Du Zhaohui no longer wanted to keep Xia Dajun by his side.
Even though Xia Dajun could walk again, as someone who had been injured, his physical condition and agility would never be as good as before.
He wasn’t suitable as a bodyguard anymore.
Du Zhaohui now relied more on Ah Hua, who despite his unremarkable appearance, was an excellent fighter.
Ah Hua could also help him handle various matters; though not highly educated, he was smarter than Xia Dajun.
Supporting Xia Dajun wasn’t a financial burden – Du Zhaohui didn’t lack money, and Xia Dajun had saved him twice… However, Young Master Du didn’t feel he owed Xia Dajun anything; paying money for a bodyguard’s service was simply the rule of the trade.
Besides, how many troubles had he resolved for Xia Dajun?
Arranging a position for Xia Dajun in the company was already fair enough. Du Zhaohui got a headache just thinking about that long list of troublesome Xia family members who had no sense of their limitations – and Xia Dajun couldn’t even distinguish what was important!
“Young Master, I will arrange everything properly.”
Ah Hua thought to himself that even the deepest relationships could be exhausted over time, and Xia Dajun’s foolishness lay in depleting his relationship with Young Master through constant small matters. Still, Young Master showed loyalty by doing a good deed in sending Xia Dajun’s niece to Hong Kong, though he had no intention of telling Xia Dajun about it.
Ah Hua certainly wouldn’t mention it either.
Xia Dajun returned to Pengcheng with three nephews.
During the thirty-plus hour train journey, the youngest, Xia Junfeng, suffered from vomiting and diarrhea. Xia Dajun, being inconvenienced himself, struggled to care for the child. Fortunately, Xia Ziyu’s brother, Xia Junbao, was very sensible, helping change Xia Junfeng’s clothes and taking responsibility for buying meals for all four of them. Before they even reached Pengcheng, among the three nephews, Xia Dajun’s heart had already leaned toward Xia Junbao.
Upon arriving in Pengcheng, Grandmother Xia was happy to see Xia Dajun bring back her three grandsons. However, upon hearing that Xia Changzheng and Zhang Cui had been arrested and Xia Ziyu had fled, Grandmother Xia, who had previously disapproved of her eldest son’s family, was heartbroken – after all, Xia Ziyu was her beloved granddaughter whom she had supported through university by tightening her belt. Without gaining any benefit, Xia Ziyu was suddenly expelled from university and became a fugitive. Grandmother Xia was devastated and beat Xia Dajun while crying:
“You bearer of misfortune, sending the whole family to prison! The Xia family will be the laughingstock of everyone!”
Xia Dajun didn’t mind the beating, but Grandmother Xia’s cursing, calling him a bearer of misfortune and other vulgar words, while spitting and drooling on his face, combined with his already frightened state from Commercial City, made him irritable:
“Mother, stop cursing. We can’t afford to offend her now! If she can send Big Brother and Sister-in-law to prison, do you think she’s still the same as before?”
The realization that they couldn’t afford to offend Xia Xiaolan left Xia Dajun feeling defeated.
He was a father, yet he had to bow his head to his daughter, avoiding any place where she might appear – what kind of world was this?
For thousands of years, China had never had such rules.
Daughters were traditionally considered financial burdens.
Women were naturally meant to serve men.
Xia Dajun couldn’t understand where he had gone wrong. In his mind, he hadn’t – it must be others who were wrong, specifically Xia Xiaolan, who wouldn’t let go of the past and gradually severed ties with the family.
Grandmother Xia was stunned by Xia Dajun’s words.
“She just got into university, can she turn the world upside down? I’ll go make a scene in Beijing, create a commotion at her school gate – let’s see if she has any face left!”
Grandmother Xia’s shrill voice gave Xia Dajun a headache.
“Mother, she’s dating a high official’s son – why else would Big Brother and his family end up in prison? If you want to make a scene, go ahead. I won’t stop you.”
