26. This Departure, This Eternal Farewell

Chapter 26: This Departure Is a Farewell Forever

Once the task was complete, he would leave this world, leave Jiu'er. The movie world could not be preserved; this was a one-way ticket. Even if he happened to cross into the same film again someday, there was no guarantee he'd get the same role.

He told himself that all of this was ultimately an illusion.

Yet reality and illusion sometimes couldn't be told apart at all—like a person's body and spirit. Wasn't the spirit truly real?

Jiang Hao withdrew his hand from the wine jar and walked out of the cellar. Seeing Jiang Hao looking a bit down, Jiu'er asked with concern, "What's wrong? Is there a problem with the new wine?"

"No, Jiu'er. Let's go back to the house. I have something to tell you," Jiang Hao said.

"What is it that needs to be said back in the house?" Jiu'er was puzzled, but she still followed Jiang Hao inside.

They sat on the kang. Jiang Hao looked at Jiu'er, his mind churning with countless thoughts.

He couldn't stay. He would eventually leave. And this departure would be a farewell forever.

Jiang Hao placed his hand on Jiu'er's face, his thumb gently stroking her cheek. Jiu'er was frightened by his expression. "Husband, what's wrong? Whatever it is, just tell me."

"Jiu'er, let's leave," Jiang Hao said suddenly.

Hearing his words, Jiu'er was stunned. "Leave? Leave for where? Isn't Shibali Slope good? The new wine is out, and with your Secret Recipe, our Distillery will surely thrive. Life won't be hard."

But Jiang Hao had his own thoughts.

Things were fine now, but in a few years, when the Japanese devils came, everyone here would die horribly. He didn't want that to happen again. He couldn't stop the Japanese, but he could take the people away—or at least take Jiu'er to a relatively safe place.

To Sichuan.

Though there were warlords there, and it would be chaotic when the great war came, at least it wouldn't be occupied by the Japanese. They could survive.

He wanted to settle Jiu'er before he left.

He didn't care whether this was real or an illusion. Right now, this was what he wanted. Even if this world vanished the moment he left, he still had to make arrangements for Jiu'er.

"Do you trust me?" Jiang Hao looked at Jiu'er.

"You're my man. Of course I trust you. What's really going on?" Jiu'er looked at him with worry.

Jiang Hao organized his thoughts and said, "The Japanese have already taken the Northeast, but those bastards will eventually come here. I don't want you in danger. I want to take you somewhere safe—somewhere we can live out our lives."

Jiu'er looked at her man and asked, "Will the Japanese really come here?"

"Yes."

Jiang Hao said it without hesitation.

Though she was just a country woman, she had heard of the Japanese's brutality. Just a few years ago, in the 17th year of the Republic, in the provincial capital Spring City, the Japanese had killed many people. It was said the streets ran with blood, and even the spring water came out red.

"But what about our Distillery?" Jiu'er frowned.

"Sell it."

"Don't worry. We can survive anywhere. Once we reach Sichuan, we'll buy another Distillery and keep making wine," Jiang Hao said.

Jiu'er thought it over, then looked at her man and said, "You're the head of the household. I'll listen to you. Wherever you go, I'll follow."

When Jiang Hao told everyone he wanted to sell the Distillery and move to Sichuan, they were all shocked. The news was too sudden.

"Our Distillery just started making good wine. Why sell it now?"

"Why move all the way to Sichuan?"

The Helpers buzzed with questions.

Jiang Hao repeated his reasons and finally said, "The Distillery will definitely be sold. I hope you'll all come with me. Once we settle in Sichuan, we'll open another Distillery and work together. We'll still make a name for our Red Sorghum wine."

Some shook their heads, others hesitated. Chinese people's attachment to their homeland ran too deep. If possible, no one wanted to leave their native soil.

The crowd dispersed, and Jiang Hao called Luohan over.

"Elder Brother Luohan, you've been at this Distillery the longest. You're the master brewer, and you've handled everything here. I hope you'll come with us to Sichuan. I have an idea: once we're there, we'll buy another Distillery or build one ourselves. You'll still be the master brewer, and I'll give you a twenty percent share. What do you think?" Jiang Hao said.

This was essentially a high-salary offer to a CEO. A twenty percent stake was no small thing—unthinkable even in modern times. But Jiang Hao knew Luohan's value, not just for his skill but for who he was. Capable, reliable, steady in character, and a long-trusted hand—he was the perfect candidate for head manager.

Luohan thought it over and asked, "Do we really have to leave? This place is remote. The Japanese might not make it here."

"Elder Brother Luohan, you probably haven't traveled much. I go out often and know more. The Japanese have wolfish ambitions. If there's any chance, they'll come. By then, it'll be too late," Jiang Hao said.

"Then... let me go home and think about it," Luohan said.

The next day, the Helpers made their decisions. Luohan agreed to go to Sichuan, along with his apprentices Dazhuang and Er Zhuang, as well as Er Dan's Father and Er Dan's Mother. The rest were unwilling to leave their hometown, so in the end, they had to part ways.

In the days that followed, Luohan handled everything. He paid off the Distillery's old debts, sold it at a good price, and prepared several large carts for the journey. With tears and farewells, Jiang Hao led Jiu'er, Luohan, and the others onto the road to Sichuan.

The Distillery sold for two thousand Silver Dollars. The few hundred Silver Dollars taken from Bald Sanpao, plus the gold jewelry and banknotes worth five thousand Silver Dollars looted from Bureau Chief Qian's home—with that money, they could settle anywhere.

There were three carts in total. One carried people, while the other two were loaded with sorghum wine. According to Jiang Hao, if anyone stopped them on the road, they'd claim to be wine merchants. In truth, Jiang Hao needed the wine for his task.

Luohan, Dazhuang, and Er Zhuang drove the carts, while Jiang Hao rode a horse. The journey was grueling—traveling by day and resting by night, everyone exhausted. But there was one benefit: Jiang Hao's Horse Riding skills improved by leaps and bounds. Some techniques truly came from practice.

Now, even at a full gallop, he could control the horse with ease.

Jiang Hao didn't choose to settle in a big city. Instead, he bought a house and land in a small town near Rongcheng, and acquired a Distillery. After two months of busy work, they finally settled down. The sorghum wine brought from Gaomi was stored in the cellar.

He left all Distillery matters to Luohan. Once everything was arranged, Jiang Hao placed his hand on a jar of sorghum wine.

"Collect!"

Ten seconds passed. The wine jar vanished.

"Ding, congratulations, Collector. You have collected one hundred jars of sorghum wine, fully meeting the client's requirements. This collection task is complete."

"After the task is completed, the host can return at any time. If not chosen, forced return will occur in 12 hours."