Chapter 145

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

2006

Jing Shi, Fengshou Hutong

Ten years have passed, and the previously busy crowd has become even busier.

Family members who could still occasionally meet in person can now only communicate through mobile phones.

The explosive emergence of various convenient electronic products has brought new vitality to the entire world.

Shen Yao, already in her fifties, is no longer young, but she maintains herself well; her surrounding aura is peaceful, and she arrives hand in hand with Xie Ci'an, looking like a perfect couple.

"Haven't seen you in a while; Younger Sister-in-law looks even younger than the two of us."

Wu Zhaodi touched her face and murmured in admiration; Wang Yanyan beside her nodded in agreement.

"We don't have Younger Sister-in-law's ability — not only is her business huge, but capable people emerge in droves under her.

Unlike my company; without me, who knows what they're doing."

Wang Yanyan couldn't help but complain about her own family's mess; it's truly vexing to no end.

Wu Zhaodi persuaded her to let it go, then asked how Duoduo is doing these days.

Wang Yanyan waved her hand. "Hmph, Duoduo's management isn't the problem; the key is the business spans too wide a range, so she can only barely manage with familiar routines."

Wang Yanyan didn't say exactly how familiar, but Wu Zhaodi could glean a clue from her expression; the results are certainly not bad.

Turning her head and pursing her lips, Wu Zhaodi scorned Wang Yanyan for not telling the truth; at the same time she thought of her own pile of troubles — tsk — and instantly had no heart to care about others; just dividing things between Shitou and Mutou brothers is still a headache.

"You tell me; I thought once life got better the family would settle down. After all, no lack of money or love — what's there to fight over?"

But the older they get, the less peaceful the household; Shitou and Mutou both have sons and daughters now, and matters from both the natal and marital families are endless.

"Who says otherwise? Duoduo at least got divorced and raises the child herself.

Otherwise, hmph! They're all thinking of taking advantage of others."

Wang Yanyan deeply agreed, convinced the family business cannot fall into the hands of an outsider. Even a maternal grandson — he'd have to change his surname first before discussing it.

As the talk reached this point, the two sisters-in-law sighed in unison, exchanging a glance, fully displaying their miserable lot.

"Eldest Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, why not come inside?"

Shen Yao, linking arms with Xie Ci'an, walked up to them, her eyes pausing on the two women.

Wu Zhaodi explained, "Grandmother is asleep; we thought we'd stay out here and rest a bit."

"Mother finally fell asleep; the doctor also said to let the elderly rest more, which helps them recover faster," Wang Yanyan added softly.

Shen Yao let out an "oh" at those words, her hand dropping from Xie Ci'an's arm bend.

"You go find Eldest Young Master and the others for a while; I'll keep the two sisters-in-law company."

"Alright."

Xie Ci'an nodded, greeted Wu Zhaodi and Wang Yanyan, then turned and went to the side room nearby.

Seeing him walk far off, Wu Zhaodi praised Xie Ci'an for his undiminished bearing over the years: "Worthy of an Academician — he looks so refined and gentle.

Unlike your Eldest Young Master; good grief, he's just a stubborn-tempered little old man. The other day he and I argued fiercely over drinking."

Wang Yanyan poked Wu Zhaodi's arm. "Comparing your Eldest Young Master with Fourth Young Master — that's deliberately belittling Fourth Young Master.

Never mind Eldest Young Master; even my man here has a belly like a woman seven or eight months pregnant, all bad habits raised by eating and drinking.

Look at Fourth Young Master instead — also thanks to Younger Sister-in-law's daily care.

A sixty-year-old still straight as a bamboo stalk; ayo, now that's what you call standing tall and straight."

Shen Yao: …

Listening to the two sisters-in-law's praise, Shen Yao thought to herself that Xie Ci'an also has various bad habits; but compared to the earlier Xie Aidang and Xie Aimin, those are all acceptable minor issues.

The three sisters-in-law stood at the doorway speaking softly; usually Wu Zhaodi and Wang Yanyan did all the banter, while Shen Yao only occasionally chimed in a sentence to show her presence.

They don't meet often normally; after all, business affairs inside and out are so many.

Everyone opens and closes their eyes each day in different places; where would they find the time?

"Sigh, still don't know Mother's attitude?"

Wu Zhaodi sighed, her knitted brows unable to relax no matter what.

"Eldest Sister-in-law, Mother's matter — let Mother decide for herself; Father just passed, best not say too much."

Wang Yanyan feared Wu Zhaodi might speak carelessly and stimulate the convalescing Grandmother, so she hurriedly reminded her to mind the occasion.

Shen Yao nodded along. "The doctor says Mother's body is still fairly robust; it's just that low spirits affect her appetite.

In a few days when Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan come home, I'll have them come over more to keep Mother company."

