Chapter 218: Chapter 218: Visiting
"Sister, did we succeed with that? How did I do just now?" Jin Long asked expectantly, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Jin Ling.
"You did exceptionally well." Jin Ling replied with a smile, playfully ruffling Jin Long’s hair.
"Now we just have to wait for Grandpa to come and stand up for us. None of those four can get away with anything."
Jin Zhengxiong hung up the phone and immediately used his private plane. But before boarding, he called the Jin family patriarch, "I entrusted my treasured grandsons to you, and this is how you look after them, huh? Jin Zhengying, you’re really something. Stay home and wait to see how I deal with you." Without waiting for a response, Jin Zhengxiong ended the call and instructed his subordinates before boarding the plane headed to Bai City.
"Grandpa, what happened?" Jin Yuyan asked worriedly, noticing her grandfather’s darkened expression after hanging up the phone.
"Your great-uncle is coming to Bai City. I’m not sure what those two brats said to him and your uncle, but our Jin family needs to be prepared," the patriarch said solemnly with a hint of melancholy.
"Grandpa, are you saying that our great-uncle might turn against us?" Jin Yuyan cautiously asked, her eyes heavy with concern. "But you’ve been brothers for decades; surely he wouldn’t fall out with us over such a small matter? Our relationship with the Bai City Jin family is mutually beneficial, turning against us would not benefit him, right?" There was a hint of uncertainty and hopeful thinking in Jin Yuyan’s mind as she spoke.
"You don’t understand your great-uncle’s character. His love is intense, and so is his hatred. Jin Ling and Jin Bao are his darlings; if they say a few good words for us, it might be seen as an accident. But if they speak ill of us to him, there’s a ninety percent chance our families will fall out," the patriarch closed his eyes, weary in both expression and tone.
"What should we do? Getting on bad terms with the Bai City Jin family would be too great a loss for us." Jin Yuyan furrowed her brow tightly and was about to leave with her bag when the patriarch stopped her, "Where are you going?" he asked.
"I’m going to the hospital to ask the siblings to put in a good word for us," Jin Yuyan replied over her shoulder, her fingers clutching the bag so tightly that they were turning white. Although her voice remained calm, the patriarch noticed this detail and knew that Jin Yuyan was not as calm inside.
"Stop right there. Are you panicking over such a small issue? Use your brain. Do you think my brother doesn’t know who tipped him off about this? You just hit Jin Ling, how can you expect her to listen to you now? What do you hope to achieve other than humiliating yourself? You’re the heir of the Jin family. When you take my place, you will face many problems; if you lose your composure over something like this now, how can you be trusted to lead the Jin family after I’m gone?" The patriarch looked at the slightly rash Jin Yuyan with displeasure, speaking in a cold voice.
Jin Yuyan released her grip on the bag, took a deep breath, and turned to face the patriarch. "I’m sorry, Grandpa. Today’s issue arose because of a mistake I made initially, and I bear a lot of responsibility for this," she said, her head half-lowered.
"But if the Bai City Jin family stops supporting us, or worse, turns against us, our Jin family’s current empire could lose at least one-third, and that’s something we cannot afford. Grandpa, is there any way to help us through this crisis?" Jin Yuyan asked, her eyes betraying some panic.
"Whoever caused this problem should naturally solve it; do I really have to teach you such a simple principle?" The patriarch looked at Jin Yuyan with some disappointment, "Regarding Xu Ke, I hope that my carefully nurtured granddaughter won’t act ignorant. If you make such a low-level mistake again concerning Xu Ke, I don’t want you to expect any part of the Jin family’s assets. I would rather donate everything after I’m gone than let it be ruined by you," the patriarch sternly said, leaning on his cane.
This was the first time the patriarch had spoken so harshly to Jin Yuyan. She trembled slightly, her eyes turning red, tears welling up.
"I know what to do now, Grandpa. I will not repeat the same mistakes concerning Xu Ke, and I will bury my feelings for him. I won’t bring shame to the Jin family," Jin Yuyan said, clutching her bag tightly, not relaxing her grip even as the studs pierced her palm.
"As long as you understand. You should know that I’ve always had high hopes for you since you were young. Everything in the Jin family will be yours one day, and I don’t want you to sacrifice our family’s century-old legacy for trivial romantic entanglements. The Jin family has reached today not just because of me, but by the efforts of our ancestors. Generations of hard work have gone into this," the patriarch said, taking a deep breath.
"I am not a closed-minded grandfather; I’m not denying you the right to choose your spouse. Bai City is full of talented young people. You can choose anyone or even marry someone of humble origins into our family. But Xu Ke is the exception. He already has a loving wife, and getting involved would only hurt you without gaining anything in return. Do you understand what I’m saying?" the patriarch looked at his granddaughter, whom he had meticulously cultivated, sighed and, holding back fatigue, advised her once more.
"I understand, Grandpa. I’ve already made my choice. I just need a little more time to recompose myself and retrieve my emotions," Jin Yuyan said, her voice trembling slightly.
"As long as you understand. I believe my granddaughter Jin Zhengying won’t disappoint me by being consumed by romance," the patriarch stood up from the sofa, using his thin hand to pat Jin Yuyan’s shoulder, "I’ll let you handle this situation. I’ll head upstairs to rest for a bit. Let me know immediately if my brother arrives."
"Got it, Grandpa. Let me help you to rest," Jin Yuyan said as she assisted the patriarch, guiding him slowly towards his room.
In the busy hall following the party, Jin Yuyan watched the bustling servants, her mind momentarily blank and tired, yet in the next second, her expression cleared. She took her phone from her bag and dialed Xu Ke’s number.