Chapter 21: The Profound Meaning of Old Feng

  Two cups of wine down, Peng Yuanzheng finally saw a flash of tears in the old man's eyes. He knew that the old man was grieving and reminiscing about his father. Although he held the power of a great nation, he also had a soft heart like any ordinary person, it's just that the old man hid it very well.

  After dinner, Feng Qianru accompanied the old lady in conversation, while Peng Yuanzheng followed the old man into his study.

  After entering the study, the old man slowly sat down in his own armchair and then gestured for Peng Yuanzheng to sit down as well.

  He remained silent for a long time, then pointed to the two calligraphic paintings hanging on the wall and smiled warmly, "These are Zheng Xie's calligraphic paintings, but they are copies."

  Peng Yuanzheng looked up at the calligraphy and painting, one was a freehand brushwork of bamboo, and the other was a meticulous depiction of peony. He didn't quite understand calligraphy and painting, so he didn't dare to speak lightly in front of the old man, knowing that the old man had his own ideas, and quietly waited.

  "In my backyard, there is a pot of peonies, which are high-quality and transplanted from your Jiangbei Province. Every spring, they bloom in clusters. My backyard originally had a pot of bamboo too, but unfortunately, the soil and water didn't suit it, so it grew weak and sickly. I had someone pull them out and plant all peonies instead."

  The old man's voice was gentle but powerful, Peng Yuanzheng listened carefully, his heart moved. He had lived two lives, with a broad and open mind, and he could hear the deep meaning behind the old man's words.

  As expected, Lao Ye Zi temporarily does not plan to arrange for the mother and son to enter the capital. This means that his identity will not be made public.

  "Do you understand what Grandfather means?" Old Feng's eyebrows rose slightly as he stared at Peng Yuanzheng.

  "Far Expedition understands. Grandfather, I never thought of becoming a greenhouse flower... My sky is outside!" Peng Yuanzheng's voice was slightly emotional.

  Feng Lao nodded in satisfaction, "Good."

  "Just from this point of view, you are stronger than Yuan Hua." Old Feng nodded with a smile, "Remember, no matter where you are, you are my grandson, Feng Pei Rong's son. My grandson must stand tall and firm, and cannot be swayed by wind and rain!"

  "Yes."

  "You may be my grandson, but I won't let you ride on my and the family's coattails... Grandpa hopes that you can achieve what you want through your own efforts!"

  "During the Spring Festival, bring your mother here to Grandfather's place, and our family will officially reunite. - Old Feng's expression gradually became serious, "Grandfather hopes you start from the grassroots level, step by step, be a down-to-earth person, do things with integrity, and in the future, take on the heavy responsibility of being the pillar of the Feng family!"

  Feng Lao's words were solemn and formal, Peng Yuanzheng's heart tightened, knowing that he would not be able to borrow the family's energy for a long time. He also vaguely guessed that this was Feng Lao's test of him. As long as Feng Lao did not agree to reveal his identity, he would never be able to gain power. However, this was within his expectations.

  He immediately stood up and nodded, "I understand, Grandpa, I won't let you down."

  "Hmm. During the New Year, bring your father's ashes to Beijing and bury them in the suburbs... Your grandmother and I will often go visit him..." Old Feng's voice suddenly became a little choked, he turned his head away, and instantly regained his composure.

  "There's another thing. Your father is no longer around, your uncle doesn't have a son, and Grandpa hopes that from now on you can regard Bo Tao as your father..." Old Feng said softly, the sadness in his eyes gradually fading away, replaced by a certain depth.

  Peng Yuanzheng was taken aback, but he didn't hesitate and immediately agreed. His father wasn't around, so he regarded his uncle as a father figure, which was normal enough, but he always felt that Old Feng's words had some underlying meaning.

  "Alright, Grandpa still has some documents to look at. You go take a bath and chat with your grandma for a bit. Off you go." Old Feng waved his hand somewhat tiredly, and Peng Yuanzheng didn't dare to tarry, immediately bowing and taking his leave.

  ……

  ……

  That night, Peng Yuanzheng stayed in Dahongmen, and Feng Qianru also stayed.

  That very night, however, Old Man Feng and his wife had a quarrel.

  For Feng Lao's arrangement for Peng Yuanzhi and his mother.

