nownovels Chapter 25 Family and Country, Gratitude and Resentment
Chapter 25 Family and Country, Gratitude and Resentment
The thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month.
The chill of early morning still lingered on the eaves of the green tiles, but Zhou Tong had already climbed the ladder and pasted a newly written Spring Festival couplet on both sides of the mansion gate.
The couplet, written on red paper with black ink, reads: "Only in the cold of winter do we know the strength of the pine and cypress," and "In times of hardship, the heart of a child is revealed." The horizontal inscription reads: "Uphold righteousness and manage the household well."
He wrote the characters himself; although his brushstrokes were still somewhat lacking in refinement, they possessed a certain solidity and depth.
Ah Fu, holding the ladder below, looked up and laughed, "Young Master's calligraphy is increasingly showing the style of the Master."
Zhou Tong climbed down the ladder, dusted off his hands, and watched the splash of red stand out against the drab street scene, feeling a little more at ease.
In the distance, someone had already set off the first string of firecrackers; the crackling sounds carried far and wide, carrying a faint smell of gunpowder.
There weren't many servants in the mansion; including the guards, there were only twelve or thirteen in total.
Before noon, Yao Wanru summoned everyone to the front hall, where Zhou Chengzong personally handed out red paper packets to each person, which were even thicker than those given before the family division in previous years.
"These days, it's tough for everyone."
Zhou Chengzong said calmly, "We'll live our own lives behind closed doors, and we'll still have to rely on you all in the future."
The head of the guards, a man in his forties surnamed Zhao, accepted the red envelope with both hands, bowed, and said, "Master, Madam, and Young Master, rest assured, we will do our best."
After everyone had left, Yao Wanru breathed a soft sigh of relief and said to Zhou Chengzong:
"We're not like we used to be. We need to be frugal where we can, but we can't be stingy when it comes to spending. These guards and servants are all elderly people in the family, so we need to keep them close."
Zhou Chengzong smiled and nodded: "I'm at ease with my wife taking care of things at home."
……
New Year's Eve.
The round table in the small dining room was piled high with food.
In the center is a pot of milky white old hen soup, with golden oil floating on top; next to it is a steamed sea bass, with ginger and scallion segments stuffed into the cut; there is also a plate of braised pork knuckle, the meat is stewed until tender and falls off the bone with a touch of chopsticks; there are also two kinds of seasonal vegetables and several dishes of cured meat platter.
A charcoal brazier burned inside, its warmth mingling with the aroma of food, keeping the chill outside far away.
Zhou Tong served his parents each a bowl of soup before sitting down in his own seat.
Yao Wanru kept putting food into his bowl, muttering, "Practicing martial arts takes a lot of energy, you need to eat more."
After eating for a while, Zhou Tong put down his chopsticks and looked at his father: "Father, how are the preparations for the medicinal herb business going?"
Zhou Chengzong picked up a piece of fish belly meat, carefully removed the bones, and said, "It's almost done. After a few more days of preparation after the New Year, we can start working."
He paused, took a sip of soup, and continued, "You've seen the current situation. The Worry-Free Sect has entered the city; who knows what chaos will ensue?"
Opening a pharmacy is too conspicuous and could easily lead to legal trouble. I'm thinking of starting with a forwarding service, not retail.
"transport?"
"Yes." Zhou Chengzong nodded. "I contacted three or four well-established pharmacies in the surrounding towns. They are short of some scarce medicinal herbs, so we collected them from Cangzhou and transported them there."
The quantity isn't large; one cartload will suffice. The road isn't far either; it's a main road with villages and towns along the way, so it's a safe route.
Zhou Tong smiled and said, "Father is always thoughtful in his work; this is a sign of his maturity."
His father now approves of him quite a bit, and the two often chat, so Zhou Tong has learned more about some things.
My father's network of relationships goes far beyond these. In the past, he traveled all over the country, and his truly solid connections and networks were all along the Northeast line.
That area is rich in ginseng, deer antler, and various rare medicinal herbs, making it extremely profitable, but the journey there is also treacherous.
The mountains are high and the forests are dense, and bandits are as numerous as hairs on a cow. Without a martial arts master of the Dirty Realm to escort the goods, it is impossible to pass through.
