My book friend Long Aotian

Chapter 182 He Bullied Me
The person in front of him, in terms of seniority, is his cousin.

In terms of age, she looks like a younger sister.

Together with their peers from various families, they grew up in Xingjiang Prefecture. My aunt was the sun in everyone's hearts, bright and cheerful, and as warm as the spring breeze.

The Cao Gang was one of the six major factions in the Southern Qi Dynasty. The educational tradition of the Ma family was extremely strict. Not only did they have to practice martial arts hard to build a foundation, but they also had almost cruel education on how to deal with the world. It was difficult for young men who lived a life of luxury to fully understand the necessity of all this sweat and hard work. Only when they grew up and looked back on the past, would they secretly be grateful for the blood, sweat and tears of their youth, and pass on the same education to future generations.

But for Ma Fulong's generation, the memories of their boyhood are not just blood, sweat and tears.

And that beautiful little aunt.

That was the only bright color in that gray memory, a rare sweetness in the numbness and pain.

The young men who followed the aunt back then have grown up and most of them have started families and careers. The best among them will become the backbone of the Cao Gang in ten or twenty years. If by chance or with the blessing of the ancestors, perhaps in forty or fifty years, a new helmsman will emerge among them.

Time flies, and now everyone has gone their separate ways. Over the years, they have been apart more than together, but Ma Fulun knows very well that almost everyone remembers his aunt.

I remember her bright smile, her worried eyes, her carefree comfort, and her meticulous concern.

Memory is the scent on the handkerchief, the coolness of the healing ointment, the bump between her shoulders as she sat next to me, her receding back and her arms raised high and waving when we parted.

Memory is also a beauty nurtured by time, it is the gradually revealed charm, it is the held-up clothes, it is the pleasant fragrance, it is the beautiful face that is obviously the same but somewhat different, it is the quickened heartbeat, it is the tossing and turning nights, it is the absurd dream, it is the unrealistic delusion about marriage and the future.

Boyhood at its purest, and its dirtiest.

Everything is about my little aunt.

Ma Fulong had always kept this feeling deep in his heart. He was a few years older than his aunt and had known about ethics and seniority very early on, so he was the first to be disillusioned with this dream.

He thought that life would go on as planned, his aunt would get married, and he would get drunk at her wedding and then continue to live his own life. He would occasionally hear some things about her and know that she was happy, and that would be good enough... She was so beautiful that she should have the best life.

However, the sudden news came like a bolt from the blue.

The third cousin arranged a marriage for her with a member of the Haisha Gang.

After hearing the news, he almost lost control, and the image of that "brother-in-law" had already been sketched out in his mind.

——A one-eyed man with disheveled hair, bare chest, scars all over his body, smoking a pipe, smelling like the sea, with dark red skin. Every day he rolls his eyes to communicate with the evil spirits of Beining and speaks some horrible crazy words.

That's the Haisha Gang! The Beining barbarians!
Even people from Bac Ninh can do it, why...why can't I! ?

He was jealous, annoyed, and mad, and was about to kill the Beining barbarian. However, his father saw through his thoughts, beat him up, and ordered him to put away his inappropriate thoughts.

My father said that this marriage was a matter of great importance.

It directly determines whether the Cao Gang can conduct in-depth ocean exploration.

The territory under the sun has almost been divided up. If the Cao Gang wants to continue to expand its existing territory, it must turn its attention to the blue sea. Although the sea near the coast is calm, beneath the vast ocean lurks terrifying creatures that are beyond human control. If one wants to pass through their territorial waters, one must pay a huge price.

Or, get the cooperation of the Haisha Gang.

At that time, the third branch was weak and almost dependent on the first branch. If the third branch's marriage was successful, it would greatly enhance the first branch's voice and allow it to completely overwhelm the second branch.

——For this purpose, are you going to push my aunt to a dirty and evil Beining barbarian?
I can't bring myself to ask such a question.

He was no longer a child by then, and he knew that the surname and bloodline brought not only fine food and supreme glory, but also responsibility, dedication and sacrifice.

But I'm not willing to give up.

My heart feels like it's being grabbed, I feel angry and powerless.

He pursued and investigated with only an inexplicable urge, at least he wanted to know what the Beining barbarian looked like and what his personality was like... He at least wanted to know who the other party was.

What is very characteristic of the Cao Gang is that he used cup throwing during this persistent and unwilling investigation.

What is even more characteristic of the Cao Gang is that Big Brother Wan Yunlong always gives him a big success in places he never expected, and he actually accidentally finds some invaluable clues.

He was involved in a terrible plot and touched upon a despairing truth.

He wanted to struggle, resist and change, but was suppressed without any suspense. No one cared about his anger and questioning, and no one cared about his identity as a member of the Ma family, because the ones who suppressed him were the elders who controlled the Ma family and even the Cao Gang... That was the closest he had ever been to death.

