Chapter 016: Retreat and Advance, Throwing Stones to Ask for Directions

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  "Peng... Coach Peng? Is that you! Where are you?" Feng Qianru exclaimed in surprise.

  "It's like this, Miss Feng, I'm really sorry... This afternoon, another person came to me and said they were also introduced by Professor Feng. She offered a high price for my things, and I thought the price was reasonable, so I was preparing to sell them to her... Tomorrow, I won't be going anymore - extremely sorry, extremely sorry!"

  Peng Yuanzheng spoke very quickly and didn't give Feng Qianru any time to respond before hanging up the phone and leaving.

  "Hello, hello! Speak clearly, who is it?! Hello, don't hang up the phone!" Feng Qianru shouted anxiously, and a busy tone came from the other end of the line.

  Peng Yuanzheng finished the phone call, walked around in a circle, found a small restaurant to eat something casually, and then slowly walked back to the small hotel where he stayed.

  He made this call to Feng Qianru, not aimlessly, nor did he intend to give up halfway and abandon his plan to find his relatives. Instead, he was using retreat as an advance, throwing a stone to test the waters.

  He clearly knew that the so-called "Professor Feng" was actually Feng Boda, the eldest son of the Feng family. And now, only members of the Feng family know that he has the jade pendant and the recognition letter. Therefore, this middle-aged woman Zhang Lan, who appeared as a buyer introduced by "Professor Feng", is very likely to be a member of the Feng family.

  Why did Zhang Lan do this, is it a personal behavior or a family behavior? Peng Yuanzheng was not sure. But he can pass on the message through Feng Qianru and try to probe the movement of the Feng family again, turning passive into active, eliminating some invisible obstacles, and resolving some unknown risks.

  It's a matter of great importance, having lived through two generations, he deeply understands the cold and warmth of the world, and cannot help but be cautious in his actions.

  Peng Yuanzheng made a phone call and the Feng family was thrown into chaos.

  Old Feng and his wife attach great importance to tomorrow's meeting, because it is not suitable for Old Feng to meet Peng Yuanzheng within the vermilion gate. Before fully confirming Peng Yuanzheng's identity, Old Feng will not let him enter that vermilion gate which symbolizes the supreme power of the Feng family.

  The meeting was arranged at Feng Botao's home. Mr. and Mrs. Feng rushed to their eldest son's house this afternoon, putting aside all matters and taking out special time to meet Peng Yuanzheng.

  Feng Bogao was chatting with his parents in the living room, when his daughter Feng Qianru walked out of her bedroom with a gloomy face and whispered something into her father's ear.

  Feng Botao's face changed greatly, his eyebrows furrowed tightly, and he secretly rubbed his hands.

  Feng Lao gave Feng Botao a glance and said calmly, "Botao, what's going on? Never mind - Qianru, tell Grandfather what happened?"

  Feng Qianru sat politely on the sofa beside Old Man Feng, saying softly, "Grandfather, just now...just now Peng Yuanzheng called me and said that someone had approached him again, offering a high price of over 100,000 yuan to buy something from him. He also said it was Father who introduced them..."

  "Grandpa, Peng Yuanzheng said he won't come over tomorrow. He's going to sell his things to someone else."

  Feng Qianru's words were somewhat hesitant, but Old Feng was a shrewd and cunning person who immediately understood the twists and turns. His face sank, and he suddenly slapped the tea table, making a loud "bang" sound.

  Feng Qianru was startled and quickly got up.

  Feng Botao also stood up and accompanied him with a smile, "Dad, don't be angry..."

  Feng Lao took a deep breath, calming the anger that was about to erupt in his heart, and said in a low voice, "Go get Old Burlin and his wife for me... Let them tell me themselves!"

  It's clear what happened. Feng Bogao wouldn't do such a thing, and the only ones in the Feng family who could are Feng Bolin and his wife. As for why they would do this, Old Man Feng is as transparent as a mirror, and Feng Bogao has already guessed a bit of it.

  ……

  ……

  Feng Bolin and Zhang Lan hastily made their way to her brother's house, where they were scolded by Old Man Feng. Zhang Lan sat in the corner of the living room, her face red with shame, not daring to say another word. Today was a complete failure - not only had she failed to achieve her goal, but Peng Yuanzheng had also stood her up. By the time she arrived at the bank and rushed back, Peng Yuanzheng was nowhere to be found.

  In front of Old Master Feng and the whole family, Feng Bolin had to force himself to help his wife explain, but no matter how eloquent or flowery the explanation was, it was just a useless fig leaf that couldn't calm down Old Man Feng's anger.

  Feng Lao was both angry and heartbroken.

  He lost a son during the war years and searched for decades in vain, but now he finally has some clues. As long as the evidence is true, after scientific identification, he can find his own flesh and blood who was lost among the people - although his son is no longer alive, there are still grandsons!

  Even if he holds the power of a great nation, he is still an old man who values his flesh and blood as much as any other person of his age.

  But just as he was filled with comfort and anticipation preparing for the recognition, such a thing happened. In his view, this is almost another form of flesh and blood mutual injury.

  But Feng Lao is not an ordinary old man. At this moment, he is considering not only the return of a scattered bloodline descendant, but also the harmony and stability of the entire Feng family, as well as the personal and family image that he, as a core leader of the Republic, cannot fail to maintain.

  This matter cannot be pursued any further because there is no point in doing so. What's important now is to quickly find that child, lest something else happens in the meantime.

  "Yuannan's mother, where is that child now? Tell me the whole story in detail!" Feng Lao asked calmly, suppressing his anger.

  "...Dad, I really don't know where he went. When I got back, the kid was already gone. Later, I also asked his classmates, and they said they hadn't seen him either..."

  Feng Lao heard this and couldn't help but let out a cold snort.

  Zhang Lan quickly shut her mouth and didn't dare say another word.

  Feng Bolin opened his mouth, then helplessly closed it again, and could only silently curse his ignorant and foolish wife in his heart. You've done what you've done, but at least wipe your butt clean! - Now things have gotten even better, not only was he fooled by that little brat, but also caught red-handed by the old master!

  Not only was Feng Bolin secretly scolding Zhang Lan, but even their son Feng Yuanhua was quietly complaining about his mother at home - if Feng Yuanhua were to handle this matter, he would definitely not show up in person and would not reveal his true name. However, Zhang Lan did not expect that Peng Yuanzheng had come prepared this time - on the surface, it seemed that he was standing in the light while the Feng family was standing in the dark, but in reality, it was the other way around.

  So Zhang Lan was released by Peng Yuanzheng's pigeon.

  "Bo Tao, find a way to locate that child and bring him directly to see me. I'll be waiting here for the whole day tomorrow."

  Old Feng suddenly stood up, brushed his sleeves and left, directly entering the bedroom. Old Mrs. Feng sighed, glared at Feng Bolin's two sons with a stern expression, and also followed in with a series of sighs.

  The old lady came in and saw Old Feng sitting on the sofa in his bedroom, deep in thought. She smiled and persuaded him, "Old Feng, don't be angry anymore. Hand in hand, they are all your own children, what's the point of being so particular? The couple, Bolin, is a bit narrow-minded, you know that... Forget it, forget it. As long as we find that child, once we acknowledge him, everything will be fine."

  Feng Lao suddenly laughed and said, "Shu Zhen, this kid is quite cunning and has a good head on his shoulders. I don't think he's simple at all."

  Mrs. Feng was taken aback, "What did you just say?"

  Feng Lao shook his head as if he was lost in thought, "Let's wait until we see the child before saying anything else——Shu Zhen, tell Qianru later that she should stay at home and watch the phone tomorrow. That child might call again."