Chapter 191: Tang Fu Deviced It All
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Fang Ya looked over He Kun and asked again, "So you came here hoping that I would give you a chance to work?"
He Kun nodded honestly. "Although I went to school for a few years, my family does not have any land. If I lost my job as a teacher, I wouldn't have any livelihood at all."
"Mingxia and the large woman both said that you're a good person and they hope that you can give me a way out." As He Kun spoke, he suddenly knelt on the ground.
Fang Ya was shocked. She quickly stepped forward and helped He Kun up. "Why are you kneeling just like that?!"
He Kun's face was filled with misery. "Sister, please help me!"
Fang Ya saw He Kun's suffering and roughly understood his situation.
She thought for a moment and said, "I just need someone to help me keep an eye on the shop. If you don't mind, I can temporarily arrange for you to go over there and help."
"I don't mind! I definitely wouldn't mind!" He Kun waved his hand without hesitation.
Fang Ya nodded and said, "Then make some preparations. Food and accommodation will be provided over there. You can head over there first."
He Kun looked at Fang Ya gratefully, then turned his head to look at Mingxia.
Mingxia looked at He Kun happily. Both of their faces were full of smiles.
Fang Ya looked at Mingxia and He Kun's innocent faces and suddenly felt a little gratified.
The people around her were all extremely bitter. Now there was such a sweet-looking couple, it was a slight improvement.
He Kun followed Fang Ya to the shop and looked at the situation of the renovation. After understanding the progress, he followed the contractor and began to learn.
Fang Ya saw that He Kun was seriously taking notes and listening. She was a little surprised to see him so diligent and serious.
However, they had only known each other for half a day, so Fang Ya was not sure how long he could keep it up.
After Fang Ya settled He Kun's matter, she asked Uncle Chen to drive her to Lin Bin's law firm.
Fang Ya still had some matters to discuss with Lin Bin regarding Wu Wei.
Just as she reached the door of Lin Bin's law firm, she saw Lin Mei walking out, swaying her hips excessively.
"Lawyer Lin, I'll have to trouble you with our Tang Fu's matter!" Lin Mei said as she slightly leaned toward Lin Bin.
Lin Bin hurriedly sidestepped her before saying, "Mrs. Tang, don't worry."
After sending Lin Mei off respectfully, Lin Bin then discovered Fang Ya hiding in a corner.
"Miss Fang, Why are you here?" Lin Bin looked at Fang Ya with some surprise, then his gaze swept in the direction where Lin Mei had left.
"I saw it. Is she helping Tang Fu?" Fang Ya asked curiously.
Lin Bin shook his head and smiled bitterly. He said to Fang Ya, "Let's go in and talk!"
The two of them entered Lin Bin's office. Lin Bin poured a cup of tea for Fang Ya and then sat down on the sofa.
"Mrs. Tang came here today hoping that I could help divide Mr. Tang's property," Lin Bin said and smiled at Fang Ya.
"Divide his assets?" Fang Ya smiled. "Tang Fu has really found himself a virtuous wife."
Hearing the mirth in Fang Ya's tone, Lin Bin smiled helplessly and said, "Mr. Tang's way of thinking and thinking is always different from ordinary people."
Fang Ya shrugged and said, "Let's not talk about them. I would like to ask about Wu Wei's case. In your professional opinion, what do you think is our next course of action?"
Lin Bin looked at Fang Ya with some difficulty. "Actually, there are some things that I can't say."
"Miss Fang, Why don't you wait for news from Captain He?" Lin Bin looked at Fang Ya, begging for mercy.
Fang Ya knew Lin Bin's concerns and asked, "You know that Wu Wei took drugs, right?"
"Tang Fu forced him to take drugs?" Fang Ya looked at Lin Bin with a serious expression.
Lin Bin did not expect Fang Ya to ask this question. He hesitated for a moment before he sighed. "Since Miss Fang already knows, then I don't have to hide it."
"Indeed. Mr. Tang arranged for Wu Wei to take the drugs," Lin Bin said and told him about how Tang Fu had previously set up Wu Wei to become addicted to drugs.
Fang Ya walked out of Lin Bin's law firm with a livid expression.
Uncle Chen could see that Fang Ya was not in a good mood. He quickly went up to her and asked, "Miss Fang, are you alright?"
Fang Ya shook her head and quietly got into the car.
Chapter 192: The Self-Abased Mingxia
When Fang Ya returned home, she saw Mingxia standing guard at the door as if she was waiting for someone.
Fang Ya smiled in understanding. She walked to the courtyard door and asked, "Mingxia, were you waiting for me?"
Mingxia was stunned for a moment before she nodded shyly. "Yes! Sister, why are you so late?"
As Mingxia spoke, she was still trying to peer behind Fang Ya.
The smile on Fang Ya's face deepened. "Stop looking! Your cousin didn't come back with me."
Mingxia's face was obviously filled with disappointment.
Fang Ya comforted her, "Don't worry, I'll let him learn well over there. I won't mistreat him."
Mingxia looked at Fang Ya gratefully. "Sis! Thank you! Thank you so much!"
Fang Ya gently patted Mingxia's arm and said, "I think He Kun will understand your feelings too."
"Don't worry, you're still young. It'll be good for you to learn more and see more of the world," Fang Ya said earnestly.
