Blinded chapter 61
Xie Li moved out of the Chang family. Initially, he considered staying with Hu Minxin, but then he worried about causing trouble for Hu Minxin. So, he found another place to stay.
Although he was not willing, breaking free from Chang Xiaojia’s almost obsessive control gave him more time to work for Chang Guanshan and Chang Xin. Chang Xin assigned some people to work under Xie Li.
He didn’t completely trust these people, but he treated them well. Regardless of the difficulties, he tried to help them. In just a couple of months, he gained a group of brothers who, at least on the surface, were loyal to him.
Among them, the one Xie Li trusted the most was a 19-year-old young man named Yao Wei. He joined Hongfang around the same time as Xie Li. Once, while collecting debts from a mahjong parlor, he was nearly beaten to death on the street. Xie Li saved him and brought him along. Since then, Yao Wei had been loyal to Xie Li, admiring him wholeheartedly. Once, he even got into a fight for Xie Li when someone claimed that Xie Li relied on sleeping with Chang Xiaojia and was living off him.
During this time, Yu Zhengkun investigated the middle-aged man who attempted to assassinate Chang Guanshan. He found Hongji Pharmaceutical’s antidepressant drugs that hadn’t been recalled from the man’s home. Analysis confirmed that they contained the same ingredients as a new type of drug circulating in the market.
When Xie Li met Yu Zhengkun, he said, “Hongji Pharmaceutical might be their drug production base.”
“Why would they mix drug ingredients into antidepressants?” Xie Li squatted in a corner, tiredly covering the lower half of his face with both hands, leaving only his eyes visible. “Could it be contamination on the production line?”
Yu Zhengkun said, “It’s a possibility. Try to find a way to infiltrate the pharmaceutical factory.”
Xie Li remained silent for a long time. He said, “I’ll give it a try.”
After a while, Yu Zhengkun asked again, “How is Ruan Qiuyuan doing?”
Xie Li shook his head in confusion.
Yu Zhengkun lit a cigarette and tossed one to Xie Li. “She refuses to contact me.”
Xie Li held the cigarette but didn’t ask Yu Zhengkun to light it. He stood up, ruffled his slightly long hair, and absentmindedly played with the cigarette in his hand. After a while, he said to Yu Zhengkun, “I have an idea. If needed, I’ll contact you.”
In the blink of an eye, it was the Lunar New Year. Following Hongfang tradition, on the fifth day of the new year, the gang leaders hosted a feast for their subordinates. On that day, Chang Guanshan would book a restaurant, treating all the brothers from morning till night.
After moving out of the Chang family, Xie Li occasionally visited Chang Guanshan and Chang Xin. However, he had not seen Chang Xiaojia once during this period.
He knew that even if Chang Xiaojia was at home, he would be locked in his room and wouldn’t come out to see visitors voluntarily.
Xie Li’s feelings were conflicting and urgent. He wanted to see Chang Xiaojia, but often wondered if his current state was normal. He had to follow his plan step by step, bring down Chang Guanshan as soon as possible, and then confess everything to Chang Xiaojia.
But once he confessed, would there still be a future between him and Chang Xiaojia? Xie Li didn’t know.
During the New Year’s holidays, even the mahjong parlor was closed. The brothers all went home for the holidays, leaving Xie Li alone in a strange city without daring to return home.
Until the fifth day of the new year, Yao Wei came to pick him up early in the morning, and they went together to the restaurant booked by Chang Guanshan for breakfast.
Apart from the previous one-on-one fight, Yao Wei was attending such an event for the first time and seemed a bit excited. As soon as they sat down, he kept waving to call the waiters to bring dishes.
Xie Li, however, absentmindedly took a sip of freshly brewed tea and looked around. He saw Chang Guanshan appear with his wife and two sons.
Chang Xiaojia’s hair had grown longer since the last time they met. It seemed like he hadn’t cut it, and his bangs almost covered his eyes, making him look rather lifeless.
Chang Guanshan briefly spoke the opening words and then let everyone enjoy themselves. He sat down at a round table near the front.
Ye Xinzhi and Chang Xin sat beside Chang Guanshan. However, Chang Xiaojia left Chang Guanshan and walked towards Xie Li.
Xie Li looked up at him.
But Chang Xiaojia didn’t look at Xie Li; he just walked in that direction. Passing by Xie Li without looking at him, he continued forward until he stopped next to He Chuanyun.
Xie Li watched as Chang Xiaojia bent down, whispered something in He Chuanyun’s ear, and received a nod in response.
After that, Chang Xiaojia sat down next to He Chuanyun, reaching for a cup of tea personally poured by He Chuanyun. Holding the cup with both hands, he brought it to his mouth, sipping it slowly.
