Chapter 375: Chapter 371: Let Me Sleep for a While
Actually, he was just taking a "letâs try it" attitude. After all, even though he participated, he couldnât entirely control the outcome of the situation.
But unexpectedly, Zhang Heng really paused for a moment. Sure enough, playing the family card worked.
Of course, if even the last resort didnât work, he could only try to hold on, but not too hard. After all, the narrator already indicated that the probability of him being taken down was as high as 33%.
At this height, even if he could swim, it probably wouldnât help much, since itâs those who can swim that drown. He wouldnât joke with his life.
So when he spoke, his whole body was in a half-squat position, using the railing to ensure he wouldnât be taken down.
If the other party really made up his mind to leave, then so be it. At worst, he could just call 110 and 120 to see if there was any chance to save him.
Thatâs why they say being an ordinary person is great; you just need to consider everything from your own perspective.
Seeing that his earlier words had an effect, Su Qing hurriedly continued: "Well, the other day I went to your house and saw your father. Arenât you really going to say a proper goodbye?
If you die, in the first three hours your relatives will cry their hearts out, in unbearable pain.
The next day, friends will gradually hear the news, feel shocked, and sigh. If you have a good rapport, maybe a few will shed tears for you.
Three days later, after your funeral, your relatives will be exhausted, but mentioning you still evokes sad sighs, with your close ones appearing haggard, as if separated by worlds.
A week later, your death will become a topic of your relatives and friends. Some may lament a talent lost to the heavens, others may sigh over lifeâs brevity. At most theyâll bring up your name at gatherings, although some may rejoice in your demise.
A month later, friends will gradually forget you, return to life, occasionally mentioning you.
Half a year later, besides your relatives, no one will bring you up. Your family will resume their normal life, albeit feeling somewhat lost yet everything goes on as usual.
A year later, youâll completely disappear from conversations. Most people will delete your contact, and your family will visit your grave.
Three years later, itâs a more special day, and relatives and friends will gather with a sense of ceremony, and thatâs it. Are you really sure you want to leave in such a hurry?"
People, whether beggars on the street or wealthy magnates, may live vastly different lives, but the outcome in death is almost the same flow of events.
Only those whoâve made outstanding contributions or left classic works might live longer in peopleâs hearts. After all, itâs such a developed online society now, but thatâs all there is to it.
Society isnât singular but composed of countless individuals. Without anyone, the world still turns the same, and the pain brought always targets your closest ones. Others simply wonât care about you.
"Otherwise? Could it be that doing this would give me a chance for a suspended death sentence, or life imprisonment? Anyway, itâs death. I donât think Iâm wrong!" Zhang Heng, perched on the railing, said solemnly.
Actually, he knew what his actions would lead to. Some might choose to flee wildly, others might turn themselves in, while some would become overwhelmed by pressure and lose hope. Itâs all the same result.
"Then why donât you find a place to jump into the river in another city? Why come back home? We young people donât follow the âfalling leaves return to their rootsâ thing. Isnât it because you wanted to visit home?" Su Qing retorted.
Since noticing Zhang Hengâs emotional stability, Su Qing knew his approach was correct. So naturally, he continued.
Sure enough, Zhang Heng lapsed into silence after hearing these words, and after a long pause, he spoke:
"I sent all the money I had on me to my dad. I feel really guilty toward him. Before returning, I called him once, and he said the police are looking for me. I knew then that I was exposed, maybe he sensed something too. He advised me not to come back if I didnât want to. I did think about dying elsewhere, but I still wanted to see my parents again, so here I am, but afraid there are police nearby, so I didnât dare go home."
Hearing this, Su Qing quickly chimed in: "How about this, Iâll go home with you and visit your momâs grave with some incense paper? I can promise you that the police wonât come before dawn. After dawn, you can meet your father and leave.
As the saying goes, âBetter a live coward than a dead hero.â Anyway, youâre already in this situation. Even if thereâs a sentence, it wonât be immediate. You can at least live a while longer, and during that time discuss any wishes with your dad. What do you think?"
He didnât say anything about possibly avoiding the death penalty, because even he wouldnât believe it. Ironically, it was the truth that stirred Zhang Hengâs heart.
Especially given the conditions proposed. After his painstaking escape, he hadnât had a chance to see his parents. This indeed tempted him.
The most important thing was that after talking for so long, no police had come. In Zhang Hengâs eyes, Su Qing had no reason to deceive him.
"Is what youâre saying true? Is it... possible?" he asked, with a touch of hope.
[Your choice has successfully moved Zheng Heng. This is his only wish now. He doesnât want to visit his motherâs grave in handcuffs after getting caught; that would be disgraceful.]
Hearing the narration in his mind, Su Qing breathed a big sigh of relief and then nodded with a smile.
"Of course, Iâm not a policeman, you know!"
Those unafraid of death naturally have nothing to lose. As Su Qing said, itâs already come to this, so a proper farewell is better than leaving in silence; the ultimate result is the same anyway.
Two hours later, two figures arrived at the hillside behind Zhang Hengâs old home in Ning County.
It was late at night. After Su Qing parted with 200 yuan, the two managed to take a taxi, bought some incense, paper money, and a few offerings, bypassed Zhang Hengâs home area, and walked along the path to the hillside.
By the flashlightâs glow, they cleared a small patch of land and managed to set up the incense and offerings.
Zhang Heng knelt silently in front of his motherâs grave.
Su Qing tactfully retreated a few steps, sat on a nearby rock, and smoked a cigarette.
If he were a police officer, this behavior would be improper, but fortunately, he wasnât.
Maybe because he never suffered much growing up, Su Qing couldnât fully comprehend Zhang Hengâs feelings.
Zhang Heng was on the fringe of societyâs base level, enduring much hardship. Around him, one could see many dark sides of society, yet he embodied a fierce optimism in facing adversity and unfairness. These opposing natures â cold and warm â released strong energy.
They rarely broke down over lifeâs hardships or wailed over insurmountable challenges, maintaining silence instead.
Compassionate yet stubborn, wild yet kind-hearted.
Thereâs a saying, "Life is short, but suffering is long." Itâs true.
Just like this small grave mound before us â hardly more than a small space â it binds a person for years, and the loved one inside has been loved countless times.
"If youâre scared, you can leave first. Donât worry, I wonât run!" Zhang Heng, kneeling in front of the grave, spoke hoarsely.
"Itâs dark around here, but I donât seem scared. What about you?" Su Qing asked in return.
"My mom is here, how could I be scared?"
Hearing this, Su Qing opened his mouth but realized whatever he might say seemed powerless and futile.
Yes, parents never ask how much money we make; they only worry if weâre well-fed.
Even at 35, Zhang Heng was still a child before his mother.
He wanted to hide in his momâs arms when wronged outside.
Then Zhang Heng lit up all the incense and paper money, saying no more words, grabbed a small bottle of liquor, downed it in one go, tidied some weeds beside the grave, and found a spot to curl up and sleep.
He whispered, "Iâm tired, Iâll sleep for a bit. Wake me when day breaks, please!"
[Zhang Heng just wants to feel sleeping beside his mother once more, like he did as a child. In this sleep, heâll meet the person he yearns for â a dream that ends here!]
Listening to the narration in his mind, Su Qing realized Zhang Hengâs story might conclude here.
As for the result, it was neither good nor bad. He fulfilled his wish, eased his heart, and saw his mother one last time without cuffs, though he couldnât escape the lawâs judgment, but at least he didnât leave with regrets.
After a long pause, Su Qingâs lips curled up slightly as he nodded decisively: "Alright then, goodnight, sweet dreams!"
...