ABBWW Chapter 70

Chapter 070 Sea King – “They even ran away with the Shi family couple!” (16/20)

The old lady looked very displeased. Her expression was tinged with a hint of helpless anger.

Shi Jingge froze for a moment; before she could say anything, she heard a loud voice.

“Mrs. Yu!” A burly man walked over. “Are you heading home? Never mind. Just take a walk around outside first. Don’t go over there yet.”

“What’s going on?” the old lady asked.

“It looks like a fight broke out at the Shi family’s place!”

What?!

Shi Jingge’s eyes narrowed sharply, and he hurried to catch up with the burly man.

“I’m Shi Jingge.” Shi Jingge tapped his lightbrain to display his student information. “I came home to surprise my family. I didn’t tell anyone. I didn’t expect—”

“It’s Xiao Ge!” The man tugged at Shi Jingge’s arm, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “You’re here! Now your parents have someone to rely on. Come on, come on. Uncle will take you there!”

“Thanks, Uncle.”

The two of them ran off at top speed, leaving Old Mrs. Yu behind, staring in surprise at their retreating figures.

That young man—could he really be Old Shi’s son, Shi Jingge?

“Mrs. Yu,” a woman’s voice rang out, tinged with laughter, “what are you doing here? Aren’t you going home?”

“I…” Mrs. Yu paused, taken aback. “I saw Xiao Ge!”

“Xiao Ge? Who’s Xiao Ge?” The woman clearly hadn’t caught on.

“The Shi family’s son—Shi Jingge!”

“What? Their son’s back?”

“That’s right! I saw him with my own eyes! I even showed him the way!”

Over at the Shi household, although things hadn’t quite reached the point of violence yet, it was getting close. The commotion was deafening, with the sound of things being smashed. With one of the Shi couple ill and the other frail, the downstairs neighbors, fearing something might go wrong, contacted the neighborhood security and asked them to come over immediately.

Speaking of the incident at the Shi household, it all started with the package Shi Jingge had sent that day.

Dequn’s planet was a very remote little world. Due to depleted energy resources and an unfavorable geographical location, only two cities on the planet were somewhat prosperous and had slightly larger populations, though “larger” was relative to the scale of the planet itself.

The city where the Shi family lived wasn’t even one of those two prosperous ones, so you could imagine just how mediocre the living conditions there really were.

The items Shi Jingge sent were all he carefully selected. They weren’t particularly valuable, were relatively inexpensive, and weren’t the kind of things that would attract too much attention, but in a small town on such a remote planet, they were considered quite nice.

This was especially true for the Shi couple.

After all, these were items their son had earned money to send home, the first time in two years. How could that not hold special significance?

The past few years had been difficult for the Shi family, especially after Father Shi was injured. Relatives and friends had offered some help, and the couple kept that in their hearts, hoping to repay the kindness in some small way.

Before, they really had no choice. All their credit points had gone to Shi Jingge. They couldn’t even afford to send him a red envelope for the New Year. Being honest, hardworking people, how could the Shi couple not feel heartbroken?

So, they divided up the items Shi Jingge had sent. Of course, they didn’t dare touch the rose tea.

Their son had demanded they take it, didn’t he? And to be honest, the tea really did work.

Father Shi’s mental energy had been compromised long ago, so he felt the effects most acutely. Although he still felt discomfort, it wasn’t the kind of agony that kept him awake all night, nor was it the kind of pain that made him want to bang his head against the floor. Those pangs of pain gradually subsided; while he still felt some discomfort, it was at least within tolerable limits.

His pain used to be so severe that he barely got a good night’s sleep, and he always tried to keep as quiet as possible. His wife was heartbroken for him; even though he’d firmly sent her to sleep in another room, she’d still shed tears whenever he made too much noise.

He had no choice but to endure. Daring not to disturb anyone, he simply suffered through it.