Xie Li did not retract his gaze for a long time. Yao Wei placed a basket of shrimp dumplings in front of Xie Li and couldn’t help but call out, “Brother Li?” Only then did Xie Li come to his senses. He picked up a shrimp dumpling with his chopsticks and placed it in Yao Wei’s bowl, saying, “You eat.”
When the Hongfang brothers gathered for breakfast, Ye Shaoyin appeared with Ruan Qiuyuan.
In theory, Ye Shaoyin shouldn’t be present at such an event because he wasn’t a member of Hongfang. However, as Chang Guanshan’s wife’s younger brother, his sudden appearance wasn’t considered strange.
However, many people looked towards Ruan Qiuyuan, who came with him.
The last time Ruan Qiuyuan appeared in front of the Hongfang brothers, she was with Du Shenglian. Now, although Du Shenglian was still the second in command of Hongfang, he had claimed to be sick and stayed home for recovery after Wu Can’s accident. He hadn’t shown up in public since.
Most of the people in Hongfang knew the inside story. Now, seeing Ruan Qiuyuan with Ye Shaoyin, they only whispered to each other, not feeling too surprised.
Xie Li also glanced at Ruan Qiuyuan. He noticed that her complexion was slightly better than he had imagined. At least, her face, adorned with makeup, didn’t appear as weary as he thought.
Ye Shaoyin walked over to Chang Guanshan’s table and directly sat down next to Ye Xinzhi.
Ruan Qiuyuan stood behind Ye Shaoyin and dared not sit. Ye Xinzhi glanced up at Ruan Qiuyuan, then said something to Ye Shaoyin. Ye Shaoyin waved his hand towards Ruan Qiuyuan.
Xie Li saw Ruan Qiuyuan glance in his direction.
Ye Shaoyin also noticed this. His face darkened, and he said something to Ruan Qiuyuan. Ruan Qiuyuan moved to the side on her own and sat alone at a table near the entrance of the banquet hall, where no one else was sitting.
Xie Li lost his appetite. He lifted his tea cup, took a sip, and couldn’t help but turn around to glance at Chang Xiaojia again.
Chang Xiaojia was slowly nibbling on a custard bun shaped like a rabbit, showing no expression on his face.
However, He Chuanyun, who sat beside him, cast a quick glance in Ye Shaoyin’s direction. Soon, he lowered his gaze, but couldn’t conceal the resentment in his eyes.
Xie Li was sure he hadn’t seen it wrong. This wasn’t the first time He Chuanyun had displayed a different emotion towards Ye Shaoyin. With a thought, Xie Li picked up his tea cup, stood up, and walked slowly to He Chuanyun’s side, greeting, “Brother Yun.”
He Chuanyun looked up at him, and the previous emotions had disappeared from his face. He smiled slightly and said, “Xie Li.”
The young brother sitting on the other side of He Chuanyun promptly stood up to give his seat to Xie Li. After sitting down, Xie Li asked, “I hope I’m not interrupting your conversation?”
He Chuanyun said, “No interruption.” After that, he glanced towards Chang Xiaojia.
Chang Xiaojia didn’t react, and he didn’t look at Xie Li either. He bit off one ear of the rabbit-shaped bun with chopsticks, chewing indifferently.
He Chuanyun asked Xie Li, “Do you have something to say to Xiaojia? The last time you had a conflict with him, I remember it clearly. After that, I heard you moved out of the Chang family. The relationship between you two hasn’t improved.”
Xie Li originally wanted to say no, but after looking at Chang Xiaojia, he changed his mind and said, “Yeah, Xiaojia, how have you been lately?”
Chang Xiaojia remained silent.
He Chuanyun didn’t know how to mediate between the two, so he said, “Why don’t you two sit down and talk it out?”
Chang Xiaojia said coldly, “I have nothing to say to him.”
Xie Li forced a wry smile. He grabbed He Chuanyun and said, “No need. If Xiaojia doesn’t want to talk to me, then forget it.”
He Chuanyun could only smile and stood up. He signaled for a clean set of bowl and chopsticks to be brought to Xie Li. “Have something to eat.”
Xie Li picked up a piece of pastry casually. He asked He Chuanyun, “Has Mount Qifeng’s racing team disbanded?”
He Chuanyun nodded. “It stopped after the last incident.”
Xie Li asked him, “So where are you racing these days? Can you take me to see?”
He Chuanyun smiled, looking at him, “Are you really interested in racing?”
Xie Li said, “Just miss the feeling.”
He Chuanyun said, “There’s a racing event which will start after the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year. If you’re interested, I’ll take you to see.”
Xie Li lifted his tea cup. “Thanks, Brother Yun.”