20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 660 Adopted Son
Hai Chaoshan led a few people into the house, while his children were busy preparing meals outside.

The dishes are simple, but the portions are quite filling, including potato stewed with eggplant, spring onion mixed with tofu, stir-fried pickled cabbage, and cold bean sprouts...

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the table on the kang was already filled with food, but it was too plain and there was no sign of meat.

The Hai family’s house is small, so when Jiang Lianheng and others came as guests, the other children could only eat outside around the stove.

Several people took off their shoes and got on the kang, and chatted for a while while Xiaoqing was busy.

During the conversation, Jiang Lianheng gradually discovered that the Hai family was not difficult to get along with.

In fact, as long as the safety of Shenjia Store is not involved, Hai Chaoshan is not so stubborn and his temper is not so bad.

He just has clear principles and can't tolerate any sand in his eyes. People like him often seem a little out of touch and even get the reputation of being "unreasonable".

But apart from this, Haichao Mountain is not inhumane.

Jiang Lianheng came to propose marriage, and regardless of whether it was successful or not, at least Hai Chaoshan did not neglect the courtesy for the sake of face.

The girl is grown up now, it's not appropriate to keep her around all the time.

Besides, the Hai family only had this one mud house, and all the family members, young and old, squeezed on one kang. The older the young man got, the more inconvenient his life became.

Hai Chaoshan was not opposed to the girl's marriage. The reason why he looked gloomy was that he still had many concerns in his mind.

Jiang Lianheng didn't care about that. As soon as he got on the kang, he crossed his legs and acted like a death-chasing ghost, wishing he could "kidnap" the girl away tonight to make Zhao Guoyan happy.

As he was speaking, Xiaoqing walked carefully into the inner room carrying a bowl of carrot soup.

Everyone hurriedly moved the plates and made room for the girl to put the soup in the middle of the table.

Jiang Lianheng took away the bowl and chopsticks and asked with a smile: "Girl, I want to ask you something!"

"What's the matter?" Xiaoqing stood at the edge of the kang, confused as if she had lost her soul.

Jiang Lianheng propped his knee with one hand, looked at the girl with interest, and said, "I came here today without hiding anything from you. I just want to ask you in person, what do you think of my brother, Zhao Guoyan?"

Xiaoqing was stunned and looked up at her father. Before she could speak, her face turned red.

"Look at what your father is doing, I'm asking you!" Jiang Lianheng was quite impatient, his tone was even a little aggressive, "To tell you the truth, I'm here today to propose marriage, do you like it or not, just give me a straight answer, don't waste time, if it's okay, I'll set up a table for you two tomorrow, and you can come back to Fengtian with me the day after tomorrow, how about that?"

Although the intention is good, no matter how you listen to it, this statement does not sound like a marriage proposal, but rather like kidnapping.

How can you expect the girl to speak in front of so many people?
Xiaoqing was embarrassed for a moment and had to turn to her father for help.

But a father is not as careful as a mother, so Hai Chaoshan just comforted her slightly: "Xiaoqing, don't be afraid, just say whatever you think."

Is this something to be afraid of?
Xiaoqing is a country girl after all. She has never heard of the so-called "free love" and "romance" in the city. It seems like another world.

It would be better to kill her than to let her speak out her feelings.

Jiang Lianheng frowned, but said: "Tsk, girl, you usually speak very aggressively, why are you so shy now? Just say it directly if you have something to say!"

"Don't ask me, I don't know!"

The girl dodged and fled.

Soon after, a series of "ding ding dang dang" sounds were heard coming from the outer room, and the older brothers began to tease their sister.

Everyone was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

Yang Lazi and others hurriedly said, "Boss, little girl, you are so shy, how can you be so funny!"

"If I don't tease her, will she admit it?" Jiang Lianheng also smiled, then looked at Hai Chaoshan, "Lao Hai, I think your daughter's heart is no longer at home."

"Boss Jiang, let's eat first!"

Hai Chaoshan lowered his head, paused his chopsticks, looked around, and seemed to suddenly remember something, so he said, "Wait a minute, I'll go get two jars of wine."

"Why bother?" Jiang Lianheng raised his hand, "Yang Lazi, go ask Old Shen to bring two bottles of wine!"

Hai Chaoshan quickly stopped him: "No, I'm not used to owing others things."

Having said that, he got off the kang and walked towards the door in his sneakers.

Everyone knew his temper, so they stopped trying to dissuade him.

…………

Hai Chaoshan closed the door and walked out to the outer room. He saw his children fighting with each other. He couldn't help but frown and shouted, "What are you doing?"

The second and third sons quickly stopped what they were doing, faced the stove and started eating.

Xiaoqing seemed to be bullied. She was so angry that her face turned red and she swung her fists to hit her second and third brothers a few more times.

When Hai Chaoshan saw this, he shouted in a low voice: "Xiao Qing——"

"Dad, they are bullying me!"

Hai Chaoshan waved his hand, turned his back, and walked out the door, saying without looking back: "Come out for a moment."

