bullyxtreme Chapter 150 Innocent Teddy
Chapter 150 Innocent Teddy
Three months later, Andy's maternal grandfather, He Yunli, fell critically ill. Zhang Liangjun received the news and asked Andy to see him one last time.
This old man had lived most of his life in regret and self-blame. Even with his success, he had no happiness. Andy was able to recognize him before he passed away and even spent a few months with him. Moreover, he heard Andy call him "Grandpa" before he died. He Yunli was very satisfied and would not die with regrets.
Neither Zhang Liangjun nor Andy told He Yunli about Xiaoming's situation. He already felt very guilty, and if he knew that his mistake had caused his daughter so much suffering, he might find it even harder to forgive himself.
Therefore, He Yunli passed away peacefully, and even though he was suffering from illness, he still had a smile on his face.
Without Wei Guoqiang and his current wife causing trouble, He Yunli's funeral arrangements went smoothly. Andy, who had already forgiven He Yunli, accepted his estate without any guilt. After a brief inspection of the property, she locked the documents and keys in a safe. She wouldn't need them, but she could keep them as mementos.
Neither Andy nor Ji Xiaotong agreed to get a marriage certificate, and Zhang Liangjun didn't force them. Ji Xiaotong became pregnant the following year, while Andy likely took some precautions, possibly even having surgery. Zhang Liangjun didn't know, and Andy didn't say anything, but she still didn't have a child.
The following April, Ji Xiaotong gave birth to a boy, whom Zhang Liangjun named Zhang Jiye, meaning that although they were not legally married, he could still inherit the family business.
Two years later, when Qu Xiaoxiao was twenty-seven, she married Zhang Liangjun and gave birth to a daughter that same year. Qu Xiaoxiao's mother, Xu Lilan, was overjoyed. She knew that Zhang Liangjun preferred girls, and the birth of a daughter by her daughter was perfect!
After that, Zhang Liangjun began his unrestrained journey by getting married once a year.
After Qu Xiaoxiao came Kong Kong, then Qiu Yingying, and finally Guan Juer.
The most exhausted were not Zhang Liangjun, but Yang Xiuyuan and Zhang Zhipeng.
Although the others said it didn't need to go to so much trouble, Zhang Liangjun insisted, even if it was just to leave them with a memory. Perhaps every woman imagines her wedding day as grand, solemn, warm, and romantic. While Zhang Liangjun couldn't fulfill all of that, he would try his best to make it up to them.
Perhaps because her personality is most similar to Ji Xiaotong's, Andy likes Zhang Jiye the most, as if she dotes on him like her own child. Maybe she gave all her innate maternal love to Zhang Jiye.
Qu Xiaoxiao and Kong Kong each had only one child and then never mentioned having more. On the other hand, Qiu Yingying and Guan Juer each had two children, one boy and one girl. However, Qiu Yingying had two boys and Guan Juer had two daughters.
Zhang Liangjun didn't have the idea that having many children meant more happiness; it was all voluntary. However, Zhang Liangjun poured less and less affection into his children, as if his own emotions had been divided up, and only Zhang Jiye enjoyed the same treatment as Chen Xinlin and Chen Zhouxin.
Ten-year-old Zhang Jiye was taught by Zhang Liangjun, and the theme was Taoist culture.
The Taoist philosophy is not simply about attaining enlightenment and ascending to heaven; it has a complete logical system that elucidates the Taoist worldview and philosophy of life through the relationship between humanity and nature. Zhang Liangjun extracted some principles from Taoism that were applicable to contemporary society and explained them to Zhang Jiye. Besides attending school and memorizing texts, young Zhang Jiye also had to memorize scriptures and classics, leaving his little head constantly foggy.
At first, Zhang Liangjun only wanted to study his own spiritual world, but as he gained a deeper understanding of Taoism, he gradually realized that Taoism was profound and complex, and could not be simply summarized as feudal superstition. Feudal superstition was merely a tool for some petty evildoers to make money.
The three souls in their simplest form—Tai Guang, You Jing, and Shuang Ling—represent three ideologies, bearing a striking resemblance to the psychological concepts of id, ego, and superego. The more Zhang Liangjun studied Taoist culture, the more fascinated he became.
When Zhang Jiye was twenty-five, Zhang Liangjun arranged for him to join the company, with the clear intention of putting him in charge. Zhang Jiye lived up to expectations, never disappointing in his studies, work, or interpersonal relationships. Zhang Liangjun had also made arrangements for his other children in advance, thus preventing a repeat of the Qu family tragedy.
