Chapter 240 - 237: Sly Ping’an

Chapter 240: Chapter 237: Sly Ping’an

"Dad, a man in this world must be indomitable and have a clear conscience. He must be able to bear responsibility and know when to be humble. I’m almost thirty now, and I can handle my responsibilities. I know when to bow my head and when to stand tall again. Don’t worry, Dad. A few years ago, when I left the Capital City, Jin Chen gave me eight words that I’ve always taken to heart: ’The years flow like water; do not fail your youth.’ I will never fail to live up to them!" Ping’an said with a smile, looking at his somewhat worried father.

"’The years flow like water; do not fail your youth?’ Will you be able to do that?" Elder Ping asked softly, quietly watching his high-spirited youngest son.

"I will. To be honest, Jin Chen has had a huge influence on me, but he’s never forced me to do things his way. He said it’s okay if I don’t like something at first, that I can learn to like it over time. After all, only passion can endure the length of years. I’ve taken all his teachings and advice to heart. ’Follow your heart and act as you will.’ He said that way, I can be true to my duties without betraying myself. Dad, I’m not forcing myself into anything. You can rest assured!"

Ping’an laughed with an unrestrained and carefree air, continuing, "A man in this world must know what to do and what not to do. He should be able to carry a gun onto the battlefield, but also be able to wash his hands and make soup. This was the ultimate goal of Jin Chen’s teachings. He said he wouldn’t and didn’t want to raise a politician. He said he wanted the Ping Family’s Ping’an to live a life of flesh and blood, full of passion—unrestrained, free, and bold. He said he wanted the Ping Family’s Ping’an to be able to live freely in this world, and also leave a legacy that will be remembered for ages!"

"He said that? What else?" Elder Ping asked, a little shocked. He had never inquired how Li Xiu was teaching Ping’an. He only remembered when Li Xiu had come to him and said Ping’an was ready to go out and gain some real-world experience. He had asked Li Xiu, "Is he ready?" and he remembered Li Xiu’s reply: "Elder Ping, I haven’t been treating Ping’an as your son!" He hadn’t thought much about that sentence at the time, but looking back now... ’This Li Xiu...’

Looking at his father, Ping’an smiled and said, "Back when Mom sent me to study under him, he only planned on teaching me the ways of officialdom to repay you for the protection you gave him. But later, he said he’d grown fond of me and would treat me like a real brother. He said that as long as I don’t forget why I started, that would be the best outcome for our relationship. Jin Chen is cautious and thinks far ahead. I understand everything he’s told me. Don’t worry, Dad. Even if things are harsh right now, I will always remember to ’cultivate myself, regulate my family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world.’ I won’t let power and profit change who I am!"

Elder Ping smiled in gratification. ’Ah well, the future belongs to the young people anyway.’ He was getting old; it was time to let go. With Li Xiu’s seasoned way of doing things, Ping’an, firmly under his protection, would surely live a peaceful life of boundless joy!

The father and son talked until the middle of the night. After seeing his father back to his room, Ping’an returned to his own, fell into bed, and was out like a light. ’I still have to go to Li Jincheng’s place tomorrow!’

Elder Ping, however, lay in bed with his mind racing. He tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep, and eventually woke Mrs. Ping. Seeing her husband, who rarely had trouble sleeping, wide awake, Mrs. Ping asked curiously, "What did you and our son talk about? What could possibly get you so worked up you can’t sleep in the middle of the night!"

Elder Ping sat up and recounted the conversation he and his son had in the study. After a long moment, Mrs. Ping sighed softly and said, "That’s good, too. This is part of the connection between An’er and Li Xiu. I didn’t think so much about it back then. I never expected An’er to be valued so highly by Li Xiu. It seems there really is such a thing as karma in this world. Because of Yun Qi, we protected Li Xiu. Because of our protection, Li Xiu taught our son. And in the end, Li Xiu has taken An’er under his wing, while An’er idolizes him. Let’s not meddle. We should let them figure out their relationship on their own!"