Mingxia looked at Fang Ya with a half-understanding look. She did not know why Fang Ya's words sounded so elderly.
Fang Ya held Mingxia's arm and walked into the courtyard. "Have you thought about what you're going to do in the future?"
"Future?" Mingxia looked at Fang Ya as if it was a foreign word.
"Yes! Future! After you have a family, when you get old..." Fang Ya gave Mingxia an even longer timeline.
Mingxia looked at Fang Ya with some confusion. "Sister, I haven't thought about such distant things."
Fang Ya smiled in understanding and pulled Ming Xia to the acacia tree.
The two of them sat on the stone bench under the tree. Fang Ya looked at Mingxia. "Mingxia, I want to ask you, what did you burn this morning?"
Mingxia was shocked. She had not expected Fang Ya to discover her secret.
She stammered for a long time but could not come up with a reason.
Fang Ya was not in a hurry. She waited quietly for Mingxia's answer.
Mingxia hesitated for a long time before saying, "Actually, it's a letter from my family."
"Letter?" Fang Ya looked at Mingxia suspiciously.
Mingxia nodded and said, "My parents aren't very good at reading, so they asked my cousin to write a letter and bring it to me."
"Then you are..."Fang Ya looked at the obviously troubled expression on Mingxia's face.
"Did the letter mention that you were going to get married?" Fang Ya guessed the contents of the letter.
"Do you really mind if your cousin knows about this?" Fang Ya speculated again.
"There's nothing I can do about it. My parents don't know either..." Mingxia said, her little face crying.
Fang Ya gently patted Mingxia's hand. "Then why did you burn it?"
"I simply disagreed with it!" Mingxia smiled helplessly.
"He clearly knew my intentions, but he still brought the letter here." Mingxia said, pouting her lips in anger.
Fang Ya seemed to know who Mingxia was talking about.
She looked at Mingxia, amused. After a while, she said, "He delivered the letter to you faithfully because he followed the basic principles of a scribe."
"He is just being obedient," Fang Ya said, as if trying to comfort Mingxia.
"Yes! I know too. I just think he is too honest!" Mingxia said unwillingly. "Or maybe he doesn't care about me at all."
Hearing Mingxia doubting herself again and again, Fang Ya sighed.
A little girl who came from the countryside with nothing would inevitably doubt herself.
This was also the most fundamental reason why Fang Ya wanted to help Mingxia.
Mingxia looked very shy. Although she got along well with Fang Ya's family, she always revealed a hint of inferiority from time to time.
After the quarrel with Han Qiao the last time, Mingxia had even avoided Han Qiao whenever she saw him.
Fang Ya knew Mingxia was feeling regretful, but she did not know how to get her out this slump.
Chapter 193: Second-hand Room
Ever since Wang Xu moved into Fang Ya's house, she seemed to have changed.
Because she had quit her job, she thought of ways to help Fang Ya every day.
Fang Ya's shop still had some time to finish renovating, so Wang Xu gave Fang Ya an idea.
"Sister Ya, I found that many big companies are starting to buy all kinds of shops and land. Is there any secret to it?" Wang Xu blinked at Fang Ya.
Fang Ya smiled. "You are quite well-informed."
"I just only heard about it." Wang Xu smiled embarrassedly.
"Do you have any ideas?" Fang Ya asked Wang Xu again, wanting to know what was on her mind.
"I'm thinking that since some big companies have started to do this, is this the trend of the future?" Wang Xu pondered for a while.
Fang Ya nodded and did not answer immediately. She only said, "It's possible."
"However, with our current strength, I'm afraid we can't compete with those big companies," Wang Xu pouted and said.
"Yes, we definitely can't invest the capital." Fang Ya nodded again.
This was also the reason why she chose to invest in shops.
Investing in shops was not popular at the moment, but it was an important way to manage businesses in the future.
Wang Xu thought for a moment and pulled Fang Ya into the house. "Sister Ya, do you think we can seize this opportunity?"
"How?" Fang Ya raised her eyebrows slightly and looked at Wang Xu.
Wang Xu chuckled and said, "Actually, I haven't thought too much about it."
"But, look, you used to work in the district government, and I'm more familiar with the streets. We all know who has a house that needs to be sold," Wang Xu said as she fell into deep thought.
"If we can seize this opportunity, will we be able to get something out of it?" Wang Xu said with uncertainty.
Fang Ya was a little surprised when she heard that.
Did this little girl want to start a second-hand housing business?
For the real estate industry that was gradually rising, this second-hand housing business was indeed an important development trend in the future.
However, Fang Ya had other plans, and that was not all!
Fang Ya pulled Wang Xu's hand and sat down at the table. "I think what you said makes sense."
"However, I suggest that you write down the whole idea so that we know what we need to prepare, right?" Fang Ya guided Wang Xu to make a more complete plan.
Fang Ya knew nothing about doing business, but with her ability to predict the future development of the market, Fang Ya was sure that her ability to find business opportunities was unparalleled!
Wang Xu's eyes lit up as he looked at Fang Ya. "Do you really think what I said is feasible?"
"Of course! But before anything, a complete plan is the most important!" Fang Ya emphasized again.
Wang Xu's face was beaming as she hurriedly said, "Alright! I'll go back and write a plan!"
After Wang Xu left, Fang Ya sat at the table and secretly calculated.
At the moment, they were all in the exploratory stage and did not really have the ability to run the business. If this business continued, they would probably need to recruit more people!
