Chapter 07 Blighted Hope

After returning from the Northeast region, Guozhao Zhiqiang locked himself in Cloud City for many years. Under normal circumstances, if there is no big case that needs his help, he will not step out of Cloud City. He won't step out of Cloud City to help his juniors until his juniors call him, but as soon as he finishes the task assigned to him, he teleports back to Cloud City. Today is an exception, because Wang Shuchun's birthday is approaching, Fang Yaoting had asked Guozhao Zhiqiang to accompany Fang Weimin and Fang Weisheng to Fang Manor in Capital City. When Guozhao Zhiqiang and the Fang twins walked into the open market, it was already afternoon. On the busy main street, the rich and the poor walked side by side minding their own business. The Fang twins walked on both sides of Guozhao Zhiqiang.

The Fang twins knew that because the people who accompanied them to Fang Mansion were not their father and Uncle Lee, they behaved very well and did not irritate their senior brother.

Fang Weimin said, "Senior brother, I don't know why father will not trust us to come here on our own."

Guozhao Zhiqiang looked straight ahead at the crowded street and said, "You two are still children."

Fang Weisheng, "But we are children with great skills."

Guozhao Zhiqiang strongly said, "Your great skill is only good to catch fish in the back steam and shoot rabbits along the mountain side."

Fang Weisheng said, "If you give me a chance, I can defeat you."

Guozhao Zhiqiang hit Fang Weisheng on the head. Fang Weisheng quickly covered his head.

Fang Weisheng frowned at Guozhao Zhiqiang, "Senior brother, do you know that hitting people on their head will make them dumb?"

Fang Weimin sneered at Fang Weisheng, mocking, "Or knock some sense into the dumb person."

Fang Weisheng pointed his finger at Fang Weimin, "Hey, I'm older than you, you have to listen to me."

Fang Weimin protested, "Senior brothers and sisters are older than you. You don't listen to them. You are not a good leader. How can I listen to you?"

The twins ran ahead and walked towards Fang's residence. In four days, it will be Wang Shuchun's birthday. Guozhao Zhiqiang knew that Wang Shuchun hoped that the third master would bring the twins home, but Teacher Lee fell ill and Guozhao Zhiqiang have to accompany the twins to Fang's residence.

The three brothers approached the Fang's residence, and there were four guards at the door. The four guards saw the two young masters messing around on the street, and one of the guards went to announce the arrival of the young masters.

When the three brothers arrived at the gate of Fang Manor, Master Fang, Madam Fang, and Wang Shuchun were already waiting for them at the door.

Fang Weimin shouted, "Grandfather...Mother..." He ran toward Master Fang.

Fang Weisheng shouted, "Grandmother...Mother...." He quickly followed Fang Weimin.

Wang Shuchun looked around and asked sadly, "Is your father coming?"

Fang Weimin said, "Mother, uncle Dachin is sick, and father is not coming."

Fang Weisheng said, "But father also mentioned that if uncle Dachin is better, they might come by boat."

Wang Shuchun sighed and said sadly, "Then he is not coming."

Guozhao Zhiqiang greeted, "Fang Shimu." He handed a small box to Wang Shuchun. "A gift from the third master and teacher Lee."

Wang Shuchun took the box from Guozhao Zhiqiang, "Thank you, Zhiqiang."

Master Fang said, "Everyone, go in, I've already asked the maids to cook your favorite dishes." He smiled at the twins.

The Fang twins shouted in excitement, "Yeah." They rushed inside the house first.

After dinner, General Tang came to visit because he heard that the twins had returned home. Guozhao Zhiqiang walked through the yard, and the twins were showing their moves to General Tang and their six great-uncles. Then he recalled that when he was as old as them, he served food in the brothel where his mother worked. He didn't get a hug when he was growing up. He left the training ground, walked to the backyard, and saw Wang Shuchun sitting in the distance.

Guozhao Zhiqiang approached Wang Shuchun and greeted, "Fang Shimu."

Wang Shuchun, "Zhiqiang, sit down."

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "I'm sorry, you must be disappointed." He knew that although Wang Shuchun did not say what she felt, she waited for a year to have dinner with Fang Yaoting. Because Wang Shuchun's birthday is only two days before the first day of the new year, Fang Yaoting usually goes home without Lee Dachin and stays for at least three to ten days.

Wang Shuchun said, "It doesn't matter, did your third master say when he wants the children to return back to Cloud City?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang shook his head. He looked at Wang Shuchun and said, "Fang Shimu, can I ask you a personal question?"

Wang Shuchun, "Go ahead."

Guozhao Zhiqiang asked, "Third master doesn't live here, why should you stay here? Why don't you remarry?"

Wang Shuchun, "It is easy for a man to marry as many wives as he wants. For us women, once the husband leaves us, we are no longer needed in society." She smiled at him. "Zhiqiang, it's not all your third master's fault, it's also my fault, I caused my own suffering."

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "He must have feelings for you, that's why he married you."

Wang Shuchun smiled and said, "When I met your third master, I was thirteen years old, and our family was invited to celebrated General Tan's birthday." She smiled and poured a cup of tea for Guozhao Zhiqiang. "As soon as I saw your third master, I secretly fell in love with him. On my seventeenth birthday, my father told me that your third master picked my painting out of the fifty-six paintings of young ladies who are suitable to marry him. I was so happy that I couldn't sleep all night. I've heard the rumors that your third master don't like women, but I like him so much, I choose to ignore the gossips." She put the book aside. "On our wedding night, he told me that he would marry again when I gave birth to a son. I can still walk out of the room as an innocent pure woman, but I choose to stay because I believe I can change him." She sighed with a smile. "If I knew about the promised between your third masters and teacher Lee, I would never marry him."

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "What promise?"

Wang Shuchun smiled and said, "They promised to love each other until death due them part." She sighed. "Zhiqiang, I am not angry with them. He kept his promise to your teacher Lee. As soon as he knew that I was pregnant, he left the residential area and went to Cloud City. He showed me that true love exists."

Shan suddenly appeared, standing behind Guozhao Zhiqiang, and said coldly, "Zhiqiang."

Wang Shuchun looked up and saw Shan. She panicked, "Shan..."

Shan, "I'm sorry madam Fang. Zhiqiang, the juniors failed to catch the snake demon in Mount Eagle. Your juniors are waiting for you."

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "Thank you Shan. I will leave right now."

Shan looked at Wang Shuchun and said, "Madam Fang, Master Fang said he and Teacher Lee will be on the dock tomorrow because Teacher Lee is much better."

Wang Shuchun smiled and said, "Thank you Shan. Please tell them I will have someone booked a room in Brightness Inn for teacher Lee." Shan suddenly vanished into thin air. She looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang. "Zhiqiang, you be careful." She reached into her belt. "Wait. Take this with you." She gave him her money bag.

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "Fang shimu, I can't accept it."

Wang Shuchun, "I have a lot of it. I have no use for it. You and the other children might need it."

Guozhao Zhiqiang took the money bag from Wang Shuchun and stuffed it into his inner robe, "Thank you Fang Shimu." He took out the teleport talisman. He threw the talisman on the ground. Then white smoke appeared. When the white smoke disappeared, Guozhao Zhiqiang also disappeared.