Great Power Reclamation

In autumn, the sky is high and the clouds are light in Junken City.

Yang Wei sat under the grape trellis in his yard, with a pot of tea and a plate of melon seeds in front of him, and an unknown storyteller playing on his phone.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the grape leaves, dappling his body and making him feel warm and sleepy.

He has been sitting like this for two hours.

Zhang Jianjiang pushed open the door, carrying a bottle of wine and two bags of cooked food. Seeing Yang Wei's appearance, he couldn't help but laugh: "Lying down again?"

Yang Wei didn't even lift his eyelids: "Otherwise what?"

Zhang Jianjiang put the things on the table and pulled up a stool to sit down.

He was two years younger than Yang Wei, but looked older. His hair was thinning, and his belly was slightly protruding, typical of a middle-aged man who sits for long periods of time.

"Where are we going today?" Yang Wei asked.

"The usual place?" Zhang Jianjiang suggested. "Let's take a shower and then play cards for a while."

Yang Wei finally opened his eyes and looked at the sky: "What time is it?"

"Let's have a drink first, then we'll go."

Yang Wei sat up, poured himself a glass of wine, and then poured one for Zhang Jianjiang. The two clinked glasses and drank it all in one gulp.

“This life,” Zhang Jianjiang clicked his tongue, “is too comfortable. I’m not used to it.”

Yang Wei glanced at him sideways: "Comfortable? Utterly boring."

Zhang Jianjiang laughed: "You don't know how lucky you are. Many people want to live like us, where you don't have to do anything and just wait to collect money."

Yang Wei didn't say anything, but poured himself another glass of wine.

He recalled his days in Africa ten years ago. Back then, he led a group of men, braving gunfire to protect mines, escort supplies, and fight local armed groups. Those days were thrilling; every day felt like the last, yet every day was also real.

What now?
Sitting under the grape trellis, waiting to collect the money.

My son went to England, and my wife is the head of her military unit in the provincial capital. We only see each other a few times a month. When we do meet, we don't have much to say to each other and are as polite as strangers.

"What are you thinking about?" Zhang Jianjiang asked.

Yang Wei snapped out of his reverie: "I want to go to Africa."

Zhang Jianjiang paused for a moment, then sighed: "Thinking about that again?"

"Ah."

"Don't even think about it." Zhang Jianjiang poured him a full glass of wine. "The old man won't let you go. You'll only cause trouble if you go. That area is full of Ye Rou and Ye Mei's people now. What can you do there?"

Yang Wei knew he was right. With Ye Rou and Ye Mei, the two queens, in charge in Africa, and their two sons-in-law, Yang San and Yang Da, helping out, plus the old man's "African sons," there was simply no room for him to get involved. What was he going there for? To be a mascot?

But I just miss that feeling.

Gunshots, dust, the smell of sweat, and the thrill of being on the verge of death.

"Tell me," Yang Wei suddenly asked, "is this how our lives will just go on?"

Zhang Jianjiang looked at him: "What else do you want?"

Yang Wei shook his head and didn't say anything.

He didn't know what he wanted to do.

At 2 p.m., the two went to a bathhouse in the east of the city.

This is the best bathhouse in the military reclamation city. It's decorated like a palace, and the waitresses are all young women wearing cheongsams, walking gracefully.

Yang Wei and Zhang Jianjiang were regulars. The manager would smile when he saw them: "Mr. Yang, Mr. Zhang, your usual seats?"

Yang Wei nodded.

The two changed their clothes and went into the sauna. The steaming heat felt incredibly comfortable.

Zhang Jianjiang lay there with his eyes closed, as if asleep. Yang Wei was also lying there, but his mind was a jumbled mess.

“Jianjiang,” he suddenly spoke, “tell me, what is my son doing in England?”

Zhang Jianjiang opened his eyes: "Studying, what else can I do?"

What books should you read?

"Don't you know what books your son reads?"

Yang Wei fell silent.

He genuinely didn't know. His son had been in England for over half a year, and he had only called twice.