Fang Ya did not know where to find such talent. She could not really go with those business bigwigs for dinner!
Fang Ya secretly smiled at her own thoughts. She felt that she was a little whimsical.
Fang Ya was still laughing when Shao Xiang walked in from outside the door. "Why are you smiling so happily?"
Fang Ya looked up and saw a wicker basket in Shao Xiang's hand. She immediately went forward and took it. "What is this?"
Shao Xiang smiled helplessly. "The old Chu family's lot that is not facing the street. They heard that you were going to open some shop and wanted to ask for your help in hiring their son.
"They said that their son was too stupid for school and wanted him to come out and relax." Shao Xiang smiled wryly.
Fang Ya looked at the basket full of fruits and could not help but smile helplessly.
Chapter 194: Chu Qi
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Fang Ya had also heard of the son of the old Chu family.
It was said that his grades had been good from a young age. He entered a university and studied a relatively unpopular finance major. After that, it was as if he became a man possessed.
It was said that the son of the Chu family was writing some financial development plan every day, but no one could understand it.
The two heads of the Chu family had originally wanted their son to enter an official career, but now they did not dare to have such a delusion.
Right now, they only hoped that their son would be safe and not get sick again.
Fang Ya naturally knew the wishes of the two elders of the Chu family. She also remembered that their family's financial situation was not doing very well.
This son of theirs had practically used up all of their income when he went to university. Now that his son had graduated, he was facing a situation where there was no way out.
Fang Ya sighed and said, "I'll find some time to visit that child!"
Shao Xiang also agreed. "I've seen that child before. He's fair and clean. He doesn't look sick."
"I think his name was Chu Qi?" Shao Xiang said as he frowned slightly.
"Yes, I remember it. I'll talk to him." Fang Ya nodded and looked at the basket of fruits in front of her.
"Why don't we give some of these to the large woman's family?" Fang Ya suggested.
Shao Xiang hurriedly nodded and replied, "I think so too!"
The two of them took out more than half of the fruits and gave them to the large woman's family.
The woman was sitting in the courtyard picking vegetables. When she saw Fang ya and Shao Xiang walking over, she quickly stood up and greeted them. "Why are you guys here?"
"The Chu family sent some fruits over. We really can't finish them, so we brought some for you." Fang Ya smiled at her.
The large woman happily took a basin of fruits. "That's great! Then I won't stand on ceremony!"
"You usually help us, but we haven't thanked you yet!" Fang Ya followed her into her courtyard.
The large woman put down the basin, turned around, and pulled Shao Xiang and Fang Ya to sit on a low stool at the side.
"Is the Chu family doing this for their son?" The large woman seemed to have the ability to predict the future.
Fang Ya nodded and asked, "You know about Chu Qi?"
The large woman thought for a moment and said, "That child doesn't look sick to me. It's just that no one can understand what he says.
"I heard that when he graduated from school, he put forward some sort of theory as his final presentation. The teachers in the school didn't agree to it. After an argument, the child beat up the teacher." The large woman said, sighing.
"That's great. In the end, he didn't even get a graduation certificate." The large woman shook her head helplessly.
Fang Ya never expected such a thing to happen. This was perhaps the most fundamental reason why Chu Qi had nowhere to go.
Fang Ya learned a little about Chu Qi from the large woman, and she became even more curious about him.
She decided to meet Chu Qi as soon as possible. If he really had the brains for business, he was precisely what she needed right now!
Fang Ya did not hesitate. When she reached the Chu family home, she found the front door locked.
Fang Ya frowned and hesitated for a moment before turning around to leave.
Not long after she walked out, she saw He Feng riding his bike back from afar.
He Feng saw Fang Ya and smiled.
Fang Ya was a little surprised that He Feng returned at this time. "Why are you back? What's the matter?"
He Feng held a bag in his hand and waved it in front of Fang Ya. "We've had a breakthrough!"
Fang Ya's eyes lit up and she hurriedly followed He Feng.
Seeing this, He Feng patted the back seat of his bike and motioned for Fang Ya to get on.
Fang Ya hesitated for a moment before getting on the bike.
Just like that, He Feng rode the bike and brought Fang Ya all the way home.
As soon as they entered the door, Shao Xiang saw He Feng and went up to him. "How is he? How is Wu Wei recently?"
He Feng shook his head and said, "I can't see him, but I don't think he has been interrogated again."
"Then he..." Shao Xiang gritted her teeth and became even more worried.
He Feng quickly handed the bag in his hand to Shao Xiang. "We have proof that supports Wu Wei's alibi!"
"Really?" Shao Xiang and Fang Ya both cried out in surprise!
"Yes! But I'm afraid that Wu Wei's crime of taking drugs is also going to be confirmed!" As He Feng said that, his gaze looked at Shao Xiang whose expression had suddenly changed.
Chapter 195: Men
After He Feng's explanation, Fang Ya and Shao Xiang had some understanding of Wu Wei's current situation.
Wu Wei's drug abuse was not something that could have happened in a day or two.
The person who led Wu Wei to take drugs had yet to be found.
Fang Ya was very certain that it was not that she had yet to find it out. This person was definitely Tang Fu.
On the day of the murder, no one had poured drugs or anything like that into Wu Wei's mouth.