  Mrs. Feng thought that the mother and son had suffered too much, they should be taken to Beijing immediately, not seeking wealth or nobility, but seeking peace and happiness, and the old man could also see his grandson from time to time.

  "What's wrong with eating some bitterness? Young people who eat bitterness are blessed, and those who eat the most bitterness will be superior! I want him to know that even if I, Feng Peirong, recognize him as my grandson, he won't get anything from me or the Feng family without working for it. It's impossible to gain something without effort!" Old Man Feng was extremely serious and refused to give in.

  The old lady was extremely angry and stormed off to her room with her cup, still fuming.

  The next day, Feng Lao still had a major meeting to attend and was picked up early by the cars of the Security Bureau and the Office.

  According to Old Feng's intention, Peng Yuanzheng could not stay in the big red gate for a long time and left on the same day. When saying goodbye, Mrs. Feng was reluctant to part with him and cried again while hugging Peng Yuanzheng.

  It was still the military off-road vehicle that sent Peng Yuanzhen back to Jiangbei Xian.

  It's estimated that he was still on his way when Mrs. Feng's call reached the office of her eldest son, Feng Botao. The old lady sighed heavily over the phone, and Feng Botao understood what she meant, so he quickly agreed.

  Feng Boguo was very clear in his mind that Feng Lao had dedicated the first half of his life to the revolution and the second half to the country, without any personal motives. He would not use his power and influence to pave the way for his own grandson.

  But as the elder brother, Feng Bogao felt very sorry for his nephew who had a bitter life. Moreover, Old Man Feng had already hinted to Feng Bogao that he wanted Peng Yuanzhen to regard him as his father, which also meant that he would inherit his legacy.

  Feng Bogao didn't dare to make any major moves behind Old Man Feng's back. When the old man said let Peng Yuanzheng stay downstairs, he stayed downstairs, and no one dared to disobey. He wanted to arrange a slightly better job for Peng Yuanzheng through someone else, so that his mother and son could live a slightly better life, but that was all.

  Feng's family has connections all over the world, but after Feng Botao made a few phone calls, he picked up the phone again to "report" to his mother. Seeing her eldest son being so "uncooperative" and not following her hint to arrange for Peng Yuanzheng to return to Beijing, the old lady was very dissatisfied.

  "Mom, Dad both said it, let Yuancheng stay in Jiangbei, how dare I bring him to Beijing! I asked someone to help him transfer his work unit, this is already against Dad's principles - Mom, actually, down there it's the same, Yuancheng is a graduate of Jinghua University, excellent in both character and learning, and also a party member, definitely no problem with his work."

  Feng Bogao smiled and accompanied, while Old Lady Feng scolded angrily, "You let him stay in such a small place, when can he stand out? How many years will it take to boil? Ten years or twenty years? Mom is old, how many days can she see this child? Eldest son, it's not mom saying you guys, your brothers are already gone, this is the only flesh and blood left by him, he is your own nephew, we are a family, bones are connected!"

  "You can't treat this child like that! Mother absolutely disagrees! How much suffering has this child endured? You can't empathize at all! What are you... Let mother say what's good?"

  Feng Bogao smiled wryly, "Mom, don't say that. I also want to bring Yuan Zheng back to the capital to take care of him by my side. But Dad has already made up his mind, and you know his temper all too well. If I dared to go against Dad's wishes and bring Yuan Zheng back, do you think Dad would let me off?"

  Peng Yuanzhen did not let the off-road vehicle take him to the entrance of the community, but got off near Xin'an Railway Station and bid farewell to the serious-looking driver soldier.

  He drove a car back home, and his mother, Meng Lin, was sitting on the sofa watching TV with an uneasy expression. Seeing him enter, she immediately stood up and frowned, asking, "Yuan Zheng, didn't you just return from Beijing? Why did you run off again?"

  Peng Yuanzheng sighed inwardly. He didn't tell his mother the truth, but instead told a kind lie, saying that his classmate's father had found him temporarily because of work problems, and glossed over it.

  Since Old Feng arranged it this way, Peng Yuanzheng could only temporarily keep silent. By the end of the year when Spring Festival arrived, someone from the Feng family would personally explain everything to his mother.