The Taming of the Ruffian Hero

Chapter 173 (I’m Your Husband!) Zhao Yuan Adopts Huang Xiya as His Foster Mother

When he called Zheng Kai, the latter had told him that he had been arrested by the police.

Apparently, Zheng Kai had tried all means to get into the Lins’ apartment, but all his attempts failed. Finally, he rushed over in anger and knocked down several security guards, managing to reach the gate. However, a group of security guards subdued him and put him in jail. Fortunately, the security guards found out that Zheng Kai was a student of Jifu University based on his student ID, so they did not ask the police to punish him severely. In the end, he only spent several days behind bars. Aside from that, his cell phone was not confiscated.

“It’s quite your style!” Zhao Yuan laughed bitterly. He had already gotten a sum of money from the wealthy lady. That night, the lady was so passionate, wanting to have sex with him. He managed to flee and was now on his way to Yangzi County.

Zhao Yuan rode the bus to Yangzi County. When he got off, he rushed toward Lin Wenxi’s apartment.

Along the way, he caught a glimpse of Lin Ziwei’s picture on a newspaper at a stall by chance. The page of the newspaper was in black and white. Zhao Yuan stopped and saw that the first page had the following headline in big letters, “The Deputy Secretary Died on the Way to Inspection, and His Son Hasn’t Returned for His Funeral Yet.”

“Hasn’t returned? Hasn’t returned?” Zhao Yuan was shocked.

At this moment, he really wished he could fly.

At Lin Wenxi’s apartment…

Zhao Yuan did not see the security guards Zheng Kai had mentioned. The courtyard was empty. With the setting sun hanging low in the sky, the breeze gently touching the peach leaves that had fallen early, the firecracker debris, and the joss paper ashes on the ground, it made one feel desolate and sad, as if one was on the way to the netherworld.

The door of the apartment was locked, but the windows were not closed. Looking through the anti-burglary screen from outside, Zhao Yuan could see several chairs and a piece of a broken leather belt scattered on the floor. There was a calendar on the table. Obviously, Huang Xiya had turned the page of the calendar every day, but after the day Lin Wenxi had returned home, the calendar page did not seem to have been turned anymore. “Where’s Wenxi?” Zhao Yuan kept shaking the security screen and shouted loudly into the room, but nobody answered. The room was quiet, empty and lonely.

“What has he been doing in the three days since we lost contact? As the only son of the family, he must have suffered a lot!” Zhao Yuan thought.

He squatted down as he looked up at the sky. The sun had set, and the sky was ablaze. Suddenly, tears swelled up and his vision became blurry.

“Don’t you know that I’m willing to shelter you from all dangers? If you’re in danger after Uncle Lin’s death, that means his death must be connected to my father’s case. Do you know that? Wenxi, whether you like or not, you can’t deprive me of my rights! You said that as man and wife we ever unite, we never doubt our love. Who am I? I’m your husband!” He shouted inwardly.

“You came to pay your respects to Director Lin, didn’t you? His funeral ceremony is going to be held in the countryside,” a slightly trembling old man said. He was too old and had to support himself with a walking stick.

“Did his son, Wenxi, come back?” Zhao Yuan asked anxiously, wiping the tears from his eyes.

The old man shook his head and answered. “Don’t mention that evil son! He seemed to have left after quarreling with Director Lin. Everyone should have learned about Director Lin’s death by now, but that evil son hasn’t come back yet!”

Zhao Yuan nodded and thanked him for the information. He then ran out and stopped a car, heading for the countryside.

The demolition of the government compound at the countryside had not been finished yet. Lin Ziwei’s career started here, and now this place would become the last station of his life in this world.

The front gate was decorated with white flowers and black cloth hanging on the portrait of Lin Ziwei, who looked confident and calm. The elegiac couplets on either side said, “Contributing all the time in his life to free people from pain; Making great achievements in the happiness and well-being of the people, which will benefit generations.” The top scroll said, “A Great Man.”

