The Rise of a Special Forces Soldier Abandoned by a Wealthy Family

Sure enough, only these three people could save Zeng Junze.

Zeng Linglong didn't care. He adhered to the educational philosophy that "sons should be toughened up from a young age." No matter how much the three of them "tortured" Xiao Junze, he turned a blind eye.

But Lin Xiaoya's arrival made all the difference. She stood directly in front of Zeng Junze, hands on her hips, glaring at the three members of Baroque.

"Gentlemen, that concludes today's training. Junze and Nuoxi should now attend their computer class."

The three Baroques looked at each other, their faces full of displeasure. Just as they were about to argue, Ye Feng and Shi Tiezhu quickly stepped forward to interrupt.

Ye Feng grabbed Baroque's shoulder, while Shi Tiezhu supported Jianmo and Xue Yan, and the two of them pulled the three old men out from the left and right.

"Alright, alright, let's go, let's go play mahjong. Ye Feng brought some good tea today, especially for the old men." Tie Zhu said as he pulled them along.

Baroque's eyes lit up. He loved playing mahjong, especially with Tiezhu.

Tie Zhu's card-playing style is even more straightforward than his personality; he plays according to a fixed logic in every hand, and he is bound to lose.

As long as Shi Tiezhu is at the poker table, Baroque is guaranteed to win.

Lin Xiaoya held Zeng Junze's hand in one hand and Xiao Nuoxi's hand in the other, leading the two little ones upstairs.

She opened three laptops and began teaching them the basics of programming.

Little Junze picked it up quickly, his little hands clicking away on the keyboard.

Little Nuoxi lay on the table, staring at the changing code on the screen, blinking her eyes and nodding sleepily.

Downstairs, Teng Ao also arrived, with his wife beside him.

Zeng Linglong saw him and waved:

"You're here? Perfect timing, we're one short for the game, sit down."

So Teng Ao, Zeng Linglong, and their two brothers got together for a mahjong game, replacing the playing cards with mahjong tiles, and the sound of shuffling the tiles filled the air.

Tong Ke and Du Shimeng also arrived.

Tong Ke is now Tie Zhu's fiancée, and Du Shimeng and Ye Feng's relationship has long been settled.

The two of them, along with Teng Ao's wife, Yan Rugo, and Anna, formed a table for a game of mahjong.

Five women sat around the mahjong table, laughing continuously. Someone won a big hand, attracting everyone's attention.

Looking at the lively scene of this large family, He Jing smiled, stood up, picked up her phone, and said:

"Alright, another busy day ahead. I need to call my sisters to come over and help with the cooking. There are so many people, the nanny and I can't handle it all on our own."

So, with just one phone call, Li Yingxiu, Zhou Simin, and Su Wan all came over.

Behind Li Yingxiu was a smart and spirited female soldier in military uniform named Shiliu.

As soon as Shiliu saw He Jing, she opened her arms and hugged her.

"Aunt Jing, Shiliu misses you so much, and misses your cooking so much."

He Jing patted Shi Liu's back affectionately:

"Oh my, our little pomegranate is back! And she's a captain now. Great, great, Aunt Jing will cook all of little pomegranate's favorite dishes tonight."

Right now, in the kitchen.

The sound of washing vegetables filled the air.

The wok sizzled.

In the living room.

The mahjong tiles were shuffled and pushed around with a clattering sound.

Some people shouted "Pong!" while others shouted "I won!"

Laughter erupted.

Sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, falling on Zeng Rong and Lin Fen.

The two elderly people leaned back on the sofa.

In his arms were little Junze and little Nuoxi.

The two children had somehow slipped downstairs and were now nestled in their great-grandparents' arms, giggling and acting spoiled.

Zeng Rong's withered hand gently stroked the top of his great-grandson's head.

Lin Fen's aged fingers gently combed her great-granddaughter's braids.

The sunset glow spread across the horizon, illuminating this scene of family bliss.

Decades later.

One bedroom.

Teng Ao was critically ill and lay in bed.

He has achieved great success and has many children and grandchildren.

His descendants knelt before his bed, a dark mass of them.

He opened his cloudy eyes and, with his last bit of strength, sat up.

His descendants rushed to help him up, but he pushed them away, trembling.

He raised his right hand and pointed tremblingly in one direction.

