Rebirth 78, the beginning of the marriage was broken off by the female educated youth

Lin Youwei's words were like a needle, gently piercing Li Xiangnan's moment of relaxation as he was immersed in the warm atmosphere.

Pang Weinong!

Yes, Wei Nong!

Li Xiangnan froze, his teacup hanging in mid-air.

Since Xitang was born, Ruobai has been at home recuperating after childbirth. It's almost been a month, and Pang Weinong hasn't come to visit even once!

Not even a word or a phone call!

This is definitely not right!

Who is Pang Weinong?

That was in Lijia Village. This educated youth who came from the northern Xinjiang to work in the countryside there was a brother who shared meals, lived and worked with me through thick and thin!

He was the most core and silent supporter of the Dingxiang Sanitary Napkin Factory project, which carried special significance, besides Lin Youwei and Lin Chuqiao!

Moreover, he was the devoted lover who entrusted all his emotions and the rest of his life to a girl named Dingxiang!

Given their relationship and Pang Weinong's usual concern for him and Qin Ruobai, how could he not show up even after the child was born for so long?

No matter how busy I am, even if I only have time for a quick glance, I will definitely come!

Moreover, Qin Ruobai gave birth at Nianwei Hospital, and Pang Weinong, as the planner of the Dingxiang Factory, lived in the hospital dormitory!

A strong sense of unease and self-blame welled up in Li Xiangnan's heart.

Lately, I've been so preoccupied with Yuan Tong, Little Buddha, and all sorts of conspiracies that I've completely overlooked the unusual behavior of my closest brother!

"Youwei, how's Weinong doing on the project lately? I've been busy with family matters and helping Captain Guo and the others investigate the Pudu Temple case these days, so I haven't had much time for the hospital and the factory..." Li Xiangnan put down his teacup, his tone becoming serious.

Lin Youwei's smile faded. She sighed softly, glanced at the two children playing by the cradle and Zhu Qiuju and the others talking, and lowered her voice:

"I'm not really sure either. Wei Nong is always so elusive! I went to the hospital to look for you a few days ago, but I couldn't find you. I went to the construction site office to check on him. He looked very haggard and absent-minded. I asked him a few questions, and he just kept saying he was busy finishing the planning proposal for the lilac factory and dealing with matters on the construction site. But I feel like this guy has shut himself off! Xiang Nan, I guess... it's probably because Sister Ruo Bai gave birth!"

Li Xiangnan's heart clenched suddenly.

If Bai gives birth to a child?

Because of this?

Li Xiangnan frowned, but quickly came to his senses!

Yes, lilac!

That girl, as pure and beautiful as a lilac, withered away forever in Pang Weinong's arms last year during the season when lilacs were in full bloom, due to a sudden infection.

If she were still alive, if everything went smoothly, and if both families were so supportive, then perhaps her and Wei Nong's child would have been born by now!

It might even be a bit bigger than Xiao Xitang!

Seeing Ruobai safely give birth to Xitang, and seeing the Li family overjoyed at the arrival of the new life, what a heart-wrenching reminder and contrast this must be for Pang Weinong?

He and Dingxiang originally had their own happiness.

But it withered away forever in that spring last year!

"I... I'm so damn stupid!" Li Xiangnan cursed himself under his breath, his face full of regret. "I should have thought of that earlier. I've been so focused on my own things lately that I completely forgot about Wei Nong!"

"Don't blame yourself too much! You've had so much going on lately!" Lin Youwei quickly comforted him gently. "However, if you have time, you should go see him! Some difficulties are beyond the help of others, but the concern from a childhood friend might make him feel better!"

“Okay, I’ll go right away!” Li Xiangnan agreed. He was a man of great loyalty and knew what kind of people to cherish, and Wei Nong was such a person. So he got up and said to his mother and wife, “Mom, Ruobai, Grandma, I’m going back to the hospital to see Wei Nong. I’ll be right back!”