Once was when I first arrived, and I asked him if he had settled in properly. Another time was during the Spring Festival, and I asked him how he was spending the holiday. His son said everything was fine, and then he hung up.

“You’re quite something as a father,” Zhang Jianjiang shook his head.

Yang Wei fell silent.

He remembered his son when he was little, with curly hair just like him. Back then, he was young and always out and about, rarely home.

His son was raised by Ye Qianqian. After he divorced Ye Qianqian, his son stayed with her, and they saw each other even less.

Later, because of Wang Xiaomeng's affair, he and Ye Qianqian divorced.

Although they stayed together for the sake of their son, there was a distance between them. They talked less and less, and eventually they separated – she worked in the provincial capital, and he retired in the military reclamation city.

What about his son? He was sent to England and left to be cared for by Ye Guigen.

“Is my life a pretty failure?” Yang Wei suddenly said.

Zhang Jianjiang was taken aback: "Why are you suddenly saying that?"

Yang Wei shook his head: "My son doesn't care, my wife ignores me, and I haven't accomplished anything."

Zhang Jianjiang looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then said:

“Yang Wei, I don’t like hearing that. You managed those mines in Africa, fought those wars, and saved so many lives. Our subsidiary company, although it’s not doing too badly now, was built up by you back then. How can you say you’ve accomplished nothing?”

Yang Wei smiled wryly: "Those are all things of the past."

"The past is no longer a problem?" Zhang Jianjiang said seriously. "Yang Wei, you're a good person in every way, except you tend to overthink. Life is comfortable now, so just enjoy it. Why think so much?"

Yang Wei didn't say anything.

The sauna became quiet, with only the sound of steam rising.

After a while, Zhang Jianjiang suddenly asked, "Should we invite Lao Li and the others over to play cards tonight?"

Yang Wei thought for a moment and said, "Okay."

That evening, at Yang Wei's house.

Four men sat around a mahjong table, shuffling the tiles with a clatter. Old Li, Old Liu, Zhang Jianjiang, and Yang Wei were all old buddies who had spent their lives together in Africa, now retired to the military reclamation city.

"I heard Jackie Chan is doing quite well in England?" Old Li asked.

Yang Wei nodded: "It seems alright."

"What do you mean by 'seems like'?" Old Liu laughed. "You, as a father, don't even know anything about your son's situation?"

Yang Wei didn't say anything, but played a card.

Zhang Jianjiang tried to smooth things over for him: "His son is with Ye Guigen. Ye Guigen is a reliable kid, so it's alright."

Old Li nodded: "Ye Guigen is indeed reliable. He's Ye Yuze's grandson, no doubt about it."

Old Liu also said, "I heard that the kid did a photovoltaic project in North Africa and it's doing very well. In the future, the Ye family's business will definitely be his."

Yang Wei listened, feeling somewhat conflicted.

He felt at ease with his son being with Ye Guigen. Ye Guigen had always been decisive, even more so than his father. But despite his relief, he still felt a little uneasy.

It's his own son, yet he lets others take care of him.

"Yang Wei," Old Li suddenly asked, "how are things between you and Ye Qianqian?"

Yang Wei paused for a moment, then continued playing cards: "Not bad."

What does "it's alright" mean?

“That’s how it is,” Yang Wei said. “She’s in the provincial capital, and I’m in the military reclamation city. We each live our own lives.”

Old Li sighed: "You two were such a perfect couple back then. All because of that Wang Xiaomeng..."

"Alright," Yang Wei interrupted him, "Don't mention it."

Old Li wisely shut up.

The mahjong table fell silent, with only the sound of mahjong tiles breaking the silence.

After playing for a few rounds, Yang Wei's phone rang. He picked it up and saw it was a video call request from his son.

He paused for a moment, then answered the call.

On the screen, Yang Chenglong's face appeared, with the London nightscape in the background. Next to him sat another person with messy curly hair and a smiling face with crescent-shaped eyes.

