Mixed in 1980

Chapter 396 Succession Issues
Since we've already talked this far, there's no point in hiding it anymore.

You can't speak too bluntly, or others will think there's something wrong with your family's atmosphere. It's okay to use some subtle language appropriately.

He then described his parents' love story in detail: "That's pretty much the situation. Anyway, the three mothers in our family are very harmonious and have never quarreled in their entire lives."

"That's pretty amazing." Ye Wan scratched her head.

Three sisters marrying the same man? It sounds unbelievable, but there are quite a few cases like this in Hong Kong, with news reports full of palace intrigue dramas.

"I think so."

Chen Yanyin smiled and joked, "Like my aunt, she lay down with me after getting drunk, and nothing happened, but that was considered abnormal in those days, so..."

Ye Wan smiled and said, "That's true."

Unlike now, college students are crazy about dating, but almost none of it works out. Some people even change boyfriends and girlfriends a lot while they are in college.

To put it bluntly, it's just rampant abuse.

They call it: free love, for love, to try something bold while you're young...

It's not even as good as Chen's father marrying three women at once.

Returning to her dormitory with strange thoughts in mind, Ye Wan quickly got busy again. She couldn't neglect her graduation thesis, and there was a lot of information to find.

In the days that followed, Chen Yanjin would contact her almost every day, Chen Yanyin would also ask her out from time to time, and occasionally Chen Yanxi would invite her to dinner.

Gradually, Ye Wan got used to it.

Sometimes I find it quite amazing that the three siblings were not born to the same mother. Logically, they shouldn't be fighting tooth and nail over the family property.

That's not true; they have a very good relationship.

Especially the eldest sister, Chen Yanxi, Ye Wan could feel that she was particularly good at taking care of people, and also particularly good at managing people. Chen Yanjin was more docile than a cat in front of her.

Right now, Chen Yanxi is playing with his prayer beads.

The fourth brother gave her a string of small phoenix-eye beads, each bead inlaid with a high-quality, bright green jadeite.

The arrangement of the beads imitates the 108-bead string of Taoism, arranged according to the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, and the accessories used to separate the beads are all glass-type jadeite beads of different colors.

The fourth sister also has one. They made it together back then, and it has been polished for almost two years. The bead has developed a jujube-red, jade-like effect. It is a beloved item of the two sisters.

He put down the beaded string and looked at the second son: "When do you plan to bring Wanwan home?"

"Sister, are you satisfied?" Chen Yanjin asked in surprise.

When he was with Xiao Ya, it seemed like he was keeping it a secret, but his parents and older sister knew about it. His family couldn't completely let him be.

Back then, my older sister wouldn't even bother to ask when I was going to bring someone home, let alone invite me to dinner or ask when I would bring them home. She completely pretended not to know anything about it.

Chen Yanxi didn't ask, because he knew all too well.

The second son will take over the family business and be the head of the family in his generation. The family will not force him to marry into another family, nor will they let him go unattended.

While he was dating, his father investigated three generations of Xiao Ya's family, even tracing Xiao Ya's upbringing, and invited a group of sociology and psychology professors to analyze it.

The conclusion is, this girl is no good!

The same thing happened to Ye Wan, and the conclusion was very satisfactory. Chen Yanxi was also very satisfied after personally getting to know her for a while.

"Wanwan is a good person. She has a pure heart, is kind, and has strong principles. Most importantly, you two get along well," Chen Yanxi said with a smile.

Chen Yanjin secretly breathed a sigh of relief: "There's still some time before graduation, let's wait until things are more stable before making a decision."

After leaving her older sister's dormitory, Chen Yanjin went to find Ye Wan and invited her younger sister along to have dinner together.

Seeing Ye Ling's haggard appearance, Chen Yanjin exclaimed in surprise, "Your condition...tsk tsk...what's the Hokkien saying again? Where did you go to steal chickens last night?"

Ye Ling rolled her eyes at him: "Do you think everyone is like you? You're going to start graduate school in the second half of the year, and you've been busy researching potential advisors and looking for a suitable one."

Ye Ling studied biology. In the field of biology, it is difficult to have a great career with an undergraduate degree. By her junior year, she had already successfully secured a place in a master's program.

I've been busy getting to know potential mentors lately, contacting them in advance, and trying to secure a spot early. If I'm lucky, I might be able to join their team ahead of time.

Which professor are you planning to consult?

"Professor Zeng!"

"Name?" Chen Yanjin narrowed his eyes.

"I contacted Professor Zeng Tuqiang of the Biology Department once before, but it didn't work. I heard that Professor Zeng rarely recruits female students."

Most professors don't like female students.

Master's and doctoral students often end up working for their supervisors, essentially being hired to do the work. Hiring women is too much trouble; they're far less useful than men.

Chen Yanjin touched his nose: "Do you want me to help you make some contact? It shouldn't be a big problem."

"you know?"

Chen Yanjin nodded slightly: "My dad has been friends with him for decades. How about we go to his house this weekend and have my dad invite Professor Zeng over?"

Ye Ling narrowed her eyes and said teasingly, "Chen Yanjin, you're not thinking of using this method to lure my sister to your house, are you?"

Chen Yanjin said irritably, "It's only a matter of time before Wanwan comes to my house. Now that it's here, just tell me, are you going or not?"

Ye Ling nodded and said, "I'll think about it."

"Hey, you're getting all smug now, oh dear..."

Chen Yanjin was about to complain when Ye Wan pinched him: "Idiot, if I want to go to your house, I have to ask my family's opinion first."

Chen Yanjin, feeling embarrassed, wisely kept quiet. The next day, the matter was settled, and Chen Yanxi even joked, "You said yesterday that you weren't in a hurry, why are you in such a rush today?"

