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Chapter 1198: One Thousand One Hundred Ninety-Five·"You are a good person (middle)."

“Uncle, how do you pronounce this word?” Lu Shu read the pinyin in the textbook.

"This word is pronounced 'Su.'" The man had just come back from get off work, hung up his police uniform, and came over to instruct him.

“So this is how simplified Chinese characters are written…” Lu Shu wrote it down silently.

"Come, Xiaoshu, it's time for dinner." Half an hour later, the aroma of food came from the living room.

After studying for a whole day, Lu Shu immediately ran over and helped the man carry the bowl.

The man helped too many people and had no time to manage his own marriage, so he had always been alone. Now that Lu Shu was born, the family finally had a sense of homeliness.

"I've been living here for several months. Uncle, when will I go find a job?" Lu Shu felt embarrassed to eat and drink for free.

The man said, "You are not yet an adult, study first."

"Oh." Lu Shu replied sullenly. He had been having headaches lately, as if something was blocking his head. But when he asked the man, he just said it was nothing.

"By the way, Xiaoshu, I bought you plum cake and put it on your table. Come with me to the mall later. Summer is coming soon, and I will buy you a few shirts." The man said with a smile.

“It’s okay not to buy it…” Lu Shu said softly. He already owed too much.

"You can't have a teenager wearing my clothes, it's okay." The man waved his hand.

Lu Shu suddenly remembered something: "Uncle, do you know why my hair turned white?"

The man's eyes dimmed for a moment, then he quickly shook his head: "Don't the people in the cartoons also change their hair color? It's normal, don't worry."

Lu Shu nodded. Balala the Fairies was being shown on TV recently. He didn't know how to use a TV, so he just watched it. The main character in the show did change hair color, so his white hair shouldn't matter.

Lu Shu continued to live there.

The elegant young man, who had never done any housework, gradually learned how to sweep the floor, mop the floor, and wash dishes... The only exception was cooking. After the man let him try once or twice, he refused to let him enter the kitchen.

He gradually learned how to use the "black box" and understood what a "QR code" and "Internet slang" are. He tasted the unique flavors of the city, such as fried skewers, grilled corn, and stinky tofu...

The man taught him to read, and he taught the man tea art and ancient Chinese. Occasionally, the two of them would sit together and play games, all simple old-age puzzle games, but they would always laugh out loud.

——He has found peace and happiness.

He would take some medicine, but for some reason, his health was getting worse and worse...

When Lu Shu turned eighteen, the two of them had New Year's Eve dinner together. The relationship between them was no longer unfamiliar, and they were even like father and son. Occasionally, when Lu Shu did something wrong, the man would teach him a lesson.

"Uncle, why are you saving people?" Lu Shu asked the question that had puzzled him for a long time. He always saw the man helping various people, even though he himself didn't have much money.

"I'm soft-hearted. When I see this kind of thing, I think since I have the ability to help them, I might as well give them a hand. As a result, the more I help, the more people there are. It seems like there are endless poor people in this world to help." The man sighed: "So, I might as well keep helping. It's not easy for everyone."

"You are a good man, uncle." Lu Shu said.

"Haha, a good person... many people say so." The man smiled.

“The ‘good person’ in my mind is different from the ‘good person’ they talk about.” Lu Shu stared at the man seriously: “Uncle, you are the second good person I have identified.”

"Hey? What's the difference?"

"The first 'good person' I identified was my grandfather." Lu Shu said, "My grandfather told me that a person needs to identify three good people in his life to guide him at different stages of his life. After my grandfather passed away, you became the second 'good person' I identified."

“Xiao Shu, you only have two spots left. Is it okay to use them on me?” The man did not think that Lu Shu was saying something strange. Instead, he agreed with Lu Shu.

“It’s okay. I will carefully consider the last ‘good person’.” Lu Shu said, “My grandfather told me that when the three ‘good people’ all leave me, it means that I have become a complete person and will no longer need a leader. Moreover, I don’t think I have chosen the wrong person. You are indeed a good person.”

The man was silent for a long time, and the crucian carp and tofu soup on the table was fragrant.

Lu Shu smoothed his fallen white hair and suddenly heard a man's voice.

