Chapter 55: Stop Making Things Difficult
The truck driven by Second Cousin wasn’t insured, and after the accident, the other party only compensated him 100,000 yuan. The medical expenses, compensation for the truck and goods, and a series of other costs were an astronomical sum for him. Relatives from the Li family who had savings lent him money, with Eldest Aunt giving an extra 8,000 yuan and telling him not to pay it back. Others mostly gave two or three thousand each. Second Uncle even sold everything they could at home to help him repay the debts.
Even so, Second Cousin and his wife lived in dire poverty and took many years to recover. Later, they had a child, and their family’s situation gradually improved. But then Second Sister-in-law was diagnosed with a terminal illness, and her temper grew increasingly erratic. She became suspicious and paranoid, constantly blaming the Li family for failing to raise Second Cousin properly and demanding that Eldest Aunt and the others discipline him.
The Li family was protective of their own, and after Second Sister-in-law complained too much, she was scolded in turn by Eldest Aunt down to Fourth Aunt. From then on, she never interacted with the Li family again. Until Yang Jiabo's death, Second Cousin and his wife remained married in name only, with a relationship that was strained and likely more troubled than if they had divorced. They quarreled endlessly. In short, Second Cousin’s life was one of poverty and chaos.
Yang Jianjun had always believed that Li Wen was physically strong, loved firearms, and was a natural sharpshooter - perfect military material. If he had been born in wartime, he might even have become a hero. Yang Jianjun had lamented this more than once and mentioned it to Yang Jiabo several times, who took it to heart.
Yang Jiabo thought that if Li Wen joined the military, he might have a better future, so he helped him enlist. Not long ago, Li Wen had excitedly called Yang Jiabo to say he had been promoted to squad leader. His marksmanship and physical fitness were outstanding, and the unit’s leaders had spoken to him about grooming him for advancement.
Yang Jiabo was overjoyed and felt he had made the right choice in sending Second Cousin to the military. Second Uncle’s family was also thrilled and looked forward to Li Wen coming home on leave. But not long after, he was gone.
If only he hadn’t tried to be clever, if Second Cousin hadn’t enlisted, he would still be alive. His life might have been hard and full of setbacks, but at least he would have married, had children, and remained a living person. It was all his fault. If he hadn’t meddled and tried to change someone else’s life, none of this would have happened.
"Second Cousin, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have sent you to the military. I’m sorry, I’m sorry…" Yang Jiabo apologized over and over.
Martyrdom was glorious, but it came at the cost of a life. Yang Jiabo respected martyrs, but he was selfish - he would rather Second Cousin had lived a peaceful life than become a martyr.
When Yang Jianjun returned, he was shocked by Yang Jiabo’s state. He looked like a man who had lost his soul, muttering apologies incessantly - something was clearly wrong.
"Jiajia, what’s wrong?" Yang Jianjun reached out and gently shook him.
"I’m sorry, Second Cousin, it’s all my fault, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…" Yang Jiabo kept murmuring.
"Jiajia, Jiajia, look at me. Tell me what happened." Yang Jianjun’s expression was grave. From Yang Jiabo’s fragmented words, he guessed something terrible had happened.
Yang Jiabo looked up at Yang Jianjun, his voice hollow. "Second Cousin sacrificed himself. He’s dead. He died saving someone. He was so stupid, he was still so young. No, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have sent him to the military. It’s my fault…"
"What?" Yang Jianjun was stunned. "Jiajia, snap out of it. Tell me exactly what happened."
"The military called. Second Cousin sacrificed himself. His ashes will be brought back in three days, and we need to prepare to receive them. If I hadn’t sent him to the military, he wouldn’t have died. He’d still be alive, maybe even have a son by now." Yang Jiabo was drowning in his own guilt.
"Jiajia, pull yourself together. Your Second Cousin is waiting for you to bring him home." Yang Jianjun raised his voice sharply.
Yang Jiabo jolted, his gaze clearing slightly as he looked at Yang Jianjun.
"Dad, you’re right. Now’s not the time to grieve." Yang Jiabo forced himself to steady his emotions. "Dad, Second Uncle’s family doesn’t have a phone. Can you drive over and bring them here? I’ll call the other relatives and arrange how to bring Second Cousin home." His voice grew strained, his eyes reddening, but he held back his tears.
"I’ll have Yang Qing come back to stay with you. I don’t trust you alone right now." Yang Jianjun called for Uncle Liu and asked him to fetch Yang Qing.
Though the farm had many workers, Yang Jianjun didn’t want them to see Yang Jiabo in this state. His emotions were too unstable. Only after Yang Qing arrived and was instructed to watch over Yang Jiabo did Yang Jianjun leave.
Suppressing his grief, Yang Jiabo called each of the Li family relatives. Knowing he wasn’t in the right state of mind, he didn’t personally visit those without phones, instead asking Eldest Aunt to arrange for someone to notify them. Yang Qing, seeing Yang Jiabo so distraught for the first time, stuck to him like a shadow.
When the Li family heard Li Wen was gone, they couldn’t believe it. In their memories, he was still the cheerful young man proudly showing off his latest hunt. The dried game still hung under the eaves, his falcon still perched majestically on its stand, and Li Wen was still feeding it freshly caught prey.
By the time Yang Jiabo had finished notifying everyone, it was nearly mealtime. The Li family rushed to the farm without eating. In recent years, the Yangs had almost cut ties with them, and most were visiting the farm for the first time. Though stunned by its scale, they were too preoccupied to dwell on it. Yang Jiabo had arranged for someone to meet them at the gate and escort them inside.
Eldest Aunt was the first to arrive. Seeing Yang Jiabo, she asked anxiously, "Jiajia, is it true? Did Xiaowen really sacrifice himself?"
Yang Jiabo: "Yes. The military leader personally called to inform us."
"That foolish boy! Why did he have to show off? Didn’t he think about his family?" Eldest Aunt’s tears fell as she spoke.
Every Li family member who arrived afterward asked the same question. Relatives trickled in, and Yang Jianjun brought Second Uncle, Second Aunt, and Fifth Cousin Li Cheng. Li Wen’s younger sister, Sixth Cousin Li Yan, was still at school, so Yang Jianjun made another trip to fetch her.
When Second Aunt arrived, her face was still wet with tears. She asked Yang Jiabo to notify her elder sister and nephew. Second Aunt’s elder sister, Xiong Mei, was married to a railway worker and lived in the city. Her nephew, Xiong Yuan, had just been appointed deputy mayor this year.
Though Yang Jiabo wasn’t close to them, he knew them. He had often heard Second Cousin talk about "Brother Shuisheng" (Xiong Yuan’s childhood name). Shuisheng had climbed his way up from a remote Miao village - a truly inspirational story. Compared to him, Yang Jiabo, who had been content with making a little money and idling after his rebirth, was nothing.
Second Aunt’s family lived deep in the mountains in an impoverished Miao village. The mountain roads were treacherous, taking over four hours by car, so the rest of her relatives couldn’t be notified today. Yang Jiabo’s bamboo house was packed, but the atmosphere was heavy and silent. Only after everyone had gathered did the family begin discussing Li Wen’s funeral arrangements.
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