20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 672 Directional Debate

The gold-plated lighter turned back and forth between his fingertips, spinning faster and faster without stopping.

Jiang Lianheng's expression did not change. He continued to listen quietly, neither nodding in approval nor shaking his head in disapproval. It seemed as if it had nothing to do with him and he was just a spectator.

It is undeniable that when he heard the word "children", his mood fluctuated and a long-lost fierceness flashed in his eyes, but the change was fleeting, only in an instant, so that no one noticed.

He was very restrained and tried his best not to be swayed by sentimental feelings and thus affect his judgment.

Unfortunately, it turned out to be a futile effort.

Concern leads to chaos.

Xue Yingqing's meaning was very clear.

The Jiang family's current positioning is a bit vague. It is not as good as the best, but better than the worst. It is said to be online, but it often does things for the government; it is said to be in the yamen, but it does not have the recognition of the government.

If this continues, you will definitely be caught in a dilemma and be unpopular with both sides.

Secret agent consultant of the Fengtian Provincial Government - this was the only official identity that Jiang Lianheng could boast of. It was useless and it was a pity to throw it away. It was not even a rank at all.

In fact, all the power of the Jiang family comes from Marshal Zhang’s verbal promise, nothing more.

"I know those officials too well!" Xue Yingqing said coldly, "When they use you, they say you are a hero and guarantee you wealth and glory. Once they think you are useless, even if we rush to be their lapdogs, they will think we are a disgrace to the family. It has always been like this, without exception!"

"This... as long as it's big enough, there should be exceptions, right?" Li Zhengxi seemed to have some hope.

"Don't dream!" Xue Yingqing said mercilessly, "Unless you can become the emperor, even if you manage to squeeze into the government, it won't take more than three or two years for them to drive you out with a smile. In the end, the civil officials will still be in power. They are not easy to deal with. Not to mention us, even the military generals will be beaten to death by them!"

No one had anything to say.

Xue Yingqing also shook his head: "I think the Jiang family should find their own position. We are running on the line. We should know what we can and cannot get involved in. Don't just follow the officials all day and think that you are an official too. You are far from it! As long as we stay in the arena, no matter how strong the wind is, it will not blow to us. When they unite to attack the dissidents and distinguish the superior and the inferior, we should pay tribute and show filial piety. Even if we are opportunistic and curry favor with the powerful, at least we will not lose everything. But if we get involved, as long as we bet on the wrong horse, everything will be over."

"So, what Shopkeeper Xue meant is——"

Jiang Lianheng finally spoke: "I should try to stay away from party disputes, take a step back, return to the martial arts world, and repair the relationship with Hezi online, so that if Fengtian changes in the future, the Jiang family will have no room for maneuver?"

Xue Yingqing nodded and said, "In the underworld, it's just a matter of power; if you participate in party struggles, it's just a matter of life and death."

"Dongfeng?" Jiang Lianheng looked up at the windowsill, "What do you think?"

Zhang Zhengdong was stunned and kept silent for a long time before he said sullenly, "There have indeed been some complaints online recently, but fortunately, they do not pose any threat."

"That's because Lao Zhang is still here!" Xue Yingqing stressed again and again, "We are talking about the future now, about future planning. When they become a threat, it means that the Jiang family has lost the support of the people, and it will be too late to say anything more. Even if Lao Zhang is officially supporting you, can you avoid the open guns and hidden arrows?"

Zhang Zhengdong explained slowly and innocently, "I can only see the current situation. I don't know what will happen in the future."

Dongfeng did not hide his true opinion, but he seemed to have no foresight and was unwilling to waste his energy on an illusory future.

His work style is quite meticulous, and people who pay too much attention to details tend to ignore the overall situation.

Everyone has his strong and weak points.

Zhang Zhengdong has always been an executor rather than a decision maker - discussing the future is not really his strong point.

Jiang Lianheng did not embarrass him. He turned to look at the other side and asked, "Nanfeng?"

Wang Zhengnan seemed to have expected this. Hearing the question, he stood up calmly, poured a cup of tea for his elder brother and sister-in-law, then poured a cup for Xue Yingqing, and then the east wind and the west wind. When he had taken care of everything, he sat down again and smiled to himself:

"Uh... well, I think what Shopkeeper Xue said just now is very good..."

