A hundred flavors of life

Chapter 1249 The youngest son is still the most reliable! (Please subscribe!)
Hua Shier, along with his wife, children, Zhou's parents, and others, spent over a month exploring Beijing. They visited the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and the steel mill. Hmm, it seems they've wandered into some rather strange places. Anyway, they've visited all the places they were supposed to go.

Then we went directly to Hong Kong Island with our family after completing the short-term travel permit procedures.

His application process caused quite a stir.

Hua Shier's importance to the Guo family is now more than what it appears on the surface. His sudden family trip to Hong Kong almost made people think he was going to betray the CCP.

In the end, it was the old man who knew Hua Twelve's background who nodded and said that Comrade Bingkun had no problem, and only then was approval granted.

Upon arriving at Hong Kong Island, a stretched Cadillac was already waiting outside the airport. After the family got in, the car started and headed straight for Victoria Peak.

As the Mercedes drove through the bustling streets of Hong Kong Island, Zhou Zhigang and Li Suhua stared at the towering skyscrapers on both sides, speechless with shock. It was the first time they had ever seen so many tall buildings.

The two children, Xiaoyueyue and Zhou Cong, looked at the fashionable men and women and the dazzling array of shops on the street, feeling like they couldn't take it all in.

By the time they reached Victoria Peak, it was already dark. As the car drove up the mountain, they could overlook the brightly lit Victoria Harbour. Zhou Zhigang murmured to himself:

"This is much brighter than our old optical cards."

Hua Shier couldn't help but laugh out loud, and Zhou Zhigang's eyes widened:
"What are you laughing at? Did I say something wrong?"

Hua Shier suppressed a laugh: "No, you're right!"

Zhou Zhigang glared at him;
"You said you brought me and your mother to Hong Kong Island for a vacation, but it's already dark, what are we doing coming up the mountain? Let's find a guesthouse to stay in!"

Hua Twelve laughed heartily:
"You're really putting me in a difficult position, there are no guesthouses on Hong Kong Island!"

When Zhou Zhigang and Li Suhua heard that there wasn't even a guesthouse, they immediately became anxious:

"What should we do? It's getting dark, where are we going to stay?"

As they were talking, the Mercedes turned and headed toward a mansion on the mountaintop.

As the car slowly drove through the ornate iron gate, Zhou Zhigang and Li Suhua's eyes widened in disbelief. Goldfish leaping in the fountain shimmered under the lights, and shrubs trimmed into various animal shapes were neatly arranged. In the distance, a three-story European-style villa was brightly lit, and a familiar figure stood on the marble steps.

"Is that Chunyan?!"

When the Mercedes stopped in front of the villa, Li Suhua exclaimed in surprise. She recognized the familiar figure as her best friend's daughter, Qiao Chunyan!

Hua Shier smiled and said, "We've arrived. We'll stay here tonight!"

He then opened the door and got out of the car.

Qiao Chunyan, heavily pregnant, hurried forward. Her exquisitely tailored maternity dress made her look exceptionally elegant. As everyone got out of the car, she quickly greeted them.

"Uncle, Aunt, Sister Juan, I've been waiting for you! Oh my, is this Yueyue? And this little boy is so chubby-cheeked, he looks just like my brother Bingkun. Is this Xiao Cong?"

She expertly helped Li Suhua up, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons with a smile:
"Auntie, it's been so long since I've seen you. Did you miss me?"

Li Suhua smiled and said, "Of course I want to, Chunyan'er, how many months pregnant are you?"

Qiao Chunyan smiled and glanced at Hua Twelve, then said with a smile:
"My due date is in a little over a week, and the doctor says it's a girl!"

Li Suhua smiled broadly and, without thinking much of it, replied, "That's wonderful! Let me tell you, this girl knows how to care for her mother."

Hua Shier rolled her eyes; "Give me a break, your daughter Zhou Rong."

Li Suhua also realized what was going on; she didn't want others to know about her family's affairs, so she quickly interrupted:
"Shut up! I'm talking to Chunyan here. Chunyan, is this your home?"

Chunyan smiled and glanced at Hua Twelve again, then said to Li Suhua in a meaningful tone:

"Yes, my home is also your home, Auntie!"

Li Suhua took it as a polite remark and didn't think much of it.

