"You don't want to?" Liu Aimin frowned.
"Dad, if it were you, would you be willing? You absolutely can't say that again. We'll decide when we're all grown up."
“Our family wouldn’t do such a thing. When your Uncle Aiguo comes back, tell him that you two have nothing to do with each other anymore.”
Liu Jingze had no objections. He was only thirteen years old; how could he have a four-year-old fiancée? Were you kidding me?
On the last day of the ten-day trip, Liu Aimin accompanied his son up the mountain once again. Liu Jingze brought over ten roast ducks, which the father and son bought separately, otherwise the vendors wouldn't sell so many at once.
The father and son took the train home. On the train, Liu Jingze saw many people from the lower classes. He didn't feel sympathy for them, but he just sighed.
After arriving home, since it was August and school wouldn't start for another month, he was allowed to go out and play, including going up the mountain, but he was absolutely forbidden from crossing the pool at the top of the mountain.
Liu Jingze is a rather cold-hearted person, but his greatest virtue is that he listens to his family. So if they tell him not to cross the pond, he absolutely will not take a single step across.
After playing for a week, I also felt it was boring, and without anyone saying anything, I picked up a book again.
Around the 20th, he went to the city with his father.
Third Uncle is only a few years older than Dad, but he looks much younger. Moreover, Third Uncle's uncles and aunts are not much older than him either.
"Third Master, Dad, I'm staying at the hotel. I'll be back on Saturday and Sunday."
This suggestion was within Liu Aimin's expectations, so he prepared his son's luggage and sent him directly to school.
School life gradually changed him. It wasn't that he changed in essence, but rather that he started wearing a mask and learned to get along with different people.
He always returned to Liu Changhai's house properly on Saturdays and Sundays.
Although everyone except Third Master ignored him, this was not a problem for Liu Jingze at all.
He didn't care about other people's opinions at all; he only cared about his own comfort. Therefore, his uncles, aunts, and third aunts all disliked him.
He had heard the third mistress and the third master complain, but he just laughed it off at the time.
To be honest, he didn't want to come, but his parents, grandparents, and great-grandmother asked him to come, so even if they all refused, he would still come.
The semester ended, and even though he rarely read books, he still had a solid foundation, so he was still the top student in the whole school, scoring 100 points higher than his youngest aunt. Looking at her sullen face, Liu Jingze felt a little happy.
I couldn't wait to go home for winter break; I've never felt such an eagerness before.
When he got home, his mother had cooked a lot of delicious food. He saw his father carrying a bowl out, but he didn't pay attention, assuming it was a gift for an elder in the village.
That evening, his father came to his room. "Jingze, Hongmei is back. From now on, she will live in the village."
"Hongmei? Zhang Hongmei? Isn't she just five years old? Is she already coming back all by herself?"
"Yes, it's too dangerous for her parents, so they sent her back."
"oh."
"Jingze, your wedding is canceled."
"It was just a verbal agreement anyway," Liu Jingze said nonchalantly.
During this winter break, Liu Jingze saw his father bringing him food every few days. It makes sense. What can a five-year-old girl do? If everyone doesn't take care of her, her survival is questionable.
I spent the entire holiday at home. I didn't go out at all.
After three years of junior high school, Liu Jingze suddenly didn't want to go to school anymore. At sixteen, he was handsome, refined, and very likable.
"Grandma, I'll go to high school in a few years. I want to study outside."
"What should we learn?"
"Anything is fine, but I think this kind of life is boring and useless."
"Then you should study military science and politics," the old lady declared decisively.
And so Liu Jingze was sent to a secluded place to study, where he stayed for four years. He returned at the age of twenty to attend high school.
This was a year when the disaster was most severe.
Four years of study and training have completely transformed Liu Jingze.
He felt more at ease about everything, but he returned to the village less often and became increasingly indifferent.
His mother had hugged him and cried more than once, but he himself didn't really have that strong feeling.
He was in his second year of high school that year and was about to take the college entrance exam. His great-grandmother's goal for him was to get into the top university.
One day, on a whim, he wandered around the village. As he approached the foot of the mountain, he discovered a dilapidated house that was locked.
Is this Zhang Aiguo's house? Judging from the condition, it seems no one has lived here for a long time. Where is that little girl?
So Liu Jingze asked this question during dinner that evening.
The dinner table fell silent immediately. He looked at his family members curiously, wanting an answer.
Grandma sighed and put down her chopsticks. "Last year, this child suddenly disappeared. The villagers have searched the mountains, but there has been no news."
It's been two years since the Lunar New Year, so this person must be gone.
Liu Jingze felt a little regretful, and also realized that his initial thoughts had been proven true: whether he could survive was a question.
After graduating from high school, he was admitted directly to the top university.
Amidst this turmoil, he slowly rose to prominence thanks to the remaining influence of the old woman.
However, being outnumbered and outmatched, he was no match for Zhou Yuanqing, so he sought out the defeated Zhang Shouyi.
That man, who was a year older than me, was surprisingly difficult to deal with.
However, he eventually agreed to his request.
The two were always together, and seeing his methods, Liu Jingze felt that he was still far behind.
Having received a gentlemanly education, he finally realized through his alliance with Zhang Shouyi that all gentlemanly methods are utter nonsense. As long as one's goals are achieved, any means, even the most despicable ones, are acceptable.
Zhang Shouyi was always at the forefront in everything. Although I knew he had no intention of living, I still admired him greatly. He was courageous and resourceful; isn't that the path to success for a successful person? I really learned a lot from him.
They finally brought down Zhou Yuanqing, who actually said he was going to die and needed to find himself a burial plot. He was only twenty-eight years old.
He knew that Zhang Shouyi didn't want to compete with him for the position.
So he really left and went to his hometown, Liujiatun.
Unexpectedly, he found gold from the previous dynasty. At that time, the national treasury was empty, which solved a major problem.
A month later, he had chosen his burial site. There were problems at the border, so he called and returned.
He went abroad alone, not only solved the problem, but also brought back a lot of investment.
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