Wu Zhaodi and Wang Yanyan chimed in, saying when they go back they'll also have the younger generation come by more often.

"Time flies; we've become grandmothers ourselves."

"Right; kids in school, then cram classes and private tutors — such a hassle."

"Second Sister-in-law, your family only has Duoduo's one child; much less worry."

"Younger Sister-in-law speaks the truth; look at my family — swarms of kids everywhere, even the nannies can't watch them all."

"…"

Age stands here; the three are no longer as they were in earlier years.

Even with money earned in hand, those household matters no one can escape.

Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan married late, but even so, both their children have already arrived.

Meimei and Manman went straight into the military to do research after graduation; marriage isn't on their mind for now.

Her family is already like this, let alone Wu Zhaodi and Wang Yanyan's families.

"Originally I thought I'd just retire when the time came, but nowadays you can go anywhere around the country; isn't making money meant for enjoyment?"

Wu Zhaodi spread both hands, tone helpless, "Result is the business got busy non-stop; forget making money to enjoy, just spending money is torture."

Wang Yanyan deeply agreed; their family's situation is even worse than Eldest Young Master's family.

Duoduo isn't suited to take over the cosmetics business, but Congcong is even more wooden than Duoduo; Wang Yanyan is reluctant to let the family business go cheap to outsiders.

Behind the grandson still follows the greedy-by-nature original in-laws, simply disgusting to death.

"Eldest Sister-in-law, Mother woke up, you all come in."

Xie Aihua came out from the room, not only calling Wu Zhaodi and the other two, but also summoning Xie Ci'an and the others over.

Shen Yao and Xie Ci'an didn't bring the younger generation this trip back, just the two of them; the others were about the same.

A group of people entered the room, all crowding around Tian Na's bedside, chattering noisily until Tian Na frowned repeatedly.

"Alright, you all came this trip, I know what it's for?

Business matters I already settled with Lawyer Zhang long ago, just waiting for me to close my eyes and breathe my last."

"Mother, what are you saying, we really aren't hoping for you to...

Father just passed, if you're like this again, how do we children explain ourselves?"

As the eldest brother, Xie Aidang spoke up first to express his stance; even though Wu Zhaodi reached out to pinch him he didn't stop talking.

Xie Aimin turned his head to follow up, completely ignoring Wang Yanyan's flying dagger-eyes.

Xie Ci'an summarized last, expressing that the three brothers all have the same thinking.

"The business was built by you relying on yourself; no matter who it's handed to in the future, as long as you're happy."

Tian Na smiled, "I have my own count in my heart, you all rest assured.

The old man is gone, I have nothing to look forward to either, living one day at a time."

The words carried a bit of listlessness, but the others all tacitly didn't persuade.

Persuade what? The old man just left, the elderly woman's emotions are already at this point; better to vent it out using the momentum to let the body relax some, more useful than forcibly holding it in.

"Grandma, you wanted to see me on TV, it's about to happen, you can't collapse."

Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, who disappeared for months and ran back, each held one of Tian Na's hands, mouths babbling away.

Tian Na looks more spirited than a few days ago now, this is also why Shen Yao proposed letting the younger generation come more often.

Compared to them gradually aging adults, the younger generation has more youthful vitality; moreover Tian Na originally dotes on children more.

"Rest assured, Grandma will definitely watch you all on TV, and your dad's that, that what machine.

Good, good, our old Xie Family can also produce people who bring glory to the ancestors."

Tian Na happily clapped her hands, speaking of Meimei and Manman about to enlist.

"Heard it's not too tiring, but getting out isn't easy; do you two know what work they're going to do?"

Meimei and Manman's matter involves classified work, some things can't be said.

Tian Na is an elderly person after all, curiosity is heavy too, asks everyone a mouthful.

Coincidentally, Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan belong to the type who truly know a bit of inside information.

The two exchanged a glance, Yuan Yuan spoke, "Grandma just watch, those two are going to defend the home and guard the country."

Weapon Research Experts, more arduous and difficult than them and with even higher danger, but hearing it sounds truly handsome.

If not for their majors not matching and having worked in their original posts for many years, they'd all have the thought to transfer over and continue to shine.

The country is still developing rapidly now, but compared to foreign countries it's still very weak.

What they can do is seize every opportunity, constantly surpass themselves, raise the ceiling.

"Defend home and guard country? Good, this is good," Tian Na smiled even happier, hands tightly gripping Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan not letting go, "I have to live a few more years, watch more of how they defend home and guard country."

Tian Na kept her word, and then she saw the exciting and inspiring parade ceremony on TV, learned that her family's most promising children were actually this formidable.

Worth it, worth it.

