Chapter 300: Don’t Be So Cruel
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“Now, many advanced private colleges send their children to military training bases to train them for a period. They want to nurture their students’ strength and physical fitness. As you know, real troops have strict rules, and these people won’t be able to enter them.
“But the training bases’ private cla.s.ses are different. Not only that, but many large companies and special organizations also send their employees there to train regularly.”
Fang Yusheng smiled and looked at Qi Bufan’s gla.s.ses. He continued, “As far as I know, the entire Binjiang City and even the three neighboring provinces don’t have a proper and strict large-scale military training base. This is a very spectacular area for development.”
Qi Bufan’s heart began to race.
“You think I can?” Qi Bufan asked himself.
Fang Yusheng’s expression turned serious, and he said seriously, “Of course, you can’t do it alone.” Without waiting for Qi Bufan to show a disappointed expression, Fang Yusheng continued, “But don’t forget, besides you, there are many outstanding veterans.”
Qi Bufan’s eyes lit up as he thought about those who had nothing to do after leaving the army.
He heard Fang Yusheng continue, “They are all loyal to the country and have more or less contributed to our country. They are indebted to the country. Although the country wants to repay them, the country’s ability is limited. The idea that I gave you can solve this problem. Although it can’t solve all of them, it can at least help some people.”
Those people were not fools. Someone willing to find a way out for those retired soldiers would not be stopped. On the contrary, they would try their best to support him.
After a moment of silence, Fang Yusheng continued, “Moreover, they are all outstanding soldiers from the country. Some of them were once outstanding talents in their respective armies. They are the trump cards of the army. It would be a waste of talent for such people to spend their lives like this.”
The words “waste of talent” made Qi Bufan’s heart ache.
After retiring from the army and before meeting Fang Yusheng, Qi Bufan worked as an excavator at a construction site. He did not have any skills and had even worked as a small worker, carrying bricks and cement for the workers. During those few months, Qi Bufan had been very depressed.
He was supposed to be on the battlefield to protect the country, but…
Fang Yusheng’s words completely moved Qi Bufan.
Qi Bufan’s eyes flickered with excitement, but he soon regained his composure.
There was a very realistic problem ahead of his dream.
Money.
He sullenly said, “It costs money.”
Fang Yusheng wanted to laugh when he saw Qi Bufan’s dejected look.
Qi Bufan was stunned for a moment before he grinned. Soon, he regained his composure.
Fang Yusheng found his reaction strange.
“Why? You don’t believe me?”
Qi Bufan suspiciously looked at him and could not help but ask, “Are you willing to give it up?” He must be feeling heartbroken if he has to take out so much money.
Fang Yusheng was speechless.
“Get off.” Fang Yusheng’s face turned cold.
Qi Bufan was speechless.
With a slightly stiff expression, Qi Bufan said, “I was joking…”
“Three.”
Fang Yusheng started counting down to Qi Bufan.
“Two.”
Before he could say anything, Qi Bufan opened the door and got out of the car.
Fang Yusheng took a step forward and got into the driver’s seat. He coldly looked at Qi Bufan, who was standing outside the car, and kindly smiled at him. Then, he stretched out his hand and said, “Give me your wallet.”
Qi Bufan begged him with a bitter face, “Sir, don’t be so cruel.”
Fang Yusheng added, “Give me your phone too.”
Qi Bufan shut his mouth.
He was afraid that if he spoke again, Fang Yusheng would make him take off his clothes.
He reluctantly handed his phone and wallet to Fang Yusheng. Qi Bufan watched as Fang Yusheng drove off.
Gone…
Qi Bufan looked around. It was late at night, and there were no other cars.
So what if he had a car? He had no money!
The cold wind blew, and he walked alone on the road back home. The cold wind blew his cheeks red.
Fang Yusheng drove home himself. The moment the car entered the Fang residence, Fang Yusheng drove in the direction of the house. From afar, he saw Qiao Jiusheng standing in front of the courtyard’s gatepost. Qiao Jiusheng was leaning against the gatepost, and in front of her were a few round wild cats.
Thanks to Fang Yusheng and Qiao Jiusheng, the wild cats at the back of the mountain were even fatter than other domestic cats.
