Chapter 317: Left Lin, Right Xue, Father Kind, Daughter Filial

Pushing the cart into the courtyard, Wei Ming immediately locked the main gate from inside.

Facing his own younger sister, Wei Jiefang's first question was: "How old are you?"

"Twenty-two."

Wei Jiefang murmured: "Two years older than Xiao Ming."

Wei Anping recalled: "Born in '59, during the hardest times."

Wei Lingling recognized the two by their demeanor: one dressed neatly but radiating the air of a peasant, the other carrying the aura of an official.

Wei Jiefang: "You have to call me Brother."

Wei Lingling stared at the lively dog on the ground, unable to speak—the same way she couldn't bring herself to call that man "Dad."

Wei Jiefang wasn't offended; he simply pulled something from his pocket: "Here's a gift from your two brothers—take it."

Wei Lingling was about to refuse when she saw it was an exquisite jade carving—a gourd shape, its green so deep it stirred the soul, so beautiful it moved the heart.

Having seen many such items at her aunt's, she recognized it at once: it looked like the legendary Emperor's Green jade—something even her aunt's family owned only one or two pieces of.

The small gourd was masterfully carved: not just the gourd itself, but two leaves attached, naturally formed, deceptively simple yet profoundly crafted, with a touch of ancient simplicity.

Even Wei Ming was envious—no, this would've been perfect for A Min!

When did Old Wei get this? Is this really just one? Could there be seven?

Wei Anping glanced gratefully at Brother Jiefang; though he was often unreliable, at key moments he truly acted like an older brother. He'd been worried his sister, raised in Taiwan, carried some unspoken secret mission—how could he have had the mind to prepare a gift?

In the end, no woman could resist the allure of jewelry; Wei Lingling accepted it with both hands: "Thank you, Brother Jiefang, Brother Anping."

The atmosphere instantly warmed—even the police chief came over to nudge Old Wei's pant leg.

"Brother Jiefang, is this the house you bought? Can you show me around?"

"Who bought it? Xiao Ming did. But most of the stuff inside? I added it. Let me show you."

Rarely did anyone want to see, so Old Wei took Wei Lingling on a tour of his collection: antique furniture, porcelain, and assorted oddities.

Wei Lingling occasionally offered comments, like: "I've seen something similar in Taiwan."

"Oh? Where?"

Wei Lingling: "At Nicolas's place."

Old Wei frowned: "Who's Nicolas?"

Wei Anping whispered: "That's Little Jiang."

Old Wei hissed.

"Nicolas treats Uncle as an elder brother; our families have always been close," Wei Lingling said casually.

Wei Anping warned: "Say this behind closed doors, but never mention it outside—it'll bring trouble."

Facing her brother's nagging, Wei Lingling replied: "I'm not stupid."

Wei Anping: "Someone who got into Stanford and earned two degrees? Their IQ must be above average."

Wei Lingling: "You're not bad either—you're the Wei family's first county top scorer."

Wei Ming added: "My sister Wei Hong is the Wei family's first provincial top scorer."

Wei Lingling asked: "Why didn't you bring her along?"

Wei Jiefang laughed: "Kids don't know how to keep their mouths shut. We'll tell her when she's older."

Wei Anping added: "Your father is still alive—he faked his death and went to Taiwan. No matter how many hardships led to this, this secret must never be exposed; otherwise, even Xiao Ming might not be able to stay on the mainland."

He was fine—he was a distant relative. But Wei Ming? He's Wei Senhao's direct grandson.

Wei Lingling understood, but still had to complain: "Born of the same root, yet turned into this—no wonder Auntie pushed me to take American citizenship. Otherwise, I might never have come back."

Wei Ming thought of an old friend from Peking University and murmured: "You could come back—swim back."

The elders ignored him. Wei Jiefang continued: "I'm going back to our hometown soon. Want to come with me? It's your ancestral home."

Old Wei really wanted to show off this beautiful, educated sister to the villagers—such a sister stirs the fiercest protective instincts in a brother. Spring Blossom? No—she was always fierce since childhood.

Wei Lingling refused: "After I finish my business in Shanghai, I have to return to Hong Kong—there's important work waiting."

But she didn't bluntly reject her brother's offer: "When he comes back, I'll go with him."

Without Wei Senhao as a link, her connection to this so-called hometown was thin—she felt more attached to Taiwan, where she grew up.

Wei Anping also wanted to say: this sister was a Taiwanese-raised American citizen—bringing her home might raise too many questions.

Old Wei felt regret but didn't press. He asked: "I heard from Xiao Ming you manage a toy factory in Hong Kong? You're so young to be a factory director?"

Wei Lingling hummed in agreement. Speaking of it, she looked at Wei Ming: "You'd better hurry with the blueprints."

