Period drama: Old Cao's carefree life

Chapter 169 My worldview was completely shattered.
The next day, Cao Weida was woken up by Liu Rusi's imported lollipop.

After giving her a good beating, he stepped out of the room feeling refreshed, only to be met with a resentful gaze.

Leaving behind the words "I'll treat you tonight," Ru Qiulan's resentment turned to joy, and she eagerly saw him out of the courtyard.

Just as they stepped out of the courtyard, the gate to the courtyard diagonally opposite opened, and Yan Zhensheng, dressed in a long gown and mandarin jacket with a slicked-back hairstyle that would make flies slip, also came out.

"Hey, boss, greetings! Heading to work?" Yan Zhensheng greeted him with a respectful smile and a cupped-hand salute.

When Cao Wei moved to a new house, he brought in two concubines. Even if he tried to keep a low profile, it wasn't done secretly, so people around him could see it.

As a businessman, Yan Zhensheng was tough at heart, but he also understood human relationships.

Cao Wei Da had a good reputation; in fact, he was quite well-regarded by the common people.

He was very willing to befriend officials like that, because he might need their help someday.

Of course, he didn't try to curry favor with Cao Weida. In truth, he still looked down on Cao Weida to some extent.

After all, although Cao Wei Da was a good person, he was still working for the Japanese. Even if it was to make a living, his position was his position, and that couldn't be changed.

"Good morning, Manager Yan." Cao Weida smiled and cupped his hands in greeting. His face, which bore a striking resemblance to the silly character Sha Zhu in the TV series, gave him a slightly goofy look.

“It’s just going to work. We’re just errand boys, not as free as you. If we’re late or absent, our whole family will starve.”

Yan Zhensheng, the protagonist of Sesame Alley, is the owner of Qinfangju.

He was a man of deep affection and responsibility, who upheld principles and had a bottom line. He was gentle yet fierce, and his life was full of ups and downs, a tiny part of the torrent of the times.

Cao Wei Da still had a good impression of him.
Putting aside everything else, Yan Zhensheng's belief in resisting Japanese aggression and saving the country, and his sending his only son, who had just turned sixteen, to the battlefield, is something that not everyone could do.

After all, although the Yan family was not extremely wealthy, they were still quite well-off and could live comfortably.

People die on the battlefield, doesn't Yan Zhensheng know that?
He knew, but he still sent it anyway, and that alone made Cao Wei Da look at him with new respect.

Yan Zhensheng cupped his hands in apology: "Boss, please stop teasing me. You're the kind of person who's guaranteed a steady income, unlike us business people, who have a really tough time."

"Don't let my outward success fool you; this is all the face I have left. These days, doing business is tough."

"It's only because you made the decision that our lives are a little better. If this were before, our lives would have been incredibly difficult."

"Today we send our men over for a chat, tomorrow the gang will come over for a chat, and then we'll have someone else come over to talk. We don't make much money in this business, it's all hard-earned money, and in the end we almost can't even fill our stomachs."

Cao Wei nodded, saying that when he was talking about the past, wasn't he referring to Qiu Ziming?

If Yan Zhensheng hadn't mentioned it, he would have almost forgotten the name.

Ironically, he was actually betrayed and killed by Oda, the Japanese devil he thought was his protector. It's quite a funny story.

Cao Wei Da was quite pleased to be praised in person.

Just then, a young man came out, looking displeased, and said, "Dad, what's going on? What's there to say? Hurry up, are we still going to the shop?"

Yan Zhensheng's expression changed slightly, and he immediately scolded, "What are you saying! You have no manners!"

The young man was clearly unconvinced and was about to retort when he was stopped by Yan Zhensheng's stern gaze and could only lower his head and shut his mouth in resentment.

After scolding his son, Yan Zhensheng bowed and apologized, saying, "Boss, I'm really sorry. This kid has been spoiled since he was a child and doesn't know how to speak properly. I apologize to you."

"You little brat, what are you doing? Come and greet the boss!"

"Oh, Manager Yan, you're too kind. This must be your son, if I remember correctly, his name is Yan Kuan, right?" After a quick look, this was indeed Yan Kuan. He had stolen someone's future wife, so he had to give him some face.

He praised with a smile:
"Your son is so handsome and energetic. He looks intelligent and quick-witted, and he's sure to amount to something. Manager Yan, you have a worthy successor."

It has to be said, like begets like.

Yan Zhensheng was a good person, and his son was very well-mannered.

Well, his father's brain is a bit... how should I put it? Anyway, Cao Weida seems a bit muddled.

To be honest, when I watched this TV series, I felt that the Yan family was really chaotic. I don't know if it was because of the plot or something else, but Cao Weida shook his head as he watched it.

As mentioned earlier, people tend to get married quite young in this era, and Yan Kuan was no exception. Although he was only sixteen years old, he had already gotten married.

His wife's name was Guo Binghui. I remember that he married Guo Binghui when he went to fight against the Japanese, and soon after he joined the army.

