Chapter 175

The old man's expression grew even more pained as he listened. He sighed heavily, "I’m old, useless now, and an eyesore to everyone." Later, in his conversation with Qiao Qingqing, the old man poured out his entire life story. His ancestors had been landlords, but fortunately, his father had been shrewd enough to foresee the country's trajectory and had donated money to the Party, which spared the family from being purged later on. However, because of their vast wealth and status, the old man had sent his youngest son, then only fifteen, abroad to study—and as luck would have it, to Japan. Two years later, the war broke out. The blood feud between the two nations was irreparable, and his youngest son was likely doomed; there had been no news of him since. He had one eldest son left, who had joined the army after the war broke out and earned military honors, becoming a high-ranking official. But this son had never been favored at home; the old man had even threatened that he would never divide the family estate with his eldest. Now that his eldest son had succeeded and his beloved youngest son was gone, the old man was tasting the bitter fruits of his past decisions.