Chapter 6: Zhang Family's Life Begins

  At this time, Old Man Zhang walked in, and Zhang Lieyang hastily stood up and called out: "Grandfather!"

  Grandpa Zhang looked at his grandson with a smile and nodded, asking: "Child, are you going back this time?"

  Zhang Lieyang scratched his head and said, "Grandfather, my father sent me to the United States to study business, but I didn't listen to him. I studied at West Point Military Academy in the United States! After graduating from military school, the school wanted me to stay in the United States, but I missed my family and returned to Nanyang. When I returned to Nanyang, my father asked me to come back and said that he had not fulfilled his filial piety for the two elders; let me come back to pay respects to you two elders on their behalf!"

  Upon hearing Zhang Lieyang's words, Old Man Zhang smiled and said: "It's not good if you don't go, it's not good if you don't go!" Then Old Man Zhang took out a ring and said: "Lieyang, take this ring. Your two uncles both had daughters, now all the hopes of our Zhang family are on your shoulders! Take this ring."

  Zhang Lieyang awkwardly accepted the ring and looked at Old Master Zhang with a hesitant expression. Old Master Zhang smiled and said, "Put it on! After I'm gone in a hundred years, I'll pass on the position of family head to you! I've already made arrangements, in two days you'll go to Zhejiang University to register for the architecture department!"

  "Great!" Zhang Lieyang said excitedly. After a while, the butler walked in and said: "Old master, dinner is ready! They received your notice and have all returned today!" Then the butler also said to Zhang Lieyang: "Young master, do you want someone to help move the things from the car to your room?"

  "Thank you, old steward! I'll go back to get the things in my car later, no need to trouble you!" Zhang Lieyang said seriously. Upon hearing Zhang Lieyang's words, Old Master Zhang curiously asked: "Child, what else do you have in your car?"

  "Grandpa, my car is full of guns and bullets. Besides that, I also have my pocket money, clothes, and the gold and jade ornaments I bought for our elders when I passed by Chou Tian Bao!"

  "Didn't your father send someone to escort you?" Old Man Zhang asked in puzzlement.

  "Grandpa, it's a long story. I've been fighting all the way here. Originally, there were four bodyguards with me, but now only I'm left!" Zhang Lieyang said indifferently.

  Seeing Zhang Lieyang's expression when speaking, Old Man Zhang sighed and said: "Child, you've suffered!" Hearing Old Man Zhang's words, Zhang Lieyang smiled and said: "Not suffering, not at all! As long as I can see you, no matter how big the suffering is, I don't feel it!"

  Mr. and Mrs. Zhang nodded in unison, feeling relieved. Then they walked together towards the dining hall.

  The Zhang family, who had been waiting for a long time in the restaurant, made way for Mr. Zhang as he approached with Mrs. Zhou and Zhang Lieyang. Once they reached their seats, Mr. Zhang said, "Today, I asked you all to come back for dinner because Qiuyue's son has returned. From now on, he will live with us. These years, Qiuyue's family has been struggling to start a business overseas, but now that Lieyang is back, he has solved a big problem for our family! Alright, let's not say more, everyone eat."

  Old Man Zhang pulled Zhang Lieyang to his side and said, "You sit next to Grandpa and Grandma today!" Zhang Lieyang smiled and replied, "Okay!" And so the big family of over a hundred people sat down together in harmony to eat.

  After dinner, Zhang Lieyang took his things to his room and hurried to Grandfather Zhang's study. As soon as he entered the study, Zhang Lieyang smiled and asked: "Grandpa, what trouble did we encounter at home? Can I help?" Hearing Zhang Lieyang's words, Grandfather Zhang comforted him with a smile: "These troubles have passed, and it was you who helped us get through them!"

  "What did I help you get through?" Zhang Lieyang asked in confusion.

  "Of course it's you, didn't you send three thousand gold bars?" Old Man Zhang said with a smile.

  "Is it! Does this have something to do with these three thousand golden rods?" Zhang Lieyang looked at Old Man Zhang in incredulity.

  "Alright! I won't tease you anymore. Although our Zhang family is the richest in Ningbo, Wu's family has been colluding with the Japanese and suppressing us during this period. If it weren't for our large reserve of raw materials, we wouldn't have made it to now. Now that we have your 3,000 gold bars, we won't take Wu's family seriously again!" Old Master Zhang said with a smile.

  Upon hearing Old Master Zhang's words, Zhang Lieyang unconsciously looked at him and thought to himself, "Old Master seems relaxed now, but things can't be that simple! No wonder my grandfather always told me that our family in Ningbo was destroyed by the Japanese and traitors working together. Now that I'm here, I won't let this happen!"

  Thinking of this, Zhang Lieyang smiled and asked Old Master Zhang, "Grandfather, when will you take me to meet the influential people and businessmen in Ningbo?"