Most people are easily swayed, and conformity is a common occurrence.
After the rumors were clarified, many students apologized to Lin Zhibai, saying they shouldn't have believed what they heard and hoped to get his forgiveness.
Lin Zhibai remained calm. He couldn't forget their ambush, the book that had hit him on the forehead, or their insults.
Lin Zhibai neither blamed nor forgave them.
After this incident, the Lin family seemed to calm down, and Lin Zhibai also enjoyed a period of peaceful life.
At the end of the semester, Lin Zhibai excelled academically, ranking first in his major and receiving a scholarship of one hundred yuan. He used the money to buy a watch and gave it to Meng Xiangbei.
After six months of hard work, Meng Xiangbei has bought the building he was originally renting and renovated it.
With his two apprentices having learned their skills to a near-complete degree, Meng Xiangbei was now considering opening a branch store.
After the holiday started, Lin Zhibai not only helped out at the store, but also began investigating the deaths of his parents.
Those were his loving parents; Lin Zhibai couldn't let them die without knowing why.
However, that happened more than a decade ago. The incident occurred in the mountains, where communication was underdeveloped and the population was not dense, making the investigation extremely difficult.
Recently, Lin Zhibai has been visiting friends who were close to his parents back then, hoping to get some information from them. However, none of the people he was able to contact could provide any useful information.
That evening, after Meng Xiangbei finished washing up, he saw Lin Zhibai under the oil lamp, writing something in a notebook. Lin Zhibai explained that he was organizing the information he had recently collected.
As soon as he walked over, he saw Lin Zhibai looked up, then open his arms to hug his waist, burying his face on his chest, and rub against him.
"What's wrong?" Meng Xiangbei gently ruffled his soft hair.
"Brother Meng, am I really useless?" Lin Zhibai's voice was muffled, and his tone was filled with unconcealed dejection.
Meng Xiangbei's gaze fell on the notebook, and he understood what he meant.
"Xiaobai, you've done your best."
Feeling a damp patch on his clothes, Lin Zhibai sniffed and choked up, saying, "I always thought that after more than ten years, I could let go, but recently I've been dreaming about my parents frequently. I realized that I haven't let go; I've just kept them hidden in my heart."
Brother Meng, before you came into my life, my parents loved me the most, but they died mysteriously. I was young and ignorant before, so I could pretend I didn't know anything. Now that I'm grown up, I must find out the truth.
Brother Meng, do you know? Three days ago was the anniversary of their deaths, but I didn't dare go to pay my respects. I was afraid they would resent me, resent me for being such a useless son, not even knowing whether they died accidentally or were murdered. Brother Meng, I'm so heartbroken, so heartbroken I can hardly breathe.''
The person in his arms, who had been sobbing softly, began to cry louder and then burst into tears.
Even while crying, he didn't forget to hold Meng Xiangbei tightly, as if afraid he would leave.
People who lack love are always particularly insecure and sensitive.
Meng Xiangbei did not stop him from crying. Lin Zhibai's emotions had been clearly off these past few days, but he hadn't said anything. Now he finally managed to vent.
But as he cried, he started hiccuping.
His delicate, fair face was streaked with tears, his eyes were red-rimmed, and he shivered like a rabbit, occasionally hiccuping.
He seemed surprised that he would hiccup, and blushed with embarrassment.
After that night, Lin Zhibai continued to actively investigate the truth behind his parents' deaths, but he was no longer so depressed and keeping everything bottled up inside.
Perhaps it was because his parents were watching from heaven, or perhaps it was because good deeds are rewarded, that morning, a beggar came to the shop door to beg, and Lin Zhibai, who was always gentle, gave the beggar a bowl of porridge.
The beggar was stunned when he saw him.
"What's your name?" Lin Zhibai was suddenly grabbed by the beggar. He was too strong, and his wrist was gripped painfully. The beggar stared at him intently, as if recalling something, his expression excited.
