Chapter 24: The Emotion of Anger (2)

  "Shao Jie, Yi Jie, there are some things I want to say now, maybe you won't listen, but I have to say them. As your older brother, I can't just watch as you get into trouble."

  Zhang Shaocai finally spoke up, his tone somewhat desolate. Xu Shaojie and Xu Yijie were both a bit distracted.

  "I know what you're thinking, I don't read much, but I also know that a scholar can be killed but not humiliated. You've been insulted and are angry, unable to swallow this breath, and must spit it out. At this time, you think of finding Liu Hong to fight to the death. Okay, I won't say anything else for now. Based on my own experience, let me tell you about the consequences of this matter. Liu Hong's father is the deputy secretary of the Xueyuan District, a leader with real power. Since there's such a thing, he won't be unprepared, and maybe he's even waiting for you to come to him. If you fight with Liu Hong, the consequence will be that Xiaojie will most likely be expelled from school, and if things go wrong, he might even end up in the police station. As for Yijie, the result will be even more disastrous. I won't say any more. In this way, Xiaojie's future dreams will be shattered, and he'll have to follow in my footsteps, putting on a smiling face to accompany others, mixing with people to make a living, and never thinking about having a better life than others. This way, Liu Hong will be happy, and he won't lose anything, at most just physical pain, while you two will lose everything. Think about your mother, think about your sister Xu Lan, who can they rely on in the future? Zheng Yuxin will still marry Liu Hong and live a good life, maybe she'll occasionally remember you, but soon forget. You're not people of the same level."

  Xu Shaojie's forehead broke out in cold sweat. He had never thought of these things. If such a situation were to occur, what face would Xu Shaojie have to meet his father under the nine springs?

  "People all have self-respect and want to save face, but is this face really worth wanting? In ancient times, Han Xin could endure great humiliation. If he had drawn his sword at the time, would there still be a Han Xin later on? Maybe you don't understand, but I have personal experience. My mother passed away early, and our family was too poor. In the village, I don't know how many cold stares we suffered. Later, I followed my master to learn bricklaying, and every night I had to serve water and wash feet for my master and his wife. If I didn't serve well enough, I would be beaten or scolded. At that time, my thoughts were the same as yours - find a night, take a knife, and stab my master and his wife to vent my anger. But in the end, I didn't do it. I knew I was poor, I knew I had no face, but if I wanted to have face, I needed to learn a skill and earn money. Then I would have face. There's one phrase that I remember clearly: 'When you reach the end of the mountain and the river, take a step back and the sea and sky will be wide open.' Shaojie, are you listening? If you are, I'll help you analyze things."

  Xu Shaojie was thoroughly awake, Liu Hong had said such words before, everything Liu Hong did today was to provoke him, make him make mistakes, and if he didn't care about anything, the consequences might be worse than what Zhang Shaocai said. Xu Shaojie looked at Zhang Shaocai and nodded hard.

  "Alright, I've read Zheng Yuxin's letter, which was read out by Liu Xiaomei. Based on my intuition, Zheng Yuxin couldn't have written such a letter. The hidden thoughts in it are too vicious, not only attacking you but also Yijie, and insulting individuals and their families. Anyone who sees this letter would likely lose their rationality and do something they'd regret for the rest of their lives. Especially someone like Shaojie, who hasn't experienced hardships before. Luckily, you didn't act impulsively at the time. If Sun Yong hadn't made that phone call today, something big would have happened.

  Shaojie, you've been too smooth-sailing. You became class president in your first year, joined the party, and got a beautiful girlfriend, which has already sparked jealousy in others. I think you've become someone people want to attack by any means necessary. That person is Liu Hong. I haven't met Zheng Yuxin or Liu Hong, but I have met Liu Hong's father, Liu Zhiwen, who is a deep-thinking person. For now, you're not their match.

  Zheng Yuxin might be very beautiful and outstanding, but you've ignored one thing: her family background. Her father is the deputy director of the municipal finance bureau, Zheng Qingshan. I've met him too; he's a good leader, much more down-to-earth than Liu Zhiwen. However, Zheng Yuxin comes from an official family, and your conditions aren't enough. To be blunt, you're not worthy of her. The Zheng family won't accept you.

  As for Liu Hong, he's had his eyes on Zheng Yuxin for a long time. You've inserted yourself in the middle, and Liu Hong won't take it lying down. His conditions are much better than yours, but from what I see in school, he's not as popular as you. So, Liu Hong wants to find ways to deal with you. The most effective way is to make you go crazy and angry, without thinking about the consequences, and commit an unforgivable mistake. This method is currently the best one.

