Chapter 353: I Knew You Couldn’t Do It
Cheng the Second was utterly stunned. His master had actually set up the legendary Mountain Protection Array!
The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi in Villa Number One was now at least ten times denser!
In other words, one day of cultivation in Villa Number One was equivalent to ten days for anyone else!
This place was practically an Immortal Realm!
By cultivating here, Cheng the Second was confident he could even become a Martial Emperor!
Cheng the Second was completely won over by Cheng Yuan, filled with a respect that came from the bottom of his heart. With a THUD, he knelt to the ground. "Congratulations, Master! You’ve successfully deployed the Mountain Protection Array! It is my honor to be by your side!"
Cheng Yuan was in a good mood. He gestured for Cheng the Second to rise. "Save the flattery," he said warmly. "Focus on improving yourself. Perhaps you, too, can become a powerhouse one day."
As the two were joking around, they happened to run into Grandpa heading out for a walk.
Grandpa took a deep breath, feeling instantly refreshed and invigorated. He tossed his cane aside. This feeling of being filled with strength was incredible!
Grandpa looked at Cheng Yuan, a wide grin on his face. "Xiaoyuan, the Feng Shui of this villa you bought is excellent. It really nurtures a person. I feel fantastic, full of energy. I think I could live another ten years."
Cheng Yuan chuckled. "You’re still young, Grandpa. You can live for at least another hundred."
"Hahaha, I just love the way you talk, Xiaoyuan!"
"Dad, why did you throw your cane away? Xiaoyuan just finished treating your leg; you still need to rest and recover!" His eldest aunt, Yu Cuiping, carefully supported Grandpa, terrified he might fall.
"Cui Ping, don’t worry about me. Haven’t you noticed how much fresher the air is today?"
"It is much fresher. And your complexion is much better, Dad. Even the age spots on your face have faded."
"It’s all thanks to you children taking such good care of me."
Yu Cuiping’s flattery was seamless. "It’s all thanks to Xiaoyuan! Otherwise, how could we ever have moved into Villa Number One? Living here is truly nourishing."
Cheng Yuan felt a little awkward with the praise and quickly found an excuse to leave. "Grandpa, Auntie, I have something to take care of, so I’ll be heading back!"
Yu Cuiping quickly stopped him. "Xiaoyuan, don’t rush off. Your aunt has something to ask you."
"What is it?"
"Xiaoyuan, I remember you’re on good terms with President Mei of Xing’an Group. Could you introduce your uncle to him?"
Cheng Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Can you tell me why?"
"Of course. But, Xiaoyuan, this is a very serious matter. You can’t repeat this to anyone!"
"Okay, I won’t."
Yu Cuiping glanced at Cheng the Second, who tactfully walked over to sit by Xiaozao, seizing the opportunity to cultivate.
Only then did Yu Cuiping lower her voice. "Xiaoyuan, things are about to change in Luocheng! Your uncle has the latest news—in the past two days, over a dozen officials have been taken down! With your uncle’s qualifications, this is a huge opportunity for him to get promoted! That’s why we need you to introduce him to President Mei, and through him, establish a connection with the City Lord."
Cheng Yuan rolled his eyes, speechless. ’I’m the one who caused all this, and look how serious she’s being, acting like it’s some earth-shattering event.’
In truth, Cheng Yuan could get his uncle promoted with a single word, but he didn’t want to help.
In the entire Wu Family, Cheng Yuan was only willing to help the family of his second maternal aunt.
Cheng Yuan gave a wry smile. "Auntie, you’re surprisingly well-informed to know so much inside information. But why don’t you know the biggest piece of inside information?"
Yu Cuiping was taken aback. "What biggest piece of inside information?"
"Lord Shen has gone to Beijing. President Mei can barely fend for himself right now, so how could he possibly help my uncle?"
"What? Lord Shen went to Beijing? When did that happen?"
"Just a few days ago."
Yu Cuiping was dejected. "Sigh, it must be fate. It seems your uncle is going to miss this opportunity."
Cheng Yuan didn’t respond. "Auntie, I’m heading back now."
With that, Cheng Yuan turned and decisively walked back to Villa Number One.
Wu Xiuli had seen Cheng Yuan talking with Yu Cuiping through the living room window and asked with great interest, "Xiaoyuan, I thought you two didn’t get along. What were you talking about just now?"
"Auntie just said that Uncle has a chance for a promotion and wanted me to help. I turned her down."
Wu Xiuli was speechless. "I really don’t know what your aunt is thinking. How could she come to you for help? If you were that capable, how could you have been framed and sent to prison all those years ago?"
A faint smile played on Cheng Yuan’s lips. "Mom, you can’t keep looking at me through the same old lens. Back then, it’s true I couldn’t have helped Uncle."
Wu Xiuli looked at Cheng Yuan, unconvinced. "What? You’re saying you can help him now?"
"Yes, I absolutely can."
Wu Xiuli said, exasperated, "Stop boasting! If you really can help your uncle, then why did you refuse your aunt?"
Cheng Yuan snorted. "When I was framed and sent to prison, Uncle’s family avoided us like the plague. They wouldn’t even lend us three thousand yuan. Why should I help them now?"
Wu Xiuli smiled. "Xiaoyuan, try to see the bigger picture. Don’t get hung up on past grievances. No matter what they did back then, your uncle is still my brother. We share the same blood. If you can help, you should. Besides, his family has changed a lot recently. Your aunt has even stopped going to her square dancing to take care of your grandpa full-time. You’ve seen that for yourself."
Cheng Yuan fell silent. It was true that ever since he had revealed he owned Villa Number One, his uncle and aunt’s attitudes had improved dramatically.
Still, Cheng Yuan just couldn’t get over it.
Wu Xiuli pressed on. "Xiaoyuan, think of it this way: you’re not helping your uncle, you’re helping the Wu Family. No matter how powerful one person is, he can’t prop up an entire clan by himself. Only when the family is strong will your own descendants have better resources."
BUZZ. A flash of insight struck Cheng Yuan.
’Mom’s right!’
’Even if I become more powerful, I can’t watch over the Wu Family for my entire life!’
’There will come a day when I’m gone.’
’If the Wu Family grows strong and can protect itself, they won’t need me to look after them. In the future, the Wu Family could even be a source of support for my own descendants.’
’They’re blood relatives, after all!’
"Mom, I understand."
Cheng Yuan pulled out his phone and dialed Shen Jiangnan’s number. The call connected almost instantly, and Shen Jiangnan’s cheerful voice came through. "Xiaoyuan, when are you coming to Beijing? I’ll treat you to a meal."
"It’s a deal, then. I won’t be polite with Uncle Shen. By the way, I wanted to ask about something. What’s your relationship with the Director of Luocheng’s Organization Department?"
"Why? Is something the matter?"
"My uncle is looking for a promotion."
Shen Jiangnan gave a wry laugh. "Xiaoyuan, I’m sorry. Han Kaiyuan at the Organization Department is one of the old guard’s men. If I were still in Luocheng, it would be another matter, but now... I’m afraid I don’t have that kind of influence over him."
"Oh. This..."
Seeing Cheng Yuan’s troubled expression, Wu Xiuli laughed. "Xiaoyuan, looks like you bit off more than you could chew, didn’t you? I knew you couldn’t do it! Hahaha!"