Chapter 1471: Rural Absurd Past Events Chapter 1471: When Old, Going Back to Make Up for Regrets Is Meaningless

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

Niu Chunsheng hung up Wang Erhai's phone call, an indescribable melancholy filling his heart, making his emotions become complex.

The days of his youth, like slides in a projector, flipped uncontrollably in his mind, page by page, clear as if right before his eyes, seemingly within reach.

He still remembered that morning, Li Xiulan carrying a big rooster, going to the village committee to find him.

At that time Li Xiulan was anxious about the household registration for her three sons, because that September, Li Xiulan's eldest son Wang Dashan would start primary school.

That was the first time he truly, concretely noticed this woman Li Xiulan; that beautiful and captivating, yet pitiable and fragile appearance, even ground down by life to the point of being somewhat humble, stirred a pang of pity in his heart.

He also remembered the days when Li Xiulan partnered with him to open a shop; many years have passed since, and looking back, Niu Chunsheng still feels that was the most fulfilling, and also the happiest and most joyful, experience in his entrepreneurial career.

Even though later his business grew larger and stronger, and the money he earned increased more and more, that pure joy from back then, the feeling of his heart pounding with excitement just from earning a hundred-odd yuan in a day, he never experienced again.

Especially after marrying Lin Xiaofang, no matter how much success he achieved, Lin Xiaofang was never satisfied; although this drove him to keep striving, it also made him lose his original happiness.

What replaced it was the pressure of being a husband, of being the head of the household.

It was precisely under this pressure, coupled with the irregular lifestyle of business entertainment and unhealthy diet, that led to his current stomach cancer.

So Niu Chunsheng would even think: if he hadn't chosen to be with Lin Xiaofang back then, would his life have been a different picture?

If back then he had truly disregarded everything, broken through all worldly shackles, borne the infamy of stealing another man's wife, and insisted on being with Li Xiulan, would the outcome have been better?

People are just like this.

They always beautify the path they never walked.

This is also the so-called "what you can't get is always restless."

Now Niu Chunsheng feels he will die soon, he feels time is running out, opportunities are running out, so he truly began to seriously consider that path never taken.

Plus Li Xiulan's husband is already dead, the world's malice toward them should not be as heavy as back then, and they might even receive others' blessings...

So Niu Chunsheng finally still mustered the courage and dialed Li Xiulan's number.

Beep... beep... beep...

The "beep beep" ringing from the mobile phone while dialing seemed to stretch time infinitely long, making Niu Chunsheng feel excruciatingly tormented.

"Hello?"

As if a century had passed, the call was finally answered.

An elderly woman's voice came from the other end of the phone.

Niu Chunsheng almost couldn't recognize this voice.

So he asked a sentence:

"Xiulan, is that you?"

But Li Xiulan recognized Niu Chunsheng's voice at once.

"So it's Chunsheng, almost didn't recognize you."

Li Xiulan, with a happy laugh, also explained:

"Really sorry, I changed to a new phone, many contacts weren't added back, and I'm old too, don't know how to fiddle with a smartphone."

Listening to Li Xiulan's words, Niu Chunsheng was instantly pulled back into reality.

Although he and Li Xiulan were similar in age, due to the differences in their experiences and circumstances over these years, whether viewed from appearance or temperament, they now seemed like two generations apart.

It turned out the two of them had not been in the same world for many years.

Opening a shop together in Shangou Village back then was merely an intersection point of two infinitely extended straight lines.

After the intersection, their lives had long since drifted apart, the gap growing larger and larger.

Niu Chunsheng couldn't help feeling some loss in his heart.

But he could also overcome this loss.

After all, he himself was a dying man, not much better off.

"How have you been lately..."

Niu Chunsheng only spoke this sentence after a long while.

Why did he only speak after a long while?

Because he suddenly discovered he and Li Xiulan didn't know what to talk about?

Talking about his career Li Xiulan wouldn't understand, talking about his family would be overstepping, talking about his condition he wasn't the type to seek sympathy.

"Very good, I'm at my eldest son's place now, every day just taking care of the grandson, buying vegetables, taking walks, finally enjoying some peace and blessings!"

Li Xiulan was cheerful.

Niu Chunsheng could feel from her tone that Li Xiulan was truly happy.

"That's good, you've suffered a lifetime, it's time to enjoy some blessings."

Li Xiulan asked him at this moment:

"What about you, how have you been lately?"

Niu Chunsheng smiled politely:

"Me, same as always, busy beyond measure with business, not much time to enjoy blessings."

Li Xiulan then said:

"Then you should find time to rest, accompany your family, see the scenery, a person's lifetime passes in a blink, earning that much money, you can't take it with you."

Niu Chunsheng smiled bitterly:

"You're right..."

Li Xiulan asked again:

"How are your wife and children doing now?"

Niu Chunsheng said:

"They're all fine..."

Li Xiulan sighed with emotion:

"Then I'm truly happy for you. Wife and children on a warm kang, and you've earned so much money — this lifetime of yours truly has no regrets!"

Niu Chunsheng laughed until he cried.

His lips moved slightly, wanting to speak but stopping:

"Perhaps..."

If one were to speak of his only regret in this life, it was probably that he hadn't been brave enough to take that step toward Li Xiulan back then.

"What do you mean 'perhaps'?" Li Xiulan laughed as she refuted, "You have one hundred percent no regrets, okay! How many people want to live a life like yours, yet can't obtain it even if they seek it! Unlike me, when I was young I toiled alone raising three children, no money, no time, and no space of my own; even building a house had to be abandoned half-finished several times before it was finally completed. The most fatal thing is, that man of mine — never mind that he was unpromising, while working away he also messed around everywhere. Sigh, let's not think about it. The hardships of my youth, I truly don't want to recall. Now the three sons have all grown up, only then is life a bit better. But still, I always feel uncomfortable everywhere. Many things I wanted to do when young, for example travel, eat good food — now going to do them, they've long since lost their meaning."

Perhaps Li Xiulan's words were unintentional.

Or perhaps she meant something by them.

In any case, this speech of hers made Niu Chunsheng's inner heart tremble involuntarily.

Then that restlessness, like a snail's antennae touching something foreign, suddenly shrank back.

Niu Chunsheng smiled:

"You're right. When people get old, going to compensate for youth's regrets indeed has no meaning..."

At this time Li Xiulan asked:

"Right, what matter did you come to find me for?"

Niu Chunsheng smiled politely:

"Nothing, just chatting casually. Knowing you're doing well, I'm reassured too."