The Nightmare Experience of a Useless Person

As long as the noise continues, farewells will always be tomorrow.

This is an illusion...

Today is the third day of the Lunar New Year. To show their respect, Mr. and Mrs. Zhao knocked on the door of Leshantang early in the morning. They took Ayu away and a corner of Leshantang with them, and the noise escaped through the broken door.

Acha and Mulan were personally seen off by Jiang Zhiyang and Jiang Shuo.

In the afternoon, three luxurious carriages arrived as scheduled. A very wealthy couple alighted from the lead carriage, accompanied by three handsome young men. Clearly, they were the "wealthy family" that Jiang Zhiyang had mentioned.

The family's surname was Qiao. Mr. Qiao was kind and gentle, and Mrs. Qiao was approachable. They went into Chiang Kai-shek's bedroom together, talked with him, and after half an hour, they said goodbye with red eyes.

Seeing that the Qiao family was kind and had plenty of carriages and horses, Xiulian decided to set off with them.

"Sister Qingjun, I will come back to see you often. Also, remember to go to the bookstore to buy Mr. Lian's books after a while!" Xiulian's eyes were brimming with tears, yet she smiled brightly, showing no sign of sadness.

"Definitely." Qingjun stepped forward and embraced Xiulian for the first time. This brave girl, Qingjun sincerely wished her all her dreams would come true.

Ali and Xuanxuan didn't cry or make a fuss; they simply waved goodbye normally. Xiaotao, however, couldn't help but feel a little tearful and whispered, "I haven't even seen the peach tree bloom yet."

She looked up, and the bare branches were just as they had been yesterday. No matter how much her heart trembled, they remained inanimate and unmoved.

"Is this Xiao Tao?" Madam Qiao knelt down and wiped Xiao Tao's tears with a handkerchief. "When April comes, we'll bring back peach blossom cakes and enjoy the peach blossoms with everyone, how about that?"

Xiao Tao suppressed her sobs, nodded obediently, and let Madam Qiao lead her into the carriage.

The BMW moved steadily and faster than a donkey, its embroidered peony-covered curtains swaying, occasionally revealing glimpses of the dilapidated scenery outside.

Suddenly, a gentle breeze began to rise, and a sliver of white drifted in from outside the window, landing on Xiao Tao's hand and bringing a touch of coolness.

It's snowing? No! It's not! It's just flower petals!

Xiao Tao lifted the carriage curtain and leaned half her body out of the window—it was peach blossoms! They really were peach blossoms!

On the familiar high wall, the withered branches and fallen leaves are gone, replaced by clusters of flowers among the sparse branches. A touch of soft pink tinges the large, cloud-like white petals, just like Xiao Tao's excited expression at this moment.

A gentle breeze carries the petals, which flutter and dance like a snowfall in the depths of winter, drifting in the direction the passerby is headed.

The peach blossoms are a parting gift, a farewell from a gentleman.

The winter wind was biting, and the tears were scalding hot. When the hot tears filled the eyes and the vision blurred, that soft pink color vanished.

……

Everyone had left, and Lok Sin Tong had never been so quiet. When all the sounds faded into dust, this dark courtyard was like an old object forgotten in the wilderness, having lost all meaning.

"Then, what about you? Are you going home too?" Jiang Zhiyang hung his head, not even having the courage to raise it.

He stood blankly behind Qingjun. Perhaps it was because he had been overworked these past two days, or perhaps he was just forcing himself to stay awake, but now, a sickly look appeared on his face.

It's time for Qingjun to go home. This story about Leshan Hall ends here, appropriately and fittingly.

It left behind unforgettable sadness, yet everyone here is filled with hope for a brighter tomorrow.

But, but, but...

But the person in front of her had unfocused eyes and seemed about to collapse; she couldn't help but worry about him...

She made an excuse.

"No, let's wait a few more days."

These words were like a life-saving medicine, a thirst-quenching spring, and a full stomach of rice. He raised his head, his eyes sparkling like stars, like a kitten begging for food, constantly drawing closer.

"But I won't stay here. I've already made plans with Lao Peng. After a while, once the umbrella shop reopens, I'll go back to be his apprentice. He has a small courtyard on the next hill, and he'd like me to stay there temporarily. Will you come with me?"

