Chapter 977 - 942: You Can’t Let Go

Xu Chunliang contacted through WeChat, and soon Mo Han answered the phone: "Since when did you learn to be so frugal? Are you really that short on phone bill money?"

Xu Chunliang laughed: "It’s just that when I called, your phone was off. I was worried you might be in some trouble, so I wanted to check in."

Mo Han said: "It wasn’t off, it was on airplane mode. I’ve got some things going on these days and didn’t want to be disturbed by boring people."

Pu Jian, one of those boring people, gave Xu Chunliang a look, reminding him not to forget to mention his own issue.

Xu Chunliang said: "I visited Master Tonghui at Du Yun Temple a couple of days ago, but he disappeared soon after."

Mo Han said: "I’m looking for him too, but there’s no news yet. By the way, did he say anything when you saw him?"

Xu Chunliang said: "It was just a routine visit, we exchanged views on calligraphy."

"Nothing unusual?"

Xu Chunliang said: "If there’s anything unusual, it’s that the pagoda of the former abbot was struck by lightning and destroyed."

Mo Han said: "Let’s all keep looking together. Master Tonghui’s identity is unclear, he might be avoiding something. Let’s not involve the police for now and respect the master’s wishes. I have other matters to attend to; I’ll contact you once I’m done."

With that, Mo Han hung up the phone.

Pu Jian complained: "You hear her voice and forget my issue—still claim you’re not putting friends before relationships?"

Xu Chunliang said: "She has things to handle. Why are you in such a rush? If you really need the money urgently, take it from Old Chen first."

Chen Qianfan said with mixed emotions: "Didn’t you just say you’d cover Mo Han’s tab? Now you’re asking for it from me?"

Xu Chunliang said: "I’ll acknowledge the debt! As for the money, I can’t help repay that."

Mo Han walked into the outer courtyard, towering ancient trees provided shade all around. Master Tonghui, dressed in a gray robe, sat cross-legged meditating with his back against a massive cedar that took five people to embrace.

Mo Han didn’t disturb him, and stood waiting patiently.

About a stick of incense’s time later, Master Tonghui slowly opened his eyes and softly asked: "You’ve been here long?"

Mo Han said: "You knew I’d been here for a while, yet you chose to ignore me."

Master Tonghui said: "I was reminiscing."

Mo Han said calmly: "There’s no meaning in revisiting the past. Looking forward is the right choice."

Master Tonghui asked: "When did you learn of my identity?"

Mo Han said: "Does it matter?"

Master Tonghui stood up, turned to face the cedar, and gently stroked the tree knot on the trunk, as if silently communicating with the venerable tree.

Mo Han said: "I guessed where you’d go once you regained your memory, and sure enough, I found you at the cemetery."

Master Tonghui said: "As expected from Ouyang Qiushui’s daughter, you’ve inherited her wisdom."

Mo Han said: "I promised her I would find you. Our family owes you, and now it’s a debt that only I can repay."

Master Tonghui chuckled: "There’s no need. You don’t owe me anything. Any debts of gratitude from back then have been settled."

Mo Han said: "What do you plan to do next? Reclaim your past identity, reunite with family, reconnect with your children, find familial joy? Or do you plan to find the true culprits behind your plight and make them pay?"

Master Tonghui lightly patted the cedar: "You’ve forgotten that I am now a monk."

Mo Han said: "If you had truly let go, you wouldn’t have gone to your mother’s grave. You can’t let go."

Master Tonghui looked down at the tangled roots and softly said: "Whatever the choice, it is my own decision."

Mo Han shook her head and said: "You’ve lost twenty-three years, the golden years of your life. Even if you regain your identity, you cannot start over. Apart from your family, no one else will accept you."

Master Tonghui knew she spoke the harsh truth, and reality could be even crueler than she described; even family might not accept him.

Mo Han said: "My mother often said that you were the one who knew her best in the world, and she actually knew you too. Leaving aside the matter of gratitude, we might consider our relationship from another perspective, such as a mutually beneficial collaboration."

Master Tonghui said: "I have nothing to offer."

Mo Han said: "Your mind is enough, and you know that person’s weaknesses. Most importantly, he is our mutual enemy."

Master Tonghui looked at Mo Han.

Mo Han displayed a calmness beyond her years: "Don’t talk to me about having let go. Everything that has befallen you is courtesy of him. If he knew you were still alive, he would spare no expense to eliminate you. Don’t imagine your family can offer you enough protection. Dragging them into this will only complicate matters."

Master Tonghui said: "It seems you already have a plan. Why not share it with me?"

Mo Han said, "I’ll arrange for a top international plastic surgeon. He can transform you into someone else. A few months later, you’ll have a new identity—you can choose to be a businessman, a scholar, or whatever you like. There’ll be a substantial amount of funds in your account for you to use."

"I don’t need money."

"Times have changed. You need some time to adapt and learn. You can use the money as you please, without worrying about other issues because this money rightfully belongs to you. According to what my mom said, during the time you went missing, we safeguarded it for you."

Master Tonghui looked at this sensible girl and suddenly had a thought, but he quickly dismissed it.

Mo Han said, "Are you agreeing to cooperate with me now?"