On the way here, Wu Wei's addiction had simply kicked in, so he found a place to take drugs.
This place was the crime scene.
Wu Wei was in a daze, so he did not see who the murderer was, nor did he know that a murder had happened at the scene.
This was also why Wu Wei was found at the scene and even lost his wallet, but he could not explain what had happened.
The police also found Wu Wei's drug-taking tools in a pile of rubble not far from the scene, proving the truth of Wu Wei's drug use at that time.
As for why they could prove that Wu Wei had not killed under the influence of drugs, it was because there had been another witness at the scene.
This witness was originally Wu Wei's drug supplier. He was afraid that the matter would be exposed and he would be caught, so he did not tell the truth.
Later, he was arrested for another transaction. That person eventually gave up everything he saw on the day of the murder.
With the testimony of the witness and Wu Wei practically incapacitating himself after taking drugs at that time, the police initially dismissed Wu Wei as a suspect of murder.
This news was simply great news for Shao Xiang.
Whether Wu Wei took drugs or not, as long as he did not kill anyone, he would not be charged for murder!
Shao Xiang's heart that had been tense for the past few days finally relaxed.
However, things were not as simple as Shao Xiang had imagined.
Because Wu Wei was not only suspected of taking drugs but also suspected of selling drugs, under such circumstances, it was still unknown whether Wu Wei would be able to come out alive.
However, Fang Ya and He Feng did not plan to tell Shao Xiang about this situation now.
After all, this matter still needed further investigation.
He Feng returned home, and the happiest person was he peng.
Although He Peng went to school happily every day, the whole family was very concerned about him.
But in an environment where everyone under his roof were women, He Peng was still somewhat uncomfortable.
Especially now that he was growing up, his awareness of the difference between men and women was growing stronger and stronger.
Fang Ya was also aware of He Peng's situation, but she was unable to solve this problem for him for the time being.
Fang Ya told He Feng about this situation and wanted He Feng and He Peng to have a good chat.
That night, Fang Ya gave her room to He Feng and He Peng.
The father and son had not been together for a long time, and He Peng felt uncomfortable all over.
He Feng looked at his son's somewhat reserved look and could not help but smile and ask, "Why? Is there any secret that you can't tell me?"
"Nothing!" He Peng immediately denied it, but still said somewhat bashfully, "It's just that I'm with Grandma and Mom every day..."
"The people in the class all say that I..." He Peng said, his brows tightly knitted together, and he was somewhat hesitant.
"What did the class say about you?" He Feng asked. He wanted to know what his son was thinking.
"They said that I don't have the masculinity of a man!" He Peng said with some confusion.
"Then what do you think?" He Feng patiently waited for He Peng's answer.
He Peng shook his head and said, "Teacher Lin said that masculinity is not a temperament that is displayed on the outside. It is a temperament that only appears when something happens!"
He Feng nodded in agreement. "Teacher Lin is right!"
"So, am I a man?" He Peng looked at He Feng expectantly.
"Then can you help father protect these women in our family?" He Feng looked at He peng and asked softly.
"Yes!" He Peng answered without hesitation.
"You are a real man!" He Feng said and gently carried He Peng into his arms.
Chapter 196: Home
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
He Feng returned to the criminal police unit early the next morning, and He Peng looked much better than he had in the past few days.
Fang Ya looked at He Peng diligently helping Mingxia clean up the courtyard, and a gratified smile appeared on her face.
It had not been easy for He Peng to integrate into the current living environment.
Fang Ya used to dislike getting too close to outsiders.
However, ever since she was reborn, she was not shy to ask for aid when she needed it, and she hoped that she could return the aid to as many people as possible.
If she was not careful, so many more people would have ended up beneath her roof.
Fang Ya looked at Mingxia playing tag with He Peng. The two of them were laughing and playing, and they looked very happy.
Shao Xiang walked towards Fang Ya, and there was a strange expression on her face. "I need to talk to you."
Fang Ya looked at Shao Xiang's serious gaze and her heart skipped a beat.
She nodded and helped Shao Xiang into the house.
Shao Xiang seemed to have aged a lot recently.
Although she did not say it, Fang Ya knew very well that she was worried about Wu Wei.
Han Qiao would also cry silently every day when she returned home.
Fang Ya and Shao Xiang sat opposite each other. The two of them were silent.
After a long while, Shao Xiang finally spoke, "After Wu Wei's case is settled, regardless of whether he can come out alive or not..."
"I want to go back to my hometown. The fallen leaves have to return to their roots." Shao Xiang spoke with a tone that carried the indescribable exhaustion and vicissitudes of life.
Fang Ya looked at Shao Xiang and pondered for a moment before saying, "I've never been to your hometown. Is there anyone else there?"
Shao Xiang shook her head. "I don't know! I fled it that year and never went back.
"It's been decades. I don't know what that place has become." As Shao Xiang spoke, a bitter smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.
"That year, I eloped with Wu Wei's father all the way from my hometown. I thought I could live a good life, but who knew..." Shao Xiang sighed.
"I met your father. I had a comfortable life for a few years. After that, you took care of me..." Shao Xiang said as she gently held Fang Ya's hand.
"Maybe all the good luck in my life has been used up!" Shao Xiang said as tears flashed in her eyes.
"It's time for me to head back. I'm tired. I'll go back to where I came from." Shao Xiang's tone was full of sorrow.
