A Truce

After two more cups of tea, the two stopped drinking. Dinner would be served soon, and who could eat if they filled up on water?

"Uncle, I'll go check on Gu Jia. Let Ziyan take you for a walk."

"Good, good. Tell Gu Jia not to make too much food. We're all family, just a simple meal will do."

Gu Jinghong nodded in agreement. He felt awkward being alone with Wang Yan.

After a few words, he roused Xu Ziyan, who was watching cartoons.

Although they hadn't seen each other in a long time, Xu Ziyan missed his maternal grandfather. However, he was very tired and didn't want to move at all. But he had no choice. With a look from Wang Yan, he became obedient. He happily led Gu Jinghong around the house, introducing things here and there.

Gu Jinghong also looked around the house seriously, this excellent house that belonged to his daughter, and occasionally chimed in with questions.

This made Xu Ziyan feel like he was bragging during the day, instantly reviving him. He felt no tiredness at all. He chattered away with Gu Jinghong.

Watching the talkative Xu Ziyan, Wang Yan felt a sense of accomplishment. The little guy was now healthy, cheerful, and had good communication and practical skills. Most importantly, he was resilient and carefree. Wang Yan couldn't tell if it was Gu Jia's good foundation or his own high skill level.

After tidying up the tea set, Wang Yan went to the kitchen.

Gu Jia, who was clanging and banging with her wok, smiled when she saw Wang Yan enter. "Why are you in here? Go out."

"I finished talking with your dad. I came to help you."

"Wang Yan, my dad..."

Before she could finish, Wang Yan said, "Hey, it's okay. Old people are like that. I understand."

Seeing that she still wanted to speak, he continued, "Alright, hurry up and cook. Ziyan has been complaining for a while."

Gu Jia smiled helplessly. "You should go out. I'm almost done with the last two dishes."

"I'll help you. I know a little bit. What's left?"

He pulled up his status panel and found his cooking skill, LV1 Beginner. That was good.

Having been on his own for so many years, Wang Yan had eaten everywhere, from one meal to the next, and had almost gotten sick of the restaurants within a two-mile radius. It wasn't difficult to cook something well. If he felt like eating something, he'd just follow a recipe and cook it slowly.

The main issue was that he didn't cook often, so his performance was unstable. Sometimes he'd make a dish that was a stroke of genius, absolutely amazing. But the second time, it would fall flat, lacking that same inspiration.

Regardless, he found his own cooking delicious.

"Stir-fried shrimp, and a plate of White Cut Meat."

"Then I'll make the White Cut Meat. That's simple."

This dish just involved cooking pork belly until done, slicing it thinly, and the soul of the dish was in the sauce. With the same ingredients, the question was how to combine them. This was something that required constant trial and error, constant summarization, and practice.

Gu Jia had already cooked the pork belly and was letting it cool.

Then Wang Yan got busy, slicing the meat thinly. The thinner the slices, the tastier it would be. Wang Yan's knife skills were decent. He had learned some martial arts before, and it was all related. Cutting meat was similar; it just required a steady hand. His control was good. Going too fast wouldn't work; he sliced it piece by piece, slowly.

He also mixed several bowls of dipping sauce, tasting each one with chopsticks. Finally, he chose the one he thought tasted the best and poured it over the meat. Done.

Gu Jia's version of this dish was only about 70-80% perfect, while Wang Yan spent about twenty minutes on it. She had finished her dishes long ago and was watching Wang Yan work with affectionate eyes and a smiling face.

The two brought the dishes to the dining table and called over the grandfather and grandson who were still exploring.

Wang Yan brought out a bottle of white wine and poured a little less for Gu Jinghong.

"Uncle, I'm afraid your body can't handle it, so let's just have a little to show our respect."

Gu Jinghong didn't object. He knew his own body. It was already good that Gu Jia allowed him to drink a little.

Wang Yan raised his glass and clinked it with Gu Jinghong's, taking a small sip.