A patient with weak limbs living alone in the mountains would probably become a feast for tigers, leopards, wolves, snakes, insects, rats, and ants in no more than three days.

"Okay." She was just worried, really...

"Then go pack your bags, we're leaving now!"

"Now?"

"Yes! Although that courtyard is in the mountains, it's less than half an hour's walk from Leshan Hall. If we set off now, we can still make it before dawn!"

Jiang Zhiyang's eyes were filled with undisguised joy. He had long wanted to take Qingjun away, to a place where he could be alone.

After all, what does it mean for a man and a woman to be alone in a room? How could Qingjun not understand?

Therefore, Qingjun's willingness to go with him means that she is willing to forgive him, accept him, and marry him!

Without realizing it, he took another step forward, closely following Qingjun like a cat's tail that he couldn't shake off.

"Aunt Dong, Jiang Shuo, we're leaving now!" Jiang Zhiyang greeted them excitedly, wishing he could grab Qingjun's hand and run away the next second.

"Are you leaving in such a hurry?" Jiang Zhiyang understood what he meant, Qing Jun understood, and naturally, Jiang Shuo understood as well. He probed, which also sounded like a way of asking him to stay.

"Whether we leave today or tomorrow, it doesn't matter! We'll come back once we've settled down." Jiang Zhiyang patted Jiang Shuo's shoulder, his back ramrod straight.

"Then you must take good care of yourselves. It's deep in the mountains and the dew is heavy, so be sure to cover yourselves well with blankets, drink plenty of hot soup, and don't be lazy or take things easy." Aunt Dong held Qingjun's hand and repeatedly gave her these instructions, just like she would to her children who were going on a long journey.

"Alright, you too, take good care of yourselves and take good care of Old Jiang." Qingjun took off the cloth bag she was carrying, the one Jiang Shuo had given her before, which contained a gold ingot and a handful of silver pieces. "Find some good tonics for Old Jiang to help him recover."

Tears welled up again, and Aunt Dong's voice was hoarse, unable to speak, but Qingjun understood the myriad emotions in her eyes.

She reached out her sleeve to wipe away the tears of the woman in front of her, whose eyes were swollen from crying, but she couldn't say anything to comfort her.

"I'm gone."

Turning around and walking forward is both a farewell and a departure.

On the desolate path, Jiang Zhiyang walked with unusually cheerful steps. He took Qingjun's bundle and pressed it tightly against her side. Occasionally, he would take a few quick steps forward and kick away the small stones blocking Qingjun's way.

One step, two steps, Jiang Zhiyang remembered every step he took forward, because it was the road to happiness. As long as he followed this path to the end, he could reach the home that belonged only to the two of them.

"King Qing! King Qing!"

Shouts and hurried footsteps came from behind. Who was it? That familiar voice! That unpleasant voice! They had only walked two miles, yet they had caught up so quickly!

"Qingjun!" It was Jiang Shuo and A Lang.

"What's wrong? Did you leave something behind?" Qingjun turned around and helped Jiang Shuo, who almost slipped.

He steadied himself, took a step back, and took a few deep breaths to calm his breathing.

"Qingjun, I fear that if I don't say many things before we part, we'll miss our chance."

Jiang Shuo straightened his clothes, bowed deeply, and said, "Qingjun, I love you! I am willing to offer Leshantang as my betrothal gift and ask you to marry me! Although my family is poor, my parents are still alive, and I will strive to make a living and give you a lifetime of peace!"

For a moment, only the fluttering of birds could be heard all around...

Someone gritted their teeth and pretended not to care.

"Thank you, Brother Shuo. I understand your feelings, but I have no interest in you. I only wish that you will meet a good person in the future and live a peaceful, happy and carefree life."

I have no interest in you!

I have no interest in you!

I have no interest in you!!!

Jiang Zhiyang, who had been listless, instantly beamed with joy, quickly turned around, and grinned to himself.

Despite being rejected, Jiang Shuo was not angry. Instead, he showed a relieved smile and said, "Alright, alright, my wish has been fulfilled. Take care and have a safe journey."