The first time Zhao Yuan met Lin Ziwei, the latter had educated him for some time. It was not until now that Zhao Yuan could believe that it was also the last time he would meet Lin Ziwei. That strong-willed man with a few wrinkles on his face had always smiled. He had shouldered the responsibility of both the wellbeing of the local people and the education of his wife and son. However, such a person had died at forty-eight—the most glorious age of life. Zhao Yuan suddenly remembered his father, a man who had worked hard in his lifetime for the happiness of his children but could not enjoy a peaceful life in his old age. “God was so unfair to them!” he thought, tears streaming down his cheeks. He did not know what was going on with Wenxi and his mother.

Zhao Yuan was stopped by the security guard when he was about to walk in. He seemed so sad with his tears flowing and nose running as he looked at the security guard, unable to speak. Although the security guard was a man of strict discipline, he knew that Zhao Yuan was really sad so as to shed tears. Therefore, he did not question him further, and let him in.

The courtyard was filled with funeral music. The grass and the trees seemed sad, and the clouds in the sky seemed to stand still. Zhao Yuan immediately saw Huang Xiya, who was kneeling in front of the coffin. Her head was wrapped with a white handkerchief, and she was wearing a white mourning dress. She looked skinny and had sunken eyes.

Huang Xiya was still a little angry at the sight of Zhao Yuan, however, she still raised her body a little in acknowledgment. Then, someone gave Zhao Yuan three incense sticks and asked him what kind of etiquette he would follow.

Zhao Yuan answered that he would kneel three times and kowtow nine times, like the children of the dead would do.

That person said that Mr. Lin had only a son, and others were not allowed to perform such rites.

Zhao Yuan raised his head and answered. “Uncle Lin is a disinterested official. All the average people who have benefited from him can be regarded as his children. I’m one of them, so I should be taken as one of his sons. Everyone is equal, so I must kowtow to him to show my respect.” Since he was so determined, and what he said sounded reasonable, the man turned to Huang Xiya and ask her for advice. Huang Xiya nodded slightly and said, “He is the adopted son of my husband and I. According to his identity and the etiquette rules, he can do that.” The man smiled in relief and said, “Mr. Lin’s son is coming to kowtow to him. If Mr. Lin learns about it in the netherworld, he will feel happy.” He then gestured, and the deafening saluting gun rang out nine times outside the courtyard. After that, the man replaced the three sticks of incense with nine sticks and passed them to Zhao Yuan.

“Xiya, has Wenxi… come back?” A middle-aged woman with a weary look walked in. When she found that the person who was kneeling on the ground was not Wenxi, she was shocked. Then, she cried bitterly, covering her face with her hands.

“Wenxi didn’t come?” Zhao Yuan did not dare to think about anything else. He took the incense, knelt down, and kowtowed hard three times. Then he stood up, knelt down, and kowtowed hard three times again. After doing this three times, the rites that the son should perform to his father was finished. Then, he was asked to kneel next to Huang Xiya. The middle-aged woman came over and knelt beside Huang Xiya as well. “You have asked another person to finish the rites without Wenxi being here. Aren’t you afraid that Wenxi will be considered unfilial?” she asked.

“Wenxi won’t come. He is no longer the son of Ziwei and me. Now, our adopted son has finished the rites on his behalf. Ziwei will be very happy in another world.” Huang Xiya answered calmly, looking sad.

“Aunt… Wenxi…” Zhao Yuan could not help but ask.

“Wenxi hasn’t come back since his father passed away. There are still many things we need to do… Ziwei left us so suddenly… The government demanded that we cremate his body, but a few relatives and I want to bury him. Only by retaining his body can he resurrect. If he turns into a handful of ash and there is nothing left… Right now, we don’t have any man to make decisions for us, and we don’t know if the coffin should be placed here three days or seven days. We are all women…” the middle-aged woman said, and began to cry again, patting Huang Xiya on the back.