Fang Ya thought for a moment and said, "I'll find some time to accompany you back for a walk and then make a decision, okay?"
Shao Xiang did not seem to have any reason to refuse.
She nodded and said, "I'll listen to you!"
Fang Ya's face revealed a slight smile, and her tone was full of tenderness. "It's not like there's no turning back for Wu Wei. Moreover, Tang Tang and the others will definitely miss you!"
Shao Xiang looked at Fang Ya and tears finally fell. "The ones I'm most reluctant to part with are them.
"In my life, I didn't have much luck. The best luck I had was to have you and Tang Tang," Shao Xiang said from the bottom of her heart.
Fang Ya smiled gently. "People say living to a ripe age is one of the greatest blessings one could have. You're our family's blessing!"
Shao Xiang listened to Fang Ya's words, and a smile finally appeared on her face.
After chatting with Shao Xiang, Fang Ya decided to bring Shao Xiang back to her hometown to take a look.
Regardless of whether she planned to stay there or not, she had to at least know the situation there and whether Shao Xiang's relatives were still there.
After Fang Ya made her decision, she went to the train station to buy a ticket.
Shao Xiang's hometown was not too far from the city where they were. It was about seven to eight hours by train.
Mingxia was taking care of the family, and Han Qiao needed to go to work. Fang Ya handed He Peng over to Wang Xu to take care of him.
Lin Ze was tutoring He Peng, so Fang Ya was naturally at ease.
As for Tang Tang, Fang Ya took her with her and went to Shao Xiang's hometown.
Shao Xiang's hometown was a relatively backward and declining small village.
They got off the train from the station and had to take a bus to get to the town.
If she wanted to return to the village from the town, she needed to borrow a horse carriage from a farmer's family.
Fang Ya found a temporary place to stay in the town. It was a hotel that was open to the public.
In this place, this was the only hotel. Although the conditions were a little bad, at least there was a place to shelter from the wind and rain.
Tang Tang had never stayed in such a place. It was too luxurious for her, all of a sudden.
Fang Ya discussed it with the hotel owner and asked the owner to help rent a carriage back to the village.
The next morning, Fang Ya took Shao Xiang and Tang Tang into the carriage.
The carriage traveled out for more than an hour and finally came upon the path to the village.
Because the road was too narrow and full of gravel, the carriage could not enter.. Fang Ya could only pay the driver to come and pick them up later.
Chapter 197: The House That Vanished
The three of them entered the village. Shao Xiang managed to retrace her steps to her former home.
It was not enough to call it a derelict.
The holes in the walls were large enough for one to see all the way through.
Fang Ya hesitated for a moment and walked forward. She stopped in front of the two doors that barely looked functional.
At that moment, a villager walked over. "Who are you looking for?"
Fang Ya glanced at the villager. He had tanned skin, tattered clothes, and a lame leg. He looked a little disheveled.
"Excuse me, is this the Shao Family's?" Fang Ya walked forward and asked the villager.
The villager nodded and said, "It used to be."
"Used to be? Where did they go now?" Fang Ya hurriedly asked, "Did they move away?"
"There is no Shao Family left!" The villager said and walked around Fang Ya and Shao Xiang. He pushed open the doors and walked inside.
"After the daughter of the Shao family ran away, the old couple passed on over the next few years," the villager said as he walked toward the house.
"Then, what about the two sons of the Shao Family?" Shao Xiang finally opened her mouth, her voice trembling slightly.
The villager stopped for a moment and turned to look at Shao Xiang. "Do you know the Shao Family?"
Shao Xiang nodded, tears already rolling in her eyes. "The Shao family... are they still there?"
The villager thought for a moment, nodded and said, "Yes! The Boss said that they have moved to the town, but I heard that they are not doing very well."
"The second son, he fell down when he went to the mountains to pick medicinal herbs a few years ago. He has been in the hospital for several years," the villager said and grinned, revealing his teeth.
"There is no one left in the Shao family. This place belongs to me," the villager said and walked into the house.
Shao Xiang followed behind the villager and wanted to walk in.
However, the villager reached out his hand to stop Shao Xiang. "Hey, I told you, this is my home now!"
Shao Xiang turned her head to look at Fang Ya with some embarrassment.
Fang Ya said apologetically to the villager, "We're relatives of the Shao family. We've lived here before, so we want to go in and take a look."
"Go in and take a look?" The villager sized up Fang Ya and Shao Xiang before saying, "That's fine too! But what do you want to exchange for it?"
Fang Ya thought for a moment, then took out 20 yuan and handed it to the villager.
The villager took the money and a smile immediately appeared on his face. "Feel free to look! But you can't touch anything in the house!"
Fang Ya nodded and helped Shao Xiang into the house.
Shao Xiang looked at her former home which had almost become a bare wall and could not help but cry.
Fang Ya knew that Shao Xiang was sad, but she did not know how to comfort her.
She thought for a moment and asked the villager, "Do you know where the two sons of the Shao family are?"
The villager shook his head. "I don't know. If you want to ask, you can ask the village chief!"
Fang Ya smiled and thanked him. She asked for the direction of the village chief's house and supported Shao Xiang, who was already staggering with grief.
Shao Xiang's face was already filled with tears when she walked out of the Shao House.
Fang Ya was heartbroken as she wiped Shao Xiang's tears away. Tang Tang, on the other hand, obediently grabbed the corner of Shao Xiang's clothes and comforted her with a gentle voice.