Zhou Zhigang looked around and clicked his tongue in amazement:

"Chunyan, I've heard you married a man from Hong Kong, but I never imagined you lived in such a nice house! It's much more impressive than the houses in our Guangzi district!"

She looked around and said, "By the way, where's your husband? We're here as guests, we should at least say hello to him!"

A blush flashed across Qiao Chunyan's face, and her resentful gaze drifted towards Hua Shier. Although Zheng Juan already knew what was going on, she still couldn't help but pinch her husband's arm hard.

"Cough," Hua Twelve touched his nose:
"Hey, let's not just stand here, can we go inside and talk?"

Qiao Chunyan then stopped causing trouble and called the servants waiting behind her to come up and carry the luggage, while she herself led everyone inside.

Little Zhou Cong suddenly called out, "Mom, I want to play outside for a while."

Feng Yue also looked eager; they had never seen such a beautiful place before.

Before Zheng Juan could speak, Chun Yan'er laughed and said:
"Go ahead and have some fun! There are lights in the yard, and so many servants, it's safe!"

She ordered two maids in their forties:

"Sister Zhang, Sister Li, you two take the young lady and young master to play in the yard for a while, but please be careful!"

Zhou Zhigang chuckled: "So this is what they call young lady and young master!"

Two children ran around in the yard, while the others went into the villa and sat on the sofa in the living room to rest.

The maid brought in various fruits and drinks, and Li Suhua then inquired about Mr. Chunyan'er:
"Is your husband not home?"

Chunyan smiled and looked at Hua Shier.

Hua Shier brought his elderly parents to Hong Kong Island this time because Qiao Chunyan was about to give birth, and he wanted to give her a proper status. He immediately touched his nose and stated bluntly:

"Mom, and Comrade Zhou Zhigang, let me introduce you. Qiao Chunyan is also your daughter-in-law, and the baby in her belly is my daughter!"

"What?!"

Zhou Zhigang's eyes widened, wondering if he had misheard.

The slice of watermelon that Qiao Chunyan had just stuffed into Li Suhua's hand slipped out and fell back into the fruit plate.

The elderly couple stared wide-eyed at their son as if struck by lightning, then at Qiao Chunyan's protruding belly, and finally their gazes turned to Zheng Juan.

Zhou Zhigang suddenly stood up, stomped his foot, pointed at Hua Shier, and started cursing:
"You little brat, what a terrible thing you've done!"

Hua Shier corrected, "I created a villain!"

Li Suhua looked at Zheng Juan with concern, then said to Hua Twelve:

"Old man, don't you dare mess around with Mom and Dad!"

Zheng Juan grabbed Li Suhua's hand: "Mom, I already knew about this!"

Zhou Zhigang and Li Suhua: "."

The night breeze carried the sound of ship horns from Victoria Harbour. In the glow of the crystal chandelier in the mansion, Hua Shier recounted his story with Qiao Chunyan to his parents.

Hearing that Zheng Juan already knew and had accepted it, the two elders were finally relieved. They were afraid that their daughter-in-law would cause trouble, and as the parents-in-law, they would be in the wrong and unable to give her an explanation.

Li Suhua glared at Hua Twelve with annoyance:
"Look what you've done!"

After saying that, he took Qiao Chunyan's hand with one hand and Zheng Juan's hand with the other:

"You two good girls, how did you end up with my unreliable youngest son!"

Qiao Chunyan smiled and said, "Auntie, I wouldn't care about anyone else!"

Li Suhua glanced at Qiao Chun'er's belly: "Still calling her 'Auntie'?"

Qiao Chunyan smiled brightly: "Mom!"

"Ugh!"

Hua Shier watched from the sidelines and found it amusing. That's just how people are. When Feng Huacheng cheated on his wife, it was their daughter who suffered a loss, and the old couple couldn't accept it at all. Now that he has two wives, and both of them have children from the Zhou family, this situation is that their family is the ones who benefit. The old couple quickly accepted the reality.

Two days later, Qiao Chunyan's parents arrived in Hong Kong Island under the guise of visiting relatives, and the Zhou and Qiao families sat together for the first time as in-laws.

Qiao Chunyan's parents had only just found out that the man Chunyan married in Hong Kong was the youngest son of the Zhou family.