Then, a sudden change disrupted everything that was destined to happen.

That barbarian from the Haisha Gang escaped from his marriage.

The truth is far more complicated than that. Everyone's fate was changed that day...his, his aunt's, the third wife's, the Cao Gang's, everyone's.

Ma Fulong, who managed to survive at that time, only saw half of the sword light that almost shattered the sky and the earth.

My aunt became a laughing stock of the whole world.

The Haisha Gang felt extremely guilty about this scandal. Even though the marriage failed, they still recognized the identity of the young aunt and tried their best to fulfill their previous promise, so that the third branch gained the support of one of the six clans of Bac Ninh and started the ocean-going era.

My aunt's brother took advantage of this incident and the dispute between the first and second branches, and took advantage of the situation. Relying on the support of the Haisha Gang and the interests of ocean voyages, he won the support of the neutrals and obtained the support from within Da Qi. Despite the weak status of the third branch, he managed to win the position of the leader.

The first house was determined to push the constellation system with all its strength to replace the increasingly rigid and inexplicable Wan Yunlong. The sword that the Beining barbarian slashed before his death made them extremely terrified, defense-breaking and furious.

Ma Fulong, who escaped death, finally joined the plan.

He was severely punished and confined to his home for several years. Finally, he realized the destiny of heaven and earth. If he wanted what happened to his aunt to never happen again, and if he wanted things to always be the way they should be, all living beings in the world must be in their places, all ordinary people must be at peace, and everyone must accept their fate. Then disputes and greed will no longer drive tragedies to happen.

This is the only solution.

——It’s almost successful.

Everything is under Uncle Yun's control. King Zhao and Li Bailong were kept in the dark. We covered it up very well with the help of the dispute over education and culture. Even the Cao Gang didn't expect that we would restart this matter in Huazhou...

But why? Why did my aunt come?

She was standing right in front of me, but she was very different from the little aunt in my memory.

She no longer looked around, no longer was she as pretty as the sun; she stood there quietly, graceful and dignified, but the girl in my memory was not at all graceful and dignified. She should have smiled cheerfully, had endless things to say, patted his shoulders and chest affectionately, teased him, and greeted him.

She has changed.

But he had changed too.

He clearly had endless words in his heart, years of accumulated worries and thoughts, countless consolations, concerns and greetings...but he just called her "Aunt".

"It's my nephew."

Her voice was like a deep well, soft yet cold.

In the past, the title of "good nephew" was only used in a teasing and sarcastic manner. At that time, he was called "A Miao", which was his nickname. But now, these two words make him feel numb.

Ma Fulong shuddered.

He knew that there was a tragically thick barrier between them.

But...it doesn't matter.

When that thing is done, my aunt will get the respect, honor and status she deserves. Her efforts and sacrifices will be examined and judged more fairly. All criticisms will no longer exist. She will stand in the sun and breeze again... Then, she will understand me.

but now.

I need her to leave, far away. Ma Fulong calmed down his turbulent emotions and forced himself to calm down.

He bowed and said, "Aunt, I have always heard that you were receiving blessings in Baihua Valley, but I was afraid of disturbing you and did not dare to pay you a visit. I did not expect you to condescend to visit Huazhou. Why didn't you say hello? I can receive you so that I can."

Miss Ma felt sick when she heard him call her "Auntie". She also felt disgusted when she saw him acting like this. The shy and silent big brother in her memory had become so greasy. Most of the friendship they had with each other had faded. She turned around and left: "Go away. Don't come again."

Ma Fulong moved and stood in front of her.

Miss Ma raised her eyebrows slightly: "Get out of the way!"

The third lady outside has already stepped in.

Ma Fulong lowered his head slightly, hiding the bitterness and loss in his eyes.

——He must find a way to force his aunt away, but he cannot tell her the truth. After all, if the third wife finds out about what the first wife is planning, the consequences will be disastrous.

Things were even worse for my aunt who stayed in Huazhou.

Once the Constellation Plan is implemented, given my aunt's physical condition, something bad will happen if she stays here!

"Aunt, what brings you to Huazhou? Is there anything I can help you with?"

He asked in an almost impolite tone, "Recently, Yunhua Hall and Governor Li have been fighting fiercely. My aunt is both an elder of Baihua Valley and a noblewoman of the Cao Gang. I wonder which side she should help?"

The third lady shouted, "Master Ma, please respect yourself!"

"I have performed my duties conscientiously and have never slacked off. I am not the one who should respect myself."

Ma Fulong looked at his aunt's disappointed eyes, his heart almost twisted, but he forced himself to be expressionless and said slowly: "Today, Master Li displayed his soul technique, which was secretly consistent with the secret technique of the Haisha Gang. Why did my aunt teach me?"

