Yan Jue kept calling him "deceit" and "betrayal," making Hu Zhengfeng want to pull out his beard. He'd only exaggerated a little; the truth wasn't far off. Why was he being criticized with such harsh words? Even if it meant provoking him, he couldn't stand this injustice!
Since Yan Jue wanted to play it straight, he didn't pretend. "Are you here to gather intelligence under the guidance of an expert?"
He ran away with a look of shame on his face in the morning, but his temperament changed drastically just after noon. It seemed that Yan Jue had told Wen Xuyang about it after he returned, and asked the other party to help expose their plan.
Yan Jue imitated Zhang Zizheng's expression and smiled obediently without saying anything.
Everything is implied.
Hu Zhengfeng walked to the sofa chair and sat down. He patted the seat opposite him and motioned Yan Jue to sit down. He said slowly: "It's okay for me to tell you, but let me make it clear first, I can only tell you these things with Lao Li's consent." So don't put the blame on me again.
"I know, thank you, Grandpa Hu."
After he finished speaking, he waited for Hu Zhengfeng to speak, but after waiting for a long time, Hu Zhengfeng opened and closed his mouth several times but was unable to utter a complete sentence.
Seeing this, Yan Jue said considerately, "Is it so hard to ask? Or maybe I won't ask anymore. I'm not really that curious."
He just wanted to use this opportunity to find out if there was anything wrong with Li Huaiqing. He didn't have to hear about his love life or expose his scars.
Hu Zhengfeng glared at him. "No, I can't say anything else without Lao Li's consent. This is the only thing I can say, and you won't let me finish."
Yan Jue: ...The problem is that you haven’t started yet.
"Okay, go ahead."
"I just haven't figured out where to start. I won't talk about the past. It all reeks of the sour smell of love. There's nothing much to say."
Hu Zhengfeng was silent for a moment, looking at the ceiling. He sighed and said, "When Meimei died, she closed her eyes unwillingly. It wasn't because she was dying, but because Old Li was also seriously ill, and she couldn't let go."
Having suffered in youth, it's only natural that old age will suffer. Meimei was fifty-eight when she died, having been married to Li Huaiqing for only a dozen years. The first half of her life was filled with missed opportunities and regrets. When lovers finally got married, illness struck. Was she reluctant? Of course she was. But life and death are predestined, and having been with her lover for over a decade, she had no regrets.
Meimei's health was deteriorating, and Li Huaiqing insisted on taking care of her personally. After witnessing his lover's death with his own eyes, he was so heartbroken and grief-stricken that he fell ill.
Meimei left with concern for Li Huaiqing.
Li Huaiqing missed his lover's funeral.
After waking up, even though the people around him kept their mouths shut, he could still anticipate how much heavy sorrow his illness had brought to his dying lover. He began to regret and resent himself. He lived like a walking corpse during that time, causing the younger generations in his family to worry terribly, fearing that he would follow him.
"During that time, we and his family took turns staying by his side almost every step of the way. We were almost worn out by our persuasion, but Lao Li still didn't see any improvement. Four or five months passed like this, and suddenly one day, Lao Li came to his senses."
"I don't know if our persuasion had any effect, but Lao Li is no longer so depressed. He has started to learn to communicate with others and travel around the countryside to relax."
Hu Zhengfeng was a little amazed when he spoke of this: "He looked even more energetic than before. It was only then that his family told us that Lao Li and Meimei had agreed to travel around the world after retirement. Only then did we realize that he was starting a new life with his lover's wishes in mind."
What he didn't tell Yan Jue was that more than a month after Meimei's death, Li Huaiqing called Meimei's name at night as if he was possessed, and kept wanting to grab something by the bed, as if there was really someone sitting by the bed. When he slept, his hands were exposed in a clenched position.
The doctor said it was due to excessive grief and unwillingness to accept reality, which led to hallucinations. This symptom lasted for more than half a month and finally disappeared on its own. After Li Huaiqing regained consciousness, he seemed to have no memory of it. They did not mention it to him, and now there was no need to mention it to Yan Jue, lest he think these old cadres were engaging in feudal superstition.