Qiao Jiusheng was wearing a set of white pajamas. To keep herself warm, she had even worn a black down jacket that was over her knees.
She talked to the cats as she fed them, occasionally glancing up at the door.
Upon hearing the sound of the whistle, Qiao Jiusheng hurriedly looked up and saw that Fang Yusheng had returned. She immediately straightened her body, which was leaning against the doorpost. Then, she walked over to him with cat food in her hands. Fang Yusheng parked the car outside the courtyard in the open-air parking lot next to the electric car.
When he got out of the car with the wallet and phone, Qiao Jiusheng saw him and asked, “Isn’t this Bufan’s wallet?”
Fang Yusheng snorted.
“Where is he?”
“Home.”
Qiao Jiusheng felt that his words could not be trusted. “Is that so?” She asked again, “If he went home, why did he give you his wallet and phone?” When she saw Fang Yusheng remain silent, Qiao Jiusheng’s eyes s.h.i.+fted. She seemed to have guessed something and narrowed her eyes to scare Fang Yusheng. “You threw him out halfway?”
Fang Yusheng thought: Ah Sheng knows me well.
“He made me angry.” Fang Yusheng sounded aggrieved.
He was sincerely trying to help Qi Bufan, but Qi Bufan was questioning his character.
How could he not be angry?
Qiao Jiusheng quickly took out her phone. She had originally planned to call Dai Chukong and ask her to pick him up. However, she remembered that it was late at night and her going out alone at this time wasn’t safe, so she called Old w.a.n.g.
After explaining the situation to Old w.a.n.g, Qiao Jiusheng hung up the phone and glared at Fang Yusheng.
Fang Yusheng did not feel guilty at all.
He took the cat food from Qiao Jiusheng’s hands and sat on the stone stairs, sprinkling biscuits at the cats.
He looked at the cats scrambling to s.n.a.t.c.h them and suddenly said, “I’m sorry, Ah Sheng.”
Qiao Jiusheng looked at him in surprise.
“Yeah?”
She supported her waist and tried to sit down beside Fang Yusheng.
Her stomach was too big for her to sit down.
Fang Yusheng helped her.
Qiao Jiusheng sat down beside Fang Yusheng before asking, “Why did you suddenly apologize?”
Fang Yusheng looked at the ground, and many things flashed through his mind. His expression became guilty and sad. He said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t recognize you.”
Qiao Jiusheng was stunned. “When we met, you couldn’t see, so it was normal that you couldn’t recognize me. I didn’t recognize you either, right?” Qiao Jiusheng thought that he was talking about this lifetime. Just as she finished speaking, she heard Fang Yusheng say, “If I knew it was you, I wouldn’t have sent you to a nursing home.”
Qiao Jiusheng froze.
She turned around and looked at Fang Yusheng in shock. “W-What are you talking about? What nursing home?” She had been to a nursing home only in her previous life.
Fang Yusheng turned his head, and their eyes met. Qiao Jiusheng saw that Fang Yusheng’s eyes were red again.
Fang Yusheng sniffled as though he was about to cry.
“I’m sorry, I really didn’t know that it was you. Your appearance…” He covered his face with his hand, which was giving the cats food. The face in his palm was filled with guilt.” Ah Sheng, you’ve suffered so much. I’m useless. If I had discovered that Qiao Jiuyin had hidden you earlier, if I could’ve saved you. Perhaps, you wouldn’t have suffered so much…”
Qiao Jiusheng could no longer hear what Fang Yusheng was saying.
There was only one thought in her mind: How did Fang Yusheng know about my past life?
After a long period of shock, Qiao Jiusheng finally found her thoughts.
She asked Fang Yusheng in disbelief and confusion, “How did you know?”
Fang Yusheng looked at her with a complicated expression.
Should I tell her that I used 40 years of my lifespan in exchange for her rebirth? According to Number 199, in this life, if they fell in love and their wish was fulfilled, he would be rewarded with 40 years of lifespan. However, as the price of going back in time, 20 years of his lifespan would be deducted.
In this life, he could live till 75.
He was not yet 35 and could still accompany Ah Sheng for more than 40 years.
