Chapter 264: Chapter 269: Running Away from Home
“Fine! Don’t mention my old arms and legs; I really can’t do it anymore.” He had secretly left home, and he would certainly be scolded upon returning. He pulled Living Yama along, hoping that the presence of an outsider might earn him some respect from the young lads.
The old man, being advanced in age, had lain down on the berth and fallen asleep after saying only a few words.
Xu Qigang, with his hands cushioning his head, found the berth too short to accommodate him. He had no choice but to slant his legs out of the bed.
His eyes, deep and pensive, silently fixed on the upper bunk, though his thoughts had long since drifted to the that young woman.
The train kept moving until it arrived at the station in the evening. Xu Qigang, carrying a bag in one hand and helping the old man with the other, got off the train.
His sharp gaze quickly swept through the crowd and effortlessly spotted Chen Yingjie standing among the people.
Xu Qigang halted his steps.
The old man was a veteran of the revolution, experienced in the struggles. Smiling, he said, “Has someone come to pick you up?”
“Yes,” responded Xu Qigang quietly, silently calculating the time.
“Captain, Captain! I’m here to pick you up,” Chen Yingjie sprang out from the crowd like a monkey and ran swiftly to Xu Qigang.
“Too slow, go back and do half a month of intensive training.”
Chen Yingjie’s face fell. “Captain, you were helping an old man, and it only delayed me a few seconds.”
Hearing this made Xu Qigang even angrier. “You can’t find the target just because their external conditions suddenly changed?”
“Captain, I was wrong, I accept the punishment,” Chen Yingjie greeted him and cast a glance at the old man who had spoiled his plan, almost breaking into a cold sweat at the sight.
“Elder…minister, how come it’s you?”
Upon hearing this, Xu Qigang frowned harder, his gaze at the old man growing more stern.
“Uh…uh…” The old man, previously lively, rubbed his hands and stammered without the courage to say it outright. He desperately signaled Chen Yingjie with his eyes, but the foolish young man simply didn’t notice.
Chen Yingjie moved closer to Xu Qigang and whispered, “Captain, this old man is the former Minister of the General Political Department, Hai Baichuan.”
The name Hai Baichuan was renowned, a veteran of the Long March and a pillar of the Hai Family, akin to the elders in the Su and Meng Families.
Xu Qigang’s lips were tightly pursed, his hand supporting Elder Hai as steady as Mount Tai. He looked at the elder and said, “Elder leader, I’ll call someone to pick you up.”
“No way!” Elder Hai grabbed him and refused to let go. “You promised to take me back home, how can you go back on your word?”
“Elder, please don’t mess around, okay? You don’t know how desperately everyone has been searching for you.” This old man insisted on going out to search for his granddaughter every year, but his granddaughter had been missing for over a decade—where could he possibly find her?
The Hai Family had long since given up, but he wouldn’t.
“How am I messing around?” Elder Hai’s face darkened as he scolded, “You cheeky boy, I think you’re asking for a beating. Believe it or not, I’ll break your legs?”
“I believe, I definitely believe,” Chen Yingjie surrendered with both hands raised, giving Xu Qigang a look that inquired whether he was willing to take him.
“Chen Yingjie, you take the elder leader back home!”
Chen Yingjie and Elder Hai shouted in unison.
“He must be the one to take you.” This ungrateful young man, given a chance to get close, doesn’t appreciate it. He should know countless people would want to take him home!