Chapter 86 He won't let you be a widow. After he said that…
Lin Qing'an felt a little embarrassed after hearing this, but he didn't say anything.
He knew that his brother Nian already had the answer in his heart.
They certainly understand the principle that a country cannot be without a ruler for a day, and whether they agree or not is entirely up to them.
Lin Qingan coughed lightly and changed the subject, asking A Bao, "Is our A Bao still considering it?"
Abao only peeked out from behind Lin Yanfeng when he heard Lin Qing'an call his name.
Several pairs of eyes shot towards him again. He tried to hide, but Lin Yanfeng pressed him down behind him.
Lin Yanfeng stepped forward, completely blocking the people behind him, and then puffed out his chest and said, "This matter came suddenly, and Abao may not be able to accept it for a while. Since Brother-in-law hasn't made a decision yet, how about we wait until tomorrow?"
In just one year, Lin Yanfeng has grown a lot taller and is no longer as timid as he was last year. Now, when he stands in front of A Bao, he looks like an adult.
“Okay, then it’s decided.” Chen Gengnian made the decision immediately, and then said to Jiang Qu, “Uncle Jiang, you’ve had a long day. Have some rest after dinner, and I’ll give you an answer tomorrow.”
Jiang Qu stood up and clasped his hands in response.
The grim situation has already been clearly explained; everyone here is intelligent, so all we can do now is wait.
Knowing that they had something to say to each other, Jiang Qu tactfully said goodbye and went out.
After everyone left, A Bao stepped out from behind Lin Yanfeng.
His face was somber, his fair complexion half-hidden in shadow, resembling a small turtle trying to retreat into its shell.
"Abao, what are you thinking?" To everyone's surprise, Chen Gengnian spoke up first.
Ah Bao's hands fell limply to his sides, clutching the hem of his clothes. He didn't want to answer the question, but everyone's eyes were on him. After a moment's hesitation, he stammered out his answer.
"Brother-in-law...I don't know."
have no idea.
It is confusion, not denial.
“Uncle Jiang has already explained this matter clearly. Given the current situation, we probably have no choice but to take on this mess.” Chen Gengnian’s voice was serious. He sighed deeply before continuing to A Bao, “I know you still can’t accept it, and neither can I, but this is an unchangeable fact and a fate we cannot escape.”
At this moment, Chen Gengnian recalled what Lu Wenkang had said when he left that day.
He said: This hat will be yours sooner or later.
I see!
So that's how it is. It turns out that Lu Wenkang already knew their identities.
The atmosphere was heavy; even breathing could be heard clearly.
Lin Qingan was about to say something, but before he could speak, A Bao suddenly buried his face in his hands on the table and began to cry softly.
"Waaaaah... Why did you abandon me only to bring me back... Why can't I choose the life I want... I just... wanted a stable home..."
His usually clear voice became suppressed and hoarse at this moment, each word scraping against the boy's throat, filled with resentment and reluctance dripping with blood, yet he could only helplessly swallow it down.
The sensible yet restrained crying tugged at everyone's hearts, yet no one could utter a word.
Lin Qing'an thought, let him cry his heart out! He didn't know if he would have another chance to vent like this in the future.
Lin Yanfeng pressed his lips tightly together, stepped forward, and lifted the person off the table. Then, he held the person face to face in his arms like he was holding a child. Abao looked up, tears streaming down his face and wiping his chin, instantly soaking the only dry spot in his heart.
Lin Yanfeng's eyes were terribly red. He turned his gaze away and used one hand to press the head, which was being choked by a torrential downpour, into his chest. Abao's sobs gradually became muffled and weak.
"I'll take him back to his room first," Lin Yanfeng said in a deep voice. Without waiting for a reply, he picked up the person and walked out of the room without saying a word.
Watching the two figures leave, Lin Qingan and Chen Yuetao's eyes welled up with tears.
Chen Gengnian also turned his gaze to Lin Qingan and Chen Yuetao. He opened his mouth but couldn't say anything. After repeating it twice, he finally said sorry to the two of them.
Chen Yuetao was heartbroken. She got up and went over to hold Lin Qing'an and Chen Gengnian's hands, her eyes red with tears, and said, "You have done nothing wrong to me. You are my son, Chen Yuetao's son, and my proudest son. Although I am reluctant to let you go, a man's ambition lies in all directions. I will not keep you here. Go do what you need to do. I will wait for you here... wait for you to come back for dinner."
After speaking through her tears, Chen Yuetao placed Lin Qing'an's hand in Chen Gengnian's palm and called out to Lin Qing'an with remorse, "Ah Qing..."
Her voice was so hoarse that it was barely a faint sound. Lin Qing'an quickly agreed and comforted her, "Mother, please speak slowly."
Chen Yuetao took a deep breath before gently patting the backs of their hands and whispering, "Children, from now on you and Anian must support and take care of each other. Mother will always be here waiting for you to return."
Upon hearing these words, Lin Qing'an couldn't help but shed a few tears.
It's no wonder Chen Yuetao is so sad. Let alone whether she can return safely, even reaching the capital city will be extremely difficult.
He used to work overtime day and night, and after his grandmother passed away, he lost all hope for life. Now, he has become a homebody who is also afraid of death.
Lin Qingan nodded emphatically, about to agree, but Chen Gengnian's voice drowned out his.
"Aqing isn't going."
Chen Gengnian's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unwavering determination that no one could shake.
"What?"