Moreover, to get involved in such a big business, you need a grand martial arts master to oversee it to be safe.
Our own strength is insufficient right now, and even if we have connections on that side, it's not advisable to use them.
Human relationships and self-worth are complementary.
When you have enough personal value, favors can be most effective; if you lack the ability, rashly trying to get involved will only waste past relationships.
Zhou Chengzong glanced at his son and saw that his eyes were calm. He knew that his son had figured out the key points, so he didn't say anything more. He just smiled and raised his glass: "Come on, it's New Year's, let's have a drink, you and me."
After the excitement, Zhou Tong returned to his room, turned off the lights, and lay down. The sound of firecrackers kept coming from outside, and he couldn't fall asleep for a while.
This was the first year after he awakened his memories. Memories of his past life and various aspects of his present life kept flashing through his mind, leaving him with rather complicated feelings.
Suddenly, the image of the Worry-Free Sect being paraded through the streets flashed through his mind again, his heart skipped a beat, and a dark look appeared in his eyes.
In these chaotic times, it will probably become increasingly difficult to have a family reunion like we have today in the future.
Thinking about these things made it even harder for him to fall asleep.
A moment later, he focused his mind and a transparent panel appeared before him.
[Estimated time to break through "stone skin": 31 days]
[Estimated time to master the "Dragon Tiger Ruyi Blade": 13 days]
There are only thirteen days left until I master the Dragon Tiger Ruyi Blade. I wonder just how powerful that "Shadowless" secret technique is?
By then, he will have the means to fight his enemies, and the day he breaks through to the Stone Skin Realm will not be far off.
Although the situation was changing, he was also constantly getting stronger.
Thinking of this, Zhou Tong felt a little more at ease and soon fell into a deep sleep.
……
New Year's Day.
Zhou Chengzong changed into a brand-new dark blue satin robe, with a mandarin jacket with floral patterns over it.
Zhou Tong was also dressed in new clothes and looked quite dashing.
The father and son stood in the courtyard, each holding a gift box.
Yao Wanru saw them to the door, hesitated for a moment, and finally said softly, "Come back soon."
A black car rolled over the cobblestone road. The street was still deserted, with only a few mischievous children in new clothes picking up unexploded ordnance from the previous night.
As the car headed towards the Zhou family's old residence in the east of the city, the streetscape became increasingly orderly, and the lintels of the houses on both sides grew taller and more imposing.
Even from some distance from the old house, you can already hear the lively sounds coming from inside.
Voices, laughter, and greetings mingled into a buzzing sound that wafted out from behind the high courtyard walls.
Several cars were already parked in front of the old house, their gleaming bodies reflecting the morning light.
Several well-dressed men, who looked like businessmen, were standing at the door, chatting and laughing with the steward, Uncle Zhong.
I met Zhou Tong when he visited the old house for the New Year. They were some of the Zhou family business partners who often visited him.
The car stopped a little distance away.
Zhou Chengzong got out of the car, followed closely by Zhou Tong.
The merchants caught a glimpse of the two out of the corner of their eyes, their smiles froze slightly, and then, as if by prior arrangement, they simultaneously turned their gaze away, said a few words to Uncle Zhong with a smile, and hurriedly went into the courtyard, their steps so fast that they seemed afraid of getting tainted by some bad luck.
Zhongbo turned around and saw the Zhou family father and son walking over with gift boxes. A very complex emotion flashed across his eyes.
He composed himself, put on a smile, and quickly stepped forward to greet her.
At that moment, another car drove up and stopped behind Zhou's car.
The car door opened a crack, but then quickly closed again.
The people inside had obviously seen the Zhou father and son, so they simply stayed in the car and waited, clearly unwilling to face the foreseeable awkward situation.
"Second Young Master, Young Master Tong, Happy New Year!" Uncle Zhong walked up, cupped his hands in greeting, and smiled broadly.
"Uncle Zhong, Happy New Year." Zhou Chengzong smiled and returned the greeting, and Zhou Tong also bowed.
