Chapter 26: The History of the Xiao Family (2)

The Prodigal Son Without Pop-Ups
Chapter 26: The Xiao Family Chronicle (2)

(Xiao Tianzi frowned, his face full of confusion, as he looked at Chief Steward Lin Jian. Lin Jian explained, “Back then, the old patriarch wished to pass the position of Xiao family head to your father. At the time, your father had just married your mother, and he had little interest in managing the family’s business. After meeting your mother, who shared his passion for environmentalism, the two made a vow on their wedding day to dedicate their lives to protecting the environment. But just as your mother became pregnant with you, the old patriarch’s health declined. There had always been talented people in every generation of the Xiao family, but the old patriarch believed only your father could lead the family to greatness. It’s a heavy burden to be the head of the Xiao family—once you take up the mantle, you are bound to this world for life. When the old patriarch was dying, he asked your father to inherit the post, but at first, your father refused no matter what.”)

“Your father pleaded with the old patriarch to choose someone else, but the old patriarch could not close his eyes in peace. Your father was a filial son, so in the end, to allow the old patriarch to pass away without regret, he agreed.”

Having just heard Lin Jian mention how his father loved his mother, cherished only his mother and himself, Xiao Tianzi had already guessed most of the story from the earlier parts of Lin Jian’s account. For the first time, he listened to the tale as a true descendant of the Xiao family. When he reached this part, he quickly asked, “Did Grandfather really close his eyes in the end?”

In truth, though Xiao Tianzi had just referred to Lin Jian as Chief Steward, he had forgotten that Lin Jian was actually younger than himself by several years. At the time, Xiao Tianzi was still in his mother’s womb, and Lin Jian was not even around yet.

When this was brought up, Lin Jian replied, “My father once told me that there are many things in this world that defy explanation. That’s why scientists are often more devout believers in God than ordinary people—they know how much cannot be explained by science. My father saw it with his own eyes: when your father finally agreed to take over the Xiao family, the old patriarch truly closed his eyes and passed away.”

Xiao Tianzi gave a wry smile. “Don’t tell me my mother broke with my father over this?”

Lin Jian shook his head gently as he continued, “Of course the madam wasn’t so unreasonable. Though she and your father quarreled over this, in the end she forgave him. After all, as a child, filial piety must come first. Besides, your father promised her that after two years, he would hand over the position to someone else.”

“But things rarely go as one wishes. When your father assumed control, the Xiao family wasn’t as powerful as it is today, but internal strife was fierce. Since your father had never managed affairs before, many people refused to accept his authority, and the disputes grew worse, lasting more than three years. When the two-year promise came due, it was the Xiao family’s hour of life and death—a perilous time. Internal conflicts in a great family like the Xiao’s are never just about money; my father once said that in those years, there were several small-scale wars alone.”

“No way,” Xiao Tianzi exclaimed in shock. “That’s too much, Chief Steward. Even if the Xiao family is powerful, how could there be any real wars? Don’t tell me your so-called ‘wars’ are just a few people firing guns?”

What Xiao Tianzi admired and also found exasperating was Lin Jian’s expression—it revealed so little that he never knew what the man was really thinking. Lin Jian stood there, respectful and beautiful, waiting for him to finish, and then, as always, ignored his interjections and went on. Faced with such a quiet, striking chief steward, Xiao Tianzi could only sigh, “All right, all right, go on—if you want to tell tall tales, why not throw in some camels and dinosaurs too!”

Yet if Xiao Tianzi had looked more closely, he would have seen that Lin Jian’s face was not truly expressionless—while his features were controlled, sometimes his eyes betrayed a fleeting emotion. Noticing Xiao Tianzi’s resigned look, Lin Jian’s eyes flashed with a trace of humor as he continued, “There was one time when your father’s sixth grand-uncle learned that he was inspecting a diamond mine in Africa. He hired three local mercenary groups, over two thousand men, who had no idea your father was head of the Xiao family, to ambush him. My father was with him, along with a hundred and sixty-seven bodyguards. To cover your father’s retreat, all but two lost their lives. Of course, the attackers suffered ten times more casualties—our Xiao family’s people are always the best.”

At the mention of the Xiao family, Lin Jian’s pride was palpable. Xiao Tianzi could almost feel the heroic sacrifice of those who had died—perhaps they, too, had been as proud as Lin Jian was now.

“Once your father was safe, he contacted headquarters, but because the mine was remote, he had to reach out to several neighboring countries. Six nearby African nations deployed a hundred thousand troops to encircle and destroy those three mercenary groups. Meanwhile, your father put a bounty out across the world, vowing that not one man involved would escape. Every member of the Xiao family remembers his words: no matter the identity or rank, anyone who enters the Xiao family’s gates is one of us. Should anyone maliciously harm a member of the Xiao family, we will use all our resources to pursue them to the ends of the earth. All descendants of the Xiao family must forever remember to protect the sons of our house.”

Hearing this, Xiao Tianzi felt a surge of longing. He had never known anything about his father while growing up; how could his heart not be stirred, his spirit not soar, on hearing such deeds? Though Lin Jian was not finished, he already sensed that things between his parents were far more complicated than he had imagined.

In his heart, he was beginning to accept the Xiao family, beginning to accept his father and, listening to these stories, he felt his blood run hot.

So many people had been willing to die for him, to take pride and honor in their sacrifice; his father had cherished them all in return. Imagining the scene as his father spoke those words, Xiao Tianzi felt, for the first time, a true sense of admiration.

“Those were the years when the Xiao family’s struggles were the fiercest. Battles like these happened countless times, large and small—assassinations, poisonings, all manner of schemes. In such circumstances, your father displayed extraordinary skill, gradually winning the support of most of the family and gaining allies from outside as well.”

At this, Lin Jian paused, and Xiao Tianzi knew the real reason was coming. Lin Jian continued, “Your father had foreseen it all. At the time, your mother knew nothing of these matters—perhaps she could never have imagined that those with the same surname could fight each other so bitterly. Your father sent her away for the sake of her and your safety, and promised, as he had before, that he would give everything up and come for her in two years.”

“But…”