So I have no thoughts left." I sighed.

"You need ideas; no matter how powerful the Wen family is, it's only temporary. Wait until Lao Qi returns from Sijiucheng, then we'll talk." Yang Tao said.

I nodded, then said nothing more.

The car sped up, and soon we left Zaocheng Xin Cheng.

The detention center is near the southern town of Lanling County.

Previously, Zhou Fuhai was the one who got us arrested here.

I returned to the southern town once again,

endless thoughts welled up in my heart,

When I was fifteen or sixteen, I suffered endless torment at my uncle-in-law's house; they kicked me out, but luckily the bachelor dad took me in.

He gave me a home and warmth.

That generation has mostly died out,

and our story between us is unknown to anyone.

I suddenly remembered the bachelor dad's love for me,

that sincere love, to cure illness, to find a way out.

If I don't speak, then no one will ever know.

I must find a way to let the bachelor dad's love for me be passed down, so more people know it, so more people will remember him.

I thought about it in my heart.

I opened the car window, and the autumn wind whooshed in,

the streets of the southern town remained as they were,

nothing had changed much.

Sigh, I've changed—I'm no longer the melancholy youth Wang Xinsheng; I'm now middle-aged Zhaoerhai.

I sighed in my heart.

Our car quickly passed through the southern town.

Soon we arrived at the detention center.

I checked the time—it was exactly noon.

But the detention center's gate was still closed.

So I got out and asked the guard about the situation.

"Li Ming, you'll be released after lunch, since it's a temporary early release, so it doesn't follow the usual schedule." The guard said.

"All right, thanks, bro. We'll wait here a moment." After saying that, I gave the guard a cigarette.

The guard took it and started smoking.

After about the time it takes to smoke a cigarette, the detention center's heavy gate opened.

Li Ming came out from inside.

Li Ming was still wearing his usual clothes,

he hadn't had his head shaved, just his face looked a bit wan.

It looks like he didn't have a good time in there.

I hurried over,

"Li Ming, you're out—I came to pick you up."

Li Ming glanced at me, expressionless, and said, "No need to pick me up. Why release me early instead of sending me straight to Shanghu Prison?"

This Li Ming, as soon as he sees me, spouts angry words,

Li Ming still misunderstands me.

"Li Ming, what are you saying? Alright, nothing's wrong now—just being out is fine.

Let's go, we'll head back to Niushiling to see our mom,

she's been worrying about us." I then took the bag from Li Ming's hand.

Li Ming wouldn't let me take it.

I walked forward in silence.

Just then, Yang Tao got out of the car,

Seeing Li Ming, Yang Tao immediately ran up to him,

"Li Ming, do you still know me?"

"You are." Li Ming pretended not to know.

"I am Yang Tao, you don't even recognize me anymore?" Yang Tao said with a smile.

"Yang Tao, oh my, it's really Yang Tao, how can you be so young? I really can't recognize you, when did you come back? Great, Yang Tao, you're back." Li Ming said happily.

Hearing Li Ming's praise, Yang Tao's heart felt as sweet as eating two catties of honey.

Yang Tao happily held Li Ming's hand,

"Li Ming, I'm abroad, the person who misses you most is me; whenever I think of returning to see you, I have no time; we've worked together for so long."

Today we reunited,

"Li Ming, look what I brought you."

Yang Tao finished speaking, then took out a box of cigars and a bottle of perfume from the bag.

Yang Tao opened the perfume,

"This is French men's exclusive perfume; I'll spray it on you to get rid of the bad aura on your body."

Li Ming was as obedient as a well-behaved child, letting Yang Tao spray the perfume.

I felt a little jealous watching from the side. This Li Ming, upon seeing Yang Tao, is more affectionate than when he sees me.

I quickly said, "Yang Tao, Li Ming, let's get in the car and talk."

After saying that, I opened the car door.

Li Ming also didn't decline, and Li Ming and Yang Tao got into the car one after another.

After getting in the car,

Yang Tao began praising Li Ming's past good deeds,

Li Ming smiled sweetly,

then Yang Tao spoke of the longing for Li Ming while abroad.

I drove while listening to Yang Tao's cheesy words.

Yang Tao is a woman who speaks to people in human language and to ghosts in ghost language; moreover, Yang Tao is a woman who never tells the truth.

What Yang Tao says is not at all Yang Tao's true thoughts; I know Yang Tao too well.

I really worry that Li Ming won't be able to get out of Yang Tao's talk, which is three parts praise and seven parts false.

But I still don't know how to remind them.

Li Ming also told Yang Tao about the suffering and injustice he has endured these years,

and he spoke heavily,

as if he deliberately said it for me to hear,

Li Ming's meaning was clear: it's because of my involvement that Li Ming is where he is today.

I felt somewhat angry,

but I couldn't lose my temper; if I lost my temper as soon as Li Ming came out, we brothers would argue.

After that, it would be completely over.

My car headed for Niushiling; I wanted Li Ming to hurry back to Niushiling to report safety to Qian Niang, so Qian Niang could rest easy.

That would mean Li Ming is safe and sound,

then I would bring Li Ming to see Li Ming's house, which is under construction.

to make Li Ming feel a bit more at ease.

When my car was halfway there, Yang Tao suddenly looked out the window and asked me,

"Jianqiang, where are we going?"

"Let's go back to Niushiling so my mother can see Li Ming and feel at ease." I said.

Upon hearing about my Niushiling, Yang Tao became a little unhappy.

"That's the countryside; I won't go. I want to go back to the Zaocheng Grand Hotel. Tonight I want to treat Li Ming to a meal; I'll hold a grand welcome banquet for Li Ming." Yang Tao said.