As a result, he had lost a lot of weight and aged rapidly. Not only did he look a dozen or so years older than his peers, but because of the pain, he couldn’t even smile. Filled with deep sorrow and bitterness, his expression made him seem exceptionally gloomy.

Outsiders always said he was pitiful, but he didn’t see it that way. His suffering had allowed his son to attend school without worry—it was worth it!

After drinking the rose tea for less than three days, Father Shi was able to fall asleep at night. Although he still had a headache, for someone who had endured such excruciating pain for so long, this slight ache was truly nothing.

Then, Father Shi’s appearance gradually began to improve.

A smile returned to his face, dispelling most of the gloom that had weighed him down; his cheerful demeanor faintly looked like the old Father Shi.

But as his mental health recovered without him even buying any medicine, how did he get better?

Everyone was quite curious, but no one went to ask him directly. They discussed it behind his back a few times, and in the end, all their suspicions fell on Shi Jingge.

“Old Shi’s son is so talented, he even got admitted to the Federation’s First Academy on a special exemption. He’s the first person from our planet to be accepted there!” someone remarked with admiration. “Sending his father some medicine for treatment—wouldn’t that have been a simple matter?”

“Shi Jingge actually sent some things over a while back!”

“Right, right, right, I saw it myself. Three big packages—they took up the whole sofa!”

“Come to think of it, Old Shi only started getting better after his son sent them, didn’t he?”

“He really has a great son.”

“You bet! So many people used to mock Old Shi, what’s the big deal if his son is gifted? Who knows how much effort it took to raise him? Looking at Old Shi back then, it seemed like his son wouldn’t amount to much, and he might not even make it. Now though, who knows how many people envy him!”

“Old Shi’s been walking with a spring in his step these past few days.”

“What parent with a son like that wouldn’t?”

The news about Old Shi’s family gradually became a hot topic in the neighborhood. Word spread from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred, eventually reaching the ears of Old Shi and his wife’s relatives.

Immediately, the two families began to scheme.

In a very remote place like Dequn’s planet, passing the entrance exams was the only way out. There were two paths: the Primary School graduation exam and the Secondary School graduation exam.

But if you didn’t even pass the Primary School graduation exam, how could you possibly pass the Secondary School one?

So, in reality, the only way out was the Primary School graduation exam.

And the children from these two families were both in the third grade of Primary School this year, which meant this year was their graduation exam.

There wasn’t a parent who didn’t have extremely high hopes for their children. Since they themselves would be stuck in this small town for the rest of their lives, they hoped their children could break free.

If the items Shi Jingge sent can heal Old Shi’s damaged spiritual energy, couldn’t they also enhance their children’s spiritual energy?

Of course they could! Definitely!

So, the two families came to visit Old Shi and his wife.

They were all relatives and kept in close contact; they’d also received help from the Shi family over the past two years. When the other side played the emotional card, repeatedly insisting it was all for the children, Old Shi and his wife couldn’t help but think, Just how far had they gone for their own son? Of course they could empathize—and that’s exactly why they softened their hearts.

The couple didn’t want to tell Shi Jingge about this, afraid of causing him trouble, so they set aside a portion of their own rose tea, poured it into a smaller bottle, and gave it to the two visitors.

The two were deeply grateful at the time, but when they looked into it later, they discovered that this tiny bottle of rose tea was worth several hundred; and it was so rare it was practically inaccessible! Many people couldn’t get their hands on it no matter how hard they tried!

Most importantly, it actually worked.

But setting aside the fact that the rose tea was currently sold out, even if it were available, they couldn’t afford it. So they turned their attention to Old Shi and his wife, as well as Shi Jingge.

But who could fail to notice the progress in the children’s spiritual energy in both families? With Old Shi’s transformation setting the precedent, the Shi family’s relatives and friends immediately protested: Why should such a precious item be given only to those two couples and not to them?

Who would ever complain about having too little of it? What if their spiritual energy was damaged in the future? This stuff could even save their lives!

