Chapter 2560 - 2624: Li Jin
The couple’s night talk went on late, with Li Yifei and his wives enjoying this aimless conversation, sharing their thoughts, and maintaining their feelings. The next day at noon, Li Yifei received a message from the security that two people had arrived at the gate, one of them named Li Jin.
Li Jin? Li Yifei hadn’t heard of this name and told the security to let them wait since he was playing sand with his children and couldn’t stop easily, especially when the kids were most interested.
Half an hour later, the two children got tired, were taken back by their respective mothers to eat and sleep, and Li Yifei clapped his hands, stood up from the specially dug sandpit, seemingly remembering someone had come to visit, shook the sand off his head. Song Lianyao couldn’t help but shake her head and laugh, walked over to help Li Yifei tidy his clothes, and dusted off the sand, all raised by the children.
Li Yifei said, "No worries, I’ll see who came."
"Do you want me to prepare bath water for you..."
"I’ll go bathe at your place later, but no need to prepare, just a quick shower will be fine." Li Yifei gave Song Lianyao a knowing look, the latter smiled awkwardly, indeed having such thoughts, but feeling a bit embarrassed in broad daylight.
"Okay, I’ll wait for you!" Song Lianyao said happily.
Li Yifei arrived at the door, finding two people still standing outside the Li family gate, with a Mercedes SMG off-road parked not far at the parking lot, with a Capital City license plate. As Li Yifei came out, several security guards immediately saluted, and Li Yifei nodded, saying, "Thank you for your hard work!"
"Clan chief, it’s not hard, it’s our duty."
Li Yifei patted the other party’s shoulder, walked to the gate, and saw a man around his age, with a woman about fifty years old next to him. One look at him and you knew this young man was the priority.
The other party had waited for half an hour without any look of displeasure, and the elder was the same. When Li Yifei walked over, Li Jin straightened up a bit, not showing any displeasure after half an hour’s wait, took a few steps forward, and smiled as he said to Li Yifei, "Hello, Mr. Li, I am Li Jin, representing the family elders to handle the matter of Li Da and Li Xiang."
Li Yifei slightly nodded, saying, "Did you come directly to Mile City, or from Dan City?"
"We arrived at Dan City yesterday, handled the matters there first, then came to apologize to Mr. Li. The family elders are very angry about what Li Da and Li Xiang did and the mistakes they made, so they sent me overnight to handle it," Li Jin replied.
The attitude was good. Though not exactly reverent, it gave Li Yifei a good impression, far exceeding Li Xiang’s in comparison. Li Yifei secretly nodded. This Li Jin was tall and slender, with a similar height and age to himself, eyes spirited yet restrained, temples slightly protruding but appeared to be repressed, wearing dress pants and a shirt but with a fit body. He wasn’t a warrior but a cultivator, with a cultivation level higher than Li Xiang’s.
It seemed he was a standout among the young generation of the Li family, while Li Xiang, the second-generation heir, wished to compete for the inheritance or family status with such a person, which was downright difficult. Li Yifei even felt embarrassed for Li Xiang.
As the saying goes, the fear is not in comparing people but in comparing goods. The first impression was quite good, so Li Yifei invited Li Jin and that graying-haired woman to the guest room.
Here was not within the Li family backyard, so it didn’t matter. Li Jin and the woman didn’t glance around. After both parties sat down, Li Jin took the initiative to say, "Mr. Li, Li Da will receive severe punishment. The Li family will not cover or indulge on this matter. This child disgraced the family and tarnished the Li family’s reputation by committing such an atrocious deed, and should rightfully receive a heavy punishment."
Li Yifei nodded in indeterminate acknowledgment, and Li Jin continued, "As for Li Xiang, the things he did were also unsatisfying, and the way he handled the issues was downright wrong, so the family elders decided to punish him with a one-year grounding, while other punishments will follow upon his return home."
"Grounded for a year?" Li Yifei said.
Li Jin explained, "This year’s grounding is not seclusion but will be in one of the Li family’s properties. The whole process is somewhat painful... so such a punishment is not light."
"Continue, how will the smuggling issue be handled?" Li Yifei continued to ask.
Li Jin paused for a moment, eyes squinting with a gleam of coldness as he said, "The elders stated that betrayers of the country must be met with the severest punishment. However, this matter is unclear as to which family member is responsible, so an investigation is still needed. Once clarified, it will commence execution."
"This is the Li family’s internal matter, what about how the victims are handled?" Li Yifei asked.
Li Jin adopted a somber expression, saying, "We know no amount of money could compensate the victims’ families because lives have been lost. Nonetheless, the Li family will offer a sum as compensation to help improve the victims’ families’ lives because children are their future."
