bookandnovel Chapter 2 Dividing the Family
Chapter 2 Dividing the Family
A damp, chilly autumn wind swept through the street, carrying a few withered leaves that swirled and clung to the wheels of a gleaming black car, making a soft rustling sound.
The car came to a smooth stop in front of the imposing vermilion gate of the Zhou residence. Afu got out of the car first and eagerly opened the door.
Zhou Tong bent down and got out of the car. He went through the gate, walked around the screen wall carved with a pine and crane motif, and heard his parents talking in the hall.
The Zhou family is one of the most prominent families in Cangzhou. Zhou Chengzong, the father, works in the family's business association and is a pillar of the Zhou family business association with a well-known reputation.
Her mother, Yao Wanru, was a typical lady from a respectable family, who stayed at home to support her husband and raise her children.
As the only son in the family, Zhou Tong was doted on by both parents. His mother's doting affection was evident in her daily care and concern, while his father was more reserved and subtle.
At this moment, Zhou Chengzong was sitting in the main chair, flipping through the account books in his hands.
Yao Wanru sat to the side, holding a cup of hot tea. When she saw Zhou Tong enter, a gentle smile immediately appeared on her face.
"Tong'er, you're back." Yao Wanru waved to him, gesturing for him to sit down beside her.
She glanced at him and noticed something was wrong with his expression, so she asked gently, "What's wrong? You don't look well. Are you tired?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Chengzong looked up at Zhou Tong but didn't say anything. He then lowered his head and continued flipping through the account books.
Zhou Tong smiled at his mother, sat down on the rosewood chair next to her, and took the hot tea handed to him by the maid. The warmth from his palm could not dispel the chill in his heart.
He hesitated for a moment: "Mother, I just went to the Zhao residence."
"The Zhao residence? Are you going to visit Mingyuan?" Yao Wanru asked with a smile. "That child hasn't come to visit for a while."
Zhou Tong pursed his lips, his voice low and somber: "Something happened to the Zhao family. Mingyuan... he's gone."
"What?" Yao Wanru's smile froze instantly.
Zhou Chengzong, who was standing to the side, also looked at Zhou Tong, his eyebrows furrowed, and said, "Tong'er, explain yourself! What happened to the Zhao family?"
Zhou Tong's expression was grave. He said, "The entire Zhao family, including their servants, is gone. I just came back from there... The bodies were all covered with white sheets and carried out. I saw Mingyuan with my own eyes..."
Yao Wanru's teacup clattered onto the table, splashing tea onto her sleeve, but she seemed oblivious, only asking in a trembling voice, "Quan...Quan...How is this possible!"
Zhou Chengzong grasped his wife's hand, narrowed his eyes, and asked in a steady voice, "What happened? Were you attacked by bandits?"
"Not bandits." Zhou Tong shook his head, his voice dry. "No wounds, no bloodstains, just... a look of being scared to death, his expression twisted. The information Afu gathered all says... he was possessed, encountered something evil."
Upon hearing this, Yao Wanru swayed and murmured, "What a tragedy, what a tragedy..."
Zhou Chengzong's face darkened, and after a moment, he let out a long sigh.
He released his grip on his wife's hand, walked to the window with his hands behind his back, and said in a low voice, "When a nation is about to perish, monsters will inevitably emerge. It seems this world is truly heading into chaos..."
He turned around, his gaze sweeping over his wife and children with an unprecedented seriousness. "You should all try to stay home as much as possible these days, especially after dark. Wanru, we should also increase the number of guards in the manor."
Seeing his father's reaction, Zhou Tong's unease deepened, and he couldn't help but ask, "Father, you often travel with merchant caravans all over the country. How much do you know about these kinds of supernatural things? Do you have any ways to deal with them?"
"When I travel with merchant caravans to other places, I'm always accompanied by experienced bodyguards, and we always travel on main roads. I've heard a lot about these kinds of things, but I've never witnessed them firsthand. As for how to deal with them?"
Zhou Chengzong frowned and shook his head, saying:
"As far as I know, let alone ordinary people, even some renowned martial arts masters are helpless against those filthy things. The Zhao family has several skilled guards, but you saw the result."