Fang Yusheng was silent for a moment before saying, “Because I’m also someone who has been reborn.” He was also someone who had been reborn. He still did not intend to tell Qiao Jiusheng about the agreement between him and Number 199, afraid that Qiao Jiusheng would feel burdened upon knowing it.
Qiao Jiusheng was stunned. “You… you too?” She was stunned. “Then why didn’t you tell me?”
Fang Yusheng said, “I fainted this time because I remembered those things.”
Qiao Jiusheng gave him a knowing look.
She was quiet for a moment, and when she spoke again, her tone was quite calm. “You mean you knew me from my previous life?”
“Yeah.”
“You’ve seen me before?” Qiao Jiusheng found it unbelievable.
In her previous life, Fang Yusheng was just a stranger to her. The only connection between them was Fang Mu. To Qiao Jiusheng, he was only Fang Mu’s older brother. Other than that, they had nothing to do with each other. However, Fang Yusheng told her that they had met before!
This indeed surprised Qiao Jiusheng.
Fang Yusheng nodded. Seeing Qiao Jiusheng staring at him, he explained, “The night before Qiao Jiuyin died, she went to see you. That was why Bufan discovered your existence. He went to investigate your ident.i.ty, but because you were locked up for so many years, he could no longer find out anything about you.”
He added, “Your appearance had changed drastically. You looked like you were worlds apart from Qiao Jiuyin. No one could link you to Qiao Jiusheng. I didn’t recognize you either.” That was why he had to apologize to her.
Qiao Jiusheng did not blame him. After knowing all this, she did not feel any resentment.
“So, it wasn’t Qiao Jiuyin’s idea to send me to the nursing home, but yours?”
Fang Yusheng nodded. “Yes, I sent you to the nursing home.”
Qiao Jiusheng acknowledged him.
She looked up at the starless sky and thought of something. She suddenly asked, “I heard from the director that you donated five million yuan to our nursing home before pa.s.sing away.”
Fang Yusheng did not deny it.
Qiao Jiusheng asked, “Why?” Since he did not know me, why did he donate money?
Fang Yusheng was speechless.
Yes, in his will, a portion of the money was donated to the widowed elderly for charity. But why did he have to donate another five million to a quiet retirement home?
Fang Yusheng himself could not answer it.
Seeing him remain silent, Qiao Jiusheng did not probe further.
She was silent for a moment, then slowly said, “After you died, I lived for another nine years.” Wei Shuyi had accompanied her for twelve years. The year that Fang Yusheng died was the third year after she had entered the nursing home. She said, “Wei Shuyi watched me leave, so after I was reborn and had no other way out, I went to look for him.
“In the nursing home, he often made dumplings and stir-fried pig liver for us to eat.” Qiao Jiusheng had been locked up for more than twenty years. She was afraid of hunger and loneliness. Wei Shuyi had accompanied her and even let her eat her fill and wear his clothes. Hence, Wei Shuyi was Qiao Jiusheng’s most trusted person, and she was the most grateful for him.
“He’s a good person.”
Qiao Jiusheng agreed with this a.s.sessment.
“I’ve seen the diary you wrote.” Qiao Jiusheng tilted her head to look at Fang Yusheng. When she realized that Fang Yusheng was in a daze, she explained, “After you died, the media made your will and notes public. Everyone knew that you were a murderer.” But at the same time, this murderer was also a great philanthropist.
Fang Yusheng thought of the things he had written and said, “I’ve loved you for two lifetimes. Qiao Jiusheng, you’re such a silly and sweet girl. Wasn’t that worth it for me to do all this?” He stared at Qiao Jiusheng’s face carefully for a long time, but he could not find an answer.
“Perhaps, the more thoughtful a person is, the more they will like a fool like you.”
Upon hearing this, Qiao Jiusheng raised her eyebrows but did not comment.
“As long as you’re not stupid.”
However, Qiao Jiusheng still had a question in her heart. This question had puzzled her for a long time. She asked Fang Yusheng, “So why did you suddenly die when you were 55 years old?” She had seen how Fang Yusheng looked when he was dead. In the newspaper, the photos showed that his expression when he died was especially quiet and peaceful.
He did not look like a dead person at all. Instead, he looked like he had fallen asleep.
He had died with dignity, wearing a suit and tie.