"I didn't lie when I said we couldn't mention Meimei in front of Lao Li. During that time, we really didn't dare to mention her at all. Later, it was Lao Li who took the initiative to bring up his past with Meimei, and then we stopped being so hesitant."
"It's been four years, and now you can see that he can calmly let me tell you, a stranger, about this, which proves that he has moved on. This is good."
Hu Zhengfeng's story was over, but Yan Jue didn't know what to say.
His mind told him that this story was very touching and regrettable, but because of his own illness, his heart had no waves or feelings. It was like hearing someone talk about what he had eaten today, which was insignificant.
He had long been accustomed to this feeling and had learned to examine it appropriately, but now he really didn't know what to say. Mr. Li had already moved on and didn't need his comfort. Mr. Hu was just a narrator, and he didn't need his evaluation of the story.
After a moment of silence, Yan Jue said, "Shouldn't Mr. Li be traveling outside? Why is he in the sanatorium?"
I've been here for three years.
"Because he twisted his ankle while climbing a mountain. He's so old, and he wasn't the type to exercise before. He was so sick and still wanted to go hiking. So, wouldn't that have hurt him?"
Hu Zhengfeng laughed at him as usual before slowly saying, "But it's quite unexpected. After he recovered from his injury, he somehow didn't want to go out anymore. He got bored at home and checked himself into a sanatorium. That's when he started playing chess."
"We call him a bad chess player because he didn't know how to play chess before, while Meimei was a top amateur. We often laughed at him and asked him to learn from Meimei, but he always said confidently that it was enough to have someone in the family who could play. Now that Meimei is there, he has picked it up."
"It's just that the tree he picked up was too bad. It doesn't have any of the spirit he had when he was doing research. None of us likes to play with him. Only Lao Liu, who is his equal, is willing to accompany him. The two of them play chess under the tree regardless of rain or shine, and they say it sharpens their minds. In fact, it's just that they are addicted to chess, there are not many seats under the tree, and it's quiet. There's no other reason."
Hu Zhengfeng smiled teasingly, "I finally understand why he didn't want to learn before. He studied for three years but still couldn't play well. He didn't have the talent, but he was too proud to admit it."
"Xiao Yan, I'm telling you the truth this time. You can't accuse me of lying to you again."
Yan Jue keenly grasped some doubts in his mind.
Someone who follows his lover's dying wish and wants to travel all over the country, finally finds his goal after going through untold hardships. Someone who has come out of his depressed state, will he give up and not go hiking for three years just because he sprained his ankle?
But we can't rule out the possibility that Li Huaiqing wanted to take good care of his body, to help his lover live longer and witness the country's prosperity. After suppressing his doubts, Yan Jue chatted with Hu Zhengfeng for a few minutes, then thought for a moment and asked directly about the purpose of his visit.
"Grandpa Hu, do you think there's anything wrong with Grandpa Li?" Yan Jue lied with his eyes wide open. "My friend, the Taoist priest Zhang Zizhen, noticed that Grandpa Li kept looking at him with complicated eyes."
As for how complicated it is, I would need to draw a pie chart to explain it in detail.
"Originally, we thought it was his attire that sparked curiosity, which is common. But he said Grandpa Li's attire was different from others, and there seemed to be a lingering worry. He didn't dare to ask, so he wanted you, who was close to him, to inquire."
"I want to ask Grandpa Li if there's anything wrong. Does he need help from someone or a Taoist priest?"
Yan Jue wanted to observe Hu Zhengfeng's facial expression, but the other party half-closed his eyelids and didn't show him any emotion at all.
"Something's wrong." Hu Zhengfeng stroked his beard, suppressed his suspicions, and raised his eyes. "Well, there is indeed some information. But, Xiao Yan, if you want to know, what information are you willing to give me in exchange?"
He put on a face of deep sorrow and indignation. "I'm being forced to betray my old friend. I'm willing to bear the infamy, but I can't let myself lose both my wife and my army and gain nothing. Tell me, what is it about a stranger like you that's worth my risking my life for?"
It's just a straight ball, come on, fight hard. Do you think all those decades he worked for were in vain?