He paused, a hint of uncertainty in his voice: "Perhaps only those Grand Martial Masters have a way to deal with it."
"A Grand Martial Master? A Grand Martial Master who can withstand bullets with his bare body?" Zhou Tong's eyes lit up.
Zhou Chengzong nodded slightly, forcing a smile, and reassured him, "You don't need to be too afraid of the Zhao family's matter; the police will handle it. It's just... in the past, those strange occurrences mostly happened in sparsely populated wilderness areas, but this time it actually appeared in the city..."
He told Zhou Tong to rest assured, but in the end he seemed worried.
Looking at his father's gloomy expression, Zhou Tong recalled Zhao Mingyuan's terrified face, and felt a surge of unease in his heart.
Remembering his own desires, he became even more eager and quickly said, "Father, about the martial arts training I mentioned to you before..."
Hearing Zhou Tong bring this up, Zhou Chengzong's brows relaxed again, and a genuine smile appeared on his face. He walked back to his seat and patted his son's shoulder: "Don't worry, Dad remembers."
He glanced at the darkening sky outside the window, and said with a confident tone:
"After dinner, I'll go to your grandfather's place to finalize the spot. You just stay home and wait for my good news."
Zhou Tong made up his mind and nodded in agreement.
After dinner, Zhou Tong escorted his father to the gate of the mansion.
Night had fallen.
The pair of cast-iron carved gas lamps imported from the West at the entrance lit up, hissing and emitting a dim yellow light, illuminating the "Zhou Residence" plaque above the door in a half-light and half-dark.
As Zhou Tong watched the car drive away, a sense of anticipation rose within him. The systematic martial arts training might be the key for him to cope with this chaotic world.
He turned and went back into the hall, chatting with his mother while waiting for news.
After some time, the faint sound of a car could be heard outside, but her father still hadn't come over.
Just as Zhou Tong was about to get up to check, the steward hurried in, bowed, and said uneasily:
"Madam, young master, as soon as the master returned, he dismissed everyone and went to his study alone. His complexion... wasn't good, and I didn't dare to ask any more questions..."
Before he could finish speaking, Zhou Tong and Yao Wanru exchanged a glance, stood up, and hurriedly walked towards the study.
Upon entering the study, the first thing that catches the eye is the back of the father, who sits alone in the dimly lit room, silent.
The study was not brightly lit; only a floor lamp in the corner cast a dim, yellowish glow, making his silhouette appear particularly desolate.
"Father, you're back?"
A sense of foreboding rose in Zhou Tong's heart. He quietly walked over and asked with concern, "What's wrong?"
Zhou Chengzong slowly raised his head and turned around.
His eyes were bloodshot as he silently stared at Zhou Tong. After a long while, he slammed his fist on the rosewood table beside him, making a dull thud.
"Tong'er..."
His voice was hoarse, and he seemed hesitant to look his son in the eye: "That spot at the Tianjin Military Academy... is gone."
"Hey, if it's gone, it's gone. You don't have to go to a martial arts academy to practice martial arts."
Zhou Tong was taken aback at first, then quickly revealed an indifferent smile and waved his hand dismissively.
As he spoke, he sat down beside his father, looked at his ashen face, and asked softly:
"Dad, the quota issue isn't important, but what happened? You have to tell Mom and me so we don't overthink it."
Yao Wanru grasped Zhou Chengzong's hand and asked gently, "Chengzong, what happened?"
Zhou Chengzong took a deep breath and calmed himself before saying in a hoarse voice, "The spot for Tong'er to go to the military academy that was promised to him was given to Lin Huai-ren's son by the old man."
"Lin Huai-ren?"
Yao Wanru's expression stiffened slightly: "Is it that comprador you often mention, the one you don't get along with, the one who works for foreigners?"
Zhou Chengzong nodded gravely: "It's him."
"How is this possible? How could the old man give the spot to his son?" Yao Wanru asked incredulously.
"Nothing is impossible... Hehe, I never thought that I, Zhou Chengzong, would become the one in the family who doesn't know his place."
Zhou Chengzong's tone was tinged with sarcasm; he didn't elaborate on the details, only stating the result:
"I've fallen out with the old man. We've already separated the family and withdrawn from the Chamber of Commerce. I'm no longer a member of the Zhou Family Chamber of Commerce."
