Chapter 24

After Zhang Hanmo died, Zhang Linmo, overcome with grief and fury, sent people to Kyoto to assassinate Li Cunzhou. Only then did Li Cunzhou realize that he had provoked the Old District Zhang Family, and by chance, he also learned of Zhang Xianyang's existence. However, the Kyoto Li Family was a family of founding meritorious elders and looked down on the Old District Zhang Family's status. At the time, elections were underway, and for the sake of his reputation, Li Cunzhou could not expose the fact that he had a bastard son. Yet Zhang Linmo's increasingly brazen assassination attempts aroused the suspicions of Kyoto's great families. Left with no choice, Li Cunzhou told his father, Li Chong'en, then the head of the Li Family, about Zhang Hanmo and Zhang Xianyang.

At the same time, the Kyoto Zhang Family, following the clues and conducting a thorough investigation, also learned of Zhang Hanmo and her son. The Kyoto Zhang Family was furious that Li Cunzhou had gotten involved with Zhang Hanmo while his wife was pregnant. To teach both the Li Family and the Old District Zhang Family a lesson, the Kyoto Zhang Family even instructed people to assassinate Zhang Xianyang while he was still an infant. However, the Old Zhang Family Ancestral Residence's watertight security thwarted them. Worse still, they brought a furious counterattack from the Old District upon themselves and were ultimately forced to stop.

The Kyoto Zhang Family, having tried to vent their anger only to get harshly rebuked in return, could not swallow this humiliation. Zhang Yaxian threatened divorce to force the Li Family to back down, and Li Cunzhou no longer had the nerve to acknowledge his son.

This dragged on for sixteen years, until the Kyoto Li Family and Zhang Family noticed the enormous benefits of bringing the Old District under their control. Only then did they think of the son they had abandoned for sixteen years...

Zhang Xianyang sneered. Those two families had calculated things well. Unfortunately for them, in this life, the Old Zhang Family, forewarned by experience, would never fall for their scheme again. Even if it cost him his life, he would never give those two families an opening.

Zhang Xianyang fell silent for a moment before saying sincerely, "Dad, thank you. Dad, I'm sorry."

He had wanted to say those words in his previous life but never had the chance. He had wanted to say them in this life too, yet had not known how. Only now, when he finally spoke them, did it seem so natural.

Zhang Linmo reached out and stroked Zhang Xianyang's hair, his expression full of emotion. "You're my son. Why would a father and son talk about thanks or apologies?"

Zhang Xianyang stepped forward and wrapped Zhang Linmo in a tight embrace, saying nothing. Rebirth was the only secret he had kept in this life. He did not dare let the Zhang Family know how badly his foolish actions had harmed them. He did not dare bear their blame and hatred, nor could he let them know about the madness and despair he had once fallen into. But he remembered every bit of it, every ounce of hatred. One day, he would return it all.

Zhang Linmo let out a long sigh. Ever since the day he had acknowledged Zhang Xianyang, he had never told him about this mess. He had hoped Zhang Xianyang could be as innocent and happy as the younger sister who had never had the chance to live, free from all worries. Even if he raised the boy to be extravagant, indulgent, overbearing, and soaring. This was the guilt Zhang Linmo felt over failing to protect his sister, all of it poured without reservation onto Zhang Xianyang. But things had not gone as he wished. In the end, the secret had still been exposed.

But even if the secret had been exposed, he, Zhang Linmo, would never allow anyone to bully his son—the blood of the Old Zhang Family.

Author's note: For various reasons, Manzhouli will be changed to Guandong Province in this story. I'll revise the text later; it isn't an update. Please forgive me ╭(╯3╰)╮

Today explained the backstory. Starting tomorrow, we'll torment the scum ╭(╯3╰)╮╭(╯3╰)╮

Chapter 24

Once the identities of the Li father and sons had been confirmed, the Zhang Family finally had the appetite to eat dinner openly. During the meal, Zhang Xianyang kept absentmindedly looking outside. After observing him for some time, Zhang Muyang asked somewhat dejectedly, "Yangyang, what are you looking at?"

Zhang Xianyang turned back and said with a smile, "I was wondering what those three are doing."

