HR Chapter 49
by VolareHearing Xiao Qi’s question, Si Cheng Zhengli immediately roared, “Are you asking if I’m angry? I was afraid you’d find the medicine bitter, so I reformulated it for you. I was afraid the needle would hurt, so I tried to avoid pricking you. I stayed up day and night for you, and you just up and left without a word! What’s the use of telling that dead fox, Si Cheng Zhengzhe? He wouldn’t tell me anything, making me worry about you. Look at the white hair I’ve grown! Am I angry? You’ve angered me to death!” He finished, huffing through his nose and looking away from Xiao Qi.
Xiao Qi still hid behind Lu Qinyuan, suggesting in a small voice, “Then, Second Brother, say you’re not angry, and I’ll come out.”
Si Cheng Zhengli’s eyes widened, almost feeling the sudden surge of anger burning fiercely behind him.
Lu Qinyuan had been observing Si Cheng Zhengli. Although he looked fierce, it was because he cared about Xiao Qi. He moved aside, exposing Xiao Qi, and put his hand on Xiao Qi’s shoulder, saying, “Xiao Qi’s throat is damaged. Second Young Master, don’t shout at him. Check him out first.”
Xiao Qi kept trying to hide behind Lu Qinyuan, which infuriated Si Cheng Zhengli. He grabbed Xiao Qi’s shoulders and said fiercely, “Open your mouth!”
Xiao Qi turned to look at Lu Qinyuan. Si Cheng Zhengli turned Xiao Qi’s head back and said to Lu Qinyuan, “The dead fox is looking for you. Go over there. I’ll take care of Xiao Qi here.”
Lu Qinyuan gave Xiao Qi a reassuring look and walked towards Si Cheng Zhengzhe.
Si Cheng Zhengzhe, as gentle and refined as a gentleman, had a nickname in the business world: Skinning Fox. It referred to Si Cheng Zhengzhe’s exploitative methods, which were above board but benefited himself at the expense of others. For ordinary people, this nickname would be derogatory, but for Si Cheng Zhengzhe, it was an unattainable compliment. Many people sighed that learning even a little of Si Cheng Zhengzhe’s tricks would be enough.
Si Cheng Zhengzhe was a natural businessman, knowing how to buy and sell without learning or being taught. Coupled with his above-average IQ, he was like a tiger with wings.
Si Cheng Zhengzhe’s voice sounded very pleasant, each word gentle, but when the whole sentence was put together, it was like a soft sword, appearing kind but being incomparably sharp.
He said, “I heard that Grandpa brought people to invite Xiao Qi yesterday, how impressive. I wonder if Zhong Wu has done anything wrong. I apologize to Grandpa on his behalf. But why didn’t Grandpa notify me? I would have had Zhong Wu brew your favorite Qi Hong tea and waited for your arrival.” Seeing Lu Qinyuan walk over, he nodded slightly, raised his hand, and said, “Mr. Yuan, please sit down. I have a few family matters to discuss with Grandpa. Please wait a moment.”
Lu Qinyuan had no intention of listening to their conversation. He found a seat facing Xiao Qi and watched Xiao Qi and Si Cheng Zhengli from afar.
In Si Cheng Zhengli’s hands, Xiao Qi was docile and obedient like a little rabbit, opening his mouth for Si Cheng Zhengli to examine. Si Cheng Zhengli said irritably, “Congested and swollen. Taking some medicine will be enough. If you howl a couple of more times, you might as well become mute!”
Xiao Qi reached out and grabbed a corner of Si Cheng Zhengli’s clothes, tugging at it, “Second Brother, lower your voice, it’s too loud.”
Si Cheng Zhengli snorted, turned around to find someone to get the medicine, and then realized that the people waiting here were all wearing white coats. No wonder Xiao Qi was so restrained. He roared at everyone, “Don’t you know the Seventh Young Master is back? You put on white coats and think you’re angels in white? Get out and change!”
Everyone was so scared that they trembled, pushing and shoving each other as they hurried out. When they returned, they had changed into black clothes. For some reason, Lu Qinyuan thought they looked like they were attending a funeral.
