Chapter 682

Someone gave their all but never lived to see that day.

Yang Qing's gaze passed through Zijin City, and he gave a respectful look to Xi Xian Tongzhi.

The fruits of his hard struggle, yet he could not wait for the glorious moment that should have been his.

In this world, there are far too many such people who strive and struggle, yet not for themselves.

Yang Qing thought of his elderly father, the father from his previous life.

That man who spent his whole life solely for his children.

Everyone says life was hard in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.

Who could know that even after a thousand years, countless people still pinch pennies, saving just a little money so their families can live a bit better.

Yang Qing had once seen that video: that man, that father, that husband, the person gnawing on a steamed bun at the train station.

That person whose eyes were filled with tears yet still managed a strong smile.

Some say they are foolish, but it is precisely such foolish people who raise a family and give their kin a future.

Many young people have such parents; they see life's cruelty and feel both heartache and sorrow.

Because they failed to live up to their elderly father's expectations, never amounting to anything, and seeing a hopeless future, they chose to lie flat.

Lying flat is a helplessness, a surrender to fate, and also a final cry and act of defiance.

They do not want their children to become third‑class commoners……

A rigidified world is gray.

Some sing, some are numb, some are desperate……

Yang Qing truly did not want to betray his origins.

That felt like betraying his own soul, a denial of his very existence.

Accepting the status quo can bring an unparalleled enjoyment.

But this enjoyment, as time fermented, slowly made him feel guilt.

Xi Xian Tongzhi's words echoed again in Yang Qing's ears.

He had already made his choice.

It was destined on the day he crossed over.

Tears slid from the corners of his eyes, at first like a drizzle, then gradually becoming unstoppable.

This was the most heart‑rending cry Yang Qing had ever shed in his life.

Uncontainable emotions spread throughout the siheyuan, frightening Qin Huairu……

No amount of persuasion could stop it; several times Yang Qing nearly fainted from crying.

She hurriedly contacted Yang Tian and Yang Zhangfeng……

Yang Tian and Yang Zhangfeng had never seen their father in such pain and sorrow.

He was like a child, completely unable to control himself.

They had never seen Yang Qing so fragile.

Their father had always been a pillar holding up the heavens; today they realized he, too, is human, with joys and sorrows, but he had never shown his wounds to them.

In the end, Yang Qing still fainted from crying.

After waking, his expression was listless……

He lay beneath the osmanthus tree he had planted, silent for five days.

The lingering light of June slowly slipped away.

That day, Yang Qing finally recovered his spirit.

Looking at the faces full of worry for him.

Yang Qing squeezed out a smile.

"Let's tidy up and head back to the harbor."

June 25.

Wang Ying was not visiting Gangdao for the first time.

But this time it felt especially different.

In the airport, celebratory flags were everywhere.

Below the plane, several hundred people had gathered to welcome Yang Qing.

Yang Qihang, Yang Fan, Yang Yuntian, Yang Canghai, He Jun, Wang Lin, Tian Guoli……

Yang Qing had been away from the Mainland for many years, and too many people missed him.

A red carpet was laid, flowers filled the road……

Yang Qing stepped off the plane, still radiant as ever.

"Good, good, good……"

He embraced them one by one.

Yang Tian, accompanied by Wang Ying, greeted them one by one.

After meeting Wang Ying, He Jin'er, Lin Cuiping, and Yang Ou pulled her into their group.

Zhou Xingxing was participating in such an event for the first time, appearing very restrained.

Each big shot is someone whose mere stomp would make Gangdao shake three times.

Today they all actually rushed to the airport to welcome a single person.

He smiled half‑jokingly, saying that if there were bad people, a single burst would likely cause the Yang family to suffer a major upheaval.

Before his thought could settle, the sounds of explosions and gunfire appeared in his ears.

Leng Feng leaned in to listen, then said to Yang Fan.

"No need to worry that they won't break through."

There are just too many targets; people we rarely see gathering in one place—this is a once‑in‑a‑lifetime chance, so inevitably someone will want to take a risk.

Taking advantage of the Yinglian troops preparing to leave, the defenses slackening, and the gap before the Daxia soldiers take over.

Place a bet.

If they win, they'll become overnight rich; if they lose, even Yang Qing wouldn't dare to launch a major offensive at this time.

Yang Fan nodded without saying anything.

Yang Qing pretended not to hear.

The welcoming ceremony was still ongoing.

Gunfire rang together with ceremonial cannon blasts.

In the distance, the airport was in chaos.

Yang Qing proceeded through the procedures here in an orderly fashion.

Wang Ying stared, dumbfounded.

Zhou Xingxing also wished he could tear off his own cursed "raven‑mouth."

Finally, Yang Qing and Zhou Xingxing met.

He was still full of regret.

He did not appear as Yang Ou the man; he appeared in the name of Starshine Company.

The man's pride—Yang Ou could understand it, and Yang Qing could understand it as well.

Yang Qing's first words upon meeting were:

"Journey to the West: The Great Talk, filmed excellently—a rare masterpiece."

"It will become an indelible memory for a generation."

Zhou Xingxing hadn't expected Yang Qing to say that; he was deeply moved.

He couldn't help but blurt out.

"Dad."

Yang Qing smiled and patted his shoulder.

"Come on, you can do it!"

Zhou Xingxing was instantly filled with strength.

As the Yang Family's contingent left, the gunfire gradually faded away……

The Hong Kong police, coming to clean up, arrived sluggishly……

The airport riot quickly appeared across major media outlets.

On headline portals, entire pages were devoted to describing the whole outbreak.

No one mentioned the Yang Family.

They classified the riot as sabotage carried out by some conspirators.

For a moment, the incident sparked massive outrage among Gangdao residents.

Hong Fu's departing Yinglian troops had to once again take up positions, launching anti‑riot operations throughout the city.

By June 29, over a thousand people from Gangdao had inexplicably vanished.

Moreover, a huge cache of firearms and ammunition was completely seized.

At the last moment, the Yinglian forces surprisingly carried out a "empty‑gun" operation.

The last glimmer of Gangdao's societies faded away……

Only regular companies remained, one after another.

All the big bosses knew clearly in their hearts that an era had passed.

Jingmen used this attack to force them into total capitulation. Those who didn't compromise vanished forever from this world.

This is the grand trend Yang Qing manages: the compliant survive, the defiant die.

July 1st.

The world's gaze was drawn to Gangdao.

Red flags fluttered, the national anthem rang loudly…………

Yang Qing appeared at the grand venue, watching one flag lower while another rose.

He also watched the despondent Yinglian troops depart, and the newcomers walk toward the platform.

He watched the troops settle into the garrison.

He watched a new chapter of history being written.