The dining room was only a few steps away from the front door. After they both finished eating, Jordan Wei simply went with Ethan Gu to open the door.
Outside the small building, Gu Zhengjia was holding a jar and was about to shout a second time when he saw the door suddenly open. He muttered in a daze, "It's really here..."
Ethan Gu stepped aside to let someone in. Jordan Wei jokingly said, "I just gave you the address yesterday, so of course you're here today."
For people like them, there are many ways to refuse. Since they have given the address, it means that the other party can come to their door.
Gu Zhengjia was also a little embarrassed, mainly because his relationship with his brother was too cold, and Ethan Gu, the young master in the capital, was never known for his humility, which made him feel inexplicably worried. He scratched his cheek and said, "This is the radish that my aunt usually pickled, and asked me to bring it over for you to try."
"Thank auntie for me." Ethan Gu took it politely and asked the two to sit on the sofa while he went to clear the table.
Gu Zhengjia was a little flattered. He looked at Ethan Gu's back several times, then turned to look at Jordan Wei questioningly.
Jordan Wei spread his hands to indicate that he didn't understand either.
Before the two of them could communicate anything, Ethan Gu turned back. He sat on a separate sofa and started talking about a few topics, all about Gu Zhengjia's life and study.
This wasn't a dull moment, but when had Ethan Gu ever paid attention to this? Not only Gu Zhengjia, but even Jordan Wei felt something was wrong.
"You're turning sixteen soon, right? When's your birthday?" Ethan Gu didn't talk about small talk for long, and quickly got to the point. The two had always had a distant relationship since they were young, so there was no need for them to suddenly become intimate.
"In just over a month." said Gu Zhengjia.
"Does Dad plan to do it for you?" Ethan Gu asked, "What about Auntie?"
Ethan Gu hadn't called her "Auntie" for more than a decade. Gu Zhengjia looked at him as if he were Ultraman. "No, no plans," he stuttered before speaking fluently. "It's only sixteen... Dad and Auntie mean to wait until I'm eighteen."
"It's too late," Ethan Gu frowned, "I'll do it if you don't mind."
"Huh!?" Two voices sounded in unison, and Gu Zhengjia and Jordan Wei stared at Ethan Gu with strange looks as if they were studying some alien species.
Ethan Gu glared at Jordan Wei who was making a fuss, and then said to Gu Zhengjia: "On your sixteenth birthday, your third brother Wei and I will help you organize a birthday party. You invite your classmates and friends, and we will invite the rest of the people."
After hearing this, Jordan Wei understood what Ethan Gu meant, although he didn't know why he suddenly decided to do so. But firstly, this matter was not difficult, and secondly, the relationship between the two brothers could be deepened, so he was quite happy to see it happen. He turned around and said to Gu Zhengjia with a smile: "Xiao Jia, think about what friends to bring over. When the time comes, your elder brother and I will definitely help you make it beautiful."
This is to bring him into the top circle! Gu Zhengjia was a little happy and a little surprised. Just like Jordan Wei, he didn't understand why Ethan Gu suddenly made this decision: "Brother..."
"Since you call me big brother, let me make the arrangements." Ethan Gu explained indirectly, "Remember to tell dad and aunt when you go back." After calling him this name a few times, he got used to it. "Are you going home directly or somewhere else? I'll take you there."
"I'm going home. I can go back by myself. There is a bus here." Gu Zhengjia said hurriedly.
"I just happened to be going to Zhengde Garden, so it's on my way." Ethan Gu looked at Jordan Wei again.
Jordan Wei thought for a while and said, "I have something else to do. I will visit Grandpa Gu later."
Ethan Gu nodded, picked up the car keys and walked out. There was a silver-gray mid-range Audi parked outside. He picked it up on the way last night. The style and price were very low-key.
Located on the central axis of the city, Zhengde Garden, like Tianrui Garden, was built by the government and then allocated to government officials of a certain level. If everyone living in Tianrui Garden has connections, then the people living in Zhengde Garden are the real people with connections: in addition to the national leaders and deputy leaders, the only people who are qualified to live here are the old men who had accompanied the founding fathers to conquer the world, who had already had a very high status at that time, and who had made great contributions and retired. For example, Ethan Gu's grandfather, Jordan Wei's grandfather, and Chen, Wen, and He, the highest generation of the families that are well-known in the city.
