Chapter 159 Waters flowed in all directions, cascading onto flat ground, each going east and west...

"Li Leshan! Leshan!" Han Jiang waved to Li Leshan as he got off the high-speed train. There were many people waiting at the entrance of the high-speed train station, including relatives and friends, but most of them were unlicensed taxi drivers.

Li Leshan stood out in the crowd. Han Jiang knew this, after all, the kid had always been like this since he was a child, always the most eye-catching wherever he stood.

He returned to Shengping specifically to visit. Han Jiang hadn't been back to Shengping for two years, whether because he was busy or still sulking, it was unclear. On one hand, he was angry with his parents, not understanding why they always compared him to others, why everyone else seemed excellent while he was the only one lacking; on the other hand, he was angry with someone else, not understanding what that person was thinking, and why there had been no news from him for so many years.

Han Jiang gave Li Leshan a big hug, patted him on the back, and joked, "Long time no see, buddy. I didn't expect you to be so sentimental. Going back to Shengping, I'm sorry to a graduate of a prestigious university like you."

Li Leshan shook his head. Between him and a city, there was no question of owing or owing.

Li Leshan helped him with his luggage and couldn't help but smile as he looked at Han Jiang's boss-like demeanor.

Han Jiang went to Zhejiang, and with his silver tongue that makes the dead seem true, he's been traveling all over China these past two years, living a much more interesting life, visiting places like Tibet and Xinjiang...

“Do you know Urumqi? I stayed there for eight months and I can speak Xinjiang dialect now,” Han Jiang said excitedly, and once he started talking, he couldn’t stop. “Isn’t that amazing? I got really tanned, but my skin tone looks pretty healthy, doesn’t it?”

Li Leshan nodded seriously. Indeed, when Han Jiang came out of the high-speed rail station, he didn't dare to go up to him to recognize him until Han Jiang was right in front of him.

The change is so drastic that it's almost unrecognizable.

"Stop talking about me," Han Jiang began, addressing Li Leshan. "Tell me about you, what were you thinking when you returned to Shengping?"

Li Leshan pursed his lips and smiled at Han Jiang. He wasn't thinking anything, but he felt compelled to say something. Li Leshan was reluctant to leave; he was afraid that if he went elsewhere, he would forget all his past memories. He didn't want to forget, so he couldn't leave.

This was a long story, so Li Leshan didn't say anything, but asked, "How many days are you coming back to stay?"

"Three to five days," Han Jiang said. "I'll come back to see you soon, and if you're doing alright, I'll leave."

As he walked, he looked around at the surroundings. He had thought that something might have changed since he hadn't been home for two years, but nothing had changed. Everything was still the same as before. He couldn't help but exclaim, "This is exactly the same as when I was a child. I've grown up so much, how come this place hasn't changed?"

Li Leshan followed his gaze and looked at the scene before him, his thoughts surging.

"I brought you a lot of local specialties this time," Han Jiang said cheerfully. "Both suitcases are full of them. Try lifting them and see if it's enough for you guys."

Li Leshan glanced at him. Actually, he had a feeling when he first pulled the suitcase. Now, when he lifted it again, he was shocked to find that it contained dozens of kilograms of iron. So Han Jiang brought back a whole suitcase full of iron?

Han Jiang's home is close to the high-speed rail station, just a short walk away, so there's no need to take a taxi or anything. It's not worth it. Just consider it a workout.

"Are you dating anyone?" Han Jiang asked with a gossipy look. "My buddy is so handsome, the line of girls chasing you would stretch all the way to your doorstep."

Li Leshan's lips curled up upon hearing this. "Who would like a mute?"

He joked that Han Jiang could now understand most of the sign language, no longer as clueless as before. As long as the conversation wasn't particularly complex, it was as easy as eating.

Han Jiang quickly said, "Hey, what are you saying? My brother's face, his looks, his education... don't say things like that. You're making fun of yourself now."

His tone was relaxed, but something felt off inside. He knew Li Leshan was sensitive; he'd known since childhood that Li Leshan never showed his emotions on his face, but he remembered everything people said. He never expected that one day Li Leshan would reopen that wound himself.

So many years have passed, has Li Leshan already moved on from this matter? Or has he already let it go?

But he didn't even forgive Li Leshan for this, so how come he forgives himself?

"If anyone dares to talk to you like that, I'll punch them twice." Han Jiang wasn't just bluffing. He works out very occasionally these days, so he's in great shape. If anyone dares to mess with him, he'll go up and fight without hesitation.

“No,” Li Leshan knew he was serious, “I don’t really care what others say.”

To reiterate, if he truly cared about everything, he wouldn't be alive today. The more you care about in life, the more exhausted you become.

