844: 622 Let the Bullets Fly for a While (Thanks for the Tip!
Seeking Monthly Votes!) 844: 622 Let the Bullets Fly for a While (Thanks for the Tip!
Seeking Monthly Votes!) “What did you go out for?”
When He Junru returned home, the regal and elegant Second Madame was sitting in the living room, seemingly having waited for quite some time.
“I met with a few friends.”
He Junru, the pillar among her generation, approached and sat down next to her mother.
“Mom, why haven’t you slept yet?”
With a sigh, the Second Madame, despite having spent countless sums of money on her face, was inevitably showing her age.
Her daughter was already in her thirties; time’s relentless passage could not be withstood.
Worry lines appeared, and the crow’s feet around her eyes became ever more distinct.
“How can I sleep at a time like this?”
“Mom, no matter what, you still need to take care of yourself.
Nothing is more important than your health.”
He Junru, as if nothing were the matter, spoke softly to comfort her: “Everything will pass.”
The Second Madame smiled, looking at her daughter, her mood somewhat lifting.
In her life, there were only two things she could truly pride herself on: first was marrying a husband renowned throughout the world, and the second was giving birth to a wonderful daughter.
Now, after all, it was not the feudal era.
There was no need to differentiate between the older and younger generations based on seniority.
She always managed to keep a firm grasp on the family’s core power and stood toe to toe with the senior branch, and her daughter played no small part in this.
“Actually, I didn’t want you to come back this time.”
“How could I not come back?
After all, I’m part of the He family too.”
The Second Madame shook her head.
“You were doing so well on your own.
Far from helping you, I always ended up dragging you down…”
He Junru took her mother’s hand.
“Mom, we’re family, and whatever I am today, isn’t it because I carry the He surname?”
When it comes to the children of the wealthy, most people tend to hold prejudiced views.
In reality, how could children raised with a plethora of resources turn out badly?
There are certainly some depraved wastrels who lack education, but they are not representative of everyone.
The public’s stereotypical image of the children of the wealthy was largely crafted by the media in their quest for eyeballs.
How many could stand at He Junru’s level of achievement while maintaining such clarity of mind?
“Mom.”
He Junru paused, and then asked, “Have you ever thought about leaving Haojiang?”
The Second Madame naturally was taken aback, not understanding what her daughter meant.
“What do you mean?”
“Mom, you have spent most of your life in Haojiang.
Haven’t you grown tired of it yet?” He Junru said.
“Why not come out and see the world with me?”
The Second Madame frowned slightly.
“Junru… are you saying…”
“Mom, Haojiang is too small.
The world outside might be much more exciting.”
The Second Madame fell silent, staring at her calm daughter, her eyes flickering uncertainly.
To have raised such a child and never fallen behind in the intricate games of palace intrigue, she was certainly not an ordinary wealthy matriarch.
“…What about the He family?”
“A family’s most crucial component, after all, is its people.
If we were to leave Haojiang, would we cease to be members of the He family?”
He Junru laughed lightly.
The Second Madame could not miss the deep undercurrents beneath her daughter’s laugh, her expression turning serious as she emphasized, “But your father’s life’s work is all here.
This is also the foundation of our He family.”
“We must always look forward.”
He Junru’s smile remained calm.
“Mom, it’s just a change of environment.
Aren’t you tired of all this scheming and plotting?
I know I’m tired of watching it.”
Upon hearing this, the Second Madame fell silent instantly.
Her daughter was laying her cards on the table.
Nobody wanted to live a life of constant deceit, but in their circumstances, she had no choice.
“Mom didn’t want to live like this either.
It was all for our family.”
This family and the “He family” should not mean the same thing.
“Mom, I know, and you’ve worked hard.
That’s why I really hope you can relax a bit in the time to come.”
The Second Madame hesitated and finally asked in earnest, “Do you believe we’ll have a hard time keeping the gambling license?”
“It has nothing to do with the gambling license.”
He Junru shook her head.
“I’ve had this idea for a long time.
Whether we can keep the license or not, I wanted to talk to you about it.
Mom, right now, I can guarantee the kind of life you’ve always wanted.”
“Junru, I don’t doubt your abilities.”
The Second Madame gave a wry smile.
“I know that even without relying on the He family, you can live well.
But…”
Like mother, like daughter.
Conversely, the same can be true.
He Junru could guess what her mother was thinking.
Glory and wealth.
But more important were the two words “glory and splendor.”
A life of luxury could be enjoyed anywhere, yet some honors cannot be purchased with money.
Indeed, it would be difficult to relinquish such honors.
“Mom, you and your sisters can continue to live the life you do now, but what about us?”
He Junru watched her mother intently.
The Second Madame found herself at a loss for words.
Indeed.
Time would always march on.
Their generation would inevitably grow old.
To state it more profoundly, just like Mr.
He, they would all eventually return to dust.
What would happen to the next generation when they were gone?
Busy with power struggles and benefits, they hardly had the time to care for other matters, but their ideas about the next generation weren’t totally unclear.
Every era forms its different concepts.
They only wanted to clutch more benefits in their hands, but the next generation might have different aspirations, perhaps eagerly awaiting to “divide the family.”
Whether in wealthy families or ordinary households, kinship grows weaker and shallower with each generation.
Yes.
Since Mr.
He passed away, whether they wished to admit it or not, the He family could never return to its former glory.