Chapter 29
“Grandpa, Dad, Mom…”
With these three mountains looming over him, although Jiang Huaisheng didn’t value family affection that much, their appearance today told him that Gu Tang was definitely gone for good.
Jiang Huaisheng’s mother, Mrs. Xu, hugged her child: “Such a major surgery, why didn’t you tell me? It’s fortunate that nothing happened, but what if there had been complications?”
Mrs. He interjected: “What complications could there be in my hospital? There are so many people watching in the country, maybe some people just don’t like the child.”
Mrs. Xu’s expression turned awkward. She had been afraid of her mother since childhood. Even after being married with children for over 20 years, in front of her mother, she was still a little quail that hadn’t fully grown its wings.
“Mom is right, nothing would go wrong on your territory…”
Indeed, her son had always been cautious, it was she who had overthought.
The old man inquired about Jiang Huaisheng’s condition from the doctor, confirming that he should be 90% like a normal person now, with the remaining 10% being the possibility of an accident.
Doctors always had to leave some room for uncertainty, they couldn’t be too absolute.
He laughed heartily: “Good, good, good, I knew my grandson was blessed by heaven.”
But the happy occasion was over. The old man came for another reason.
“You and that child, Gu Tang, regardless of your previous relationship, should not have any further involvement from now on.”
Deep down, the old man was a traditional patriarch. He could tolerate his son and daughter-in-law playing their own games, but it absolutely couldn’t be made public, and he wouldn’t allow any illegitimate children to threaten Jiang Huaisheng’s position.
Now that his chosen heir’s health had improved, he definitely couldn’t be involved with a man. Two men couldn’t have children.
To be honest, when he saw those messages, Old Master Jiang was furious. But when he tried to find Gu Tang, he discovered that Gu Tang had severed ties with his mother and stepfather.
Not only that, but the belongings in Gu Tang’s old house had been moved away, and the house itself had been sold.
Clearly, this was premeditated. That child who had lost his father was just like his father, seemingly docile, but rebellious at heart.
Honestly, the old man was truly angry. As a traditional patriarch, he couldn’t accept homosexuality.
But since he couldn’t find Gu Tang, he could only suppress his anger, venting it on Jiang He, finding fault with his work, and then flying overnight to see Jiang Huaisheng.
After all, this wasn’t Country R, only an hour’s time difference from them, but Country A, on the other side of the world. When it was dawn here, it was still dark in China.
He said to his grandson: “You’ve always been my pride. I know you know what to do. When you recover, come back and take over the company.”
As for relationships, the best way to get over one was to start a new one. The old man would quickly arrange for Jiang Huaisheng to meet various socialites.
It wasn’t about getting married and having children immediately, the key was to establish a relationship and bring Jiang Huaisheng back to the right path.
Jiang Huaisheng said: “Grandpa, I will go back.”
Seeing his grandfather’s reaction, he knew the other party knew about his relationship with Gu Tang.
He was about to mention that the contract stipulated not to reveal their relationship, but then he remembered that his contract with that perverted bastard had ended.
He suspected that Gu Tang himself had leaked the information to his grandfather, precisely to prevent him from looking for him.
He put on a slightly weak expression: “Grandpa, you’ve worked hard traveling here. Go and rest to adjust to the time difference. I’ll see you after I’m discharged tomorrow.”
“Father-in-law, there are some things I’d like to discuss with you.” Mrs. He, as the host, spoke. Even though Old Master Jiang still had things to say and wanted a definite promise from his grandson, he had to give face and leave.
“Then rest well, Grandpa will come see you tomorrow.”
The old man had already said a lot, and Jiang Huaisheng’s father didn’t have much to add, only patting his son’s shoulder: “Do well, your father doesn’t have much to say, just take care of your health, take over Mingyuan Group in the future, and make it even greater. Your father isn’t very capable, our family’s future prosperity depends on you.”
He had worked in the company before, but after messing up several projects, he was kicked out by the old man and given a sinecure, becoming a wealthy idler. Although he wasn’t very capable, he was self-aware. He relied on his father in the first half of his life, and on his son in the second half.
After Jiang Huaisheng’s father finished speaking, only his mother remained in the room.
His mother looked at her son for a while: “I know you’re with Gu Tang. I guessed it even before seeing the photos.”
Jiang Huaisheng sat up: “Mom…”
He had a better relationship with his mother than his father. After all, when he was sick, his mother accompanied him more often and for longer periods than his father.
Jiang Huaisheng was sensitive and held grudges. Moreover, his mother had carried him for ten months and given birth to him, she had both nurtured and birthed him.
Mrs. Xu lowered her voice and said proudly: “Actually, you can do whatever you want, find a man or a woman. You’ve been in poor health since you were young, and I told Buddha when I prayed for you that I didn’t have any other requests, as long as you could live a long and healthy life, even without children, it’s fine.”
She had made a vow before Buddha, and now that her wish had come true, she had to keep her promise. Otherwise, what if Buddha took her son’s life away again?
