"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. Never bully the young and poor. The Cui Clan's collapse is inevitable. Whether the old and young of the family can survive remains unknown. After this incident, the Yan Clan will surely replace the Cui Clan and become the foremost noble family in West Wind. Given a hundred years to develop, it might even become West Wind's number-one family."
"Grandfather, I only wanted to fight for the Yan Clan's chance to rise."
"Do you know why I slapped you?"
Yan Xiangma shook his head, then nodded.
"You understood the first two slaps, but not the last one. No matter what, in the eyes of outsiders, the Cui and Yan Clans were one body, sharing both honor and disgrace. The first two slaps were for your ingratitude. Without the Cui Clan's years of support and assistance, could the Yan Clan have achieved its position today? You betrayed your clan head. Didn't you deserve a slap?"
"I did." Yan Xiangma nodded in agreement.
"The second was for your heartlessness and lack of loyalty. I am your grandfather, and the Cui Clan is your maternal clan. If the entire Cui Clan were executed, where would that leave your mother? And where would that leave you? If every member of the Cui Clan died, how would your mother spend the rest of her life? You betrayed your family. Didn't you deserve a slap?"
"I did."
"Do you know why I didn't bring down the third slap?"
"I don't."
"You are indeed my grandson, but you bear the Yan surname, and most of the blood in your veins belongs to the Yan Clan. Everyone serves their own master and their own clan. I can understand everything you've done. For people like us, working