He had originally intended to complain, but upon seeing Qiao Chunyan'er's living environment and learning that it was all Hua Shier's property, he immediately fell silent and became even more enthusiastic towards Zhou Zhigang and Li Suhua.

Both families are waiting for the birth of the baby on Hong Kong Island.

A week later, Qiao Chunyan's due date arrived but there was still no sign of labor. She began to worry, fearing that something might be wrong with the baby.

However, after a thorough examination by the home medical team brought in from Mary Hospital, they determined that there was nothing wrong with her.

A week later, Qiao Chunyan gave birth to a daughter at home. Zhou Zhigang looked at his granddaughter with a loving and excited smile on his face.

"I've made up my mind. My granddaughter will be named Zhou Chongshan!"

Hua Shier, who was listening from the side, was speechless. He was terrible at naming things, and Zhou Zhigang was even worse. He quickly stopped him.

"You're kidding me! What kind of name is Zhou Chongshan? And Wang Chongyang? Chongshan sounds like 'overlapping mountains,' it just sounds like a series of obstacles. No way!"

When he said that, the others also felt it was inappropriate. In the end, Hua Shier found several girls' names that fit the way they were addressed in Hong Kong, and then they drew lots. When they opened the lot, it turned out to be the name 'Jiaxin'.

Hua Shier immediately laughed and said, "That's great! Jia means good intentions, and Xin means prosperity. My daughter and the Guo family are both prosperous. Moreover, Jiaxin is a homophone for 'salary increase,' so she can get a promotion and a raise at work in the future!"

Actually, there's another reason he didn't mention: those whose names are Jiaxin (with two syllables) are all great beauties!
Everyone except Zhou Zhigang said it was good!

Half a month later, because there were still things at the Red Star Group that Hua Shier had to deal with, he had to return to Jichun with his family.

Qiao Chunyan's parents stayed behind to take care of their daughter.

Ji Chun and Zhou Bingyi stood in front of the newly completed headquarters building of the Red Star Group, looking up at the 38-story glass curtain wall building, which is currently the tallest in China. The sunlight reflected off the glass, creating a dazzling light that forced them to squint.

He tightened his tie, took a deep breath, and went inside.

"My name is Zhou Bingyi, and I'm looking for Zhou Bingkun. I'm his older brother!"

Zhou Bingyi said this to the receptionist who asked him why he had come.

A moment later, after the receptionist made a phone call to confirm, she gave Zhou Bingyi a polite smile:

"Mr. Zhou, this way please. The chairman is waiting for you in his office."

The receptionist politely guided him into the private elevator.

The elevator doors closed silently. Zhou Bingyi looked at his slightly haggard face in the mirror, and Jin Yueji's words echoed in his ears:

“It concerns your future. We must force Zhou Bingkun to compromise.” He took a deep breath and tried to straighten his back.

"Rare visitor!"

Hua Shier ushered Zhou Bingyi into his large office and then had his secretary make tea.

Zhou Bingyi sat awkwardly on the leather sofa, feeling as if he were sinking into it:

"Bingkun, my elder brother has come this time with a request."

Hua Shier raised an eyebrow, signaling him to continue!

Zhou Bingyi said somewhat awkwardly:
"Bingkun, you know that our military factory's profits are declining year by year. Since I was promoted to deputy factory director, I haven't achieved anything and it's about to stop production. I want you to help me!"

Hua Shier nodded, indicating that he understood.
"Do you mean I should give you some pointers, or help you create a best-selling product?"

Zhou Bingyi quickly shook his head:
"No, that's not it. Our military factory has more than 30,000 employees. The burden is too heavy. If it weren't for the Guo family's production tasks, there would be no way to make any progress. One or two best-selling products can't support so many workers!"

Hua Shier frowned:

"Then I don't understand. What exactly are you trying to say?"

Zhou Bingyi's embarrassment deepened:
“I have an opportunity for myself now. Your factory’s production line technology is quite good, right? There’s a project in the south that needs similar technical support. If you can provide this technology, I can be transferred to a local position in the special economic zone!”

He said excitedly, "With my current rank, if I were transferred there, I'd at least be a Q-level officer. Bingkun, you have to help me!" "Impossible."

Hua Shier interrupted him with a look of disdain. He thought Zhou Bingkun was going to revitalize the arsenal like in the original story, but this bastard was going to run away on his own.

