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“Well, I thought it was just our family facing such issues, but it seems quite common. Chen Xu, don’t worry; there will be a solution. Look at my maternal family; (They were talking about Zhang Lan’s Elder brother) they’re just like this. Your family’s situation is much better than theirs. At least it’s just arguments. My Uncle’s family is a disaster compared to yours,” Wang Mingcheng reassured Chen Xu.
The three children felt somewhat helpless about the situation. Wang Zhenhe, after listening to Grandpa Chen’s concerns, realized his inadequacy in handling family matters. Reflecting on the chaos at home, he felt a tinge of guilt, knowing that his youngest daughter usually managed such issues.
“Uncle, why not take a cue from Qian Qian’s approach in dealing with her maternal family’s issues? With money in hand, you’ll always be a target. Your family isn’t in bad shape compared to my ‘s family; they’re quite a mess,” Wang Zhenhe suggested to Grandpa Chen.
Bringing up how his daughter had handled matters in her in-laws’ household, Wang Zhenhe managed to bring a smile to Chen Minghai’s face, lifting his spirits amid the concerns.
“Zhenhe, I must say, you’ve raised quite the remarkable daughter. Look at Qian Qian; she’s so capable. If anyone dares to harm someone she cares about, she’s truly fearless and ready to defend them. You’re blessed to have such wonderful children.
If only our girl were here, I wouldn’t be so worried. As for not giving them the house, it’s because it was my late wife’s wish. When she was sick, it was Chen Xu who stayed by her side, running around to care for her. Now that she’s gone, I couldn’t even secure a house for him. It makes me feel like a failure,” Grandpa Chen expressed despondently as he sat in his chair.
After taking a sip of water, Wang Zhenhe responded, “Uncle, this doesn’t sound like you at all. Despite the hardships in the countryside, you never lost hope and eventually lived a good life. Why dwell on this now? If you’re unsure, why not create a fake business contract between us to divert their attention?”
Grandpa Chen couldn’t help but chuckle wryly, “Zhenhe, our family is well-educated. They won’t be easily fooled. It might work with Zhou Ping and the others, but not with them. I’ll write to Qian Qian and have a heartfelt conversation. Perhaps her upbringing has equipped her to handle family matters skillfully. Despite our age, compared to her, we seem inadequate.”
Wang Zhenhe spoke of his daughter with a smile, “Uncle, why not ask Qian Qian to help you once she’s done with her exams? If household matters aren’t managed well, they can truly hurt. Just look at our family; we were a prime example of that. Ah, if it weren’t for my daughter, we would have been in dire straits, and I wouldn’t have had the chance to meet you all. By the way, Uncle, let’s go visit Uncle Zuo and see how things are with Zhou and Cui later.”
“Old Cui and Old Zhou are quite busy; we rarely see them around. Even Uncle Zuo often visits the military. We might catch a glimpse of your aunt. I’ll accompany you tonight. Is your visit solely to see us, or do you have other matters to attend to?” Grandpa Chen inquired.
With Wang Zhenhe’s unexpected arrival, Grandpa Chen suspected he had some business to discuss. Otherwise, Qian Qian and Mingyuan would have accompanied him.
Wang Zhenhe, transparent with Grandpa Chen, shared details about his trip to Xinjiang. Nodding in agreement, Grandpa Chen remarked, “Zhenhe, that’s a good idea. Investing in gemstones now might be more beneficial than saving money. I have high hopes for the market value of these gemstones in the future.”
“Here, I also have a student over there. I’ll give you their address. It might make things easier for you. This student’s family used to be in the same business, but I’m not sure if they still are. This is the address they left with me; it might help. If you can find them, great. If not, well, at least you won’t be going in blind with a familiar face to guide you,” Grandpa Chen said, retrieving a piece of paper from a drawer and handing it to Wang Zhenhe.
“Dad, the food ready! Shall we eat now?” Wang Xuan peeped in from outside.
Upon hearing about food, Grandpa Chen brightened up, “Granddaughter, set the table quickly. I haven’t been eating well lately. With you both back, Chen Xu and I can finally enjoy our meals.”
As Wang Xuan helped Grandpa Chen to his seat, she joked, “Grandpa, if you want to feel pampered, just go mooch off their meals at their places. Being the patriarch, your sons must obey you. Otherwise, who knows what chaos they might cause?”
Chen Minghai patted Xuan’s head, “Sweetheart, I’m old and feeble now. When one is old, who the patriarch is becomes unclear.”
Noticing Grandpa Chen’s somber expression, Wang Xuan swiftly changed the subject, “Grandpa Chen, tonight we’ll visit Grandma Zuo. My sister has prepared many goodies for you both. Could you please take them to Grandpa Chen and Grandpa Zhou? I rarely catch them around. Since you have more free time, you can bring the gifts and chat with them.”