"Is your father named Lin Jiandang?" the beggar asked in a rough, affirmative tone.
He seems to have confirmed that Lin Zhibai is Lin Jiandang's son.
Lin Zhibai slowly withdrew his hand, but did not leave, looking at him with a puzzled expression.
"Child, you mustn't befriend your uncle, you mustn't."
Lin Zhibai's pupils suddenly contracted, and a storm raged in his heart, with a vague guess forming in his mind.
"Xiaobai, what's wrong?" Meng Xiangbei called from behind.
Lin Zhibai's gaze fell on the middle-aged male beggar, and he said, "Come in with me."
Meng Xiangbei and Lin Zhibai left with the beggar under the watchful eye of their employees and led him upstairs to the second floor.
Only then did they realize that the beggar had a severe limp in one leg, and had to drag himself when he walked. His clothes were tattered, and his hair, which he had pulled back, was long and messy.
He looked to be around fifty years old, with dark skin.
The ground was clean, without a speck of dust. The beggar hesitated for a long time before dragging his legs up.
He was restless and didn't touch the sugar water that Meng Xiangbei poured for him.
"My name is Lin Zhibai. Lin Jiandang is my father. Do you know my father? Why do you say I can't be on good terms with Lin Jianguo?" Lin Zhibai asked impatiently as he sat opposite him.
The beggar stared at him, as if remembering something, his emotions surged again, and tears streamed from his cloudy eyes.
“My child, it was Lin Jianguo who pushed your father. It was my fault. I shouldn’t have taken the money. I shouldn’t have gone against my conscience. My family, this leg is my retribution, my retribution.”
He was probably speaking too hastily, and his words were somewhat incoherent, but that did not prevent Lin Zhibai and Meng Xiangbei from understanding.
"You mean, my father was killed by Lin Jianguo, right?" Lin Zhibai suddenly stood up, seeking confirmation with great emotion.
"Yes," the beggar nodded.
The beggar, named Zhang Lixing, was a friend of Lin Jiandang. More than ten years ago, he came to G City from his hometown, a small mountain village, to work. Because he was unfamiliar with the place, he was cheated out of all the money he brought. When he was destitute on the streets, Lin Jiandang extended a helping hand.
Later, Lin Jiandang not only found him a place to live, but also introduced him to a job. Over time, the two became friends.
"...It's my fault for being heartless, I deserve to die. Back then, Jian Dang got the opportunity to work in a state-owned enterprise, and he was very happy. I still remember his smile. He said he could finally give his wife and children a better life."
That day, he rushed home to tell you the good news. But Lin Jianguo was very emotional. They both went for the interview, so why did his younger brother get selected while he didn't? He even had a fight with his parents over it.''
The two elderly people had always favored their eldest son. Under Lin Jianguo's nagging, they demanded that their younger son give his job to their eldest son.
Lin Jiandang used to always defer to his elder brother, but now, in order to provide a better life for his wife and children, he is no longer willing to yield.
So he refused.
The elderly couple cursed him, calling him heartless and unfilial.
At that time, Lin Zhibai was at his maternal grandmother's house. Lin Jiandang did not want to argue with them, so he took his wife and left to go to his wife's house. However, the old couple and Lin Jianguo were unwilling to let it go.
Finally, when they reached a remote mountain road, a fierce argument broke out.
Lin Jiandang was pushed down the mountain by the enraged Lin Jianguo, and Lin Zhibai's mother, who instinctively went to save her husband, also fell down.
When the two were found again, they were already dead.
Lin Jianguo's actions constitute murder and he will go to jail.
Lin Jianguo pleaded with the elderly couple, who thought to themselves, "Our youngest son is already gone. Do we really want our eldest son to go to prison too?"
So they kept it a secret.
At that time, the elderly couple were not the only ones who witnessed Lin Jianguo pushing people; Zhang Lixing, who happened to be passing by, also saw it.
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