“Biya, when people die, there’s nothing left. Why are you still struggling with these unnecessary and overelaborate formalities?” With that, Huang Xiya stared at Lin Ziwei’s portrait, falling into silence for a long time.

Zhao Yuan asked about Lin Wenxi repeatedly, but Huang Xiya only shook her head, saying that she did not know Lin Wenxi’s whereabouts. Zhao Yuan did not dare to ask too much, so he looked for signs that Lin Wenxi might have come back, while cautiously taking care of Huang Xiya.

“Ziwei has been working on your father’s case, and he has collected a lot of evidence. Before his death, he had gone to visit the last critical witness. As his wife, I’m confident in his ability.

“Wenxi has changed a lot. He is more outgoing and mature than before. But what you two think… I have a personal request as well. I hope you can persuade Wenxi to change his mind. Everyone said that it was pathological. I can’t imagine my son getting such a disease. We wanted to take him to the hospital when the time was right. Can you help me get him cured when you see him in the future?”

Looking at the weary look of Huang Xiya, Zhao Yuan felt worried. He was respectful and filial to the sad woman, and he took care of her as if she were his own mother. He did not dare to mention anything about Lin Wenxi casually.

Since he had performed the rites of a son, he should take the responsibility of a son. With him making decisions, things became easier. The coffin would be placed in the courtyard for three days. After that, the body would be cremated and sent to the cemetery of the county. Due to his special status and great achievements, the local government decided to arrange a secluded, separate cemetery for Lin Ziwei. His relatives and friends were happy about that. When they asked for Huang Xiya’s advice, she did not answer but instead looked at Zhao Yuan. Zhao Yuan thought that Lin Ziwei had always adhered to the policy that officials should be close to the masses and take them as their family, so he preferred to put his ashes in the common cemetery so that he would be among the masses and rest in the netherworld in their company forever.

In the first seven days after Lin Ziwei’s death, Huang Xiya stayed up every night. Nobody could stop her from doing that. Zhao Yuan served tea and took care of her the whole time, so all the relatives and friends of the Lins took him as their family. Even the cousins of Lin Wenxi, who had never seen Zhao Yuan before, called him ‘Brother Yuan.’

However, on the eighth day, Huang Xiya disappeared without saying good-bye to anyone.

“Ziwei had two wishes for Wenxi before his death. First, he hoped Wenxi would marry Hong Xuan’s daughter, Hongyan. Second, he hoped Wenxi would lead a happy life. Since I have adopted you as my son, you’re Wenxi’s adopted elder brother. If you still want to keep the improper relationship between you, you should think about my dead husband and your relationship! I’m taking my husband with me, and I won’t come back here anymore. You’re a nice person. Both you and Wenxi have grown up. Be careful not to choose the wrong way. Kid, thank you for your care in the past few days. Wherever I am, I wish you the best.” This was the last message Huang Xiya had sent to Zhao Yuan. After that, she could no longer be reached on the phone.

Lin Ziwei’s ashes had been buried in the cemetery. What Huang Xiya had taken away with her was a small portion of his ashes that had been sealed in a silk bag. Zhao Yuan had many questions to ask her, but she had not mentioned anything about them.

Zhao Yuan sat in front of the lotus pool in the countryside, staring at it blankly. Lin Wenxi’s laughter had rung out here, his touching smile had appeared behind the torch here before. It was midsummer and the grass was flourishing, but his beloved had gone. He could only recall the good times he had spent with him here.

Under the dazzling sunshine, Zhao Yuan walked around the lotus pool. He saw the green, lush lotus leaves stretch to the horizon, interspersed with lotus flowers. A waterfowl was standing in the lotus pool alone. Then he walked to the local governmental compound. The poplar tree stood there gracefully, its luxuriant foliage cast a great shadow on the ground. He vaguely heard several kids playing there. This was the same scenario as before.

At this point, Lin Wenxi woke up in the ICU of a county hospital.

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