Chapter 603: Return

Cheng Army Supervisor being locked up became the biggest hot news for a while, not only among the neighbors, but also in the antique market, in the "Today's Saying" column, and on the pages of newspapers. The headline was "Beijing Police Crack Huge Antique Forgery and Fraud Case"...

The neighbors didn't have any special reaction, because they weren't fools. Ever since they knew about Cheng Army Supervisor's rapid fortune and combined it with Cheng Army Supervisor's criminal record, there were no good words in their mouths. Now it was just confirmed. However, on the other hand, they really admired Cheng Army Supervisor. This kid was really too capable of tossing, self-taught, and could forge and scam people's money in just a few years.

And everyone was in the same circle of life, so they also knew that although the original large elevator apartment was sealed and auctioned, Cheng's father and mother bought another house later. Of course, they all understood that this was the money Cheng Army Supervisor scammed.

They even started to ponder whether it was worth it to get a few hundred thousand and be locked up for a few decades. Of course, they didn't all want to do illegal and criminal work, just imagining it while gathering to brag when they were idle.

As for the biggest impact, it was on the antique market. Because this time Cheng Army Supervisor's case amount was huge, and it was only in a short three years. But since the antique market became active in the 90s, what about those who had higher forgery levels? So after Cheng Army Supervisor was sentenced, the antique market ushered in a period of strict crackdown, catching many forgers, collusive scammers, and tomb-robbing gangs caught by tracing stolen goods. The result was a temporary purification of the antique market environment and a certain rise in overall prices...

To some extent, Cheng Army Supervisor was very legendary. He went to prison three times and stood up again the first two times. He was a civil servant, a big boss, and in just a year or two, he could learn antique forgery and could be called proficient. His scamming skills were great, there were many victims, and the cumulative amount of crimes was tens of millions. And all this, in a true sense, only started after he graduated from university in '82. Because that was when the market began to open up further, market vitality increased, and there were opportunities everywhere. That year, he was thirty.

Cheng Army Supervisor was a civil servant for only one year, and then was sentenced to four years in prison in '83. After being released in '87, he ran to the south to do business, and it was only a short year. In '88, he was sentenced to nine years and six months for what he did in the south. He was released for the second time in '98, started learning porcelain production, and then started forging. He was arrested and imprisoned in '01, and it was only three years in between. In total, since '82, Cheng Army Supervisor's true free activity time was only five years. It was in these five years that he did so many things. He was a ruthless person and indeed a capable one.

But no matter how capable he was, he could only sing "Tears of the Iron Window" and mutter "Cheng Army Supervisor's life, not weaker than others, I am the Cheng Army Supervisor who cannot be defeated" to encourage himself, survive the difficult prison time, and make himself stronger...

The only one who cared about Cheng Army Supervisor was perhaps the long-since-given-up Cheng's father and mother. But the old couple, who hadn't had a peaceful life, didn't last long, and Cheng Army Supervisor's three imprisonments still affected them. Because Cheng Army Supervisor was already forty-nine, and he would be an old man when he came out again. Perhaps this son only lived the first thirty years.

They thought of their eldest son's desolate old age, and their worries turned into illness. Their already poor health became even more unstable. Finally, in '04, Cheng's father passed away first, and in '05, Cheng's mother passed away with the regret of half a lifetime of not educating her son well.

People always have to die. Only when new people replace old people can society progress and develop. Once people live long and don't let go of power, it's not a good thing. Because when people get old, they easily become confused, their actions easily become deformed, and the impact is not so good. At the same time, the young people under them are also old, and having been influenced by the former for too long, they lose vitality, creativity, and courage, and become not like themselves.

As for ordinary people, living long is also annoying, and they can't get over it in their hearts. Old Guan had a cerebral infarction because he was angry at Guan Guan Xiao Guan, and his own son sold his overseas assets and returned to the country to develop, fulfilling his filial piety. Han Chunming was also a filial apprentice serving him, and the inheritance was arranged clearly long ago. He didn't play any fake death tricks, just listening to operas and drinking every day.

