Great Power Reclamation

Ye Yuze stood in his own yard, having finished a set of Bajiquan, feeling completely refreshed.

After finishing his exercise, he glanced into the distance as usual. Yang Geyong's horse ranch lay quietly in the snow, with several Akhal-Teke horses grazing leisurely.

Business as usual.

Until he saw an unfamiliar taxi parked at the entrance of the horse farm.

Ye Yuze narrowed his eyes. Junken City wasn't big; he recognized everyone's car. This taxi with the provincial capital's license plate stood out.

As he was thinking, his phone rang.

It was Yang Geyong, his voice was very low, but he couldn't hide his panic:

"Old Ye, come here quickly!"

Ye Yuze's heart tightened: "What's wrong?"

"Stop asking, come quick!"

Ye Yuze hung up the phone, didn't even eat breakfast, grabbed his coat, and headed out. Yu'e called after him:
"Where are you going? Dinner's ready!"

"Something's come up with Old Yang!"

Ten minutes later, Ye Yuze pushed open the door to Yang Geyong's house and was stunned by the atmosphere inside.

Three people were sitting in the living room. One was a woman in her forties, dressed simply, but with a stubborn look in her eyes.

Beside them were two young people—a girl in her early twenties, who was very pretty;

A teenage boy with curly hair looked exactly like Yang Geyong when he was young.

Yang Geyong stood to the side, at a loss, his face looking as if he had been punched in the chest.

Zhao Ling'er sat on the sofa, her face as black as the bottom of a pot. Seeing Ye Yuze enter, she snorted:
"Old Ye, you be the judge."

Ye Yuze looked at the young couple, then at Yang Geyong, and roughly understood seven or eight parts of the situation.

"Ling'er," he tried to keep his voice calm, "what happened?"

Zhao Ling'er pointed at the boy: "Ask him!"

Yang Geyong opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.

The woman stood up, looked at Ye Yuze, and said calmly:

"You must be Ye Yuze? I've heard of you. My name is Wang Xiuying, and I'm from Yili. This child..."

She pulled the boy over. "His name is Yang Jun, he's fifteen years old. He's Yang Geyong's son."

The living room was so quiet that you could hear the snow falling outside the window.

Ye Yuze looked at Yang Geyong. Yang Geyong's face was ashen, his lips trembled, and he wanted to say something, but he couldn't say anything.

"Old Yang," Ye Yuze asked, "Is this true?"

Yang Geyong remained silent for a long time before nodding with difficulty.

Zhao Ling'er suddenly stood up and pointed at Yang Geyong's nose:

"Yang Geyong! You fucking bastard! I'm at home bearing your children, and you're out there leaving your seed everywhere? How many is this now? Huh? How many is this now?"

Yang Geyong lowered his head and remained silent.

The boy named Yang Jun stared intently at Yang Geyong, his eyes devoid of resentment or expectation, simply looking straight ahead as if trying to see through the man.

The girl tugged at Wang Xiuying's sleeve and whispered, "Mom, let's go..."

Wang Xiuying shook her head and looked at Yang Geyong:
“I’m not here to cause trouble. All these years, I haven’t contacted you or wanted anything from you. But now I’m sick and incurable. This child needs to be taken care of.”

She paused for a moment, then said, "He's your son. Whether you acknowledge him or not is up to you."

Ye Yuze looked at the woman named Wang Xiuying. She spoke calmly, but there was something indescribable in her eyes—not pleading, not threatening, but the calm that comes after despair.

"Are you sick?" Ye Yuze asked.

Wang Xiuying nodded: "Stomach cancer. Late stage. The doctor said I have six months left."

Another silence fell over the living room.

Zhao Ling'er's anger slowly transformed into a complex expression. She looked at Wang Xiuying, then at the boy, and finally at Yang Geyong, gritting her teeth as she said:

"Yang Geyong, you'll have to deal with the mess you've made! I'm not going to interfere anymore!"

After saying that, she turned and went into the inner room, slamming the door shut.

Yang Geyong stood there, like a child who had done something wrong. He looked at the boy, wanting to say something, but not knowing what to say.

Ye Yuze sighed and walked up to Wang Xiuying.

"Let's sit down and talk. Standing is tiring."

Wang Xiuying paused for a moment, then slowly sat down.

Ye Yuze sat down and looked at her: "You came from Yili?"

"Yes. I took a train all night."

"Has the child been living in Yili?"

"Yes," Wang Xiuying said, "I took care of her all by myself."

