Chapter 260: Settling Down 2.0

"Daniu Ye spent years as a bodyguard, constantly hovering between life and death. Thirty-five years ago, he was wounded during an escort mission, returned to his hometown for three years, and once he saw his children were grown, he began a life of wandering."

"He did this out of fear that he would implicate his children, and it was during that time in his hometown that he learned of us. Later, by a stroke of fate, Daniu Ye and I met in Modu, and he took care of me without a moment's hesitation. However, after holding on for fifteen years, he ultimately succumbed to his old wounds and passed away."

Jia Youwei was already streaming with tears by this point; if not for Jia Daniu, he reckoned he would have starved to death long ago, and he certainly wouldn't possess the martial arts skills he has today.

"Youwei, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have back then..."

"Uncle Liu, what you did back then was only human nature. If not for your financial support over the years, Daniu Ye and I might have starved to death long ago, not to mention that you took care of me for over a decade after Daniu Ye passed away."

Zhang Ping'an sighed deeply after hearing this. This experience of Jia Erge was simply that of a child of destiny; how did it feel like he was more of a protagonist than himself?

"That's right, brother. No matter what, the Jia Family will keep your kindness in raising Youwei in our hearts. If there is anything you need help with in the future, I will never refuse."

"..."

Lao Liu felt both guilty and moved; he opened his mouth, but for a long time, no sound came out.

"Today is a joyous occasion. I'll go buy some food, and we shall have a proper celebration."

"I'll go tidy up as well."

After Zhang Ping'an and the other went out to buy food, Lao Jia asked Jia Youwei about his future plans.

"Youwei, why don't you come back to Sijiucheng with me in two days? We can go back together to thank Daniu Ye's relatives."

"That would be fine, but I still have to come back afterward."

Lao Jia grew anxious at this; he had finally found his own younger brother and wished he could keep him by his side every day. How could he let him stay here in Modu?

"Youwei..."

"Big Brother, listen to me first. My mind is actually very chaotic right now. Over these past twenty-plus years, I have read too many books, and I want to digest them. The best place to do that is here."

"Besides, Uncle Liu... he is also going to leave us."

"Leave? Go where?"

"Ping'an told me. Uncle Liu only has a year or two left."

Liu Wanzhou was thirty-eight when he adopted Jia Youwei. Later, he experienced the early death of his wife, and now he is seventy. Having lived in guilt all these years, his health had long since collapsed. Perhaps he had been hoping all these years that Jia Youwei's family would come looking for him?

The reason Zhang Ping'an said a year or two was that if he intervened, he could extend his lifespan, but if he did nothing, he would have at most a year.

"Sigh, very well. But you must come back later."

Lao Jia now felt only gratitude toward Liu Wanzhou; after all, he had taken care of his brother for so many years, and he was already like family. He couldn't just ignore him.

"I will. After all, my roots are there."

At noon, the four of them prepared a sumptuous lunch, most of which consisted of Space Ingredients provided by Zhang Ping'an, along with aged liquor provided by Liu Laotou.

During the meal, Jia Youwei spoke of his plans, which Zhang Ping'an naturally supported. He had felt from the beginning that Jia Youwei was truly studying, and now it was clear that was the case.

Lao Liu, on the other hand, was exceptionally moved. He could roughly sense that his own time was near. He had originally hoped that Jia Youwei would just come to see him before he died, but he hadn't expected that Jia Youwei would be willing to accompany this old man through his final journey.

"Youcai, Youwei, I..."

"Uncle Liu, our time together over these years has been better than family. Don't say such distant things."

"Good, good, good. That's right, we are family." Now that Liu Wanzhou had received Jia Youwei's personal acknowledgment, he was filled with a complex mix of emotions.

It wasn't that he didn't have other relatives; he had nephews and nieces. When he was young and they knew he had no heirs, they all fawned over him.

After he adopted Jia Youwei, they all changed their faces, and once he abandoned Jia Youwei, they stuck to him again.

This allowed Lao Liu to see their true colors. Now that he was old, his nephews and nieces all wanted him to die early so they could inherit his property, yet none of them had visited him more than a few times.

Now that Jia Youwei was clear-headed, and since they were on the same household registration, he no longer feared that Jia Youwei would be bullied after he died.

"Erge, these tea leaves will help you organize the knowledge in your mind. Have a cup when you feel tired, and I guarantee you'll feel refreshed," Zhang Ping'an said as he took out a one-jin bag of tea.

Zhang Ping'an did not yet know that this act would directly create a peerless mechanical genius, who would become an important pillar of his future corporate empire—but that is a story for another time.

"Haha, good. Ping'an, thank you, truly. Once Erge has sorted out his mind, I'll give you a surprise."

"Hahaha, good."

Two days later, Jia Youwei and San Jie Fu, Lao Jia, boarded the train back to Sijiucheng, while Zhang Ping'an went to the Rolling Mill to handle the finishing work.

In fact, the forage had sprouted on the fourth day after sowing. Zhang Ping'an had returned twice during this period, and seeing that everything was on track, he dripped some Space Water and went back to focus on Jia Youwei's treatment.

Now, more than half a month had passed since the sowing, and it should be about time for harvest. When Zhang Ping'an returned to the Rolling Mill and took a look, it had indeed already begun.

"Ping'an, you've come at just the right time. The growth rate of this forage is simply beyond my imagination. It's a good thing I listened to you back then."

Looking at the now vibrant pig farm, Jiang Zhenbei's mouth was stretched to his ears. He had bet his political career on this, and now that he had won, he would surely be able to advance further in the future.

Jiang Jiancheng felt the same. He had been thrown in halfway to take the blame, but now that he had given the pig farm a complete makeover, his political future had been forcefully opened up; he certainly wouldn't stop here.

The current staff at the pig farm were all people who had been suppressed and sent there to retire, but now they had pulled off a beautiful turnaround thanks to the pig farm.

The Jiang uncle and nephew, as well as all the pig farm staff, were filled with gratitude toward Zhang Ping'an; he was practically their angel investor.

"Hahaha, Brother Jiang, I didn't let you down, did I?"

As for why Zhang Ping'an was willing to spend so much effort investing in the Shanghai Rolling Mill, it was more for the sake of Jiang Zhenbei himself.

When he first met Jiang Zhenbei, he thought he was nearly fifty, but later learned he was only thirty-five, which was about the same age as Li Huaide at the time.

One must know that Li Huaide only secured the position of Logistics Director with the help of his father-in-law. By the same logic, this Jiang Zhenbei's background certainly wasn't simple. A small investment now would provide some help for his future layout in Modu.

"Not at all, not at all. It's simply perfect."

To ensure Jiang Zhenbei remembered this favor, Zhang Ping'an taught them how to ferment the forage step-by-step, which temperatures were most suitable, and so on.

Jiang Zhenbei was indeed even more grateful to Zhang Ping'an, and the two had already met for dinner several times in private.

"Brother Jiang, once the Fermentation Room here is built, I will head back to Sijiucheng. We shall meet again when there is an opportunity."

"Good, good, good. You must contact your brother when you come to Modu in the future. I'll take you to eat the most authentic local cuisine."

"You got it."

Zhang Ping'an twitched his mouth; he truly couldn't get used to the local taste—heavy oil and red sauce, and it was too sweet. Of course, it might be slightly less sweet than the Liangxi variety.