As the conversation turned to the brought gifts, Grandpa Chen expressed interest, “Granddaughter, we’re running low on honey at home, and the royal jelly has been gone for a while. Did you bring some this time? I feel like my health has been improving since I started drinking it. It seems to have remarkable healing properties. Even an old professor asked for some after trying it last time.”
With a proud expression, Grandpa Chen reveled in having such coveted items on hand. His stock of these items had made him quite popular at school, with everyone trying to impress him in hopes of getting a taste of the good stuff.
During lunch, Grandpa Chen ate quite a bit, and Wang Xuan suspected he had been hungry over the past few days, especially noting that Chen Xu ate more than usual.
Seeing Wang Xuan’s curious glance, Chen Xu explained, “Xuan, it’s not my fault. We were running low on groceries at home, so Grandpa and I had to hold out until the food supplies resumed. You know I can fill my stomach, but cooking something delicious might be a bit challenging.”
Recognizing Chen Xu’s limited cooking skills, Wang Zhenhe chimed in, “Looks like it’s been tough for you both these past few days. With Xuan back, you’ll have someone to help with cooking. In a couple of days, we’ll have two shipments coming in. The three of you can manage them. I’ll bring you some good stuff when I return.”
Chen Xu, upon hearing about his uncle’s purpose for this visit, jokingly said to Wang Zhenhe, “Uncle, I’ll pass on the stones. How about bringing me some beef jerky instead? Grandpa can enjoy it with his drinks.”
“Sure, I’ll bring you extra,” Wang Zhenhe replied.
Grandpa Chen playfully slapped his grandson on the back, “You’re just being greedy. I can’t eat much with these old teeth. But if we get more, you could sell some at your store and make some money.”
Despite being a man of letters, Grandpa Chen had no aversion to making money. He believed that without financial stability, life lacked quality. He wasn’t too proud to acknowledge the importance of financial security.
After a heartwarming lunch, Grandpa Chen and Chen Xu felt the warmth of home once again.
In the afternoon, Wang Zhenhe accompanied them to visit Grandpa Zuo. Fortunately, Grandpa Zuo wasn’t away on military duty that day, allowing them to finally meet. Mingcheng had a task in hand and took the opportunity to pull Grandpa Zuo aside while the others conversed with Hao Lianchun. Handing him a piece of paper with lyrics written on it, Mingcheng said, “Grandpa Zuo, could you take a look at these lyrics? I’d like to sing this song for you.”
The conversations next door came to a halt as everyone paused to listen to Mingcheng’s beautiful singing, which evoked a sense of excitement and emotion.
“Beautiful singing, and the lyrics are wonderful too,” Grandpa Chen applauded, joined by Grandpa Zuo from the next room. The song’s melody perfectly captured the essence and could serve as an inspiring anthem for the soldiers.
“Mingcheng, did you write this song?” Grandpa Zuo inquired.
Mingcheng, having received a warning from his sister, confidently nodded, “Yes, I thought of my uncle during the Lunar New Year and composed this song. While I haven’t formally studied this, I’ve read books on the subject during my time at the military academy.”
Impressed, Grandpa Zuo looked at Mingcheng approvingly, “Young man, this is commendable. I’ll pass this song to the relevant authorities. If it’s selected, someone will reach out to you.”
Without further words, Mingcheng understood the implications. If the song was accepted, it would validate his sister’s efforts.
The two men shared a knowing smile as Grandpa Zuo led Mingcheng out, asking everyone with a smile, “How was the song? Wasn’t it lovely? That was composed by our Mingcheng himself. I found it quite delightful. If this song spreads, Mingcheng will have quite an accomplishment.”
Wang Zhenhe beamed with pride at his son, pleased to see his talent shining through. Wang Xuan looked at Mingcheng in admiration, “Brother, it was really beautiful. I feel like joining in and singing a few lines myself.”
Hao Lianchun expressed his admiration, “Mingcheng, you’re truly remarkable. Well done. By the way, Grandpa Zuo has been mentioning you these past few days, saying that when Zuo He and the others return, they’ll take you all to train with them. Since you’re here now, it seems like it might happen soon.”
Mingcheng had planned to focus on business matters, but it seemed like those plans might have to wait. He could only give a subtle glance to Chen Xu and his sister, entrusting them with the situation.
At dinner, Hao Lianchun and Wang Xuan worked together. During the Lunar New Year, their sons couldn’t return home due to work commitments and the long journey back. Therefore, the elderly couple decided to let their three sons stay at their respective homes, celebrating the New Year with their own families. They eagerly awaited a chance for a family reunion when circumstances allowed for it.
While parents wished to reunite with their children, Hao Lianchun and Grandpa Zuo held the belief that their sons should excel in their current locations before considering a return to the city. They encouraged their children to achieve success where they were, emphasizing the importance of making a mark and standing out. This viewpoint stemmed from Grandpa Zuo’s perspective that one should strive to be a big fish in a small pond rather than a small fish in a vast sea. In his eyes, showcasing capabilities was crucial, especially in a city filled with talented individuals.