Previously in "The Beauty and the Fragrance of the Country", Jordan Wei had said that Darren Sun's family was still lacking something, and that was this: no matter how prosperous and glorious the Sun family was now, they did not have an older generation who could live in Zhengde Garden. This meant that once something happened, no one would be able to protect the Sun family at the critical moment.
It was rush hour and the road conditions were not very good. Ethan Gu took a long detour to get from Tianrui Garden to Zhengde Garden. He got off the car at the foot of the mountain and was inspected for ten minutes. Only after being informed and allowed was he able to drive up the mountain.
Although the security department had been notified in advance, it was Grandpa Gu who received the news. So when Grandma Gu, who was watering the garden with a kettle, saw Ethan Gu walk in, her face suddenly showed deep surprise and joy: "Xiaozhou is back?"
The old man seemed much more hunched than he remembered.
Feeling a slight stab in the heart, Ethan Gu called out "Grandma" and quickly stepped forward to take the kettle from her: "Grandma, let me do it!"
From the moment she saw Ethan Gu, a smile spread across her face, and she held onto Ethan Gu's arm with both hands: "When did you come back?"
"It was yesterday." Ethan Gu said, "I took a flight yesterday afternoon and went to Tianrui Garden in the evening. Then it was too late and I didn't come."
"You should have a good rest right after getting off the plane. Why are you running around?" Grandma Gu scolded, snatching the kettle from Ethan Gu's hand, "Don't water it anymore. The flowers won't die if you don't water them for a day or two. Come in and sit down. Grandma will make you something delicious! Do you want to eat here at noon?"
"Of course I am," Ethan Gu said with a smile, and then acted a little coquettishly, "I haven't seen grandma for three years!"
It turned out that the old woman was quite impressed by this. Grandma Gu smiled so hard that her eyes narrowed. She no longer cared about the flowers and fish that her grandfather treasured so much, and pulled Ethan Gu inside.
Ethan Gu followed her all the way into the room and then into the kitchen. Before he could be driven away, he rolled up his sleeves and said, "Grandma, I'll help you."
"No, no, go watch TV or talk to your grandpa." said Grandma Gu.
"Grandpa, wait a moment. Grandma and I haven't talked for a long time." Ethan Gu had already started working. "How about making some shortbread? I haven't eaten it for a long time and I'm missing it. The ones sold outside are either too crispy or too soft, and the filling doesn't taste the same."
Being brought into the topic, Grandma Gu naturally forgot to chase Ethan Gu away: "Of course, this is a family craft. It was very precious back then. It was not originally passed down to daughters. Later, when everyone adopted the reform and opening up policy, grandma was able to learn this craft. She no longer had to peek through the door crack every time..." The old woman kept talking about the past, and her face was glowing, not knowing whether it was because of the memories or because her relatives were right next to her.
Ethan Gu responded with a smile and took over all the heavy work.
Half an hour passed in a blink of an eye. Grandpa Gu, who had received the news but had not seen anyone, came down from upstairs and asked, "Where is Chen Zhou?" After a while, he walked to the garden and asked, "Why are only half of the flowers in the garden watered?" The old man looked up again and saw Gu Chen Zhou standing by the kitchen window. He said, "Chen Zhou is here. Come and help grandpa water the flowers."
Grandma Gu, who was standing next to him, had already started preparing lunch and was talking about the past with Ethan Gu. When she heard this, she immediately threw angrily, "Spend, spend, you only care about spend! Your grandson has rarely come over after not seeing him for three years and you still say spend! From now on, just spend with your baby! Xiaozhou, don't worry about that old man, just follow grandma and cook!"
Old Master Gu was stunned by what he said, and thought to himself, what's the matter? It's just watering the flowers. I just wanted to talk to him. Is it worth being so distressed? You even asked him to help you cook, which is much more complicated, and I don't feel distressed.
Ethan Gu quickly changed the subject and chatted with the old lady for a few words. After making the old lady smile again, he saw that the work was almost done, so he washed his hands and walked out of the kitchen.