"Little Tree," the man said, "Would you like to be my godson?"

Lu Shu's eyes widened.

"I want to be your relative. I've been with you for the past six months, and I think you're a very good kid. There's a lot more homeliness in our home..." The man seemed to think about it for a long time, and asked carefully, "Is it okay? We'll live together forever, just like we did in the past six months."

Looking into the man's earnest eyes, Lu Shu felt as if he had really stepped into a beautiful dream.

There is no one in this world who loves him for no reason. But... isn't there one right in front of me?

"it is good……"

He felt his eyes getting moist and hot, as if the young man who died on Mount Taihua had come back to life for a short time.

It turns out that there are people who love him unconditionally.

Even if he has nothing in his hands.

……

At the moment of the New Year's Eve vigil, watching the fireworks at twelve o'clock blooming in the distance, Lu Shu clasped his hands together and made a silent wish.

He hoped... this kind of happiness would never end.

When he grows up a little, he will repay the man's kindness. Then he will practice sword skills and look for opportunities for revenge... There will always be a day when that happens.

He will be happy.

……

[——Lu family kid, have you forgotten who you are? Do you want to bring disaster to that kind-hearted person? ]

……

A month later, Lu Shu received a message.

He knew who it was—an enemy.

They have been watching him suffer, and when he enjoys a short period of happiness, they will take it away. Or maybe the sender is kindly reminding him that his enemies have set their sights on the man, and if he doesn't leave, the man will suffer.

...What on earth is he longing for?

Since those people dared to hunt him down, why wouldn't they dare to persecute ordinary people in a city?

"..."

Lu Shu put away his phone, finished his meal in silence, and left quickly.

He didn't dare take away the shirt and shorts, the Plants vs. Zombies toys, and the small potted plants that the man bought for him. He was afraid that if he took them away, it would bring trouble to the man. He only took away the headshots he took with the man when they were shopping half a year ago, which cost 15 yuan each, the cheapest but most precious thing.

In the photo, the man showed a hearty smile, while Lu Shu lowered his head shyly. At that time, Lu Shu still had some black hair on his temples, but now it has turned completely white.

He put the photo in his inner pocket, close to his heart.

He did not tell the man the truth. The man was a man with a strong sense of justice, but ordinary people's sense of justice was worthless under those heavy things. Even if they shouted with all their might, it would be silently covered in the end. People only see what is under the camera, but they are not the ones who control the camera.

Even if she told the man, what would happen? The ancient martial arts family was extremely powerful, and the man's roar would only bring danger.

So, he just left a letter. It said:

[To my adoptive father:

Recently, my relatives contacted me and I am going back to my hometown. Thank you for your support in the past six months. Please don't be discouraged, you are really a good person!

My hometown has mountains and rivers, it is a very good place, you don't have to worry about it. My relatives are also very good people, they bought me new clothes and new books, and my fellow spirits who are the same age as me also take good care of me.

In short, I will live a happy life, with all the necessities of life including food, clothing, shelter and transportation! In a few years, I will come back to hug you! Please leave my clothes and books to the next child!

——Little Tree】

……

The dream is over.

His life stopped growing at the age of seventeen, but in the year he met Guang, his wounds were healed by gentle hands, and he began to grow again like a bamboo shoot that broke through the soil after rain. But it was only half a year... his growth stopped.

Lu Shu placed the letter on the man's bedside table and took a last look at the man sleeping. He was a middle-aged man in his forties, with a square face, a broad forehead and chin, and some fierce eyebrows, but he was a very good person.

...This is the last look.

Lu Shu bit his lip. He remembered that he had asked the man's name at the beginning.

"Just call me Uncle Zhao," said the man.

"Is your uncle's last name Zhao?"

"Yes. There are many policemen with the surname Zhao, and they are not the only ones who will help you. Zhao, Qian, Sun, and Li may all save you. There are many good people in this world, not just me."

"Ah."

……

"Uncle Zhao, goodbye..." After closing the door and leaving that warm little home, he finally burst into tears.

This was the last time he cried. Even when he was too sick to walk, he didn't cry like that.

Clutching the photo tightly, he vomited blood again.