"Don't be polite, just say 'but' directly!" Xue Yingqing saw through the truth in one sentence.

Wang Zhengnan scratched his head, laughed dryly and said, "It's not a 'but', it's just that we all discussed it together. Good things take time. Even if there are differences, everyone's original intention is good. Good ideas are all generated through chatting."

"Okay, okay, if you have something to say, just say it now." Jiang Lianheng urged, "We are at home, don't use those empty polite words."

Wang Zhengnan responded, and then continued:
"Brother, to be honest, many of Shopkeeper Xue's views actually coincide with mine. I also think that our family has made a lot of money over the years, and we should give up some of the small amounts of money. Of course, there has to be a limit, and not all businesses can be given up. After all, we are not doing charity."

Everyone laughed and let him continue.

"The Jiang family is not what it used to be. With the current status of the family business, some of the businesses are just a drop in the ocean. It's not worth holding on to them. I don't mind having too much money, but some of the businesses are not presentable. It would be embarrassing for the family if I talked about them. It would also make other relatives dissatisfied. This is not worth the loss.

"Let's not talk about anything else, just the 'street vendor' business. We can't get much money from those performers. It's really meaningless..."

Before the south wind could finish his words, the west wind became unhappy.

"Brother, what do you mean by that?" Li Zhengxi frowned, feeling that he was being targeted. "You know that the brothers under me make a living by selling things on the street, and you say that I am bringing shame to our family?"

"No, no, no, Xifeng, I was just making an analogy." Wang Zhengnan realized the problem, so he quickly changed his words, "I didn't say that you brought shame to the family. I was just saying that with the current status of the Jiang family, if we just stick to the 'land display' business, people will inevitably think that we want to take over Fengtian, which makes us look stingy."

"Why am I being stingy?" Li Zhengxi found it hard to accept.

Wang Zhengnan waved his hand and said, "Xifeng, can you wait for me to finish speaking?" "Go ahead!"

"I know you are concerned about your brothers, but I didn't say that I would cut off their livelihood. I just said that you should change their jobs. How much of a future can they have if they just keep 'showing off'?"

"They..." Li Zhengxi smacked his lips, "They can't even read, what other options do they have?"

"Go to the factory!" Wang Zhengnan slapped his thigh and said hurriedly, "Look at the situation in Tiexi District. It is estimated that within two years, all major factories will have to recruit workers. There is also the Fengtian Arsenal that Lao Zhang is going to run. Working as a laborer can earn a lot of money. Moreover, there are more and more bosses from other places now. We have to find a way to maintain our status as the head of the family. This is a respectable job. My brother is also the honorary chairman. Have you forgotten?"

Li Zhengxi smiled instead of getting angry, shook his head and said, "Second brother, you don't understand them at all."

"What's the matter? You're lazy and don't like to work, but you just want to use your name to ask for money from street performers?" Wang Zhengnan curled his lips and said in a slightly reproachful tone, "Xifeng, you have to reflect on this. They are your people, how could you let them catch you?"

Li Zhengxi waved his hand and said, "Don't worry about my affairs. Just tell me what you mean!"

"My meaning is very clear: people go to high places, and water flows to low places."

Wang Zhengnan ignored Xifeng and turned to look at his elder brother and sister-in-law, and continued: "Brother, sister-in-law, I agree with what Manager Xue said just now. We should make concessions in exchange for friendship, but I think Manager Xue's direction needs to be discussed. We worked very hard to open a shop and finally made it to today. How can we still think about going back to the online world? We should take advantage of the current advantages and make a clean break with the dirty things we did in the past as soon as possible!"

"Nanfeng, wasn't what I just said clear enough?" Xue Yingqing asked, "The Jiang family shouldn't get involved in the factional struggles in the government!"

"I know, but I didn't say we have to get involved in the officialdom. The Jiang family should now clean up their name as soon as possible and make all their businesses legal and reasonable. This is the long-term solution. Only in this way can the family property that our generation has exchanged for with blood be passed down."

"Second brother, you think too simply." Li Zhengxi snorted, "In today's world, if you want to be reasonable and legal, isn't that the equivalent of destroying your own martial arts? Forget about passing it on, it's even a question whether you can keep it yourself."

In troubled times, heroes emerge from all directions, and anyone with a gun can become a king.

Without fists and backing, no matter how big your wealth is, you will be at the mercy of others.