When Zhang Jiye was thirty-five, Zhang Zhipeng suffered a sudden cerebral hemorrhage and was admitted to the intensive care unit. At this time, Zhang Zhipeng was already ninety-two years old. Zhang Zhipeng did not usually drink alcohol, but when he received the news that his old friend, Lao Li from the police station, had passed away at the Daishan Nursing Home, Zhang Zhipeng was somewhat saddened and had a drink. Unexpectedly, he also collapsed.
After two days in the ward, Zhang Liangjun did not sign the surgery consent form. It wasn't that he didn't want Zhang Zhipeng to stay, but that it might be too painful. Although the doctor brought the form, his words implied that he wanted Zhang Liangjun to give up, since even if the outcome was good, there was a high possibility that Zhang Zhipeng would end up in a vegetative state.
After cremation, Zhang Liangjun held a memorial service for Zhang Zhipeng. Yang Xiuyuan held Zhang Zhipeng's urn, her expression blank, only showing a hint of light when she looked at Zhang Liangjun.
Zhang Liangjun was worried that Yang Xiuyuan's mental state might be deteriorating, so he brought her to live with him and let her see his great-grandson, Zhang Jiye's son. With the little boy around, Yang Xiuyuan smiled more often, but two years later she still passed away. Similar to Zhang Zhipeng, Yang Xiuyuan died unexpectedly from angina. Zhang Liangjun regularly checked on her and found no cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases.
Perhaps this is the end for me!
Although Zhang Liangjun had become much more detached from life and death, Yang Xiuyuan's passing still deeply saddened him. The 69-year-old Zhang Liangjun clung to Yang Xiuyuan's coffin, unwilling to let go. It was only after Andy and Ji Xiaotong arrived and forcibly pried his hands away that Yang Xiuyuan was finally pushed into the crematorium. Even He Xiaoming, in his sixties, came. He kept murmuring "Second Grandmother," his name for Yang Xiuyuan, a hot tear rolling down his wrinkled face.
Having managed to shake off his sadness, Zhang Liangjun cherished the time he spent with everyone even more, and even studied the Daoist canon less.
When Zhang Liangjun was nearly ninety years old, his energy had noticeably declined, and he needed more than two hours for his afternoon nap. Zhang Liangjun was awakened from his sleep by Zhang Jiye, who said that Aunt Kong was dying. Aunt Kong was none other than Kong Kong. By the time Zhang Liangjun arrived at the hospital, Kong Kong was already somewhat delirious. Zhang Liangjun held Kong Kong's aged hand and felt its icy coldness, just like it had been in the swimming pool years ago.
Eighty-four-year-old Kong Kong fell down the steps while praying at a temple with her daughter Zhang Ruobing. When Zhang Liangjun arrived at the hospital, he saw the distraught Zhang Ruobing, raised his hand and slapped her hard, making her kneel in front of the bed to repent.
Around 7 PM, just as the sun was setting, Kongkong suddenly woke up. Zhang Liangjun noticed and quickly sent someone to call a doctor. Kongkong ignored everyone else, only reaching out to touch Zhang Liangjun's face. Zhang Liangjun helped her lift her hand and placed it against his own equally aged face. Kongkong smiled, but then her hand lost its strength. Zhang Liangjun didn't remove Kongkong's hand; instead, he gently closed her eyes with his other hand.
When Zhang Liangjun was 107 years old, he finally realized what was happening, but there was no one left by his side! After Kongkong left, one by one they all left, and the last one to leave was Ji Xiaotong, but she only stayed with Zhang Liangjun until she was 103 years old. Even Zhang Jiye passed away last year.
Zhang Liangjun, his hair now completely white, gazed at Zhang Jiye's tombstone, followed by those of Ji Xiaotong and Andy. He walked past each tombstone, looking at the black-and-white photographs, his fingers tracing the surface of each one. Memories of his time with everyone flooded his mind. The last tombstone he reached was Yang Xiuyuan's, as if he were rewinding time. He realized that his first encounter with this world was with Yang Xiuyuan and Yun Qing, and that he had used his last strength to reach this world. Having completed this short journey, Zhang Liangjun returned to Yang Xiuyuan's tombstone, slowly sitting down before it. Leaning against it, he closed his eyes in contentment…
That ended Teddy's life!