Volume 4: Hidden Struggles, Chapter 286: Growing Stronger with Age

What does it mean to be a century-old family that stands unshaken? What does it mean to prepare for the future in advance? What does it mean to foresee opportunities and be ahead of the curve?
The answers to all these questions lie within this thin booklet, yet it weighs as much as a ton…
Watching his grandfather carefully place the booklet into a box, he didn’t take it back but slowly handed it to his second uncle, Chu Fangwei.
With a serious tone, he said, “Second brother, keep this well. Have you prepared a successor? Is it Tian Ao?”
Chu Fangwei took the small box while shaking his head and smiling. “There’s no need to train him. That kid is still far from ready. Not to mention competing with Tianyu, even facing Tiancheng, at best he could only match his own worthless grandfather—competent but unable to win!”
Although Chu Fangwei and Chu Fangshan had been in secret rivalry their entire lives, as dictated by ancestral rules, upon deeper reflection, no matter what role they played to maintain balance or out of what other motives, who among them didn’t harbor a desire to be superior and a ambition to achieve great things? Chu Fangwei’s last words also subtly reflected his frustration and unwillingness over the decades—a sorrow akin to “why was I born if not to shine?”
Chu Fangshan certainly understood Chu Fangwei’s feelings, but reality was cruel. After all, there could only be one family head. Even if given another chance to choose between controlling the Chu family or maintaining brotherly bonds, he would likely still choose the former without hesitation. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be Chu Fangshan!
So after sighing, Chu Fangshan didn’t know what else to say.
But Chu Fangwei quickly adjusted himself. As if he had realized something, he smiled freely at Chu Fangshan and said cheerfully, “Now it’s over. It no longer matters who takes on this heavy responsibility. With Tianyu around, so-called checks and balances no longer hold much meaning. That’s why I didn’t hide the fact from Tianyu.”
Chu Fangshan dismissed Chu Fangwei’s words, saying, “Second brother, do you think I agreed to let Tianyu see this secret training just because there’s no one to balance him? That’s wrong. As for that kid Tianyu, do you really think he cares about the Chu family? For him, as long as the Chu family can last a few years under his rule to lay a foundation for his so-called dream of developing the west, and if he can still be patient enough to manage it for half a day, then test me!”
Chu Fangwei listened, puzzled, and asked, “Then what will he do?”

“Where’s he going? Ask him yourself. I guess it’s something like seclusion, traveling in the clouds, flying in the sky, or maybe courting girls. In any case, he won’t be involved in our Chu family’s small business anymore. So, we really need to discuss this carefully. How can we proceed without finding a successor?” Chu Fangshan said as if it were obvious.

All this nonsense only made Chu Fangwei even more confused. He thought Chu Fangshan might have other plans for Chu Tianyu, so he didn’t press further. Instead, he changed the subject: “By the way, elder brother, I remember there was a virtual project in collaboration with Thunder Technology a few years ago. Were you behind the scenes manipulating things? We were the first to contact them. How did it end up benefiting you instead? I’ve always wanted to ask—what was the reason back then?”

“Haha, well, actually…”

As they spoke, the two elders took turns talking, filled with memories and emotions, enjoying their conversation greatly!

Chu Tianyu, listening from the side, found it both amusing and frustrating. He really had no idea what to do with these two “elders.” After all this talk, they still hadn’t gotten to today’s main topic—just trivial matters. It was rare that they seemed so engaged, but it was frustrating!

Another half hour passed. Chu Tianyu sat anxiously, unable to bear it any longer. Finally, he couldn’t resist and rushed in, saying, “Um, grandpa, second grandpa, is there anything else you want to say?”

The two elders seemed startled by Chu Tianyu’s interruption, especially Grandpa Chu Fangshan, who glared at him before turning back to Chu Fangwei and asking, “What do you mean? Second son, do you know if there’s anything else to say?”

“I don’t know. Besides, it’s your grandson. If there’s anything to say, it’s you who should talk to him. Why ask me?”

“Can’t even ask?”

“Sure, but asking won’t help.”

“Hmm, cough, cough…” Facing what seemed like another digression, Chu Tianyu quickly coughed to signal his point.

But from their expressions, it seemed they intended to continue after he finished coughing. Unable to hold back, Chu Tianyu proactively suggested, “Grandpa, second grandpa, you made me look at plans and ancestral teachings. Are you going to talk to me about elder brother?”

To his surprise, as soon as he finished speaking, the two elders exclaimed in unison, “You just found out?”

Then Grandpa added, “Do we still need to talk about it? Showing you all this is obviously to assign the task to you. Do you think I, an old man, need to step in?”

Second Grandpa added, “That’s right. It’s a matter of fate. You’re the most convenient person to handle this. Look, your second brother isn’t here, and Tianao is related to you by marriage, so…” He didn’t finish his sentence and instead gave Chu Tianyu a look that seemed to say, “You get it now, right?”
Faced with these two extremely irresponsible “grandpas,” Chu Tianyu could only think of two words: “I’m dizzy…”
…
Standing by the window, watching Chu Tianyu and Aoxue leave, Second Grandpa Chu Fangwei shed his earlier playful expression and said, “Elder brother, do you think it’s okay to rely on Tianyu alone? Tiancheng once hinted to me that he has a powerful backer, someone involved in the cultivation world. Although Tianyu is capable, I’m worried he might not be strong enough to handle them all!”
Unlike Chu Fangwei, who was concerned about the actual situation, Chu Fangshan wasn’t worried about Tianyu’s safety. What concerned him was Tiancheng’s fate. To be honest, no matter what mistakes Tiancheng made, the deep bond of family remained an undeniable fact. He handed over the responsibility to Chu Tianyu after careful consideration. If he handled it himself, he might be biased. A poor decision could lead to two extremes: either excessive indulgence, which would be unacceptable to the Chu family, his younger brother Chu Fangwei, and even their ancestral teachings; or extreme harshness, which would be unforgivable toward Minglei and Yixue, his father-in-law, and even himself.
Left with no choice, Chu Fangshan naturally passed this troublesome task to Chu Tianyu. From Chu Tianyu’s perspective, no matter what he decided or did, there would be no problems.
Be ruthless!
“Of course, you must be harsh on the enemy—that’s what true leaders do. You have to eradicate the problem at its root!” others would say.
Be kind!
“A kind person is invincible. Look at his magnanimity. It’s not unfair at all that you, as the elder brother, lost!” others would say.