Tonghui did not speak, but his heart had silently consented. His memories had been locked away for over twenty years, and he was completely disconnected from this world. He needed an opportunity, and he didn’t have many left.

Xu Chunliang spent his first few days back in Dongzhou receiving visitors from all directions. First, Chen Qianfan came to investigate, and shortly after, leaders from the Capital Tumor Research Institute and the Brain Hospital arrived.

Xu Chunliang had been home for several days, but he was always entertaining guests outside and hadn’t even had a proper meal with Grandpa.

Before getting off work on Friday, he specially bought some oil-roasted duck and pig head meat, intending to go back and have a few good drinks with Grandpa.

On the way back, Jizhou Taibai District Court sent him a message notifying him to appear in court in ten days.

Xu Chunliang thought that this matter must be dealt with promptly. Renhe Hall was left to him by his great-uncle, and it couldn’t be taken away ambiguously by someone else.

Returning home, he found that Gao Xinhua and his wife had come, and Ji Jiajia was also there.

They planned to go on a trip in a couple of days and wanted to invite Ji Jiajia to join, so they came specifically to discuss it with Xu Chunliang.

Of course, Xu Chunliang had no objections and invited Gao Xinhua and his wife to dinner together.

Gao Xinhua initially wanted to call them out to eat, but since Xu Chunliang had bought groceries, it was unnecessary to go out. Xiao Chuhong and Ji Jiajia ate a little and then got up to go shopping. They weren’t interested in these old men drinking and chatting.

After they left, Xu Chunliang asked, "Uncle Gao, is Ji Jiajia obedient?"

Gao Xinhua nodded and said, "Very well-behaved."

Xu Chunliang thought it was strange. Ji Jiajia had a stubborn personality everywhere else, but how did she become so docile with their couple? It seems that there are no children who can’t be educated; it was just incorrect methods in the past.

Gao Xinhua had a drink with Xu Chunliang and said, "I heard Tang Tianyi died?"

Xu Chunliang said, "Such a big thing, and you just heard? Tang Jingwei is the big boss of Changxing, his son died, and you, as the secretary, didn’t go to send a wreath?"

Gao Xinhua said, "We don’t have that kind of friendship, plus it happened in the Capital City. I figure Dean Zhao must’ve gone."

Xu Chunliang said, "Has Zhao Feiyang not returned to work?"

"Said to be sick, hasn’t gone to work recently."

Xu Chunliang thought Zhao Feiyang had managed to keep his assault incident under wraps, even Gao Xinhua didn’t know about it? Xu Chunliang wasn’t the type to talk behind someone’s back, so he didn’t mention it.

Xu Changshan complained, "Finally getting to have a meal together, and we end up talking about work matters again."

Gao Xinhua laughed, "Okay, okay, we won’t talk about it. Chunliang, I heard you broke up with Mei Ru Xue?"

Xu Changshan deliberately said, "You really know how to bring up sore subjects."

Xu Chunliang laughed, "It’s no secret, to satisfy your curiosity, yes, we broke up, indeed she even blocked me on WeChat."

Everyone laughed, and Gao Xinhua said, "Why do I sense some lingering feelings here? If she really let it go, she wouldn’t have done that."

Xu Changshan said, "Breaking up is for the best. We’re just ordinary folks, not a match for her." The old man harbored some resentment.

Gao Xinhua said, "Chunliang is excellent, he won’t have trouble finding someone better." In fact, he was pondering about his own daughter; just pondering, as he saw Xu Chunliang become more outstanding. His desire for him to become his son-in-law wasn’t as intense as before, mainly because Xu Chunliang seemed hard to control. Despite his daughter being a top student from Shuimu, she might not be able to manage him.

Just then, Xu Changshan quipped, "I think Xiaobai isn’t too bad either." In the past, the old man wouldn’t have had the confidence to say this; his grandson was just a high school graduate, while Gao Xiaobai was a top student from Shuimu, such a gap was substantial.

However, now Xu Chunliang had thrived in society, already becoming the Director of the Office at the Infectious Disease Hospital, the Director of the Preparatory Office, and a League Secretary at a young age, about to become a party member. His postnatal efforts had clearly shortened the gap with Gao Xiaobai, even slightly surpassing it.

Also, the Xu family had a quite decent family background. They weren’t extremely wealthy but had assets worth tens of millions, as Xu Changshan had privately discussed with Gao Hong Hall in the Capital City.

Xu Chunliang laughed, "Grandpa, aren’t you making Uncle Gao embarrassed? I’m just a high school grad, while Xiaobai is a top student from Shuimu, and we’re too familiar with each other; we’ve already become pals, can’t go further."

Xu Changshan said, "Is there pure friendship between men and women? I’ve lived over half my life and never seen it."

Gao Xinhua said, "Uncle Xu, no matter how anxious we get about the kids’ relationships, it’s pointless. Perhaps Chunliang already has someone." He was aware this young man had many beauties around him.

Xu Changshan said, "Who? Dating is one thing, but marriage and life together is another."

Gao Xinhua didn’t like hearing this; does it mean your grandson can casually date, then after he’s had his fill of experiences, he marries my daughter? How come I feel like our family is at a disadvantage here?