Zhongbo's gaze lingered on Zhou Tong for a moment, and his smile widened even further:
"I heard that Young Master Tong broke through to the Body Refinement stage in just three months at the Dragon Tiger Martial Arts School? That's incredible! Congratulations, Young Master Tong, and congratulations, Second Young Master."
Zhou Tong bowed slightly: "Uncle Zhong, you flatter me. It was just a stroke of luck."
Zhongbo scrutinized him closely, secretly surprised.
The young man before me was calm and composed, with clear eyes and appropriate responses. He was completely different from the impetuous and arrogant second son I remembered.
Unfortunately, it was all too late... He sighed inwardly.
Zhou Chengzong then gently shook the gift box, pointed to the door, and said in a gentle voice, "Uncle Zhong, I've brought Tong'er to wish the old man a Happy New Year, so I won't chat with you any longer."
Zhongbo's smile froze instantly, revealing a troubled expression.
He rubbed his hands together and lowered his voice: "Second Young Master... Master instructed that if he sees you coming, he would tell you... tell you to go back on your own. Master said you understand what he means."
Zhou Chengzong paused, the fine lines at the corners of his eyes twitched slightly, and something in his eyes dimmed, but he quickly regained his composure.
"I understand why the old man doesn't want to see me."
Zhou Chengzong's voice remained calm: "I'll go in, put the things down, and kowtow to the old man from a distance to show my filial piety. I won't disturb him when he's receiving guests."
Looking at Zhou Chengzong's calm face, Zhongbo's initial unease turned into an indescribable bitterness.
He opened his mouth, but finally sighed, "Then... Second Young Master, please wait a moment while this old servant goes in to ask the Master."
Just then, a cheerful voice came from not far away:
"Second Uncle, Second Brother, Happy New Year!"
A boy dressed in a royal blue brocade cotton robe walked out of the door. He was about sixteen or seventeen years old and his face resembled Zhou Tong's by three points, but his eyes and brows had a more frivolous air about them.
It was Zhou Jing, the eldest son of the third wife.
His cousin is now studying martial arts at the Baihe Martial Arts School.
The White Crane Martial Arts School is located in the west of the city and is one of the four major martial arts schools in Cangzhou, along with the Dragon Tiger Martial Arts School.
Previously, the eldest branch of the Zhou family was in charge of the family's business in Tianjin, while Zhou Chengzong was in charge of the business in Cangzhou.
The third branch of the family mostly manages peripheral businesses. Zhou Jing has always been meek and obedient in front of Zhou Tong, but today, his face radiates a different kind of light.
Zhou Jing walked briskly, a smile playing on his lips, and approached Zhou Chengzong and Zhou Tong, bowing respectfully.
"Nephew Jing, Happy New Year." Zhou Chengzong returned the greeting with a smile.
Zhou Tong also cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.
Zhou Jing straightened up, his gaze sweeping over Zhou Tong, and chuckled, "I heard that Second Brother broke through to the Body Refinement stage in just three months at the Dragon Tiger Martial Arts Academy? Is that true?"
Zhou Tong nodded calmly.
"Impressive, impressive!" Zhou Jing clapped his hands and laughed. "It took me a full five months back then."
He changed the subject, his eyes narrowing slightly, "However, I've heard that progress after muscle training is even more crucial; that's when physical talent truly comes into play. I wonder how your progress is, Second Brother?"
Zhou Tong smiled and said, "It's not bad. In martial arts cultivation, no one can say for sure before a breakthrough; you might get stuck at any time."
Zhou Jing said "Oh," and his smile deepened.
"I just broke through to the Stone Muscle stage a few days ago. Counting it up, it took me about five months to go from building muscle to Stone Muscle."
"I wonder where this progress would be considered at your Dragon Tiger Martial Arts School, cousin?"
Zhou Tong looked at the barely concealed smugness in his eyes and found it somewhat amusing.
His expression remained unchanged as he calmly said, "Breaking through to the Stone Muscle Realm in five months would be considered top-tier talent anywhere."
Zhou Jing had hoped to see shock, envy, or even a trace of resentment on Zhou Tong's face, but there was nothing there.
Zhou Tong just looked at him calmly, without the slightest ripple in his eyes.
This reaction inexplicably ignited a fire within Zhou Jing.
