Two race cars zoomed away. About ten minutes later, Nie Zhenbang teetered to his feet. Upon closer inspection, it was clear that Nie Zhenbang's left foot was indeed a bit uncooperative, noticeably shorter than his right foot.
The beating he had just received did not seem to have any effect on Nie Zhenbang. As a martial artist since he was a kid, coupled with the fact that he had been the subject of ridicule and insult by the rich and influential sons of Jingcheng for the past two decades, he was accustomed to such beatings. The title "Crown Prince of the Nie family" was a mockery in his understanding. An illegitimate child of the Nie family who was not even accepted by Elder Nie till his death, what right did he have to be called 'Crown Prince'?
Nie Zhenbang in turn had become the butt of jokes among other so-called crown princes of Jingcheng. While Elder Nie was alive, they might have reasoned that "you need to see the master before you hit the dog". But after Elder Nie left this world, even the minor clans that were nothing in front of the Nie family could behave rudely in front of Nie Zhenbang. Ever since then, deriving pleasure from humiliating Nie Zhenbang had become a hobby for many disciples of the officials in Jingcheng.
Riding the roller coaster of human relations, Nie Zhenbang often wondered whether he might have had a happy family - a wife and kids at his knees, if it weren't for the car accident that happened 24 years ago. Although without any power, he could live a carefree life. However, he hadn't experienced the power of the Nie family. All he got were painful memories. Still, given another chance, would he choose differently? Nie Zhenbang didn't know.
Yang Anna - a name Nie Zhenbang was reluctant to remember. Yang Anna was Yang Zhi's aunt. Among the four siblings of the Yang family, namely Yang Anguo, Yang Anbang, Yang Anjun, and Yang Anna, Anna was the only girl. A cherished jewel of the family. Much loved by the elders of the Yang family. Yet, she had a soft spot for the crippled son of the Nie family.
"Brother Zhenbang, I am going to marry you when I grow up!"
"Zhenbang, I don't care. I want to be with you. Your leg became crippled because of me. I cannot abandon you. My grandpa once said, Yang family doesn't need to exchange my happiness for power, if Yang's three brothers can't support the Yang family, then that would be the Yang's fate."
"Zhenbang, drink a little less. Don't you still want to accept me? I have said that what I love is you, not just out of gratitude."
Yang Anna's words echoed in Nie Zhenbang's mind. Yang Anna was the little girl Nie Zhenbang saved from the car accident, at that time, Nie Zhenbang was sixteen years old and Yang Anna was thirteen.
Enough was enough, Nie Zhenbang stood upright. Although somewhat hunched due to years of alcohol abuse and the mastery of the Shape-Intent Fist long forgotten. Despite appearing somewhat off balance due to his disability, at this moment, Nie Zhenbang stood firmly. The Nie family had their own pride.
Death, perhaps it was a form of release. It could also be considered as a summary of his life. Nie Zhenbang clenched his fist and limped towards his dwelling.
The next day, Nie Zhenbang was up early. This was the earliest he had risen in the past twenty years. He put on a set of salvatore ferragamo suit bought for him by Yang Anna. This was a top luxury men's clothing brand in the world. Its style seemed heavy, serious, and simplistic.
However, worn on Nie Zhenbang, who was over 1.8 meters tall, it looked rather fitting. Despite having accomplished nothing his entire life, after being around people with power for a long time, Nie Zhenbang now carried an air of authority.
A vintage Nokia 5110 mobile phone was on the table. In a time filled with smartphones and 3G phones, such a monochrome display phone was quite antique. It was a gift to him from Yang Anna. At that time, it was the first in Jingcheng - a precious gift.
He dialed a number. Due to his long-term alcoholism, Nie Zhenbang's voice was somewhat hoarse: "Little sister? It's me."
Nie Zhenbang's half sister, Nie Ziyu, was named after 'Zhuangzi · Autumn Water'. "If you are not a fish, how can you know the joy of being a fish?" Elder Nie chose this name. The idea being he wished all the girls of the Nie family happy and free. Starting with Elder Nie's generation, Nie Zhenbang's father's generation had two sons and two daughters. For Nie Zhenbang's generation, Nie Zhenbang's cousin, Elder Nie's eldest son, Nie Guodong had two sons, while Nie Zhenbang's father, Nie Guowei, had only one daughter, Nie Ziyu. Elder Nie had the commanding air of a soldier. The power of Nie family does not rely on women to maintain.
"What do you want? Money for drinking? I'm sorry, I'm not a charity. I'm not obligated to support a loser like you. It's because of you that the Nie family is in such a predicament." Ziyu sounded annoyed.
Nie Zhenbang didn't mind. Deep love is usually accompanied by great resentment. In fact, Ziyu, and her mother, Ye Shuxian, had always taken good care of him. They had been kind and considerate. However, from initial hope to ultimate disappointment, Ziyu had hoped that she could awaken Nie Zhenbang's will to live by treating him in such a manner. Unfortunately, it did not seem to have any effect.
With a wry smile, Nie Zhenbang felt he had failed in his duties as an elder brother. Elder Nie originally hoped that the Nie girls could be carefree, but reality made Ziyu marry a man she didn't want to marry. Everything was for the sake of the Nie family, to maintain the standing of the Nie family in Jingcheng. Nothing more. From this one can imagine, Ziyu's life wasn't happy. The man from the Chen family, her husband, had a bad reputation outside the family.