Zhou Tong and Yao Wanru were both taken aback, not expecting things to escalate to this point. They were both stunned and didn't say a word.
"Tong'er, don't overthink it."
Zhou Chengzong looked at Zhou Tong and forced a smile: "I had a falling out with your grandfather. This quota issue was just the beginning. Sigh... it's unnecessary to talk about it."
Zhou Tong's mind raced, and he vaguely guessed what was going on.
However, let's put those aside for now.
My father is a man of many experiences, and his decision was certainly not made on a whim; it must be because the conflict between the two sides was irreconcilable.
The father was also upset after falling out with his family, and what he needed most at that time was the support of his family.
At that moment, he looked at his father solemnly and said firmly, "Dad, you're in charge of our family. I'll listen to you!"
Yao Wanru also realized what was happening, gently grasped Zhou Chengzong's tightly clenched fist, and said softly:
"Chengzong, if you're going to split up the family, then so be it. Just think it over. We're a family now. From now on, we can just close the door and live our own lives in peace and quiet. That's better than anything else."
His wife's understanding and his son's support were like a warm current, gradually dispelling the chill in Zhou Chengzong's heart.
He took his wife's hand in return, then looked at Zhou Tong and nodded, saying, "You two are right! From now on, we'll live our own lives."
Zhou Chengzong spoke lightly, but the pain in his eyes betrayed him.
At that moment, Zhou Tong's mind raced, and he suddenly smiled and said, "Father, in my opinion, the matter of dividing the family property may not necessarily be a bad thing."
Zhou Chengzong paused slightly, then looked at his son: "What do you mean?"
Zhou Tong's eyes flickered slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "If I'm not mistaken, Grandpa probably wanted to cooperate with the foreign firm, which is why he caused all this trouble."
Zhou Chengzong narrowed his eyes. He hadn't expected Zhou Tong to see the key point so quickly. Was this really his son who only knew how to fight birds and watch shows all day?
Before he could respond, Zhou Tong shook his head slightly and continued:
"Cooperating with foreign firms is tantamount to seeking help from a tiger. If the situation changes, it may backfire. By withdrawing from the Chamber of Commerce and splitting up the business, you have effectively distanced yourself from the association. This is one reason."
Zhou Chengzong looked at his son with some surprise, staring at him for a good ten seconds before saying, "Tong'er, you've really grown up."
He couldn't help but want to examine his son, so he asked, "And the second one?"
"The second one."
Zhou Tong smiled and slowly said:
"Father, you mentioned earlier that you would be going to another place with a caravan in a few days. Things are different now than before. I talked with some people who have fled here today. Nowadays, there are frequent occurrences of evil spirits and bandits outside, which is extremely dangerous."
I had been thinking of persuading you not to go out with the caravans anymore, but knowing your temper, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to convince you. Now that you've withdrawn from the merchant guild, my mother and I no longer need to worry about it.
Upon hearing this, Yao Wanru nodded and said softly, "Tong'er is right. It's good to leave the Chamber of Commerce to avoid going on adventures in other places. Being safe and sound is better than anything else."
With the encouragement of the two, and especially seeing how much his son had matured, Zhou Chengzong was filled with joy, and he gradually put those unpleasant things behind him.
Looking at Zhou Tong, who was gently comforting him, he recalled the shock his son had experienced today and his desire for power. The slight confusion he felt due to the division of the family was instantly replaced by a stronger sense of responsibility.
As a father, he had to pave the way for his son's future. Thinking of this, another feasible plan suddenly popped into his mind.
Zhou Chengzong's eyes suddenly lit up, and he patted Zhou Tong on the shoulder:
"Tong'er, you want to learn martial arts, but you can't go to the Tianjin Martial Arts Academy anymore. But I won't leave you with no way out! Tomorrow! First thing tomorrow morning, you'll come with me!"
"Dad is taking you to see someone. He used to be an instructor at the Jinhai Martial Arts Academy, but he left for some reason and opened his own martial arts school in the south of the city. He's incredibly skilled! You'll be learning from him from now on!"