Si Cheng Zhengli took the medicine and water and handed them to Xiao Qi, then forced Xiao Qi to drink all the water. He reached out and touched Xiao Qi’s head, saying gently, “Good cut, clean and neat.”
Xiao Qi, like a cat receiving its owner’s caress, narrowed his eyes slightly and asked softly, “Second Brother, are you still angry?”
Si Cheng Zhengli immediately put on a stern face, “Am I such an angry person? It’s all you who made me angry!”
Xiao Qi was in the wrong and lowered his head without replying, but then he heard a gentle voice saying, “It’s been a long time. Xiao Qi, come over and let Big Brother take a look.” He walked over with Si Cheng Zhengli.
Si Cheng Zhengzhe was leisurely and carefree, as if nothing could break his elegance and composure. He pinched Xiao Qi’s wrist, his gaze lingering for a second on the tattoo on Xiao Qi’s cheek, and said softly, “Now that you’ve agreed to Grandpa, go back with him after breakfast.”
Xiao Qi hummed in agreement. Si Cheng Zhengzhe waved his hand slightly, and Xiao Qi walked to Lu Qinyuan’s side and sat with him. Lu Qinyuan naturally reached out and pulled Xiao Qi into his arms. He saw something different, that Xiao Qi’s identity was not as simple as he thought, and that the Si Cheng family was not as impregnable as the outside world said.
After the meal, Zhong Wu Rui brewed excellent Qi Hong tea for Si Cheng Houzai. Si Cheng Houzai did not join them for the meal, sitting on the sofa and sulking all morning. He was full of anger, and even seeing his favorite Qi Hong tea did not make him want to drink it. His expression did not show anything, only his eyes, weathered by the years, revealed an unfathomable vicissitude, as still as a deep abyss, profound and unpredictable.
Si Cheng Houzai looked at the teacup in front of him, his old voice coming from his throat, “Don’t be excessively rude!”
Zhong Wu Rui replied mechanically, “Yes.” This made Si Cheng Houzai even more annoyed.
Si Cheng Zhengzhe came over with a cup of black tea in his hand, opened the lid, took a sip, and asked Si Cheng Houzai, “Grandpa, won’t you try some? I think it tastes good.” He said with a hint of complaint, “It’s fine that Grandpa doesn’t want to eat at the same table with us younger generation, but you won’t even drink your favorite Qi Hong.”
Si Cheng Houzai choked on a mouthful of old blood, almost fainting from anger. Was it that he didn’t want to? They simply didn’t invite him! Si Cheng Houzai regretted it to death. He knew he should have brought some people with him, but he didn’t expect Si Cheng Zhengzhe to come back so quickly and bump into them.
If Si Cheng Houzai was an old fox with eight hundred years of cultivation, Si Cheng Zhengzhe was a fox spirit with eight thousand years. Si Cheng Houzai was not that old ginger, but Si Cheng Zhengzhe was that bit of green that surpassed blue. After suffering countless hidden losses at the hands of his grandson, Si Cheng Houzai reluctantly lowered his status. After Si Cheng Zhengzhe took over the management, his position was still held high, but the weight of his words plummeted. Si Cheng Houzai didn’t seem to care much, although he was indeed very angry sometimes, but he always endured it in the end.
Seeing Xiao Qi walk over, Si Cheng Houzai stood up with his crutch. When he stood up, his old and broken body was stiff and slow, and slight creaking sounds came from several joints. Si Cheng Houzai sighed, “Alas, I’m old, my body is useless.”
“Birth, old age, sickness, and death are common occurrences,” Si Cheng Zhengzhe said as if he meant something else, “Grandpa should see things more openly.”
Si Cheng Houzai ignored Si Cheng Zhengzhe’s words and staggered towards Xiao Qi. He felt much lighter, as if the wish he had been longing for was within reach.
Three cars, the one in front was occupied by Si Cheng Zhengli, followed by Si Cheng Houzai, with Lu Qinyuan and Xiao Qi in the middle car. Lu Qinyuan didn’t know where they were going. Since getting into the car, they had been driving into the suburbs, turning several corners, and even he didn’t know where they were. Xiao Qi had been resting his chin on his hand, looking out the window without saying a word. Lu Qinyuan didn’t speak either, each guarding a car window, looking at their own views.