Before he could finish his words, he was kicked in the chest and hit the wall with a dull sound.

Miss Ma lifted her skirt in rage, her body shaking. Even worse than her anger was the unbelievable heartache.

That’s it for others.

——Why did A Miao say that! Why did he mention this name!

Ma Fulong knelt on the ground and bowed his head, saying, "I accept the punishment."

"...Get out! Get out!" the girl said in a trembling voice, "You bastard!"

"Huazhou is the land of the eldest son's family, and my nephew is the head of Yunhua Hall. This also involves disputes over the same culture. As a junior, I naturally have to ask about the purpose of my aunt's visit and provide reception to avoid any delays."

Ma Fulong said in a deep voice: "If Aunt thinks that I am too young to ask you, then I will have no choice but to write a letter to Lord Yun and ask him to personally inquire about it."

Miss Ma stood there in a daze, and suddenly let out a cold laugh.

Seeing that the situation was not good, the third lady said sternly, "Master Ma, don't you remember our friendship in the past?"

Ma Fulong said woodenly, "It is precisely because of our old friendship that I asked this question. Otherwise, I would have reported it to Lord Yun a long time ago...Aunt, the Dragon Head Election is approaching, and the water in Huazhou is deep. You have fulfilled all your responsibilities and obligations to the Cao Gang. Why do you have to run around for the Third House and make yourself unhappy?"

That's what you say.

My younger sister-in-law is the most thin-skinned person. Because of that incident, she must be very resistant to any contact with the Cao Gang. If I raise the banner of Uncle Yun, she will definitely not continue to pester me in Huazhou and will definitely leave in anger.

Even if you hate me deeply, you won't care too much.

She couldn't stay in Huazhou. This was not her destiny.

Miss Ma closed her eyes, sighed softly, and when she opened her eyes again, her eyes were as cold as ice.

"Ma Fulong." She said coldly, "Our friendship ends today, get out now!"

Hall Master Ma stood up slowly. He clenched his fists, digging his nails into his flesh, and said, "My nephew will lead the Yunhua Hall members to pay respects to Aunt tomorrow."

This meant that he wanted to bring the Cao Gang members from Huazhou to see the legendary Miss Ma who had been abandoned by her husband.

The third lady was so angry that she shouted angrily, "Get out! I want to learn a few tricks from you!"

Ma Fulong saw that the time had come and that too much was as bad as too little, so he just shook his head and said softly, "Goodbye."

But the next moment, a voice came from outside.

"I am late and have not yet welcomed the distant guest!"

Hearing this, Ma Fulong's expression changed suddenly.

He originally thought that the most difficult thing in the world was to face the gaze of his aunt at this moment, but now it seems that this is not the case at all, because a more troublesome bastard has broken in!

Damn, why so fast!

Just at this time!
Master Ma suddenly felt a little uneasy.

And the third lady actually showed a look of joy.

Even Miss Ma, who was frightened, angry, sad and at a loss, subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, as if she had finally grabbed a piece of driftwood while floating in the endless cold water.

he came.

At least she didn't have to deal with the situation alone.

The door was pushed open by a hand, and Director Li walked in proudly. He first glanced at Ma Fulong, then looked at the Third Lady and the Seventh Uncle, and was immediately surprised.

Because after their eyes met, he saw that Seventh Uncle's eyes quickly turned red.

Since his uncle joined the sect, he had never seen him behave like this.

Li Bailong took a step across, blocking Ma Fulong's sight, and whispered, "What's wrong?"

Seventh Uncle experienced dramatic changes in his early years, and his heart had long been as hard as stone after years of hardships. But perhaps it was because of Ma Fulong's indifference and lack of consideration for the old times, or perhaps it was because Li Bailong's instinctive care was so timely and pure, that for a moment, her heartstrings were shaken, and the feeling of grievance could no longer be suppressed.

Her voice was hoarse, almost crying: "He bullied me."

Hearing this, Ma Fulun almost burst into tears.

Hearing his aunt say this, he almost wanted to bang his head against the wall, and she had to say this to Li Bailong!

——Before he could finish his sigh, he saw Li Bailong turning back with a sullen look on his face.

The young man in front of him stood straight with eyes as sharp as swords. The young girl with a light veil in white clothes looked pitiful and was protected by his tall body behind him.

One in front and one behind, a man and a woman, their figures are so harmonious.

——No! It shouldn’t be like this!

For a moment, Ma Fulun felt an extremely sour feeling rising in his heart.

"Well, you violated a woman's will and made her cry!" Li Bailong said sternly, "Tell me, how many years do you want to be sentenced to?"

(End of this chapter)