Ye Yuze looked at the boy. Yang Jun had his head down, so his expression was unreadable. But his fists were clenched tightly, and the veins were bulging.

"Yang Jun," Ye Yuze asked softly, "how old are you?"

The boy looked up at him. Those eyes were exactly the same as Yang Geyong's when he was young—stubborn and unwilling to admit defeat.

"fifteen."

"Going to school?"

"First year. Third year of junior high."

Ye Yuze nodded and turned to Yang Geyong: "Old Yang, say something."

Yang Geyong opened his mouth, and finally spoke:

"I...I don't know. I really don't know..."

Wang Xiuying looked at him, a hint of mockery in her eyes:
"You didn't know? I wrote you a letter, did you reply?"

Yang Geyong was stunned.

“Eight years ago, I wrote you a letter telling you I had a child,” Wang Xiuying said. “You didn’t reply. I thought you didn’t acknowledge it, so I let it go.”

Yang Geyong's face turned even paler. He looked at Ye Yuze, who also frowned.

Eight years ago... Yang Geyong was in Africa then, and he might not have received the letter at all. Or he might have received it, but someone stopped him.

But what's the point of saying all this now?

The boy named Yang Jun suddenly stood up and looked at Yang Geyong:
“You don’t need to make things difficult for me. I came because my mother is sick. She said I have a father in the military reclamation city, and she asked me to come and see him. After I’m done, I’ll leave.”

His voice was calm, but there was a chill in it.

"I won't be coming anymore. You don't need to acknowledge me."

After saying that, he took Wang Xiuying's hand and said, "Mom, let's go."

Wang Xiuying stood up, looked at Yang Geyong, and said one last thing:
“I’ve raised this child without you spending a single penny. Even if I die, I don’t expect you to support him. I just want him to know that he has a father.”

After saying that, she took her two children and walked out.

Yang Geyong stood there, motionless.

Ye Yuze gave him a push:
"What are you standing there for? Chase after them!"

Yang Geyong then realized what was happening and chased after them.

Outside, the snow was still falling. Wang Xiuying and her child had reached the entrance of the horse farm and were waiting for a taxi.

Yang Geyong chased after them and stopped them.

"Don't go..."

Wang Xiuying looked at him without saying a word.

Yang Geyong looked at the boy, and his eyes suddenly reddened.

"Child... your name is Yang Jun?"

The boy nodded without saying anything.

Yang Geyong reached out, wanting to pat his head, but his hand hovered in mid-air before he withdrew it.

"I...I didn't know you existed. I really didn't know."

His voice was hoarse, "Those years I was in Africa, the letters might have been lost... or maybe..."

He couldn't continue.

The boy looked at him, something in his eyes seemed to soften, but it quickly hardened again.

"Now you know. And then what?"

Yang Geyong was stunned.

and then?
He didn't know what happened next.

Zhao Ling'er is still angry inside, and there's a huge mess at home. What should he do?
Ye Yuze walked over, patted him on the shoulder, and then said to Wang Xiuying:

"Don't leave yet. Stay here and we can talk slowly. I know Old Yang. It's not that he doesn't acknowledge it, he just genuinely doesn't know."

Wang Xiuying looked at him, remained silent for a while, and then nodded.

Where are you staying?

Ye Yuze thought for a moment and said, "Stay at my place for now. I have a spare room."

Yang Geyong gave him a grateful look.

Ye Yuze ignored him and led Wang Xiuying and her two children toward his home.

After walking a few steps, he turned back to Yang Geyong and said, "Go back and comfort Ling'er first. Come back when she's calmed down."

Yang Geyong nodded and stood there watching their figures disappear into the snow.

That afternoon, the atmosphere at Yang Geyong's house was like an icebox.

Zhao Ling'er locked herself in her room and wouldn't open the door for anyone. Yang Wei called, but she didn't answer. Finally, Ye Yuze stepped in and knocked on the door.

"Ling'er, come out and talk to me."

Zhao Ling'er sat on the bed with red eyes, saying nothing.

Ye Yuze sat down opposite her, remained silent for a while, and then said, "I know you're angry. Anyone would be angry."

Zhao Ling'er sneered: "Angry? Yuze, I've followed him my whole life, what hardships haven't I endured? He was in the midst of gunfire in Africa, while I was here living in fear. He was attacked, and I took care of him as he recovered. He had no money, and I ate porridge with him. And what did I get in return? All this trouble from the outside world?"

Ye Yuze nodded: "Yes, he's wrong. But Ling'er, that woman is dying."

Zhao Ling'er was stunned.