Xiaoqing's heart suddenly skipped a beat. She put the bowl and chopsticks on the stove and quickly followed him out.

There was wind outside, but it was not cool. Instead, it felt like waves of heat from a wildfire.

Lianzhuang will be very quiet, and every household is eating.

The setting sun casts a golden glow on the fields, making people feel even more restless.

"father--"

Xiaoqing walked behind her father and for some reason, she suddenly felt a little unfamiliar.

Hai Chaoshan scratched his scalp twice, feeling anxious. After a long silence, he asked, "Girl, what do you think?"

"What are you thinking?" Xiaoqing asked knowingly.

Hai Chaoshan turned around, frowned, and said, "Now it's just us, father and daughter, there's no outsiders here, why are you still pretending to be stupid?"

Xiaoqing hesitated for a moment, and asked, as if answering something irrelevant: "I... I can't stay single forever, right?"

"Who said you will never get married?" Hai Chaoshan glared, "I'm asking you, do you have to marry that Zhao Guoyan?"

"Well...wasn't it you who first said that Zhao Guoyan was a good person? Now you blame me..." Xiaoqing's voice gradually became smaller.

"Now you know to listen to your father. I also said that the boy from the Cai family is a good person. Why don't you agree?"

"Him? Tsk—my second brother glared at him and his legs went limp. I don't want that!"

"I was saying that the three elders of the Gao family are pretty good, why don't you agree?"

"He's just brave, and he's always yelling. It's annoying to see him!"

"Hiss - girl, are you really planning to marry the guy named Zhao?"

"I didn't say anything. If you don't agree, then I'll just delay it. I'm not in a hurry anyway, and it won't just be my own fault if I embarrass myself..."

"What are you talking about!" Hai Chaoshan was so anxious that he was spinning around. "Do you know who they are? They are gangsters!"

Xiaoqing turned her head away and said to herself, "What's the matter? You've been a mixed-race person before, right? Could it be that my mother married the wrong person?"

"Bastard!" Hai Chaoshan raised his hand and was about to slap Xiaoqing in the face, but finally stopped.

The girl is grown up, she can't be beaten.

Hai Chaoshan finally lowered his hands and said weakly: "That happened many years ago. I can't compare it, I can't compare it..."

"You're not really retiring now, you said that yourself!" Xiao Qing seemed to be prepared and left her father speechless.

Of course, these words also revealed Hai Chaoshan's identity.

The essence of the Lianzhuang Association's armed team is actually an online insurance team - the same business that Marshal Zhang started out with.

In other words, Haichaoshan himself is half a green forest man.

Whether it is the village association or the bandit gang, they are all unofficial armed forces and are inherently at odds with the government.

The armed team of Shenjiadian is just not powerful enough. If it is really powerful enough, the government will have to suppress it. The Hai family has no right to challenge the Jiang family.

Seeing that her father was speechless, Xiaoqing said, "If my mother were still alive, I wouldn't have to wait until today."

Upon hearing this, Hai Chaoshan suddenly became listless, and muttered with a guilty conscience: "Why do you keep mentioning your mother? I didn't say I disagree. I just want you to think it over carefully."

"Well, is there anything else?" Xiao Qing asked, "If nothing else, I'll go back."

Hai Chaoshan frowned: "What attitude? I'm your father!"

Xiaoqing ignored him and was about to leave.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the father and daughter turned around, they saw the "old lump" of the Hai family standing at the door, glaring at their father angrily.

If your daughter talks back to you, you can go easy on her; but if your son glares at you, you can pick up a stick and beat him.

Hai Chaoshan was holding back his anger, and when he saw his youngest son doing something stupid, he started to curse, "What the hell is wrong with you, you little bastard? Do you deserve a beating?"

The young man was filled with indignation. He immediately protected his sister behind him and asked loudly, "Dad, are you going to sell my sister?"

"Get lost, who are you standing there with your chin knocking? Who said they want to sell your sister out?"

"My second and third brothers are already settling the accounts, and you're still saying you didn't sell it?"

"These two bastards..." Hai Chaoshan cursed a few times in a low voice. He was too lazy to waste words with the youngest child, so he said, "Ask your sister, don't ask me!"

As soon as the voice fell, Xiaoqing pushed her brother into the house, saying as she walked: "New Year, go back to the house to eat, it's none of your business!"

"Wait!"

Hai Chaoshan called the brother and sister to stop, then took out a few old coins from his pocket and whispered, "Go to Mr. Shen's house and ask for two bottles of wine."

"Drink again!"

Xiaoqing rolled her eyes, took the money, and led Xinnian to the watchtower.

After a while, he brought the wine back and gave it to his father.

…………

Hai Chaoshan returned to the inner room with two bottles of wine. As soon as he sat on the kang, everyone started complaining.

"Why did you take so long?" Jiang Lianheng asked impatiently, "Lao Hai, have you discussed this with your daughter?"

Hai Chaoshan poured wine for each of them, but did not raise his cup. After thinking for a while, he asked, "Boss Jiang, Zhao Guoyan didn't come today. I have something to ask as a father. If Xiaoqing goes to Fengtian with you and enters the Zhao family... will she be a big shot or a small one?"

