Since the marriages of the eldest sister, Huang Helin, and the second sister, Huang Suyuan, the third and fourth branches of the Huang family hadn't had a single noteworthy victory. But today, Huang Xuan's punch made up for that long-standing regret.
Huang Jianxuan was sent to the hospital after taking dozens of punches and kicks, while Huang Pinyan, who wasn't spared either, was temporarily knocked unconscious. The other cousins managed to escape the lotus pond, swollen and battered.
As his younger cousins celebrated their victory, Huang Xuan couldn't help but feel uneasy. It was the anniversary celebration, and he had gotten into a fight, sending his sixth brother straight to the hospital. He couldn't imagine what kind of punishment his mother would have in store for him.
It was nearing midnight, and the other courtyards of the old family estate had begun to quiet down, the lotus pond area included. Huang Song, while stuffing his pockets with hazelnuts, was recounting his punches with great enthusiasm. Just then, the estate's butler, Zhou Li, walked in with a smile and said, "Little Sixteen, your grandfather wants to see you."
Little Sixteen was Huang Xuan. He was about to leave but froze upon hearing this. His grandfather wanted to see him so late—could it be that Huang Jianxuan had died?
The thought passed quickly; if Huang Jianxuan had died, it would've been someone from Second Grandpa's side coming for him, not Zhou Li. With that thought, he set down his PSP and walked over to Zhou Li. "Grandpa Zhou, is Grandfather still awake this late?"
"He's been busy today. How could he sleep?" Zhou Li, who was closely related to Huang Xuan's household butler, Zhou Lian, had carried Huang Xuan around as a child and now spoke to him fondly. "Your grandfather planned to talk to you after these busy days, but you've already caused trouble on the first day."
"They started it," Huang Xuan didn't deny it and even added a touch of playfulness.
Zhou Li chuckled, holding Huang Xuan's hand as they walked. "Since when have you ever needed an excuse to start trouble? Who would dare mess with you?" He waved to the others, "Alright, young masters, it's time to go rest. Don't stay up too late."
The kids dispersed quickly, each with their attendants leading them away. Tonight, everyone had to stay at the old estate, and parents and children were separated—an old Huang family tradition.
Zhou Li took Huang Xuan to a golf cart, which slowly drove towards the main house. On the way, Zhou Li glanced at Huang Xuan with a hint of a smile. "Your grandfather has been hearing a lot about your recent activities."
Huang Xuan pouted. His "activities" had been plenty since he was young, so he didn't take it seriously. "Is that why Grandfather wants to see me?"
"That, I don't know," Zhou Li, nearing sixty, smiled in a way that made his wrinkles smooth out, giving him a cheerful appearance.
The first day of the Huang family's anniversary celebration had just ended. The old estate was bustling with people and cars. Zhou Li greeted many as they passed, and those who recognized Huang Xuan nodded and exchanged a few words with him. Though Huang Xuan had been mischievous growing up, Zhang Xinyi's strict upbringing had left its mark, and people who didn't know him well might mistake him for another well-behaved Huang family child.
The electric cart moved slowly, much to Huang Xuan's impatience. He hated the third day of the anniversary celebration the most—the day when everyone, whether familiar or not, would greet each other non-stop until it made you want to vomit. And just when you did, someone would offer you a glass of water so you could continue greeting, and then vomit some more.
Huang Jindi was waiting quietly in his study. In recent years, his health had been failing, and as the Huang family grew larger, it became harder to manage. Though the family still produced talented individuals, the drive and ambition of the previous generation were gone. Every member of the family had become a giant withdrawal machine, while the family itself was not a money printer.
Relying on the previous generation's accumulation and careful management, Huang Jindi believed he had preserved the family's modest holdings. But others in the family clearly didn't think so. They believed that if the ancestors could turn one acre into ten, why couldn't Huang Jindi turn ten into a hundred? And if he couldn't, how could he justify staying in the patriarch's position?
Huang Jindi wanted to step down, but he couldn't.
On the desk lay a few sheets of paper, the topmost with a photo of Huang Xuan, grinning mischievously, taken during his conversation with Liu Ziqing.
