Chapter 241 - Grandson of an Old Friend
Chapter 241 – Grandson of an Old Friend
Translator: Lonelytree
Old Master Gong happily brought Xiao Wang and Xiao Zhang to the Xiao family home. He had never been so happy and excited. It was because he was going to his granddaughter-in-law’s place.
Granted, she was not his granddaughter-in-law yet, but he believed it was only a matter of time. He had faith in his grandson.
“Zhengyang, Qiuying, I’m here.” Before he reached the courtyard, Old Master Gong had already started shouting.
Xiao Zhengyang immediately ran out when he heard Old Master Gong’s voice. He said respectfully with a smile, “Old Master, you’re here.”
Old Master Gong said with a smile, “That’s right, this old man is here to freeload off of your food again!”
Xiao Zhengyang said with a smile, “Old Master, you’re too polite with us. We’re happy that you’d come to visit us every day.” Then, he paused for a moment and said apologetically, “But, we’ve been too busy lately that we haven’t gotten much chance to have you over for a meal.”
Old Master Gong waved his hand and said, “How is that your fault? I’m happy that you’re busy.”
Xiao Zhengyang asked, “Old master, why isn’t Tianhao with you?”
Old Master Gong said, “He’s thinking about life.”
“Huh?” Xiao Zhengyang was a little puzzled.
Old Master Gong didn’t explain. He just waved his hand and said, “We don’t need to care about him. He’ll come over in a while.”
“Oh, okay!” Although Xiao Zhengyang was puzzled, he didn’t ask any further.
The moment Old Master Gong entered the courtyard, he saw the recliner specially prepared for Xiao Lingyu. Grandfather Gong’s eyes immediately lit up. He looked around but did not find Xiao Lingyu. He was slightly disappointed and asked, “Zhengyang, where’s Lingyu?”
After he heard the story from his grandson, Old Master Gong finally understood why Xiao Lingyu’s attitude towards him was so strange.
He was glad that he had taken a liking to the girl. Even though Xiao Lingyu could be distant to him at times, he didn’t blame her. Xiao Lingyu was resistant to the entire Gong Family because of his grandson. He really needed to teach him a lesson.
Father Xiao did not feel that there was anything wrong with Old Master Gong’s question.
Xiao Zhengyang said, “Yu ‘Er is a little tired, so she went back to her room to rest. Old Master, why don’t I go and wake her up?”
“No, no!” Old Master Gong immediately waved his hand and said, “Pregnant women should sleep more. Don’t disturb her.”
Xiao Zhengyang helped Old Master Gong into the house. Old Master Gong immediately noticed a beautiful young man sitting at the dining table. He smiled and asked, “Zhengyang, do you have another guest?”
Xiao Zhengyang introduced, “Old Master, this is Yan Siming, Yu ‘Er’s friend in City Z.”
Yan Siming immediately stood up and greeted Old Master Gong very respectfully, “Old Master. Hello, I’m Yan Siming.”
No matter how much he and Gong Tianhao argued, he had to treat the old master with respect.
Old Master Gong nodded and said, “Nice to meet you, young man.”
Even though he was grinning, Old Master Gong had a fierce aura that had been honed through the vicissitudes of life. It was not something that an ordinary person could withstand. Yan Siming wasn’t frightened when he saw him. Old Master Gong was impressed by that.
In reality, Yan Siming was already trembling in fear inside. Yan Siming had only met Gong Tianhao a few times, but he knew everything about Gong Tianhao’s background.
Gong Tianhao came from the number one family in the capital. Gong Zhen and Gong Tianhao were the only members left from the main branch. They couldn’t be underestimated.
Gong Zhen was one of the nation’s ten founding generals. Only three were still alive. Old Master Gong was one of them.
Although he had left office, the country respected him. Many of his former subordinates were in important positions. Whenever the military had important matters to discuss, they would often ask Old Master Gong’s opinion. Gong Zhen alone had supported the Gong Family over the decades.
Gong Zhen’s grandson, Gong Tianhao, didn’t join the military but entered the business world. He made a name for himself in the business world and became the richest man in the country.
Sometimes, the government had to go to Gong Tianhao for resources. In other words, Gong Tianhao had the support of the country behind him in the business world.
Therefore, even though the Gong Family’s main branch was small, they had great power. Otherwise, they would not be able to maintain the momentum of the number one family in the capital.
Yan Siming had heard of Old Master Gong because his grandfather once served under Old Master Gong.
Gong Zhen was also a great hero Yan Siming worshipped. Yan Siming was very reserved and respectful. He didn’t know where to place his hands.
Old Master Gong didn’t ask him to sit, so he could only stand.
After Old Master Gong sat down, he noticed that this young man was a little flustered, and he was instantly amused.
Earlier, he was just praising the young man for his stability, but now he was looking more like a five-year-old who was at a loss.
Old Master Gong narrowed his eyes and said, “Young man, please sit!”
“Thank you, Old Master!” Yan Siming said excitedly.
Xiao Zhengyang didn’t understand this. ‘Why is Siming so scared around the Old Master?’
Yan Siming had just sat down when he stood up again.
He lifted the teapot on the table and poured a cup of tea for Old Master Gong. “Old Master, please have some tea!”
Old Master Gong narrowed his eyes and took the cup of tea from him. He took a sip and placed it on the table. Then, he asked, “Xiao Yan, do you know me?”