Hearing this, Zhang Linmo silently waved his hand. Sister Li, who had been standing behind them, immediately left the villa. A moment later, she returned and reported, "Those three are still outside... kneeling."

Zhang Xianyang suddenly asked, "What's the temperature today?"

Sister Li paused, then replied, "Twenty-eight degrees. But it's windy outside, so it isn't too hot."

Zhang Xianyang frowned in dissatisfaction. In his previous life, the Li father and sons had come knocking half a year later. It had happened to be mid-to-late January, the coldest season in the north. The Li father and sons had also knelt in the snow all night and nearly frozen to death. After the Zhang Family brought them into the villa, they ran high fevers for three days straight and remained unconscious. That had moved the naive and foolish Zhang Xianyang, making him think they truly possessed some so-called familial affection for him. Even Zhang Linmo, who had stubbornly refused to let him return to Kyoto, had been rather touched and stopped opposing it so strongly.

Naturally, Zhang Xianyang would not be moved by such a cheap trick in this life. Still, the thought that they had so luckily avoided the snowstorm from his previous life made him uncomfortable.

With that thought, Zhang Xianyang put down his bowl and chopsticks, having lost his appetite, and asked Zhang Linmo, "Dad, is there any way to create artificial snowfall?"

Zhang Linmo was stunned by Zhang Xianyang's erratic train of thought. "What do you need artificial snowfall for?"

Zhang Xianyang sneered and casually said, "It's autumn now. The skies are clear, and the breeze is cool. It really isn't good weather for putting on a suffering act. I just wanted to help them out."

The Zhang Family could not help laughing at that. Zhang Muyang smiled. "Yangyang still loves tormenting people so much."

"I'm honoring him by tormenting him. Plenty of people want me to torment them, and I can't even be bothered with them!" Zhang Xianyang raised an eyebrow, speaking with the spoiled arrogance of an obvious young master.

Zhang Linmo shook his head helplessly, but he still instructed Old Zhang, the butler, "Do as Yangyang says."

Old Zhang thought it over with some difficulty before suggesting, "It may be autumn, but the autumn heat is still intense. Artificial snowfall would be difficult, but artificial rain would be easy enough."

"Can you make artificial hail?" Zhang Xianyang pressed his advantage.

Old Zhang silently glanced at Zhang Xianyang and answered with certainty, "That can be arranged."

Outside the Old Zhang Family villa, three well-dressed, handsome men knelt directly in front of the ornate iron gates. They had come looking for a son. For the Old District, which had been quiet for quite some time, this was a bit of entertainment to brighten their lives.

Thus, after dinner, the errand boys from every household were instructed by their bosses to come out and gather information. Some big shots, bored out of their minds and unafraid of looking ridiculous, even came out personally and stood in the street to watch. But before long, everyone heard the humming roar of machinery overhead. The suspicious onlookers hurriedly looked up, only to see hailstones the size of beans raining down from the sky, crackling as they struck the ground. Caught off guard, the big shots cursed and covered their heads as they hurried indoors. Yet they did not forget to go upstairs and continue watching the show. Only the three Li men kneeling before the Old Zhang Family villa had nowhere to hide and could only grit their teeth and remain where they were.

Hailstones the size of beans fell from the sky, joining together in strings like crystal bead curtains. Lit by the streetlights, they gleamed with crystalline clarity. They might have been even prettier in daylight. But however beautiful, hail was still hard ice, not soft, moist raindrops falling gently upon the body. Although the men carrying out the artificial hailstorm had followed Zhang Linmo's instructions and made the hailstones as small as possible, lest they kill someone and make Yangyang feel guilty, hail was still hail. Falling from such a height and striking a person, each impact was as powerful as an air gun pellet.

Under the full barrage of such hail, the three Li men, already badly beaten by thugs, were soon bruised and battered, their bodies covered in injuries. Instinctively, they covered their heads, hunched their necks, and leaned against one another.

Li Jiangnan spat resentfully and asked in frustration, "Dad, no one is paying any attention to us. Why are we still kneeling here?"

Li Cunzhou's face was bitter as he shook his head without speaking. Li Mobei, who remained calm and composed, said instead, "This was Grandpa and Grandpa Zhang's order. No matter what price we have to pay, we must bring Zhang Xianyang home."

