"Grandpa, why are you suddenly asking about him again? Anbang's matter... isn't it all in the past?" Song Anguo asked, bewildered.
"Oh, it's nothing. That kid surnamed Chen has arrived in the Imperial City and caused quite a stir. A few of us old geezers plan to host a banquet at the Eight Immortals Tower tomorrow to meet him. Anguo, go deliver a message to him," Song Kaijiang said casually.
Upon hearing this, Song Anguo's entire body jolted. "Grandpa, you, you're going to deal with him?" Song Anguo was indeed a playboy, but he wasn't a fool. Moreover, having grown up in a prominent family like the Song family, he understood things through osmosis. A banquet at the Eight Immortals Tower was undoubtedly a trap.
Song Kaijiang glanced at Song Anguo and said indifferently, "I must avenge Anbang!"
"Grandpa, you're being foolish!" Song Anguo became agitated. "Grandpa, revenge requires strength. That kid surnamed Chen has unparalleled power. What can we use to get revenge? Besides, Anbang's death was his own doing..."
"Shut your mouth!" Before Song Anguo could finish, Song Kaijiang roared, "If you dare to say another word against Anbang, our Song family will not have a descendant like you!"
Song Anguo was indignant. Song Anbang had clearly taken a crooked path for power, so why couldn't he mention it? Annoyed, he said coldly, "Grandpa, I won't mention Anbang's matter for now. I can deliver the message to Chen Xiao, but can you at least tell me your plan?"
The so-called trap wasn't a conspiracy, but an open strategy. Even if Song Anguo didn't mention it when delivering the message, Chen Xiao wouldn't be able to figure it out. Therefore, Song Kaijiang had no need to hide anything from Song Anguo.
"The Ninth Prince has agreed to personally take action," Song Kaijiang said calmly. "That kid surnamed Chen is bound to die."
"The Ninth Prince?" Song Anguo chuckled. "Grandpa, I don't think the Ninth Prince is Chen Xiao's match!"
Song Kaijiang frowned and asked, perplexed, "How do you know?"
"It's very simple!" Song Anguo spoke fluently. "You can tell from the leader's attitude. Grandpa, think carefully, what was the leader's attitude after Anbang died? And then, what was his attitude after the leader returned from the Northern Territory?"
Song Kaijiang furrowed his brows and recalled. When the leader learned of Song Anbang's death, he was furious and promised Song Kaijiang that he would give the Song family an explanation. Afterward, the leader flew to the Northern Territory overnight. Upon his return, his attitude had completely changed. He advised Song Kaijiang to accept his grief and said that Song Anbang had been confused and had gone astray. Although not explicitly stated, his words consistently implied that Song Kaijiang should stop bothering Chen Xiao.
Thinking of this, Song Kaijiang's expression turned grim, and he sighed, "Our Song family has been far from the core of power for a long time. With Anbang's death, the Song family has no successor. It's reasonable for the leader to abandon the Song family." Song Kaijiang believed the leader's change in attitude was simply because the Song family no longer had influence. Such is the way of the world.
However, Song Anguo shook his head. "Grandpa, you're mistaken. It's not what you think at all!"
"You scoundrel, how dare you speak to me like that!" Song Kaijiang slammed the table, glaring at his useless grandson.
"Grandpa, the Song family is not as weak as you imagine. You've seriously underestimated An Ran's influence. Do you think Anbang became the commander of the Heavenly Strategy Army based on his own abilities?"
"Isn't he?"
"No, you're greatly mistaken. That was the leader giving face to An Ran, a compensation to the Song family!" Song Anguo stated assertively. "An Ran's new transaminase technology has a tremendous international impact, hailed as technology from the future, a groundbreaking innovation..."
Listening to his grandson's incessant chatter, Song Kaijiang looked skeptical. "Is it really that powerful?" He only knew that Song An Ran had come up with some impressive research achievement, but he didn't know the specifics. Fundamentally, he disdained to understand it; it was just a patent, merely a way to earn more money. That's why he hadn't paid much attention when Song An Ran scheduled her press conference in Jiangcheng. Now, hearing Song Anguo, Song Kaijiang belatedly realized that the treatment the Song family received had indeed improved significantly after that press conference. Even some former disciples and subordinates who had drifted away had revisited.
"It's far more powerful than you think, Grandpa. Times have changed, and they will continue to change," Song Anguo said with emotion. The unspoken implication was that he was getting old and should delegate power, not cling to the old patriarchal ways. However, Song Kaijiang clearly didn't grasp his grandson's underlying meaning, or he would have surely erupted in a torrent of abuse.
"But what you're saying are all An Ran's achievements. What does that have to do with the kid surnamed Chen?" Song Kaijiang suddenly realized he had been led astray by his useless grandson.
"Heh, Grandpa, you wouldn't know this, but An Ran's new transaminase technology was largely successful due to Chen Xiao. Moreover, their companies are now intertwined, and their relationship is very close!" Song Anguo said carelessly.
"Absurd!" Song Kaijiang's beard quivered with anger. "That kid surnamed Chen has a deep-seated feud with our Song family. If Song An Ran dares to be with that kid, she'll never be allowed to enter the Song family's door again!"
Song Anguo sneered inwardly, thinking that Grandpa was still not enlightened. The current Song family was no longer Grandpa Song Kaijiang's Song family; it was Song An Ran who was carrying the banner! But Song Anguo dared not say such a thing, for fear of angering his grandfather to death.
"Alright, alright, Grandpa, let's not talk about this. Don't get yourself worked up, it's not worth it!" Song Anguo quickly advised his grandfather not to be angry, then changed the subject, speaking cryptically. "Grandpa, let's not discuss this. I recently heard about another matter, and this is the key to the leader's drastic change in attitude."
"Speak quickly, don't beat around the bush!" Song Kaijiang glared at his useless grandson, his beard bristling.
Song Anguo remained unperturbed and said with a grin, "Grandpa, you must have heard, right? The previous beast invasion in the Northern Territory was actually caused by people from the Bear Country!"
"I know about that," Song Kaijiang nodded, waiting for him to continue.
Song Anguo cleared his throat and went on, "When the leader went to the Northern Territory last time, he had a secret meeting with Chen Xiao. During that time, Chen Xiao went out for about twenty minutes. When he returned, he was carrying General Lutsev's head!"