20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 842 Withered Branches and Fallen Flowers
Xue Yingqing wore a plain black coat with the collar turned up, covering half of her face, and her hair was tied up with only a hairpin.

Apart from that, the person was completely unadorned, without wearing gold or silver, and without applying makeup.

Through a faint chill, one could vaguely see her swollen, red eyes.

She was still as beautiful as ever, but she seemed a little lost in thought, as if she had been blown in by the wind, swaying unsteadily, completely devoid of her usual radiance.

Jiang Ya was the first to run up to her, almost startled, and hurriedly asked, "Godmother, are you sick?"

Xue Yingqing reacted slowly, staring blankly for a long time before nodding. He nodded twice, then shook his head, finally asking, "What did you just say?"

Jiang Ya remained silent, her eyes filled with worry.

Soon, Sister Hua, Shu Ning, Cheng Fang, and Gu Yu also came out of the mansion to greet them, and went over to say a few words of comfort.

Xue Yingqing's gaze was somewhat unfocused, and he didn't know who he was talking to. He just murmured, "I came to see my senior sister..."

Jiang Ya nodded and helped her up, saying, "Let's go, I'll go with you."

Seeing this, Sister Hua and the others naturally followed suit.

However, it would be more accurate to say that everyone led her into the mourning hall rather than saying that everyone accompanied her there.

Xue Yingqing seemed very unwilling. The closer she got to the mourning hall, the heavier her steps became. In the end, everyone had to carry her to barely walk around the coffin once.

By this time, tears were already streaming down her face.

Worried that she couldn't handle it, everyone quickly suggested, "If you can't, then don't watch it, so you don't get too agitated."

Xue Yingqing leaned against Jiang Ya's chest, immediately shook his head, and said, "Let's take a look. If we don't, we won't have another chance."

Despite everyone's earnest attempts to dissuade her, they had no choice but to push open the coffin lid and help her slowly walk closer.

Xue Yingqing trembled all over. He only glanced into the coffin before rushing over, burying his face in his arms, and sobbing uncontrollably on the coffin lid.

"sister!"

A mournful cry rang out, bringing tears to the eyes of all who heard it.

Xue Yingqing was like a hollow porcelain doll, falling to the ground, his whole body shattered.

She cried until she was almost suffocating, like a newborn baby about to endure the hardships of life. Her voice was hoarse, and she muttered as if possessed, "Sister, can you bear to part with me? Say something! Can you bear to part with me?"

Jiang Ya and Sister Hua had already passed the most heartbreaking moment, but upon hearing this crying, they couldn't help but burst into tears again.

The three were overcome with grief and could not contain their emotions.

Seeing this, Zhuang Shuning quickly went over and said, "Stop crying, quickly help her away!"

Jiang Ya and Sister Hua nodded, helping Xue Yingqing catch her breath while pulling her away from the mourning hall.

However, Xue Yingqing clung tightly to the coffin, refusing to let go no matter what. Suddenly, she pulled out a handful of gold and silver jewelry from her pocket, threw it haphazardly into the coffin, and cried out uncontrollably, "Sister, don't suffer anymore!"

Cheng Fang, standing not far away, shook her head repeatedly upon seeing this, muttering under her breath, "Sincerity moves the spirit, offering food to people! What's the point? What a waste!"

Gu Yu frowned, but didn't say anything. She just silently took a step away from her.

……

On the other side, under the eaves of the mansion.

Jiang Lianheng watched quietly for a while, then suddenly came to his senses and realized that Lao Dao and Kang Zheng were still standing in front of him. He then turned to the side and said, "Let's talk inside!"

Old Dao stood still, showing no intention of going inside, but instead asked, "Master, I heard you have three ladles, and they're related to the old lady's death?"

Jiang Lianheng was taken aback, then nodded and said, "Yes, the old lady died at the hands of those three people."

Upon hearing this, Lao Dao and Kang Zheng exchanged a glance and asked in unison, "Master, would it be convenient for us to take a look?"

The Jiang family had sent people to invite Manager Xue several times before. Although they failed to invite him, they did bring a lot of information with them.

Old Dao wouldn't bring this up for no reason; he must have been entrusted by Xue Yingqing to thoroughly investigate Xu Ruqing's cause of death.

Jiang Lianheng had no reason to refuse, so he immediately called Hai Xinnian over and then called out to Lao Dao and Kang Zheng, "Piao is in the backyard, come with me!"

The group walked around the mansion and reached the base of the backyard wall, where they saw a large earthen vat filled with remnants of ice and snow, resembling a natural freezer.

Hai Xinnian walked over, swept away the ice and snow, took out a package, placed it on the ground, opened it, and neatly arranged the three frozen, purplish-red human heads.

Despite it being the dead of winter and the frigid temperatures, the heads had not completely decomposed. But an inanimate object is still an inanimate object, and after such a long time, the faces of the three people were already distorted beyond recognition, and could not be described as lifelike at all, only retaining their most distinctive facial features.

