When Brother Mo heard this, he paused for a moment before replying, "Yi Ning, you know I've already retired. Look at me now, living on this mountain, clearing land to grow vegetables, raising chickens, ducks, and geese—it's a good life with plenty to eat and drink."
He Yi Ning lowered his gaze slightly, a trace of melancholy flickering in his phoenix eyes. "I still remember when I was young, how you followed my father through life-and-death situations. You used to say, 'Green hills are everywhere to bury loyal bones; why need horsehide to wrap the corpse home?' Back then, as a child, I always looked up to you as my role model."
Brother Mo's fingers trembled. He rubbed his face roughly with his thick hands, dropping all pretense of jest, and said seriously, "Yeah, back then, Brother He and I were so... Yi Ning, it's not that I don't want to help you, but I've truly cut all ties with the past."
"Brother Mo, I'm not asking you to come out of retirement. I just want to use your network of connections." He Yi Ning smiled lightly. "The line into the UAE has become very hard to penetrate. To break into the UAE, I'll need to tap into those old networks. You know how my family has always opposed my father's ways. In my grandmother's eyes, my father was never on the right path. That's why she had me take over the He Corporation so early."
Brother Mo fell silent, then downed the glass of wine in front of him in one gulp.
The fiery liquid made him exhale in satisfaction.
"Yi Ning, I'm really glad you brought your wife to see me. But I truly can't agree to this." Brother Mo said solemnly. "The He Corporation is better off in your hands than in Brother He's. When I left back then, I swore I'd never meddle in those old matters again. I'm sorry, I can't help you."
He Yi Ning seemed to have anticipated this outcome, but he wasn't discouraged. He just smiled and said, "Alright, since you're so set on it, I won't force you."
Sitting nearby, Shen Qi felt like she was on pins and needles!
Shouldn't they be keeping this conversation from her?
And when they mentioned He Yi Ning's father, their expressions were clearly heavy—there was definitely something unspeakable there!
Was it really okay for her to be listening in?
Sensing the tension, Shen Qi quickly tried to lighten the mood. "This tea is really good. I like it a lot."
"It's from the tea mountain back in my hometown. If you like it, take some with you when you leave." Brother Mo said to Shen Qi with a grin.
"Really? Thank you so much!" Shen Qi immediately replied.
With Shen Qi changing the subject, the previous topic was dropped.
After the meal, Xiao Chun and the others efficiently cleared the table. Shen Qi wanted to help but couldn't find a way in, so she just wandered outside to see what was going on.
Behind the two rows of houses, there was a patch of vegetable garden with neatly planted seedlings. Not far from the garden, a flock of chickens, ducks, and geese were kept.
Shen Qi had never seen domestic poultry before, so she curiously went over to watch.
Just then, a white goose was laying an egg, struggling painfully and slowly to push it out.
Shen Qi crouched down and watched for a while, feeling sorry for the poor goose—it had been at it for ten minutes and still wasn't done.
Unable to bear it, she decided to help!
As the goose strained, Shen Qi grabbed the half-emerged egg with both hands and yanked it out.
Plop! The warm goose egg came free in her hands.
The goose, mid-effort, was stunned!
It turned its head in disbelief—this human had pulled its baby out of its body!
How outrageous!
Shen Qi looked at the goose, puzzled. She'd just helped it out—did it have to stare at her with such gratitude?
Wait, was that really gratitude?
Was she sure?
Why did she feel a deep sense of menace?
Suddenly, the goose let out a harsh squawk, its feathers bristling, and charged at Shen Qi with murderous intent, ready to fight to the death.
Startled, Shen Qi clutched the egg and ran for her life!
Seeing Shen Qi run off with its egg, the goose grew even angrier, lowering its head and chasing after her!
Shen Qi was terrified out of her wits!
She'd only tried to help—why was this goose relentlessly chasing her all over the yard?
The commotion drew everyone out of the house.
When Shen Qi saw He Yi Ning emerge, she dashed toward him, shouting, "Ahhh, help! Why is this goose chasing me? He Yi Ning, come quick!"
Still holding the warm egg, she ducked behind He Yi Ning, but the goose kept after her.
Shen Qi shoved the egg into He Yi Ning's arms and bolted, "Don't chase me! I've given your egg to He Yi Ning—go after him!"
The goose didn't care about the egg anymore; it had set its sights on Shen Qi and wouldn't let up.
Watching Shen Qi being chased all over the yard by a goose, He Yi Ning burst out laughing, tears nearly streaming down his face.
Every time the goose caught up, it would viciously peck Shen Qi's leg, making her yelp in pain.
Everyone who came out saw the scene and cracked up.
Brother Mo laughed so hard tears flew: "Oh my, this place hasn't seen this much excitement in years!"
The others were doubled over with laughter, though they tried to stifle it out of respect.
Shen Qi ran back to He Yi Ning again, circling him with the goose in hot pursuit.
Out of breath and exhausted, she forgot all about their superior-subordinate relationship and grabbed He Yi Ning's arm, panting, "You... you have to save me..."
Seeing him just laugh and not help, Shen Qi threw caution to the wind!
She lunged at He Yi Ning, wrapped her arms around his neck, and jumped up, locking her legs around him like a koala, refusing to let go.
Xiao Chun: "..."
Xiao Xia: "..."
Xiao Qiu: "..."
Xiao Dong: "..."
He Yi Ning himself: "..."
The culprit, Shen Qi, was still yelling at the goose, "I was just helping you lay your egg, and you try to kill me! How ungrateful! If I hadn't seen you struggling so much, I wouldn't have pulled it out!"
Brother Mo: "..."
He Yi Ning shot a murderous glare at the aggressive goose. The goose, highly perceptive, immediately sensed his killing intent and backed off, retreating quietly.
Seeing the goose finally give up, Shen Qi breathed a sigh of relief—then froze.
Her current position...