Jiang Lianheng patted Hai Chaoshan on the shoulder and laughed, "Old Hai, Zhao Guoyan is alone. If your daughter goes there, of course she will become a big boss!"

Hai Chaoshan nodded, not knowing what to say next.

Seeing this, Jiang Lianheng asked again: "What else are you worried about? Are you worried that the girl will be wronged if she marries far away? I have already said that as long as you are willing, all of you Hai family members will follow me!"

"I definitely can't leave." Hai Chaoshan said.

"Then let your son come with me. With his brother by his side, he won't be wronged. Don't worry!"

"Well, what's the use of having a brother? My second and third sons are useless. They look strong, but they are useless when something serious happens."

"Oh my God!" Jiang Lianheng slapped his thigh and said, "Brother, we are getting married, not going to war. How big of a deal can it be if we just stay at home and live together?"

Hai Chaoshan pondered in silence, he had his own considerations - the Jiang family is not an ordinary family, many times, you can't live at home as you wish.

Seeing this, Jiang Lianheng immediately proposed again: "Then let your boss go with me. It doesn't matter who you go with. As long as you feel at ease, it's fine."

Hai Chaoshan still shook his head and said stubbornly: "Boss must stay with me."

When everyone heard this, they immediately understood - Hai Chaoshan wanted his youngest son to leave with Jiang Lianheng.

Yang Lazi immediately laughed and said, "Captain Hai, you have four sons, why don't you pick one of them? Why pick an immature boy to go with us? If it's really like what you said, if something happens, do you still expect him to take the responsibility for his sister?"

Hai Chaoshan said: "My old man is closest to his sister, no one else can help him, and -"

As he was speaking, he suddenly shouted towards the outer room.

"New Year, take your notebook and come into the house... Just come in if I tell you to, and don't give me any bullshit!"

After a few shouts and curses, the young man pushed the door open reluctantly, holding a book that looked like an account book in his hand, and threw it on the kang with a "swish".

Hai Chaoshan glared at his youngest son, but then he picked up the booklet very carefully and opened it tremblingly. In front of Jiang Lianheng and others, he smiled for the first time, or looked proud, and murmured, "Look, my son can write!"

"It's no use showing it to me. I can't read!" Yang Lazi waved his hand tactlessly.

Jiang Lianheng looked down and saw that it was square and indeed a word, but he was a little confused: "So what?"

Hai Chaoshan closed the booklet and put it on the table. After thinking for a while, he took it down and put it on the kang, pushing it away.

"I can't tell what happened further back, but among the four generations of our Hai family, this kid is the first one who can read!" He said with a bit of shame, "It's a pity that I don't have much ability. If I let him stay with me in Shen's store, it would be in vain for him to learn to read. I'm thinking of letting him go out and try his luck!"

"Oh——" Jiang Lianheng nodded, "Then who did this kid learn calligraphy from?"

"Young Master!"

"Who?"

"The eldest young master of the Shen family!" Hai Chaoshan squinted his eyes and said, "The eldest young master not only taught my old boy, but also taught all the half-grown children in the village. He taught them all at the same time, and he didn't ask for money. He said something like saving the nation and trying to survive. I don't know what this has to do with learning to read. Anyway, the eldest young master is a good man, a good man!"

Jiang Lianheng suddenly remembered something and asked, "Could it be that Brother was entrusted by the eldest young master of the Shen family to lead the Lianzhuang Association?"

Hai Chaoshan nodded: "Thinking back, it was the eldest young master who asked us to move into the village. Otherwise, when disasters occurred in the past, the first people the Shen family would guard against were not the bandits, but the tenants in the village."

"I understand, I understand!" Jiang Lianheng raised a glass of wine and hurriedly changed the subject. "Okay, Lao Hai, I understand what you mean. You just want your son to go to Fengtian to try his luck. You can send him to school, work, or travel around. As long as your daughter comes with us, we can talk about anything!"

Hai Chaoshan said: "I know that Boss Jiang is very capable and has influence in Fengtian. People from my small place dare not think about it or ask about it, but this is the way the world is now. No matter what you do, you have to stick together. If you do business, you have to join the Chamber of Commerce; if you sell your skills, you have to attend meetings; even if you pull a rickshaw on the street, you need the permission of the boss to open the business, otherwise everything will be in vain. Boss Jiang has this ability, I admire him very much!"

This is true.

Nowadays, unlike in the past, it is not shameful to be involved in a gang. There are even many big shots who are gang members themselves.

"High, high!"

Jiang Lianheng was polite on the surface, and was about to say something polite, but unexpectedly Hai Chaoshan pointed at his old friend and said something shocking:
"So, if Boss Jiang doesn't mind, I'd like to trouble you to help this kid and recognize him as your godson! From now on, I will be beaten and scolded by you, and I will take your orders. If I kill him, it's my fault. I just want to work for Boss Jiang to make a living!"

(End of this chapter)