  You know, after reading this letter, I felt a chill in my heart. They're using such vicious means to deal with you; they really want to put you to death. But you've fallen for it so easily, ready to risk everything and suffer just to save face."

  Xu Shaojie completely understood that this is society, not as beautiful as imagined, with hidden pitfalls and dangers lurking everywhere, and if one is not careful, without a strong background, they may be crushed.

  "Shao Jie, I'll say this last thing about Zheng Yu Xin. Maybe she's perfect in your heart, and I've also heard Yi Jie say that Zheng Yu Xin is extremely beautiful. But a woman like her isn't truly outstanding. In just two short months, her thoughts have changed, she doesn't have her own opinions, and she doesn't know how to persevere. If you're together, in the future when you're struggling outside, your home life won't necessarily be stable. This Zheng Yu Xin isn't suitable for you. The kind of woman you should find is a top-notch woman who will support you from start to finish, never leave you, and never waver. You're someone who's going to do great things, with great prospects. Family is crucial, so I'm saying that something like this happening isn't necessarily a bad thing."

  After Zhang Shao Cai finished speaking, he looked at Xu Shao Jie. He knew that the key was Xu Shao Jie's attitude. As long as Xu Shao Jie accepted it, Xu Yi Jie would not be a problem.

  "Big brother, thank you. If it weren't for you today, my brother and I would have gotten into big trouble. I've thought it through, but my heart still hurts a bit. Brother, let's just drop this matter here and not mention it again in the future. I'm looking forward to eating your and sister-in-law's wedding candies."

  The sky had already lightened a bit, and Xu Shaojie suddenly thought of something, quickly getting up.

  "Shao Jie, is there something wrong? Today I've already prepared for your classmates to ask for leave on your behalf."

  "No, I didn't return to the dormitory. The brothers in the dormitory will definitely not agree and will think of ways to deal with Liu Hong. I want to stop them and cannot trigger a conflict."

  Zhang Shaocai's face broke into a smile.

  "Uh-huh, you go wash up, I'll send you to school. Yijie, take a nap, one night without sleep is unbearable for the body."

  Xu Shaojie rushed into the dormitory building and saw a group of people gathered at the entrance of the dorm room, with Liu Hong in the middle, Ma Jianhua, Du Yuxin and Sun Yong, who were already ready to take action.

  "Liu Hong, what kind of thing are you? Snatching Xu's classmate's girlfriend and still being so arrogant, thinking that just because your old man is a leader, you're all high and mighty. I'm not afraid of you, today let me try out my fists on you, if I don't beat you until you're picking up teeth from the ground, then I'm not surnamed Sun."

  Liu Hong stood in the middle, looking unbothered, sneering at the crowd. Xu Shaojie's scalp felt a little numb. Liu Hong's expression suggested that he had been prepared for this and might have even been waiting for this confrontation.

  "Everyone stop, Sun Yong, retreat to the back."

  Xu Shaojie's appearance made Liu Hong somewhat unexpected. Originally, Liu Hong thought that Sun Yong and others would definitely be entrusted by Xu Shaojie to find trouble with him today. Liu Hong was eager for them to take action, so that everything would be easy to explain, and he could win Zheng Yuxin's heart even more. In Zheng Yuxin's heart, Xu Shaojie would thoroughly disappear, and there would also be other consequences, which Liu Hong naturally understood. However, after Xu Shaojie appeared, he did not allow anyone to take action. Liu Hong was somewhat puzzled. Now, Xu Shaojie must have hated him to death. Could it be that Xu Shaojie was not a man, or was there some other reason?

  Xu Shaojie walked over to everyone's side, his face pale and his spirit not very good.

  "Everyone go back to your dorms, don't gather around here."

  Xu Shaojie didn't dare to look at Liu Hong, he was afraid that he couldn't hold back, now more than ever he mustn't make a move, if he did, everything would be over. Liu Hong's carefree smile made Xu Shaojie realize that what Zhang Shaocai said might all be true, the Liu Hong in front of him wasn't inferior to himself, on the contrary, in some aspects he was even stronger than himself.

  "Xu Ban Zhang, don't let Liu Hong off, no need for you to take action, we'll handle it."

  Liu Hong's face still wore an indifferent smile, with a hint of cold and mocking laughter, as if deliberately trying to infuriate Xu Shaojie. Xu Shaojie barely held back his temper, constantly thinking about his mother, brother, and sister. This humiliation was hard to bear, the person who had snatched his girlfriend was right in front of him, mocking him, yet he couldn't lift a hand. Xu Shaojie felt like his heart was bleeding.

