Chapter 496 "My mother will not see you!"
(Thanks to reader 20170203160501419 for casting 5 monthly tickets.)
The snow fell all night long, and Li Wangtian lay on the low couch with his eyes open, listening to the sound of the snow all night.
It was barely dawn, just enough to make out the road surface, when Li Wangtian, despite his illness, dragged his body out of Xingsheng Building.
Before leaving Xingsheng Restaurant, Li Wangtian expressed his gratitude to Manager Jin. Finally, he remembered the address Manager Jin had given him, then bowed and thanked him again before leaving.
This time, Li Wangtian's ability to walk on the street was truly not as good as when he came;
He walked briskly when he arrived, and even though he was lame, he walked just like a normal person.
But now his leg injury was throbbing, so he walked with a limp, lagging far behind the average person.
Tormented by the burning pain in his heart, Li Wangtian found a group of merchants at the intersection at the address given by Manager Jin about half an hour later.
This caravan was naturally from downstairs at Xingsheng Tower. The caravan manager must have received advance notice. Upon seeing the limping Li Wangtian, the manager cupped his hands and said, "Please wait a moment, sir. We've secured the goods and will be setting off immediately!"
The group set off in less than 15 minutes.
After leaving Sanshan Port, we headed towards the prefectural city.
Li Wangtian is going to the prefectural city to see Qin Tao, Li Chunli, and Li Shigui!
A day and a night passed, and Li Wangtian, who was with the caravan, finally entered the city gate.
It was also thanks to Manager Jin's help that Li Wangtian was able to enter the prefectural city; otherwise, he would have had a hard time getting in.
Although his travel permit had been practically useless on his journey from Youzhou, in Andong, especially in Jinzhou where Liu Tan was located, it was necessary to check household registration and travel permit to enter the city gates.
Because the caravan downstairs in Xingsheng Building was Yan Jiuniang's way of making money for Liu Tan, the soldiers at the city gate were able to give their own caravan a break and let them pass without much scrutiny.
Otherwise, does Li Wangtian want to enter the city?
There's still a long way to go.
The Chen Family Academy was located in the east of the prefectural city. The caravan dropped Li Wangtian off nearby and then left.
Following the directions given by others, Li Wangtian made several turns and finally stopped in front of the gate of a building with blue tiles and white walls.
It was still early, and several students dressed in long robes came out from the steps at the entrance of Chen's Academy.
Judging from their sleepy appearance, they must have just gotten up and were heading out to the street for breakfast.
Li Wangtian stood on tiptoe under the locust tree diagonally opposite the academy. After thinking it over and over, he realized that his desire to see his son was more urgent. So he mustered his courage, stepped forward, and called out to the group of students who had come out together.
After bowing and reciting the words he had silently repeated several times in his heart, Li Wangtian finally dared to raise his head to look at the students.
One of the students, who had a kinder appearance, nodded to Li Wangtian.
Seeing the student nod in agreement, Li Wangtian was so happy that he kept bowing and thanking the person.
Then the student said something to his companion, turned around and went up the steps into the academy.
After about fifteen minutes, Li Wangtian stared intently at the entrance of the academy without blinking, and finally saw a familiar yet unfamiliar person walk out of the academy.
The young student whom he had previously approached and asked to help call people into the academy was now walking behind this person who felt both familiar and unfamiliar to Li Wangtian.
The student was perceptive; after glancing at Li Shigui and Li Wangtian, he quickly left the academy gate to find his companions.
As soon as Li Shigui, dressed in a blue robe, stepped out, he felt a burning gaze fixed on him.
He turned his head and looked at the bright blue sky and the dazzling snow on the ground, as well as Li Wangtian's full head of white hair!
Yes, Li Wangtian's hair turned white overnight.
On the morning he left Xingshenglou, Manager Jin looked at Li Wangtian's white hair and felt a tightness in his chest. Manager Jin wanted to say something to comfort Li Wangtian, but he couldn't bring himself to say it.
To turn white-haired overnight—what a profound sorrow that must be!
"Brother Gui!"
Li Wangtian called out in a hoarse voice.
Upon hearing this shout, Li Shigui stared wide-eyed at Li Wangtian, who had a full head of white hair, without moving.
Li Shigui stood there staring at Li Wangtian for several breaths, his expression gradually changing from disbelief and shock to something more complicated.
Li Wangtian was initially overjoyed, but after taking only two steps, he saw the disgust on Li Shigui's face!
This disgust came and went quickly, but Li Wangtian was certain that he had seen it!
It's truly disgusting!
Therefore, Li Wangtian stopped, and he was no longer happy. At this moment, his heart was filled with resentment mixed with grievance and pain!
"father......"
Li Shigui walked over quickly, but he did not hug Li Wangtian. He simply stood three steps in front of Li Wangtian and called out "Father" to him.
Li Shigui's voice was very soft, as if he was afraid of being overheard.
"Father, what brings you here?"
No, I mean, Dad, you're still alive!
"Dad, you're still alive!"
Li Shigui kept repeating this one sentence, as if it were the only sentence he could say.
Li Wangtian's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed a mouthful of bitter saliva.
He had imagined countless reunions, but he never expected them to be so distant today.
His precious son has grown taller, even taller than his father!
However, in Gui Ge'er's eyes, there was no joy of reuniting with family, only wariness of outsiders!
Li Shigui's gaze pierced Li Wangtian's heart.
"I..." Li Wangtian's voice choked; he wanted to say something.
But then a cold wind blew by, and as he looked at Li Shigui three steps away, he couldn't utter a single word.
"I want to see you all."
After a long pause, Li Wangtian finally uttered those words.
He looked at his son with tears in his eyes. The son who used to love to lean on his shoulder and beg him to buy him candy when he was little was now looking at him as if he were something dirty.
Finally, Li Shigui called Li Wangtian to a noodle shop.
Sitting at the last square table in the noodle shop, the father and son each finished a bowl of hot soup noodles with expressionless faces.
silence.
Silence fell between the two who put down their chopsticks.
"Are you all... doing well?"
Once Li Wangtian spoke first, the rest of the conversation flowed easily. He looked down at the leftover soup and noodles at the bottom of his bowl and began to ramble on to Li Shigui about how he had spent the past eight years and how much he missed the happy days his family of four had spent in their hometown.
Li Shigui, sitting opposite Li Wangtian, also had his head down, his face dark and gloomy, showing no sign of happiness.
"...So, I followed someone's car here to find you."
Li Shigui frowned. He hadn't expected it to be Li Shiyue!
Li Shiyue never gave up searching for her uncle!
It was only by chance that Yan Jiuniang made contact with Li Wangzheng through a merchant caravan on her way to Youzhou!
“Brother Gui, I, I... I heard that Sister Li has already married and had a baby.”
Could you please help my father and let me see Sister Li?
Before Li Shigui could respond, Li Wangtian immediately added, "And your mother too!"
Your mother...she..."
Ignoring his own thoughts, Li Shigui interrupted Li Wangtian, saying, "My mother will not see you!"
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