Chapter 355 Arrangements before departure
"Just keep him by your side as a servant. I'll feel relieved knowing Pingbo is with you!" Hao Shun said emotionally.

Then he waved gently, motioning Hao Pingbo to come closer.

"Xiaobo, come here and pay your respects to your Uncle Liu. If I am no longer around, you must treat your Uncle Liu wholeheartedly, just as you treated me. You must keep this friendship in your heart and treat him as your own family member."

Hao Pingbo has obeyed his father's words since he was a child. Even though he was puzzled as to why his father acted in this way, he never hesitated.

Without any hesitation, he knelt on his knees, touched the ground with his forehead, and kowtowed devoutly, his movements quick and resolute.

"Uncle Liu! Your nephew kowtows to you!"

Seeing this, Liu Zhiye quickly stepped forward, trying to help Hao Pingbo stand up, with an unquestionable firmness in his tone: "Pingbo, stand up quickly! Don't let your father's old rules restrain you. Now is a new society, we must stand up straight and behave ourselves, and don't kneel down at every turn."

Hao Pingbo refused and insisted on completing the ceremony.

This boy has a straightforward and honest personality. When faced with an elder who is only a dozen years older than him and is asked to kowtow, if it were someone else, they would inevitably feel a bit embarrassed and uncomfortable, and would most likely find a step to stand up to avoid this somewhat abrupt etiquette.

But he was different. He did not hesitate at all. His innocence and honesty were particularly valuable in today's society that emphasizes flexibility.

He is as stubborn as his father and will kowtow if told to do so, without any concessions.

In fact, Liu Zhiye was very fond of this kid and at one point he even wanted to take him back to the capital and personally pave a bright future for him.

Unfortunately, the father and son were reluctant to give up their arduous career at sea. Liu Zhiye did not mention it again, after all, everyone has their own destiny and cannot force it.

Now, with the changes in the overall environment, Hao Shun's mood has gradually become clear, and he has begun to carefully plan his future retreat.

Although fleeing overseas was a way out, he could not bear to let his beloved son suffer the pain of wandering, and was even more unwilling to impose this burden on his young shoulders.

Therefore, Hao Shun fell into deep thought, how to protect his family while finding a stable place for his future.
Furthermore, the Xia people have a deep-rooted attachment to their hometown, and Hao Pingbo is still young. How can he easily abandon his hometown and drift far away with others? It is this reluctance and consideration that prompted Hao Shun to entrust everything to Liu Zhiye.

"Get up quickly!"

"Hey, kid, you are too honest! Didn't you see that you have a bruise on your forehead? Are you stupid?" Liu Zhiye supported Hao Pingbo and looked at him with a playful yet concerned look, looking up and down at his slightly embarrassed appearance, especially the conspicuous bruise, and couldn't help teasing him.

Hao Shun stood to one side, and after his son finished his ceremony, he gave him a concise warning: "From now on, you will follow your uncle Liu back to the capital. You must treat him as your own father and serve him wholeheartedly. Don't forget this instruction."

Hao Pingbo froze instantly. He looked at his father in disbelief, his voice trembling slightly: "Dad, what's wrong with you? Why are you suddenly driving me away?"

"I'm not leaving!" He shook his head firmly, with an unquestionable light in his eyes. "I will stay at home and serve you wholeheartedly. I won't go anywhere!" His tone was full of attachment to home and deep affection for his father.

Upon seeing this, Hao Shun's face suddenly changed and he shouted angrily: "Hao Pingbo, are you going to disobey your father? How dare you ignore what I said now!" After saying that, his chest heaved violently, obviously he was extremely angry about this action.

Hao Pingbo knelt down suddenly, his knees hitting the ground heavily, and he knelt straight in front of his father again, with a bit of urgency and reluctance in his tone: "Dad, I remember every word you said in my heart, but I really can't live without you. Once I leave, who will take care of your daily life, who will talk to you and relieve your boredom?" His eyes were full of attachment and worry for his father, as if he would lose all his support once he left this home.

When Hao Shun saw this scene, ripples of reluctance instantly arose in his heart. How could he easily give up the feeling of parting with his son?

This father and son have been through thick and thin together and depended on each other for many years. The hardships and tribulations they have experienced are all unspeakable secrets in their hearts that cannot be told to outsiders.