That's pointing in the direction of Zeng Linglong's villa.

"I……"

He opened his mouth, uttered only one word, and then began to breathe heavily.

But he didn't put his hand down.

"I am proud—"

"My Teng family's ancestral precepts—"

He took a deep breath, and a hoarse, dying sound came from his chest.

"May all my proud descendants—"

"We must follow the lead of Mr. Zeng Linglong and his descendants!"

"No conditions asked!"

"I will follow you to the death—"

"Until death do us part!"

He was screaming with almost all his might.

"Those who violate this rule—"

"They are my arrogant and unfilial descendants!"

The last four words were spoken with all his remaining strength.

Then--

He slowly closed his eyes.

The raised right hand slowly lowered.

"dad--"

"grandfather--"

"Great-grandfather—"

"Grandpa—"

"Great-grandfather—"

The sound of crying filled the entire room.

The era of a business king and a business legend has come to an end.

He passed away at the age of 102.

Teng Ao's right hand rested quietly on the white sheet.

Finger laxity.

But the direction he pointed in never shifted even slightly, from the moment he raised it until it slowly lowered.

That's the direction of Zeng Linglong's house.

That was the direction in which the person he had sworn to follow for life was heading.

(End of the book)

Author's Closing Remarks

More than eight months, more than 240 days and nights, have passed just like that.

Fortunately, the journey continues. A new story has been signed; it's a fantasy novel with a wildly imaginative plot, titled "Alone Atop the Heavens." It's a completely new endeavor, and I hope it will bring everyone a different experience.

To be honest, my fingers hovered over the keyboard for a long time when I typed "The End".

I feel empty inside, like saying goodbye to an old friend I've known for a long time.

It's like a carefully cultivated garden that has finally reached its flowering season—though I'm not sure if the flowers are blooming as I'd like.

I don't actually know how well this novel is written.

I genuinely didn't know. For the past eight months, I've practically lived like an isolated island.

He gave up his job, turned down social engagements, and rarely attended gatherings with his comrades.

I occasionally went there, and a table full of people would clink glasses and chat, while I would just sit to the side with my teacup.

It's not that I'm antisocial, it's just that I have to work overtime at night and I don't dare to drink.

But strangely enough, just sitting there quietly, listening to my comrades bragging and chatting, that pure, unadulterated camaraderie made me feel particularly at ease.

This is probably one of the few warm connections I've had with the outside world in the past eight months.

The reason why there are few comments and the novel's rating doesn't go up is something I've thought about later—I'm not good at interacting with others.

It's not that I don't want to, it's just that there's only so much time. The scenarios in my mind are racing like a revolving lantern, and just trying to sort them out and write them down has already exhausted all my energy.

I really don't have the extra energy to chat in the group or maintain relationships with readers. This is my problem, and I have to admit it.

So, if this book has accompanied you through some boring time, even if it was only for a small part that you found "somewhat interesting," I'm shamelessly asking for a five-star review.

If you find the later parts unsatisfactory, please be kind and don't be too harsh with your comments, haha.

Feel free to offer any suggestions; I will read every single one carefully. For someone like me who's buried in writing until my eyes are practically black, this feedback is truly a guiding light.

Speaking of the ending, some readers may feel it was a bit too fast, with some plot lines left unresolved and some plot holes left unfilled.

I apologize for this. Actually, in my outline, the story goes on for a long time, and the fates of many supporting characters and the intricate web of subplots have not yet been fully explored.

But every day when I open the backend and see that almost static data, it's like a person performing in an empty theater.

I don't know where to direct my energy. I suffer from insomnia every day, caught in a state of inner turmoil and self-doubt, and my hair is turning white strand by strand.

Finally, unable to hold on any longer, I decided to give it a dignified ending.

So, this is a regretful ending, and also a thought left for myself.

Perhaps one day in the future, when my writing skills are stronger and my mindset is more stable, I will come back and present that world to you in its entirety.

This book is not perfect, but it is all I could offer at that stage, with all the resources I had.

Finally, thank you to everyone who has read this far. Thank you for your quiet companionship, accompanying a writer who is not good with words through these long eight months.

The journey through life may be long, but we'll meet again through words.

May everyone who reads this have everything go smoothly, everything be good, every family be prosperous, and everyone be happy.