"Try this White Cut Meat. See how it is?"

Everyone tasted it. Gu Jia and her father praised it highly, saying it was delicious. Then Gu Jia added that it would be better if it were a little less salty.

Xu Ziyan was the most appreciative. He tasted it, smacked his lips, and then took another piece, mixing it with rice and eating heartily. He mumbled with his mouth full, "It's delicious, really delicious."

After all, he was used to heavy oil and salt, and the sauce was seasoned to his taste. It was normal for them to not be used to it.

Xu Ziyan was probably really tired, so he ate exceptionally well. Otherwise, it would have been difficult for such a little guy to accept it.

Everyone chatted casually about everyday matters. As they talked, Gu Jia, whether intentionally or unintentionally, steered the conversation towards the nursing home.

"Dad, are you getting used to living in the nursing home?"

"Yes, I'm used to it. Everything from food and drink to going to the bathroom is taken care of. And there are a bunch of old friends to talk and play chess with. It's quite good."

Gu Jia hummed and continued to tend to Xu Ziyan, whose face was covered in rice grains.

Wang Yan understood. Gu Jia was genuinely worried about Gu Jinghong and wanted to gauge his feelings.

After all, they hadn't been living together for long. Gu Jia might have felt too embarrassed to say it directly, so she took this opportunity to hint at it.

"Uncle, why don't you move in? This house is quite large, with plenty of space," Wang Yan interjected.

"Besides, the market, hospital, and other places are not far from here, which is very convenient."

As soon as he said this, Gu Jia was happy and immediately chimed in, "That's right, Dad. If you come here, I won't have to worry all the time."

Gu Jinghong was tempted when he heard this, but the thought was immediately extinguished. He was worried that if he moved in, it would affect their lives over time, or cause conflicts between them because of him. That would be terrible. His daughter had just gotten divorced, and if this rich guy broke up with her because of him, how could he live with himself?

"Forget it. I'm quite comfortable in the nursing home. I've gotten used to it, so I won't come to trouble you."

Wang Yan said, "In that case, Uncle. After some time, you can live in Junyue Mansion. It's only a ten-minute walk away, not too far."

"The house only has one bathroom, and it's in the master bedroom. I'm having someone install another one these past few days, otherwise it'll be inconvenient if we hire a nanny," <Gu Jia> said, turning to <Gu Jia>. "What do you think?"

<Gu Jia> thought this was the best solution and agreed. <Gu Jinghong> didn't say anything, implicitly agreeing. He naturally wanted to be closer too; at his age, that was his only wish.

The matter was settled, and the atmosphere returned to its previous harmony.

After dinner, <Gu Jia> tidied up a guest room for <Gu Jinghong> to stay in.

After coaxing <Xu Ziyan> to sleep, she returned to the bedroom to find <Wang Yan> leaning against the headboard reading a book.

Closing the bedroom door, she gracefully walked to the bedside, gently took the book from <Wang Yan>'s hands, and straddled him.

Provoked by <Gu Jia>'s teasing, <Wang Yan> couldn't resist. He pushed upwards, pulling her close as they fumbled and whispered.

"Why so eager?"

"You did so much, I have to thank you properly," <Gu Jia> said emotionally.

"We're legally married, why talk about that?" He flipped over, pinning <Gu Jia> beneath him.

"But actions are still necessary."

A night of passion ensued.

The next day, <Gu Jia>'s 'gratitude' was so intense that, unusually, she didn't wake up early to make breakfast.

<Wang Yan> went for a run and picked up breakfast for the family on the way back.

After a pleasant, ordinary morning, <Gu Jia> sent <Xu Ziyan> to school and <Gu Jinghong> back to the nursing home.

What remained was to sort out her tea factory, change its name, its trademark, and settle the previous matters.

Even without <Wang Yan>'s direct involvement, his name and reputation were more than enough. The process was much smoother compared to the original story.

She wasn't short on money, so there was no need for sob stories to find investors.