Every pain and every scar bears witness to the deep emotional bond between them.

However, he had no choice. He knew that for the sake of his child's future and destiny, he must seize the only opportunity before him and resolutely send his only child away.

At this critical moment, every decision was of great importance, and he could only grit his teeth and embark on this road full of unknowns and challenges. He could take risks, but his son could not.

Liu Zhiye's background is a mystery to outsiders, but only he and his son know it very well. This person is undoubtedly a noble person in their lives, and the only hope for the children to turn things around and rewrite their destiny.

Hao Shun pursed his lips tightly, his eyes determined, and spoke harshly word by word: "Xiaobo, if you insist on going against my will, then step out of this house and never come back. I, Hao Shun, do not recognize you as a rebellious son..." As he spoke, his fists were clenched and veins bulged, revealing his inner reluctance and determination, as if he was engaged in a silent contest.

When Hao Pingbo witnessed this scene, he fell to the ground and burst into tears. He choked and shouted, "Dad, please don't abandon me! My mother left us when I was a child. If you leave me too, I will really become a helpless person, and my family will be broken up..." After saying this, he cried even louder, as if he wanted to pour out all the helplessness and despair in his heart.

Hao Shun hardened his heart, turned his back, and looked like he didn't want to hear or see.

"Old Hao, why have you done this? Why have you done this?" Liu Zhiye looked at the posture of the father and son, and it seemed like Emperor Liu Bei was entrusting his son to the care of others in Baidi City.

Hao Shun took Liu Zhiye's hand and said, "Old Liu, please come with me. I want to tell you something from my heart."

After hearing this, Liu Zhiye nodded solemnly, then walked side by side with Hao Shun into the quiet back garden of their house.

This courtyard was recently renovated and looks fresh and elegant. Various flowers and green plants are planted in an orderly manner in the courtyard, and several fruit trees are dotted in between, making it more vibrant.

Strolling to the backyard and looking through the exquisite fence, you can see rippling blue waves, the sea and the sky meeting each other, and a vast expanse of blue coming into view.

The white clouds are floating, interweaving with the sea surface to form a moving picture, which makes people's minds suddenly open up, as if all the troubles are gone with the wind, leaving only this tranquility and beauty that is reluctant to leave for a long time.

Hao Shun felt a little reluctant, and he whispered to himself: "I put so much effort into taking care of this house. I wonder who will get the benefit in the future?" His words revealed a bit of helplessness and a touch of melancholy.

"Old Liu, I'm sorry, I did scheme against you for a while."

"I don't want to leave either, but I'm afraid that if something happens to me, it will hurt you and Pingbo..."

"Pingbo, this child doesn't have any other abilities, but he has one good thing, which is filial piety and honesty. He will remember whoever treats him well for the rest of his life..."

Liu Zhiye turned his back to Hao Shun, quietly inhaling and exhaling smoke, thinking to himself that this might be the most appropriate choice at the moment.

When the wind blows, he may be on the crest of the wave, surrounded by surging waves. If he is not careful, he will be in an irretrievable situation.

He knew very well that theirs was not an ordinary family. Given his current position, he had to be cautious with every step in order to keep his balance in this storm.

He knew very well that he could not take any risks. Hao Shun and his son were like his weak spot. Once they fell into the hands of others, they would be fatal.

In this complicated situation, any negligence may lead to his irreparable destruction, so he must proceed step by step and be careful not to be used by people with ulterior motives.

At this moment, Hao Shun actually took the initiative to step forward and propose a solution, which was beyond Liu Zhiye's expectations.

He knew very well that Hao Shun had made a huge sacrifice, and Liu Zhiye couldn't help but feel grateful. He must always remember this friendship.

"Thank you, Lao Hao!"

"From now on, Pingbo is my nephew. With my protection, his future will be brilliant and his road ahead will be bright." Liu Zhiye said sincerely and gave an explanation to Hao Shun.

"I only have one request. You must live well. I believe that in the near future, you and your son will meet again. By then, no one will be able to separate you two."

Hao Shun saw Liu Zhiye make a solemn promise, and a relieved smile appeared on his face. The heavy stone in his heart finally fell to the ground, and he had nothing to fear no matter how big the future storm was.

