Chapter 147
It seemed that all creatures on earth we and mourned for these poor villagers.
Everyone in the village was expressing their despair through their long-lasting sobs!
Those who had left the village would never see this scene.
Only those who were still here would suffer these heartbreaking moments alone.
It was a tragic scene that was full of sadness and desolation!
Even after Bella steeled herself, she couldn’t help but collapse at the reality before her.
Her heart throbbed in pain, and her breath deserted her!
Heption Village was now nothing but a hollow husk.
The strong enough had left to work elsewhere.
The weak were left behind, old and lonely.
They were supposed to be enjoying their blissful lives in retirement; yet they toiled on for the sake of their children working hard abroad.
They struggled to stand on their frail, old feet; so as to not become a burden for their descendants.
The Heption Herb was their sole source of hope, the one resource that provided them with a living.
To the elderly, the ones who accompanied them the longest were not their own children.
Instead, it was the Heption Herb that they had silently consecrated, year after year.
They treated it as their own kin, and treasured it like their own lives.
Presently, the Heption Herb was said to be poisonous.
This came as a ruthless dagger, stabbing mercilessly into the hearts of all the elders in Heption Village.
Physically and mentally, none of them were unhurt.
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What would they do if they lost the Heption Herb?
Bella was bawling her heart out!
Chase was also hit with the impact of the tragedy before him.
They were poor parents who were worried about their children. Despite their old age, hey were still tormented by such a tragedy!
It was supposed to be a trade war between the Zhao family, the Song family and the Helping Hands Medical Center!
But the repercussions of the war had severely affected these innocent old people.
The Zhao family!
They were unforgivable!
Bellä cried for at least half an hour, and. finally, she managed to move forward with Chase’s help.
Suddenly, she saw Elder Li in the heavy rain.
Elder Li’s upper body was bare, and he was kneeling upright before the Heption Herb.
Like a river during a drought, the trail of tears running down his face had long disappeared;he had no tears left to cry.
His cheeks were deeply sunken.
Bella’s heart was in pain. Holding an umbrella, she shielded Elder Li from the heavy rain.
As Elder Li looked towards Bella and Chase he bawled like a child, as though he just saw his saving grace.
He shook and trembled, and his cries were muted.
“Director Song, the public said that our herbs are poisonous. Why are they saying such a thing?” he asked.
I’ve been planting it for decades. Why is it only now that they say it’s poisonous? Tell me, it’s not true, isn’t it?”
Elder Li’s eyes shone as he looked at them pleadingly.
Bella knew that Elder Li had placed all his hopes on her response.
But, Elder Li already knew the answer, didnt he?
At that thought, Bella’s eyes reddened once more, as the torrent of tears she tried to hold back burst forth like a collapsed dam.
Just as she was about to nod, Chase gently said, “Elder Li, the Heption Herb is a good thing.
“Hearing his words, the light in Elder Li’s eyes brightened again, as life and hope seeped its way back into his body.
He got up from the ground at once, holding a handful of the soaked Heption Herbs..
He intended to hand the herbs over to Chase, but his hand stopped midway, as he was struck by doubt.
Looking at Elder Li’s hand, Chase’s heart ached.
It was a hand-full of calluses.
As Elder Li had been planting the Heptio Herb all year round, his hands had long since turned black and purple, dyed by the herbs itself.
In his palms, there were gashes so deep that his bones were visible and scars so long they could never be healed completely.
His hands must have been repeatedly cut by the Heption Herb during harvest, over and over again.
For Elder Li and the other elders in the village, the Heption Herb was the only things engraved eternally in their souls.
Chase understood why Elder Li had extended his hands.
He wanted to give the Heption Herb to him.
However, he had hesitated as he already knew that the Heption Herb was lethal.
He did not want to hurt Chase and Bella.
This was a true act of purity-selfless, boundless agape-even in the face of adversity.
Chase took the Heption Herb into his hands.
Elder Li’s eyes twitched as he opened his mouth weakly, “You should leave…
“Our village is already done for.” He shook his head.
“The Heption Herb that I promised you, is all gone.”
Bella continued to weep, distraught beyond means.
Why did Elder Li, who was so kind-hearted, have to suffer like this!
How Bella wished she could bear all these by herself at this moment! She would bear it all!
She never wished to hurt Elder Li, an innocent old man, let alone a whole village She strolled around the village.
She saw the elders, glancing at them with conflicted eyes.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.
In their eyes, it was hatred!
It was grievance!
It was also destitute!
But more than that, they were being understanding, despite their frustrations.
Not a single person blamed Bella for breaching the contract, and no one begge her to keep her promise.
It seemed that the entire village was intent on bearing the grievances on their own.
As Bella was about to leave, she passed by Elder Li again.
In the heavy rain, he was making a phone call.
There was a warm smile on his face.
But in his eyes, there was bottomless guilt.
“My son, I’m sorry, I am useless…” He was talking to his son who was working in another city.
“I can’t save enough money for you to buy a house. I’m sorry…
His voice was slowly getting into a whisper”I’m getting old. I won’t be working next year I can’t work anymore. I’m sorry…
He was uttering one apology after another.
After hanging up the phone, Elder Li was in a stupor. He brought the worn-out bamboo hat to his chest and cried helplessly.
All he had left now, was the bamboo hat…
Bella stood at the entrance the village and looked at the vast Heption Village. All of a sudden, she dropped to her knees!
She put her palms together, like a devout believer, as she prayed fervently for the Heption Village to flourish with a bountiful harvest, to prosper with joy and health.
This was a sight that would remain etched Chase’s heart for years to come.
Praying in the rain, Bella was like a beautiful goddess who loved among living beings, who would not be blasphemed by the world.
By the time Bella returned to the car, she was already on the verge of fainting from crying too much.
She was ridden with guilt!
She was grieving!
She was resentful!
“Chase, what should I do? What can I do? I am lost, and I really want to be with them….”
Bella plunged into Chase’s arms as her body trembled uncontrollably Chase did not say a word, but instead, patter her gently.
“Do you think that Elder Li’s son can afford to buy a house next year?” Bella cried and asked.
As the golden sun rumbled across Elder Li’s face three days ago, they could tell he was so hopeful.
He said, another year of work, and he would be able to afford his son’s down payment.
But now, the situation had changed.
“Yes, he can.” Chase said nonchalantly. His gaze, however, was directed beyond the window, and at the sky!
“This demn rain!”
Why was it not stopping?!
If only he could!
He’d rend the sky asunder!
He’d pierce through the clouds!
Then only could he rest easy!
When they got home, Bella took a shower and fell asleep.
When she woke up the next day, Bella was in a daze, flushed with a high fever.
Her body was weak.
Her bones, however, were made of steel. She was not going to give in.
“Chase, will you support me no matter what I do?” Bella asked as she grabbed Chase’s hand groggily.
Chase nodded.
Bella refuctantly opened her eyes and gave a weak smile. “Then do one thing for me.
“She instructed feebly, “Go back to Heption Village, and buy up all the Heption Herb!”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s fresh or if it is rotten!”
She then grabbed Chase’s hand.
“No matter how much there is, just take all of “Even if they were to blame, scold, hit, or lash out at you, you still need to take all of it!” Her eyes were sparkling with determination at this moment.
“Only if the villagers are free from worry, then can I have peace in my mind.”