While Yang Chen held Zhou Di in his arms on the narrow bed in the train, Yang Chen inquired:
"Why aren't you using the money from the account which I have opened for you?"
"I don't need it."
"I understand your perspective. You have ambitions and prefer not to rely on my money, right?"
"No, of course not. Don't take it too seriously. You know I'm not someone who spends money recklessly. Two times we travelled, you were the one who bought the stones for me with your money, right? So don't think about it more."
"It's not me to think about it more. Sometimes you're just too stubborn. You have your quirks." With that, he took out his wallet, emptied it of money, and said, "Since you don't want me to overthink, then take this money. In addition, I have bought a house for you in Yucheng, which there is a shop in front and the residence in the back. Let your grandparents and your wife move to Yucheng. By then, you can start a small business there and it is nearby your bureau, where it is convenient for you to go to work. Here is the address and the key."
"This..."
Zhou Di was at a loss for words for a while. Indeed, it was very hard for him to refuse Yang Chen's arrangement. It had been his dream to live with his grandparents in Yucheng so the entire family would be reunited. He didn't have expected Yang Chen to be so considerate. So, he nestled in his arms and said with a nasal voice:
"Thank you. I don't know what to say. This is my dream come true."
Yang Chen replied:
"Don't say anything, just accept it."
Zhou Di suggested:
"Mm, when I carve more items, you can take them for auction and keep the money. I don't want it because those stones were bought by you."
Zhou Di thought that Yang Chen wouldn't refuse his idea. Yang Chen asked:
"You always have these thoughts. Ah, are you satisfied with these stones you bought this time?"
"Mm, one is nephrite from the mountain, one is lardite which I can carve into a seal for you and one is red agate. The nephrite is candy jade which I need to think about what to carve. The lardit will be carved into a seal for you and the..."
"Carve a seal with such a big stone?"
"Of course not. Apart from the seal, I also carve a decoration piece or other items. As for the red agate, I can make some jewelry or something."
"Okay. Just do what you want to do and I'll sell them for you. Maybe I should quit my present position and sell jade items instead."
"Then your father would kill me. No, the first person to draw a pistol would be Adjutant Yang."
Yang Chen couldn't accompany Zhou Di back to Yucheng because he had to return to Qudu immediately to report the result of this trip to Yang Tianhu. At the same time he was also worried about Zhou Di going back to Yucheng alone. Although Zhou Di reassured him countless times, he still sent Yang Zaihua to ensure Zhou Di's safe return. Upon returning to the bureau, Zhou Di immediately reported to Leader Zhang. Leader Zhang said helplessly:
"Are you still a member of our bureau? Where do you have been these past few months? When I asked Director Zheng, he just said that you were on a business trip."
"Do you remember Young Marshal? You know he likes the antiques. Since he knew that I can carve jade, I followed him to search for the stone materials. So every time he goes out, he would have me accompany him to look at the materials."
"Really? Let me see what materials you bought this time."
"Great! I know you have more experience and you have checked more antiques than I have. I'd like to hear what you think would be good to carve."
Then Zhou Di took out his stone materials to Leader Zhang. Leader Zhang carefully examined them, discussing with Zhou Di seriously.
Following the address, Zhou Di found the house that Yang Chen had purchased for him. At first glance, he felt that Yang Chen was very thoughtful. He didn't buy anything that exceeded Zhou Di's status. In the front was a small shop, perfect for a small family to open a storefront. Exiting the shop's door, there was a small courtyard, with a two-story building facing him. There were east and west wings on the ground floor, making the layout compact and suitable for their family of four persons. Looking at such a courtyard, Zhou Di didn't know how to express his gratitude to Yang Chen. If he had to rely on himself, he estimated that it would take until middle age to have the ability to buy such a place. Now, at such a young age, he owned it all thanks to Yang Chen's capabilities.
As Mrs. Yang's birthday approached, Feng Xiao indeed arrived in Qudu a few days early. The next day, he visited the Yang family's large mansion. He was envious of Yang Tianhu's harmonious and warm family. Yang Tianhu enjoyed greet blessings, with a virtuous wife and two concubines, harmonious relations between the legitimate and illegitimate children and a full house of descendants. Several sons had become the helpers of Yang Tianhu. Not to mention a bit of a rogue like Yang Chen, the second son, Yang Jing, returned from studying in Ferceland and was devoted to military production. It was said that the third son, Yang Zheng, and the fourth son, Yang Yang, had already gone abroad to study.
The daughters were also generous and not confined to family duties. Now all of these girls walked out of the family, either studying or doing something within their capacity. The eldest daughter, Yang Yihua, had gone abroad to study and then became a teacher in Aron Kingdom after marrying her beloved husband and having a son and a daughter. Even though the second daughter, Yang Erhua, got married to Liao Yuanfang, it was said that she was filial to her parents-in-law at home, respectful to her sisters-in-law and served her husband as well as her son. She even established a charity organization for young women, guiding women be self-reliant and self-improving. Despite many criticisms, she also received praise from many ambitious people. Even her sisters-in-law were willing to help her in these social work. It was said that they managed to run it well. The third daughter, Yang Sanhua, and the fourth daughter, Yang Sihua, were also studying. One had gone to the Aron Kingdom with her brothers and the other was still in high school.