As long as my son is safe and healthy and achieves something in the future, all the efforts and waiting seem so worth it.

Hao Shun's eyes flashed with determination and expectation, as if he had foreseen his son's brilliant future.

…………

After thirty years of drinking.

Liu Zhiye declined the sincere attempts of the Hao father and son to retain him. He knew very well that he had been very busy these days and he had to personally arrange every single thing to ensure that everything went well.

"Pingbo, in the next few days, you should stay at home and accompany your father more. Afterwards, you will go to Liujiazhuang to report to your aunt. I will arrange all matters properly before the departure, so just go with peace of mind." Before leaving, Liu Zhiye instructed Hao Pingbo.

Hao Pingbo nodded slightly and said concisely: "Uncle, I'll keep your words in mind. You seem to be drunk, so you must drive carefully on the road. Safety comes first."

Liu Zhiye nodded gently, and finally hugged Hao Shun tightly, saying briefly and affectionately: "Old Hao, take care!"

Hao Shun's eyes were red, and he responded with a choked voice: "Old Liu, don't worry, I will. You too, take care of yourself!"

The father and son watched Liu Zhiye's car go away. Hao Shun stared at Hao Pingbo, and his words revealed deep expectations: "Pingbo, you must remember in your heart that your uncle Liu is a man of character and righteousness, comparable to the ancient Mengchang Jun, whose character is admirable."

"From now on, you must remember my words and not disobey him. You must treat him as you treat me, wholeheartedly. Do you understand this?"

Hao Pingbo scratched his head gently, his tone firm and relieved: "Dad, don't worry. I'm not a fool, my mind is as clear as a mirror. Besides, I admire Uncle Liu from the bottom of my heart. It is my blessing to have such an uncle, and it is also an honor for our whole family."

A gratified smile appeared on Hao Shun's lips. He gently reached out his hand and stroked Hao Pingbo's hair, his eyes full of love. "Come on, let's go back and have a few drinks with your father."

When Hao Pingbo heard this, his brows knitted tightly, and his tone was filled with anxiety and concern: "Dad, you should drink more slowly. Just drink enough. Uncle Liu almost made you drunk just now. We have to take care of our health."

"You little brat, I was just giving in to your Uncle Liu, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to leave today..."

"Dad, just keep bragging. With my uncle Liu's drinking capacity, I estimate that ten of you combined would not be as good as him..."

"Hey! You little brat actually looked down on me. I think you're looking for a fight..."

"Hahahaha... Dad, you can't catch up with me..."

"Come back here, I'm going to beat your ass..."

----

Originally planning to go and come back quickly, Liu Zhiye never expected that he would unexpectedly drink a little wine at Hao Shun's house and time passed quietly.

By the time he set out on his journey home and returned to the capital, the setting sun was already hanging low in the sky and it was already afternoon.

After arriving in Dongcheng, Liu Zhiye did not stop but went straight to the familiar No. 95 Courtyard deep in Nanluoguxiang.

As soon as he parked his car, he saw Yan Bugui coming back pushing a bicycle.

"Uncle, are you reluctant to ride it or what? Why are you pushing it?" Liu Zhiye still called him Uncle out of habit and teased him when he saw this.

Yan Bugui also saw him from a distance. He hadn't seen Liu Zhiye for a while and he missed him quite a bit.

"The leader is back. Haha, why are you here alone?"

"Hey! I'm so unlucky. I don't know which naughty kid pulled out the valve core of my bicycle."

"Hey, since you haven't been back often, there has been a lot of chaos around here!"

Yan Bugui took the opportunity to complain to Liu Zhiye.

It turns out that when Liu Zhiye lived here, Nanluoguxiang and even Jiaodaokou had always been model areas for public security.

All the "rats" in the capital city know that there is a "crouching tiger" in Nanluoguxiang. No one dares to pull the tiger's whiskers and they all stay away from it.

However, since Liu Zhiye's family returned to Liujiazhuang, the "Buddhas", "playboys" and those idle "street thugs" on this land seemed to smell the scent and made a comeback.

The days are no longer peaceful. Today, the Zhang family is in chaos because they lost an old hen that lays eggs. Tomorrow, the Li family will sigh because the old yellow dog guarding the gate did not come back all night.