In the garden, Mr. Gu had already watered the flowers with a kettle. Seeing Ethan Gu coming out, he tapped the floor with his cane and walked towards the living room while asking, "Why did you come back so suddenly?"
"I came back privately..."
Before Ethan Gu could finish, Old Man Gu waved his hand and said, "Okay, let's not talk about this kind of trivial matter. Your father has a stubborn temper, and he actually remembers you."
"Well," Ethan Gu said, "Grandpa, I have thought about what you asked me before, but there are still some things I don't quite understand."
"Um?"
"I plan to enter the agency."
This answer obviously cheered up Mr. Gu. He tapped the floor with his cane: "Very good. You young people who have the ability should think about serving the motherland! Sit down," he said gently, "Let's talk. What do you want to ask?"
What do you want to ask?
I want to know why the Gu family chose the wrong side twice in a row, and why the Wei family has never recovered.
I want to ask whether the reshuffle of power by the Chen, Wen, and He families was a result of the situation, or whether they had started planning it from the beginning? The rise of the Sun family, the rise of the He family... At the beginning, was Jordan Wei's car accident an accident or was it man-made?
Are these things in the dream just a long and absurd fantasy, or a possible future?
Ethan Gu was not sure, but he knew he had to be prepared early.
"Grandpa, have you seen Grandpa Shen recently?" Ethan Gu asked. The full name of Grandpa Shen in his words is Shen Dongping, and his current position is Vice Chairman of the Military Commission and President of the Central Party School. Born in their family, this is how it is. No matter how high the position of the person you meet is, if you are young and have not entered the system, you can always call the other person uncle, aunt, grandma, grandpa, and even if you can't establish a close relationship, you can still get to know him.
"It's not a good idea to aim too high," said Mr. Gu reprimandingly.
Ethan Gu smiled and said, "Grandpa, I'm just asking. Grandpa Shen's views are very similar to our family's political inclinations."
"Oh? Then tell me what our family's political inclination is?" asked Mr. Gu.
"Grandpa, you should take the Zhengjia exam on these." Ethan Gu said, and then sorted out his thoughts, "Develop, but develop steadily. Our annual GPI index looks very beautiful. But in fact, the contradictions are still contradictions, and they are intensifying year by year. Why have they never been resolved? Because economic development takes a short time, has quick results, and is clear and eye-catching; while social contradictions take a long time, have slow results, are difficult, and are not easy to write on the official performance table. Over time, everyone will naturally choose the former."
This speech did not move Mr. Gu, but the first sentence made him raise his eyes: "Chen Zhou, this is the first time you mentioned Zhengjia's name in front of me."
Ethan Gu remained silent.
No one knows the changes that have happened to him better than he does. The education he received since childhood has enabled him to see the road ahead more clearly than most people, and to understand his responsibilities more clearly. He may hate change, but for the sake of the path he is walking on, he will not refuse necessary changes.
Ethan Gu's silence made Old Man Gu see something. He said in a deep voice: "Ethan Gu, you are a good child, and so is Zhengjia. You are both my grandchildren, and I hope you two can get along well."
"I know. I will, Grandpa." said Ethan Gu.
Some things are too much to say once. Mr. Gu stroked his cane and returned to the previous topic: "If you were in this position, what would you choose?"
"I would also choose the former." Ethan Gu replied.
This answer made the old man's half-white eyebrows fly up, as sharp as a knife: "You said you would choose the former?"
"This is a flaw in the system. Individual power is like an ant trying to shake a tree in front of it. It is doomed to be useless." Ethan Gu said calmly.
"You are not alone, the entire Gu family is behind you." said Mr. Gu.
"The Gu family is not enough," Ethan Gu was unmoved, "and because I have the entire Gu family behind me, I will not rashly touch these things."
"Then what are you going to do?" Old Master Gu was already a little angry.
"One should do his job according to his position. To solve these problems, I can only consider them when I am really in that position." Ethan Gu replied.
The living room fell into a brief silence, and the sizzling sound of cooking coming from afar only served to highlight the silence.
"Why do you want to be in that position?"
"Solve the problem."
"Don't put the cart before the horse," said Mr. Gu, leaning on his cane and tapping the floor hard, "Remember what you said to me today!"
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