Chapter 239 - 236: Heart-to-Heart in the Study

Chapter 239: Chapter 236: Heart-to-Heart in the Study

"But, Dad, Jin Chen said..."

"What did that kid say? It’s nothing. That woman is overly ambitious, so you don’t need to worry about her. Just make sure you’re on good terms with the Lan family’s Xiao Wu!" Elder Ping cut Ping’an off again, speaking quickly.

’If I can’t even figure this much out, then all of Li Xiu’s training would have been for nothing.’ He then said urgently, "But, Dad, Jin Chen already..."

’That brat Li Xiu,’ he cursed internally. ’Why does he tell Ping’an everything?’ Looking a little awkward, he said, "Back in the day, a comrade-in-arms wanted to introduce her to me, but I could see she was too ambitious, so I refused. That’s all there is to it. Everyone from the older generation knows about it. I fell for your mother the moment I saw her. Old Man Lan is fine, it’s just that woman... Wait, what exactly did Li Xiu tell you?"

"Oh, Jin Chen said that Old Madam Lan is too ambitious, and that I should keep Xiao Wu in check. He said that after I return to the Capital City, he’ll have him sent to a regional post. For now, he can only stay by my side. He also told me not to worry about anything in the Capital City. He’ll keep an eye on things for me and said I should just go all out in my local position!" Ping’an said, feigning a serious expression. ’Holy shit, what a plot twist! No wonder Li Jincheng’s tone was so strange when he mentioned Old Madam Lan. I thought I was just overthinking it, but it turns out he knew about this whole thing!’

Looking at his increasingly composed youngest son, Elder Ping felt a swell of quiet pride. ’This is my son,’ he thought. ’It’s like watching a young tiger emerge from the forest.’ Ever adept at hiding his emotions, Elder Ping simply asked coolly, "What else did Li Xiu say?"

"In the military, there’s the Wang family. My sister’s friend married their only son, and Jin Chen has given Wang Song some guidance. Then there’s that kid from the Sun Family, who’s also in the military. Jin Chen is keeping an eye on him, so there shouldn’t be any problems. The Sun Family is part of our core faction. And then there’s the Lan family. But Jin Chen also said that he won’t leave the Capital City before I’m transferred back. So don’t worry, Father. You don’t need to trouble yourself with any of this. Just focus on your health!" Seeing that Elder Ping was asking about serious matters, Ping’an answered him formally.

’Looking at his aging father, Ping’an felt a pang of sorrow. His father had gone to war in his youth, enduring all kinds of hardships. The war was finally won, but after only a few days of peace, he was exiled due to factional politics. He had spent the better part of his life toiling and worrying, and his health wasn’t very good. Otherwise, given Li Jincheng’s cautious nature, he never would have taken all this upon himself. He hated dealing with this stuff more than anything. He must have sensed something was wrong, right?’

At that thought, Ping’an’s heart tightened. He studied his father carefully and asked softly, "Dad, how has your health been lately? Have you had a check-up?"

Elder Ping looked at him with some surprise. His youngest son wasn’t usually so attentive. Realizing he must have seen Li Xiu first, he smiled and said, "It’s nothing. Don’t worry!"

"That’s not right. Dad, don’t hide it from me. I’ve felt something was off for a while, I just couldn’t put my finger on what. Li Jincheng isn’t the type to go looking for trouble. Even though he’s said he’d help me before, I know what kind of ’help’ he meant. But this time, he explicitly told me he’d handle everything in the Capital City and that you shouldn’t get involved. He’s afraid you’ll overwork yourself. Dad, what’s really going on? I’ll find out sooner or later. I didn’t put it together today, but if you don’t tell me, I’ll ask Jin Chen tomorrow. He’ll definitely know!" Ping’an stared at Elder Ping, his voice filled with anxiety.

Looking at his anxious son, Elder Ping gave a resigned smile. He knew he couldn’t hide this from Li Xiu, but he hadn’t expected the boy to be so attentive. The person who hated trouble the most had taken on the most troublesome matter of all, which was how his own son had noticed something was amiss. He looked at Ping’an with a sense of gratification and said, "It’s nothing serious. It’s just that when you get old, your body naturally starts to weaken. It’s normal. Don’t worry. Besides, think about it—if something was really wrong with me, do you think that kid Li Xiu would be able to sit still?"

After a moment of thought, Ping’an slowly calmed himself and said, "Dad, maybe you should start to step back."

"Silly boy, it’s not that simple. Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. By the way, did Li Xiu mention anything you’re doing wrong?" Elder Ping asked curiously. ’The boy has improved a lot since he’s been back. Aside from a lack of experience, he’s doing fine. But if Li Xiu is giving him special training, there must be something that isn’t quite right.’

Hearing this, Ping’an scratched his chin sheepishly. "Jin Chen thinks I’m too competitive. It’s one thing to appear that way on the surface, but the real problem is that I’m actually like that on the inside. He also said my judgment of people is still too superficial."

’Thinking about his youngest son’s personality, he realized it was true. But he hid it so well that most people wouldn’t notice. Li Xiu really was paying close attention.’ But this Li Xiu... "Ping’an, tell me honestly, have you and Li Xiu talked about your future together?"

Glancing at his father, Ping’an nodded honestly. "We have."

Elder Ping shot him a look. "And what are your plans?"

Smiling, Ping’an looked his father in the eye and said seriously, "Jin Chen says you either do nothing, or you become the very best. It’s more reassuring to hold the power in your own hands. Coincidentally, that’s what I think, too!"

’Elder Ping knew Li Xiu was ambitious, but he never thought he was this ambitious. And his own son was the same. It was a classic case of being influenced by one’s company. These two kids were truly aiming high. To become the very best, to hold the power in their own hands... Looking at his son’s budding ambition, he couldn’t help but wonder if sending him to Li Xiu’s side all those years ago was the right decision or a mistake.’

As if sensing his father’s thoughts, Ping’an smiled and said earnestly, "Dad, don’t worry about us. Jin Chen won’t let anything happen to me. Besides, his devotion to my sister is too deep; he’d never let anything happen to himself either. In all these years, Dad, have you ever seen Jin Chen make a single mistake?"

’Elder Ping thought about it, and it was true. Whether internally or externally, in his family life or his career, Li Xiu had never made a mistake. It was almost too much. Li Xiu had only just turned thirty, yet his methods were seasoned, ruthless, and slick. Even his own master, Ge Yunqi, wasn’t this formidable in his forties or fifties. Was it because Yun Qi taught him well, or was the kid just exceptionally gifted?’

"An’er, how can you two be so ambitious? What if something..."

"Dad, I’m still young," Ping’an interrupted his father gently but firmly. "Besides, some things are no longer a matter of whether you want to do them or not. Since I’ve already chosen this path, between being pushed forward by others and advancing on my own, I’d rather choose to advance on my own. At least that way, the initiative is in my hands." ’He didn’t like it before, and he still doesn’t like it now. But as Jin Chen once said, you can think about things from a different perspective, and maybe then you’ll come to like them.’

Looking at his earnest son, Elder Ping’s heart ached. His youngest son had always been free-spirited and good-natured. But with his eldest son’s situation being what it was, he could only count on him now. Ping’an had resisted with all his might at first, and Elder Ping had been about to give up on the idea. But then Li Xiu came along, and things had developed to a point where even he was losing control. Was this a good thing or a bad thing? For once, the iron-willed, hard-as-nails Elder Ping found himself in a dilemma.