“Stomach cancer, late stage. The doctor said she has six months left,” Ye Yuze said. “She came to see Lao Yang not for herself, but for her child. That child is fifteen years old and has no father. What will happen to the child if she dies?”

Zhao Ling'er fell silent.

“I’m not speaking up for Lao Yang,” Ye Yuze continued. “He has to pay for the sins he committed. But Ling’er, you’re a reasonable person. That child is innocent.”

Zhao Ling'er lowered her head and remained silent for a long time.

Then she looked up at Ye Yuze: "Yuze, what do you think I should do?"

Ye Yuze thought for a moment and said, "First, let that woman stay here and get treatment. I know a few good doctors who can help me contact them."

"Secondly, regarding that child, whether or not to acknowledge him, and how to do so, you and Lao Yang should discuss it together."

"Third, if you really can't get over this, just let him go, and I'll take care of you."

Zhao Ling'er was stunned for a moment, then laughed, and as she laughed, tears fell down her face.

"Yuze, you're just being biased towards me."

Ye Yuze said seriously, "It's biased towards you. I've seen it with my own eyes all these years with Lao Yang. He owes you something he can never repay in this lifetime."

Zhao Ling'er wiped away her tears and stood up.

"Okay, I'll do as you say."

That evening, at Ye Yuze's house.

Yu'e prepared a table full of dishes to entertain Wang Xiuying and her two children. Wang Xiuying was very reserved at first, but Yu'e was good at talking, and they gradually opened up to each other.

The boy named Yang Jun kept his head down and ate without saying a word. But Ye Yuze noticed that he ate three bowls of rice.

"Child, are you hungry?" Ye Yuze asked.

Yang Jun nodded.

"You must be tired after sitting on the train all night. Eat and get some rest."

Yang Jun looked up at him, then looked down again and softly said, "Thank you."

The girl's name was Yang Mei, she was twenty years old, and she worked at a supermarket in Yili. She was more talkative than her younger brother, but she rarely spoke.

After finishing their meal, Ye Yuze called Wang Xiuying aside.

"Xiuying, I'd like to take your pulse."

Wang Xiuying was taken aback: "Are you a doctor?"

"I guess so. I studied traditional Chinese medicine for a few years."

Wang Xiuying reached out her hand.

Ye Yuze took the pulse and remained silent for a long time.

Then he said, "Tomorrow I'll take you to see my teacher, Liu Xiangdong. He's an expert in this field."

Wang Xiuying shook her head: "No need, I've already seen it, they said it's late stage..."

"Even if you've already looked at it, you still need to look at it again." Ye Yuze interrupted her, "Professor Liu won the Nobel Prize, what he says is more reliable than those hospital doctors."

Wang Xiuying looked at him, and her eyes suddenly reddened.

"Brother Ye...why are you so kind to me?"

Ye Yuze was silent for a while, then said, "Because Lao Yang owes you. We can't pay back all the money he owes, but we can pay back what we can." That night, Yang Geyong came.

He stood at Ye Yuze's door, hesitated for a long time, and then knocked.

It was Yu'e who opened the door. Yu'e looked at him and sighed, "Come in."

Yang Geyong walked in and saw Wang Xiuying and her two children sitting in the living room. He paused for a moment.

When Yang Jun saw him, he immediately turned his face away.

Yang Geyong walked up to Wang Xiuying, stood there for a long time, and then suddenly bent down and bowed to her.

"sorry."

Wang Xiuying was stunned.

Yang Geyong straightened up, his eyes red-rimmed: "I didn't know you existed, I didn't know you had a child. I was in Africa all those years, and letters couldn't reach me. But that's no excuse. I'm the one who's wronged you."

Wang Xiuying looked at him, remained silent for a long time, and then said, "Sit down and let's talk."

Yang Geyong sat down.

The living room was quiet for a while before Wang Xiuying spoke.

"When I met you in Yili, I was only nineteen years old."

She said, "You said your name was Yang Geyong and that you were doing business over there. I believed you. Later, after you left, I found out I was pregnant. I wrote to you, but you didn't reply. I waited for half a year, but you still didn't come."

She paused, her voice a little hoarse: "Later, my family told me to abort the children. I didn't. I gave birth to them all by myself and raised them all by myself."

When Yangmei was eight years old, I got married. My husband treated me badly, and even worse to my two children. We divorced after three years. I haven't remarried since.

Yang Geyong listened, his fists clenched tightly.

“I never blame you,” Wang Xiuying said. “It was my own choice. But I’ve always felt bad about the children not having a father. Now that I’m going to die, I want them to know that they have a father. It’s not that I expect you to support them, I just want them to know.”