"Don't worry—I pulled an all-nighter last night. The Bee is almost done." His own novel, "Days of Sunshine," had been on hold for ages—he was too busy.

"What blueprints? Is this factory connected to Xiao Ming?"

Wei Ming explained simply: "I promised to design a toy for her—it's based on a character from a sci-fi novel I conceived."

Wei Anping marveled: "Your creative range is huge—you've moved into sci-fi now. But honestly, Xi Zi says his favorite story right now is Jurassic Park."

Old Wei beamed: "My son may not be well-read, but his ideas are brilliant. Did he bring his camera? Let's take a photo of the three of us."

Wei Lingling thought of how much Uncle missed his nephew back home and smiled: "I'll take a few extra copies back with me."

Wei Ming took three photos—each of them got a turn in the center.

Then Old Wei ordered his son: "Go bring up your mother's dishes. Let's have a non-reunion meal."

Xu Shufen was an excellent daughter-in-law. Though her husband didn't say who he was hosting, she prepared a full table: her signature Sichuan dishes, plus Northern-style pickled vegetables with dipping sauce, and—since Old Wei specifically asked—a sweet dish for southerners: sweet-and-sour pork ribs.

Unexpectedly, Wei Lingling showed little interest in the sweet-and-sour pork ribs, but devoured the Mapo Tofu, Kung Pao Chicken, Fish-fragrant Eggplant, and Spicy Chicken.

Wei Anping praised: "Sister-in-law's cooking has improved even more—she could open a restaurant right now. The State Council just issued a new document officially recognizing private enterprise—individual restaurants will only grow in number."

Wei Jiefang shook his head: "Running a restaurant is exhausting—up before dawn, home after dusk. This is fine—we just supply meals to Xintiandi. Light workload, enough to live on."

Wei Lingling also complimented: "Taiwan has Sichuan and Hunan restaurants, but I prefer Sister-in-law's cooking. Brother Jiefang, you're truly lucky."

Wei Jiefang laughed: "I owe it all to my mother for picking me such a great wife."

"Picking?"

"Yes—picked. Right after you were born…" Wei Jiefang eagerly told his little sister his love story.

Wei Lingling frowned: "This story sounds familiar."

Wei Anping asked: "Didn't you read Xiao Ming's masterpiece, 'The Horse Herder'?"

"Ah!" Wei Lingling hurriedly said, "Yes, yes—Uncle's study had a book—I forgot the author's name—but it had a story called 'The Horse Herder,' where he picks up a runaway bride!"

Wei Anping was surprised: "He's reading Xiao Ming's books?"

Wei Lingling glanced at her nephew: "He's probably read quite a few."

Wei Ming smiled: "I'm more curious about the reception of 'The Right Path of Humanity Is Vast Change' in Taiwan."

"I haven't read it all, but I know it's bold." She'd read excerpts in Hong Kong newspapers.

Wei Ming: "I wrote it fairly objectively—even General Du Yuming praised my work."

"You met General Du?"

"No, but he saw my original manuscript before he died."

Old Wei's eyes lit up—he immediately thought of the stack of annotated drafts in the family safe. That was a treasure.

Indeed it was. Wei Ming planned to learn from his colleagues in the rare books archive how to extend paper's lifespan—so it could survive generations.

The meal lasted slowly—from just after eleven until nearly two. They drank a bit too; Wei Ming kept plenty of wine, and Wei Lingling liked red wine.

At the meal's end, Wei Lingling asked: "When do we leave for Shanghai? Can we go tomorrow?"

Wei Jiefang and Wei Anping exchanged glances: "A bit rushed?"

Wei Ming said: "How about the day after? You've never seen the Forbidden City or the Great Wall—you just arrived in Beijing."

"Isn't the Forbidden City right along the road we took? Can you take me there now? Taipei has a Palace Museum too, but only artifacts—no buildings. It's incomplete."

Wei Ming quickly shook his head: "I won't go. Let your brother take you—he's got connections there; he knows all the old guards."

Old Wei demurred: "I only know a few of the most senior ones. I'll take you. Let Anping get us the flight certificates."

Wei Anping nodded—he wouldn't go to Shanghai, but he'd issue the flight certificates.

Wei Ming added: "Add two more people—Cheng Long and his girlfriend Gong Ying."

Wei Lingling asked: "What are you doing this afternoon?"

Wei Ming: "Drawing your blueprints."

That afternoon, he stayed in the Sihe Academy, first called the Beijing Film Studio guesthouse, then focused entirely on sketching.

Meanwhile, Old Wei strolled with his sister to the Forbidden City. Luckily, it was overcast—not too hot.

For the first time, Wei Lingling had a chance to truly appreciate Beijing's hutongs. On the way, her brother bought her a string of candied haws.