In fact, he guessed how serious his illness was. He already knew the word "cancer". The medicine he took was becoming more and more expensive, and his uncle's expression was becoming more and more worried.

But there is a simple calculation - just the box of medicine he took is enough for Uncle Zhao to help more people, so why does he still need to take that medicine?
If that medicine wasn't taken, more people would be saved.

Uncle Zhao can also gain more people's gratitude instead of throwing his meager salary into a bottomless pit.

Fearing he would run into Uncle Zhao, he left the city where he had stayed for a long time and headed for City H.

When he arrived in H City, he was once again in a state of dirty clothes and empty hands, and his ID was frozen, probably because of his enemies. But he didn't dare to go back to that warm city, because he was afraid that if he dared to go back, good people would be killed.

The evil people in this world often thrive like fish in water, while the good people have a hard time living.

Maybe he is really destined to live in this world with many scars.

Walking onto the street, he saw some familiar vendor stalls, smelled the aroma of roasted sweet potatoes... and heard people's disgusted looks.

"Xiao Wen, let's stay away from him. Homeless people like this are sick. Don't let him infect you..." The adult pulled the child away from him.

He stood in front of the trash can, watching in silence.

——Now, the invisible "mold spot" has finally grown on his body again.

……

He had no documents and could only work illegally.

Most of the work was tiring and high-intensity, such as running errands for others, moving bricks at construction sites, moving goods in 40-degree heat, and going into sewers in minus 10-degree weather... Because he did not understand the law and could not read, anyone could deduct his wages. In order to fight against these bullies, he gradually learned to speak harshly and swear.

He is no longer a son of an aristocratic family. If he wants to survive, he must throw himself into the dirt and mingle with all kinds of people.

But even so, his body could not bear the intense physical labor, and he began to vomit blood soon. The bosses were afraid to hire him, fearing that he would die on the construction site one day.

Without a job, he returned to the bridge tunnel again, curled up to endure the pain. Although it was a different city, it seemed that nothing had changed.

However, he no longer always looked up at the sky and envied his peers. Instead, he recalled again and again... that short half year of happiness.

His condition deteriorated rapidly, and he began to experience frequent comas and memory loss. Something was always blocking his mind, and those beautiful memories gradually disappeared... He copied the address on his clothes to prevent himself from forgetting it. But he didn't dare to go because he knew his enemies were watching him.

Although they were already in the same city, Lu Shu did not dare to approach the young man.

——He is a "mold spot". One look at him will make you sick, but he cannot be transmitted to others.

Later, he found a way to barely survive - teaching people to practice swordsmanship. By collecting money from some rich second-generation children, he could barely exchange some medicine. If he could get more, he would not be able to do so. No swordsmanship school would accept someone like him without a certificate.

In September, on his way out to pick up scraps, he suddenly fell ill and collapsed on the side of the road.

Across the street, a group of high school students were crossing the road. A black-haired boy in school uniform saw him. Although everyone else was taking a detour, no one wanted to get close to a homeless person, but the boy ran towards him.

"Are you okay?" The black-haired boy leaned over. He was wearing a clean and tidy white school uniform, which was in stark contrast to the dirty homeless man.

Lu Shu lowered his head, not daring to let the boy see his appearance. But he was overthinking it. His dirty white hair covered his eyebrows and eyes. Anyone who saw the elegant young man four years ago would not think that he was the same person.

“Hello? Is this 120? Someone is sick over at the Hongqi Supermarket on Qingshan Road... Hey, where are you going?” The young man had just said a few words when Lu Shu barely stood up and limped away.

Under the gray sky, the rain fell endlessly. Lu Shu, wrapped in wet clothes, stumbled forward.

He didn't know where he was going or how long he could live, but he couldn't accept the boy's kindness and implicate him.

——He was like an ant struggling to survive under the watchful eyes of an eagle, with an invisible hand gripping his neck. Every time he tried to survive, he would be pushed back into the water.

Unexpectedly, the boy followed.

"Uncle, your illness needs treatment."

The boy couldn't see Lu Shu's face clearly, he only saw Lu Shu's hands which were full of pits and bruises - like the hands of an old man. So he called him uncle.

The pair of white and slender hands that were making tea and dancing with the sword had long disappeared in the slop.

(End of this chapter)