In the middle of the night in early spring of '09, he didn't wake up. When discovered, his face was peaceful, and he died of old age at the age of 101, realizing what he said about living past 100.

Old Guan was born at the end of the Qing dynasty, grew up in the Republic of China, experienced the turmoil of China, witnessed the rise of New China, lived to the new century, watched the Olympic Games, felt the huge changes brought by technological development, never suffered any great hardships in his life, and never suffered great crimes. Although he was never poor and never lacked food or drink, although his legs and feet were inconvenient, his speech was unclear, and his brain was confused before, he was never paralyzed and unable to move. When he died, it was even more straightforward; he just passed away in his sleep. Except for his son and daughter-in-law, he was a true winner in life...

The place for the funeral was still at Tea Fragrance, because the place was big. For so many years, most things were held here. At this time, the restaurant was noisy. It was a funeral; although it was always reluctant to see familiar people leave, thinking that Old Guan lived to 101, it wasn't so sad. Of course, it was also people coming to give gifts, a kind of interpersonal relationship response. Old Guan died at 100, so where were the real close relatives and old friends still alive? Most were unfamiliar younger generations.

Old Hou, who was nearly eighty, had gray hair and slow movements. He held a wine glass to his mouth and sniffed hard, then put down the wine glass, picked up a peanut, and looked up at the people at the table with a smile on their faces, sighing: "I admire Old Guan more and more the older I get. That body is really good. I remember the first time I went to his house in '81, the old man was... seventy-three, right? Only a few years younger than me, and he didn't avoid wine or meat at that time. At eighty, he could still drink three taels at a meal, and his walking was like a gust of wind. Look at me again, I'm only seventy-eight..."

Wang Yan shook his head and smiled: "This is not bad. You can't drink wine, but you're not paralyzed in bed and unable to move. Do you think everyone can live to your age? Even if they can live to this age, how many can move freely?"

"Speaking of this, I really admire Master Wang. Fifty-seven, right? He is the chairman of such a big company, managing over 100,000 people. Not to mention not having a single white hair, he still looks like he's in his thirties or forties. All these years, he hasn't changed at all. Standing with Bin and the others, if it weren't for his mature and graceful demeanor, he would be the same age as them."

Taozi, who hadn't appeared for a long time, had gray hair and a face full of wrinkles, stuttered and said so. He had done well all these years. Besides the restaurant business, Han Chunming took him with him in whatever business he did, and his net worth was also several hundred million. After all, not to mention anything else, just the property rights of this three-story building he was in now, he had 60% of the shares, which was a lot of money. In addition, he followed Han Chunming's footsteps and also had two houses and a construction company, not lacking money.

Wang Bin, who was sitting at the table behind, heard this and turned back to say: "Uncle Tao, don't say that. I practiced with my dad last week. You guys didn't see it, he beat me up, and I've only just recovered these two days. He's not my age; he's younger than me."

Although he was already thirty-three, he was often troubled by having such an awesome father. Fortunately, his son and daughter were still young, and the older generation was close to them, so the old man didn't like to bother with him...

Ma Du smiled, they all knew this kid was always beaten: "Looking at it this way, I think it's not a big problem for Master Wang to live to over 100."

"That's for sure. Just look at his current state." Old Hou sighed: "I estimate that I'll be gone in these few years..."

"Hey, Old Hou, don't say unlucky things. You also have to strive for 100." Han Chunming walked over and patted Old Hou's shoulder: "Today is my master's farewell meal, don't talk about death or not, be careful my master really takes you down."

"Master Hou, your body will definitely live to 100." Guan Ziqing, who followed, smiled and raised his glass: "As a son, thank you for your care for my father all these years. Come, I toast you."

He was also a person who was going to die in his seventies, and he had long since lost those thoughts. Regarding the inheritance, it had been explained clearly long ago. Han Chunming gave Guan Guan Xiao Guan 100 million in cash. Although according to the current market price of the antique market, this money was not equivalent and was still missing a lot, it was good to have money. After all, Old Guan's things had long been placed in Han Chunming's museum, and they were satisfied. Besides, in the previous years, Han Chunming had helped Guan Guan Xiao Guan a lot and also earned a lot of money, so they couldn't ask for a bicycle anymore, that would really be shameless.