Even if they didn’t need it themselves, they could save it for their children and grandchildren; at worst, they could always sell it for money!

From that point on, those relatives and friends began showing up one after another. First, the elders came to reminisce about the past and play the sentimentality card; then the younger generation came to plead; and those with children went even further—they’d bring them along to cry right there!

Old Shi and his wife had never seen anything like this before.

As for the two families who’d initially approached the Shi’s for the rose tea, they were now pacing back and forth in a panic, like ants on a hot pan. With only a limited supply of rose tea to go around, and with everyone else snatching it up, what would that mean for their children?

Besides, that rose tea was so expensive. If they’d secretly played the emotional card and asked Shi Jingge to bring some for them, they might’ve stood a chance. But with so many people clamoring for it now, what hope was left?

Once these two families realized this, they couldn’t sit idly by any longer. They grabbed their kids and rushed over to the Shi household.

At that very moment, there were people at Old Shi’s house. Three generations—grandparents, parents, and children—all joined forces to play the sympathy card with him. To get their way, they even gave his little granddaughter a hard pinch, causing her to wail in pain.

When the two families arrived, they immediately exposed the incident and mocked them for even exploiting a child. With all five members of the other family present, they naturally refused to back down, accusing them of being heartless and cruel. The two sides quickly erupted into an argument that grew increasingly heated. They were on the verge of coming to blows!

Just then, the security guard and Shi Jingge arrived.

The security guard didn’t even bother ringing the doorbell; he just pounded on the door, shouting, “What’s going on in there? You’re making way too much noise! Do you realize you’re disturbing the neighbors? Show some class! Old Shi! Old Shi, open the door!”

“Thank you.” Shi Jingge nodded to the security guard. “I’ll formally thank you later.”

The implication of that “thank you” wasn’t lost on the security guard; he was somewhat flattered and quickly nodded. “I get it, I get it. It’s just a family matter. Go ahead, go ahead…”

With that, without waiting to see if the door would open, he headed straight downstairs.

He could tell that Shi Jingge was a capable individual who didn’t need him to get too involved.

Old Shi was truly lucky to have such a precious son. Although he’d suffered for these past two years, his hardships had finally given way to happiness. Who knew how much more good fortune lay in store for him in the future?

The security guard turned his head to look up, a flicker of envy passing through his eyes. If only his own son could turn out so successful.

Shi Jingge waited quietly outside.

It was quite a while before the door finally opened. The man who answered kept his head down, his face dark and brooding; it was clear he was in a terrible mood.

Only then did Shi Jingge notice that he looked even thinner than he had in the video. It was truly heartbreaking to see a man in the prime of his life reduced to such a gaunt state.

“Xiao Li, let me tell you, this–” The man managed to squeeze out a few words as he lifted his head, but before he could even force a smile, he froze in place.

Shi Jingge tilted his head slightly, opened his arms toward him as if waiting for a hug, and smiled. “Dad.”

The man’s eyes immediately welled up with tears, and he raised his arms to embrace Shi Jingge. “Xiao–Xiao Ge!”

The people inside heard the commotion.

The groups that’d been locked in a tense standoff just moments ago suddenly fell silent, as if someone had pressed the pause button. Mother Shi immediately ran over and joined the hug.

Then, she gently pushed Father Shi aside, cradled Shi Jingge in her arms, and examined him from head to toe several times. “You’ve lost weight, you’ve really lost weight. Are you tired? Have you been eating well at school? Are your teachers and classmates treating you well? Have you eaten yet? I remember you said last time you wanted fried starfish. We have plenty of starfish at home. Shall I fry some for you later, sweetie?” She paused, her voice a little hoarse. “Just look at how thin you’ve gotten.”

Shi Jingge’s eyes crinkled from a smile. “You’ve lost a lot of weight too, Mom.”

“I’m on a diet,” she said. “Isn’t that all the rage these days?”

“I’m on a diet, too.” Shi Jingge laughed. “Mom and I are on the same wavelength. We can diet together from now on.”