A ruined woman destined to marry widowers and old bachelors, yet now dating a high official’s son – was getting into university really that impressive? Grandmother Xia didn’t dare curse anymore, but thought of Wang Jianhua: “Wasn’t Wang Jianhua also from an official’s family? He was dating Ziyu, why couldn’t he save your elder brother’s family?”
The reason was obvious.
Ziyu had always said the Wang family looked down on her rural household registration. Since they despised her, naturally they wouldn’t help her.
Unless… the Wang family wasn’t as powerful as Xia Xiaolan’s boyfriend’s family and couldn’t help.
Xia Dajun shared his speculation, and Grandmother Xia fell silent.
Though Grandmother Xia had always looked down on Xia Xiaolan, she acknowledged that Xia Xiaolan was bewitchingly beautiful and could enchant men. If Xia Xiaolan continued to be so successful, how could the Xia family survive?
Grandmother Xia also grew fearful, worried that Xia Xiaolan might come to Pengcheng for revenge.
Mother and son spoke without considering the presence of the three children. Hearing that his parents were imprisoned because of his cousin Xia Xiaolan, Xia Junbao secretly clenched his fists and walked away.
Xia Junshan, only a year younger than Xia Junbao, had been watching him and quietly followed.
The Wang family had secretly taught Xia Junshan that his Second Uncle would treat best whoever he liked most. Xia Junshan cornered Junbao:
“Your mom is bad, your dad is bad too. They’ve been arrested by the police. If you don’t listen to me, watch out – I’ll beat you up!”
Xia Junbao remained silent. Xia Junshan clenched his fists and cried, which happened to be seen by Xia Dajun.
“Junshan, how can you talk like that? Look, you’ve made your Brother Junbao cry!”
Xia Junshan protested, “Second Uncle, I’m not wrong. People who go to prison are bad. My uncle and aunt are bad – if they hadn’t hurt Sister Xiaolan, why would the police arrest them?”
Xia Junshan previously hadn’t gotten along well with Xia Xiaolan, given their age difference. But Xia Junshan admired the strong, and ever since Xia Xiaolan became the top scorer in the college entrance exam, he heard people everywhere praising her abilities.
Xia Junshan was probably the only one in the Xia family who admired rather than resented Xia Xiaolan.
These childish words left Xia Dajun speechless.
Xia Dajun knew that Xia Changzheng and Zhang Cui had been wrong first, but Xia Xiaolan wasn’t seriously hurt while Xia Changzheng lost a hand – whatever wrong had been done should have been settled by that.
Yet Xia Xiaolan persisted, determined to send Xia Changzheng to prison and make Xia Ziyu a fugitive – she was truly treating the Xia family as enemies!
“Junshan, you’re too young to understand these things. Don’t mention this matter again.”
Xia Dajun’s attitude was firm. Xia Junshan, remembering to stay in his Second Uncle’s good graces, remained puzzled but didn’t argue further.
Xia Dajun had a headache.
He had brought back three nephews of school age – they must be enrolled in school.
He also needed to bail out Third Brother’s family. Xia Dajun, with his nephews in tow, hadn’t gone to the Yangcheng police station yet – there was still much running around to do. How unfair heaven was, how difficult life had become!
…
Xia Xiaolan went to Tang Hongen’s house with her Uncle Liu Yong.
After brief pleasantries, Tang Hongen, presumably knowing Liu Fen was in Yangcheng, didn’t ask Xia Xiaolan about it, so she went straight to the point:
“Uncle Tang, regarding the South Sea Hotel renovation, Yuanhui lacks both experience and sufficient capital to operate. If we force our involvement, wouldn’t it cause trouble for you?”
Xia Xiaolan even suspected that Mayor Tang had lost his mind, disregarding discipline just to pursue her mother.
Tang Hongen pointed to the documents on the table:
“Don’t overthink it. First, read through these materials, and then we can discuss this matter!”