Everyone raised their small wine cups, drank a sip, and said a few more words. Han Chunming, Guan Ziqing, and Guan Guan Xiao Guan left to toast others.

These people were all old, and being able to live until now without dying was supported by the plot. Because the original age was relatively chaotic, so now they were all alive and kicking. Old Guan's death was just a beginning. Next, these people were almost the same; it was a matter of these few years. Wang Yan looked over, and everyone was covered in illness...

Not caring about those anymore, the few people at the table continued to chat leisurely. Of course, they didn't talk about history and culture anymore. Today was Old Guan's funeral. What they talked about were the things that happened between them and Old Guan all these years. In fact, as early as a few years ago, their topic was no longer history and culture, but life, starting to look back on the past. They all felt the heaviness of the body and the fatigue of the spirit, and couldn't help but recall the past.

Of course, except for Wang Yan. The slight decline in physical function did make him unable to continue to maintain a young heart, but it didn't reach the point of being like these people. He mostly smiled and listened quietly, feeling that people were about to die...

The meal lasted until the afternoon, and with a driver, Wang Yan and Wang Bin, father and son, returned to their home on Beichizi Street. After living for so many years, and counting the development of technology, they renovated it again a few years ago, making it more modern.

This house didn't have much else, just many rooms, so although Wang Bin was already married and had children, he still lived at home.

Just entering the courtyard from the garage, he saw two little things running over one after another, stumbling, and calling "Grandpa, Grandpa".

This was, of course, Wang Bin's children. The older one was a boy, five years old this year, and the younger one was a girl, three years old this year. Inheriting the beautiful looks of Wang Yan, Su Meng, Wang Bin, and his beautiful wife from a civil servant family, they were very pleasing. Plus they were young, and the jokes they often made were still very lovable.

Wang Yan walked over smilingly and squatted in front of them. Unexpectedly, the older little cub sniffed and turned back to run: "Grandpa drank alcohol, stinky, don't hug."

Then, the younger little girl stumbled to the front, learned her brother's appearance and sniffed, then let out an "ah" cry, and followed with an unclear "drank alcohol, don't hug..."

Wang Bin laughed, stepped forward two steps, hugged his little daughter who was about to fall, and asked shamelessly: "Don't let Dad hug? Come, let Dad kiss one."

The little girl resisted, stretched out her hands, and covered her father's stinky mouth hard, her face full of refusal...

Wang Yan walked into the house smilingly to make tea.

Su Meng sat on the side and asked: "How is it? Is it okay?"

She knew Wang Yan had been drinking with Old Guan for nearly thirty years. Now that Old Guan was gone, she was afraid Wang Yan would be unhappy, so she cared about him.

Wang Yan shook his head: "I'm fine. The old man left at 101 and didn't suffer. Whether I can live longer than this old man is two things."

"You just stop it. With how you are now, Old Guan really can't compare to you. You're nearly sixty, not to mention young, and you still have the strength to beat your son. Oh my, I'm old and yellow, no comparison."

Looking at Wang Yan's young appearance, vibrant skin, and spirited spirit, Su Meng was angry. After all, she spent a lot of money on maintaining her body all these years, but the result was not as good as Wang Yan, a man who didn't even wipe Dabao every day. If she waited a few more years, she suspected that if they went out together, others would mistake Wang Yan for her son...

This was, of course, an exaggeration, but if she waited a few more years, there would indeed be a difference. No one can stay young forever, and he, Wang Mou, also has a day when his teeth fall out.

Pouring a cup of tea for Su Meng, he smiled: "We're old husband and wife, why study those things? I just exercise all year round, my muscles are more vibrant, and my skin is fresher. Can I dislike you?"

"Hmph, the partners I've seen all these years, there's no good man, there's no cat that doesn't steal fish..."

"Drink your tea. You're old, but you're talking sour words."