Even if she closes her eyes and goes below, she'll have the confidence to say this life she didn't disgrace the ancestors. This life of hers, wasn't lived in vain.

"Academician Xie, you've achieved today's accomplishments; who do you feel helped you the most?"

Xie Weizhao wore her most comfortable clothes, sitting in the brightly lit broadcast hall.

Opposite was Jing Shi Radio's famous host, speaking like a spring breeze.

"Family.

Whether it's my great-grandmother, or grandfather grandmother maternal grandmother maternal grandfather.

Or father mother, elder brother, younger brothers and sisters below.

From childhood to adulthood they all gave me much help; being able to have today's achievements is inseparable from them."

The female host heard this, took the cue to praise Xie Weizhao's mentioned family members.

Whether it's the founder of the nation's largest chain supermarket, or the traditional Chinese medicine clinics opened across the globe sparking a TCM craze, or her father and elder brother who are also academicians, the weapon expert younger siblings... the Xie Family's people, all kinds of resumes laid out, only make people sigh what truly is a cheat-code life.

A certain Ba forum

Digging up those matters of the Xie Family — Academician Xie Weizhao

First Floor: One family three academicians, awesome

Second Floor: Not just that, they also have two younger brother and sister who dominate rankings year-round and are full of martial ethics

Third Floor: Their mother is a famous TCM Cultural Inheritor, not far from my door there's a Jisheng Tang, personal experience, effects really work

Fourth Floor: Big Shot's family is also Big Shots, truly enviable

Fifth Floor: Scary thing is, not only are their IQs high, their looks are also high (pictures)

Sixth Floor: Help, help... so strong? What kind of Life Winner setting is this satisfying novel?

Seventh Floor: Upstairs stop messing around, novels wouldn't dare write this, too realistic it seems bogus.

Eighth Floor:... so reassuring, the country has such a powerful Big Shot existing, us little Salted Fish can lie flat peacefully.

Ninth Floor: +1

Tenth Floor: +2

Pat pat—

The lit notebook screen dimmed down, the youngster yawned, stretched out a hand and closed the computer.

Indeed impressive, but she's not bad either, thinking she'll soon go to university, lofty ambitions instantly filled her heart.

"Qingyun, today you should go accompany Grandma out, hurry downstairs."

Outside the door, a familiar female alto drifted over, the youngster, that is Cheng Qingyun, rubbed her ears, answered while shuffling out in slippers.

"Mom, Grandma's old, needs rest, you keep yelling like this, how disturbing."

The middle-aged woman eating snorted, "Your Grandma's outside sunbathing right now, I see the only one needing rest is you."

Cheng Qingyun:...

Being disparaged was already the norm for Cheng Qingyun, she scratched her head with a calm face, picked up the breakfast on the table and finished eating, a single "I'll go check on Grandma" and she ran off without a trace.

"Grandma"

Cheng Qingyun held warm milk in her hands, smiling as she delivered it to an elderly person.

"Qingyun ah, big kid now, must be steady."

The elderly wore plain-colored clothing, gaze still fixed on a segment of video playing on the computer.

Cheng Qingyun tilted her head to glance, "It's Academician Xie's special interview, I know."

She just saw netizens heatedly discussing on the forum, none of the previous evil stinky language, peaceful to an incredible degree.

"Grandma, you also like Academician Xie?" Cheng Qingyun's eyes lit up, "I like her too, she's so capable, strong in every aspect."

"Not just that, her mother is even stronger," the elderly finished, expression unconsciously softening.

"Right right right, Academician Xie's mother is a Strong Woman who opened Chinese medicine clinics globally," Cheng Qingyun simply admired her to death.

The elderly laughed, unknown if because of granddaughter's little fangirl display or recalling this old friend.

"Qingyun, your name was given by Grandma, hoping you'd be like green clouds, soaring straight into the heavens."

"Grandma, I understand it all."

Cheng Qingyun knew her surname and name differed from other brothers and sisters, the reason being she greatly resembled Grandma since childhood.

Heard Mom say, Grandma's childhood wasn't good, yet she relied on herself to walk out all the way.

"Not relying on herself, but a Noble Person helped," Cheng Bing closed her eyes, thinking the Shen Yao she knew was stronger by far than what the Wedding Guests knew.

She could reach today's position, build the Largest integrated fruit production, processing, sales factory enterprise, thanks to Shen Yao's guidance back then.

To this day, Cheng Bing still remembers that summer when she was at a loss, Shen Yao seriously asking which Road she wanted to choose.

Rely on others or rely on self, drift with the tide or strive to catch up.

Cheng Bing's heart already had the answer, she'd practiced this philosophy in the South for many years.

"In two days accompany Grandma back to Jing Shi."

"Jing Shi?"

"To visit the person most important in Grandma's heart," also the Benefactor who changed her life.