Chapter 2567 - 2631: Concealment
It must be a strange feeling. Back then, when we joined the Flying Hawk Squad together, we were full of vigor, and from not knowing each other to being able to entrust our lives with each other. In the end, Zhang Tianxing left early, had to retire due to injury, and when we met years later, our brother had become this disabled figure, it’s hard for anyone to feel good about it.
Zhang Tianxing still wouldn’t speak, his expression was somewhat painful. The two people opposite him didn’t know what had happened to him over these years that had turned an iron-willed man into this state.
"Tianxing, I’m not trying to reveal your scars, but seeing you like this now, I really feel unsettled!" Zheng Mingrui walked over to support Zhang Tianxing.
"Brother, what happened? Was it that the retirement compensation wasn’t fully given to you? If it is, tell me, I’ll help you get justice. The money of our Flying Hawk Squad members isn’t something they can touch!" Li Yifei asked in a deep voice. This was something Zheng Mingrui had mentioned on the way here before.
Zhang Tianxing shook his head and said, "That money was given quite a bit, Captain, don’t go make trouble for them. It’s my own reason..."
"Tianxing, we’re not outsiders, we haven’t seen each other for so many years, let’s chat a bit!" Li Yifei also didn’t want to push his brother too hard. Although he wanted to help Zhang Tianxing now, he also had to respect Zhang’s willingness. The two just arrived and didn’t know the situation, but knowing Zhang Tianxing’s character back then, there must be a reason he became like this.
Zhang Tianxing took a deep breath and said, "Old Captain, I’ve been doing pretty well these years, you and Mingrui don’t need to worry. Although I’m disabled, my body is fine, not affected at all. I can do farm work and also work. Moreover, I’m going to get married, it will be better in the future!"
Li Yifei nodded at his words and said, "Tianxing, handle it on your own. We’ve also been retired for some years, and we know it’s very difficult to survive in society, requiring patience. Blindly showing your temper is not right, but if you’re bullied to the end, sometimes there’s no need to endure it!"
Zhang Tianxing nodded forcefully, his voice somewhat altered. He gritted his teeth and eventually held back from speaking out, instead saying, "Boss, don’t worry, your brother was top tier in the army, surely you needn’t worry about me in society."
"Alright, it’s getting late, Mingrui, you take Tianxing back, he has a lot to do tomorrow, let us brothers handle the reception, don’t worry about it!" Li Yifei instructed.
"No need to send me, I’ll come over in the morning to bring breakfast, and arrange accommodation for the others as well."
"Alright, I said don’t worry about it, so don’t worry about it. You, Mr. Groom, just be a groom peacefully, and don’t wimp out when we make toasts at the wedding." Li Yifei smiled, raising his chin slightly.
"No problem, I must drink those toasts!" Zhang Tianxing agreed.
"Okay, Mingrui, escort Tianxing."
"No, no, I’ll walk back, it’s just a few steps!" Zhang Tianxing waved his hand, limping, and was about to walk back. Zheng Mingrui rushed over, picked him up directly, and walked towards the car, saying, "Why talk so much, get in the car, there’s no need to walk back!"
The car shot away, Li Yifei sighed inwardly. Zhang Tianxing must have experienced something, or else a man from the Flying Hawk Squad, with unyielding spirit, who wouldn’t even utter a cry when bullets hit his body, wouldn’t have undergone such a drastic change in character over these retiring years. Li Yifei could feel the joy and excitement when Zhang Tianxing saw them, as well as his restrained emotions. Just now when Li Yifei asked him, Zhang Tianxing struggled, pinching his good leg to stop himself from acting impulsively.
Why not act impulsively? Li Yifei knew the answer. Zhang Tianxing understood both his and Zheng Mingrui’s temperaments, knowing that if he spoke up, the two would likely lose control, and once the Golden Eagle and Zheng Mingrui went wild, the destructiveness would be unthinkable. Not to mention a small town, even the forces of a whole county might not be able to stop the two.
Therefore, Zhang Tianxing couldn’t speak, or else Li Yifei and Zheng Mingrui would certainly lose control, which would harm the two brothers. Zhang Tianxing couldn’t do such a thing. After leaving the army and experiencing some things, he already knew that the rules of the army were not applicable in society.
Zheng Mingrui forcibly sent him back to the village. At the entrance of the village, Zhang Tianxing tried to get down, but Zheng Mingrui wouldn’t allow it. However, seeing the roads of the village, he sighed, "Fine, then I won’t take you in. But Tianxing, I have a question for you, why do you have to be at your old home? Back then, taking that money to settle in the city was possible, even if you couldn’t leave your parents, you could bring them along!"
Zhang Tianxing grinned at these words, a smile filled with helplessness, "Mingrui, sometimes people are really helpless. I’m doing okay now, so you and the boss don’t have to worry about me. I’m very happy you came, especially the boss, I never thought he would come, it’s simply the biggest surprise."
"Anyway, if something happens, you have to tell your brothers. Besides, the boss is doing very well now, enough to cover us!" Zheng Mingrui looked at Zhang Tianxing and said.
