Chapter 409 Recalling the Past
Wang Jianguo slowly walked to Zhao Shuzhuo's side. He looked around cautiously and confirmed that there was no one around. Then he bent down slightly and said in a low voice:
"Brother Zhao, you are experienced and have sharp eyes. If you can see it, how could I not notice it?"
"But you know my current situation well. I have left my hometown and am wandering around, like a rootless duckweed, with no place to stay."
"I don't know how long I will stay here. The future is uncertain. Under such circumstances, I really don't have the energy or the ability to think about my lifelong affairs."
"I feel guilty about Yu Shui, but I can't make irresponsible promises to her easily, which will only hurt her."
"I thought, when I have made some achievements one day and can return to the Forbidden City in glory, I will give her a clear answer then. This will be fair to her."
Zhao Shuzhuo listened to Wang Jianguo's words and nodded thoughtfully. His expression became more solemn. He said to Wang Jianguo earnestly:
"Yushui is a thoughtful child. She should understand your current situation, which is why she has been silently by your side, taking care of you without asking for anything in return."
"You must not let her down. Yu Shui is really a rare good girl."
Wang Jianguo nodded heavily, with a hint of gratitude and warmth in his eyes, and said:
"Yes, Brother Zhao. If there hadn't been rain, I would have died long ago."
"When I was at my lowest and most helpless, she was by my side, giving me warmth and strength."
"I, Wang Jianguo, am not an ungrateful person. I will give her an explanation."
As Wang Jianguo finished speaking, it was as if a pair of invisible hands gently pulled at the thread of memory.
His thoughts slowly returned to that thrilling and dangerous day - the day when he was assassinated in the courtyard.
At that time, the sky was as gloomy as a heavy lead plate, pressing heavily over the courtyard, as if foreshadowing the impending disaster.
He never imagined that in that seemingly ordinary corner, there was actually someone lurking with malicious intent lurking towards him.
Just when he thought he was going to die here and his soul was about to dissipate, He Yushui appeared beside him like a ray of hope, breaking through the darkness.
It was she who called out his name anxiously and used all her strength to pull him back from the brink of death.
If He Yushui had not rescued him in time, he would have turned into a lonely soul, wandering in the cold world, and bid farewell to this world forever.
Zhao Shuzhuo's smiling face was instantly replaced by shock. His eyes widened, his mouth slightly opened, and he asked in disbelief:
"What...what is gone? Jianguo, what do you mean by that?"
Wang Jianguo's thoughts were suddenly pulled back by Zhao Shuzhuo's exclamation. He seemed to wake up from a nightmare, with a trace of panic and melancholy in his eyes.
He took a deep breath, sighed slowly, tried to calm his expression, and said to Zhao Shuzhuo:
"Nothing, Brother Zhao, these are just some trivial things from the past, so let's not talk about them."
"It's getting late. I'm going to go back and rest. You should also go to bed early."
Zhao Shuzhuo looked at Wang Jianguo's departing back, which looked a little lonely under the dim light, and seemed to hide endless secrets.
This made Zhao Shuzhuo's curiosity grow like weeds, and he couldn't help but feel the desire to explore this mysterious person again.
In that familiar yet slightly cold room, Wang Jianguo walked slowly in with heavy steps.
He closed the door gently, as if to shut out all the disturbances from the outside world. He leaned against the door, slowly slid down to sit on the ground, and looked ahead with empty eyes.
Every little detail of the past year, like a surging tide, broke through the defense line in his heart and rushed wildly in his mind.
The various travelers we met along the way included an uncle who enthusiastically shared his dry food with us, and strangers who walked with us silently and understood each other tacitly.
Later, it was about the various experiences in this strange place and the friends who had fought side by side with him.
Their smiles, anger, sweat and tears, every moment seems to be engraved deep in the memory, so clear that it makes people feel breathless.
His thoughts gradually came back to him, and he suddenly realized that in two or three months, the New Year's bell would ring.
In that distant city of Beijing, there is my grandma’s kind face and my uncle’s always hearty laughter.
The figures of Du Xiaoye's brothers slowly unfolded before his eyes like vivid pictures.
Is grandma still healthy? Is her winter coat warm enough? Is uncle still busy with trivial matters in the streets and alleys as usual?
And brothers, have they ever gotten into trouble because of their departure? Is there anyone who stood up for them when they were bullied?
Thinking of this, Wang Jianguo felt a pang of pain in his heart, and sadness spread rapidly in his heart like a vine.
He struggled to stand up, staggered to the shabby desk, reached out to pick up the paper and pen on the table, his fingers trembling slightly.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, but every word he wrote was filled with his deep longing and endless worry for his relatives and friends far away.
"Grandma, uncle, are you all right? I miss you all the time in this strange place. I am afraid that my affairs will bring you even the slightest harm. Can your life still be as peaceful and tranquil as usual? Have you stocked up enough coal briquettes for the winter?"
His pen strokes kept moving across the paper, and the handwriting was a little messy because of his inner excitement.
"Xiao Ye, and my brothers, I often think of the days we spent together. Those carefree times have now become my most precious memories. After I left, have you been bullied? Has the burden of life become heavier? I am really worried that you will be implicated because of me, and that your future will be full of ups and downs."
As his emotions continued to flow, the pen in his hand moved faster and faster, and soon a piece of paper was filled with dense handwriting.
He had no intention of pausing and picked up another piece of paper to continue writing. It seemed as if he would never finish expressing his deep longing and worry, until several sheets of paper were filled with his deep affection.
Wang Jianguo's letter, which was filled with deep affection and concern, was finally completed. He slowly put down the pen in his hand and let out a long sigh.
Then, he carefully arranged the letters one by one, and his eyes lingered on the papers covered with words for a moment, as if he was saying a silent goodbye to every word in the letter.