Huang Jindi had high hopes for his eldest grandson, but over the past decade, Huang Xuan had only brought him disappointment. As a seasoned politician, Huang Jindi didn't place much value on academic achievements, but as a student, Huang Xuan was undeniably a failure—a fact that couldn't be disputed. What worried him even more was that Huang Xuan's failures seemed to be continuing and spreading.
His sons were either focused on business or academia, with none taking an interest in politics, much to Huang Jindi's frustration. The head of the Huang family needed to understand politics—that was beyond question. With no better option, he turned his hopes to the third generation. Perhaps he was too anxious, as the children were still young, but his own health couldn't wait.
"Master, Sixteen is here," Zhou Li gently opened the door.
"Let him in," Huang Jindi placed a paperweight on the documents on his desk, covering the names and photos.
Huang Xuan tiptoed into the room, filled with a sense of reverence towards his grandfather—something he suspected was inherited from his father.
"Sixteen, come sit," Huang Jindi patted the sofa beside him, his demeanor relaxed.
"Oh," Huang Xuan smiled and ran over. He knew that when his grandfather smiled without frowning, it meant he was in a good mood.
Huang Xuan half-sat on the sofa, tucking one leg under himself and massaging his grandfather's shoulders. "Grandpa, are you tired today?"
"I am," Huang Jindi leaned back comfortably. Huang Xuan's massage wasn't particularly skilled, but he was the only one who made the effort. His sons were all afraid of him, and his grandchildren were too young to be considerate. Only Huang Xuan, despite his frequent mischief, showed genuine care, and that was enough.
Huang Jindi gently patted Huang Xuan's hand. "That's enough. A good night's sleep will help." He adjusted his posture, sitting up straighter. "Huang Xuan, I've heard you've been quite busy lately."
Huang Xuan's heart raced. He shifted uneasily. "Not really, I've just been doing some things because I was bored."
After a couple of coughs, Huang Jindi said, "In a person's life, there aren't many things they can accomplish. When you look back in old age, there are usually only three or four significant events. But a person meets many people, and each of them can accomplish a few things. Together, that can be quite impressive. However, you can't control who you meet, but you can choose who you work with."
Perhaps reflecting on age, Huang Jindi seemed a bit melancholic and let out a long sigh. Huang Xuan, sensing the mood, filled his grandfather's teacup. "Grandpa, I met a friend recently. He's very capable, and I can help him out. He's willing to help me too. I think that's a good thing."
Huang Jindi chuckled, the wrinkles on his forehead smoothing out. He patted Huang Xuan's hand, "As long as you think it's good, that's all that matters. I'm getting old, but as long as I'm here, if you think it's good, then it's good."
He repeated the phrase, which made Huang Xuan feel a pang of sadness. In recent years, his grandfather had become busier, and Huang Xuan's visits to the old estate had become less frequent. Under the soft light, his grandfather's face appeared more aged, though his smile remained spirited.
Just as Huang Xuan was about to speak, Huang Jindi smiled and continued, "I won't interfere in what you choose to do or who you choose to befriend, but you must always remember that you are part of the Huang family, the eldest grandson of the main line. Do you understand?"
As he said this, Huang Jindi's tone grew stern. Huang Xuan's eyes glistened, and he nodded repeatedly. Satisfied, Huang Jindi patted his hand again and said, "During the reign of Emperor Qi Ming, many ministers were planning a rebellion. On the day they were to rise, one of them became very fearful. He decided to prepare an escape route and packed up all his valuables and family, heading towards a rebel general's camp, thinking it would be safe with the army's protection. Do you know what happened to him in the end?"
Huang Xuan shook his head. His knowledge of history didn't go beyond what he had seen in cartoons, let alone the story of someone he hadn't even heard of.
Huang Jindi gently ruffled Huang Xuan's hair. "The rebel general also got scared. Many people, foreseeing failure, regretted their decisions, and naturally, the rebellion failed. The one who had prepared his escape was also killed."
Huang Xuan blinked, not understanding why his grandfather was telling him this story.
The sounds of people and cars outside gradually faded. Huang Jindi stared out the window, lost in thought. He straightened up, gripping Huang Xuan's hand tightly. He continued to stare outside for a long time, as if speaking to Huang Xuan or perhaps to himself.