Following the villagers' guidance, Fang Ya and her group arrived at the village chief's house.
The village chief's house was at the easternmost end of the village.
Tang Tang followed Fang Ya and the others along the gravel road. She accidentally fell and skinned her knee.
She did not cry. She obediently let Fang Ya clean her wound and then continued to hold Shao Xiang's hand as they walked forward.
Shao Xiang looked at Tang Tang with heartache, but there was another kind of concern in her heart.
When they came to the village chief's house, the village chief asked for their purpose of coming. Only then did he look for a notebook to find the whereabouts of the Shao brothers.
Shao Xiang did not know this village chief, a recent successor of the previous chief.
It was said that this village chief had been trained for such a role since birth. In recent years, he was specially assigned to this backward village in order to help the farmers.
The village chief dutifully wrote down the address for Shao Xiang and Fang Ya. He also told them that if they could not find the person, they could go to the town government to find a clerk named Yang Ming.
He said that he could help them find the person.
After Fang Ya expressed her gratitude to the village chief, she hurried to the village entrance.
Their rendezvous with the coachman was almost up, Fang Ya was worried that if they were to delay any longer, the coachman would leave and they would not be able to return to the town today.
Fortunately, the coachman was patient. He waited for them for a while longer and did not complain.
Fang Ya expressed her gratitude to the coachman.
However, the coachman waved his hand and said that Fang Ya had been most gracious. It was not a big deal to wait for a while longer.
Fang Ya smiled and helped Shao Xiang and Tang Tang into the carriage.
Chapter 198: The Search For Family
After returning to the town, the three of them were tired, so they went back to their accommodation to rest.
That night, Shao Xiang sat alone in the courtyard of the hotel, staring at the stars in the sky in a daze.
Fang Ya walked over and sat opposite Shao Xiang. "Mom, what are you thinking about?"
"Do you think there's an afterlife? Or only oblivion awaits?" Shao Xiang asked Fang Ya.
"If it's the latter, they would have died not knowing of my guilt, not knowing how much I missed them!" Shao Xiang's eyes were still staring at the sky.
Fang Ya sighed, not knowing how to answer Shao Xiang.
Her experience was different from the others.
She did not know if their afterlife would be like hers.
But she was proof of her own afterlife, and she had more choices than the others!
She had been extremely lucky. She had been most grateful for this second chance.
Fang Ya gently held Shao Xiang's hand and said, "Don't dwell on it. People can't come back from the dead. If you want them to be at ease, you have to give yourself a better life."
Shao Xiang lowered her head and looked at Fang Ya. "Do you think your father would blame me?"
"I remember that when he died, he really wanted to see you, but..." Shao Xiang said and hesitated. She did not know how to proceed.
Fang Ya pursed her lips and smiled, saying, "That's all in the past! If dad could see us together now, he would be very happy!"
Shao Xiang looked at Fang Ya, and a faint smile appeared on her face. "Okay! I'll make sure he stays that way!"
Fang Ya gently gripped Shao Xiang's hand. "Don't think too much! We'll go find your two brothers tomorrow. We have to look after the living now!"
Shao Xiang nodded, but she seemed to be a little hesitant.
Fang Ya saw Shao Xiang's hesitation. She thought for a moment and then said, "No matter what, they're family after all. We haven't seen each other for so many years. You also want to know if they're doing well, right?
"So many years have passed. Perhaps they've already forgotten about me!" Shao Xiang said and sighed.
"No way! You don't lose siblings that easily! No matter how far away they are, they will always be family!" Fang Ya said firmly.
Shao Xiang gazed at Fang Ya and said, "You're right! No matter how they treat me, as long as they are alive, it's good!"
Fang Ya gently patted Shao Xiang's hand as if to comfort and encourage her.
The next morning, based on the address given by the village chief, Fang Ya and the others found Shao Xiang's brother's residence.
Looking at the locked door in front of them, Shao Xiang and Fang Ya looked at each other, somewhat at a loss.
Fang Ya walked to the next room and knocked on the door, asking about Shao Xiang's brother's house.
The neighbor said that Shao Xiang's brother had brought his son to the city a few days ago trying to enroll him into a technical school, so he had to go through the registration procedures.
Hearing this news, Shao Xiang's clenched heart relaxed just a little.
At least nothing had happened. It was a good thing for Shao Xiang that her brother's son could actually qualify for a technical school!
Since her brother could not be seen for the time being, Fang Ya brought Shao Xiang to the hospital address given by the village chief.
After the hospital checked the medical records, they informed Fang Ya that the patient had been transferred from the hospital to a small clinic in the town.
Fang Ya frowned as she looked at the address given by the hospital.
Fang Ya should have passed by this place earlier, but she did not remember any small clinic.
According to the information provided by the hospital, Shao Xiang's second brother had been in the hospital for more than half a year. Although the injuries on his body had recovered a little, he had almost lost his ability to work due to injuries to his internal organs. He needed to recuperate quietly.
The hospital's hospitalization fees were very high. Her second brother's family could not afford it at all, so they could only bring him back home.
Shao Xiang looked at the address in Fang Ya's hands with some disappointment.
She had gone to look for her family twice a day, but she had come up empty-handed.
Fang Ya did not give up. Instead, she looked for the address of the clinic.