Jiang Lianheng pointed at the three heads with his toes and said, "I asked Huo Laogui's men, and they all said they didn't recognize them, especially these two. When I encountered them, they were robbing the old lady's mink coat. They should just be after money, not looking for revenge. But this guy is a bit strange; he called me by my father's name..."

Before he could finish speaking, Kang Zheng suddenly pulled out a portable camera from his pocket and squatted down to take pictures.

Jiang Lianheng was taken aback, blaming himself for not thinking of this method sooner to better preserve the criminal's face. He also thought the camera was really ingenious, only slightly larger than his palm, so he couldn't help but ask, "What is this?"

“It’s a Leica,” Kang Zheng said as he took the picture. “It’s a German product, the latest model this year.”

Jiang Lianheng couldn't help but sigh, "Foreign goods are really good. A few years ago they were huge bricks, but now they're so small. I wish I had thought of that sooner."

“It’s alright!” Kang Zheng said after taking the photos. “Boss, you just focus on dealing with Qin Huaimeng. Leave things like this to us.”

Jiang Lianheng breathed a sigh of relief for some reason, then asked, "Is this what you wanted to talk about?"

This time, Kang Zheng remained silent, but Lao Dao was very frank and said bluntly, "Master, to be honest, we plan to withdraw from the partnership."

"Withdraw from the group?"

Jiang Lianheng's face darkened; what was bound to happen had finally arrived.

But to propose leaving the partnership at this time, wanting to break up the business, is tantamount to betrayal. Even if Xue Yingqing invested in the Jiang family, even if Xue Yingqing is his aunt by seniority, even if the two of them once joined forces to assassinate Master Rong, it cannot cover up the fact that he deserted in the face of battle.

A thousand days of friendship can last a thousand days, but a single day can wipe out all kindness and turn righteousness to ashes.

For a fleeting moment, Jiang Lianheng truly considered killing him, because he hated traitors even more than powerful enemies, and he couldn't tolerate even the thought of them leaving the group.

If necessary, he could even personally kill Xue Yingqing in front of Lao Dao and Kang Zheng, and he would not hesitate to do so in the most cruel way.

This was his nature, though he hid it well, it had never changed. Fortunately, Kang Zheng added in time, "Boss, don't misunderstand, what we mean by leaving the partnership is definitely not now."

Old Dao also said, "We understand the rules. With a formidable enemy at hand and blood feuds yet to be avenged, it's not something the manager or I would do to back down in the face of battle. In short, we will do our utmost to help the Jiang family overcome this crisis. However, once the Jiang family has settled down smoothly, it will be about time for us to leave."

Kang Zheng continued, "Of course, the funds that our manager previously invested in the Jiang family, whether principal or dividends, will no longer be wanted. Also, the property deeds for Songfeng Zhuyun, including the Chinese and foreign ladies we bought and the brothers who look after the place, will all be left to the Jiang family. We will leave in the same way we came here."

After they finished speaking, the two waited quietly for Jiang Lianheng's reply.

Seeing this, Hai Xinnian wisely made an excuse to leave.

Jiang Lianheng pondered for a long time, then suddenly asked, "If you can successfully overcome this difficulty, why do you still want to leave?"

Kang Zheng paused for a moment, then explained with some difficulty, "Boss, as you know, our manager decided to come to Fengtian with you back then, saying it was to avoid trouble, but the most important reason was actually because the old lady was here. Now that the old lady is gone, our manager has no intention of staying in Fengtian any longer."

At this point, another series of cries could be heard coming from the front yard of the mansion.

Jiang Lianheng really wanted to say that they were actually half relatives, since Xue Yingqing was Jiang Ya's godmother, but no matter what he said, he couldn't bring himself to say it.

He's the one in charge. If he tries to beg people to stay by acting like this, it's pointless, and the family will fall apart sooner or later.

After all, no matter what you say, you can't stop someone who truly wants to leave.

If the martial arts world inside the Great Wall is based on gangs and masters-disciples, with the gang leader addressed as "Master Dad" or "Old Man," then the martial arts world outside the Great Wall is based on family and relatives. Perhaps due to the wave of migration to Northeast China, most of those who roam between the white mountains and black waters have less than three generations of ancestors, their roots are too shallow to be considered clans, so the gang leader is addressed as "Head of the House."

Since he's the head of the household, he's bound to have some strong convictions and doesn't want the family to fall apart.

Seeing that Jiang Lianheng had not responded for a long time, Kang Zheng couldn't help but say again: "Master, during this period, whatever you ask, we will do our best to carry it out. We will never shirk our work just because we plan to withdraw from the partnership. You can rest assured about that."

“I have no instructions,” Jiang Lianheng said. “You’re already doing well just by holding onto Bagua Street.”