He flatly refused:
"The production line technology is a core secret of my Red Star Group, and I would never hand it over."

Zhou Bingyi's expression changed:
"Bingkun, you have to help me! This is my chance to turn my life around! Do you know what kind of life I've been living in the Hao family? Every day I have to serve that paralyzed old man like a dog, and I have to endure my mother-in-law's sarcastic remarks!"

"You have to walk your own path, so who can you blame for the choice you made?"

After Hua Shier finished speaking, he picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then looked at Zhou Bingyi, who was still sitting there, with surprise, and asked curiously:

"Really? You couldn't tell that they were serving tea and seeing guests off?"

Zhou Bingyi suddenly stood up:

"Zhou Bingkun, are you really that cold-blooded? I'm your own brother!"

"It's precisely because you're my brother that I'm telling you directly that it's impossible."

Hua Shier suddenly became very serious, looking directly into Zhou Bingyi's eyes:

“If it were someone else, I would suspect that he had ulterior motives.”

Zhou Bingyi's face turned bright red, and his hands clenched into fists.

"What do you think you're doing? I'm warning you, don't do anything stupid!"

Hua Shier pressed the phone on his desk and ordered, "Call a few people from the security department!"

Zhou Bingyi gritted his teeth, pointed at Hua Shier, turned and left, slamming the door shut as he went out. The sound of the door slamming was so loud that it could be heard throughout the entire floor.

Three days later, the card read "Light", and the Zhou family received it.

Zhou Bingyi knelt in the center of the living room, his forehead bleeding from kowtowing. Li Suhua wiped away tears beside him, while Zhou Zhigang trembled with anger.

"Dad, Mom, please help me!"

Zhou Bingyi cried out, "If I can't get the technology, my life is over! The Hao family won't give me any support, and I'll live like a dog forever!"

"Bingyi, please don't be like this. Get up and talk to me."

Li Suhua tried to help her son up, but Zhou Bingyi wouldn't get up. She shoved Zhou Zhigang in annoyance.
"His dad, say something!"

Zhou Zhigang said with a stern face: "What did I say? He's threatening me. If you want Bingkun to do something for you, go talk to him. Why are you coming to me?"

Zhou Bingyi shouted hysterically, "He doesn't care at all whether his brother lives or dies!"

Zhou Zhigang was initially furious at his son's threats, but seeing the bruise on his eldest son's forehead, he felt a pang of sympathy and sighed.

"Get up. You two brothers are both adults now. Dad has retired and can't interfere in your affairs anymore. Since your younger brother is unwilling, he must have his reasons. So, think of another way!"

Zhou Bingyi cried and said, "Dad, I have no other choice. I want to get ahead. The opportunity is right in front of me. Even you don't want to help me anymore? I might as well die!"

After he finished speaking, he stood up, suddenly rushed towards the wall, and slammed his head against it.

With a muffled thud, Zhou Bingyi clutched his head and squatted down, blood instantly seeping from between his fingers.

"Bingyi!" Li Suhua screamed, quickly checking her son's wound and finding something to bandage it.

Zhou Zhigang's face turned deathly pale instantly. How could he, as the father, not feel heartbroken seeing his eldest son like this?

Seeing Zhou Bingyi lying on the ground, still staring at him with wide eyes, clearly waiting for his reply, he could only nod.

"Okay, Dad promises to put in a good word for you."

In the evening, Hua Shier and Zheng Juan returned home from get off work. At the dinner table, Zhou Zhigang brought up Zhou Bingyi's matter.

Hua Twelve flatly refused the old man's plea for leniency:
"Absolutely not! It's not that I'm disregarding brotherhood, it's just that I really can't give him that thing!"

Zhou Zhigang offered a few more words of persuasion, urging Hua Shier to definitely help Zhou Bingyi.

Hua Shier didn't tolerate it at all: "No means no!"

The old man had been thoroughly angered by Zhou Bingyi during the day, and felt dizzy at the time, but he didn't take it seriously. However, when his youngest son rejected him, he became anxious, which became the last straw that broke the camel's back.

He wanted to say something, but before he could even open his mouth, he suddenly fell backward.

Hua Shier was startled and quickly helped him up.

"Dad! Don't scare me!" Li Suhua's hands were trembling with fear.

