HomeDream of Golden YearsChapter 542: The Ji Family Refuses to Benefit

Chapter 542: The Ji Family Refuses to Benefit

When Ji Ya married Tang Hong’en, he was just a minor official.

Back then, Ji Ya was the family’s precious jewel, while Tang Hong’en had no family wealth – Ji Ya was married beneath her station.

Marrying Tang Hong’en meant transferring from Beijing to the poor region of Southern Henan.

Not two years after Ji Jiangyuan was born, Tang Hong’en’s old superior fell from grace, dragging him down too. Tang Hong’en had a chance to escape then – for his wife and child’s sake, for the Ji family’s sake, he should have known what to do… but Tang Hong’en stubbornly refused that path, willingly going to the cowshed, refusing to yield.

Had this happened to someone else, Uncle Ji would have praised such integrity.

But happening to Tang Hong’en, who had a wife and child – Ji Ya who had never known hardship – Uncle Ji couldn’t bear to let his sister suffer.

Tang Hong’en’s relegation to the cowshed would affect the Ji family too.

With dozens of people in the extended Ji family, how could they gamble on such slim chances with Tang Hong’en? The Ji family made the right choice – Ji Ya cut ties with Tang Hong’en and returned to Beijing with Ji Jiangyuan.

Who knew that five years later, when the order was restored, Tang Hong’en’s old superior would soar to prominence, and Tang Hong’en himself would be valued for his correct stance? Rising from Southern Henan, in less than ten years, he became second-in-command of the Special Zone. Pengcheng Special Zone was now nationally prominent – Tang Hong’en’s appointment there showed the organization’s trust in him.

If they hadn’t divorced, this son-in-law with his brilliant career would have been the Ji family’s pride.

But they had divorced.

When Tang Hong’en was reinstated, many in Beijing mocked the Ji family for their lack of foresight, unable to wait just a few years. Grandfather Ji had been respected all his life, but in his later years faced some unfavorable comments – the entire Ji family came to dislike Tang Hong’en. If only Ji Ya hadn’t married him – the Ji family didn’t want to share in Tang Hong’en’s glory, or live in fear because of him!

After Tang Hong’en’s reinstatement, the Ji family couldn’t humble themselves to suggest remarriage.

Now, twelve years after the divorce, Tang Hong’en’s appearance could only mean showing off or fighting for the child, Uncle Ji thought. Ji Jiangyuan was a Ji family child, with no connection to the Tang surname – could living in the cowshed with Tang Hong’en have shaped Ji Jiangyuan into who he is today?

Uncle Ji was furious at Tang Hong’en’s attempt to claim credit. When people have preconceptions, everything seems wrong – even if Tang Hong’en had appeared at Grandfather Ji’s memorial service, the Ji family wouldn’t have let him in. But when Tang Hong’en didn’t appear, Uncle Ji saw it as disrespect for elders.

Now with the old man laid to rest, Tang Hong’en’s visit to the Ji family seemed like bullying.

Uncle Ji was extremely angry, while Aunt Ji felt alarmed: “You still want to throw him out? Now Tang… things are different now. I say since Little Sister is in the country, everyone should sit down calmly and talk things through, to prevent him from coming repeatedly.”

Times had changed – with Grandfather Ji gone, what could the Ji family use against Tang Hong’en?

Aunt Ji had to consider the whole family, disapproving of Uncle Ji’s impulsiveness. This was between Ji Ya and Tang Hong’en, with Ji Jiangyuan caught in between – who knew, they might reunite for the child’s sake. Of course, with an American pursuing her to China, standing there imposingly, the chances of Ji Ya and Tang Hong’en reuniting were slim.

But regardless, marriage and divorce were Ji Ya’s decisions – what business was it of Uncle Ji’s?

After Aunt Ji’s long persuasion, Uncle Ji’s hands shook with anger:

“Can Little Sister’s emotions handle this stress? Having her meet Tang Hong’en would be like driving her to death!”

Aunt Ji’s chest heaved.

Everyone knew about Ji Ya’s condition – she’d seen doctors in America too. Aunt Ji didn’t understand the psychologists’ words but felt the family was too indulgent of her sister-in-law. Did everyone have to accommodate Ji Ya’s wishes? She married who she wanted, ignoring the family’s arranged marriage, following Tang Hong’en to Southern Henan. Then divorced, taking Ji Jiangyuan straight abroad, leaving the mess at home for the family.

Now Tang Hong’en had risen high, and Aunt Ji knew well how the family had treated him these years.

If he were petty, he could take revenge now – what could they do?

Why did Ji Ya go abroad initially, what had she been thinking all these years – Ji Ya herself needed to explain!

Before Tang Hong’en even arrived, Uncle and Aunt Ji were nearly fighting, each holding their ground.

“Stop arguing, let him come!”

Ji Ya entered the living room, accompanied by George.

After Grandfather Ji’s passing, Ji Ya had grown even thinner.

Some women look better with curves, others become more striking as they slim down. Despite her thinness, Ji Ya’s features remained delicate, and her grace only enhanced. Aunt Ji had never understood her Westernized sister-in-law, who had dated so many men abroad without lasting relationships, living with these boyfriends while raising her son – it was fortunate Ji Jiangyuan hadn’t been affected.

But bringing George to meet her ex-husband – Aunt Ji had to admire that.

Was there a hole in her head?

Wasn’t she afraid of a fight breaking out?

Ji Ya appeared emotionally stable, her face ice-cold. George spoke with her – Aunt Ji could understand about eighty percent of their English.

Tang Hong’en was allowed into the Ji family home – this old house where he had once faced the family’s scrutiny while marrying Ji Ya. Twenty years had passed like smoke, and now he and Ji Ya had become bitter enemies.

Entering the living room, he saw Ji Ya with a foreign man.

This man might become Ji Jiangyuan’s stepfather – Tang Hong’en couldn’t help but look twice.

“Tang Hong’en, you’ve come to the Ji family just to snatch away Jiangyuan, haven’t you? He’ll always be a Ji – you’ll never have a child as good as Jiangyuan again, that’s your punishment… I’ll soon take Jiangyuan back to America. You’d better maintain your dignity and not force me to make things ugly!”

George was also sizing up Tang Hong’en.

George was an American businessman, and Tang Hong’en was a Chinese official.

Americans at that time viewed China as backward, its people ignorant, believing Chinese officials only deceived the ignorant masses, that people couldn’t eat or dress properly, and that officials had no real ability. George disliked this country – even in Beijing it was inconvenient, having to go to specific places just for daily necessities. He wanted to take Ji Ya back to America quickly.

Ji Jiangyuan was an excellent child by American mainstream standards – outgoing, athletic, and academically successful. This was how America’s elite raised their children.

Let Ji Jiangyuan return to China, to follow his bureaucrat father.

George couldn’t accept this. If you love someone, you accept everything about them – George wanted a better future for Ji Jiangyuan!

“You haven’t fulfilled a father’s responsibilities. We won’t let you near him.”

Before Tang Hong’en could speak, Ji Ya and George had already attacked him.

He certainly hadn’t come to take his son away. Ji Jiangyuan was a living person, not an object. Tang Hong’en respected Ji Jiangyuan’s own choices – wasn’t American thinking supposed to be open-minded? After over a decade in America, Ji Ya had become so extreme!

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