His gaze shifted to the gift boxes in Zhou Chengzong and Zhou Tong's hands, and a smile returned to his face as he looked at Zhou Chengzong:
"Second Uncle, you and my cousin are here to wish Grandpa a Happy New Year, right? Sigh... please don't blame me for being nosy, but you've come... perhaps at the wrong time."
He lowered his voice, feigning concern: "There are a few guests in the courtyard right now, and they don't get along with you... cough, not quite. For example, Mr. Lin Huai-ren, I heard you haven't had much of an agreement?"
If you go in and meet him, it will be awkward for both of you, and it will also upset Grandpa. Perhaps... you could come another day?"
Zhou Chengzong looked at Zhou Jing with the tolerant gaze of an elder looking at a mischievous child.
He smiled, paused briefly, then, as if remembering something, took out two candies wrapped in oil paper from the small cloth bag he was carrying and handed them over:
"Nephew Jing, your second uncle remembers that you loved eating 'Xu Ji' pine nut candy when you were little. Here, have a taste, it still tastes the same."
Zhou Jing subconsciously reached out to take it, a smile still on his face: "Thank you, Second Uncle—"
But just as Zhou Chengzong let go, Zhou Jing seemed to have just seen the words on the candy wrapper, and suddenly cried out "Ouch!", pulling his hand back and hurriedly saying:
"Oh, Uncle, look at this... I used to love this candy when I was little, but now that I'm all grown up, I don't like it anymore. It's too sweet and cloying."
The two candies fell straight to the ground.
Just as the candies were about to hit the ground, a hand reached out from the side, gently pinching them between the index and middle fingers, and steadily scooped the two candies into the palm of the hand.
Zhou Tong straightened up, and his left eyelid twitched violently like a centipede.
He peeled off the parchment paper from a piece of candy, popped the amber-colored candy into his mouth, chewed it a couple of times, and then turned to his father with a smile:
"Dad, I'm just like you, sentimental. I love this candy."
Zhou Chengzong nodded slightly to Zhou Tong, then looked deeply at Zhou Jing without saying a word.
Zhou Jing's smile froze for a moment, then he hurriedly apologized:
"Oh dear, Second Uncle, I'm so sorry! I didn't notice you let go. Luckily, Second Brother was quick, otherwise the things would have been ruined."
Under Zhou Chengzong's gaze, he felt a strange sense of unease.
As he spoke, he glanced at Uncle Zhong beside him, said, "Then I'll go in first, Grandpa's still waiting," and turned to flee in a panic. His steps were unsteady at first, but he gradually regained his balance.
As he reached the door, he turned back and smiled at Zhou Chengzong and the other man.
Uncle Zhong stood there, his expression even more troubled.
He looked at Zhou Jing's back, then at Zhou Chengzong, opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.
Zhou Chengzong gently shook his head, his face showing no anger, and handed the gift box to Uncle Zhong, saying in a gentle voice:
"Uncle Zhong, since that's the case, we won't go in and disturb the old man. Please take this small token of our appreciation inside and place it where he can see it. Please give him my best wishes for good health and a long and happy life."
Uncle Zhong accepted the gift box with both hands. The box was so heavy that it made his arm sag slightly.
He nodded emphatically, his throat tightening slightly: "Don't worry, Second Young Master, I will definitely deliver the message."
Zhou Chengzong smiled, turned around and walked towards the car.
Zhou Tong followed behind him. The morning light cast long shadows of the father and son on the bluestone road, which slowly receded into the distance.
The person who hadn't gotten out of the car finally opened the door and got out. He glanced in the direction the Zhou family father and son had left, then looked at the old house gate, shook his head, straightened his clothes, and walked towards Uncle Zhong with the gift box in his hand.
……
The car didn't go straight home, but stopped by a lake.
Zhou Chengzong got out of the car and said, "Tong'er, come for a walk with your father."
There were few people by the lake. A thin layer of ice covered the surface of the lake, and withered willow branches drooped along the shore, rustling in the wind.
The father and son walked to the lakeside pavilion. Zhou Chengzong waved his hand, signaling Afu and the other servants who were following at a distance to step back.
