Chapter 21 of 100

Chapter 21: Everything is Difficult at the Beginning

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The next morning, Wen Liang received a call from Zuo Yuxi. The matter with Li Siqing's school was settled; she could report to the principal on the first day of school by just giving her name. Wen Liang didn't say much in the way of pleasantries; his relationship with Zuo Yuxi was already very close, and saying more would have seemed distant. He first went to the small playground for two hours of training, then rode his bike to Li Siqing's house. The little girl was hunched over a stone slab in the courtyard, writing something. Her small, thin body was curled up, and her focused expression evoked a sense of inexplicable pity. Wen Liang quietly approached her from behind, peeked over her shoulder, and saw a crumpled homework book with a few lines of pencil writing: vinegar 73 cents, noodles 3 yuan, rice 2.5 yuan, salt... The page was filled with a dense list, some items circled, others crossed out. Wen Liang sighed inwardly, afraid that speaking too close would startle her, so he stepped back a few paces and said softly, "Nuan Nuan, your brother has come to see you."

Li Siqing jumped up, and upon seeing the person she had been thinking about day and night, she took a few steps forward, then suddenly stopped, suppressing the urge to throw herself into Wen Liang's arms. Her bright eyes shone with boundless joy, "Brother, you came!"

Wen Liang nodded, took her small hand, and walked toward the house, "Is your father at home today?" The last time, Li Shengli had been out drinking and hadn't returned, so Wen Liang hadn't seen him.

Mentioning her father, a shadow of sadness crossed Li Siqing's eyes, and she said softly, "He got drunk last night and just woke up today. He hasn't gone out yet..."

Wen Liang affectionately patted her head and said, "Don't worry, everything will be fine. I'll talk to your father."

Li Shengli was half-reclining on the bed, looking listless. When Wen Liang entered, he didn't even lift his head. Wen Liang found an excuse to send Li Siqing out, telling her not to come in unless called, and then slowly walked to Li Shengli. At 32, Li Shengli looked like a man in his fifties, with messy hair, a scruffy beard, and drooping eyelids. His skin was pale from excessive drinking. For a woman who didn't love him, this once vibrant young man from the agricultural machinery factory had been reduced to this state in just two years.

Severe illness requires strong medicine. Wen Liang didn't bother with pleasantries and directly threw Li Siqing's account book at him, mocking, "What a great achievement, a man in his thirties relying on an eleven-year-old child to support him. Look at this account book, don't you feel ashamed? I don't understand what the point of living is for someone like you."

Li Shengli's parents were both dead, and in Qingzhou, he had no other relatives besides Li Siqing. Neighbors might come to offer a few words of advice, but seeing he wouldn't listen, they could only worry helplessly. No one had ever spoken to him so harshly. Li Shengli slowly raised his head, his lifeless eyes showing no sign of life, and after a moment, he lowered his head again, silent.

Wen Liang was undeterred and became even more cutting, "Yes, Nuan Nuan is unlucky to have a father like you. All the hardships and suffering are her fate. Ha, I always thought Zhao Yaqing was blind to follow someone else, but now I see that she's living a life of luxury and pleasure in the south. If she had stayed with you, living a life of uncertainty and being mocked and looked down upon, that would have been truly blind."

Li Shengli suddenly looked up, much faster than before, and glared at Wen Liang with a very unfriendly expression. Wen Liang seemed not to notice and continued, "In my opinion, Nuan Nuan would be much happier if she went with her mother! Who knows, one day Zhao Yaqing might come back, see her daughter's pitiful state, and take her away. Even if she changes her name, it would be better than suffering here..."

"Stop it!" Li Shengli finally spoke, his voice hoarse from years of drinking.

Wen Liang's resolve hardened: a reaction was good! "Stop? How will you know how incapable you are if I don't say it? You married a wife who cheats on you, you run a business that loses money, and you can't even support your daughter. What a wimp, lying in a vat of alcohol, pretending to be in love and crying. It's disgusting to look at!"

"Shut up!"

Perhaps many people had criticized him behind his back, but Li Shengli had never heard such vicious insults to his face. Blood rushed to his head, his chest felt like it was about to burst, and the veins on his neck bulged. His eyes turned red as if they were about to bleed.

Wen Liang stood with his hands in his pockets, chin raised, a cold smile on his face, and looked at him with disdain, "Do you even deserve it?"

Li Shengli roared and lunged at him from the bed. Without a word, Wen Liang kicked him back and slapped him across the face.