"Yes, old." Su Meng sighed: "I don't know how long my parents can hold on..."

Wang Yan shook his head and didn't speak, drinking tea by himself, watching the two little cubs playing wildly outside.

Correctly understanding death, the truth that people must understand lies in this: no one will accompany you forever. But even with a correct understanding, it is still a difficult hurdle, because only when it happens to oneself is it the most painful. So what should be faced must be faced.

In 2010, Su's father passed away from illness. His heart was already supported by a stent, and old age diseases came to him. It was normal that he couldn't hold on. After tossing in the hospital for half a month, he finally didn't hold on. Three months later, the sad Su's mother followed. She didn't have such a big problem, and she also passed away in her sleep. The relationship between the two was very good, watching over each other for a lifetime, both were diligent, hardworking, and uncomplaining people's teachers...

Han's mother also passed away in the same year.

In 2011, Old Hou passed away from illness. Before he died, he drank the last sip of Erguotou, humming his doggerel about collecting junk, and left a fairly free and easy "See you later..."

Old Hou swore that he would live longer than his old son-in-law, but he didn't succeed. In 2012, Liu Jinyou, the old fatty, reached his thinnest point in his life before he died, leaving only skin and bones, and passed away in pain.

It was also this year that Old Guan's daughter-in-law, Guan Ziqing's wife, Liu Hongmei, died of illness. In 2014, Guan Ziqing had a cerebral infarction and couldn't be saved...

In the summer of 2015, sixty-three-year-old Cheng Army Supervisor stood in front of the prison gate again. He looked fairly spirited, but inevitably had a head full of white hair, age spots on his face, and a hunched body.

He slowly turned around, reached out and put his hand on his forehead to look at the sun. Thirty years passed in a flash, just like when he was released from prison for the first time in '87...

After watching for a while, he turned back and let out a long breath, rolled his eyes a few times, and walked with stumbling steps toward the gate with the middle-aged prison guard, ending his third prison life that lasted fourteen years.

The one who came to pick him up was his younger brother, who was eight years younger than him. He went to take a bath, ate, and of course didn't forget to go to the graves of his old father and mother to worship, telling them that their eldest son was out.

In this process, he also inquired about what happened in the past fourteen years. So many people died, why hadn't Han Chunming and Wang Yan died yet? When would they die?

He didn't know how to take revenge on Han Chunming, let alone how to take revenge on Wang Yan, who was awesome to heaven. So for now, he could only strive to live longer than Wang Yan.

Thinking about it, he felt very uncomfortable. This person who had never put him in his eyes all his life, this person who snatched his woman and made him embarrass himself in front of so many people at the class reunion, ruining his life. He could only seek psychological comfort in this way.

He didn't forget to see his own son and grandson. Although none of them recognized him, he wasn't very uncomfortable, because in the final analysis, it was his blood that flowed. And since he was thirty, he was either in prison or fighting for revenge on Wang Yan, and he hadn't seen his own son a few times at all. At that time, his son was only six years old, so he still understood very well.

He chartered a taxi for two days, drove around Beijing for two days, looked at the very different Beijing all the way, listened to the driver's endless introduction, and adapted to the new world.

He wasn't short of money. A Ming dynasty porcelain was easily worth hundreds of thousands. The money he left before, after removing the big house his younger brother later bought with a loan, paying for his parents' expenses for three years, and paying off the mortgage for so many years, still had over a million left. His younger brother was very regular. Except for letting his son get married and move into that big house, he hadn't touched his money for so many years except for paying the mortgage.

He bought fashionable new clothes, and also bought the highest-end mobile phone produced by a subsidiary of the China Long Teng Group, and learned how to play.

After resting for half a month, he went to Han Chunming's museum in Mentougou, and also saw Han Chunming, who was living a retirement life with Cai Xiaoli and helping his son take care of his children.

The two sat together harmoniously and talked, all about the first thirty years, full of sighs. After chatting for a long time, he declined the dinner invitation and took the car arranged by Han Chunming home.

He came to find Han Chunming for no other reason, just simply to see Han Chunming's state and tell him not to die too early.