Although these trivial matters are insignificant, they spread out like ripples in circles in Nanluoguxiang, giving people more topics to talk about after dinner, and also making this land shrouded in a layer of instability again.

When Liu Zhiye heard this, he became furious. This was clearly his territory and the neighbors around him were all familiar faces to him.

Obviously, some people have really forgotten the pain once the wound has healed, and previous lessons do not seem to have taught them a lesson.

I am angry in my heart.

However, Liu Zhiye remained calm.

He quickly took out a pack of cigarettes from his trouser pocket and gently tossed it to Yan Bugui, with a faint smile on his face. "Come on, calm down. Tomorrow I'll ask Lao Ge and the others to do a big cleanup in the area and get rid of these evil spirits."

Yan Bugui believed that "a blessing in disguise", today he lost the valve core, but got a box of good cigarettes.

He immediately put on a smiling face out of joy, completely changing his bitter and resentful expression just now.

"Wow! These are Tianjin Hengda brand cigarettes. Great cigarettes. Tsk tsk... 3 yuan a pack, more expensive than Daqianmen."

Yan Bugui couldn't wait to tear open the package, took out a cigarette, and motioned Liu Zhiye to light it first.

Liu Zhiye waved his hand and said, "You can continue smoking. I just dropped my cigarette butt."

Yan Bugui stopped being polite and struck a match, lighting a cigarette. "Hiss! Phew... a good cigarette, no worse than Daqianmen."

"Are your parents doing well recently? I think the two boys at home can crawl on the kang again, right?"

Liu Zhiye said: "Thank you for your concern. The two elders are doing well, but sometimes they miss the neighbors in the courtyard."

"My two boys can eat and sleep well, and they are very lively. Sometimes their grandmother can't even keep an eye on them. Haha..." Liu Zhiye wanted to laugh when he thought of the scene when his mother Deng Ru looked at the two children anxiously.

Yan Bugui smiled and said, "Really? If they miss home, ask them to come back more often."

"By the way, don't leave tonight. When Jie Cheng comes back, let them go buy some food and we can have a drink together."

Liu Zhiye was about to refuse when he saw the two brothers Shazhu and Xu Damao coming back together.

"Hey, Brother Liu, you're back?" Sha Zhu said in surprise.

"Brother Liu!" As soon as Xu Damao saw Liu Zhiye, Qin Huairu's previous instructions emerged involuntarily in his mind, and his words unconsciously carried a subtle hint of embarrassment and discomfort.

Liu Zhiye waved to them and said, "Da Mao, Zhu Zi, you two are back just in time. It saves me the trouble of going door to door to invite you."

Sha Zhu said in surprise: "Brother Liu, what can I do for you? Just tell me if you have anything to say..."

Liu Zhiye smiled and said, "Don't worry, let's wait for the Jie Cheng brothers to come back and talk about it together."

Sha Zhu didn't understand what was going on, so he just nodded and said, "Okay! Then let's go to my house tonight. It's been a while since we've gotten together."

When Yan Bugui heard this, he hurriedly said, "Shazhu, don't go to your house tonight. Let's go to my house instead. I'll treat you!"

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu said unhappily: "Hey! Third Uncle, why should I go to your house? If you want to treat me, let's go to your house next time."

Yan Bugui finally caught Liu Zhiye, how could he let go of this opportunity.

"Hey, kid, there must be a first come first served rule, right? Before you came back, I had already made an agreement with Zhiye that you would come to my house tonight. If you don't believe me, ask him."

Sha Zhu still looked at Liu Zhiye in disbelief and said, "Brother Liu, you..."

Liu Zhiye interrupted him with a smile and said, "Stop arguing. I'm not going to anyone else's house. Everyone go to my room tonight."

"I haven't been home for a while, so I can use the smell of fireworks to get rid of the dampness in my home."

night.

After Shazhu finished cooking, they sat at the table and drank.

Liu Zhiye looked around the room, his eyes passing over Yan Bugui, Yan Jiecheng, Yan Jiefang, Sha Zhu, Xu Damao, Liu Guangtian and others. He briefly explained the arrangements before further studies.

He also told them to keep a low profile in the future and if anything unexpected happened, they should wait until he came back.

(End of this chapter)