Later, a false rumor spread that Yan Kuan had died in battle. Less than half a year later, Guo Binghui wanted to remarry Feng Dafu, who served tea and water in the Yan family! Feng Dafu was Yan Kuan's good brother! The good brother who entrusted his wife to him before he died!

My brother has only been gone for half a year, and he's already betrayed me.
Anyone with a modicum of sense of propriety and shame wouldn't do such a thing, right?
Key point is that Yan Zhensheng not only agreed, but also tried his best to bring them together.

Keep in mind that Guo Binghui was already showing signs of pregnancy at that time!
Even in modern times, let alone this era, this news is quite explosive!

That's not the most amazing thing. The most amazing thing is that Guo Binghui later actually wanted to change Yan Kuan's son's surname!
At that time, the Yan family had no more sons, and Yan Kuan's son was practically their only heir!

If this happened to an ordinary person, they would be furious!
But Yan Zhensheng didn't play by the rules; he just readily agreed.
My God! When I saw this plot, Cao Wei Da's scalp tingled and his worldview was completely shattered!

Thinking of this, Cao Weida couldn't help but feel sympathy when he looked at Yan Kuan.

Tsk, he's really had a tough time having such a troublesome father.

I really don't know what terrible things I did in my past life to have such a weird father and such an amazing wife in this life.

You know, these days women's virtues are highly valued. Look at Jia Zhangshi, no matter how bad she is, at least she never remarried in her entire life!
This is the greatest contribution to the Jia family!

Yan Kuan was taken aback when he heard himself being praised.

To be honest, he didn't have a good impression of Cao Wei. Having a patriotic father and growing up in such a family, he was naturally influenced by him.

The key issue is that he is still young and doesn't know how to assess the situation or view things with a mature perspective, which leads to his somewhat biased and one-sided view.

He didn't know what Cao Weida had done; all he knew was that Cao Weida was working for the Japanese.

Therefore, I felt a certain resistance.

Unexpectedly, his usually stern father rarely praised him, but Cao Wei Da, whom he disliked, praised him on their first meeting.

He was a little confused. "Sir, you're praising me so much, I feel embarrassed to dislike you."
"Boss, you flatter me. My son has been mischievous and too straightforward since he was little. I was worried that he would suffer because of his personality. I would be grateful if he could carry on the Yan family business in the future." Although he said this, Yan Zhensheng's face was beaming with joy at his son's praise.

Yan Kuan didn't realize his father was being modest and actually thought that's what his father thought. He couldn't help but feel indignant. "A stranger is praising your son, and you, as his father, don't know how to do the same?"
Cao Wei Da, who witnessed all this, found it somewhat amusing; the Chinese tradition is to be modest.

You can tell from the way they address you. For example, "my unworthy son" or "my humble wife" might sound like they're belittling you, but they're just being modest and modest.

"Manager Yan is too modest. You go ahead and get busy. I'll go check in now. We can chat again when we have time."

"Yes, yes, yes, I won't delay your business. Please take care, boss."

After Cao Wei Da left, the father and son boarded a rickshaw. "Lushan, go to the shop."

As the vehicle moved, Yan Zhensheng said sternly, "Kuan'er, next time you see Commander Cao, you must be respectful and polite! It's only because Commander Cao is broad-minded that you're in trouble. If you encountered someone with a slightly narrow mind, you would have gotten into trouble, you know that!"

Yan Kuan wasn't initially upset, but this harsh remark ignited his stubbornness. "Dad, why? He's a traitor!"

"Yan Kuan!" Yan Zhensheng's expression changed, and he covered Yan Kuan's mouth. He looked around nervously, and only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that no one else was paying attention.

He said sternly, "Are you crazy?! Are you looking for death?!"

"Do you know how turbulent things are in Beiping right now! Those people are arresting people everywhere like madmen. If anyone hears about this, you wouldn't have enough lives to survive!"

Yan Kuan also realized the seriousness of the situation. Although he was young and impulsive, he was not brainless. He had just acted on impulse.

"Father, I understand. I was just a little resentful. I'll definitely be more careful next time."

Seeing that his son understood the seriousness of the matter, Yan Zhensheng was relieved and said earnestly:
"Son, Beiping is not what it used to be. We are living under the swords and guns of the Japanese devils. We must be extremely careful and cautious in everything we do!"

"Whether it's speaking or acting, you must think twice before you act!"

"Moreover, that Commander Cao is not what you imagine. In fact, you could say that under his jurisdiction, the Chinese people live with a semblance of humanity!"

"I'm telling you to be respectful to Commander Cao, not just because he has the Japanese backing, but because he has genuinely done practical things for our people!"

"A gentleman judges by his deeds. Considering the contributions he has made to us ordinary people, it's only natural that you should respect him. Do you understand?"

"Father, I understand." Yan Kuan nodded in shame.

Meanwhile, Cao Weida, who had just arrived at the police station, was unaware of the conversation between the father and son. After his roll call, he was pulled aside by Duomen.

"Cao'er, we've arrested quite a few people these past two days, and many have come to me asking for my help. Is it really impossible to get leniency from Xiao Ye?"

(End of this chapter)