"You're a coward. Your wife running away is a small matter, but you act like it's the end of the world. If you have the ability, stand up straight and use money to crush Zeng Wucheng to death! Drinking to numb yourself and avoiding reality, do you think you're doing right by yourself and Nuan Nuan?"

Li Shengli was pinned to the ground by Wen Liang's foot, struggling for a long time before his body went limp, and he began to sob uncontrollably, "Yes, I'm a wimp. My parents are dead, my wife ran away, and I can't even support my daughter. What's the point of living? Better to die early, better to die early!"

"Business losses, savings gone, debts piled up, no one will lend me money, I've tried every method, used every trick. If I were a woman, I'd even consider selling myself... What else can I do..."

"Others look down on me, curse me behind my back, and pity me. I don't care. I want to ruin myself, I want to see if that woman will feel a little guilty, a little regretful, when she sees me like this!"

"Nine whole years, nine years of marriage, and it's not even worth a bit of money, a bit of vanity? I'm stupid, I'm stupid..."

Li Shengli cried and hit his head against the ground. Wen Liang felt a pang of sympathy, but he knew that even the most hateful people have their pitiful side. It had been so long, and he still couldn't forget that woman!

Love is a heartbreaker!

Wen Liang sighed deeply, squatted down, and grabbed his shoulders to stop him from hurting himself, whispering, "It's good to let it out, it will clear your mind..."

After a while, Li Shengli calmed down. Wen Liang helped him sit on the bed and said, "Uncle Li, you're a smart man, but smart men often get stuck in a rut. Punishing yourself for others' mistakes is the most foolish thing to do. You need to live a good life, a happier life than before, to make Aunt Zhao regret not choosing you... and maybe," he paused, though he didn't fully agree, he still said the most effective words, "maybe it could even make her come back to you!"

Li Shengli's eyes lit up, then dimmed again. Wen Liang knew what he was worried about and said, "Uncle Li, I apologize for my harsh words earlier. I came today to ask you to come out of retirement and get back into business. We can all get rich together."

After his outburst, Li Shengli's two years of pent-up frustration had been released. He shook his head, "Getting rich is easier said than done. No capital, no connections, and a bit of luck are needed. Business isn't that easy... Wen Liang, no matter who taught you those words, I'm not a fool. I understand your good intentions, but I'm like this, and I won't amount to much in this life. Nuan Nuan... Nuan Nuan, she will have to suffer."

Seeing the effect of his harsh words about to fade, Wen Liang calmly took out a few sheets of paper and placed them in Li Shengli's hands, "This is a detailed plan for a breakfast shop. Take a look. I'll handle the storefront, funding, procedures, and management. You just need to use your family's traditional skills to create some simple, delicious dishes. We'll split the profits fifty-fifty. Remember, this isn't a joke! I'll give you a month to think about it. If you decide, call me!"

Li Shengli's mind was in chaos. He had only been out of touch with society for two years, and even a young man like Wen Liang could speak and act to this extent?

"Are you serious?"

Wen Liang didn't answer him. As he walked to the door, he turned and said quietly, "Uncle Li, for Nuan Nuan's sake, please believe me this time. I've never been more serious!"

Opening the door, he saw Li Siqing sitting on a stool nearby, her small hand supporting her cheek, her dark, bright eyes twinkling, her long lashes fluttering, her sallow skin, and simple clothes, but the delicate and charming features inherited from her mother were still evident in her small, thin body.

"Brother, what just happened..."

Wen Liang knew that the commotion couldn't have been hidden from Li Siqing. The little girl's restraint in not rushing in was the greatest trust she could show him. "It's all over, Nuan Nuan. I asked your father to help me with something, and he agreed!"

"Really?" Li Siqing stood up, her hands tightly clasped over her chest.

Wen Liang nodded, reached out to touch her hair, and said, "The school issue is settled. You'll go to Minghua Junior High. Don't worry about tuition and living expenses; everything is taken care of by your brother!"

Although Li Siqing had told herself to trust Wen Liang, she knew how difficult this matter was. She never expected that in just a few days, Wen Liang would have everything arranged so smoothly. Her mind seemed to be emptied, and only endless gratitude flowed through her.

"Brother Wen, I... I will study hard!"

Wen Liang smiled gently, looked up, and saw a clear blue sky, light clouds, and a gentle breeze.

It was a season of lush grass and singing birds, a season of emotion, tears, and love!

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