Chapter 669: Fallout

Seeing Li Ming shout at her, He Qing couldn't stand it and began to cry.

He Qing is just an ordinary woman, very kind-hearted,

She also acts with great discretion.

I have always had a very good impression of He Qing.

Li Ming actually shouted at He Qing too; he must have had too much to drink.

At that moment I went over and grabbed Li Ming,

Directly saying: "Li Ming, He Qing has spent half her life with you—bearing children, caring for the elderly, enjoying little happiness—why are you shouting at her? What do you have against me?"

"Fine, then today we'll settle the score," Li Ming said to me.

Qian Niang cried while cursing Li Ming,

I was very calm at that moment,

"Shi Yong, Jinghe, help our mother into the house and let the old lady rest for a while; Li Ming and I will settle the score."

Shi Jinhe, Shi Yong and the others came over to help Qian Niang up. Qian Niang didn't want to leave.

I said to Qian Niang, "Mother, you go back first; there are some things between Li Ming and me that must be clarified.

Don't worry, nothing will happen between us."

Hearing me say that, Qian Niang stopped crying and let Shi Yong and Shi Jinhe usher her into the house.

I then had Yang Tao and Qiao Jie persuade He Qing to go inside.

Only Li Ming and I remained in the courtyard.

Night was falling, there was not a breath of wind, and the air felt very oppressive.

I looked at Li Ming and said, "Li Ming, let's settle it."

"I ask you, the matter of Xiao Long and Fang Rui—did you deliberately arrange to conceal it?" Li Ming asked.

"Yes, it's my doing," I said frankly.

"Why did you do this, what are you thinking?" Li Ming asked again.

"I have no ulterior motive; I acted according to my conscience. Li Ming, I learned about the matter between Xiao Long and Fang Rui at the first moment. As for Fang Rui's family affairs, I had known them long ago.

I had never spoken about it.

The reason I didn't speak was because I didn't want the children's feelings to be hurt.

Parents' matters belong to the previous generation.

I see Fang Rui as a kind girl. She and Xiao Long are a very well‑matched pair.

Xiao Long loves Fang Rui deeply, and he personally can understand Fang Rui's family affairs.

As long as the children can accept,

We adults should try not to interfere with the children's relationships," I said, looking at Li Ming.

"You're talking nonsense; you claim Xiao Long isn't your child, deliberately letting him marry any woman at will.

Hmph, the reason I am where I am today is all because of you.

Look at me, I'm not miserable enough, right? Yet another disaster is befalling Xiao Long because of me.

Knowing that Fang Rui comes from such a family, yet you still help conceal it; you are truly ill‑intentioned.

"Love? Hmph, Zhao Jianqiang."

Fang Rui's mother stole a man; how could she be any good?

And her father is a murderer; such a background. Think about it.

I'm so scared.

Moreover, I heard that many rich people's so‑called sponsorship of poor children's education is purposeful.

"They are like keeping someone; are you doing the same—first sponsoring Fang Rui, then passing her to Xiao Long?" Li Ming shouted at me.

Li Ming was already spitting blood at people.

His mouth reeked of excrement.

I heard Li Ming say that,

My mind thumped with a boom,

Blood surged up to my forehead.

Li Ming, you are too vicious; how could you say that about me?

Do I truly am such a despicable, shameless scoundrel in my heart?

You play women and give them to others. You call my sponsorship a kept relationship.

I forced down my anger.

But I still couldn't hold it back.

At that moment I raised my hand and slapped Li Ming across the face.

Li Ming staggered but did not fall.

Li Ming then laughed heartily, "How's that, you made me spill it?

Haha, I knew it, there's a secret in here."

I grabbed Li Ming's collar with one hand,

"Li Ming, if you keep spouting nonsense, I'll fucking kill you. You insult me too much. Am I, Zhao Jianqiang, such a person?

All these years, how have I treated you? Li Ming, you tell me yourself.

I am ashamed of that matter towards you.

Is your mishap my responsibility?

If you didn't embezzle, would you step down?

To save you, I almost died.

Do you know these,

Today you insult me like this,

It's too hurtful.

I and you are even. Li Ming, from now on you walk your sunny path,

I walk my single-plank bridge, we will have no more contact."

I said through gritted teeth.

After saying that, I loosened Li Ming's collar.

Li Ming still looked down on me.

At this moment I let out a loud shout,

"I'm leaving. We have completely no relation anymore."

After I finished speaking, I strode out from Qian Niang's home.

To be honest, I'm not walking, I'm running.

I am not running without direction.

At this moment I feel it would be great if a car came and hit me to death, so I would never suffer this torment again.

I never expected that in middle age I would still have to endure such insult.

This insult is not from others, but from my closest brother.

Really cannot accept it.

My heart is in a state of collapse.

Leaving Niushiling Village, I went up the ridge, and the mountain wind began to blow.

I did not stop my steps, continuing to run up the ridge.

I just can't understand,

Why would Li Ming have such a petty thought toward me,

I have always felt that I act openly and honestly, but actually,

others don't even know what they think of you.

In my whole life, I have never done anything that would let Li Ming, my brother, down.

I treat him more closely than a biological brother.

I can scold and hit Zhao Xiaohua and Zhao Xiaoguo, but toward Li Ming, my brother, I have never lifted a hand or uttered a word.

What is this,

Li Ming, am I really that kind of person?

While running, I raved on,

Who am I speaking to, am I speaking to the mountain wind?

Today I slapped Li Ming, I know our feelings are completely over.

Over twenty years of feeling, just like that it's over.

Brotherly affection, when we part, is also a heart-piercing pain.

I am in extreme pain, yet who can understand me.

The mountain wind whooshed.

The sky is already completely dark,

There is not a single light on the ridge.

I continued running up the mountain along the original mountain path,

My mind again began to recall the scene of us working on the ridge,

It was with brilliant lights and a clamor of voices.

At that time everyone did not rest at night,

Because the weather at that time was just right for dry work to earn money.

We worked desperately, earning more money to let ourselves have a happy future.

Did I get it?

Is my happiness like this,

I don't know, is it just being tormented by feelings like this.

The mountain path is getting harder and harder to walk.

Ahead there is no road anymore.

But my steps have not stopped.

I ran to the highest mountain, using all my strength, and let out a loud shout,

to prove my inner self to the world.

Perhaps I drank a lot of alcohol,

plus my qi and blood rushing to the head,

I can no longer see the road beneath my feet.

I plopped down and fell, landing exactly in the mountain ditch beside the road, I rolled in the ditch,

Hard stones struck my body,

but I felt no pain.

I finally saw a large stone,

This big stone actually had a beautiful fox sitting on it.

It swayed its fiery red tail toward me.

Little Fox, I saw the little fox again,

It is still that beautiful.

How many years has it been, and it still hasn't been reborn? I asked in my heart.

Little Fox, do you still remember me?

I am Zhao Jianqiang, no, I am Sun Yansheng.

I once endured the coldest winter.

Today, I came again to the ridge to see you.

"Little Fox." I shouted loudly, and then heard a thud as I fell heavily into the ditch.

My eyes quickly closed, and my world fell silent.