"The boss is the boss, my life is my life!" Zhang Tianxing murmured softly. Seeing Zheng Mingrui looking at him with slight surprise, he smiled and said, "I understand what you mean, don’t worry, I’m fine. If something really happens, I will ask for your help."
"That’s good, go back and rest first, we’ll see you tomorrow." Zheng Mingrui nodded and said.
Zhang Tianxing pushed open the car door and got off with effort. Turning back to see the passenger seat dirtied by him, he used his sleeve to wipe it. Zheng Mingrui didn’t expect his old brother to become like this. His eyes instantly became wet but he didn’t stop Zhang Tianxing. After he closed the door and waved goodbye, walking away a bit, Zheng Mingrui opened the door, walked out, strode to Zhang Tianxing, and said, "Brother, no matter what happens, we are brothers!"
"Of course, we’re brothers!" Zhang Tianxing lowered his head, not daring to look at Zheng Mingrui, and said in a low voice, "Go on, you’ve been up all day, go back and rest. I’ll bring you breakfast tomorrow."
"Alright." Zheng Mingrui turned and walked back, reversing the car.
Watching the car disappear at the intersection, leaving only the roar of the engine, Zhang Tianxing closed his eyes. His body wobbled a bit as he slowly squatted down, digging his hands into the muddy ground. He buried his head deep into his knees, and after a while, he let out a suppressed sound, somewhere between a cry and a shout. No one knew what he had gone through, that his emotions exploded after meeting his brother.
Zheng Mingrui drove back, parked the car, and saw Li Yifei squatting on the ground smoking, seemingly lost in thought.
"Boss!" Zheng Mingrui walked over and squatted down as well, pulling out a cigarette and lighting up, taking a deep drag.
"Hm!" Li Yifei glanced at him and asked, "What do you want to say?"
"Boss, about Tianxing’s situation..." Zheng Mingrui knew Li Yifei’s character, he wouldn’t ignore things, so he didn’t hesitate to say, "I think since we’re here, we need to figure this out. Tianxing wasn’t like this back then, he’s acting completely off today!"
"How is he acting off?"
"He... he wasn’t like this before, boss didn’t you feel it? Back then Tianxing was so flamboyant, and once he got familiar with us, he was righteous, trustworthy, had principles, not servile nor overbearing..." Zheng Mingrui said excitedly.
Li Yifei interrupted him and said, "So you think he’s acting off?"
"Yes!" Zheng Mingrui paused, nodded forcefully, and said, "He’s definitely acting off, almost a complete personality change. I suspect that after he retired, he encountered something that not only wounded him but also made him somewhat resigned... I don’t know if I’m guessing correctly."
Li Yifei exhaled a puff of smoke, lightly nodding without committing to a stance, and after a while he said, "People always change, let’s investigate tomorrow. Coincidentally, a few brothers will come, if any despicable thing has happened, we definitely should step in. But if... Tianxing chose this kind of life himself, we also need to respect him, that’s why I didn’t force him to tell us earlier."
Zheng Mingrui exhaled heavily and said, "Boss, you’re right, if it’s the latter, we have to respect this brother, can’t force him to change."
Throwing away the cigarette in his hand, grinding out the butt, Li Yifei grinned briefly and said, "Maybe it’s not as bad as we think."
"Tomorrow we’ll know, let’s wait for tomorrow." Zheng Mingrui stood up, glanced inside the yard, and asked, "Are the two of them done packing?"
As he spoke, Na Yi came out pulling Lin Wanqing, the latter still looking shaken, while Na Yi seemed more composed.
"What happened?" Li Yifei moved over quickly, Na Yi explained, "There was a snake inside the house just now, I was afraid it would scare Wanqing, so I quickly pulled her out!"
"A snake? I’ll handle it!" As soon as Zheng Mingrui heard, he rushed inside, Li Yifei grabbed Na Yi’s hand, gently squeezed it. He knew Na Yi had been dealing with worms since she was young, naturally not afraid of snakes, but Lin Wanqing was different. Upon hearing about the snake, she already covered her mouth to prevent herself from screaming.
A minute later Zheng Mingrui came out, holding a black snake about a meter and a half long, and said quietly, "It’s a venomous snake, this place..."
"It must have wandered in by itself, go and dispose of the snake. Tonight, you two girls should sleep in the car, Mingrui and I will stay here," Li Yifei said.
"Okay!" Na Yi nodded, Lin Wanqing also agreed.
But in such an unfamiliar place, sleeping in the car, the two girls would still feel frightened. Li Yifei said, "Don’t worry, if anything happens, the two of us will come immediately, there won’t be any danger, plus the car is cleaner."
"Honey, don’t worry about us, you two be careful about venomous snakes!" Na Yi pulled Lin Wanqing’s hand and walked into the car, reclining the seats, their space was roomy enough for sleep, and the doors were locked, so no worries about someone opening them.
Inside the room, Li Yifei and Zheng Mingrui lay down with their clothes on, without much conversation, they quickly fell asleep.