"That’s what I was thinking, too. But sometimes I wonder, how did Li Xiu become so formidable at such a young age? He’s far more capable than his master, Yun Qi! Tell me, he grew up in the countryside without experiencing any particularly complex environments. How on earth did Li Xiu turn out like this?" Elder Ping asked his wife, a rare look of puzzlement on his face.

Mrs. Ping smiled and said softly, "Who knows? Perhaps Li Xiu is just one of Heaven’s favorites. Don’t dwell on it. It’s enough to know he’s a good person. Come on, get some sleep. You have a busy day tomorrow!"

"Alright, let’s sleep. Our boy is almost thirty. I can finally let go," Elder Ping said with a sigh as he lay back down.

"Yes, almost thirty..." Mrs. Ping echoed her husband’s sentiment, but then the mention of his age made her remember something. ’Wait a minute. That boy, honestly!’ she thought. Hadn’t she already made arrangements to send him on blind dates as soon as he got back? But he’d set a trap for her the moment he walked through the door!

"What’s wrong?" Elder Ping asked, confused as he looked at his exasperated wife.

"That boy is almost thirty, and he doesn’t even have a girlfriend! I had it all planned out to send him on blind dates when he returned. But what does he do? He sets a trap for me the second he walks in!" Mrs. Ping said indignantly, then recounted the conversation she’d had with their son when he arrived that afternoon.

Elder Ping couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Seeing his wife’s angry face, he said gently, "You can’t rush these things. Besides, have Li Xiu or Zhou Lian said anything to you about it?"

"What do you mean?" Mrs. Ping asked, a bit confused. ’It couldn’t be what I think he means, could it?’

Elder Ping knew at a glance that his wife had gotten the wrong idea. He chuckled and said, "Don’t let your mind wander. It probably just means the time isn’t right yet. Otherwise, Li Xiu or Zhou Lian would have given you a hint. Judging by the way Li Xiu handles things, Ping’an’s marriage will need his approval!"

"Why?"

"My dear, we’re getting older. We might not be able to accurately judge the character of these young women anymore. Given how much Li Xiu cares for An’er, what do you think he’d do? Let me tell you something: two years ago, Li Xiu secretly started observing all the eligible young ladies from the major families. Don’t you worry. Li Xiu won’t let our future daughter-in-law hold our son back. Have you forgotten the expectations he has for our An’er?" Elder Ping explained calmly.

After thinking for a moment, Mrs. Ping said, a little embarrassed, "I suppose I was being a bit petty. Fine, I won’t meddle anymore. I guess when there’s a suitable candidate, Li Xiu or Zhou Lian will let us know!"

Because she had gone to bed late, Mrs. Ping woke up a little later than usual. When she asked, she learned that Ping’an had left without even eating breakfast. She froze for a moment, then gave a helpless smile. ’That boy... he must have done it on purpose. Is he that afraid I’ll drag him off to a blind date?’

Li Xiu had a look of utter disgust on his face as he watched Ping’an freeloading a meal. Ping’an ignored him, shoveling food into his mouth. ’Gotta fill my stomach first,’ he thought. ’I’m used to Jin Chen’s attitude by now.’

After the meal, Zhou Lian was about to leave for school. Just like the day before, she didn’t let Li Xiu drive her, letting his nephew and her nephew take her instead. But as she walked into the courtyard, Zhou Lian turned back to look at Ping’an and said, "You ran over here using Jin Chen as an excuse because you were afraid Aunt Zhou would drag you to a blind date, didn’t you? Tell me, what if I were to just go and..."

"Auntie! My dearest Aunt Zhou! Anything, I’ll agree to anything you say!" Ping’an hastily cut her off, bowing with clasped hands in a pleading gesture. ’This couple... neither of them has a kind bone in their body! They’re just a pair of cunning foxes in human skin!’