"Dad!" Yang Chenglong called out.

Yang Wei looked at the face that looked exactly like his own when he was young, and his heart suddenly softened.

"what?"

"It's nothing, I just missed you." Yang Chenglong scratched his head. "My brother is right next to me, he also wants to say something to you."

The screen shook slightly, and Ye Guigen's face appeared.

"Uncle Wei," Ye Guigen greeted him with a smile.

Yang Wei nodded: "Gui Gen, that kid didn't cause you any trouble, did he?"

Ye Guigen glanced to the side and laughed, "Not bad, just a little silly."

Yang Chenglong protested from the side: "Brother!"

Ye Guigen ignored him and continued, "Uncle Wei, don't worry, he's doing well. His online store is doing well, he's learning French, and he's even found a girlfriend."

Yang Wei was stunned for a moment: "Girlfriend?"

"Yes, she's from Hangzhou, her name is Lin Wanwan," Ye Guigen said. "She's very beautiful and smart. Jackie Chan pursued her for a long time before she finally won him over."

Yang Wei looked at his son on the screen; Yang Chenglong was scratching his head and grinning foolishly.

That expression was all too familiar to him—exactly the same as when he was pursuing Ye Qianqian back then.

"Good job," Yang Wei smiled, a rare occurrence for him. "You've got potential."

Yang Chenglong became even more smug: "Of course, I'm your son." Yang Wei felt a warmth in his heart, but he didn't show it on his face.

"Treat people well," he said. "Don't follow my example."

Yang Chenglong paused for a moment, then nodded: "Dad, I know."

After the video call ended, Yang Wei stared at his phone, stunned for a long time.

Zhang Jianjiang said from the side, "Alright, your son is successful, what more could you want?"

Yang Wei snapped out of his daze and put his phone down.

"Let's play cards," he said.

That night, Yang Wei won over three thousand.

But what he was thinking about wasn't the money; it was his son's silly grinning face on the screen.

London, England.

Yang Chenglong hung up the video call and said to Ye Guigen, "Brother, do you think my dad is getting old?"

Ye Guigen glanced at him: "What's wrong?"

“He’s never been like this before.” Yang Chenglong scratched his head. “Just now he said ‘Don’t follow my example,’ and the look on his face made me feel a little uncomfortable.”

Ye Guigen remained silent for a while.

“Your dad,” he said, “has had a really tough time.”

Yang Chenglong nodded: "I know. After he and Wang Xiaomeng got divorced from my mother, although they got back together, the feelings were long gone. He's suffering inside."

Ye Guigen looked at him, somewhat surprised.

"You know a lot."

Yang Chenglong scratched his head: "I may be stupid, but I'm not blind."

Ye Guigen smiled.

“Alright,” he stood up, “Let’s go, Lin Wanwan must be getting impatient.”

Yang Chenglong quickly packed his things and followed him out.

Walking in the London night, Yang Chenglong suddenly said, "Brother, I want to be nicer to my dad in the future."

Ye Guigen looked at him.

“I used to feel that he didn’t care about me and I hated him,” Yang Chenglong said. “But now that I think about it, he’s had it tough too. He’s never had a comfortable life.”

Ye Guigen nodded: "Then be nicer to him."

Yang Chenglong scratched his head: "What should I do?"

Ye Guigen thought for a moment and said, "Call him more often and tell him how you're doing. Even if he doesn't say it, he'll definitely want to know."

Yang Chenglong nodded: "Okay, I'll listen to you."

The two walked to the subway station entrance, and Yang Chenglong suddenly stopped.

“Brother,” he said, “thank you.”

Ye Guigen looked at him: "What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you for taking care of me," Yang Chenglong said earnestly. "If it weren't for you, I'd still be struggling in the provincial capital."

Ye Guigen smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

"Alright, let's go. Don't keep Lin Wanwan waiting."

Yang Chenglong nodded, turned around and ran into the subway station.

Watching his disappearing figure, Ye Guigen stood there for a long time.