Zheng Juan quickly stepped forward to check and found that it was an acute cerebral infarction caused by high blood pressure, and she needed to be sent to the hospital immediately.

Two days later, at Hongxing Hospital, Zhou Zhigang was out of danger, but due to cerebral ischemia caused by acute cerebral infarction, he became paralyzed, with only one arm able to move, not much better than the old man from the Hao family.

Of course, while Zheng Juan's acupuncture was not very effective for cerebral infarction and thrombosis, Hua Shier could easily cure Zhou Zhigang.

But he didn't do that. He planned to let the old man lie in bed for a while to calm down and stop him from taking on everything and trying to manage everything!
Zhou Bingyi and Hao Dongmei were both in the hospital room, their faces filled with remorse.

"Dad, it's all my fault!"

Zhou Zhigang waved his hand with the only arm he could move:

"I don't blame anyone, it's all fate!"

Hua Twelve made sarcastic remarks from the side:
"Try to think positively. At least if you fight Old Man Hao, he definitely won't be able to beat you!"

Zhou Zhigang closed his eyes in anger. What the brat was saying! At least he still had one arm he could move, while Old Man Hao couldn't move anything except his mouth. If he wanted to win, he had to be able to fight back!
Zheng Juan said irritably, "Bingkun, shut up!"

Zhou Bingyi stormed up to Hua Shier and sneered, "Satisfied now?"

"He, tui!"

Hua Shier unleashed his ultimate move, spitting in Zhou Bingyi's face, and then began to spew insults:
"Zhou Bingyi, do you have any shame? You're the one who went home and made a scene, forcing the old man to speak up for you. If it weren't for you, would the old man's blood pressure have risen?"

Zhou Bingyi wiped his face:

"Isn't it because you're heartless that you won't even help your own brother!"

Hua Twelve sneered:

"If you were disabled, I could take care of you; if you were destitute, I could help you. But you want to become an official, so why would you use the core technology of our Red Star Group as a pledge of loyalty to give to someone else?"

Hao Dongmei knew what had happened, and her face was filled with shame.

Zhou Bingyi, however, didn't think he was wrong. He argued vehemently, "Zhou Bingkun, don't forget how I treated you since you were little."

Hua Shier looked disgusted:
"Give me a break! Not to mention how you and Zhou Rong always belittled me when we were kids, calling me stupid and dumb. Even if you were nice to me when we were young, you haven't been filial to your parents all these years. It was Zheng Juan and me who took on your part of the obligation and responsibility of being filial to your parents. In a way, it's you, Zhou Bingyi, who owes me, Zhou Bingkun. I don't owe you anything. Why are you making demands of me?"

Although Zhou Zhigang's eyes were closed, tears streamed down his face as he heard his two sons arguing in the ward.

Li Suhua quickly said, "Bingkun'er, how can brothers keep such accounts!"

Hua Shier sighed:
"Mom, you don't understand. Even if we're brothers, does that mean I should rip out my heart and give it to him if he wants it?"

"The technology he wants is the core technology of our Red Star Group, which is related to the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Red Star employees. How could I possibly give it to him!"

"Besides, there are things you don't know about this!"

Zhou Bingyi scoffed; "What could possibly be that we don't know? I think you just don't want to help me!"

Hua Shier pointed at Zhou Bingyi:
"Unrepentant? Fine, then I'll lay it all out on the table today. But after I say it, Zhou Bingyi, you can't leave here!"

Zhou Bingyi simply didn't believe it:
"Tell me what you have to say. You won't even help your own brother, and you still think you're right!"

Hua nodded, walked over and closed the ward door, then turned to his family:
"Now I have something to announce!"

He took a document out of his briefcase:
"The core technology that Zhou Bingyi wanted regarding our group's production line was something we had already collaborated with the Guo family on five years ago, applying this technology to the fields of defense and industrial applications."

He held up the document, which was prominently stamped with the G emblem:
"This is a confidentiality agreement; any leak of technology is a crime!"

Hua Shier was not lying. The production line he had forged using divine machinery was actually of magical artifact level. It had high output, good quality, and was not easily worn out. Its technology was world-leading. How could such a situation not attract the attention of the higher-ups?

Over the years, he has frequently traveled to Beijing, partly to report on the company's reform efforts and partly to secretly collaborate with J.