Because they were all in town, the distance was not too far, to begin with.
The group of people came to the entrance of the clinic and found that it was no longer called a clinic. Instead, there was a big sign "Sanatorium".
This name sounded very high-end. Only in the city would there be such an outfit.
However, they did not expect that there would be such an organization in this poor and remote village?
Fang Ya knocked on the door suspiciously. The person who opened the door was a middle-aged woman in her thirties.
The woman looked at Fang Ya and the others and asked impatiently, "Who are you people?"
Fang Ya looked at the woman and asked softly, "Excuse me, was this originally a clinic?"
"What do you want? If you have something to say, just say it!" The woman grew even more impatient.
"We want to look for someone, someone called Shao Qiang," Shao Xiang said somewhat excitedly.
When the woman heard this name, she was stunned for a moment before saying, "Wait a minute!"
After the woman finished speaking, she closed the door again.
Chapter 199: The Second Brother Shao Qiang
Fang Ya and Shao Xiang looked at each other and thought that the woman was a little odd.
The two of them waited quietly. After a while, the door opened again and a man with white hair walked out.
The man sized up Shao Xiang and Fang Ya before asking, "Who are you two to Shao Qiang?"
Shao Xiang took a step forward and said, "I'm his sister."
"Younger sister? I've never heard of him having a younger sister!" The man frowned, looking incredulous.
Shao Xiang hurriedly explained, "I ran from home when I was young. My name is Shao Xiang. You should ask him. He should remember me!"
The man still looked at Shao Xiang suspiciously. He thought for a moment before saying, "Stay here."
The door closed once again in front of Shao Xiang and Fang Ya.
"Why is this old man so strange and rude!?" Tang Tang could not help but mutter.
Fang Ya also found this place a little strange, but she could not tell exactly how or why.
Fang Ya gently held Shao Xiang's arm. She could feel her nervousness.
She laid a hand on Shao Xiang's shoulder, trying to calm her down.
Shao Xiang turned to look at Fang Ya with a hint of panic in her eyes. "He shouldn't be in trouble, right?"
Shao Xiang's gaze turned nervous.
Fang Ya gently shook her head, but she had no answer.
The three of them waited for a while before the door in front of them slowly opened.
The white-haired man walked out again. "Come in with me."
The three of them followed behind the man and entered.
There was a different world inside this door.
They walked through the front hall and came to a courtyard.
The courtyard was about 30 to 40 square meters.
A circle of buildings surrounded the courtyard. Each building was divided into two floors and had three to four rooms.
Standing in the courtyard, one could take in the open air and the magnitude of its scale.
A few fitness and rehabilitation facilities had been built in the courtyard. It looked like a formal rehabilitation and physical therapy institution.
Fang Ya was a little surprised to find such a place here.
She followed the man all the way to the innermost individual building.
The man pushed open a wooden door on the first floor and guided the three of them in.
Fang Ya and Shao Xiang looked at each other, held Tang Tang's hand tightly, and walked in.
As soon as they entered the room, Fang Ya noticed that it was a simple office.
A man was looking at them coldly from behind the desk.
Fang Ya looked at Shao Xiang inquisitively.
Shao Xiang looked at the man carefully, and after a long time, she called out softly, "Second Brother?"
Fang Ya looked at the man, having already half-guessed his identity the moment they entered.
The man's eyes were fixed on Shao Xiang, as if he was trying to identify something.
After a long time, the man replied. "Sister?"
When Shao Xiang heard him speak, tears instantly flowed down her face.
She had wanted to hear this all these years, and it was also the dream that she had been unable to realize all these years.
She excitedly took a few steps forward, wanting to reconcile with her family.
Shao Qiang moved out from behind the office desk, revealing a wheelchair.
Shao Xiang looked at Shao Qiang sitting in the wheelchair, and her tears flowed even more.
"This, how could this be?" Shao Xiang looked at Shao Qiang's appearance and wanted to reach out to him, but she did not know what to do.
Shao Qiang lowered his head to look at his already shrunken legs and smiled slightly. "It's been many years. I'm used to it."
Shao Xiang looked at Shao Qiang with heartache. "How did it end up like this?"
Shao Qiang slowly came in front of Shao Xiang and the others and said, "Sit down and talk."
Fang Ya helped Shao Xiang to the sofa at the side and sat down.
Tang Tang obediently sat at the side and looked at Shao Qiang curiously.
Shao Qiang looked at Fang Ya and then looked at Tang Tang. "This is?"
Shao Xiang looked at Fang Ya and Tang Tang and smiled. "My daughter and granddaughter."
"Good! Very good!" Shao Qiang's lips curled into a smile.
"Second brother, how are you?" Shao Xiang wanted to say something more but hesitated.
Shao Qiang shook his head and said with a bitter smile, "I was originally married. In less than two years, something happened to me and my wife fled.
"However, I don't blame her. After all, who would stay with a cripple for a lifetime?" Shao Qiang's face was bitter and helpless.
"Then, don't you have children?" Shao Xiang continued to ask.
Shao Qiang shook his head and said, "I'm not that Lucky."
"Let's not talk about me anymore. Where have you been all these years? Have you been well?"
Shao Qiang looked at Shao Xiang's flushed face and asked, "This is between you and..."
Shao Xiang hurriedly interrupted, "I had a son with him. A few years later, he left."
