Corpse Recovery Diver

Chapter 1557 285:

Mr. Zhai: "Yes, destiny, it really is destiny."Zhao Yi, sensing the timing was about right, deliberately said, "You see, my brother and I lost our parents early on, and we haven't had anyone to rely on in this life. Sometimes at night, when I think of our departed parents, I find their faces have grown blurry in my memory..."

Mr. Zhai: "How about this then, I'll become sworn kin with your brother."

Zhao Yi: "..."

Damn it, I want to be recognized by you, does it have anything to do with that Li fellow?

He can't drive a truck to deliver corpses, nor does he wake up at dawn to prepare medicine. These days, it's me who's been sneaking over every night to treat and take care of you. That Li fellow only came once on the first night; the rest of the time, he's been sleeping soundly in his room!

Seeing Zhao Yi silent, Mr. Zhai continued, "I'm getting old, and within a few years I'll retire, but your brother really is a good learner. It's tough on him riding trucks with you, he should be well nurtured, or it'll be a pity."

Apart from parents having biases about their own children, outsiders, especially those who've been teachers, actually have an exceptionally keen observation of children's intelligence.

Moreover, Mr. Zhai had personally played chess with that young man and experienced his mental calculation ability firsthand.

Zhao Yi: "You're right, we'll do as you say, after all, we're the ones who are climbing up to your stature."

Why does everything good fall into that Li guy's lap?

The most infuriating thing is, Zhao Yi knows that Li really couldn't care less about becoming sworn kin with this elder or becoming his student in the future.

In fact, Li is already the actual inheritor of that position.

The one who truly needs this special relationship desperately is Zhao Yi; he needs to rely on this newly developed bond to offset that pair of lazy dogs.

All morning, Zhao Yi stayed beside him, trying to initiate more conversation. His insight into human nature far surpasses Tan Wenbin, yet his flaw is seeing too accurately, which makes him lack Tan Wenbin's empathy.

Unfortunately, Mr. Zhai was not in the mood to speak much, he merely sat there, staring blankly.

As noon approached, Zhao Yi, along with Zheng Hua and others, helped load the body onto the truck, then drove back to the nearby county.

Li Zhiyuan came downstairs at this time, intentionally giving Zhao Yi an opportunity; besides, he didn't wish to have too much interaction with Mr. Zhai. If he was really asked about his elementary school test scores, there would be no way to cover up.

Yet, the special favor and fondness were genuine.

Even though the young man tried to avoid the elder, it was impossible to stop the elder from actively seeking him out.

"Xiao Yuan, come over here to Grandpa."

Li Zhiyuan walked over, sat down, and his hand was grasped by the elder.

Li Zhiyuan's surname is Li, Zhao Yi's is Zhao; this name introduction wasn't hidden at the first meal when they shared a table.

The brothers have different surnames, and Zhao Yi explained that his father married into the family, so the first child followed the mother's surname and the second followed the father's.

When it comes to arranging stories about his parents, Zhao Yi feels no pressure at all; Tan Wenbin even once caught him crossing out his parents' names.

Normally at this moment, a caring and sensible child should speak up to offer comfort; a child's words can not only be candid but also warmer.

But Li Zhiyuan just sat there, not speaking first.

Mr. Zhai sighed, "The older I get, the more I feel the preciousness of youth. To lose it so young is truly a pity. On the road of life, there are many sights yet unseen by them."

Li Zhiyuan nodded.

Mr. Zhai: "When I was young, I also feared death. But as I got older, I discovered..."

Here, Mr. Zhai paused and turned his head slightly to look at the young man sitting next to him, signaling for him to continue.

It was a rare clear day, the house owners were all outside busy with the farmland, and Mr. Zhai's other students had gone with the truck to send off their junior disciples.

In the hall on the first floor, only Li Zhiyuan and the elder remained.

This way of questioning made Li Zhiyuan sense that special feeling arriving once more.

Next, the conversation was with this elder, but also not truly him.

The young man replied, "More afraid of dying."

"Heh heh." Mr. Zhai laughed and nodded, "Yes, when young, the fear of death is simply pure fear; you don't really understand what death is and feel it's far from your own reality.

It's like flipping through an interesting storybook, when starting from the beginning, knowing there's plenty more left gives a sense of security.

The further you read, the top grows thicker, the bottom thinner; interruptions along the way make you later return searching for where you last read, finding it easier going backward.

At that time, there will be more attachment and regret."

"Grandpa Zhai, do you mean the longer you live, the more regrets you accumulate?"

"Yes."

"Then if life continues on, doesn't it just become filled with regrets?"

Mr. Zhai was stunned.

Li Zhiyuan continued, "Teacher taught us, if we dwell too long in a smelly place, we don't smell the odor anymore. If we're surrounded by regrets, then regrets no longer remain regrets, they become no longer regrettable."

Mr. Zhai fell silent, seemingly savoring that sentence deeply.

In Li Zhiyuan's eyes, Mr. Zhai's previous expression was lamenting not being able to continue contributing to the construction project due to his aging, and perhaps not seeing the scene he hopes for come true in his dreams.

Additionally, there's another layer of meaning, isn't this... finding a reason for his own pursuit of longevity?

After a long while, Mr. Zhai reached out to gently stroke the young man's head, slowly saying, "The young don't know the taste of sorrow."

After saying this, Mr. Zhai closed his eyes, as if ending this "special conversation."