Siheyuan: Domineering life

After returning from the ancestral hall, Yang Jun became even more taciturn.

He hides at Diaoyutai every day, drinking tea and fishing, and doesn't see anyone else.

He was tormented whenever he thought about what would happen decades from now. Ever since he learned that he was immortal, he had been thinking about this problem, but decades had passed and he still hadn't found a proper solution.

Especially now, in his position, he cannot afford to back down even a step. Even if he doesn't think about himself, he has to think about his family of dozens of people. He used to think about finding a place where no one knows him to live, but that idea is too unrealistic. After so many years of hard work, he has long become the Yang Jun that everyone knows. It would be extremely difficult to find a place where no one knows him.

Actually, none of these are the most important things. What worries him most is his family. If he steps down, someone will launch a fierce counterattack, and his family will suffer along with him. For his family's sake, he cannot back down even a step.

but……

He seems to be getting younger with age. If he still looks like this decades from now, he doesn't know how to explain it all, unless...

He can only retire when he reaches the very top of the pyramid, when he has absolute self-defense capabilities and no one can threaten him.

Therefore, he decided that for his own sake and for his family's sake, he would climb the ladder of success with all his might, and once he achieved fame and fortune, he would hand it all over to his son so that he could live the life he desired.

"Uncle Yang, Chengdao has arrived."

Yang Jun lay on the rattan chair with his hands behind his head, lost in thought, when Sun Zhaocai reminded him.

Upon hearing this, Yang Jun glanced at the shore out of the corner of his eye and indeed saw Yang Chengdao and Bai He walking towards them.

Upon seeing this, he quickly sat up from the rattan chair.

He might not give his son face, but he still had to give his daughter-in-law face. He couldn't leave her with the impression that he was disrespectful to his elders.

"You guys go out."

Upon hearing this, Sun Zhaocai pulled Shazhu outside.

After they left, Yang Jun began to brew tea.

Outside the door, Sun Zhaocai and Shazhu exchanged a few pleasantries with Yang Chengdao.

"dad."

Yang Chengdao and Bai He called out at the same time as they entered the room.

"coming."

Yang Jun pointed to the small stool opposite him and said, "Sit down and have some tea."

After receiving permission, Yang Chengdao and Bai He carefully sat down on the small stools opposite them.

"Have you seen your mother yet?" Yang Jun asked while brewing tea.

"I've seen it. I just came from the backyard," Yang Chengdao replied.

"Oh."

Yang Jun simply gave a faint "oh" and then fell silent.

Seeing this, Yang Chengdao and Bai He exchanged a glance, then nudged each other under the table, signaling for the other to speak.

This scene did not escape Yang Jun's eyes, but he pretended not to see it.

"Dad, it's like this..."

In the end, Yang Chengdao was the one who lost and spoke first.

"I've already taken over the family business, and the company's reforms are gradually getting on track. I'm thinking of handing over the family business to Baihe to manage, and I'm preparing to enter the military."

Yang Jun was taken aback upon hearing this.

"You want to enter officialdom?"

He had originally planned for his son to enter the government after graduating from university, but his son was already preparing for it in his second year of university, which was really beyond his expectations.

“Yes, Dad,” Yang Chengdao said with a smile, “I am ready to enter officialdom, please grant my request.”

Yang Jun frowned slightly upon hearing this.

Then, he shook his head and said, "No, you're entering officialdom too early."

Just as Yang Chengdao was about to speak, Yang Jun interrupted him, saying, "The officialdom is different from the business world. The business world has low barriers to entry, and it's okay if you fail. But the officialdom is different; you can't afford to make a single mistake. If you want to go further in the future, it's best to proceed step by step."

“You haven’t graduated from university yet and don’t have a formal diploma. This will give others leverage against you in the future. Therefore, you cannot enter the officialdom for the time being.”

“But Dad, didn’t the children of your colleagues also enter the officialdom before graduating? As far as I know, some of them entered the officialdom at the age of thirteen,” Yang Cheng said.

"They are them, you are you, you are different."

Yang Jun explained, “They do that simply to make a living. It’s a harmless thing that most people wouldn’t care about. But you are different. You are going to go much further in the future. Your background, your resume, and so on cannot have any flaws.”