Li Jiangnan was silent for a while before asking doubtfully, "Dad, is that kid really the bastard son you had behind Mom's back?"

That kid looked sixteen or seventeen. If it was true, didn't that mean Dad had been having an affair seventeen or eighteen years ago? Didn't that mean he had already betrayed them and fooled around outside while Mom was pregnant with him?

For a moment, resentment and anger rose in Li Jiangnan's heart. But those feelings quickly vanished beneath Li Mobei's words.

"Before we came, Grandpa specifically warned us that this Zhang Xianyang is extremely important to both the Li Family and our maternal grandfather's family. You can't act recklessly. If you ruin the plans of both families, you won't get off lightly."

Li Jiangnan shot Li Cunzhou an indignant glance, then lowered his head and continued kneeling in dejection. Seeing his dispirited younger brother, Li Mobei silently took off his coat and draped it over him.

Li Cunzhou's betrayal was a blow to both of them, who had always believed their parents loved each other and their family was harmonious. But Li Mobei was clearly better at managing his emotions. He knew the past could not be changed. Yet the future was something one could fight for through one's own efforts.

As for the people and events that had hurt them, as long as he became strong enough, one day he could take revenge.

Holding a teacup, Zhang Xianyang stood on the balcony of his second-floor bedroom, looking outside through the curtain of pouring rain. The Li father and sons kneeling in the street shivered as the hail battered them. In the bitter wind and rain, the sight of the father and sons leaning on one another was especially moving. Unfortunately, Zhang Xianyang was no longer the young master from his previous life who understood nothing. His heart had been hardened by the twin trials of death and betrayal. No matter what the Li father and sons did, Zhang Xianyang would no longer feel even a trace of expectation or wishful hope.

They were his enemies. He could not gamble the Old Zhang Family and the Old District on trusting people with ulterior motives who had already caused definite harm.

Even if, in this reborn life, none of it had happened yet.

Zhang Xianyang silently drained his tea, then turned and went into the bathroom to wash up.

When he came back out, his eldest and second brothers were both sitting on the bed, an uncommon sight. Zhang Xianyang glanced at the clock on the wall. At this hour, they should have been training in the basement.

Before Zhang Xianyang could ask, Zhang Muyang, his face heavy with worry, spoke first. "Yangyang, are you okay?"

Zhang Xianyang looked at Zhang Muyang in surprise and casually replied, "I'm fine. What could possibly be wrong with me?"

Zhang Xiyang also asked uneasily, "That man is kneeling outside. What do you think about it?"

"What is there to think about?" Zhang Xianyang shrugged and said openly, "Seventeen years ago, he gave up being my father. Seventeen years later, I don't need some scheming father appearing out of nowhere. If he behaves himself, fine. But if he has any ulterior motives, the Old Zhang Family isn't to be trifled with."

"But he is, after all..." Zhang Xiyang trailed off awkwardly, feeling troubled. He did not want Zhang Xianyang to have any connection with the Li Family, but he feared that blood ties would win out and that Zhang Xianyang would ultimately leave them.

On this point, the two brothers' thoughts were strangely aligned. So when Zhang Xianyang had proposed tormenting them earlier, Zhang Muyang had not entirely agreed. He knew that the more the Li Family jumped around and the more pitiful they appeared, the greater the chance that Zhang Xianyang would change his mind in the future. In his view, it would be best to drive the three Li men out of the Old District and never let them return for the rest of their lives.

Without contact, Yangyang would forget about this matter sooner. Then he could stay peacefully with the Old Zhang Family, by their side.

It had to be said that Zhang Muyang's worries had been correct in Zhang Xianyang's previous life. But for Zhang Xianyang in this life, he wanted to viciously toy with the Li Family to vent his anger, and it had absolutely nothing to do with blood ties between father and son. In Zhang Xianyang's view, the tragedy of his previous life ultimately stemmed from his own naivety, foolishness, and inability to judge people. Therefore, he would not actively seek revenge. But if the Li Family continued with the same schemes and conspiracies from his previous life, then Zhang Xianyang could justifiably repay the hatred of both his lives—