The socialites in the太太圈 knew <Gu Jia> was doing this. They just needed to procure some gifts, and they didn't even need their husbands' approval; a single phone call from them was enough. Even <Mrs. Li> bought a batch to ease some tension. None of them were lacking.

Her company wasn't even properly set up yet, and she already had a pile of orders.

<Wang Yan>, meanwhile, went to find a renovation company to build an extra bathroom. <Gu Jia>'s 'thanks' had been so enthusiastic, he felt he had to take it seriously.

After finishing that, <Wang Yan> went to the company. He dealt with the daily affairs. Twenty-odd days had passed, and a significant backlog had accumulated, requiring his personal attention for many matters.

The reason he needed to step in was simply that his subordinates weren't qualified to handle certain negotiations. Even though <Wang Yan> had delegated a lot of authority, there were still many issues they couldn't resolve or make decisions on. So, he spent his time having tea and making small talk.

Soon, a week passed. Everything that required his attention was sorted out, and he finally had some free time again.

One day, <Wang Yan> received an unexpected call, inviting him for a meeting and a chat.

After some thought, he didn't refuse. He had nothing else to do and figured it could be a form of entertainment. He drove to the meeting location.

Upon arrival, he found it was a high-end private club, inaccessible to ordinary people.

<Wang Yan> had seen his fair share of such places by now, so this was nothing special.

A dedicated attendant waited for him at the entrance. After giving his name, <Wang Yan> was led to a luxuriously decorated, dimly lit room.

The owner of this club, and the one who invited him, was <Wei Zhijie>, the same scoundrel who, in the original story, sent <Wang Manni> back to <Shanghai> at the end. Seeing him enter, <Wei Zhijie> rose to greet him.

<Wang Yan> walked over with a smile and greeted him, "Mr. Wei, long time no see. Please, sit down. No need to be so formal. What can I do for you this time?"

"Haha, Mr. Wang, please sit, please sit. That's not right, can't I just catch up with you for no reason?"

"Of course, you can. Chatting with Mr. Wei always puts me in a good mood."

This old acquaintance was the first wealthy magnate who came knocking, seeking to make a fortune when <Wang Yan> first rose to prominence. It had to be said, the guy had good foresight. Although he had various professionals under him, and his own abilities weren't bad, even considered top-notch, otherwise, he wouldn't have amassed such a fortune.

However, when it came to grasping the international situation, understanding their old European and American rivals, and his own level of insight and vision for the future, he was still quite a distance from <Wang Yan>.

When he approached <Wang Yan>, he was extremely polite. He was the type of person who could put aside his pride for those capable of making a lot of money. <Wang Yan>, seeing his decent attitude, still took his money and let him in on the deal.

Over this long period, he had made a considerable profit following <Wang Yan>.

After sitting down, they exchanged pleasantries and compliments. It was truly a match of equals, a meeting of talented individuals.

After talking for a while, <Wei Zhijie> couldn't hold back any longer. Everyone was busy, and all this bragging was a waste of time.

He took a sip of tea, cleared his throat, and said, "To be frank, Mr. Wang, I did have something I wanted to discuss with you."

<Wang Yan> understood; who would seek him out for idle chit-chat?

He gestured for him to continue.

"It's like this, someone asked me to put in a good word, to act as an intermediary, and to ask for your favor. It's better to resolve enmity than to perpetuate it. Let's shake hands and make peace. You name the terms."

After hearing this, <Wang Yan> understood. It was obvious who it was; since he arrived in this world, he had only targeted the old <Liang Family>.

It wasn't surprising that they found him as the mastermind. Once an action was taken, even if well-concealed, there would be traces. If the <Liang Family> was determined to investigate, finding him was normal.

Once they pinpointed him, finding someone they knew with some influence was even more normal.

<Wang Yan> asked, "The <Liang Family> suffered such heavy losses, and they don't want to kill me, but instead want you to mediate?"

He had been busy dealing with previous matters and hadn't paid much attention to the <Liang Family>'s situation.

