Chapter 908: Chapter 728: Love Spans Mountains and Rivers, Love Is a Lifelong Obsession [74]

That truly scared them all to the point their souls flew out.

With screams in their throats, they rushed forward, trying to snatch the pesticide bottles, patting Qiu Mingyan’s back, trying to make him vomit.

But none of it was useful.

No one knew how long Qiu Mingyan had been drinking, how much he had drunk. Moreover, in the remote village, with poor medical knowledge, none of them knew how to perform emergency rescue!

In the end, in a panic, they pressed Qiu Mingyan to the ground, squeezed his abdomen, but still saw no sign of him vomiting out any pesticide.

Instead, as they pressed down, Qiu Mingyan’s frothy spit increased, and his consciousness grew fainter.

They were in despair—poverty and backwardness, their hopes pinned on a doctor, their wishes for the future, all the weight was placed on one person, and they only thought about themselves, ignoring others.

Thus, in the process of life, they gradually forced their only doctor out of medicine, without a hand extended for a whole two months, unable to awaken them.

Until this moment, he chose to end himself in this way...

...

Silence fell.

Aside from the painful ignorance of how to rescue, the worse torment came from within; each person silently lowered their heads in tears, throat choked with sobs.

Mai Shilong and others arrived at that instant. Seeing this scene, then looking around, they understood everything.

With eyes moistened by tears, Mai Shilong trembled, "Ming... Mingyan, why, why did you do this?"

Why? Qiu Mingyan also wanted to know why.

With a bitter smile, Qiu Mingyan mocked as he curved his lips slightly, saying, "Isn’t this what Uncle Mai hoped for?"

"How could I... I most...," half-speaking, Mai Shilong remembered something and hung his head speechless.

Qiu Mingyan laughed more lightly, as if thinking of something distant, or wanting to explain everything beforehand, said, "Filial piety is the principle of heaven, the duty of the earth, the conduct of people... Do not forget your forefathers, cultivate their virtue. Uncle Mai, you’re literate. In the years you had the best relationship with my grandfather, to repay your kindness for taking us in, he taught you many words and sentences. But during those ten years of the Cultural Revolution, fearing being treated as a class element, you pretended not to recognize any characters, yet taught me in secret. I remember the first ancient text you taught me was on filial piety..."

Mentioning the past, Mai Shilong lowered his eyelids in sadness, not knowing what to say.

In a faint laugh, Qiu Mingyan continued, "So in my upbringing, I always knew filial piety is the fundamental principle of human survival. I’ve worked outside for almost ten years. Every year, the money I give my parents is equal to what I give you, not counting what I help the village with. I am poor. The reason I dare not have a girlfriend in the big city is because I know my financial burden is huge. I am different from others."

"But to ask me to date Manxiang, I refuse. It’s not related to poverty and such, but simply facing marriage, being with Manxiang, I wouldn’t know what to say to her, and on top of that, I don’t like her temper and personality. Still, you forced me; you, who knew that in the whole village, I can disrespect anyone except you, yet you chose to kneel and beg me..."

The bitterness reached extremes, amidst the frothy tragedy.

Mai Shilong looked through teary eyes, cheeks reddened, "Mingyan..."

In weakness, Qiu Mingyan gasped lightly, "They say you kneel to heaven and earth but not to your children. You knew how much I owe you, yet during the hardest time of my life, you chose to do this. So, you all know my choice shouldn’t be heartless..."

In an instant, Mai Shilong’s eyes turned red, remorse reddening his face, he called again, "Mingyan..."

Qiu Mingyan just laughed sarcastically, "Don’t call me. I’m really afraid you’ll kneel again, which I cannot bear. Cough cough..."

A violent cough, foamy spit projected intensely, tears streaming from everyone’s eyes, "Qiu Mingyan, Mingyan, Xiao Qiu, stop talking!"

Yet, facing everyone, Qiu Mingyan barely squeezed out a final breath: "Uncle Mai, that’s it. We can’t go back. I hold onto my last breath just to explain to you in person. Agreeing to the marriage is to repay the debt to the Mai Family, especially what I owe you, that’s why I have to consent, giving you an account. But with Manxiang, I really feel no love; I have someone I like, that’s my account to myself. So, marriage—I can’t do it..."

"Just like that, I give back my life to you all. From now on, the Mai Family, the Chen Family Village, they have nothing to do with me, consider me never born, henceforth, we owe each other nothing..."

His hand slowly slid down, Qiu Mingyan turned his head, closed his eyes.

Yu Yu, Ai Yue...

Tears rolled down, thinking of those two names, Qiu Mingyan’s hand heavily fell to the ground...