Yang Mei stood to the side with her head down, her shoulders trembling slightly. Yang Jun remained motionless, but his eyes were red.

Yang Geyong looked at the two children, feeling as if something was stuck in his throat.

“Xiuying,” he began with difficulty, “I…I don’t know what to say. But I promise that from now on, if I have a bite to eat, they will have a bite to eat too.”

Wang Xiuying looked at him, her eyes also reddening.

"That's good."

The next day, Ye Yuze took Wang Xiuying to the sanatorium and found three old men.

Liu Xiangdong, Old John, and Ye Wancheng were all over eighty years old, but they were in good spirits. They gave Wang Xiuying a thorough examination, and after watching the films, they remained silent for a long time.

“It’s late stage, but it’s not completely hopeless,” they said. “I have a plan: chemotherapy combined with traditional Chinese medicine. We can try it. But it depends on the patient’s own wishes and physical condition.”

Wang Xiuying was stunned: "Can it be cured?"

Liu Xiangdong shook his head: "It's not a cure, it's a prolongation. Three to five years, maybe. But you'll have to suffer."

Wang Xiuying looked at Ye Yuze, and Ye Yuze nodded.

“Give it a try,” she said.

After returning from the sanatorium, Wang Xiuying moved into Ye Yuze's guest room. Yu'e brewed medicine for her every day and prepared delicious meals in various ways.

Yang Mei and Yang Jun are temporarily studying at Junkencheng Middle School. Yang Jun is enrolled in the third year of junior high school, while Yang Mei is enrolled in the third year of senior high school to review for the exam.

Yang Geyong came to see them every day, but he didn't know what to say, so he just sat there and kept them company.

After several days of cold war, Zhao Ling'er finally relented.

That night, she called Yang Geyong into the house.

"I figured it out."

Yang Geyong looked at her nervously.

"That woman needs to get better. As for the two children, we should acknowledge them."

Zhao Ling'er said, "But there's one condition: if you dare to mess around outside again, I'll castrate you."

Yang Geyong was stunned, and then his eyes welled up with tears.

"Ling'er..."

"Don't call me." Zhao Ling'er glared at him. "I'm only doing this for Yuze's sake, and also for the sake of those two pitiful children. If you ever wrong me again, don't even think about setting foot in this house for the rest of your life."

Yang Geyong hugged her tightly.

Zhao Ling'er struggled for a moment but couldn't break free, and finally sighed.

"Alright, alright, let go. What would it look like if someone saw this?"

Yang Geyong let go of her and smiled foolishly.

Zhao Ling'er was both angry and amused by his appearance.

"Your son is just like you. He got into a fight at school today."

Yang Geyong was taken aback: "Fight?"

“Yeah. Someone said he was a bastard, and he punched them,” Zhao Ling’er said. “The homeroom teacher called and asked me to come and pick him up.”

Yang Geyong's expression changed, and he turned and walked out.

"Hey, where are you going?"

"Let's go to school!"

Junkencheng Middle School, Grade 9 Office.

Yang Jun stood in the corner, his face bruised and blood trickling from his mouth. Next to him stood a chubby boy, in a much worse state, his face covered in nosebleed.

The homeroom teacher, a middle-aged woman, was giving a lecture.

"Yang Jun, what's wrong with you? You've been at school for three days and gotten into two fights!"

Yang Jun lowered his head and remained silent.

The fat boy's parents were also there; one woman, adorned with gold and silver, pointed at Yang Jun and berated him:
"Where did this wild child come from? He hit people so hard! He must be expelled!"

The door was suddenly pushed open.

Yang Geyong walked in, his tall figure blocking the doorway. He glanced at the people inside, then walked up to Yang Jun.

"what happened?"

Yang Jun looked up at him but didn't say anything.

The chubby boy's parent yelled, "You're his parent? You've come at the right time! Your son beat my son up like this, what are you going to do about it!"

Yang Geyong ignored her and continued to ask Yang Jun, "Why did you fight?"

Yang Jun was silent for a while, then said, "He said my mother was dying and that I was a bastard."

Yang Geyong's face darkened.

He turned around and looked at the fat boy.

The chubby boy was so frightened that he hid behind his mother.

Yang Geyong walked up to the woman and looked down at her.

"Do you know what your son said?"

The woman felt uneasy under his gaze, but she remained defiant: "What's wrong with saying a few words when kids are fighting? Your son hit so hard, and you still think you're right?"

Yang Geyong didn't say anything, but took out his phone and made a call.

