Chapter 512: Not Holding Back
Chapter 512: Chapter 512: Not Holding Back
Ye Zheng smiled. "An apology is enough. Let’s not blow this out of proportion. It wasn’t a big deal to begin with."
Seeing that Ye Zheng genuinely wasn’t angry, the Zhou father and son breathed a sigh of relief. "That’s good."
After a brief chat, Ye Zheng saw the Zhou father and son to the door.
The moment the door closed, his warm smile vanished instantly.
Wang Liwen asked quietly, "Are you really going to let it go?"
Ye Zheng smiled. "For now, I’ll let it go. They came all the way here to apologize, so how can I press the issue? As for the future... heh, that’s another story."
In politics, you should avoid making enemies. And if you do, you don’t retaliate immediately.
You find an opportunity later to trip them up. Not only will their career stall, but they’ll never even know who was behind it.
Now *that* was the smart way to play the game.
Ye Zheng had already thought of no fewer than three ways to sabotage them. He would put them into action when the time was right.
Wang Liwen knew that while her husband appeared magnanimous, he wasn’t nearly so forgiving in reality. Especially when it came to the children, he never took things lightly.
After the Zhou father and son returned home, the son asked, "Dad, are you sure Ye Zheng won’t try to pull something on us?"
Mr. Zhou thought for a moment. "It looks like he’s let it go. If your promotion goes through smoothly this time, then we can assume the matter is truly over. But if it doesn’t... then it means Ye Zheng is still holding it against us."
They had already apologized. All they could do now was leave it to fate.
Who could they blame but their own grandson for running his mouth?
You could excuse the little one for being a child who doesn’t know any better, but then his daughter-in-law had to join in.
Even now, Mr. Zhou’s face burned with shame just thinking about it.
Seeing the bruises on Ye Chen’s face, Han Xiaorui was surprised. "Ye Chen, what happened? Did you get into a fight?"
"No! I just fell." Ye Chen shook his head. He knew that if he admitted to fighting, his sister-in-law would ask why, and he didn’t want to upset her by repeating the reason.
"So you’ve learned to lie now?" Han Xiaorui said with a laugh. "Fine, don’t tell me. We’re having a barbecue in a little while."
Ye Chen’s face lit up. "I love lamb skewers."
Han Xiaorui shook her head. "Your face is bruised, so you shouldn’t eat lamb. Let’s get you some beef skewers."
"That works too. Oh, and I want two of the grilled eggplants," Ye Chen requested.
Vegetables were scarce in the winter, but thankfully, there were greenhouses now, so you could buy eggplants in Beijing.
They were fresh, but rather expensive.
But when it came to food, they were willing to spend the money.
Ye Feng was chatting with his father, Ye Zheng. "Why did Ye Chen get into a fight? That kid is sly as a monkey. He’d use a trick or two; he’d never pick a fight head-on."
Ye Zheng smiled. "He had his reasons, and I think he did the right thing... The Zhou family may have apologized, but you should know where things stand. Stay away from them in the future. People who can’t control their mouths will only cause trouble later on."
Ye Feng was taken aback. "I can’t believe Ye Chen fought for Xiao Rui and for Pingping and An’an."
"That’s right. Both Ye Chen and Ye Ling are genuinely fond of you, Xiao Rui, and the four kids," Ye Zheng said with a proud laugh. "Of course, that’s also a testament to you and Xiao Rui being a good big brother and sister-in-law. You’ve earned your brothers’ respect."
Listening to his father’s compliments, Ye Feng’s gaze grew knowing. "Don’t flatter me. You’re leading up to something. If it’s too much to ask, just don’t say it."
Ye Zheng paused, then shook his head with a helpless laugh. "We’re father and son. Don’t you think you could be a little more polite?"
"It’s because we’re family that I don’t have to be polite," Ye Feng huffed. "You’re definitely up to something, and it’s something you need me and Xiao Rui to help with."
Ye Zheng chuckled awkwardly. "They say no one knows a father like his son. Ye Ling and Ye Chen are teenagers now. It’s a critical time in their lives when they can’t be left alone. They need someone around to provide emotional support."
Ye Feng looked confused. "Sure, but what does that have to do with me? You and Aunt Wang are their parents. What’s better than guidance from your own parents?"
"I’m busy with work. When things get hectic, I’m on business trips all over the country. How can I possibly look after them?" Ye Zheng looked troubled, his eyes pleading with his son.
Ye Feng took two steps back. "You’re away on business, but isn’t Aunt Wang still here? What’s going on? Are you two getting a divorce?"
At his son’s words, Ye Zheng’s face flushed red. "At my age? What are you talking about, divorce? Don’t be ridiculous. I didn’t want to ask for your help with this, but the situation is critical."
"Ye Ling and Ye Chen can’t be left alone. Your Aunt Wang is at the most critical stage of her research right now. Her work is on various infectious diseases. As all sorts of new infectious diseases emerge, the research has to keep pace."
"We lack the right conditions here in the country, so she needs to go abroad for an international collaboration. If your Aunt Wang doesn’t go now, by the time Ye Chen and Ye Ling are in college, she might not have the stamina or energy for it anymore."
"You’ve worked on the covert front; you should know that bacteriological and viral warfare aren’t just for wartime. They happen in times of peace, too. If our research falls behind and someone smuggles in a pathogen, for a country with a population as large as ours, it would lead to a series of battles with unimaginable consequences."
Ye Feng fell silent. "So? I have a ton of things to handle in Shencheng, and so does Xiao Rui. How could we possibly come here to raise your kids for you?"
Ye Zheng smiled. "You don’t have to come to Beijing. I’ll have Ye Ling and Ye Chen transfer to schools over there with you. When your Aunt Wang comes back in two or three years, I’ll transfer them back here."
Ye Feng considered this. "Won’t that affect their schooling?"
"The curriculum is more or less the same. As long as they study hard, they’ll be fine. Besides, won’t you two be there to keep an eye on them?" Ye Zheng said. "Talk it over with Xiao Rui and see what she thinks. If it doesn’t work, I’ll figure something else out."
Ye Feng nodded. "Alright, I’ll talk it over with Xiao Rui."
Hearing this, Ye Zheng was overjoyed.
As long as Ye Feng agreed to consider it, Han Xiaorui was even less likely to object.
In fact, Han Xiaorui was often more agreeable than Ye Feng, especially when it came to his younger brothers and the kids.
Just as Ye Zheng had predicted, when Ye Feng told Han Xiaorui about it, she agreed without a moment’s hesitation.
"Of course, why not?" Han Xiaorui replied. "Ye Chen can enroll at Jinshan Bay Middle School; its facilities and teaching quality are both excellent. And with Ye Ling’s grades, he can get into the best high school in the area."
"As for the college entrance exams, both Shencheng and Beijing have their own advantages and policies. They can choose when the time comes; it won’t negatively impact them. Dad is at a crucial point in his career, and Aunt Wang is at a critical point in her research."
"I’ve spoken with her about her work. While I don’t understand the technical details, I know that the threat of viral and bacteriological warfare is ever-present. Whether for everyday medical treatment or for actual war, we have to be constantly prepared."
"You’re focused on the business world, and I’m investing in Jinshan Bay. For the Ye Family to diversify and grow in the future, we need Dad and Aunt Wang to succeed. Ye Ling and Ye Chen might go into politics someday, and they’ll become our support and our protection. Otherwise, we can earn all the money in the world, but we might not be able to hold onto it."
Ye Feng was taken aback. "I never realized you thought that far ahead."