"How much?" Li Yifei interrupted Li Jin.
Li Jin widened his eyes a bit, as if not hearing clearly. Upon Li Yifei repeating the question, he seemed to come to and replied, "Five million!"
"Too much, two million. Sometimes a life isn’t worth much," Li Yifei suddenly lifted his head, eyes piercing as he stared at Li Jin, saying, "For such a family, five million is more dangerous, even two million is excessive."
"This... I failed to consider. Otherwise, how about converting part of the money into real estate or other goods, or making it a long-term financial deposit to draw interest periodically?" Li Jin revised his offer.
Li Yifei grunted in approval, saying, "That’s fine, but it must be implemented sincerely. If I find out you’re brushing me off on this, I’ll have a word with the elders."
Saying this, although Li Yifei didn’t exert any aura, Li Jin across could clearly feel the confidence behind Li Yifei’s words. This made him tremble inwardly, recalling the ancestor’s warning when he came — do not engage in conflict with Li Yifei, who seems young but his strength is on par with the ancestors.
In the martial world, seniority is important, but so is strength. Without strength, one has nothing, yet with strength, one can have much, such as reputation. Although initially reluctant, seeing Li Yifei’s profile and learning of his feats, Li Jin was sincerely impressed, admitting the young man was impressive indeed.
As one of the most promising among Li family’s young generation, Li Jin usually held a high opinion of himself, looking down on others, but here before Li Yifei, he couldn’t act proud, reining in his aura. Once Li Yifei finished speaking, he smiled and said, "Rest assured Mr. Li, I will handle this matter well. Should you find the handling unsatisfactory, I will report to the family elders immediately."
"That will do. Punishment comes from anger, but we must still prevent such incidents. We are not ordinary people, yet live among ordinary society. To bully common folk relying on family and skills wouldn’t sit right with people."
"I am grateful for the lesson!" Li Jin cupped his hands, further adding, "Pardon today’s disturbance, Mr. Li. I heard Mr. Li is a top master of our times; if we meet again in the future, I would love to learn a thing or two."
"If you want to spar, you need to train harder; currently, you are not up to the task." Li Yifei bluntly said.
Li Jin stammered, nodding awkwardly, "Alright, I will certainly train diligently."
"I won’t keep you for lunch. Should the opportunity arise, I will visit the elders; these people are national treasures and deservedly respected."
"The elder also welcomes Mr. Li as our guest!" Li Jin responded.
After seeing off Li Jin, Li Yifei showed an interest in the elderly woman beside him. Li Jin’s cultivation was good among youths, with an aura already restrained, not as arrogant as Li Xiang, and steady as wind when walking. His cultivation had reached a certain level, and if Li Yifei wasn’t mistaken, his progress was hindered by talent limits; otherwise, he might have been an innate expert by now.
Standing at the gate, Li Yifei habitually scratched his nose, lit a cigarette, and thought the Li family’s handling was satisfactory. However, there are too many cases of saying one thing and doing another. So Li Yifei would still keep an eye out. As for Li Xiang, let it be, but if Li Da didn’t receive the rightful punishment, Li Yifei wouldn’t let it go.
Right now, Li Yifei indeed had to go out for a bit, not due to any sudden events but because... one of his comrades was getting married. This wasn’t something the comrade told Li Yifei directly; it was mentioned by Zheng Mingrui during a call, to which Li Yifei readily agreed.
The comrade’s name was Zhang Tianxing, a majestic name, once a fierce general in the Flying Hawk Squad. Unfortunately, during a mission, Zhang Tianxing was shot several times. If Li Yifei hadn’t arrived with a few people in time, Zhang Tianxing might have died there, so he was very grateful to Li Yifei, considering him a lifesaver. Yet, unfortunately, Zhang Tianxing, once with great potential, couldn’t continue in the military post-injury due to being shot in critical areas.
His left arm and right leg were both injured to differing degrees, resulting in a limp when walking, and the injury left some scars on his body, ruining a promising seed. The Flying Hawk Squad, famous worldwide with severe elimination mechanisms, discharged Zhang Tianxing with a severance package rather than transferring him to other units as an instructor.
Frankly, if it weren’t for Zheng Mingrui mentioning it, Li Yifei might have really forgotten Zhang Tianxing due to his early discharge and the vast changes in Li Yifei’s life over the years. So many old comrades and friends don’t come to mind unless encountered, as Li Yifei rarely thinks of them otherwise.
This isn’t because he is incapable, but rather due to his standing reflecting this reality. Even old companions like Zheng Mingrui, who spent years with him in the Flying Hawk Squad, rarely meet up, contacting just a few times a year and gathering once every few years.