Chapter 2720 - 1689: Father and Son (Part 2)

Chapter 2720: Chapter 1689: Father and Son (Part 2)

At that time, standing by the Pujiang River, looking at the woman standing tall under the moonlight, the future seemed just like the river behind her, shimmering, deep and mysterious, unfathomable.

But looking back now.

The road we’ve walked along is so clear, as if destined.

Jiang Chen sighed softly, a true finishing touch.

"Jiang, you don’t need to say anymore. It must not have been easy for you and Pei Zhi to come together."

Lan’s mother finally couldn’t hold back.

She’s a rural woman without much education, but she could understand what was being said.

If this kid kept talking, as a parent, she’d start to feel embarrassed.

Wu Guangjiang also stopped at the right time.

Yes.

He also couldn’t quite take it.

He didn’t know how this kid could say such things so calmly...

How best to describe it?

Yes.

——Such pretentious words.

But thinking about it carefully, can regular people handle his daughter?

"It’s definitely more spectacular than the river in our village, huh."

Walking into the Bund, Wu Guangjiang looked out towards the river with amazement.

"You can take a cruise at night. Are uncle and aunt interested?"

"Brother Jiang Chen, my mom gets seasick."

"..."

Jiang Chen immediately dropped the topic.

Despite every inch being precious, this city never lacks enthusiasts, and even though the evening is the busiest time, the Bund is lively even in the afternoon.

"Shouldn’t you come out and see? You’ve never seen so many people in your life, have you?"

Wu Guangjiang nagged at his wife, but if she were a modern girl, she would surely argue. Lan’s mother just smiled with pursed lips; the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes resembled dried orange peels. She looked at the customs house clock, "This clock is really big, at least ten times bigger than the clock in the village’s ancestral hall..."

"Wu Guangjiang, do you know what that place is?"

Not able to stand him showing off in front of their mother, Martial Saint sneered.

Wu Guangjiang was suddenly stumped, his lips moved, but his throat felt stuffed with cotton, unable to make a sound.

What does he know?

The internet does allow learning lots of things, seeing many things one hasn’t experienced, but it has limitations too.

"That’s the customs building."

Jiang Chen spoke up to help out, "Aunt, that was built by the British a hundred years ago."

"A hundred years ago?"

"Yes, 1927."

Unwilling to be silent, Wu Guangjiang wanted to regain face and quickly chimed in, "A hundred years ago, East Sea was full of concessions, and foreigners built many buildings here. East Sea’s current vigor is thanks to the foreigners’ contribution."

"Talking nonsense. The foreigners were chased out long ago. What’s it got to do with them."

Though a most ordinary rural woman, Lan’s mother has national pride.

"If you don’t believe, ask Jiang."

Wu Guangjiang didn’t educate his wife, maybe because their son was beside him glaring.

"Uncle’s words do have some truth."

"See."

Wu Guangjiang became smug again, "Don’t be so shallow in thinking. Why have we developed so quickly over decades if not for opening the national gate and doing business with foreigners."

Wu Guangjiang looked at the International Architecture Exhibition across the river, his eyes bright, looking proud, "We were once enslaved, but knowing shame leads to courage. To surpass the enemy, we must first learn from the enemy, harnessing their strengths for our own use. It won’t be many years before we’ll rise from the sick man of East Asia to world number two. How long before we reach number one? It will definitely be shorter. We will certainly see it in our lifetime."

Lan’s mother also looked across the river.

Truth be told, this speech of the old man’s touched Martial Saint, but years of habit made him instinctively undermine.

"Even if Shen Zhou becomes number one, what does it have to do with you? Can you earn a penny of benefit?"

"Vision!"

Standing among many foreign faces, Wu Guangjiang, the lowest-status farmer, appeared radiant and dignified, dusting the hem of his leather jacket.

"I may not get any benefits, but I am glorious!"

Martial Saint twitched his mouth, wanted to refute but couldn’t find the words, eventually gave a thumbs up.