"Hello, Principal Li? This is Yang Geyong. Yes, I need to trouble you with something. There's a student at your school who's using really offensive language. Yes, he's in the office. Could you come over here for a moment?"

After hanging up the phone, he looked at the woman and said, "We'll talk things over when the principal arrives."

The woman's expression changed.

Ten minutes later, Principal Li arrived.

He knew Yang Geyong, and he knew Ye Yuze even more. He entered with a beaming smile: "Mr. Yang, what brings you here?"

Yang Geyong recounted the events.

Principal Li's expression changed, and he turned to the chubby boy's parent: "Mrs. Zhang, your child is swearing at school, isn't that wrong?"

The woman wanted to argue, but Principal Li waved his hand:

"Alright, let both children go home first. Tomorrow, let the homeroom teacher investigate and handle the matter accordingly."

Yang Geyong nodded and led Yang Jun outside.

As he reached the door, he turned back and looked at the chubby boy.

"Kid, remember this: before you start cursing someone, think about whether you have the ability to do it."

After saying that, he pushed open the door and left.

After leaving the school gate, Yang Jun followed behind him. After walking for a while, he suddenly asked, "Why did you come?"

Yang Geyong stopped and looked back at him.

Why do you think so?

Yang Jun lowered his head and remained silent.

Yang Geyong walked back and stood in front of him.

“Yang Jun, I know you hate me,” he said. “You’re right to hate me. I never raised you for a single day, never cared for you for a single day. Your mother raised you all by herself, and I can’t even imagine how much she suffered.”

Yang Jun looked up, his eyes red-rimmed.

“But remember this,” Yang Geyong said, “from today onwards, you have a father. Whether you want it or not, you have one.”

Yang Jun looked at him, his lips moved, but he didn't say anything.

Yang Geyong reached out and, without hesitation this time, ruffled his curly hair.

"Let's go home. Your mother must be worried."

Yang Jun paused for a moment, then followed.

The two walked in the snow, one tall and one short, one old and one young, their shadows stretched long by the setting sun.

That night, Ye Yuze's house became lively again.

Zhao Ling'er also arrived, bringing a pot of stewed mutton. Yu'e cooked several dishes, and Wang Xiuying helped out. Yang Mei and Yang Jun sat to one side, looking somewhat reserved.

Yang Wei called from northern Xinjiang. Upon hearing this, he paused for a long time on the phone before saying:
"Dad, you're amazing! You've given me another younger brother or sister."

Yang Geyong almost dropped his phone.

Ye Yuze laughed beside him.

After finishing their meal, Yang Geyong called Yang Jun to the courtyard.

Do you know boxing?

Yang Jun shook his head.

Yang Geyong stood still, assumed a stance, and unleashed a set of Tan Tui (a type of Chinese kicking technique). His legs whistled through the air, and he swept up a cloud of white mist from the snow.

After finishing, he looked at Yang Jun.

"Want to learn?"

Yang Jun's eyes lit up, but he didn't say anything.

Yang Geyong walked over and patted him on the shoulder.

"Come here at six o'clock tomorrow morning. I'll teach you."

Yang Jun nodded.

That night, Ye Yuze and Yang Geyong sat in the courtyard and drank a pot of wine.

“Old Yang,” Ye Yuze said, “you’ve accumulated a lot of debt in your life.”

Yang Geyong nodded.

"But today, you paid back a little."

Yang Geyong looked at him.

Ye Yuze smiled: "That child's gaze towards you has changed."

Yang Geyong didn't speak, but his eyes were a little hot.

In the distance, Akhal-Teke horses strolled leisurely across the snow in the stable. Moonlight shone on them, making their reddish-brown coats gleam softly.

Yang Geyong suddenly said, "Old Ye, do you think my life has been worth it?"

Ye Yuze paused for a moment, then smiled.

"You're asking me? I just asked you yesterday."

Yang Geyong smiled too.

The two clinked glasses and drank it all in one gulp.

"Will you come to play chess again tomorrow?" Yang Geyong asked.

Ye Yuze nodded: "Come on. But we have to go to the clinic this afternoon, so let's do it this morning."

"Row."

The two stood up and walked home separately.

The snow was still falling, but not heavily; it was fine and dense, and it melted quickly when it landed on my shoulders.

Ye Yuze walked to the door and glanced back.

Yang Geyong was still standing there, looking at the horse farm in the distance.

His hair was completely white in the moonlight.

But his back remained straight.

Ye Yuze smiled and pushed open the door to enter the room.

Tomorrow will be another day. (End of Chapter)