Chapter 15
Chapter 15
No one expected that the ever dutiful Xu Dahai would suddenly curse at Xu Liangtian, leaving everyone in stunned silence.
Xu Dahai shouted, “I’ve done everything for you with all my heart, so why should I hand it over to Second Brother? What right does he have?”
As he spoke, Xu Dahai started coughing violently. Years of toil had left him with a serious illness; whenever his emotions ran high, the coughing would worsen, and in severe cases, he’d even cough up blood.
Xu Liangtian frowned and questioned, “When did I ever say that Second Brother would inherit the family?”
Xu Dahai sneered and, weak all over, slumped to the ground, crying out in grievance, “You think I didn’t hear? I heard it all! Second Brother told me! ‘Eldest is frail and sickly, you must work harder’—didn’t you say that? Didn’t you?!”
Xu Liangtian looked at the seemingly honest Xu Zhengfeng, who, to everyone’s surprise, lowered his head in shame.
“Step forward,” Xu Liangtian ordered Xu Zhengfeng.
Xu Zhengfeng did not resist and silently stood before everyone.
Though Xu Liangtian had just recovered, the authority of the family patriarch still commanded awe.
“Here, in front of all the Xu family, tell me—when did I ever say, ‘Eldest is frail and sickly, you must work harder’?”
Xu Zhengfeng kept his head down and spoke softly, “The patriarch never said that.”
“The patriarch never heard it!”
“The patriarch never said it! I made it all up!”
Xu Liangtian’s gaze was full of pressure. “Slap yourself!”
Xu Zhengfeng slapped himself before everyone.
But in truth, everyone knew that Xu Liangtian must have said those words—only to provoke rivalry between the brothers.
Yet who was Xu Liangtian? If he denied it, no one dared to challenge him.
Xu Dahai was bewildered, staring at the scene in astonishment.
Xu Liangtian walked to Xu Dahai’s side, saying, “Your efforts haven’t gone unnoticed, but you shouldn’t have been so impatient.”
Xu Dahai lowered his head, eyes red, his body trembling with sobs.
Xu Liangtian continued, “But you broke the rules, after all. The matter of succession will be postponed. Continue as the eldest young master for now.”
Xu Dahai looked at Xu Liangtian in surprise. “Father, you—you forgive me?”
Xu Liangtian sighed, “Silly child, what parent in this world blames their own child?”
Xu Dahai suddenly knelt, weeping as he kowtowed.
“Father, I deserve to die, I’m useless, I’ve let you down!”
He slapped himself madly.
Xu Zhengfeng watched everything unfold, clenching his jaw and fists.
You told me to work harder, you told me to take over the family! And now this old man is denying everything!
Xu Meijiao looked at the trembling Xu Zhengfeng and shook her head helplessly.
She was a woman, naturally unwilling to be drawn into this power struggle. But she liked her Second Brother best; they’d been close since childhood. Seeing him so heartbroken, she felt deep sadness.
Xu Liangtian settled the aftermath: Xu Dahai was confined for six months, required to finish reading the Confucian classics within a month to cultivate his mind.
Xu Zhengfeng was assigned to fill in for Xu Dahai’s duties, while also handling his own responsibilities.
Before leaving, Xu Liangtian said to Old Yun and Ye Fengyun, “Sorry to have let you witness this family farce.”
Old Yun sighed, “As long as everything’s fine. Since you’re well, we’ll be on our way.”
“Alright, I’m not feeling well, so I won’t see you off.”
Ye Fengyun said, “Don’t forget to prepare the ten million consultation fee and the villa!”
Xu Dahai managed a smile through his tears. “Of course, of course!”
Ye Fengyun and Old Yun descended the mountain together.
On the way, Ye Fengyun asked Old Yun, “Did Old Xu really never say those words?”
Old Yun smiled ambiguously, “What do you think?”
Ye Fengyun yawned, “You adults speak as if it were air—who can tell if it’s real or just wind?”
Old Yun sighed, “Such is the way of great families. If harmony reigned, how could they flourish for so long? Calm seas don’t make skilled sailors. Whether Old Xu said it or not, it’s their family affair.”
Ye Fengyun smiled without reply.
In the Xu family, in Xu Zhengfeng’s room—
Xu Zhengfeng lay on the floor, eyes red, Xu Meijiao sitting beside him.
“Second Brother, don’t be sad,” Xu Meijiao comforted him.
Xu Zhengfeng showed a sorrowful smile, pouring out his heart: “Back then, didn’t I risk my life for the old man? Eldest handled the company, I ran everywhere, negotiating deals here, there, even abroad.
“Once, there was a plane crash. The old man and I floated on the sea for over a week. I let him rest on the wreckage, holding onto a small piece myself, waist-deep in water for days. Even now, when it rains, it still aches!
“I risked my life for him, time and again!”
As he spoke, tears streamed down his face.
“He even told me, ‘If only you were the eldest,’ and I believed him, Meijiao, I truly believed him!
“Back home, he often said, ‘Eldest is frail and sickly, you must work harder!’ And I did, I kept working, negotiating deals outside, for the family, for the company, fighting for every contract!
“But now, he denies it all!”
Xu Meijiao sighed, not knowing what to say.
Xu Zhengfeng sat up, gripping Xu Meijiao’s arm tightly. “Meijiao, you’re the HR manager, you’ve got plenty of people under you. Eldest is confined for half a year—these six months are my chance! My people may be outside Yunchuan City, but together we can cultivate loyal followers! Once I secure succession, you and I can manage the family together. What do you think?”
Xu Meijiao was startled.
“Second Brother, you—you want me to join your struggle?”
“That’s right! But don’t worry, I’ll handle the battles. You’ll just be my support.”
Xu Meijiao thought for a moment and said, “Second Brother, if you want to surpass Eldest, you should pay attention to that little miracle doctor. Oh, right, Eldest bet ten million and a villa with him; when the time comes, send those over and build a good relationship.”
Xu Zhengfeng nodded, “That’s exactly my plan.”
On the way back to the Tang family, Ye Fengyun immediately received a notification of the transfer, along with a text message.
“Please come for the villa transfer in three days.”
Ye Fengyun smiled, put away his phone, and felt thoroughly delighted.
Suddenly, his expression changed. He stopped, turned, and glanced behind him.
Behind was the wetland park, dense with trees, deep and quiet, but nothing escaped Ye Fengyun’s keen senses.
“Still not coming out?” Ye Fengyun sneered, suddenly disappearing in a flash.
A shadow flickered like a ghost among the trees, appearing and vanishing in an instant.