"Well, we just made it in time," Chen Yanjin said with a forced smile.

Chen Yanxi rolled her eyes at her younger brother: "Did you tell the family? Grandpa and Grandma will definitely be happy, they're just thinking about four generations living together."

Chen Musheng and Guan Yuemei were indeed happy.

Although my grandchildren are very filial, they're not fun anymore once they grow up. So I'm thinking of getting them married early so I can take care of my great-grandchildren while I'm still able to move around.

Guan Yuemei took out sandalwood boxes from the cabinet, which were filled with jewelry, mostly bought by her three daughters-in-law, and some were gifts from her two granddaughters.

How about these bracelets?

Guan Yuemei chose a pair of gold bracelets, made using the ancient filigree technique and inlaid with many rubies and sapphires, with a very novel design.

Chen Musheng nodded slightly: "That's good. Yan Jin's sister-in-law is also coming. We need to prepare another set, so that the young lady doesn't feel neglected."

"A pair of bracelets, one for each person."

"Isn't it appropriate?"

"You don't know anything, get lost."

"Hey...Are you being unreasonable? You old hag, there's something wrong with your mind. Back when your son married Ali and Yuanyuan, you almost beat him to death." Chen Musheng said irritably.

"Get lost!" Guan Yuemei sneered.

Can a son compare to a grandson? Besides, the second son is sly and wicked, just like his father. He might even end up having an affair with someone from his own neighborhood.

Chen Fan was smoking when he saw Xu Jinqiu take out a pair of bracelets and couldn't help but tease, "Wow, Teacher Xu is really going all out."

“I rarely wear it anyway, so I might as well pass it down.” Xu Jinqiu held the bracelet up to the sunlight, and the green color was very captivating.

I collected quite a few imperial green jadeite bracelets in my early years, and this pair is the best in terms of appearance and texture, with almost no visible inclusions, cracks, or black spots.

He put the bracelet back: "The second child is settled. After the wedding, if Wanwan is willing to take over the foundation, I can retire."

"Are you willing to retire?" Chen Fan scoffed.

Xu Jinqiu was sullen, but stubbornly said, "Wanwan will need time to take over. I'll mentor her for a few years, and she should be able to take over everything. Then I'll step down."

"Isn't it because you can't bear to part with it?"

Chen Fan stubbed out his cigarette and pulled his wife to sit down: "It's been 28 years since the foundation was established in 1983. It's about time to let go."

"What can I do after I retire?"

Xu Jinqiu pouted and stretched: "Big sister and Yuanyuan both have things to do. Am I supposed to stay at home alone as a housewife?"

Chen Fan chuckled and teased, "If you can't bear to part with it, just say so. Why make up a bunch of excuses? You're just destined to be a busybody; you can't sit still."

Xu Jinqiu pinched him and snorted, "Comrade Chen Fan, when discussing matters, we need to trace the origins. Who wanted to establish the foundation in the first place?"

Chen Fan said sullenly, "Then I should take a break. After the kids graduate and I take care of them for a few years, I plan to retire. I can't keep doing this indefinitely."

"You're practically retired now."

Xu Jinqiu smiled, then said irritably, "After 1998, it's been more than ten years. Do the math yourself, how many days have you actually worked?"

“Wenya has called many times to complain that she did all the work. She said she only has a few more years to work before retiring and that you should find someone to take over.”

"Speaking of which, Wenya is really unlucky."

"She used to be such a cheerful young girl, so pleasing to the eye. After serving you like a slave for so many years, all that cheerfulness has disappeared from her face."

"Nonsense, Wenya looks so kind now." Chen Fan rolled his eyes at his wife.

After thinking for a moment, she added, "Wenya is only two years older than us, fifty-one. She can work until she's sixty, so there are still nine years left."

“A new emperor brings a new court. Once Wenya retires, it’s your son’s business who will take over. I don’t want to get involved.”

"Can the second son handle it?" Xu Jinqiu frowned.

The family has too many businesses, too big, the relationships within them are too complicated, and the interests are even more complicated. As long as Chen Fan is around, it doesn't matter. He can make decisions on everything with a single word.

More importantly, Chen Fan is ruthless enough.

Despite rarely coming to work and acting as if he doesn't care about anything these past few years, Chen Fan has fired at least eighty, if not a hundred, senior executives.

Those who were fired didn't dare utter a sound.

If the second son takes over, without sufficient prestige, he may not be able to control those below him.

"What's wrong with that? The second son has been cunning and ruthless since he was a child. As long as we don't interfere, things won't fall into chaos below."

Chen Fan lit another cigarette and took a deep drag: "Besides, if he has the ability to squander the family business I built up, I'll have to admit I'm impressed."

"Go to hell!" Xu Jinqiu said irritably.

She slapped her husband and teased, "Our son is much better than you. He got his doctorate at the age of 22. And you? Heh... Back then, you scored just over 60 in every subject. If it weren't for Mr. Chen pulling strings, you wouldn't have been able to graduate."

Chen Fan was speechless: "Teacher Xu, you shouldn't hit someone in the face. Besides, I was busy starting a business at that time, how can it be the same?"

Xu Jinqiu chuckled: "Anyway, you're a terrible student. Let's get back to the son. I'm not worried about anything else, but I'm afraid he doesn't have enough prestige to keep people in line. We'll have to think of a way to do that."

Chen Fan nodded slightly and took a drag of his cigarette: "It's about time. During the summer vacation, let the brothers go out for a trip. The eldest and the fourth brother should go too, and pull off a big heist."

PS: The first update is here~
(End of this chapter)