Yan Jue: “…”
There's no need to make it so serious. Also, what you said almost makes you look like a villain who sells out his friends for personal gain!
While complaining, he was considering whether to agree. They had made two preparations and asked Zhang Zizhen to find Li Huaiqing. If the other party refused to say anything, Hu Zhengfeng's news might be the closest breakthrough point for them.
But what if Li Huaiqing told them? Wouldn't he have sacrificed himself for nothing? Especially since the information about Hu Zhengfeng might not be what they needed.
Looking at Hu Zhengfeng who was smiling like a fox, Yan Jue had no choice but to agree. He didn't have any secrets anyway, so he just asked.
"Okay, if you have any questions, please ask."
"Don't worry, I won't force you to say what you can't say. I know my limits."
Hu Zhengfeng looked Yan Jue up and down and asked, "Which unit do you work for? Why don't I see any official temperament in you? You look too ordinary."
Yan Jue: "...the personal attacks are too much."
"You can't tell what unit I work for. That's because I don't have one. I resigned from the company a few months ago and am now unemployed."
In their eyes, the Special Management Bureau is still the same Special Management Bureau. The first requirement for recruiting people there was the ability to protect themselves. Hu Zhengfeng has pointed out that he is an ordinary person, so he didn't dare to say that he was from the Special Management Bureau. If he said it, it would definitely arouse suspicion.
"Company?" Hu Zhengfeng had no doubt. "You work at the company? Why did you quit?"
He did not doubt Yan Jue's words because in his opinion, Yan Jue was too naive and too easy to deceive. A person like him would definitely be thrown into the officialdom without leaving anything behind.
After thinking it over, Yan Jue didn't make up an excuse. Instead, he said, "Because I don't see any hope there. Working so hard day after day, I don't have the energy to think about anything else, and I can't see my own future clearly."
For someone who made rational judgments about all human interactions, staying in a place like that made him feel like a robot. When he worked part-time before, although he was busy, he also enjoyed learning various skills. It was completely different from working in a company.
Furthermore, staying in such a place would only aggravate his condition, making him, who was already emotionally indifferent, unable to experience any emotions that were beneficial to him, and would make those who cared about him worry, so he resigned after saving enough money.
Hu Zhengfeng also knew the plight of young people today. He patted Yan Jue on the shoulder and comforted him: "It's okay. Just resign. The next one will be better."
Yan Jue smiled and said, "Sure."
The integration of the game and the work of the Special Management Bureau really made him happy both physically and mentally.
"Then here comes the question." Hu Zhengfeng changed the subject: "How did you, an ordinary person who resigned, become so close to a Taoist priest and a soldier? Are they your childhood friends?"
"You should know that it's not easy to get into our sanatorium. Ordinary wealthy people don't have that qualification."
Yan Jue remained calm, "We're not childhood friends, everything else is confidential."
"The helicopter incident last night had something to do with you?"
"Secret."
“Are there really tigers in the mountains?”
"have no idea."
"Why are you asking about Lao Li?"
"Secret."
"What are you doing here?"
"Secret."
"Does your investigation have anything to do with us?"
Yan Jue was about to open his mouth when Hu Zhengfeng glared back, "If you dare to keep it a secret again, I'll beat you!"
"Then ask me something I can answer."
Yan Jue blinked innocently. "I was just going to say 'nothing to do'. Grandpa Hu, you've asked so many questions. Can you tell me about Grandpa Li?"
"Besides the reason for your resignation, have you given me any accurate answer?" Hu Zhengfeng said angrily, "How dare you say that?"
Yan Jue said the same thing: "If you ask me something, I can answer it, right?"
Neither of them gave in. After staring at each other for a long while, Hu Zhengfeng gave in and snorted coldly, "Sooner or later, you'll be put in a sack if you get out."
"That's what I said."
After leaving the entertainment room, Yan Jue saw the unread messages on his phone and went to Zhang Zizhen's room.
"You're back so early, is everything going wrong?"
Zhang Zizhen shook his head: "It was a bit too smooth."
He was on the first floor under the pretext of watching Li Huaiqing and his friends play chess, thinking of getting inside first. Unexpectedly, when Li Huaiqing heard this, he simply abandoned his chess friends and said that he wanted to play chess with him, the newcomer, and then pulled him away to his room.