"You’re noble, you’re amazing!"

Having rarely gained the upper hand, Wu Guangjiang didn’t press his advantage to rebuild paternal authority. If he genuinely cared about paternal dignity, he wouldn’t have let Martial Saint develop this personality.

Almost fifteen years old now, not possible to hit anymore, probably can’t even hit him, but kids were not born this big.

"Come, let’s take a photo together."

Wu Guangjiang took out his phone from his pocket.

"Let me take it."

Jiang Chen volunteered.

"Hey, let’s all take it together, a family portrait."

Wu Guangjiang refused, but photos need a photographer after all?

Then, Wu Guangjiang generously found a girl passing by, youthful, full of collagen, maybe a college student. He was clever, definitely not chosen randomly, knowing college students are polite and wouldn’t refuse, she helped them take several photos by the Pujiang River.

"Thanks, girl."

Wu Guangjiang reviewed the photos, quite satisfied.

"You’re welcome, sir."

The girl waved goodbye and walked away smiling.

"Pfft—"

Martial Saint couldn’t hold back, didn’t want to hold back, and bent over laughing, clutching his stomach.

Wu Guangjiang froze, his face turning visibly darker, his mood instantly soured.

"This young girl, not very old, how can her eyes be so bad."

He pretended to chase after her to argue.

Lan’s mother tried to hold back a smile, tugging his arm, "Let’s go."

World Trade Square.

Traveling isn’t just about sightseeing, expanding experience, more importantly what?

That’s right.

Shopping.

Especially since it’s the beloved son’s birthday.

Can’t really treat a few pounds of oranges as a gift.

That’s for the "son-in-law."

The relationship must be distinguished.

"What do you want?"

Wu Guangjiang was generous, even in a lavish mall, he felt no fear.

"I appreciate your kindness, don’t bother to spend."

This kid.

"Answer when asked. Don’t be polite with your father. You only turn fifteen once, when you’re thirty and want your dad to pay, your dad might not be around."

"Wu Guangjiang, are you sick? Cursing yourself for no reason. If you want to die, tell me early so I can choose a place, as graves will get more expensive."

"Hehe, birth, aging, sickness, and death is natural law, no one can escape. No need to bother. If I’m not around one day, push me to the crematorium and scatter my ashes randomly over some field and be of some use, giving crops some nutrients."

This topic, outsiders can’t join.

The son-in-law is also an outsider.

"Why talk about such unlucky things on the kid’s birthday."

"He’s not small anymore, can’t be spoken of? He’ll definitely be the one to send me off in the future. I’ve already told you what to do when I’m gone, I have no other requests, just when you remember to, burn more paper money."

"Haha."

Martial Saint smiled insincerely, "Burning paper money isn’t allowed in the city, it’s a feudal superstition, to be abolished."

"Which fool said abolish? Feudal, my ass. Burning incense to honor ancestors has been around for thousands of years, becomes a bad habit here? Making stupid ideas, is he parentless or a spawn from a rock?"

"What good does talking to me do? Anyway, you take care of yourself, hoping I’ll let you enjoy leisurely in the underworld, that’s wishful thinking."

Wu Guangjiang wasn’t disheartened.

They say raising children is for old age.

For what?

"Burn if you want, don’t if you don’t. Just don’t fear I’ll come find you."

Lan’s mother gave Jiang Chen a helpless smile.

Jiang Chen responded with an understanding look.

"You’d be better off asking my sister, she’s more reliable."

Wu Guangjiang snorted.

"What father begs his kids? Anyway, this life wasn’t wasted, suffering a bit after death is nothing. But remember, when I’m gone, be nice to your mom, or I’ll definitely come find you to talk."

Martial Saint pursed his lips, "Seeing Brother Jiang Chen is here, pretending to be nice, huh?"

Wu Guangjiang laughed, pretended to raise his hand but didn’t tap down, glanced at his increasingly mature son beside him.

"Come on, let’s get you a belt."