At first, they occasionally saw a few villages along the way, but later they became fewer and fewer, and they only saw endless, quiet forests. The road became narrower, and it took a long time to see a road sign. The last time they saw a road sign was an hour ago, which meant they were getting farther and farther away from Shang Ze City, even reaching a remote area. While he was guessing wildly, an inconspicuous road sign flashed before his eyes. Xiao Qi, who had been silent all along, suddenly said, “Almost there. From here to the mountain ahead, it all belongs to the Si Cheng family.”
Lu Qinyuan tilted his head and looked ahead. There was indeed a mountain close at hand. It didn’t look very high, but the mountain was near and the road was far. You wouldn’t know how high it was until you reached the foot of the mountain.
Deep forests hide dangerous peaks, deep waters conceal swimming dragons.
When they reached the foot of the mountain, looking at the majestic and steep high mountain in front of him, Lu Qinyuan thought of this sentence.
The car could no longer proceed, and they needed to walk the rest of the way. This mountain had dense vegetation, tall trees, lush and verdant, with few traces of human damage. The sound of birds chirping in the forest echoed in their ears, obviously a place rarely visited by people.
The only path leading up the mountain was a staircase paved with bluestone. The mountain was high and the road was steep. Looking up, it seemed to be a staircase leading to heaven.
Lu Qinyuan and Xiao Qi still walked in the middle, seemingly protected but actually monitored.
Si Cheng Zhengli led the way in front. He strode lightly, skipping three steps at a time, not caring about the people behind him. Xiao Qi looked soft and weak, but his stamina was extraordinary. He hopped and skipped along behind him as if playing. Poor Si Cheng Houzai, who was left far behind, and you could still hear his heavy breathing, like an old bellows wheezing. Two young men, one in front and one behind, spread their arms, worried that the old man would not be able to catch his breath and fall.
Xiao Qi ran to the roadside and picked a leaf, asking Lu Qinyuan, “What kind of leaf is this?”
Lu Qinyuan glanced at it and said, “I don’t know.”
Xiao Qi quickly ran a few steps forward to ask Si Cheng Zhengli. After asking, he jumped and skipped to Lu Qinyuan, saying seriously, “This is Dioscorea cirrhosa. The book says that eating it cures heartache.” After speaking, he seemed to see something interesting again, spreading his arms and making a pouncing motion. Lu Qinyuan saw that it was a pheasant with gorgeous feathers. Xiao Qi quickly pounced upwards, and the pheasant fluttered its wings and jumped far away. With a flap of its wings, it flew away, and after a moment, the distant sound of the pheasant’s cackling came.
Xiao Qi turned over and sat cross-legged, picking another unknown wildflower in his hand. The flower was small and numerous, shaped like an umbrella. Before Xiao Qi could ask, Lu Qinyuan took the lead and said, “I don’t know.”
“Stupid!” Xiao Qi put the flower to his nose and smelled it, saying, “This is Cnidium monnieri. It has another name that I’m sure you know: Wild Fennel, now you know, right?”
Lu Qinyuan nodded humbly and went forward to pull him up. Xiao Qi immediately ran to play elsewhere, full of energy as if he had endless strength.
Finally, halfway up the mountain, Si Cheng Zhengli called a halt. Looking down the mountain, there was no trace of Si Cheng Houzai.
Si Cheng Zhengli stared at the empty mountain road for a long time, then suddenly shouted, “Old man! Are you alive or not!”
His shout was like a wooden hammer striking a bell, echoing in the silent mountain forest. After a long time, a frustrated reply came from below, “Get lost!” The voice was loud, sounding like he was still alive and well.
Si Cheng Zhengli then said, “Hurry up, someone on the mountain wants to see you. It would be bad if the old man catches up.”
Who wants to see me? Lu Qinyuan subconsciously asked himself, was it Cheng Hui, Second Uncle Cheng, who should have died ten years ago?