Black Gold 1983

Tian Sui'er simply nodded, but didn't say a word of thanks, because she always believed that this was an equal exchange.

His public apology on the radio, which resulted in the mine department making proper arrangements for the No. 3 coal mining team, was nothing more than a mutually beneficial arrangement where both sides got what they wanted.

Secondly, Xu Dongsheng's father, relying on the power of the head of the labor and personnel department, used the power to allocate and transfer personnel of the three teams as a bargaining chip. In Tian Sui'er's view, this was an abuse of power for personal gain and a means of forcing people to bow down, which was not honorable and could not be brought to the table.

So how could she possibly be truly grateful and thank him?

Looking at Tian Sui'er's appearance, Xu Dongsheng suddenly felt a little dazed.

Tian Sui'er is a typical beauty with good bone structure. She doesn't have the kind of pretty but vulgar skin. Instead, she has a well-proportioned and symmetrical bone structure.

The bridge of the nose is straight but not sharp, and the tip of the nose is round and moderate, with a soft color even without makeup.

This kind of beauty doesn't rely on elaborate makeup; it's the natural, unpretentious beauty nurtured by the land and water. It's unpretentious, calm, and serene, pleasing to the eye and worth appreciating. The more time passes, the more the refined and dignified essence shines through.

The only flaw is the teardrop-shaped beauty mark under the corner of his left eye.

As the old saying goes, women with this kind of mole are mostly destined for a tragic end, like "a life adrift and half a lifetime of sorrow."

Xu Dongsheng, however, had a particular fondness for her teardrop-shaped beauty mark.

He couldn't remember how many years he had known Tian Sui'er, but he remembered that when she was little, she would run around in the yard with two little braids, like a tireless butterfly.

Later, the butterfly grew up and stopped running, but for some reason, the distance between the two grew further and further apart.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."

Tian Sui'er's cool voice abruptly pulled Xu Dongsheng back from his memories.

Seeing her turn to leave, Xu Dongsheng panicked instantly and instinctively blocked her way, his voice urgent yet pleading, "Sui'er, wait!"

He stared at her intently, then said firmly, "I think... we need to have a serious talk. As Renye said about what happened last time, nothing inappropriate happened between you two, so why don't we just pretend it never happened?"

He paused, looking at her earnestly, "You are still my fiancée, and our marriage will still stand, okay?"

Tian Sui'er slowly raised her eyes to look at him, her gaze calm, and softly asked, "Do you really believe that nothing happened between Renye and me?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Dongsheng was startled, his expression instantly freezing, and he was speechless for a moment.

Tian Sui'er stared at him intently: "Actually, you can't completely trust me either, can you? Because we don't understand each other well enough."

Ignoring Xu Dongsheng's reaction, Tian Sui'er continued, "Actually, I've always considered you my older brother since we were little. Some relationships are predetermined from the beginning, and trying to change them will only hurt both of us."

Xu Dongsheng's heart skipped a beat, as if something had fallen from a great height, crashed to the ground, and shattered without making a sound.

"I believe that feelings can be cultivated. At least..."

"At least I don't think I'm any worse than Jinye!"

He himself found it somewhat laughable when he said it.

It's no worse than Jinno, what's the point of comparing them?

But he still said it.

Because he was afraid that if he didn't speak up, he would never have the chance to speak up again.

Tian Sui'er was neither angry nor impatient; her expression was unreadable.

"You don't need to compare yourself to anyone. You are not him, and he is not you. It's just..."

She paused, looking intently into his eyes: "We're not a good match."

Not suitable.

The three words, light and airy, like a rootless withered leaf, would fall to the ground without making a sound, but when they hit Xu Dongsheng's heart, they were as heavy as a stone.

"So he's suitable?"

"He's just a petty thug. No job, no future, not even a decent living. What can he give you? Can he give you a stable life? Can he give you a good life? You've gotten into such a big mess today, and he hasn't even shown up! What are you getting out of being with him?"