"He directly told me he wasn't interested in playing chess with me, but rather that he was interested in my identity as a Taoist priest. He didn't want others to know he was a convert, so he found an excuse to be alone with me." Zhang Zizhen had a strange expression on his face. "Then he asked me a lot of questions about Taoism, and even Buddhism."
For example, he was a Taoist priest from which place, what scriptures he studied and what martial arts he practiced, how many years he had been practicing, etc. He looked like he was extremely interested in Taoism.
"He also asked me if we Taoists care about leading people into reincarnation. If not, is there any reliable and enlightened monk who could recommend him?"
They're completely different from Buddhism, okay? Li Huaiqing believes in it, but it seems like he believes in everything. He's just interested, but he also believes in great monks and reincarnation. In short, it's a complete contradiction.
Yan Jue frowned: "How did you answer?"
"If it were in the past, I would definitely say there's no such thing as reincarnation, and that we should believe in science. But now it's different. Although I don't know whether there is reincarnation or not, I don't dare to say it directly. I just said I don't know any monks, and didn't mention anything else."
Their orthodox sects all adhere to the principle that if you believe, you can believe, and if you don't, you can't believe. Those who believe will naturally place their emotions in it and go to Taoist temples or Buddhist temples to burn incense. Those who don't believe will never even look at them and will not bother to pay attention to them, let alone take the initiative to spread the word.
"Then I asked him why he was looking for a high monk, and he told me about his lover, saying that he wanted her to be born into a happy family and have a healthy body in her next life."
Zhang Zizhen was gloomy. "The story of Mr. Li and his lover is so sad. It makes me want to cry."
Now it was Yan Jue who had a different expression: "What's the story? Tell me more about it."
Zhang Zizhen said that Yan Jue found that the two versions were similar after comparison, except that Mr. Li deliberately concealed the time of his lover's death, and the description of his emotions and mentality was more delicate.
"I don't think I've told you that Mr. Li's lover has been dead for four years..."
Four years. If there really is reincarnation, people would have been reincarnated long ago. What’s the point of asking for it now?
"What the hell?" Zhang Zizhen almost jumped up. "Then, what does he mean? Why is he still lying about this? Didn't he say he loves his wife very much? What the hell?"
All his gratitude was in vain?
Yan Jue was also puzzled by this. If Mr. Li loved his wife, why would he allow Mr. Hu to use this as a self-torture trick to test a stranger? It was too casual. As for Zhang Zizhen, he even used his own story as an excuse to fool Zhang Zizhen.
Thinking about the news that Mr. Hu told him, Yan Jue had a bold guess in a flash.
"Mr. Hu just told me that he and his friends have found Mr. Li talking to himself many times over the past few years. The conversations were all about back-and-forth, like a casual chat. At first, they thought Mr. Li was mentally ill, but when they realized he was talking to his deceased wife, they assumed he was still deeply grieving and unable to come to terms with her death."
"As they took Mr. Li to play chess and read books, his mumbling gradually improved. It had disappeared for nearly a year, so they didn't think much of it."
"Old Li deliberately asked you about reincarnation just now, probably to test whether you have real skills." Yan Jue said in a deep voice, "Those who can enter the sanatorium are basically former officials and cannot have religious beliefs. So, normally, most people would try to dissuade him. But you didn't show any intention of dissuading him. He can already guess a little bit."
Zhang Zizhen murmured: "You mean, Mr. Li's wife..."
If this is true, the worry in Li Huaiqing's eyes and the temptation towards him are all well-founded.
but--
"How is it possible? It's been four years, how long has the spiritual energy been revived? How is it possible that the soul of Mr. Li's wife is still in this world?"
This is also the reason why Yan Jue is not sure.
Before the resurgence of spiritual energy, people would simply dissolve into the world upon death. After the resurgence, those without obsessions would still do so, while those with deep obsessions would transform into ghosts. Four years had passed, so how could Mr. Li's wife still be around?
But if we don't guess this way, there is no way to explain why there are so many contradictions in Mr. Li.
The author has something to say:
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
