The Huo residence was bustling with excitement tonight. The family was gathered, joyfully and warmly toasting one another.
Huo Shanhe watched his children and grandchildren laugh and play, feeling deeply content.
In this large compound, there were quite a few families with situations similar to his, but it was truly rare to find one like theirs that coexisted so peacefully.
In his lifetime, Huo Shanhe had taken three wives.
His first wife was an arranged marriage. While others saw them as childhood sweethearts who grew up together, they had, in truth, only met a few times.
However, those were turbulent times, and after bearing him a son and a daughter, she passed away due to health reasons.
His second wife was a revolutionary comrade. She bore him two sons before sacrificing herself during a battle to cover her comrades’ retreat.
His third wife, introduced to him by the Organization after the nation’s founding, was Jiang Jingya. She was a full fifteen years his junior and also bore him a son and a daughter.
When the Organization first suggested the match, he had initially refused. After all, he had already been widowed twice, and his eldest son was nearly old enough for his own betrothal.
But perhaps it was fate. At that very time, Jiang Jingya’s engagement of several years had just been annulled by her fiancé.
Jingya initially agreed to the arranged blind date, likely out of spite. However, as fate would have it, they met by chance due to an accident before the scheduled meeting.
If Huo Shanhe hadn’t intervened to help, she might have been maimed or severely injured. Huo Shanhe left immediately after saving her, and Jiang Jingya regretted not having the chance to thank him.
It was quite the coincidence: both were on their way to blind dates, and neither was interested in their respective prospects. As they were leaving, a situation arose that inadvertently brought them together.
Jiang Jingya might have appeared delicate, but she was a woman of strong passions. Despite Huo Shanhe being much older, he possessed a truly vigorous spirit.
At thirty-five, then in his prime, he captured Jiang Jingya’s heart.
He still remembered Jiang Jingya looking up at him and saying, "If you have feelings for me too, we could try getting to know each other."
That "getting to know each other" had turned into half a lifetime.
Initially, he had worried that she was too young and wouldn’t get along with his four children.
What he hadn’t expected was that while he was away fighting bandits for three months, she had managed to bond so well with the four children that she effectively became their leader.
As if sensing his gaze, Jiang Jingya looked up. Their eyes met across the room, hers twinkling with a smile.
At that moment, Huo Xiaoyu, the youngest son from the third branch of the family, asked curiously, "Grandpa, Grandma, what are you smiling about?"
Everyone looked over. After exchanging glances, they all began to laugh. Even Duan Zhuangyu, who had been having a little tiff with her husband, was infected by the mirth and chuckled.
What were they laughing about? No one could say precisely, but the atmosphere felt just right. Today was a good day.
After dinner, the women cleared the table while the men followed the Old Master into the study. Thɪs chapter is updated by NoveI★Fire.net
Huo Shanhe spoke very seriously. "You all know about the incident in Tang City. Furthermore, Jingrui’s recent missions have been exceptionally successful. While our Huo Family has gained much prestige, we’ve also attracted the attention of many."
Huo Weidong and the others clearly understood the Old Master’s implication.
Huo Shanhe turned to his youngest son. "Jingrui, you’ve performed exceptionally well on your recent missions. Ordinarily, based on merit, you’d be due for a promotion upon returning to your department. However, considering our family’s current situation and your age, my opinion is to defer it for now. What are your thoughts?"
Huo Jingrui nodded slightly. "I understand."
What is rightfully his cannot be taken by anyone else. His merits are undeniable; it’s only a matter of time.
The father and sons talked in the study for a long time before finally emerging.