Actually, he was just taking a "let’s try it" attitude. After all, even though he participated, he couldn’t entirely control the outco of the situation.
But unexpectedly, Zhang Heng really paused for a mont. Sure enough, playing the family card worked.
Of course, if even the last resort didn’t 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 wouldn’t help much, since it’s those who can swim that drown. He wouldn’t joke with his life.
So when he spoke, his whole body was in a half-squat position, using the railing to ensure he wouldn’t 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.
That’s 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. Aren’t 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 ntioning you still evokes sad sighs, with your close ones appearing haggard, as if separated by worlds.
A week later, your death will beco a topic of your relatives and friends. So may lant a talent lost to the heavens, others may sigh over life’s brevity. At most they’ll bring up your na at gatherings, although so may rejoice in your demise.
A month later, friends will gradually forget you, return to life, occasionally ntioning you.
Half a year later, besides your relatives, no one will bring you up. Your family will resu their normal life, albeit feeling sowhat lost yet everything goes on as usual.
A year later, you’ll completely disappear from conversations. Most people will delete your contact, and your family will visit your grave.
Three years later, it’s a more special day, and relatives and friends will gather with a sense of ceremony, and that’s 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 outco in death is almost the sa flow of events.
Only those who’ve made outstanding contributions or left classic works might live longer in people’s hearts. After all, it’s such a developed online society now, but that’s all there is to it.
Society isn’t singular but composed of countless individuals. Without anyone, the world still turns the sa, and the pain brought always targets your closest ones. Others simply won’t care about you.
"Otherwise? Could it be that doing this would give a chance for a suspended death sentence, or life imprisonnt? Anyway, it’s death. I don’t think I’m wrong!" Zhang Heng, perched on the railing, said solemnly.
Actually, he knew what his actions would lead to. So might choose to flee wildly, others might turn themselves in, while so would beco overwheld by pressure and lose hope. It’s all the sa result.
"Then why don’t you find a place to jump into the river in another city? Why co back ho? We young people don’t follow the ’falling leaves return to their roots’ thing. Isn’t it because you wanted to visit ho?" Su Qing retorted.
Since noticing Zhang Heng’s 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 to my dad. I feel really guilty toward him. Before returning, I called him once, and he said the police are looking for . I knew then that I was exposed, maybe he sensed sothing too. He advised not to co back if I didn’t 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 didn’t dare go ho."
Hearing this, Su Qing quickly chid in: "How about this, I’ll go ho with you and visit your mom’s grave with so incense paper? I can promise you that the police won’t co before dawn. After dawn, you can et your father and leave.
As the saying goes, ’Better a live coward than a dead hero.’ Anyway, you’re already in this situation. Even if there’s a sentence, it won’t be imdiate. You can at least live a while longer, and during that ti discuss any wishes with your dad. What do you think?"
He didn’t say anything about possibly avoiding the death penalty, because even he wouldn’t believe it. Ironically, it was the truth that stirred Zhang Heng’s heart.
Especially given the conditions proposed. After his painstaking escape, he hadn’t 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 co. In Zhang Heng’s eyes, Su Qing had no reason to deceive him.
"Is what you’re 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 doesn’t want to visit his mother’s 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, I’m not a policeman, you know!"
Those unafraid of death naturally have nothing to lose. As Su Qing said, it’s already co to this, so a proper farewell is better than leaving in silence; the ultimate result is the sa anyway.
Two hours later, two figures arrived at the hillside behind Zhang Heng’s old ho in Ning County.
It was late at night. After Su Qing parted with 200 yuan, the two managed to take a taxi, bought so incense, paper money, and a few offerings, bypassed Zhang Heng’s ho area, and walked along the path to the hillside.
By the flashlight’s 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 mother’s 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 wasn’t.
Maybe because he never suffered much growing up, Su Qing couldn’t fully comprehend Zhang Heng’s feelings.
Zhang Heng was on the fringe of society’s 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 — cold and warm — released strong energy.
They rarely broke down over life’s hardships or wailed over insurmountable challenges, maintaining silence instead.
Compassionate yet stubborn, wild yet kind-hearted.
There’s a saying, "Life is short, but suffering is long." It’s true.
Just like this small grave mound before us — hardly more than a small space — it binds a person for years, and the loved one inside has been loved countless tis.
"If you’re scared, you can leave first. Don’t worry, I won’t run!" Zhang Heng, kneeling in front of the grave, spoke hoarsely.
"It’s dark around here, but I don’t 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 seed powerless and futile.
Yes, parents never ask how much money we make; they only worry if we’re well-fed.
Even at 35, Zhang Heng was still a child before his mother.
He wanted to hide in his mom’s 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 so weeds beside the grave, and found a spot to curl up and sleep.
He whispered, "I’m tired, I’ll sleep for a bit. Wake 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, he’ll et the person he yearns for — a dream that ends here!]
Listening to the narration in his mind, Su Qing realized Zhang Heng’s 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 ti without cuffs, though he couldn’t escape the law’s judgnt, but at least he didn’t leave with regrets.
After a long pause, Su Qing’s lips curled up slightly as he nodded decisively: "Alright then, goodnight, sweet dreams!"
...
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