Chapter 51: Let me tell you a story

Wang Yingna's eyes were somewhat resentful: "I'm a girl feeling this awful right now; as a man, can't you say something nice to comfort me?"

"If comfort actually helped you, would you still come to me for help quitting the powder?"

Li Jiaci said: "You could just stay at home and wait for your brother to comfort you—wouldn't that be better?"

Wang Yingna's gaze darkened.

She then gave a bitter laugh: "You really don't understand anything."

"What don't I understand?"

Li Jiaci raised an eyebrow: "Not understand you? We've only just met; isn't it normal that I don't get you?"

"I never said I don't understand myself."

Wang Yingna stared straight ahead and said: "I'm not unable to stay at home, nor do I not want my brother to keep me company; I'm certainly not so desperate that I have to come to you just to let you scold me every day."

"I just don't want him to see me like this."

"After all..."

"It's because of this thing that we both lost our parents."

"And yet I..."

"So useless, I've gotten involved with this thing..."

As she said this, Wang Yingna's eye sockets began to redden.

Li Jiaci had originally wanted to mock her a bit, but it wasn't as if someone else was forcing her to take it.

But after thinking it over carefully.

He still swallowed the words that had risen to his throat.

Zhao Pangzi is certainly the kind of person who will do anything for profit, a real scoundrel.

I guess back then he also used some really nasty trick to fool Wang Yingna into taking the powder.

Otherwise, given how much Wang Yingna and Wang Zhen despise the powder, they would absolutely never take this thing.

After all, Wang Yingna's and Wang Zhen's mother also died from taking the powder.

It's also because of the powder that they ended up parentless from childhood, growing up as orphans without support.

When he thought of this.

Li Jiaci's heart suddenly welled up with a sense of guilt.

His attitude toward this girl really seemed a bit bad...

"What's that expression of yours?"

"Are you feeling guilty and wanting to apologize to me?"

Wang Yingna saw Li Jiaci's expression naturally reveal itself and also guessed his thoughts.

Then Wang Yingna slightly curled her lips, speaking playfully: "Come on, I'm waiting."

"……"

If she hadn't said that.

Li Jiaci would still consider whether to say a few soft words.

But once she said that, Li Jiaci completely lost that mood.

"You're overthinking it."

"To me, you're just a maggot."

Li Jiaci said: "Even if you treat a maggot badly, it's still deserved."

Originally.

Wang Yingna was still waiting for him to apologize to her.

Who would have thought he'd go on to describe himself as a maggot again.

"Maggot, maggot, can't you come up with another nickname? Have you ever seen such a good-looking maggot?"

Wang Yingna said angrily: "It serves you right that your girlfriend broke up with you..."

Then.

This guy didn't say anything else, just burrowed straight into the blankets.

Seeing her like that.

Li Jiaci's mouth also slowly curled into an arc.

"……"

Finally.

Until they returned to the timber mill.

Wang Yingna also didn't take the medicine Li Jiaci gave her.

Even though withdrawal torment made her shiver all over, her trembling hands like those of some university cafeteria aunts, she still clenched the medicine box tightly, refusing to open it.

Li Jiaci also felt genuine admiration for her in his heart.

It's truly not easy for a girl to have such strong willpower.

"Old Two!"

"You take people and unload the timber."

Li Jiaci didn't get out of the car, but directly ordered Li Yihu, who had come over: "Then this afternoon help me keep an eye on things for a bit; I have some business and need to go out."

"Sure thing!"

Li Yihu also didn't hesitate, immediately nodding in agreement.

And Li Jiaci then floored the accelerator, driving the car out to a desolate, open stretch.

He pulled up the handbrake.

Li Jiaci jumped down from the car and came over to Wang Yingna's side.

"You... what are you trying to do..."

Wang Yingna's shaky voice stuttered: "You wouldn't be trying to take advantage of my situation, would you? Listen, if you dare do that, I'll hold it against you for life."

"……"

Li Jiaci's mouth kept twitching.

What nonsense is this woman thinking about?

"You don't want to take the medicine, do you?"

Li Jiaci said, "I'll teach you a way to overcome withdrawal without medicine."

"What method?"

Wang Yingna's eyes showed curiosity.

Li Jiaci said, "Find something you're interested in to distract yourself!"

"And what I used to like doing most."

"Just going out alone to see the scenery."

Li Jiaci drew a deep breath, turned his head toward the vast Da Ping Yuan, and a hint of nostalgia appeared on his face.

Following his gaze.

Wang Yingna couldn't help but say, "Are you crazy? This place clearly has not a single weed—where's any scenery to see? And where could I divert my attention?"

"There really is no weed."

"But this is the most beautiful scenery."

Li Jiaci suddenly turned his head, looked at Wang Yingna, and said, "If you don't want to see the scenery, I'll tell you a story."

"What story?"

Wang Yingna asked instinctively.

"A few..."

Li Jiaci paused and said, "The story of fools."

Wang Yingna laughed, "It wouldn't be your own story, would it?"

"Do you think I look like a fool?"

"Yes!"

"……"

"So, do you want to hear it?"

"If you tell it, I'll just listen casually."

"Then forget it, I won't tell it; let's just go back."

"Hey hey hey!"

"Don't be like that."

Wang Yingna said pitifully, "You've gotten my curiosity going—just finish the story."

"Then listen attentively."

Li Jiaci glanced at her, then slowly said, "There were a few fools with no parents, growing up in the orphanage from childhood..."

"These few foolish children didn't like a plain, ordinary life."

"They all wanted to become the toughest troublemakers, thinking that was how to rise above others."

Li Jiaci, saying this, couldn't help but laugh: "You say, are these kids foolish or stupid? They actually thought they could make a name for themselves by hanging out on the streets."

"A bit."

Wang Yingna nodded seriously, then asked, "Are these foolish children you guys?"

"How could that be."

Li Jiaci laughed and said, "How could I possibly describe myself with the word 'fool'?"

"How?"

"You don't want to listen anymore?"

"Or should we switch stories?"

"No switching!"

Wang Yingna leaned against the car window, propped her chin with her hand, and said, "Just tell this one."

"Then don't interrupt!"

Li Jiaci continued, "Once they hit the streets, these few foolish children quickly realized the world wasn't as they imagined."

"This circle doesn't have that much brotherly loyalty, and few people truly talk about righteousness."

"The world bustles, all coming for profit; the world hustles, all going for profit; brotherly loyalty and righteousness alike ultimately boil down to the two words 'profit'."