  "I've said it, let's go back. If anyone makes a move today, they're no longer my brother."

  Xu Shaojie said this, Ma Jianhua and others looked at Xu Shaojie, looking very surprised. They thought Xu Shaojie was furious, not knowing who was in front of him. But seeing Xu Shaojie's face, there was anger, no foolishness. The crowd slowly left, returned to the dormitory one after another, and many onlookers around also dispersed, discussing while walking, mostly discussing Xu Shaojie, whose girlfriend had been snatched away, yet he didn't dare take action when the person was right in front of him, too weak, just because Liu Hong's father is a leader, what's the big deal about fighting?

  These murmurs were not small, entering Xu Shaojie's ears. Xu Shaojie clenched his fists, closed his eyes, and desperately controlled his emotions, even biting his lips until they bled. Liu Hong saw Xu Shaojie's expression and was about to speak, continuing to provoke him, he didn't believe Xu Shaojie wouldn't take action.

  "Liu Hong, you'd better not speak, otherwise, I'll twist your head off. Do you believe me? Now get out of here, far away, and fast."

  At this moment, Liu Hong felt Xu Shaojie's momentum. He didn't say a word and walked outside with his head held high, looking rather nonchalant. Liu Hong was unfazed, still believing he had ways to provoke Xu Shaojie, and he wouldn't believe it if Xu Shaojie didn't take the bait.

  Xu Shaojie went straight to the head teacher Xu Zhuxin, asking for a two-day leave of absence, citing physical discomfort. Xu Zhuxin already knew about this matter. Liu Hong's father was the deputy secretary of the district, and Zheng Yuxin's father was the director of the municipal finance bureau. With Liu Hong's loud declaration, the news had spread quickly. In the morning, Xu Zhuxin saw Liu Hong, who was beaming with joy, while Xu Shaojie looked pale and listless. Xu Zhuxin didn't say anything and directly approved his leave.

  Xu Shaojie went straight to the construction site, where everyone was present. Zhang Shaocai pushed away his social engagements and wanted to keep an eye on Xu Yijie, fearing that Xu Yijie would cause trouble. Xu Shaojie could control himself, but it wasn't certain if he would.

  "Big brother, can I use your car? My brother and I will go back for a trip and come back tomorrow."

  Zhang Shaocai didn't say a word and handed the key to Xu Yijie. Xu Yijie originally wanted to speak, but seeing Zhang Shaocai's and Xu Shaojie's expressions, he said nothing and took the key instead.

  Xu Yijie drove, Xu Shaojie didn't say anything, the two of them smoked all the way, Xu Yijie drove very fast, Xu Shaojie didn't speak, the two remained silent. When they arrived at the county town, it was already dark.

  "Brother, go directly to Father's grave, don't disturb Mother and Lanlan, I don't want them to know about this matter."

  Xu Yijie didn't say anything, as if he had understood something.

  Xu Shaojie knelt down in front of the tomb, and Xu Yijie also followed suit.

  "Dad, I didn't understand what you said before, and I always thought that being an official was easy and that anyone could do it. But now I realize that you're not just a bookworm, you see through everything. You refuse to bow your head, and you maintain your inner peace. Dad, I've made up my mind to walk my own path, even if I don't stand out from the crowd. I swear to myself that I will succeed. This time, with your protection, my brother's help, and the support of my schoolmates, I narrowly escaped disaster. I've come to terms with it now, and when I gain power, those people will pay the price. I want them to remember me for life. To those who have helped me, I will repay them with all my might. I will definitely let our family live a good life, relying on my abilities, and make our family hold their heads high."

  Xu Shaojie looked at Xu Yijie.

  "Brother, make a vow in front of Father."

  "Shao Jie, what am I saying? I didn't say anything."

  "You swear to live a good life, don't cause trouble, and absolutely no more fighting."

  Xu Yijie hesitated for a moment, under the moonlight, Xu Shaojie's eyes were very determined. Xu Yijie thought for a moment and made a solemn vow in front of the grave to live a good life from now on and not cause trouble.

  Xu Shaojie knew that Zhang Shaocai's words to him would not be heeded by Xu Yijie, who would definitely find an opportunity to retaliate against Liu Hong. Such a thing could not happen, so after careful consideration, Xu Yijie knew that he was a man of his word and emphasized promises, and only by taking such measures could he stop Xu Yijie's impulsiveness.

  The two brothers stayed in the inn for one night and returned to the provincial city the next day.