"Brother Dongsheng," Tian Sui'er interrupted him, "living together is never about one person making sacrifices; it's about working together diligently and striving side by side."

"I never thought about depending on anyone for a living, nor do I need anyone to provide me with security. He doesn't need to depend on me, and I don't need to cling to him. As long as we both do our part, move forward steadily on our own paths, be ourselves, and support each other, that's enough."

"Why can't I be the one working hard alongside you?"

Xu Dongsheng practically shouted it out.

"I'm trying too. I'm moving in your direction. I've been doing this for so many years, can't you see?"

Xu Dongsheng took half a step forward: "When you were sick, I visited you. When you worked overtime, I waited for you. When you were bullied, I stood up for you. Do you think an older brother would do these things? But why is he the only one in your eyes! Why!"

The afternoon wind rose from nowhere, lifting a corner of his coat, then letting it fall back down, lifting it up again, then letting it fall back down, like a carrier pigeon that didn't know where to fly.

He became emotional and, almost pleadingly, hurriedly added, "Didn't you want to go to university? It's okay! I'll go talk to my dad. I support you! As long as you come back to me, I'll agree to anything!"

Tian Sui'er remained silent for a long time.

Suddenly, a voice broke into their world, which was on the verge of collapse.

"Not all companionship needs to be officially recognized, and just because you're nice to someone doesn't mean they have to be in a relationship with you. You're supposed to be highly educated; don't you know that forced relationships never work?"

Xu Dongsheng suddenly turned his head, and Tian Suier followed suit.

It was Renye. He was standing three steps away from the two of them, one hand on the handlebars and the other in his pocket, still with that carefree and irritating look.

"Why are you here?" Tian Sui'er looked up and saw the familiar figure. Her originally dim eyes suddenly lit up. Her tone was filled with undisguised surprise, but she deliberately suppressed the throbbing in her heart and asked in a calm manner.

"I've been here for a while." Renye took a deep breath, kicked down the kickstand, and the old bicycle stood firmly in place.

He and Ma Xiaojun had been rushing towards Shigou Village, but halfway there, he couldn't rest easy, so he simply abandoned Ma Xiaojun, who weighed over 200 pounds, by the roadside and hurriedly turned back.

Meanwhile, the body was found in the West Second Mining Area, a place his father, Ren Shouyi, knew much better than he did; perhaps his father knew something.

Composing himself, Renye took two steps forward, standing precisely between Tian Suier and Xu Dongsheng, neither leaning to one side: "I've heard everything I should have heard, and I've also heard things I shouldn't have heard."

Tian Sui'er pursed her lips and didn't say anything. Just as she was about to walk towards him, Xu Dongsheng grabbed her wrist and looked at Ren Ye with a cold gaze: "If you really want Sui'er to be well, you should stay away from her! Now only I can protect her!"

Ren Ye's eyes turned cold. He quickly took two steps forward, slapped Xu Dongsheng's hand away from Tian Sui'er's, and said disdainfully, "Are you putting on a melodramatic show here? It's already the reform and opening up era, brother. Don't you know that women hold up half the sky? Do you need to protect them?"

Renye was too lazy to waste any more words with him. He turned around, took Tian Sui'er's wrist, and said gently, "Let's go."

Tian Sui'er didn't dodge and obediently followed.

Xu Dongsheng was stunned.

The flow of people at the cafeteria entrance was like a small river, passing by him without anyone stopping or looking back at him.

The setting sun sank inch by inch, stretching his shadow longer and longer, like a thread that had been stretched out but couldn't be let go.

Tian Sui'er is gone, seemingly vanished from his sight and from his world forever.

He wanted to chase after him, but then he suddenly realized something: when did he lose even the right to chase after him?

Did it start from the day of the engagement banquet?

Was it from that day at the mine hospital?

Or did it start from the moment Tian Sui'er said to him, "We're not suitable"?