“What are you talking about? Don’t be silly!” She glared at Shi Jingge, her eyes red, as if tears were about to fall at any moment.

“Mm-hm.” Shi Jingge paused, then whispered, “I’ll listen.”

Standing nearby, Father Shi watched his wife and son. A lump formed in his throat; he turned away and quietly wiped the corner of his eye.

Xiao Ge was back. How wonderful.

As soon as Shi Jingge walked in and saw the seven or eight people in the living room, he put on a perfectly timed look of confusion. “Who… are these people?”

The eldest man spoke up first, “Xiao Ge, I’m your second uncle’s grandfather. I used to hold you when you were little. Back then, when you went to have your spiritual power tested, it was me and my son who took you there. Do you remember?”

“Right, right, right,” the middle-aged man next to him chimed in, looking over at him. “Xiao Ge, you even said back then that you liked your second uncle’s grandfather the most. Do you remember? You also said your aunt was pretty and that she was your favorite. Do you remember?”

The five family members chattered away, taking turns speaking. The other two weren’t about to let them have Shi Jingge’s undivided attention, so they quickly chimed in as well.

“Xiao Ge, according to family hierarchy, I’m actually your fifth uncle. I took you to school back then!”

“I even picked you up once!”

“When you got into Kalandi, I took you to the spaceship. Do you remember that?”

“I was there that day, too!”

“Enough!” Shi Jingge’s mother, Chang Ningning, couldn’t hold back any longer and snapped.

Father Shi stepped forward, took her hand, took a deep breath, and said, “Xiao Ge is back. It’s a rare occasion for the three of us to be together as a family, so we won’t keep you all here today.”

No matter how much they argued behind closed doors, they didn’t want this matter to reach Shi Jingge’s ears. They were afraid it would put him in a difficult position.

It didn’t matter if they themselves were in a difficult position. How could they let Xiao Ge be put in one? As parents, they naturally had to shield their child.

Shi Jingge felt a pang of sadness deep in his heart.

Actually, on the way here, the security guard had already filled him in on most of what had happened, and he’d long since figured out how to handle the situation before him. But when his parents stepped forward to shield him, he could still feel their boundless love.

No matter how he’d changed, no matter how strong he’d become, in their eyes, he would always be the child who needed their protection.

And they were willing to stand in front of him forever, protecting him.

But how could those people possibly be willing to leave? Shi Jingge had just returned and wasn’t familiar with the situation. Perhaps this was an opportunity.

Before that could happen, however, Shi Jingge spoke first, his face radiant with a smile that betrayed not a hint of negativity. “I didn’t tell anyone at home that I was coming back. I wanted to surprise Mom and Dad. I didn’t expect anyone to be here, so I’m really sorry for disturbing everyone, but since this is the case, there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Shi Jingge furrowed his brow slightly, then quickly, as if an idea had struck him, broke into a beaming smile. “Here’s what we’ll do. Tomorrow, Mom and Dad will take me to pay a visit. I’d also like to catch up and chat with my uncles, aunts, grandfathers, and grandmothers.”

Chang Ningning’s brow furrowed instantly; she opened her mouth to object, only to meet her son’s gaze. He gave her a faint smile, steady and confident, so she simply pursed her lips and said nothing.

Shi Jingge’s words were like a shot in the arm for the relatives. If they could discuss it privately and take their time, who’d want to make a scene right there and then?

Besides, they had to save face for Shi Jingge. The group nodded in agreement, bid farewell, and left one by one. But on their way out, they exchanged a knowing glance.

“Xiao Ge,” Chang Ningning said urgently, “you shouldn’t have agreed to their terms. They–”

“I know,” Shi Jingge said, taking her hand. “On the way here, Brother Li already told me everything. I know what they’re after. Don’t worry. I won’t come out on the losing end. I’ll handle this.”

Chang Ningning was still a little uneasy; she didn’t really want to fall out with her relatives either.

