On the second day of the Lunar New Year, an uninvited guest arrived at the Song family early in the morning.
Song Xinfu's former apprentice, Gao Qiao, came to visit.
Gao Qiao was fired from the heavy machinery factory for deceiving Song Xinfu and harboring a suspect for Xu Xue. More than ten years have passed without any news of him, but he suddenly came to visit during the Chinese New Year.
Gao Qiao is now in his thirties, and he is standing outside the Song family's gate with his younger brother Gao Yu.
"...Gao Qiao? What brings you here?"
Gao Qiao's clothes were tight, as if they had been worn for many years and the edges were faded. He put on a smile and said, "Master, I've come to see you. I wasn't in the capital before; I went to another city. I came back for the Spring Festival this year and thought I'd come to see you."
Song Xinfu's expression was complicated. Before he could speak, Gao Qiao told Gao Yu to call for help.
Feeling embarrassed, Gao Yu followed Gao Qiao's lead and called him "Master".
It would be unlucky for Song Xinfu to embarrass others during the Lunar New Year.
He asked, "Where have you all been all these years?"
Gao Qiao looked guilty. "Master, I was wrong back then. I was deceived by Xu Xue. Over the years, the more I think about it, the more I regret and feel guilty. You and my wife have been so good to me, and I did something stupid..."
Song Xinfu waved his hand, "Forget it, so many years have passed, it's all in the past."
Gao Qiao's face lit up with joy, "Master, I..."
Song Xinfu smiled and said, "It's freezing cold here, you should go back quickly, or you'll freeze."
Gao Qiao stared at Song Xinfu in disbelief, his expression blank.
Over the years, Gao Qiao has aged considerably. He is about the same age as Song Anmin, but looks even older. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes reveal years of fatigue and exhaustion.
"Master, I..."
Song Xinfu waved his hand: "Gao Qiao, we've worked together for so many years. Everyone makes mistakes, but we can't do things that cross the line. I'm retired now, and there are some things I'm powerless to do. You and Gao Yu are still young, and you'll have plenty of opportunities."
Gao Qiao's eyes instantly reddened. "Master, I'm sick. I only have one younger brother, Gao Yu. He didn't get into university after graduating from high school and has been drifting along. I just want to find him a job."
Upon hearing this, Song Xinfu frowned. "What illness?"
Gao Qiao: "It's liver cancer, it's already in the late stage and incurable. Master, please, I'm begging you, Gao Yu is still young, I really can't bear to see him waste his life like this."
Song Xinfu held Gao Qiao's arms and reassured her, "Your brother is still young. If he doesn't pass the university entrance exam the first time, he can take it again. Song Anmin and Song Jianmin both worked and studied at the same time. Gao Yu is young and capable. He can find a proper job in a factory and make a living. Don't worry too much."
"Master, I'm leaving soon, and I'm really worried about you."
Song Xinfu's expression was not good.
Song Jianmin's voice came from across the room.
What happened?
Gao Qiao was taken aback when she saw Song Jianmin. "You're Song Jianmin?"
Song Jianmin chuckled, "Gao Qiao?"
The younger generation used to be over thirty, but Song Jianmin is much more mature than before. Now, Song Jianmin is the factory director, in charge of dozens of workers. The difference between him and Song Jianmin is like night and day.
Song Xinfu finally spoke: "Gao Qiao, everyone's life is their own. No one can be responsible for anyone for a lifetime. Gao Yu is already in his mid-twenties. He can do what ordinary people can do."
The words have been spoken so bluntly; it would be going too far for Gao Qiao to pretend not to understand.
Gao Qiao did something stupid back then. Putting aside whether Song Xinfu would forgive him, now that he is about to die, he is entrusting his younger brother to Song Xinfu. There is no such thing in the world.
In their early twenties, they're already adults. At that age, the third and fifth oldest children would have been kicked out of the house.
Song Jianmin basically understood. He put his arm around Gao Yu's shoulder and said, "Young people have more opportunities. The economy is developing so fast now. I wouldn't have dared to imagine this ten years ago. Everyone's salary was in the thousands. Listen to my dad, find a job, and study for college at the same time."
Gao Qiao could no longer maintain the stiff smile on her face.
Gao Yu kept his head down, feeling embarrassed. "Master is right, brother, let's go. I'll go to work and take the college entrance exam while I work."
Gao Qiao remained unmoved and almost knelt down before Song Xinfu.
The commotion startled everyone in the room.
Everyone listened silently and didn't come out.
Xu Guiying arrived at the door and quickly helped Song Xinfu up.
Xu Guiying laughed, "Hey, it's no big deal. Knees are precious, how can you just kneel down like that? Gao Qiao, you have to believe in your brother, right? He's only in his twenties, still young. We're old bones, half of us are about to be buried. It's the young people who should be striving and fighting."
After Xu Guiying finished speaking, the Gao brothers were completely speechless.
The two men's expressions changed several times, and they stood there awkwardly, their hands and feet not quite touching each other.
Song Xinfu also had a headache when he saw this. "Let's go, you should all go home for the New Year."
Gao Yu said to Gao Qiao, "Brother, let's go."
Gao Qiao glanced at Song Xinfu one last time, "Master, are you really going to show so little mercy?"
Xu Guiying smiled, but her eyes were cold. "You're exaggerating. We're just discussing the matter at hand, and I'm offering sincere advice, aren't I?"
Enraged, Gao Qiao gritted her teeth and left with Gao Yu.
After the two brothers had walked away, Song Jianmin said:
"He still has the nerve to come here looking for help. He had the nerve to say no to what he did back then, and now he wants us to help him? Gao Yu isn't sick, he has hands and feet, why doesn't he go and earn money himself, why is he staring at us? Gao Qiao entrusted his brother to us, is he going to take care of him for the rest of his life?"
"I'm speechless."
Song Xinfu pursed his lips. "Alright, that's enough."
“Dad, if they come to you again next time, you must not give in. Once this happens, it will happen again. If it doesn’t work out in the end, they might resent us a lot.”
Song Xinfu clicked his tongue impatiently, "Alright, alright, go do what you're supposed to do. What are you standing there for, all bored out of your mind?"
Song Jianmin opened his mouth, "Dad, I only said two words, and you want to kick me out!"
Song Xinfu said with a stern face, "Then what else do you want? Do you want me to invite you into my house for breakfast?"
Song Jianmin: "Dad, stop! I never said that!"
Song Xinfu sneered and went into the house with his hands behind his back.
Song Jianmin was incredulous and said to Xu Guiying, "Mom, could Dad be going through menopause?"
Xu Guiying sneered, "You're the one going through menopause!"
Song Jianmin: "..."
Alright, he's leaving.
If they don't want me here, there are plenty of other places that will.
By the way, what is he doing out here?
Oh, I need to buy breakfast.
——————
My darlings, I have something to do tonight, I'll add another 2k words to this chapter tomorrow~~~
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