Chapter 81: Brother, Let Us Keep Moving Forward! (Third Update)

That night, Ming Han went to bed early, looking forward to visiting Yu Hang’s hometown the next day to play with him and share his decision. The following morning, Ming Han drove himself to Yu Hang’s family home, a place he knew well—he’d been there at least ten times. Every time he arrived, the neighbors would tease him, “Come to find your little wife again, huh?”

This society truly was brimming with camaraderie.

Yu Hang was at home cooking. Since his parents’ divorce, he’d left his father’s house and moved in with his grandparents.

Yu Hang’s grandparents lived in a remote area. Ming Han remembered how, the first time he visited, he got lost and wandered until dusk before Yu Hang found him.

Yu Hang was exasperated, “Ming Han, tell me, how did you end up in the neighboring village? You’re seriously something else!”

…

Ming Han watched Yu Hang skillfully chop vegetables and cook rice, and teased him, “Yu Hang, I think it’s time I take you as my concubine, let you manage my stomach from now on.”

Yu Hang shot him a sidelong glance, “You don’t have what it takes!”

Ming Han froze for a moment before he caught on, “Damn, can’t you be a little more innocent?”

Yu Hang’s grandparents’ home was still an old-fashioned mud-brick house. Yu Hang had told him that his grandparents spent their life savings to buy his father a house in town. But his father, sadly, was hopeless—these past few years, he’d done little but gamble and play cards.

“Where are your grandparents?”

“They’re out harvesting in the fields today,” Yu Hang replied, his tone subdued. “Two elderly people in their sixties, working the land as hard as any young person. And I can’t do much, except cook at home.”

These days, how many seventeen- or eighteen-year-old boys can cook? Yu Hang was already mature beyond his years.

“Ming Han, if only I’d been born a few years earlier. Then I could have started working sooner, given them a stable old age.”

Ming Han sighed, understanding this helplessness. The greatest sorrow in life is to want to care for your loved ones, only to find they’re no longer there.

They ate a simple meal together, chatting about what had happened over the New Year.

Yu Hang’s New Year had been far from happy. His parents were at each other’s throats over the house in town.

“It’s just a house worth six or seven hundred thousand, but it’s made nearly twenty years of companionship worthless.”

Vows of eternal love had been made, but how did it end with them becoming each other’s greatest enemies?

At that moment, an old man rushed in, voice trembling, “Yu Hang, your grandfather collapsed in the fields. Go see him!”

Yu Hang dropped his chopsticks and shot outside like an arrow. Ming Han hurried after him.

When they arrived at the field, a crowd had gathered. Yu Hang’s grandmother was wailing with grief.

Someone shouted, “Where’s Doctor Wang? Why isn’t he here yet?”

Doctor Wang was the village’s only private doctor.

Yu Hang knelt on the ground, comforting his grandmother. Ming Han noticed Yu Hang’s grandfather wasn’t looking good, and said to Yu Hang, “I think we should call emergency services.”

Yu Hang nodded.

Thirty minutes later, the county hospital’s ambulance arrived. Doctor Wang was still massaging Yu Hang’s grandfather’s chest.

They all followed the ambulance to the emergency department. The doctor took one look and said, “Check him—send him to the ER.”

Yu Hang’s grandmother paced anxiously in the corridor, muttering, “Old man, you can’t leave me!”

Yu Hang called his father, “Grandpa’s had an accident. He collapsed and we just brought him to the hospital.”

His tone was chillingly indifferent.

Yu Hang’s father was playing mahjong at the time, shouting, “Yu Hang, I’m busy now. Text me after the surgery’s done.”

Yu Hang hung up immediately, his heart turning cold.

Ming Han patted Yu Hang’s shoulder, “Don’t worry! He’ll be fine.”

Yu Hang finally lost control of his emotions, letting tears stream down his face.

“Ming Han, if Grandpa’s gone, then what’s the point of my struggle?”

This world is truly harsh. Some people spend their whole lives bearing heavy burdens. How Yu Hang wished his grandfather could, like many others, enjoy his old age in peace, free from worry.

“Buddy, no matter how tough things get, just keep moving forward. Hell, I want to see you bring glory to your family—one day, take your grandparents to dance in the biggest square in our county!”

Yu Hang nodded forcefully, “I’ll make sure they get that day.”

…

The surgery lasted more than two hours before the doctor came out, “It was a success, but we’ll need to observe him for a while. Family members, please pay the fees.”

Yu Hang and Ming Han went to the payment counter. Yu Hang took out his bank card and paid twenty thousand directly.

“This was meant for my high school tuition. My grandparents saved every cent for it.”

Yu Hang’s father lost more than he won gambling, racking up debts, unable to cover Yu Hang’s six-thousand yearly tuition.

“Everything will be alright. One day, everything will be alright,” Ming Han said softly.

“Yes.”

…

When Chen Li and Huang Ying heard Yu Hang’s grandfather was hospitalized, they rushed over.

Yu Hang’s eyes were red and swollen as he apologized, “Sorry to trouble you.”

He hadn’t planned to tell them, but Ming Han thought Huang Ying should know. After all, Huang Ying was the best at calming Yu Hang’s emotions.

Seeing Yu Hang’s exhausted face, Huang Ying felt deeply concerned. She brought rice porridge for Yu Hang and Ming Han.

Ming Han handed the millet porridge to Yu Hang’s grandmother, “Grandma, don’t worry. Grandpa will be fine. Let’s eat first…”

Yu Hang said to Ming Han, “I’ll stay here with the old folks. You take the other two to eat.”

Ming Han nodded.

Huang Ying waved her hand, “I’ve already eaten. You take Chen Li. She came straight by taxi, must be starving.”

Ming Han didn’t refuse, taking Chen Li’s hand as they went out to find a restaurant.

Chen Li was a little surprised; it was the first time Ming Han had taken her hand. She blushed shyly but didn’t pull away.

“Chen Li, do you believe I’ll be really awesome in the future?”

Ming Han had never considered this before—it was too serious, too distant. But Lin Zhengming’s appearance had taught him a harsh truth: the nature of society had never changed—it was survival of the fittest.

Because they needed money, Su Yan worked at the restaurant for decades, year-round without rest. Because they lacked money, Yu Hang’s grandparents worked themselves to exhaustion, leaving lasting illnesses.

Chen Li grew up in a wealthy family. Before meeting these friends, she never cared about money. But suddenly, she understood: those brightly colored bills, stamped with vivid portraits, are the true rulers of society, bringing joy or sorrow.

Chen Li liked Ming Han—she wouldn’t deny it. Whether he was rich or poor wouldn’t stop her from loving him. But seeing the determined look in his eyes, she felt thoughtful.

“Ming Han, I believe you’ll be extraordinary. More extraordinary than anyone I’ve ever met.”