Otherwise, Yan Siming’s attitude was a little hard to explain. No matter how much he respected the old man, there was no need for him to be so serious and reserved.
Yan Siming’s face immediately turned red. He was excited and a little embarrassed. He was being too obvious.
Just as he was about to explain, Xiao Zhengyang asked curiously, “Siming, why are you blushing?”
Yan Siming had very fair skin. With the blush, it looked like he had put on rouge. If he were a woman, he would be devastatingly beautiful.
However, Yan Siming was a man.
Yan Siming’s face turned even redder.
Xiao Zhengyang looked baffled while Old Master Gong narrowed his eyes, looking rather amused.
Yan Siming took a deep breath and explained to Old Master Gong, “Old Master, my grandfather was once your soldier. I grew up listening to your stories from my grandfather.”
“Oh?!” Xiao Zhengyang was curious after hearing Yan Siming’s explanation. He never actually found out about Old Master Gong’s past. Xiao Zhengyang asked, “Old Master, you were an official in the army? Why haven’t you mentioned it before?”
The Xiao Family and Old Master Gong had become fast friends. They talked about everything and everything. However, Old Master Gong never mentioned his military past.
Old Master Gong smiled. “I was only a small officer in the army. It’s nothing worth mentioning.”
Then, he shot a sharp gaze at Yan Siming. There was a warning in his eyes.
Yan Siming was immediately jolted awake and nodded his head secretly.
Old Master Gong didn’t want the Xiao Family to know his true identity. If Xiao Zhengyang knew his family had made friends with a founding general, they wouldn’t be so carefree around him.
Old Master Gong changed the subject, “Xiao Yan, what is your grandfather’s name?”
“Yan Zheng!” Yan Siming suppressed his excitement this time and said very calmly, “My grandfather is Yan Zheng. Old Master, do you still remember him?”
“Oh, you’re Yan Zheng’s grandson! Of course, I remember him.” When Old Master Gong heard this name, he seemed to be immersed in a distant memory. He said, “He used to be a young man full of vigor.”
He studied Yan Siming again and narrowed his eyes again. He smiled and said, “You really look like your grandfather. No wonder I found you familiar. So you’re Yan Zheng’s grandson.”
Yan Siming smiled embarrassedly and said, “I do look like my grandfather.” Therefore, he was harassed a lot.
His grandfather had been ridiculed for his looks too. Most of the people who harassed him were men. It made him very angry. At the time, the Yan Family was only a local family. The men who harassed him were powerful men.
His grandfather had no choice but to escape to the military.
However, the army was full of men, and Yan Zheng was even more beautiful than a woman. Hence, he was in a lot of trouble in the army.
Once, he was bullied when Gong Zhen walked by. Although Gong Zhen was not yet a general, he already had a certain position and authority in the army.
He berated the soldiers who broke the military law and had Yan Zheng follow him as his close guard.
Yan Zheng followed by Gong Zhen’s side until Gong Zhen’s retirement. After that, he left Gong Zhen and returned to his family.
When Old Master Gong found out Yan Siming was Yan Zheng’s grandson, his attitude towards him became much more amiable. He asked, “How is your grandfather’s health nowadays?”
Yan Siming nodded and said, “Old Master, my grandfather is very well now.” Because Yan Zheng was Gong Zhen’s close guard, he was well-protected. They had been on the battlefield, but Yan Zheng had never suffered any serious injuries. Plus, Yan Zheng didn’t have a second branch trying to anger him to death, so his health was better than Old Master Gong.
Old Master Gong nodded and said, “That’s good. Yan Zheng’s grandson is already so old. I’m glad.”
Yan Siming said, “When grandfather knows that you’re in such good health, he will also be very happy.” Yan Siming didn’t touch upon the subject of Old Master Gong’s family. He knew that Old Master Gong only had one direct descendant. Old Master Gong’s son and daughter-in-law had died in an accident.
Yan Siming asked, “Old Master, can I tell grandfather about your news? My grandfather misses you a lot.”
Old Master Gong said, “Sure. I haven’t seen Yan Zheng in a long time.”
Yan Siming immediately said excitedly, “Alright, I’ll go tell my grandfather now.” He turned around and walked to the courtyard. He took out his phone and made a call. Even from the inside of the house, one could see Yan Siming’s excited expression.
Xiao Zhengyang’s face was filled with confusion.
He asked Old Master Gong, “Old Master, why is Siming so excited?”
Old Master Gong coughed twice and took another sip of tea. “Who knows.”
A moment later, Yan Siming came over with his phone and said to Old Master Gong, “Old Master, my grandfather wants to talk to you.”
Grandfather Gong didn’t refuse. He took the phone and said, “Xiao Yan,”
Who would have thought that the other party would shout in excitement, “Chief, it’s really you…” Then, he started to cry.
Old Master Gong chuckled, “You’re already an old man now. Your grandson is all grown-up. Why are you still such a crier?”
Yan Siming was embarrassed. ‘Grandpa used to cry a lot too? So that’s hereditary?’
Yan Siming was a crier when he was young too. He had been reprimanded by his grandfather countless times.
“Yes, yes. I’m in Taoyuan Village. If your body allows it, you can come over,” said Old Master Gong.
After that, Old Master Gong passed the phone to Yan Siming and said with a smile, “Your grandfather hasn’t changed at all.”
Yan Siming, “…”
Isn’t that a problem?