Chapter 1210: True Feelings or Just an Act?

Consequently, once the voices calling for Qi Heng to return as president arose, this clamor immediately grew wave upon wave, soon sweeping across the entire nation.

……

All of this, of course, was not as simple as the common people organizing spontaneously.

All public opinion can be guided and exploited.

The time was ripe, and Qi Heng prepared to return to the country to turn the tide!

On the day before his return, he went shirtless, had someone bind him with ropes, and carried thorns on his back to the Sheng Family to beg for forgiveness.

He did not come alone; people from relevant departments accompanied him, and reporters followed to take photos and broadcast live.

Sheng Hanyu's face turned black.

He angrily ordered Zhang Ma: "Close the gate tight, lock it, and do not see him."

"Yes, sir."

Zhang Ma followed orders, the Sheng Family gate was tightly shut, and no matter how Qi Heng knelt outside the gate to beg for forgiveness, they simply would not see him!

The reactions inside and outside the gate were different.

The people outside were indignant, and some began to speak up for Qi Heng: "Isn't the Sheng Family going too far? Their family is just merchants, how can they think of themselves as immortals? He was a president after all, and he's already kneeling at their door begging for forgiveness, what more do they want? Killing someone is just a nod of the head, do they really need him to die to apologize before they can vent their anger?"

"Exactly, that arrest warrant Qi Heng issued back then couldn't be blamed entirely on him. His parents died, everyone died, and only the two of them were missing from the island, even the plane was gone. Any normal person would suspect they did it; I would have suspected it too if I were him."

"If there's a misunderstanding, can't they just talk it out? To err is human, the Sheng Family is too narrow-minded..."

The voices outside were very loud.

These unusual sounds, more or less, would reach into the Sheng Family.

Sheng Hanyu and his wife were naturally unmoved, Shi Ran was so angry her little face turned pale, and the few younger ones were starting to feel restless.

Several boys went before the couple to plead for Qi Heng.

Sheng Zichen: "Mom and Dad, Brother Qi Heng is quite pitiful, please forgive him."

The couple looked at each other.

The father didn't speak, and the mother asked: "How is he pitiful? Tell me."

Seeing that his parents weren't blaming him, he grew bolder and said: "Didn't you say that those who don't know are not to be blamed? When Brother Qi Heng wrongly accused Mom and Dad back then, we were also very angry, and we also hated him, but later Mom and Dad came back safely, and Brother Qi Heng's parents were really killed by the villain."

"We should hate the villain Zhu Qingrui, not hate Brother Qi Heng; he did nothing wrong."

"Hmm."

"Right."

Litian and Zihan nodded in agreement, both feeling that their big brother was right.

But Zirui didn't make a sound; he neither opposed nor agreed, standing calmly to the side watching everyone's reaction.

The children didn't notice, but the two adults did.

Sheng Hanyu called his son over: "Zirui, tell us what you think?"

Although Zirui was young, he was the most steady among the brothers, and his consideration of matters was the most comprehensive.

He hadn't expressed an opinion when his brothers were speaking, but now that he was called out by his father, he didn't show stage fright.

Zirui went before his father, serious and earnest: "I think Brother Qi Heng's act is a bit too heavy. He hasn't been in Jiangzhou for just a day or two; there were many opportunities to apologize. Why didn't he apologize earlier, but chose to do so only when he was preparing to leave?"

"He could have just come to apologize himself, but he brought so many people, making such a big scene. Is he trying to use moral kidnapping against our family? If Mom and Dad don't accept it, they will be morally condemned by others, and if they do accept it, it's that person outside lowering his status, and there is no greater virtue than correcting one's mistakes..."

Sheng Hanyu said to the other children: "Do you understand now?"

"Understood."

"Zirui is right, we were almost used by that person, it's too hateful."

"Brother Qi Heng... no, that person is also a big villain."

The children understood, and Zirui also showed a maturity and wisdom beyond his age, but the couple was not very happy.

Because they discovered a flaw in Zirui, and this flaw was even more fatal than the flaws of his other brothers—indifference!

He had already seen through everything, yet he did not stop his brothers from coming to challenge their parents.

Actually, this might not be considered a flaw; it should be a situation that easily arises for people with this personality, perhaps a trait.

Such a "trait" can protect oneself in certain situations, but is it correct to protect oneself when one's own brothers are making a mistake?

If he encounters such a situation again in the future, what will he do?

This question is a bit complex and subtle; it cannot be simply judged as right or wrong.

The couple did not immediately point out the child's problem, but decided to observe slowly and talk about it later.

……

Qi Heng performed a bitter-meat scheme in front of the Sheng Family gate, but it didn't work.

The leaders of the relevant departments and the reporters had all come with great fanfare, prepared to record this "grand occasion" of the century-long reconciliation and the two great families shaking hands.

In the end, they returned in disappointment, having recorded nothing.

The Sheng Family didn't even open the gate, and the people inside wouldn't answer any phone calls!

It left everyone feeling very embarrassed, having come with high spirits only to return in low spirits.

Everyone else left, but Qi Heng did not.

He stayed behind, still kneeling in the courtyard, motionless.

No matter how others tried to persuade him, he only had one sentence: "This is what I owe the Sheng Family, and it is what I should do."

The sky gradually darkened.

There were fewer and fewer people in the courtyard, and after a while, even the onlookers went home.

He still maintained his original posture, motionless.

Sheng Zichen was a warm-hearted and soft-hearted boy, and he couldn't help but feel restless again.

He wanted to plead for him, but he didn't dare!

Therefore, feeling very conflicted, he discussed it with Litian: "Litian, you like practicing martial arts, so I want to ask you a question. If someone stays motionless in a posture like Brother Qi Heng for several hours kneeling in the courtyard, will their legs go numb?"

Litian said: "Numb? I suspect he can't even stand up right now; his legs must be completely numb from kneeling. His knees must be bruised purple, and if the blood circulation in his legs is severely restricted, he might even need an amputation!"

In truth, Litian had long since been unable to bear it.

The two brothers now shared the same thought: they hoped their mom and dad would change their minds, but they didn't dare to say it yet.

"Ah!"

Zichen opened his mouth into an O-shape, astonished: "It's that serious? Then what should we do? Even though Brother Qi Heng did things that were wrong to our family, we can't let him get an amputation."

Litian: "Let's sneak over and give him a cushion. Kneeling on a cushion will be softer, and he shouldn't need an amputation then."

"Okay."

The two brothers took the throw pillows from the sofa, snuck out the front door, and handed the pillows to Qi Heng: "Don't kneel on the hard ground; here, use this to cushion yourself."

The tone was cold and the manner was very distant, yet Qi Heng saw hope!

"Little brothers, I beg you for one thing. Could you two go back and tell your sister that I want to entrust my little sister to her care, and ask her to please tell me in person whether she agrees or not, okay?"