"This is my late husband's daughter. She treats me like her own mother." Shao Xiang quickly introduced Fang Ya.
Shao Qiang looked at Fang Ya in surprise, then smiled in relief, "It's rare, it's rare!"
Fang Ya smiled at Shao Qiang and said, "Mom treats me very well. It's only right for me to do all this!"
Shao Xiang smiled and held Fang Ya's hand tightly.
Shao Qiang looked at the two of them with envy in his eyes.
Chapter 200: Nursing Home
After sitting in Shao Qiang's office for a while, Shao Qiang brought the three of them to his residence.
Shao Qiang also lived here, on the second floor.
According to Shao Qiang, not long after he came to this clinic from the hospital, the old doctor ended up bedridden because of a serious illness.
At that time, Shao Qiang had no one to rely on. Although he was disabled, he still shouldered the responsibility of taking care of the old doctor.
It was also because of this reason that the old doctor gave the clinic to Shao Qiang before he died.
How could Shao Qiang, a person who did not know how to practice medicine, run a clinic?
Fortunately, the doctors and nurses in the clinic did not leave after the old doctor's death.
Although they practiced medicine here, they were only medical students. In reality, they did not have the qualifications to practice medicine.
Shao Qiang always felt that they were adequately skilled, so he took the initiative to change the clinic into a sanatorium.
In recent years, the standard of living in the city only rose up. The people in this small mountain village also started milling into the city.
As the young ones left, the old folk found themselves in short supply of caretakers.
This sanatorium took on the responsibility of taking care of these old people and other individuals in need.
Many people in the town knew about the sanatorium, but they were not rich, so they could only send some things to the sanatorium from time to time.
When the news spread to the countryside, the government had sent many leaders to inspect the sanatorium. The inspection was just a formality, but there was no one who could really contribute.
Shao Qiang had been supporting the sanatorium alone for ten years now.
The few of them had dinner in Shao Qiang's room. The food was mostly homegrown and unique.
Shao Xiang ate the food, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face. "It's still as fragrant as I remember."
Tang Tang, however, frowned. "It's not as fragrant as grandma's cooking!"
Shao Xiang looked at Tang Tang's disgruntled expression and could not help but laugh.
"Tang Tang is the best at talking! She only knows how to make me happy!" Shao Xiang stretched out a hand and gently scratched Tang Tang's nose.
Tang Tang shrank her neck and smiled. "I'm just telling the truth! If it were grandma, she would definitely cook better than this!"
Shao Xiang smiled and said, "Then, how about I cook for you tomorrow?"
Tang Tang immediately nodded heavily. "Okay! I love your cooking the most!"
Shao Xiang helplessly smiled and shook her head.
Shao Qiang looked at the happy family, and he could not stop smiling.
Shao Xiang suddenly thought of something and asked, "Then big brother's family..."
Shao Qiang frowned and said, "It's not very good."
"His wife fell sick in the early years of their marriage and has been taking medicine to maintain her health. She has exhausted all the money in the family," Shao Qiang said with a helpless expression on his face.
"Two years ago, she passed on. Brother was severely depressed for a time," Shao Qiang said and looked at Fang Ya. "Fortunately, his son is more than pulling his own weight. He just sent the child to school a few days ago."
Shao Xiang looked mournful when she heard Shao Qiang's words.
She originally thought that she had been through a lot, but she did not expect that the lives of her two brothers at home to be far more difficult than hers.
However, the thing that made her the most sad was that her parents had passed away and she had not been by their sides.
Thinking of this, Shao Xiang looked at Shao Qiang and asked, "When did mom and dad..."
"It's been almost 20 years..." Shao Qiang said as his eyes were filled with nostalgia. "They left one after the other. There was no pain.
"They were thinking about you. They kept lamenting about not listening to your happiness and hoping if you would one day be willing to come home." Shao Qiang said as he looked at his sister.
"My parents knew that they had let you down at that time. They only knew that if you could live a good life with him, it would be good enough." Shao Qiang said as a bitter smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
When Shao Xiang heard this, tears fell again. "I did let them down!"
"They never stopped missing you!" Shao Qiang emphasized again.
Shao Xiang nodded and looked at Shao Qiang. "I let the two of them down!"
Shao Qiang shook his head and looked at Shao Xiang. He said seriously, "You're doing well. I believe that they will be able to rest in peace."
Shao Xiang sighed and said, "I hope that when I see my parents in the future, they won't blame me."
Shao Qiang revealed a smile on his face. "They will! They love you the most!"
"Do you remember when you were young..." Shao Qiang said, and his eyes were already a little moist.
Fang Ya listened to Shao Xiang and Shao Qiang relive their childhood, and childlike smiles appeared on their faces.
Tang Tang was eating with her head lowered. It could be seen that even if the food did not smell good, she was really starving.
Under Shao Qiang's warm invitation, Fang Ya and her group moved from the hotel to the sanatorium.
There were about a dozen old people and young people with physical inconveniences all living there.
Each person had their own room. Although they were physically inconvenienced, they were not completely unable to take care of themselves.
The needs and wants of the people here were taken care of by the medical staff.
As for the food, Shao Qiang was responsible for most of it. If they were really too busy, they would ask the neighbors next door to help prepare it.
Shao Xiang looked at Shao Qiang's busy appearance and was also interested. She helped to cook a few meals.
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