For him, the satisfaction of being a behind-the-scenes manipulator lasted only for that moment; it was over afterward. The <Liang Family> was just meat on the chopping block; their fate was sealed the moment he made his move.

For over half a month, the Liang Family had struggled, their exhaustion evident, on the verge of collapse. Of course, this "verge" still required time; it wasn't something that could vanish instantly.

After finally understanding the full story, the old master nearly died of anger. Because of a woman, wanting to show off, she almost destroyed the Liang Family?

Naturally, there was no shortage of scolding directed at Wang Yan. Such a small matter, why escalate it so much? Must it be a life-or-death struggle?

This was from his perspective; he never considered the consequences for those previously wronged by Liang Zhengxian. "I can mess with you, but you can't mess with me." Such a spoiled attitude.

Of course, Wang Yan wasn't seeking revenge for those who had suffered greatly at Liang Zhengxian's hands. Those scoundrels deserved it. If you weren't so eager to compete for favor, you would have just been slightly suppressed and moved on. They usually knelt plenty, so what was the problem with enduring it? But no, they had to maintain their pride and act superior. If you act superior and still can't beat them, who can you blame?

A lifetime of fame, destroyed in a single moment. Old Master Liang, in a fit of youthful passion, grabbed his cane and beat Liang Zhengxian half to death, then expelled him from the family.

This happened yesterday, and his subordinate had specifically reported it to him. He was aware of it.

Wei Zhijie said, "Mr. Wang, it's like this, the Liang Family..."

He told Wang Yan about things that hadn't been uncovered, indicating that they still had deep reserves. Although they were severely wounded by your actions, if you stopped now, they could still recover and make a comeback.

Wang Yan listened and pondered. The enmity was already established; if you don't kill the snake, you'll suffer its retaliation. He decided to think for the best. If they recovered and didn't bother him, Liang Zhengxian was still a member of the old Liang Family. They wouldn't watch him suffer poverty and hunger; ultimately, it would be a disgrace to them.

What was the point of his efforts then? Just for the money he'd extorted so far and their apology? And the future enmity and endless revenge? Wasn't he being foolish?

Wouldn't he gain more by crushing them completely? Directly annihilating them, and not having to worry about their revenge – what a great thing!

Moreover, what Wei Zhijie had just said might not be the whole story, but what did it matter? Weren't they already on the verge of ruin?

"Mr. Wei, let me tell you this. This time, I didn't operate solely with my own money; I don't have that much."

Saying this, Wang Yan held up one finger and said, "Currently, the money you have with me has earned this much."

Instantly, Wei Zhijie's eyes widened. This was all hard cash.

Wang Yan continued, "If we can bring down the Liang Family, including what you mentioned earlier..."

Wei Zhijie could imagine the rest. He knew how much money he had with Wang Yan, and a rough figure instantly formed in his mind.

His face bloomed into a smile. He didn't mention anything about pleading for mercy anymore. He stood up and said, "Haha, Mr. Wang. You haven't eaten yet, have you? Let's go, let's go. I've just hired a new master chef; his skills are top-notch. You can give him some pointers, help him improve further."

In terms of wealth, there might be a gap, but in terms of skill level, Wang Yan was absolutely qualified. They were both players of the same caliber, and Wei Zhijie wasn't afraid of embarrassing himself in front of Wang Yan.

He didn't give Wang Yan any chance to refuse.

He grabbed Wang Yan and pulled him along, "I know you particularly enjoy white spirits, Mr. Wang. Isn't it a coincidence? I just got my hands on a 50-year-old vintage a couple of days ago, specifically waiting for you to sample it."

Wang Yan couldn't be bothered to say more about Wei Zhijie's obsequious behavior. Despite his dignified appearance in the story, with a poker face, acting all high and mighty, as if he were something special. In reality, his true nature was far more complex and deceitful.

Afterward, the two ate and drank, chatting mysteriously for a long time.

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