Chapter 26

◎ Calling His Son ◎

Originally, Liu Xiangnian had planned to offer help in times of trouble—bring Chen Zhiqian money, open a factory for him, solve the pressing issues he was facing, and use his network to support him, ultimately binding the boy to himself.

But after seeing Rong Yuan, he knew—Chen Zhiqian wouldn’t be short on money anymore.

Rong Yuan’s investments had rarely failed. Being chosen by him was already proof enough of Chen Zhiqian’s capability. At the very least, his own grandson Feng Xueming hadn’t caught Rong Yuan’s eye.

The more unreachable something was, the harder it was to let go. Liu Xiangnian no longer blamed Chen Zhiqian for giving him the cold shoulder. The more he thought about it, the more he admired the boy’s pride and ability—and the more he realized how much he resembled his grandmother. No matter how difficult, he had to bring this grandson home.

After getting in the car, the driver asked, “Sir, are we heading to the company or home?”

He was excited, sure, but he hadn’t slept a wink the night before. His body wasn’t what it used to be. “Home,” he replied.

On the way, Liu Xiangnian closed his eyes, still mulling over how to bring the boy back home.

Maybe he should go to Shanghai and visit his son, Sinian? Yes, that’s it—visit his son and daughter-in-law. His son was already middle-aged and had been through a lot; surely, he was more level-headed now, better able to understand the complexities of life.

If he could convince them to return, wouldn’t his grandson follow?

When the car pulled into Fanyuan, Liu Xiangnian saw his wife standing below, directing workers to trim the phoenix tree. A large branch had already been sawed off and lay on the ground. What was once a full, round canopy now looked lopsided—like only half a tree remained.

The dream he had last night, of sitting under the phoenix tree having tea with Chen Wanyin, was shattered. And now seeing the tree butchered like this, he rushed over in distress, “Who told you to cut the tree?!”

The worker up in the tree paused his saw, but the large branch was already almost severed. With a final crack, it fell.

Two branches now lay on the ground. The once magnificent phoenix tree had been reduced to a bare trunk. Liu Xiangnian felt like his heart was bleeding.

Mrs. Liu came over and said, “The tree’s gotten too big. When the wind picks up, it brushes against the eaves. Cutting off a couple of branches now, it’ll grow back in a few years.”

“A few years?” he questioned sharply.

“Three to five years, it’ll be fine. And the tree will be taller by then too,” she looked up at the roof. “See that part of the eaves? Every time there’s a strong wind, it has to be repaired.”

“Three to five years?” Liu Xiangnian thought to himself—he didn’t even know if he’d still be alive in three to five years. His heart ached terribly. In a burst of rage, he slapped his wife across the face.

Mrs. Liu clutched her cheek. The pain was real, but the greater hurt was being hit in front of all the servants. She cried and asked, “All these years, I’ve served you with all my heart. Yesterday, you made our daughter apologize to that woman’s granddaughter-in-law, and today you hit me over a tree that woman planted? Liu Xiangnian, I’ve been with you for over forty years—is this what I get in return?”

Already fuming from the argument with Chen Zhiqian earlier, Liu Xiangnian now felt even more justified in his anger. In his heart, his grandson could do no wrong—he wouldn’t blame the boy, but that didn’t mean he had no anger left to unleash. His fury exploded, “What return? Remember your old friend from the tea house, Ah Chan? Married a truck driver, still living in a subdivided flat. Even the doghouse here is bigger than her place. The woman who planted that phoenix tree—she was a hundred times, a thousand times more noble than you. Since when did I allow you to touch anything in this garden?”

“You say things like that—do you want me dead already?”

Thinking of his grandson living in a cramped apartment, wearing an apron, cooking breakfast and washing dishes for a woman… Chen Wanyin’s grandson, who should have been raised like royalty. Liu Xiangnian’s rage flared again, “If you want to leave, then go. Why are you even asking me?!”

Mrs. Liu ran back into the house in tears.

Liu Xiangnian didn’t even look at her. He went upstairs to his study and stared out the window at what was left of the phoenix tree. His heart throbbed in pain. He picked up the phone: “Get me information on Chen Jicang’s grandson, Chen Wanyin’s son, Chen Sinian, in Shanghai. Report back as soon as you find him.”

Exhausted, Liu Xiangnian reclined in the chair in his study and closed his eyes. His mind was filled with memories of Chen Wanyin. He never imagined their farewell would turn out to be a final goodbye. He saw her again in his mind—reclining in the garden chair, a book over her face. He’d come home, lift the book to kiss her cheek, and she would flush bright red, standing up to swat him…

There was a knock at the door.

Liu Xiangnian stirred, wiping his face only to find his hand wet with tears. He reached for a tissue.

The knocking grew more urgent. He got up and opened the door. There stood his daughter and wife, both with red-rimmed eyes. His voice was hoarse, nose a little stuffy: “What is it?”