Zhu Qiuju and Qin Ruobai had actually overheard their conversation, and their faces showed understanding and support.

"Oh, I've always been thinking about Wei Nong... he's had such a hard life! Go see him, tell him not to get stuck in his own thoughts!"

Zhu Qiuju felt very sorry for this child whose parents were not around.

Qin Ruobai also said softly, "Go see him, say hello for me, and tell him that Xiao Xitang is waiting for his Uncle Pang to come and see her!"

Li Xiangnan wrote everything down, put on his coat, and hurriedly went out.

A cold wind swept over us, instantly dispelling the warmth that had just filled the room.

Li Xiangnan hopped on his motorcycle and sped off towards Nianwei Hospital.

The wheels of the car creaked and groaned on the snow-covered streets.

Li Xiangnan felt a heavy weight in his heart, a mixture of worry for his friend and guilt for his own negligence.

Upon arriving at the hospital, he immediately went to the dormitory to check on things, but didn't see anyone. He then went to the construction site office, where everyone said that Boss Pang hadn't come in the afternoon.

With a sudden thought, Li Xiangnan turned his bike around and rode towards the hillside in front of the hospital.

That hillside used to be covered with lilacs.

After the lilacs died here, Pang Weinong transplanted lilacs from various places to plant here, and personally cultivated many more lilac plants.

He said he wanted the lilacs to regrow and bloom here, year after year, never to wither.

He also erected a wooden plaque here, with words he carved himself.

Love Slope.

The handwriting is clumsy, yet its strength penetrates the wood!

The hillsides were covered in snow in winter, a world of silver and white.

From afar, Li Xiangnan spotted a familiar figure in an old overcoat, bending over on the hillside, carefully clearing away the snow with a shovel to reveal the well-protected lilac seedlings underneath.

His movements were slow and focused, as if he were doing the most meticulous work in the world.

The cold wind whipped up the snowflakes on the ground and lashed against him, but he was completely unaware.

Li Xiangnan parked his car and slowly walked up the slope.

Hearing footsteps, Pang Weinong paused, slowly straightened up, and turned his head.

But when he saw that it was Li Xiangnan, a clear look of panic and embarrassment flashed across his face. He subconsciously wanted to hide the shovel behind his back, but then thought it would be too silly and froze.

"Xiang Nan...you...why are you here?"

Pang Weinong's voice was dry and hoarse, and his eyes darted around, avoiding Li Xiangnan's gaze.

He looked even worse than Lin Youwei had described, with sunken eyes and a scruffy beard that looked like it hadn't been shaved for days.

His once crisp old military overcoat was now wrinkled and covered in mud and snow stains, giving him an air of decadence and isolation.

Looking at him like this, Li Xiangnan felt a pang of sadness in his heart.

This was one of his rare good friends from childhood!

How did it turn out like this?

He didn't say anything, but walked over to Pang Weinong and bent down to look at the lilac seedlings that were still stubbornly holding up their thin branches under the snow.

“You’ve taken good care of the seedlings. They should grow taller by next spring! It’s hard to imagine how beautiful this place will be then!” Li Xiangnan said casually, breaking the silence between the two.

Pang Weinong's tense body seemed to relax a little. He looked down at the seedlings, his eyes becoming gentle yet pained.

"Yes, we have to protect them... I'm afraid they'll all die, otherwise... it'll be all gone, nothing will be left!" His voice was low, filled with endless sorrow.

The two stood side by side on the snow slope, looking at the vast expanse of white before them, even the Qinghe River flowing under the Anhe Bridge was covered in white.

The distant city was shrouded in the winter twilight, while nearby, only the howling wind and the suppressed breathing of others could be heard.

"Weinong," Li Xiangnan finally spoke, his voice calm yet carrying a heavy weight, "Xitang is almost a month old!"

"..."

Pang Weinong's body trembled violently, and the shovel in his hand clattered to the frozen ground.

He kept his head bowed tightly, his shoulders trembling violently and uncontrollably...