Mrs. Xu paused: “Having children isn’t important, having money is. As for Gu Tang, I think that child is quite good, much more handsome than your father when he was young, and we know his background, he’s also capable.”
Mrs. Xu was a true believer in the importance of appearance. She had initially fallen for Jiang Huaisheng’s father because of his looks, but as they aged, although his face was still well-maintained, his figure was no longer the same.
Men sleeping around outside, she didn’t care, she wasn’t interested in sleeping with an old man with flabby muscles and a wrinkled face.
Compared to Gu Tang, she felt that Gu Tang was much better than Jiang Huaisheng’s father, at least the young man’s figure was better than Jiang’s father’s back then, tall and well-proportioned.
The key was that Gu Tang was a good person, like his father, unlike Jiang’s father, he should be faithful.
Jiang Huaisheng’s pale face flushed slightly: “Mom…”
His mother patted his hand: “Mom means you can do whatever you want. Don’t worry, no one can take away the Jiang family’s wealth from you.”
Everyone in this family had their own selfish motives. When he was young, the old man did value his direct grandson and told his daughter-in-law that he would keep an eye on his son, but men were unreliable.
When she caught her husband cheating for the first time, she knew that a leopard couldn’t change its spots.
For the sake of their interests, she couldn’t divorce Jiang Huaisheng’s father. After all, theirs was a marriage of convenience.
As it turned out, the old man’s vows were also unreliable. Knowing that Jiang Huaisheng’s health wasn’t good, the old man became more lenient towards his son, turning a blind eye.
If it was true, if there were any illegitimate children, raised outside for the time being, in case Jiang Huaisheng fell, the Jiang family wouldn’t be without a successor.
Mrs. Xu lowered her voice and said: “Back when your father and I were on good terms, shortly after I gave birth to you, he agreed to have a sterilization surgery.”
“Your father had a vasectomy that could be reversed. But I don’t trust the words of a man who can’t keep it in his pants, so I secretly did something. Even if your father reverses it, he definitely can’t have children with other women anymore.”
She knew that perhaps at first, her husband still had feelings for their son, Jiang Huaisheng, but as time passed, if this man who couldn’t control his lower body had a bunch of illegitimate children outside, wouldn’t it be troublesome for her son?
As a mother, she had to admit that she wasn’t a particularly good mother. After giving birth, she refused to breastfeed for the sake of her figure, and during the child’s infancy, when he cried a lot, she never took care of him.
Later, when the child grew older, he didn’t cause her any trouble with his schoolwork or other aspects. When he was hospitalized, she would anxiously accompany him the first two times, but later, as it happened more often, she would just visit and then quickly leave because of other matters.
Due to all these factors, she always felt guilty towards her son, so she took precautions, not giving that man a chance to regret it.
As for herself, she definitely wouldn’t have any illegitimate children. Childbirth was too painful for a woman, and no matter how handsome the lover outside was, it wasn’t worth such a sacrifice.
Jiang Huaisheng looked at his mother with a complicated expression: “Mom… thank you.”
His mother proudly rubbed his head: “What’s our relationship? We’re mother and son. I carried you for ten months and gave birth to you with great difficulty. I’m your mother, of course I’m on your side.”
Although she didn’t lack money, when she got old and senile, she might still be bullied. She knew her son was very resentful and heartless. If she didn’t take credit now, would she wait until she was dying to say it?
After all, everyone in the Jiang family had their own calculations. There was maternal love, but there were also interests.
And she also held grudges. In his early years, when Jiang Huaisheng was frail and sickly, Old Master Jiang and Jiang’s father had said some harsh things, blaming her for not taking care of herself during pregnancy, for being frightened and giving birth prematurely, which led to Jiang Huaisheng’s illness.
The doctor said that their genes weren’t very compatible, and if they had a second child, it was likely the same situation would occur, so they didn’t have a second child.
The resentful Mrs. Xu refused to take the blame. Anyway, she could only have this one child, so the Jiang family could only have this one child.
Although the couple appeared harmonious on the surface, they would privately try to sow discord between the other and their son.
“Mm, I know Mom is doing this for my own good.”
A scene of motherly love and filial piety played out in the hospital ward, while back in the country, a marital war was raging.
Jiang He couldn’t maintain his usual gentle and refined demeanor. Upon hearing the definite news, he threw the TV remote control as soon as he got back: “You still have the mood to watch TV?”
“What are you doing? The child is still at home!”
Wen Xinyi glanced at her younger son: “Xiao Cheng, go to Teacher Li’s for your violin lesson. If Mom doesn’t call you, go find your friends to play with outside.”
Jiang Cheng nodded, his face tense as he left with his cello, looking at his parents with concern before leaving: “Mom, Dad, don’t fight.”
“Okay, my good boy, go ahead.”
After their younger son left, Jiang He directly flipped the coffee table: “I was wondering why things haven’t been going smoothly lately, it turns out it’s all because of your eldest son!”
