Chapter 54: Disaster Originates from Within (Seeking Bookmarks)

  That night, all the men were almost completely drunk, especially the two wolves, who insisted on kowtowing to Chen Li and asking him to teach them more advanced martial arts after drinking too much. This made everyone laugh uncontrollably, and Chen Li was entangled by the two of them, so he had no choice but to agree that in the future, when there is an opportunity, he will definitely teach them even more advanced and powerful martial arts.

  When the midnight bell rang and the whole country was immersed in the sound of firecrackers, Chen Li quietly walked to one side and sent a text message to his grandfather Chen Bingkun using the new mobile phone Wang Caixia had just bought for him. The content of the text message was very simple, only seventeen words: "Grandson is safe, don't worry, happy New Year, good health!" However, these short seventeen words poured out all his emotions, entrusting his thoughts of missing his grandfather and feedback on his own situation.

  As the first family of China, the Chen family would definitely gather together during Chinese New Year. Especially those from the Red Gate organization all over the country and even around the world would come to pay their respects to the old master. The moment when the midnight bell rings is usually the most lively time. Every year at this time, the descendants of the Chen family and members of the Red Gate organization would take turns to pay their respects to Old Master Chen and offer him New Year's greetings. However, this year's Old Master Chen was very different from previous years. Not only did he not have a smile on his face, but he also sat silently in the hall's throne-like chair, seemingly immersed in memories of past events.

  Every year at midnight, when the New Year's bell rings, it is also the time for Chen family members and Red Gate organization leaders to take turns giving New Year's greetings and blessings to Old Master Chen. In previous years, this was also the moment when Chen Li, the big spoiled son, would come up with many tricks to delight Old Master Chen, who doted on him. But this year, without that big spoiled son, can Old Master Chen still be happy?

  Just as the descendants of the Chen family and the people in charge of the Hongmen organization were all thinking anxiously about what auspicious words to say to make the old man happy when they went up to pay their respects, Old Man Chen took out his phone, which he had been tightly holding in his hand, and looked at it. Suddenly, the wrinkles on his forehead began to relax, and a rare smile appeared on his face!

  This kid has really become sensible!

  Old Master Chen's face lit up with a relieved smile after reading the text message. This phone, apart from his trusted subordinates, only Chen Litai knew the number, and he had been holding onto it all this time, waiting for Chen Litai to send him a message. As his most beloved and worried grandson, although he was already expelled from the family in name, at this time of reunion, he still hoped to receive a text message from him, to comfort his nostalgic feelings. Fortunately, this kid is still considerate, and hasn't forgotten about me, this old man. I haven't wasted my efforts on him after all!

  Mr. Chen immediately deleted the text message after reading it, then smiled and greeted his children and grandchildren, distributing the red envelopes that had been prepared long ago one by one.

  "Who did you say sent that message just now?"

  In the corner of the Chen family hall, Chen Zhijian and Chen Zhihao leaned their heads together, while the eldest brother Chen Zhijian asked Chen Laodier with a gloomy face;

  "Who else could make Old Man Chen so happy all of a sudden, apart from that little rascal?" Chen Zhi Gao didn't suspect at all that Old Man Chen was doting on Chen Li, and directly assumed that the text message was sent by Chen Li.

  "That little rascal, every year at this time he steals our thunder, and this year he's not here. Originally I was thinking of letting Chen Qiang take the stage to humor the old man, but it was ruined by one of his text messages! Now even if we let Chen Qiang go on stage again, it won't have any effect!"

  This Chen Qiang is the eldest son of Chen Zhi Jian, and among the three generations of Chen's descendants, he can barely be considered one that Old Master Chen likes. Originally, Chen Zhi Jian had planned to let Chen Qiang win over Old Master Chen's favor, so that next year after the new year, he could get some benefits for him. However, a short message from Chen Li disrupted this plan, causing even Chen Qiang himself to lose confidence.

  "Big brother, I think you should let Xiao Qiang continue to perform his program. After all, among so many grandchildren, Xiao Qiang is one of the ones that Old Master likes more. We two have already been completely abandoned by Old Master because of San's reason, and now we can only pin our hopes on these children. To make them take control of Hongmen from Old Master's hands as soon as possible, even if it's just a little bit, it will be beneficial to us! If by any chance, Old Master is indeed cultivating Chen Li as his successor, then in the future when we seize power from him, we'll have our own strength too!" Chen Zhi Gao whispered to Chen Zhi Jian.

  "Hmph! Does he think he can just take power from my son's hands just because he sells beef noodles?" Chen Zhi Jian looked down on Chen Li's current status, and as the self-proclaimed eldest of the Chen family, he naturally believed that the power should ultimately fall into his and his son's hands. However, what he didn't notice was that when he finished speaking, a cold glint flashed in Chen Zhi Gao's eyes.

  "Big brother, it's not that I'm afraid of ten thousand, but what if something unexpected happens! Chen Li, this little beast, I think he can't be kept around!" Chen Zhi Gao's face was full of sinister intentions, wanting to instigate Chen Zhi Jian to get rid of Chen Li so he could gain the benefits for himself. However, he had underestimated Old Man Chen by a bit.

  "Lao Er, what are you thinking in your heart? I'm also very clear about it. But don't forget, whose hands is the Chen family's power in now? If we take action against Chen Li on our own, what kind of consequences will we face? And with Old Master's methods, do you think he won't have someone by Chen Li's side?"

  "In the past, Old Three personally created the 'Ten Years Association' organization, how powerful it was, you're not unaware of that. And in these twenty years, under Old Master's hands, what has become of them, we can't know anymore. So I advise you to be honest and not have any ideas about me or Chen Li." After saying this, Chen Zhi Jian went forward to pay New Year's greetings to Old Master and ignored Chen Lao Er behind him.

  "Big brother, I didn't mean it that way!"