The next day, early in the morning after breakfast, he went to Beichizi Street. Opposite the big house facing the Forbidden City wall, he looked at the entrance of the alley facing north, and the two soldiers standing guard with guns. Just looking, he was waiting for Wang Yan. He wanted to see Wang Yan, see how long Wang Yan could live, and at the same time wanted to confirm whether his previous encounters were done by Wang Yan.

He didn't dare to report rashly, and was afraid that if he reported his name, Wang Yan wouldn't see him, so he just waited.

Waiting for a whole morning, he didn't see Wang Yan. He went to eat lunch and came back to continue sitting on the side of the road waiting. Until after four o'clock in the afternoon, he saw a car driving from afar, driving straight into the garage gate that had already been opened in the alley, and he hurriedly stood up and waved.

The car stopped at the gate of the garage. He saw Wang Yan get out of the car, and also saw two good-looking children get out of the car. He saw Wang Yan give the short-haired kid a light kick, and then rubbed the long-haired little girl's head, watching the two children trot into the garage and return home.

He saw Wang Yan light a cigarette and stand opposite, still with that damn smiling expression in his memory.

In his memory, it seemed that Wang Yan was always like this, including when he slapped him in '83 and kicked him in the chest, he was always smiling so calmly.

He crossed the road, looked at Wang Yan's unchanged face, and said: "So many years have passed, you haven't changed much. Is your health okay?"

"You don't seem to be doing too well." Wang Yan exhaled smoke and said calmly: "I heard you were hanging around opposite all morning. What's the matter?"

Cheng Army Supervisor paused, then turned to look at the all-around surveillance without dead ends, as well as the soldiers not far away who were clearly alert and ready to open fire at any time, and shook his head with a bitter smile: "High status is different..."

Not getting a response, he laughed awkwardly and asked: "I came just to get an answer."

Wang Yan raised his brows and exhaled a puff of smoke: "You already have the answer, don't you?"

After speaking, regardless of his instantly flushed face, he laughed lightly, turned and entered the garage, and went home to coax the children to play...

Sometimes, thinking of an answer and really confirming the answer are two different things.

Cheng Army Supervisor didn't have the clarity he imagined. In fact, as long as Wang Yan didn't die, he would never be clear in this life. He stood blankly in place for a long time, his chest heaving rapidly. After a long while, he let out a long breath and turned to leave with stumbling steps.

He just walked and thought, not knowing how long he had walked. Anyway, the sky was already dark, and the streetlights were already on. When he came back to his senses, he was already standing at the entrance of that big courtyard.

He let out a long breath, stepped into the door, turned around the shadow wall, crossed the second gate. Here, it was no different from the big courtyard in his memory. It was just that the people here had changed. He knew that the Han family's, Wang family's, Su family's, and their own houses had all been rented out. It wasn't mainly to earn money, but to avoid the old house being empty, so it was rented to drifters who came to Beijing.

He sighed again, walked slowly inside, turned around the moon gate, and stood in front of his old house.

The door was locked tightly, but the curtains were pulled open. He looked through the window at the layout inside that no longer had the appearance of memory, and the bits and pieces of his time here turned in his brain.

He had no home...

He shook his head, washed his face with tap water in front of the bluestone pool in the courtyard, looked back at the environment in the courtyard, sighed again, and then walked out slowly.

Walking past the moon gate, passing the old Han house, passing Wang Yan's east wing, crossing the second gate, and glancing at the stranger at the door of the first household in the inverted room.

He thought for a while, oh, Old Man Guo had long since died, and eight out of ten the house had been rented out.

Thinking of Old Man Guo, who loved to take advantage of small things and was stubborn, he smiled, turned around the shadow wall, and wanted to step out of the gate.

At this moment, his heavy leg tripped, and his whole body flew out following the inertia uncontrollably.

He struggled, turned around with effort, lay flat, and looked at the dark night sky.

"Heh, this life..."

He sighed, and there was no more movement... ===== CHAPTER 604 =====

He let out a sigh, and then there was no more movement...