“You’ve been exposed to these things since you were little, so I’m sure you understand these principles.”

Yang Cheng said, "But Dad, I really want to enter officialdom as soon as possible, so that I can help you better."

Yang Jun waved his hand and said, "I understand your desire to help me, but it's really not possible right now."

"If you really want to help your dad, all you need to do is manage the family business well and provide him with a strong and solid financial support so that he can fight on."

"But……"

Yang Chengdao wanted to say something more, but seeing Yang Jun's resolute refusal, he remained silent.

“I told you, Dad wouldn’t agree, but you wouldn’t listen.”

At this moment, daughter-in-law Bai He spoke up: "You're just an impatient person. You've only just learned to walk but you want to run. You think you're all that just because you've achieved some success in business."

"I understand what Dad just said, and I believe you will understand too."

Yang Chengdao rolled his eyes at her, but he didn't say anything.

In fact, he knew that Yang Jun's arrangement was the safest, but he was impatient and wanted to enter the officialdom as soon as possible to help his father. However, these things cannot be rushed; they must be done step by step.

Yang Jun is right. If he wants to go further in the future, he must take it one step at a time.

"I understand." Yang Chengdao sighed deeply.

He really wanted to demonstrate his abilities and ambitions, and regretted not being able to.

"Bai He is right about something: you can't run as soon as you learn to walk. That's unrealistic. You have to eat one bite at a time and walk one step at a time. You can't be impatient for quick results."

"You just need to manage the family business well for now; I'll take care of the rest."

After a slight pause, he said to Bai He, "Bai He, the family business will eventually be handed over to you. Why don't you take advantage of this time to participate more so that you can be prepared for the future?"

"Yes, Dad, I will do my best to help Chengdao manage the family business," Bai He said respectfully.

"Yes, you've worked hard." Yang Jun said, "You not only have to take care of the child, but also go to school. It's too much of a burden to ask you for help."

"Dad, it's not hard for me at all, it's what I should do."

After several years of trials and tribulations, Bai He is no longer the naive little girl she once was. After all, living in such a family, it would be difficult not to mature.

The reason we had her study business administration was that we hoped she could one day take over the family business. Now that she's involved, it's a valuable experience for her.

"Is there anything else?"

Yang Jun asked, holding his teacup.

"Hehe, Dad, you're practically offering tea to see the guest out."

Seeing Yang Jun holding a teacup, Yang Chengdao smiled.

"Any thing else?"

Yang Jun did not answer him, but instead asked a question in return.

"Gone."

"Then get lost." After saying that, Yang Jun turned to Bai He and said, "I wasn't talking about you."

"It's alright, Dad. You're my elder, so you can say whatever you want," Bai He said with a smile.

"Dad, we're busy, we'll head back now."

After saying that, the two stood up.

"Go back."

Yang Jun said calmly.

After they left, Yang Jun continued to lie flat.

About ten minutes later, Yang Qingxiang came out with her big pregnant belly.

"husband."

Yang Qingxiang called out, then stood beside Yang Jun and smiled at him.

"coming?"

Seeing that she was standing next to him, Yang Jun suddenly realized something and quickly and embarrassedly offered her the rattan chair.

"Come on, our great hero of the Yang family, lie down quickly."

Yang Jun smiled and spoke to her as he helped her onto the rattan chair.

"Honey, including the baby in my belly, I've given birth to five children for the Yang family. I'm truly a great contributor," Yang Qingxiang said coquettishly.

"Absolutely! You've helped our Yang family have many descendants, so you're a great contributor to the Yang family."

"Now that you've said that, how do you plan to thank me, your great benefactor?"

Yang Qingxiang lay on the rattan chair, looking at him with a smile.

Even though she had a gentle personality, she still had to think about her child. The Yang family had too many monks and too little porridge, so she had to take the initiative to fight for it, at least to ensure that her child would have food and clothing in the future.

"What reward do you want?" Yang Jun asked, smiling at her.

"Oh, you said it, whatever you reward me with, I'll take it."

"Wow, when did you become so clever? You've even learned to play hard to get."

"I'm not stupid, I just don't like to argue." Yang Qingxiang looked aggrieved.

"You...do you even know what I like most about you?"

“You like me, so I don’t compete,” Yang Qingxiang pouted.

