Chapter 3576: No Matter When, One Must First Give

For Ito Takehiko, accompanying Nana to leave Japan and settle in China was, on one hand, because his legs had fully recovered and he did not want to stay in Japan to cause a sensation; on the other hand, he hoped his daughter could soon be united with Ye Chen.

Nana gave up Japan and came to Jin Ling to seek Ye Chen, also because she was pursuing true love, so her father's words did not make her blush but instead made her feel greatly supported.

Because of what her father had just said, it could be said that he had already done his utmost.

As long as she could marry Ye Chen, her father had even stopped caring about who would bear which name in the future Ito family; if she truly could enter the marriage hall with Ye Chen, the entire Ito family would be her dowry from her father, and after marrying Ye Chen, not only would she have to take her husband's surname and change to Ye, but any future sons or daughters would also bear the Ye surname, so the Ito family would, from her generation onward, be considered completely extinct.

However, if she had not met Ye Chen, according to her father and the customs of those major Japanese families, the Ito family would certainly have to take in a son-in-law, and Japanese son-in-laws are even less dignified than those in China, because not only do the children born after marriage take the wife's surname, but the son-in-law himself must also change to the wife's surname.

In that case, the Ito family could continue to prosper and branch out, rather than coming to an abrupt end with her generation.

Thinking of this, Nana felt moved yet also a little sad, and softly asked her father: "Otousan, if we do not take in a son-in-law, the Ito family might not have any descendants left; you…… you really can accept this?"

Ito Takehiko smiled and said: "As long as in Otousan's eyes, you truly marry well, what could Otousan not accept? Inheritance is not just about the surname, but also about the bloodline; as long as the bloodline can continue, the surname is not that important."

After saying that, he sighed: "Our Ito family once took in a son-in-law many years ago, who sacrificed his own surname and married into the Ito family; at that time, the head of the Ito family, to prevent him from someday causing the Ito family to change its surname, even hunted down the maid and illegitimate child involved with him; you see, even taking in a son-in-law is not truly carefree, and one must guard against this and that; rather than doing that, it would be better to simply not care."

"Moreover, Ye Chen is truly a rare good man in the world; if you could marry him, Otousan would die smiling even if he died instantly; as for the two characters 'Ito', they may as well be discarded."

When Ito Takehiko said this, Nana's eye sockets already had some redness, and she softly murmured: "Thank you, Otousan……"

Then Ito Takehiko suddenly chuckled and said: "Of course, we exchange sincerity for sincerity; if you truly marry Ye Chen in the future and give birth to four, five, or six sons for him, even if I kneel on the ground begging him, I will ask him to allow one of your sons to bear the Ito surname."

Saying this, he looked at Nana and seriously asked: "Nana, do you think Ye Chen should understand and sympathize with me?"

Nana had just been moved, but then her father made her laugh and cry at once; having four, five, or six sons—what did that make her? Other fathers dote on their daughters and do not want them to have many children, but at her father's place, he actually hoped she would give birth to four, five, or six sons.

So she shyly mumbled: "Ye Chen-kun will be here soon; if Otousan wants to know whether he will understand and sympathize with you, just ask him yourself."

Ito Takehiko laughed heartily: "People of the Ito family never first demand repayment; no matter when, we must first give."

……

In the evening, Ye Chen drove to Shanhe Yue according to the location Nana sent.

This place is on the eastern foothills of Zijin Mountain, and is actually not far from Lin Wan'er's residence at Zijin Mountain Villa.

Ye Chen was also visiting this villa district for the first time; after arriving, he discovered that the building density here was actually even lower than that of Tang Chen Yi Pin, and moreover it is a pure villa district, unlike Tang Chen Yi Pin, which, to meet the floor area ratio, also built high-rise residential buildings.

All the villas in Shanhe Yue are Chinese-style courtyard designs; to ensure the ground-level Chinese classical charm, the entire community adopted vehicle-pedestrian separation, with no ground-level traffic allowed, and all vehicles must reach the basements of their respective villas from the underground garage.

Nana has always been meticulous, so she specially waited at the community entrance for Ye Chen, and only after he arrived did she get into his car and guide him to enter the underground garage.

When Ye Chen drove into the underground garage, Nana beside him hesitated repeatedly before finally asking: "Ye Chen-kun, how have you been these days?"

Ye Chen shook his head: "I have been in seclusion, but because I cannot calm my mind, there has been little effect."

Nana sighed: "It must be because you miss Miss Xiao too much?"

Ye Chen did not avoid the topic, lightly nodding and saying: "I have been constantly thinking about where she might be and how her life is, and also hoping that Inspector Li will soon find clues, so I cannot settle my mind to cultivate."

After saying that, he asked Nana: "What have you been busy with lately?"

Nana said: "I went back to Japan a few days ago."

"Oh?" Ye Chen curiously asked: "How did you suddenly go back to Japan?"

Nana asked him: "Ye Chen-kun, do you still remember the omamori I once gave you?"

"I remember." Ye Chen nodded and said: "It seems like you obtained it in Japan?"

"Yes." Nana nodded and said: "I obtained it at Kyoto's Kinkaku-ji."

Ye Chen asked her: "You wouldn't have gone again to seek an omamori, would you?"

"No." Nana said somewhat sadly: "This time I went back because the abbot of Kinkaku-ji, Master Kongyin, had passed away; I had once received his guidance, so I went back to pay my respects."

Ye Chen has always been an atheist and does not believe in any religion, so he had no knowledge of Master Kongyin; hearing that Nana went back to pay respects to a Buddhist high monk, he felt nothing special and merely said casually: "You traveled a thousand miles to return and pay respects; this master must certainly be remarkable."

Nana nodded: "Master Kongyin is the most respected master in all of Japan; when he passed away, he had lived a full one hundred and twenty-five years."

Ye Chen asked her: "Such longevity? Was he a cultivator?"

Nana shook her head and said: "No, he was obsessed with Buddhist studies his whole life, spending his entire life contemplating Buddhist scriptures and Buddhist learning."

Ye Chen was somewhat surprised that an ordinary person could live to over one hundred and twenty years, which is truly rare.

However, rarity does not mean nonexistence, so he did not dwell on it much and again asked Nana: "For such a national treasure-level master passing away, would the funeral be very grand?"

"Not really." Nana said: "The master's funeral was not public, but held only within Kinkaku-ji, and moreover, only monks attended the funeral; I also did not have the qualifications to attend his funeral."

Saying this, Nana suddenly thought of something and said: "Oh right, Ye Chen-kun, the one who presided over Master Kongyin's funeral was none other than Master Jingqing, who enlightened me and helped me comprehend the Dao."