The fighter jet that the Guo family is currently secretly researching has even reached the performance level of a fifth-generation fighter jet in later generations. It also has a fully intelligent control system. The intelligent system does not use chips from later generations, but rather core components similar to the 'Ru Hua' robot in Biyou Village!
Under these circumstances, any technology leaks are unacceptable, so how could Hua12 possibly agree to Zhou Bingyi's unreasonable demands!
The room was deathly silent. Even Zhou Zhigang, who had his eyes closed, opened them in shock!

Zhou Bingyi couldn't believe it:
"Impossible, then why didn't you tell me?"

Hua Shier rolled his eyes:

"Can't you understand human language? Do you even know what top secret means? I signed a confidentiality agreement!"

Zhou Bingyi pointed at him:
"See, you've given yourself away, so why are you saying it now!"

Hua Twelve sneered:

"That's because I've already reported this matter to higher authorities, and an investigation has been launched. You're one of the targets of the investigation. I'm telling you this now, none of you are leaving. Just wait and be investigated by your superiors!"

He said lightly:
"Zhou Bingyi, I hope you are innocent; otherwise, no one can save you!"

After Hua Shier finished speaking, he went out to make a phone call. Soon after, plainclothes officers came and took Zhou Bingyi and Hao Dongmei away.

Zhou Zhigang and Li Suhua were both frightened; "Bingkun, will your brother be alright?"

Hua Shier sighed; "Don't worry, he's not that bold as to betray us, but we don't know who's behind him!"

With intervention from above, the truth was quickly uncovered: Jin Yueji's old friend, who worked in the south, was the head of a certain organization in Hong Kong.

This person has serious problems; they would have been exposed in 1990.

But this time he was caught early.

This person was instructed by the U.S. government to obtain the core technology of the Red Star Group, which is why he sought out Kim Moon-hee.

He promised that once the matter was settled, he could arrange for Lao Hao to go to Hong Kong Island and find the best experts from the Ugly Country to perform the surgery on him.

Jin Yueji was unaware that the other party had betrayed her. Out of trust for her old friend and her desire to cure Lao Hao's illness, she agreed.

Of course, while she wanted to accomplish this, she also wanted to sow discord within the Zhou family and annoy Hua Shier.

However, although she was unaware of the situation, she still discovered many problems because she had a good relationship with Lao Hao and that person. In the past, this person had repeatedly extracted confidential information from the couple.

This time, the higher-ups didn't give Hao's father any face; the person in charge was arrested, and both Hao's father and Jin Yueji were punished.

Although they were not sentenced due to their past achievements, the elderly couple's various retirement benefits were revoked, and even their house in the S Mansion was taken back.

Although Zhou Bingyi was not implicated, without the support of his wife's family, his future was very uncertain.

When Hao Dongmei's family moved out of the small villa, Hua Shier was outside the compound, his face covered with Xiao Yueyue's red scarf, looking like Zorro. As soon as they came out, he started setting off firecrackers.

Zhou Bingyi pointed at him and cursed:
"Don't think I won't recognize you just because your face is covered!"

Jin Yueji, no longer displaying her previous arrogance, gave Hua Twelve a deep look before turning to Hao Dongmei and saying:

"Let's go!"

The family moved into a 60-square-meter apartment allocated to Hao Dongmei by the hospital. Compared to their previous home, it was like heaven and earth.

Unexpectedly, not long after, Zhou Bingyi chose to divorce Hao Dongmei, went home to kowtow to Zhou Zhigang and Li Suhua, and then took his luggage to the special economic zone to seek refuge with his old superior Yao Lisong in the production and construction corps.

When Hua Shier returned home, he saw his parents with red eyes, and Li Suhua was still wiping away tears. After he understood what had happened, he chuckled.
"So you can serve your father-in-law for years, but not your own father!"

As he spoke, he walked over and began to massage the old man's arms and legs, as was his custom; "So, Comrade Zhou Zhigang, in the end, I, Zhou Bingkun, am still the one you can rely on!"

Thanks to 08a, Little Tiger of the Demon Realm, God of Death Li Meng, and Danyang Jianxuan for their generous donations. Thank you also to the brothers who voted with monthly tickets and recommendation tickets. Thank you very much.