Shi Jingge blinked. “Mom, I’m hungry. I want some deep-fried Dingxing fish. I just got back today.” He held up a finger and said, somewhat childishly, “I want to chat and talk with Mom and Dad and enjoy our family reunion. I definitely don’t want those people disturbing us! Mom, don’t you agree?” He grabbed Chang Ningning’s sleeve and tugged at it a few times, pulling at her heartstrings.

“Oh, you—you should’ve told me earlier. Deep-fried dingxing fish are a hassle to make; it’ll take at least an hour. If you’d said something ahead of time, you could’ve had them the moment you got home, right?” Chang Ningning said as she walked toward the kitchen, her voice brimming with joy.

Oh well, her son was right. The three of them had finally reunited; there was no need to waste time and energy on those people.

Over the past few days, she’d finally seen through it all: relatives were just relatives. No matter how close you were or how often you visited, when it came down to it, there was always a line between you and them.

They’d still try to take advantage of you.

When has there been any peace in this house lately? They wanted rose tea but wouldn’t say so outright; they refused to pay, relying instead on emotional appeals, tears, insinuations, and barbed remarks, all in an attempt to get them to hand it over for free.

Every single day, someone showed up at the door; every few days, they ran into someone else; and arguments broke out from time to time. Those brothers and sisters who grew up together seemed like completely different people now, pressing her harder and harder. To the point where Chang Ningning had been losing sleep.

Old Shi said that if all else failed, they should just take out a portion of it, get everyone together, and divide it up right then and there.

But why should they? Hadn’t those people forgotten that Old Shi was still a patient? His mental energy was compromised—it could kill him.

The rose tea was what’s keeping him alive!

Thankfully, Xiao Ge was back.

A hint of relief flashed in Chang Ningning’s eyes, only to be followed immediately by a touch of worry. Would this cause trouble for Xiao Ge…?

In fact, this wasn’t a bother at all for Shi Jingge because he had no intention of confronting those people head-on.

That evening, he had dinner with his parents and mentioned the matter of Kalandi. They listened with great interest, so Shi Jingge went into more detail.

After finishing his story, he took out a number of items from his suitcase. “These are gifts to give to people. Just hand them out as you see fit. Give them to whoever you like. I haven’t been home for the past two years, and Dad’s been sick. We’ll repay anyone who’s helped us.”

“Well…” Chang Ningning hesitated; she was still a bit frightened by what had happened earlier.

Countless times in the middle of the night, she’d woken up thinking, “If only I hadn’t given away that rose tea back then, none of this mess would’ve happened.”

“Don’t worry,” Shi Jingge said, looking up with a smile. “I came back this time specifically to take you both with me.”

Chang Ningning was startled and instinctively refused. That was the federal capital. How much would it cost to live there? She’d heard that the monthly rent was several times their combined monthly income!

“I’ve already rented a place—a one-year lease with a two-year contract. I can’t cancel it. If you don’t move in, the place will just sit empty, and I’ll still have to pay.” Shi Jingge shrugged. “Oh, and don’t even think about subletting. The landlord won’t allow it. Here’s the lease.”

Shi Jingge showed them the lease. When her father saw the rent, he felt like he was about to pass out.

“So,” Shi Jingge concluded, “we should just go live there. That place is too far from my school, so I can’t live there either. If you guys don’t go, I’ll be really upset. My roommates get to see their parents every day, but I might not see mine even once in several years. As my studies get more and more demanding, forget about going home—it’ll be a struggle just to catch my breath.

“The food at school doesn’t agree with me; it tastes weird. I miss home and my parents, but there’s nothing here to help me reminisce. I don’t dare video call home either, because I’m afraid I’ll start crying right then and there and worry you.”

Shi Jingge’s tone remained calm throughout, without any outbursts of emotion, but it was precisely this calmness that tugged at his parents’ heartstrings even more. Their eyes immediately welled up with tears.