Upon hearing this, Lao Dao quickly asked, "What? Is someone trying to take advantage of 'Pine Breeze and Bamboo Melody'?"

"Not yet, but you're blocking their path to wealth."

"How do you say this?"

Jiang Lianheng sighed and said, "Qin Huaimeng, relying on the support of the Japanese, used the coercion and enticement of the maintenance committee to force seventeen shops on Bagua Street and Xue Street to jointly transfer their businesses to the Japanese. I have seen the list that Nanfeng brought back. Songfeng Zhuyun's place is sandwiched in the middle, with its neighbors all in it. If this trend continues, Songfeng Zhuyun will be swallowed up sooner or later. So you just need to keep an eye on your own place."

Kang Zheng was a little worried. Just keeping an eye on the Bagua Street business was practically equivalent to not contributing anything to the Jiang family. So he asked timidly, "Boss, what do you think about our plan to withdraw from the partnership?"

Although Lao Dao didn't speak, his eyes were fixed on Jiang Lianheng, waiting for his reply.

Both men understood the rules of the underworld and knew that to leave the group, they needed the leader's approval; otherwise, it would be considered treason. The best outcome would be being stabbed three times and six times, while the worst outcome would be becoming enemies. Neither of them wanted to end up in such an awkward situation.

Jiang Lianheng pondered for a long time but still did not give a definite answer. He only said, "I'll think about it some more. Let's talk about it after we've dealt with Qin Huaimeng!"

Seeing this, Kang Zheng and Lao Dao dared not press the matter any further. After all, the incident happened suddenly, and anyone would need to calm down and prepare themselves mentally.

Before long, the three of them left the backyard one after another.

Hai Xinnian was waiting on the east side of the mansion. When he saw his godfather come out, he knew that the three heads in the backyard were useless, so he hurriedly ran over to clean up the mess.

By this time, it was already getting dark, and the crying in the courtyard gradually turned into sobbing.

Incense, candles, and lamps were lit in the mourning hall, their flickering light creating a dreamlike atmosphere.

Xue Yingqing had already changed into mourning clothes and was kneeling in front of the coffin to burn paper money for his senior sister, accompanied by Jiang Ya. Tears welled up in his eyes, making him look even more touching.

To look good, wear a touch of filial piety—the old saying is indeed true.

Jiang Lianheng slowly walked towards her.

Hearing the noise, Xue Yingqing turned his head slightly and then got up to greet him.

She didn't mention leaving the group, nor did she ask about her senior sister's cause of death, nor did she complain about Jiang Lianheng's poor care. She simply raised her swollen eyes and asked softly, "Where is my senior sister buried?"

Jiang Lianheng nodded and replied in a low voice, "At the foot of Longshan Mountain, buried with my father."

Xue Yingqing remained silent for a long time, seemingly somewhat unwilling, but finally nodded and said softly, "It can be considered that her wish has been fulfilled."

After saying that, he turned back and continued to kneel in front of the coffin to burn paper money for his senior sister.

Jiang Lianheng didn't linger either. He followed and stood behind Xue Yingqing. He winked at Sister Hua and the others, signaling them to go back to their rooms and prepare dinner.

The crowd left in silence, stirring up a gust of wind that caused the incense and candles in front of the hall to flicker and sway uncertainly.

Under the flickering light and shadow, Xue Yingqing reminisced about the past and wept silently.

Jiang Lianheng did not want to disturb her, so he stood behind her for a while and then instructed his daughter Jiang Ya to take good care of Manager Xue.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, he suddenly noticed something unusual behind Xue Yingqing's ear. Upon closer inspection, he discovered a strand of white hair.

Jiang Lianheng was genuinely taken aback.

For a long time, Xue Yingqing has been synonymous with the beauty of imagination. It's not just him who thinks so, but everyone who has met Xue Yingqing thinks so.

This woman is cunning and fickle; she can be elegant and noble, or frivolous and flirtatious. She can be pitiful and helpless, or shrewish and unreasonable. It's all an act, just a performance.

She treats men like livestock, and with just a flick of her eyebrow, she can be the executioner's blade, making them agonize and desperate. Even knowing it's a pit of fire ahead, they still grit their teeth and jump in, enjoying the thrill before they die.

Even though she is nearly forty, she still retains her charm, far surpassing that of ordinary women.

Over time, Jiang Lianheng even developed an almost absurd illusion that Xue Yingqing would remain forever young and never decay.

But he was wrong; we are all just ordinary people.

Roots decay and branches wither; withered branches and faded flowers—the day Xu Ruqing passed away was the day Xue Yingqing withered away as well.

From now on, she will have no one to compare herself to. Those cosmetics, fine clothes, and silks will no longer interest her.

After her senior sister left, she felt utterly hopeless, and all her inner energy and spirit dissipated.

Jiang Lianheng finally became certain that Xue Yingqing had suddenly aged that night.

(End of this chapter)