"That's right, I love seeing your easygoing nature."

Seeing that Yang Qingxiang was about to speak, Yang Jun did not give her a chance to speak and continued, "Over the years, have I ever mistreated you? Even if you don't strive for anything, I will never forget you."

"I know, no one said you mistreated me. Didn't you just say you were going to reward me? I was just asking casually, don't overthink it."

"Oh, you!"

Yang Jun muttered to himself, "Women become calculating once they get older, and you're no exception."

"I do not have……"

Yang Jun waved his hand, interrupting, "Just say it, I'll give you whatever reward you want."

Yang Qingxiang blinked a few times after hearing this and said, "The reward I want is very simple: can you spend some time with me tonight?"

Yang Jun was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then smiled.

"If anyone says you're not smart next time, I'll slap them across the face."

"You're using a strategy of retreat to advance; you seem to be not competing, but you're actually competing."

"I didn't, I really didn't," Yang Qingxiang said. "I didn't have any other thoughts, I just wanted you to spend more time with me."

After saying that, with red eyes, she said, "You've been spending all this time with Jingqiu, and haven't come to my courtyard in a long time."

"Um, I admit I neglected your feelings. I'm sorry."

Yang Jun said, "Don't worry, I'll come and keep you company for the next few days."

"Thank you, husband." Yang Qingxiang was overjoyed. If she weren't pregnant, she would have jumped up long ago.

"Alright, alright, look at your aggrieved face. Anyone who didn't know better would think I've mistreated you."

"You've been neglecting me; you haven't come to visit me in so long."

"I'll come with you tonight and give you the injection."

"I want the thickest and longest needle..."

……

Wang Xiaoxiao arrived after dinner.

"Godfather, after nearly two months of design and planning, we have unanimously decided to establish the university in Xuzhou, Huaihai Province. What do you think?"

While eating, Wang Xiaoxiao reported on the preparations for the university's establishment.

Upon hearing this, Yang Jun frowned slightly and asked, "Why not in your province?"

“Godfather, we have considered setting up the university in your province. However, if it were located in your province, I'm afraid this university would never become a top university. Given the conditions in your province, it would be difficult to attract a large number of talents. Even after graduation, your province does not have matching employment conditions, and talents will eventually flow back to the developed eastern regions.”

Wang Xiaoxiao said, "As for why we didn't set up in Yanjing... it's mainly because there are too many prestigious universities here. It would be difficult for our university to stand out in the fierce competition, and it would be even more difficult to become a top-tier university. As for Nanjing, it wouldn't work either, as the competition is too intense. After much thought, we decided to establish the university in Huaihai Province, which is relatively less economically developed. There aren't many prestigious universities there, and the population base is large, making it easier to attract talent."

"There's another reason..."

Wang Xiaoxiao glanced at Yang Jun and said meaningfully, "Because you have high hopes for that place."

Upon hearing this, Yang Jun paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "How did you come to the conclusion that I have high hopes for Xuzhou?"

"I'm not stupid, of course I can tell."

Wang Xiaoxiao counted on her fingers and said, "I've studied you. Over the years, you've inspected work in various parts of the country fifteen times, and you've been to Xuzhou eight of them. Do you mean you have no feelings for this place?"

Yi Qiushui, who was eating nearby, chimed in, "Xiaoxiao is right. Of all the times you've gone to other places over the years, eight out of ten times you've been to Xuzhou."

"Even you guys know?" Yang Jun looked at them in surprise.

The women all nodded in agreement.

"Hey, you guys guessed it."

Yang Jun readily admitted, "That's right, I do have a special feeling for Xuzhou and I have high hopes for this place."

"Godfather, can you tell me why you have such deep feelings for Xuzhou?" Wang Xiaoxiao asked.

The other women, upon hearing this, also looked up at her.

They also wanted to know why Yang Jun was so fond of this place that he frequently visited it.

Seeing this, Yang Jun put down his chopsticks and simply lit a cigarette.

He took a couple of puffs and slowly said, "Do you believe in the concept of reincarnation?"

No one spoke; they simply looked at him indifferently.

Whether you believe it or not, I believe it.

Yang Jun said, "In my past life, I was from this place. I have a special affection for this place, I love it madly..." (End of this chapter)