"So you don't care..." Han Jiang shouted indignantly, "You don't care, but I do. My mother cares, Han Dahai cares. There are plenty of people who care, you have to care, you know? If even you don't care, we who care about you will be heartbroken."

Li Leshan paused, then suddenly looked up at Han Jiang, startling Han Jiang.

“Of course I’m not sad,” Han Jiang quickly explained. “I’m just angry for you. What business is it of theirs? They’re meddling in everything.”

Li Leshan lowered his eyes, his head bowed, seemingly lost in thought, remaining motionless for a long time. He only snapped out of his reverie when Han Jiang spoke.

"Let's go, hurry up." Han Jiang kept turning around. "What's wrong? My suitcase is too heavy, I can't walk."

Li Leshan quickly shook his head, gave Han Jiang a smile, and hurriedly followed in his footsteps.

If even you don't care, then those who care about you will be heartbroken. He repeatedly pondered this sentence in his heart, and memories of the past suddenly flashed through his mind.

Looking back now, whether he ever hurt anyone or anyone was hurt, it's all...it's all too distant now. It seems pointless to think about it now.

"Please stay for dinner, Leshan," Yang Su said with a beaming smile, holding Li Leshan's hand tightly, reluctant to let go. "You absolutely must stay."

"Mom, your son is here." Han Jiang suddenly blurted out.

"You rascal," Yang Su poked Han Jiang's arm hard, "You haven't been home for two years, and you barely call. When I ask, you always say you're busy. It's a good thing you still have someone in Leshan who comes home to visit during holidays."

"Huh?" Han Jiang suddenly paused, "He...he..."

He didn't invite Li Leshan to his house, so why did he come?

"Stop 'heh heh,' hurry up and wash some fruit for them, and get them something to eat to tide them over." Yang Su lightly kicked Han Jiang, then turned and hurried off to the kitchen to get busy.

"Don't bother," Li Leshan said, not intending to stay or keep them busy. "I'm not hungry right now."

Han Jiang was still in a daze. He opened his mouth, but his voice was a little hollow, as if he had thought of something. "Let's go see Xiaobai in a bit."

Li Leshan was a little confused. He thought that Yang Su's words made him realize that he hadn't been back for two years.

The alleyway now seems rather deserted. The elderly folks who used to hang out together have either left or gone their separate ways. After all, time waits for no one, and many years have passed in the blink of an eye, with changes happening everywhere.

Li Leshan stood aside, silently listening to Han Jiang squatting down and talking to Xiao Bai.

He looked up at the locust tree. Its leaves had fallen in all directions, and its branches were bare. The lush, towering locust tree he remembered now looked much more desolate, constantly reminding Li Leshan that things were different now.

He knew things were different now, but why did every flower, every blade of grass, and every tree here insist on reminding him of this? Didn't he know that everything had changed?

"Xiaobai, do you know your dad can make money now?" Han Jiang squatted on the ground, muttering to himself under the tree. "I can buy you a lot of dog food now. I should have let you eat more when you wanted to. Your grandma wouldn't let me, and now she's regretting it so much. Your grandma treats you much better than she treats me."

“Xiao Bai, it’s been so many days since I’ve come back to see you,” he said, brushing the fallen leaves aside and sniffing. “You can blame me, but if you do, don’t blame your godfather.”

Han Jiang's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, reaching Li Leshan's ears precisely. His heart suddenly pounded, and he involuntarily clenched his fists. No matter how much time passed, as long as he heard any information about him, Li Leshan's heart would start pounding wildly, as if it had recognized something.

Even though we are now worlds apart, even though we have no news of each other.

He restrained his trembling hands and watched as Han Jiang finally finished reminiscing and stood up, his eyes red-rimmed.

“Leshan,” Han Jiang’s voice was a little choked up. He pressed Li Leshan’s shoulder and said very seriously, “I’ve argued with Jiang Yueming at least five hundred times in my life, if not eight hundred. I basically don’t agree with most of what he says. He always says how good you are, how good you are in every way. It’s so annoying to hear, but he’s really right. You are exactly that kind of person, and so are you both.”

“I don’t know where he is or what he’s doing now. I always think that finding him is like bowing my head down. I’ve bowed my head down so many times, you know? Actually, I’ve never blamed him.” Han Jiang wiped his eyes. “I’m leaving. He will definitely go back to Shengping. If you meet him, tell him that he is still Xiaobai’s godfather.”

Li Leshan's throat tightened.

He will definitely return to Shengping? So many years have passed, and some things have become less clear with the passage of time. In other words, what else can he say? He is no longer a burden, nor will he make him feel tired anymore. What else can be said? Li Leshan didn't know what else to say.

After that, the wind continued to blow, and life went on.

The water was poured onto flat ground, and each flowed in different directions: east, west, south, and north.