Old Wei thoroughly enjoyed being the big brother to a little girl. He was good at entertaining, witty, knew a bit about everything—and quickly put this newly met sister at ease.

Wei Lingling didn't mind Old Wei; she even let him taste one. Any passerby would have said: "A loving father, a filial daughter."

Inside the Forbidden City, Old Wei led her from the Meridian Gate—he'd been here several times, then taken on a guided tour by Brother Wang Shixiang, who taught him the palace's stories and legends. He was now half a tour guide. He'd planned to use this knowledge on the village kids, but today, his own sister came first.

As for the outstanding students from Gouzitun, they had just entered the Forbidden City under the guidance of Teacher Qi and Sister Wei Hong.

Coincidentally, Qi Kexiu spotted the man ahead—Wei Jiefang, animatedly chatting with a beautiful girl.

The girl was stunning, dressed in high-end clothes—clearly no ordinary person.

If Wei Jiefang had found a mistress like this, Qi Kexiu would rather die. He quickly made an excuse to leave the group and slipped ahead to observe secretly.

The two were clearly close—and Qi Kexiu noticed: the woman bore a slight resemblance to Wei Jiefang.

Could it be? Could it be? Qi Kexiu felt he'd uncovered a monumental secret—this trip was worth it after all!

"Uncle, where did you go? You were gone so long—we missed the Golden Throne Hall." Wei Hong wiped sweat from her brow.

Qi Kexiu pulled Wei Hong aside: "Little Hong, do you know what your father was doing before he met your mother?"

"I wasn't born yet—how would I know?"

Qi Kexiu sighed: "Hong, your father isn't simple—he's made your sister-in-law suffer all these years in silence."

"What exactly is wrong with my dad?" Wei Hong snapped. "Can't you just say it all at once?"

Qi Kexiu pointed ahead: "Go see for yourself—but don't tell your mother, or this family will fall apart."

Wei Hong was stunned. Was it really that serious?

"My dad's up ahead?"

Qi Kexiu: "He's at Shufangzhai. You know how to get there, right?"

Wei Hong said nothing and ran off.

Qi Kexiu called after her: "Talk nicely—he might have his reasons. Who hasn't been young?"

He guessed the girl must have been some mistake his brother-in-law made in his youth—she looked a bit older than Xiao Ming, but she seemed to be doing well enough now.

Soon, Wei Hong encountered Wei Jiefang and Wei Lingling at the exit of Shufangzhai.

She hadn't thought as deeply as Qi Kexiu had—she'd only assumed her father was having some secret affair with another woman outside the family. But seeing Wei Lingling, she dismissed the thought immediately.

With her looks and bearing, how could such a woman possibly be interested in my scruffy old father?

"Xiao Hong, you… you brought them to the Forbidden City?" Wei Jiefang exclaimed.

"Mm," Wei Hong replied. "Dad, who is this sister?"

"Don't call her sister—you call her aunt. She's also surnamed Wei."

"Aunt… could it be…?" Wei Hong remembered she had an uncle in Taiwan.

Wei Jiefang shushed her: "Don't make a fuss. Your aunt came all the way from abroad—keep it quiet, understood?"

Wei Lingling, charmed by Wei Hong's sharp wit, said: "You're our Wei family's first provincial top scorer, aren't you?"

Wei Hong: "That's me."

"I heard you're good with the Rubik's Cube. We should have a match sometime."

"You play Rubik's Cube too, Aunt?"

"Not as professionally as you—your book's proof of that—but I've been playing longer than you," Wei Lingling smiled.

Wei Hong rummaged through her bag: "I've got my cube with me. Let's find a cool spot."

"Your dad says the place where Concubine Zhen drowned is cool—even in summer, it's full of chilly winds. Let's go there."

Seeing them chatting so warmly, Wei Jiefang cleared his throat: "Xiao Hong, you're the tour guide—how can you just abandon your students like that?"

Wei Hong: "Oh come on, I can't bear to leave my aunt!"

Wei Lingling asked: "What students? Are you working as a part-time tour guide?"

"Not part-time—it's my brother's scholarship program," Wei Hong explained the annual scholarship award and study trip in Gouzitun.

"This is the second round, and my brother says next year he'll expand it—he'll donate to middle and high schools too, aiming to fund one ten-thousand-yuan household per year," Wei Hong said proudly.

Wei Jiefang added: "He's also planning to pave roads and build bridges in the village."

Wei Lingling, hearing this, felt deep respect for her brilliant, handsome, but slightly reckless nephew—he never seemed the type to have such a heart.

"Brother Jiefang, can I contribute a little too? I can help cover some of the road and bridge costs."

"Of course!" Wei Jiefang welcomed it. "We'll carve your name on the stele—it'll bring glory to our ancestors!" Then he told Wei Hong to go back to the group. "And don't mention your aunt's visit."

