Chapter 1044 - As Close As Brothers (1/2)

Chapter 1044: As Close As Brothers

Translator: Exodus Tales  Editor: Exodus Tales

The old man looked surprised and observed Tang Xiu for a while. Then, he forced a smile and said, “I followed the old leader for thirteen years since I was ten until I left due to a special reason when I was 23. Now I’m 73 years old, I never had seen him for 50 years . I don’t even know if the old leader still remembers me.”

“Is this old leader the person from the Tang Family who is celebrating his birthday today?” asked Tang Xiu.

The old man nodded in response. His slightly trembling hand pulled out a half-pack of crumpled cigarettes from his pocket and then fished out one from the inside. Just as he was about to lit it up, he suddenly seemed to recall something, secretly shook his head, and just looked at the cigarette in a daze.

Not a word came out of his mouth as he seemed to be caught in a reverie of his past.

“Old man, I think I can guess something from you. But your present condition is likely not good,” said Tang Xiu.

The old man came back to his senses and looked up at Tang Xiu, replying helplessly, “I know that I’m just halfway into my coffin with these last breaths of mine. That’s right, little brother. If you could help me, please pass my words to the old leader. It’s regretful that I can’t see him ever again in this life, but…”

“Please come with me, old man! I’ll take you in.” Tang Xiu interrupted him.

The old man became stunned. He stood with difficulty and asked with full of expectation, “You… you can really take us in?”

“That’s right,” answered Tang Xiu.

Tears overflowed from the old man’s eyes. He hurriedly nodded and pulled the little girl up. Then, he said, “Did you hear that? Grandpa’s last wish and hope are still there.”

Supporting the old man, Tang Xiu didn’t say anything and brought them into the interior of the courtyard under the watchful eyes of Tang Hu and many guards. Soon after, they came to the innermost part of the residence, garnering curious eyes from many people due to the old man’s attire.

Tang Guosheng, who was sitting in the room and chatting with several elderly people, suddenly saw his son, Tang Yunpeng, coming over from the outside. He smiled at him and asked, “How is it outside, Yunpeng?”

“Most of the guests have come, Father,” answered Tang Yunpeng, “However, Xiu’er brought in an old man and a child from the outside. He said that this old man wants to see you.”

“An old man and a child?” Tang Guosheng was confused and asked, “Do you know who the old man is?”

“I don’t know. But he looks like an ordinary old man given his clothes.” Tang Yunpeng shook his head.

Tang Guosheng thought about it before getting up and saying, “There are always things that don’t meet the eyes for everything Xiu’er does. Let’s go and have a look since you don’t know him then.”

Half a minute later, when Tang Guosheng passed through the door, his eyes fell on the old man several meters away. His eyes suddenly stared at him and observed the old man’s facial features, whom he felt vaguely familiar, yet he couldn’t remember who he was.

“You are…”

Tang Guosheng came towards the old man. He immediately felt confused upon seeing the latter’s face that was full of excitement with two lines of tears trickling down his wrinkled face.

The old man released himself from Tang Xiu’s propping hands. He also loosened the little girl’s hand. His body shivered as he paced two steps forward and kneeled down in front of Tang Guosheng under everyone’s eyes.

“I can’t accept it.”

Although Tang Guosheng couldn’t recognize the old man in front, he still rushed to reach his hands out to prop him up.

The old man avoided Tang Guosheng’s hands and kept kneeling as he spoke with a choked voice, “A Brother is like a Father. For being able to see the Old Leader before dying, Zicheng has no regrets left in this life anymore.”

Tang Guosheng’s heart thumped as the softest spot in his heart seemed to be touched. His eyes went round all of a sudden with disbelief overflowing from within. Everyone present with keen eyes could see that his body was slightly trembling.

“Y-you… you’re Zicheng? Are you Zuo Zicheng?”

The old man looked up with teary eyes and sobbed. “You… you still remember me?”

Tang Guosheng suddenly squatted on the floor and hugged the old man with tears overflowing from his eyes. His voice quivered as he called out, “Y-you… are you really Zicheng? You, you…”