Chapter 97

Shi Yong finished his meal and left; Ya Ling called him to go to the gym. She had something to discuss with him.

After a while, Li Ming brought Xiao Long over.

Xiao Long entered the office,

I could clearly see that he looked angry.

Li Ming said then: "Xiao Long, quickly apologize to your granduncle; you've only been here two days and already caused such a big mess for him. Brother, Niu Ju's side has already been settled."

I said to Li Ming: "Li Ming, this isn't Xiao Long's fault; don't blame him."

Xiao Long then shouted: "My granduncle said it, this isn't my fault."

It's that Sun Dajun deliberately picking a fight, claiming our family is exploiting Granduncle for the group's benefit.

Dad, who could tolerate such talk? You still want me to apologize to him—what for? I, Li Xiaolong, will never apologize to such a bastard."

Li Ming said angrily: "If you're told to apologize, just apologize. Sun Dajun can say his piece; we do ours, just ignore him. Xiao Long, you must apologize today, whether you feel it in your heart or not—you must follow your granduncle's arrangements. Apologizing to Sun Dajun face-to-face goes without saying."

Xiao Long said: "Dad, you can let him off, but why should I let him? Every time I see him I'll hit him. I won't apologize."

This Xiao Long is still too young, too impulsive.

I laughed then: "Li Ming, don't be angry."

You two granduncle and grandson sit down,

Xiao Long, the relationship between me and your dad isn't something that can be changed just by someone's whim.

After all these years, there is absolute trust between us.

Xiao Long, sometimes you must not be too impulsive.

If a young person is too impulsive, they will pay for a moment's impulse for the rest of their life.

You must have learned plenty of case analyses at school,

Many crimes are just a momentary impulse, right?"

After hearing my words,

Xiao Long nodded,

"Granduncle, you're right. Teachers have repeatedly warned us to control our emotions, but when that moment comes, I just can't hold back.

Granduncle, you're still impressive.

In such situations, there's no getting angry."

"It's fake to not get angry, Xiao Long. One sign of a man's maturity is learning to control his emotions; if a man can't even control his own emotions, how can he accomplish great things.

You're a good kid; I believe you'll gradually learn to control your emotions.

That day, why did Dajun say those words? It was deliberately to provoke you,

to make you strike him,

do you know what the consequences are after you hit him?"

Xiao Long shook his head, not understanding, and asked: "Consequences? What consequences would there be from hitting him? At most just pay for his medical treatment."

"You're thinking too simply. Xiao Long, after you hit him, why did you have your dad come, take you away, and go hide?

If you didn't do that,

you could be arrested, and your dad might also suffer because of you, inviting an investigation."

After I said that, Xiao Long was still somewhat confused.

Li Ming then said: "To deal with your hitting Sun Dajun, your granduncle has made what sacrifice?

He promoted Sun Dajun to General Manager of the group and dismissed Zhao Xiaohua; otherwise we two would be in a difficult spot.

Xiao Long, if you don't believe me, ask your granduncle."

Xiao Long asked me: "Granduncle, is what my dad said true? Sun Dajun has become the group's General Manager."

I looked at Xiao Long and nodded,

"Otherwise, I wouldn't have let you and your dad come back from outside. Xiao Long, some things aren't as simple as you think; you believe that hitting someone and paying for medical treatment settles it. Actually, they want to find an excuse to make trouble."

After hearing me finish, Xiao Long sat dazed on the sofa, silent.

Li Ming then asked: "Brother, regarding Xiao Long's internship at the police station, what did Niu Ju say?"

I said: "He can go for the internship. But I don't advise it. Once Xiao Long gets there, he'll fall into their hands. Let Xiao Long decide for himself; he's basically an adult."

Li Ming nodded,

and said to Xiao Long: "Xiao Long, your granduncle said it's up to you to decide; I have no objection. If you don't go to the police station internship, I'll quickly get you set up for a position in the Senior Management Bureau. Miss this opportunity and there'll be no second chance."

I also said: "Xiao Long, I know you're a thoughtful kid. I advise you to work at the Senior Management Bureau and steadily work with your dad."

After a while, Xiao Long said: "Granduncle, Dad, I understand your intentions, but becoming a police officer is my ideal.

No one can change that.

If I went to the Senior Management Bureau, there'd be no difficulty, but what meaning would such a life have?

I'm still young; I don't want to spend my whole life living in my dad's shadow. Let my dad protect me.

Granduncle, I feel that one sign of a man's maturity is daring to face difficulties, am I right?"

After Xiao Long finished speaking,

I looked at Xiao Long and felt genuine admiration from the heart.

This kid is quite strong, daring to face difficulties and challenges.

This is what a young person should be like: don't spend a lifetime living in the shadow of your parents; bravely choose your own life.

Whether rich or poor, we should let our children boldly train and go out into society to get knocked around.

I then said to Xiao Long: "Xiao Long, hearing your words makes me very happy. You're right—a man is someone who dares to face difficulties.

When facing the challenge of difficulties, besides having the determination to overcome them, there also needs to be mental maturity.

You go alone to apologize to Sun Dajun face to face.

This is also a challenge for you.

Xiao Long, although you are completely unwilling about this matter, many things are not developed according to one's own wishes.

If you cannot change it, you must learn to adapt.

Moreover, you must face challenges flexibly, do you understand?

Xiao Long, I and Dad are both over forty years old.

In some aspects, our knowledge has shortcomings, but our life experience is richer than yours.

I want to tell you that a man facing difficulties' challenges is not about being unyielding, but about being able to yield and extend.

Wanting to be a hero is easy, but learning to be a dog bear requires practice.

We can only bend our waist to work now; you think I am willing to let Sun Dajun be General Manager, but he is a person who has no bottom line in his actions.

He installed an eavesdropping device in my house; outside he acts tyrannically, bullies men and women, and his reputation is extremely bad.

Having such a person as General Manager manage the Group Company well is something only a ghost would believe.

But I can only endure such conditions.

There is no way.

We are just not as good as them, so we can only endure.

After hearing my words, Xiao Long's eyes flashed with tears,

then he said softly: "Grandfather, thank you for your words, letting me understand much. I will now apologize to Sun Dajun in person and admit my mistake.

"Grandfather, I was wrong. Dad, you also don't be angry."

Hearing Xiao Long finish speaking, my and Li Ming's eyes became moist.

Only in this way can we give the child a proper lesson.

In the past, no matter how many principles we lectured Xiao Long, it was useless; he perhaps could not take them in at all.

But what happened yesterday will give him a profound education, letting him know that a man must experience many things before truly growing up.

Perhaps these things are humiliating matters for oneself,

yet one grits one's teeth and swallows them with blood; this is called maturity.