Looking at his own family, Feng Xiao couldn't feel so proud anymore. His wife, Mrs. Feng was a jealous woman, but unfortunately, she was not very fertile and only gave birth to one son, Feng Quan'an. However, this son made her assertive at home so she didn't allow Feng Xiao to have a concubine. Later, Feng Xiao's father could not bear to see the Feng family's lineage thinning out. Before he passed away, he forced Mrs. Feng to take in two concubines for Feng Xiao, which resulted in two more sons and a daughter. However, Mrs. Feng constantly made things difficult for the concubines and suppressed their children.
The daughter of concubine Liang, Feng Shuzhen, was married off to the illegitimate son of President Jin Quan at her age of 16. Now Feng Xiao regretted finding such a husband for his daughter because he didn't carefully have assessed the character of this boy, a profligate playboy who indulged in alcohol, prostitution and gambling. If Feng Shuzhen didn't have a father with such strong influence, her situation would have been miserable and she would never have been able to live as glorious life as what she had now. Concubine Wang gave birth to two sons. His second son, Feng Quanhe, was weak-willed and had poor health, and had already amounted to very little, staying at home and getting married, leading a stable but unremarkable life. So Feng Xiao had never expected much from this son in the future. The youngest son, Feng Quanming, was currently studying. He was smart and diligent. Feng Xiao intended to send him abroad for further education in the hope that he would become a support for Feng Quan'an in the future.
However, what worried Feng Xiao the most was Feng Quan'an's marriage. In fact, before Feng Quan'an got married, he loved a girl he liked, a relative of the Liao family. They were deeply in love, but Mrs. Feng insisted that Feng Quan'an would marry a girl from her own family. Feng Quan'an couldn't bear to go against his mother's wishes so he reluctantly broke up with the girl he loved and promised her a peaceful and secure life forever. Even Feng Quan'an also begged his father not to attack the south. He married the girl his mother chose for him, but the marriage turned sour, despite having a son, Feng Ning, who stayed in Liangzhou, while he lived in Pingzhou due to military affairs, taking another concubine and having another son, Feng Mo.
What made Feng Xiao the most troublesome was his eldest grandson, Feng Ning, who lived in Liangzhou with his mother and his grandparents. Feng Xiao spent more times in Pingzhou so he had no time to take care of this grandson. So Feng Ning was spoiled by his grandmother and mother. By the age of ten, he had become arrogant, unruly and willful. He took advantage of his status to do many horrible things, such as bullying people, engaging in forceful trading etc. If Feng Xiao or Feng Quan'an tried to teach Feng Ning a lesson, the first person to defend Feng Ning would be Feng Xiao's wife.
Feng Xiao and his family stepped through the gate of the Yang family's mansion, greeted by a courtyard that seamlessly blended Chinese and Western architectural styles. It was rumored that Yang Tianhu's father had enriched the original typical Chinese-style architecture of the house to incorporate Western elements, resulting in the current layout. Upon entering the main hall, they were welcomed by Yang Tianhu and his wife, who were already waiting for their arrival. After exchanging pleasantries, Mrs. Yang spoke up:
"Tianhu, I know you have important matters to discuss with Grand Marshal Feng. You two go ahead and let me engage in a conversation with Mrs. Feng and Junior Mrs. Feng. I don't think you are interested in what we talk about."
"Alright, we go to Xuanyu Hall, a quiet hall where we can enjoy sitting by the pavilion near the small pool, sipping tea and feeding the fish. It will be quite pleasant. Where is Chen? Let him come here and accompany General Feng. He told me that he hit it off with General Feng during their last trip to the west. They had a delightful chat like brotherhood friend."
Feng Quan'an was taken aback for a moment, wondering: when did I hit it off with that bastard and how did I have a nice chat with him like close companions?
Mrs. Yang smiled and said:
"Oh, I've heard that the children are setting up a tent in the yard. I'm also thinking of inviting my daughters-in-law to come and accompany Mrs. Feng and Junior Mrs. Feng."
As Mrs. Yang was about to ask a servant to call the children, Feng Quan'an interjected, saying:
"Auntie, please allow your servant to guide me there."
Mrs. Yang replied:
"Of course, but please tell my two daughters-in-law to come here and meet Mrs. Feng and Junior Mrs. Feng." Then, turning to Feng Xiao and his wife, she continued, "Please forgive me, Marshal and Madam. The children are adamant about personally arranging things for my birthday. They don't know you are coming now. Let them greet all of you during dinner."
Feng Xiao responded warmly:
"Ma'am, there's no need for such formality. Grand Marshal Yang and I are not the strangers and I'm pleased to be here to celebrate your birthday."
With that, he followed Yang Tianhu to Xuanyu Hall, while Feng Quan'an, along with Feng Ning, followed the servant out.