Lin Qingan and Chen Yuetao both exclaimed in surprise and looked at him.
Chen Gengnian couldn't bear those two pairs of eyes, so he let go of their hands, took a few steps back, and stopped only after distancing himself from them.
"Abao and I will go, no one else will go."
Lin Qing'an frowned and asked, "Why?"
Seeing her husband's wrinkled and aggrieved face, Chen Gengnian's heart clenched, but he still forced a smile and said, "Mother needs you to take care of her, and everyone here needs you too. I'm not at ease without you."
Lin Qingan found Chen Gengnian's gaze in the air and locked it tightly, leaving him no room to escape. Chen Gengnian looked at him and asked, word by word, as he moved his lips.
"And what about you, Chen Gengnian? Don't you need me?"
"I..." Chen Gengnian opened his mouth urgently but quickly stopped himself, and he pursed his lips and said no more.
Seeing that the two were at an impasse, Chen Yuetao quickly spoke up to smooth things over.
"Ah Qing, it was my fault for not thinking things through before. Ah Nian was worried about you, so..."
"Mother." Lin Qing'an interrupted Chen Yuetao in a hoarse voice. He glared at the bewildered Chen Gengnian, left with only the words "I know" and ran out the door.
"Ah Qing..."
Just as Chen Gengnian was about to take a step to chase after her, he heard Chen Yuetao call out from behind.
“A-Nian”.
Chen Gengnian looked over, and Chen Yuetao forced a smile and said, "Your idea is right. I hope you won't waver. Aqing is a good child. We can't let him be implicated for no reason."
Chen Gengnian nodded emphatically, "I understand, Mother."
After he finished speaking, he strode out.
Chen Yuetao leaned against the door, wiping away her tears. Aunt Wang, the village head's wife, came over and asked her what was wrong. Chen Yuetao shook her head, wiped away all her tears, and said, "It's nothing, I'm just worried about Anian and Abao going on a long trip tomorrow."
They had agreed beforehand to keep this a secret, so Chen Yuetao only told them she was going on a long trip.
"Going on a long trip? We can go out now?" Aunt Wang perked up instantly.
"No, they went out for some business and will be back in a few days." Chen Yuetao took Aunt Wang's arm and walked into the house, forcing a smile as she talked about everyday things.
However, Chen Gengnian was turned away when he arrived at the door with Lin Qingan.
Seeing this, the children playing by the river shouted at the top of their lungs, "Brother Anian, you've made your husband angry again!"
Ignoring them, Chen Gengnian coughed a few times, turned his head to the side, and continued to apologize.
"Ah Qing, my dear husband, please open the door and let me in."
Lin Qing'an sat upright in the room with his hands clasped in front of him, completely ignoring Chen Gengnian's voice.
After waiting for a while with no response, Chen Gengnian pleaded softly, "Please, let me in so I can tell you in person, okay?"
Lin Qing'an ignored him, his chest heaving with anger and his breathing becoming heavier.
"I think his decision was correct."
Ah Meng appeared out of nowhere, and its voice startled Lin Qing'an.
He glared at Ah Meng fiercely, then looked away and continued to be angry.
Ah Meng almost laughed; it was rare to see this person angry, so he burst out laughing.
Hahahaha~
The hissing laughter was eerie and unpleasant. Lin Qing'an raised his hand and slapped A Meng on the forehead, making it dizzy.
Ah Meng was furious, "I'm your senior brother, how dare you hit me!"
Lin Qing'an responded with a murderous laugh before casually uttering a few words.
"So what happened?"
Ah Meng gritted his teeth, but seeing Lin Qing'an's red eyes, he decided to be magnanimous and not hold it against him.
Chen Gengnian was still muttering to himself outside, while Lin Qingan felt increasingly distressed.
He shouted loudly outside, "Take back what you just said and I'll let you in."
Chen Gengnian's voice suddenly stopped. Lin Qing'an listened carefully, but the person outside was as quiet as if he had already left, with no sound at all.
But Lin Qing'an knew that he hadn't left, and wouldn't leave.
Ah Meng sighed and shook his head repeatedly.
"Alright, alright, I know you're upset, but Chen Gengnian didn't do anything wrong. You can probably guess how dangerous the journey was. If anything had happened to him along the way, how would Chen Yuetao have survived?"
"Or rather, if anything were to happen to you, how would Chen Gengnian go on living?"
"If you stay here safely, he can focus on fighting the enemy while he's out there, which is the best of both worlds."
Ah Meng was an elder, and there was nothing wrong with what it said, but Lin Qing'an felt uncomfortable listening to it.
He tried hard to hold back his grievances and discomfort, but two lines of tears still welled up in his eyes.
He looked up and asked A-Meng, "What if he doesn't come back?"
A Meng paused, and Lin Qing'an pouted again, saying, "Then what am I doing here? To keep him a widow?"
Lin Qing'an knew these words were unlucky, but he couldn't stop his mind from wandering.
If Chen Gengnian really doesn't come back, where will he go to find him? Where is the capital? How long will it take him to find him...?
Thinking this, tears fell silently.
It seemed a little lost in the face of Lin Qing'an's tears. After a moment of stunned silence, it flew to Lin Qing'an and gently wiped away his endless tears with its soft wings.
It whispered its assurance, "No, I promise."
"What?" Lin Qingan asked.
Ah Meng shouted with all his might into Lin Qing'an's ear, "I said, with me here, I won't let anything happen to him, and I won't let you be a widow!"
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