Wang Zhengnan certainly thought of this and said hurriedly, "Yes, yes, I know, I know, it's a chaotic world! But the problem is, this world can't be in such a mess forever, there will always be a day when the dust settles, storytellers have said: the world will eventually unite after a long period of division, and eventually divide after a long period of unity! We have caught up with the chaotic world, which is both a blessing and a misfortune. If you want to make a fortune and start a business, you will inevitably get some dirty hands, but what about our eldest niece, don't you think about her?"

"Yes, I do. That's why I shouldn't give up my martial arts!" Li Zhengxi argued.

As they were talking, they suddenly heard Jiang Ya. Zhang Zhengdong, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly said, "The children's hands don't need to be stained. They have been to school, which is better than the rest of us."

Wang Zhengnan slapped his thigh and said excitedly, "Listen, Dong Ge is the one who sees things clearly. Jiang Ya and Cheng Ye are educated. They don't need to be in the underworld in the future. They may even be the ones who make the rules. If we don't change our ways, we may ruin their future."

Li Zhengxi still shook his head: "Second brother, I am not targeting you. You have no blood on your hands, so of course you can say 'turn over a new leaf' so easily. But can Dong Ge and I do that? Can Old Zhao do that? I am afraid that before we even turn over a new leaf, our family will already be targeted by others."

"I admit that there are risks, but the direction I'm talking about is absolutely correct. The world cannot remain in this chaos forever. There will always be a day when it will calm down, and then everything will be like before. Everything is business and must be done within the rules. What matters is brains, money, and relationships, not fists." Wang Zhengnan said frankly.

"But I'm talking to you now!" Li Zhengxi pointed out the window and said, "Second brother, we have so many 'Xiangzi' at home. They have all done dirty work for us and have blood on their hands. Do you think they don't have enemies? The enemies don't dare to trouble them because the Jiang family is here. We have changed our appearance, what do you want them to do? Believe it or not, they will be settled by their enemies the next day! I can't do such a thing as killing the donkey after it has done its work!"

"This..." Wang Zhengnan was a little embarrassed for a moment, "If it really doesn't work, we can give them a resettlement allowance; or, we can use the name of the 'Fengtian Chamber of Commerce Security Team' to help them obtain the identity of a legal armed team; otherwise, we can also try..."

As he spoke, even he himself lost confidence.

"I think you are too optimistic." Li Zhengxi confessed.

"Maybe, but I still think I'm right."

Wang Zhengnan looked up at his elder brother and his wife, and continued, "Of course, my idea may take two or three years, or even longer to complete, or even impossible to complete, but I think the Jiang family should still work in this direction, rather than returning to the underworld as Shopkeeper Xue said."

After saying that, he turned to look at Xue Yingqing and laughed, "Manager Xue, I don't have any other intentions. This is what I really think in my heart."

Xue Yingqing was neither anxious nor annoyed, and even nodded approvingly, but he never changed his opinion.

"Nanfeng..." she said, "I'm not surprised at all that you have this idea, but I've been online longer than you guys, so I might sound a bit senior, but the reality is, I've seen many people have the same idea as you, and what's the result?"

Xue Yingqing did not continue speaking.

Of course, she didn't need to make it clear. If she had seen successful cases, she would naturally not think that the Jiang family should return to the business world.

"This is too difficult. It requires the right time, right place, and right people. None of them can be lacking." Xue Yingqing sighed, "In fact, it is already one in a million to have a happy ending."

After these words were spoken, everyone fell silent.

In the living room, only the pendulum of the floor clock was still ticking, as if mocking everyone's wishful thinking.

Suddenly, there was a sound of footsteps on the ceiling. Jiang Ya and Cheng Ye were playing and chasing each other upstairs. It seemed very light and yet very heavy.

Hu Xiaoyan adjusted her sitting position slightly and asked, "Xifeng, do you have anything else to say?"

"No..." Li Zhengxi rubbed his hands helplessly, "Sister-in-law, I can't think of any ideas. To be honest, I think we can only maintain the status quo for now. Any other changes may cause problems. At least I don't agree with my second brother's statement. It's too risky."

Finally, everyone turned their attention to Jiang and Hu.

Jiang Lianheng was indifferent. He was the boss, so Hu Xiaoyan was the first to speak up...

(End of this chapter)