When Wei Hong returned to the group, Qi Kexiu noticed her radiant expression—this wasn't the reaction he expected.

"Xiao Hong, did you find out anything?"

Wei Hong: "Auntie? What are you talking about? There's no woman with Dad—just an old man."

"How can there not be? They must've just split up. Wait—I'll go check again."

"There is!" Qi Kexiu returned and said.

Wei Hong: "Then I'll go check again."

Moments later, Wei Hong: "Auntie, if you keep this up, I'm getting angry. It's just an old man—a researcher from the Forbidden City. Are you seeing things? Or did you see some ghost?"

"I… ghost?" Qi Kexiu fell silent. This palace had seen plenty of deaths—could it really be…? Why did it suddenly feel so cold?

Qi Kexiu couldn't help shivering.

In the sihe courtyard, Wei Ming also shivered, ending his deep exchange with Sister Xue.

She still preferred doing it in her own private villa—no need to worry about disturbing neighbors, even though her cries weren't loud.

Wei Ming held her: "Then let's buy another sihe courtyard."

Just then, Li Guangfu said he'd heard someone wanted to sell another sihe courtyard—a two-courtyard compound, even larger than this one.

He thought about how Sister Xue worked in Beijing but still had no fixed place to stay—it was inconvenient.

But if he bought one for Sister Xue, he'd have to get an even bigger one for Sister Lin—her apartment in Tuanjiehu was worth far less than her old Western-style house in the Magic City.

Gong Ying patted him: "Money isn't meant to be spent like this. Why not save it?"

Of course not saving it—prices would skyrocket in a few years, and hoarding cash wouldn't keep up with inflation. But Wei Ming didn't argue with her; this wasn't something explainable in a few words.

He changed the subject: "Tomorrow 'Heroes From Youth' comes out. Let's go see the movie."

"Sure. Just the two of us?"

Wei Ming: "What, should we bring our sisters too?"

Gong Ying laughed. She thought: How exhausting for you—having to sit through it again with Sister Lin. This man always plays fair.

That night, Wei Ming went home and continued drawing Transformers. Wei Hong rushed into his study, first curious about the concept of silicon-based life, then asked about the aunt she'd met and how she was related to their family.

Wei Ming: "I'll tell you when you go abroad. Deal?"

"Pfft, so mysterious. Can I still hang out with her?"

Wei Ming: "She's staying at the Beijing Hotel. Go ahead."

So the next day, Wei Hong swapped duties with her father—he took care of the kids, she took care of her aunt.

"Brother Jiefang, yesterday I saw you in the Forbidden City—wasn't there a beautiful girl with you?"

"No. I only know old men in the Forbidden City. Yesterday, Mr. Wang Shixiang accompanied me. Qi Kexiu, are your eyes failing you already?"

Qi Kexiu's head buzzed. He suspected it wasn't his eyes—it was his brain.

No, today I need a good rest. Maybe I should watch 'Heroes From Youth' to calm down.

On July 8th, every cinema in Beijing was packed from opening time—the long-promoted martial arts film 'Heroes From Youth' was finally screening. Just the genre alone drew crowds, not to mention the glowing reviews from Hong Kong.

Zhao Debiao and his pregnant wife Huang Jiaoyan, the film's leads, got no special treatment—they had to buy tickets like everyone else.

Biaozi bought a whole row of tickets, so all their close relatives and friends could watch—even Xu Yunyun was invited.

With everyone off to the movies, the only person left at Dongfang Xintiandi was Mei Wenhua, the owner. Little Mei felt miserable.

"Boss Mei, haven't seen you in a month—business has really dropped," Wei Ming stepped into the store.

"Brother Ming, you finally came to check on the shop!" Mei Wenhua pulled him aside, excited. "I sent last month's dividend to Second Aunt."

"I know. She told me."

Mei Wenhua went on about business: "The government's encouraging private enterprise again—more and more clothing stores are opening. There'll be market fragmentation, but Dongfang Xintiandi is still the leader. No one's challenged us yet. Fewer customers in the morning is normal."

Wei Ming: "As long as you keep your cool, that's fine."

"Actually, I'm not calm," Mei Wenhua sighed. "I heard Biaozi made tens of thousands in Hong Kong. I really want to open a store there and earn foreign exchange."

"You won't make it. Opening in Hong Kong requires too much capital. Wait two years—you can open in Shanghai or Guangzhou."

"I was just saying."

"I just came by to check," Wei Ming waved. "I'm off."

"Where are you going?"

Wei Ming: "To see the movie—'Heroes From Youth' is out. I've got to support it."

Mei Wenhua groaned: Only I'm working—you all went to the movies!

(End of Chapter)