Shi Jingge paused, bowed his head, and whispered, “I just want to see Mom and Dad more often…”

His voice was so soft it seemed as if it might vanish the very next second.

“Enough, enough!” Chang Ningning said, her eyes red. “I’ll cook, I’ll get a part-time job, I’ll do whatever it takes! My son has to be able to see his mom!”

“There’s no need for that.” Shi Jingge leaned in. “Mom, I’ve made something of myself. I can make sure you live a life of comfort.”

At that moment, Chang Ningning suddenly thought of Shi Jingge as a child. Barely five years old, a tiny little bundle, she went for his psychic ability test and he scored an A+.

That sent shockwaves throughout the entire city.

Back then, little Shi Jingge, holding her hand, had promised her just like that. “Mom, when I grow up, I’ll definitely make sure you live a life of comfort.”

Back then, her heart felt sweeter than if she’d eaten a honey spirit fruit.

All these years, no matter how bitter or exhausting life got, she never felt the strain. She knew her Xiao Ge would make sure she lived a life of comfort.

But now that this day had finally arrived, why did she feel like crying so much?

She had finally… finally received her precious Xiao Ge.

It felt as if she’d been waiting for two lifetimes.

Chang Ningning covered her mouth and began to cry. Shi Jingge hurried to comfort her, but she only cried harder.

Shi Jingge had no choice but to turn to his father for help. Father Shi embraced his wife and said, his eyes reddening, “Mom…is just happy. Very happy…”

Chang Ningning cried for a long time, then washed her face, changed into a new outfit Shi Jingge had bought for her, and even insisted that her husband change into new clothes as well.

Father Shi had never been particular about such things. As long as a piece of clothing wasn’t completely worn out, he’d wear it. Wearing such nice clothes for the first time made him feel a bit awkward.

Then Chang Ningning took his hand and led him outside to show him off. Shi Jingge and his father exchanged a glance and both burst out laughing.

All along the way, the family of three attracted a lot of attention. Neighbors came up one after another to say hello and compliment Chang Ningning on her outfit. Whether they were close or distant, whether they’d had conflicts in the past or not, everyone came over to do that.

At that moment, Chang Ningning and her husband—just like other parents in the world—embodied the saying “modest on the outside, brilliant on the inside” to the fullest. When it came to showing off their children, parents were naturally gifted.

Then, with Shi Jingge by his side, they handed out most of the gifts.

Before giving them, Chang Ningning had felt a bit reluctant, but Shi Jingge shut her down with some words. “I brought these all the way from over there. Are you really going to make me take them back? Just be a little more considerate of your son. They’re really heavy.”

Those words were all it took to change Chang Ningning’s mind.

When her son was acting so sweet, how could she not give in?

Besides, there were so many things to pack for the move. There wasn’t enough room for these anyway.

This time, the Shi couple’s generosity was so conspicuous that word spread throughout the entire neighborhood. Everyone envied them for having such a wonderful son.

The news quickly reached their relatives’ ears as well, putting everyone’s minds at ease.

Shi Jingge was incredibly generous! So they waited for him to come calling.

After learning that he liked fried dingxing fish, they even bought a large supply and kept it at home to show how much they were thinking of him.

Afterward, they gradually heard more about Shi Jingge’s preferences. You couldn’t catch a wolf without baiting it. Compared to the rose tea or the gifts Shi Jingge had given them, these were very cheap! Buy them! Even if it stung a little.

Everyone waited and waited, and waited some more.

They waited with high hopes.

But in the end, Shi Jingge took off! And he took his parents with him!

They’d waited for nothing!

And all those things were bought for nothing!!

Author’s Note:　　

Relatives: We want flower tea! We want this! We want that! We want everything!

Relatives: He gave the neighbors so many things; he’s definitely going to give me plenty too!

Relatives: Hehehe, just wait until he comes over. He’s definitely going to bring them!

Relatives: Why hasn’t he come over yet???

Shi Jingge: I ran away 🙂