Military reclamation city, one week later.

Yang Wei was sunbathing in the yard when his phone rang. He picked it up and saw it was a message from his son.

"Dad, the online store sold fifty scarves this week and earned three hundred pounds. Lin Wanwan said she'll cook for you when you come over. Her braised pork is especially delicious."

Attached below is a photo. In the photo, Yang Chenglong and a girl are sitting at a dining table with several dishes on it. The girl is pretty, with her eyes crinkling when she smiles. Yang Chenglong is scratching his head next to her, grinning foolishly.

Yang Wei stared at the photo for a long time, stunned.

Then he laughed.

Zhang Jianjiang pushed the door open and came in. Seeing his expression, he was taken aback: "Oh, has the sun risen in the west? You can laugh too?"

Yang Wei handed him his phone to look at.

Zhang Jianjiang looked at it and laughed.

"Fine, your son is better than you."

Yang Wei nodded and put his phone away.

"Jianjiang," he said, "want some drinks tonight?"

Zhang Jianjiang looked at him, somewhat surprised: "Didn't you say you weren't going to drink?"

Yang Wei stood up and patted the sunflower seed shells off his clothes.

"I'm happy today, let's drink."

In October, the weather in Junken City was getting colder and colder.

Yang Wei still spends his days sunbathing, drinking tea, and listening to storytelling in the yard. But something is different now—he receives messages from his son every week, sometimes with photos, sometimes with a few words, and sometimes with a report on the online store's performance.

He kept them all; he didn't delete a single one.

Sometimes when Zhang Jianjiang comes over, he sees him grinning foolishly at his phone, and he knows it's news about his son again.

“You’re doing quite an interesting job as a father,” Zhang Jianjiang said.

Yang Wei put away his phone, pretending nothing was wrong: "Who's looking at our son's messages?"

Zhang Jianjiang smiled, not exposing him.

"Shall we go to the usual spot today?"

Yang Wei stood up and dusted off his clothes.

"Walk."

The sunlight shone on him, making him feel warm and comfortable.

He suddenly felt that life wasn't so boring after all.

In early November, Yang Wei received a phone call.

It was Ye Qianqian calling.

"Are you free this weekend?" she asked.

Yang Wei was taken aback: "What is it?"

"Jackie Chan's school is having a parent-teacher conference, but I can't go. Can you go?"

Yang Wei remained silent for two seconds.

Where?

"London."

Yang Wei fell silent again.

"Me?" he asked.

"You're his father, if you don't go, who will?"

Yang Wei thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I'll go."

He stood there stunned for a long time after hanging up the phone.

London? He's been to many places in his life—Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia—but he's never actually been to London.

His son is there.

He called Zhang Jianjiang: "Jianjiang, book me a plane ticket."

Zhang Jianjiang asked, "Where to?"

"London."

"what?"

"Attend a parent-teacher meeting."

Zhang Jianjiang laughed on the other end of the phone.

"Okay, I'll order it for you."

Three days later, Yang Wei stood at the exit of Heathrow Airport, looking at the crowds coming and going, somewhat bewildered.

The phone rang; it was Yang Chenglong's voice: "Dad, where are you?"

Yang Wei looked around and then saw a curly-haired boy running over, followed by a young man who looked refined and cultured.

"Dad!" Yang Chenglong ran up to him, panting, "You've arrived!"

Yang Wei looked at him, suddenly at a loss for words.

Yang Chenglong also looked at him, and the father and son just stood there, feeling a little awkward.

Ye Guigen walked over and broke the silence: "Uncle Wei, are you tired from the journey?"

Yang Wei shook his head: "It's alright."

"Let's go back and rest first." Ye Guigen took his luggage. "Jackie Chan, what are you standing there for? Help me out."

Yang Chenglong snapped out of his daze and quickly took the luggage.

The three of them walked outside.

Yang Wei walked in the middle, with his son on his left and Ye Guigen on his right.

He suddenly felt that this feeling was both unfamiliar and warm. (End of Chapter)