He leaned on the railing, staring blankly at the ice, and after a long while, he finally spoke:
"Tong'er, if outsiders see this today, they'll probably think... I'm going to apologize to the old man and beg him to change his mind."
Before his father could finish speaking, Zhou Tong said, "Father is not that kind of person."
Zhou Chengzong smiled and said, "Then tell me, what kind of person is Father?"
"I know my father's character perfectly well."
Zhou Tong remained calm and said, "Father is not going there to admit his mistakes, but to fulfill his filial duty as a son."
Zhou Chengzong nodded with satisfaction, turned around, looked in the direction of the old house, and slowly said:
"Your grandfather was kind to me by giving me life and raising me. It was with your grandfather's support that I was able to go to Shanghai and broaden my horizons; and it was in the family business association that I honed the skills I have today to make a living."
Compared to all the favors we've received, your grandfather's decision to divide the family property has worsened our situation. Severing ties and causing setbacks in our business are nothing compared to this.
These were originally gifts from your grandfather to your father. He was happy to take them back, and I don't resent him at all.
Zhou Chengzong paused, his voice lowering as he sighed, "The place where I resent your grandfather isn't here."
Zhou Tong listened quietly and nodded: "Dad, I understand."
Zhou Chengzong paused for a moment, then asked, "I took you there today, and you got upset too. Do you blame me?"
Did you ever think to yourself, "Since the old man doesn't like us, why should we bother?" Did you feel that Dad's methods were too inefficient and lacked decisiveness?
Zhou Tong quickly said, "Father, how could that be?"
Zhou Chengzong waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to answer immediately.
He turned around to face Zhou Tong, his eyes more solemn than ever before:
"Tong'er, the reason I'm taking you there today is to teach you a lesson."
The saying goes, "A knight-errant uses martial arts to break the law." Since ancient times, martial artists have loved to do things that push the boundaries; otherwise, they seem not to be considered true martial artists.
Especially in times of chaos, boundaries become even more blurred…
"But," Zhou Chengzong reached out and gently touched his heart with his index finger, "some boundaries can be crossed, but people cannot cross the boundaries here."
His fingers were still pressed against his heart, his gaze piercing:
"I had a falling out with your grandfather and withdrew from the Chamber of Commerce to do justice to this place; even knowing I would be ostracized, I still went to pay New Year's visits, also to do justice to this place."
A breeze swept through the pavilion, ruffling Zhou Chengzong's robes.
His voice, carried on the wind, landed heavily in Zhou Tong's ears:
"Tong'er, you've grown up and have your own ideas. I don't want to interfere too much. The world is constantly changing, and my experience may not be applicable to you."
Zhou Chengzong looked at Zhou Tong, tapped his chest again, and said in a deep voice, "But there is one thing I must tell you: do things that are worthy of this place."
He said earnestly, "As your martial arts cultivation improves, you will be able to do more things, and you must always remember to consult this place. As long as this place is not compromised, you will not go astray on the path."
Zhou Tong looked at his father, at the fine lines at the corners of his eyes, and at the clear, upright light in his eyes that had seen the world.
He took a step back, straightened his robes, then bowed deeply.
"I have remembered my father's teachings."
The voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear.
Zhou Chengzong reached out to help him up, a relieved smile finally appearing on his face.
He patted his son on the shoulder and laughed, "Good, remember that. Come on, let's go home. Your mother must be getting impatient."
Over the next two days, Zhou experienced what he remembered as the quietest New Year.
In previous years, the house was always packed with guests and filled with laughter during the Lunar New Year, but this year only a few of my father's closest friends came to visit.
The old man's words had everyone keeping a close eye on the wind direction.
However, although the social interactions during the Lunar New Year were lively, there was nothing particularly meaningful about them.
Although there were fewer guests this year, there were people connected to him.
Ji Chang made a special trip to the Zhou family to pay his respects for the New Year, while Zhou Tong also went to the Ji family to visit his senior brother Ji's mother.
Before they knew it, it was the fifth day of the Lunar New Year. Zhou Tong and Ji Chang carried gifts and went to the Dragon Tiger Martial Arts School together.
Every year on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the disciples would pay their respects to Ni Dongting, and Zhou Tong and his companion naturally wouldn't miss it.