“Dad, what’s wrong with your eyes?”

Not wanting to be seen like this, he turned around. “Nothing. What do you want?”

His daughter, on the verge of tears, said, “It’s about Feng Shichang. He took Xueming to break off the engagement with the Xu family and didn’t even tell me. If Miao’er hadn’t called me crying, I wouldn’t have known. I asked Xueming, and he said he doesn’t think he’ll be inheriting Tianhe, and Shichang doesn’t plan to pass the Feng family business to him either. He feels he’s not worthy of Xu Miao’er, so they’re breaking off the marriage. Dad, you’ve raised Xueming since he was twelve. Even if it was a dog or a cat, wouldn’t there be feelings after all these years? You’re just going to cut him off like that?”

“I never said I wouldn’t give it to him. It’s Xueming who wants to temporarily step away from Tianhe to focus on his own career.”

“But as long as he doesn’t join Tianhe, the whole of Hong Kong will know he broke off the engagement with the Xu family. You know what they say—wooden doors match wooden doors, bamboo doors match bamboo doors. Among the elite, marriage is all about being a good match. If he gives up Xu Miao’er, do you think he can find another family like that?” Liu Qiaoyan clung to Liu Xiangnian’s arm. “Dad, Xu Xia is just waiting for your call. If you say the word, he’ll agree to call off the engagement.”

“Calling off the engagement was Xueming’s own decision,” Liu Xiangnian stood up. “And I agreed with it. If you’re asking me to call right now, that’s exactly what I’ll do.”

Liu Qiaoyan was stunned. She couldn’t even cry anymore. She just stared blankly at the father who had spoiled her since childhood.

“Qiaoyan, stop begging him. His heart is now completely set on the son and grandson of that woman. Where is there still space in his heart for the two of us?” sneered Madam Liu. “You’re wondering why his eyes are red? He probably cried for that woman again! Back then, that woman moved through war and fire, and he didn’t even cherish her. Now he wants to play the tragic romantic?”

Her words hit a raw nerve. Liu Xiangnian’s rage flared, and he shouted at the door: “Get out!”

Madam Liu pulled her daughter out with her, but Liu Xiangnian stayed, gripping the desk as the pain of old wounds reopened—unbearable.

No… Wan Yin loved him. She gave birth to their son amid the fire of war and named him Sinian. He had to go to Shanghai and bring Sinian back. He had to bring Wan Yin’s ashes back to Hong Kong. They should be buried together.

The phone rang.

Liu Xiangnian took a breath and answered, “Hello?”

“Boss, we’ve found the young master through the Overseas Chinese Federation. He’s a professor in the Civil Engineering Department at T University and a well-known architecture expert in the mainland. His wife is a professor at the medical school and the head of gynecology at the affiliated hospital. The government even allocated them a residence at the Chen Family Garden, and they live there now.”

“Really?” At those words, Liu Xiangnian was overcome with both pride and sorrow. His son had inherited Wan Yin’s legacy and become an architectural expert. He was still his son—even in the mainland, he was a university professor.

“Yes. We also have their home and work numbers. Shall I…”

“Give me the number.”

Liu Xiangnian took the number and immediately dialed the workplace.

Very soon, someone picked up. With a trembling voice, he said: “I’m looking for Professor Chen Sinian.”

The person on the other end responded, “There’s no Professor Chen Sinian here. Are you sure you’ve got the right place?”

“Is this the Department of Architecture in the Civil Engineering School at T University?”

“Yes!”

“Then how could there not be a Chen Sinian? I’m calling from Hong Kong. Do you know his son? His name is Chen Zhiqian.”

The voice on the other end replied, “Oh! You’re looking for Professor Chen? Did something happen to Zhiqian? He’s in class now. Should I inform him right away?”

Liu Xiangnian was desperate to hear his son’s voice, so he didn’t correct the misunderstanding: “Yes… please!”

In the background, he heard someone calling out: “Professor Chen, watch your step…”

Soon, the voice came through: “Hello, this is Chen Qinxian. What happened to Zhiqian?” The voice was slightly breathless.

Liu Xiangnian was startled. Chen Qinxian? How did the name change? He confirmed again, “Are you Zhiqian’s father?”

“Yes! Please, tell me—what happened to Zhiqian?” The man’s voice was filled with genuine concern.

“Are you the son of Chen Wanyin?” Liu Xiangnian asked.

The voice turned cold and steady: “Who are you? What do you want? Yes, Chen Wanyin is my mother.”

“Sinian… I’m your father,” Liu Xiangnian said again. “I’m Liu Xiangnian.”

There was a brief pause on the line.

“Zhiqian’s alright?” the voice asked.

“He’s fine.”

Then came a furious reply: “Mr. Liu, I’m in the middle of teaching. Please don’t joke around like this. My students’ time is valuable, and international calls are expensive. I don’t have time to entertain you.”

The line went dead, replaced by the steady tone of disconnection…