Tong Airui had already felt his father’s gaze, but he didn’t dare to look over. He understood his father’s thoughts, but he was also preparing to retire. If he took on another heavy burden, he would probably have no ti left for his family.
Before dinner, Queen Royce called Yi Luowa. "Luowa, your Uncle Muta said the collective wedding you and Airui held was wonderful. He was so pleased that he insists on having you both over for a few drinks. Are you and Airui free?"
Yi Luowa smiled, "Aunt Royce, we are free, we’ll head over in a bit."
"Great, we’ll be waiting for you two."
Yi Luowa put down the phone and looked at Tong Airui, "Uncle Muta wants us to go over for dinner."
Tong Airui rubbed his face slightly.
Yi Luowa smiled, "Go upstairs and change your clothes."
Tong Airui sighed, followed her upstairs, "Wifey, can you guess why Uncle Muta wants us to go to the palace for dinner?"
"It’s about Dad wanting to step down." Yi Luowa took a casual outfit out of the wardrobe and handed it to him, "Honey, Dad and Mom are not young anymore. If they don’t leave now, they might not be able to later."
Tong Airui was slightly taken aback, "You an, no matter what Uncle Muta asks, I should agree?"
"It’s up to you. I won’t express any opinion once we’re there. I just want to tell you, we’re still young."
Tong Airui was silent for a mont, quickly changed his clothes, "Wifey, thank you on behalf of Mom and Dad."
"As children, it’s what we should do. No matter how busy you get in the future, I’ll always be by your side." Yi Luowa smiled, "Maybe we’re overthinking it."
"Hopefully, we’re overthinking it." Tong Airui reached out to tidy her collar, "Let’s go, we’ll find out if we’re overthinking once we’re there."
The two of them soon arrived at the palace, where Leon and Bert were already waiting at the door. Tong Airui glanced at them, "Got sothing to say to ?"
Bert was about to speak when Leon quickly stopped him, "The only thing we want to say to you is, welco."
Tong Airui smiled and patted his shoulder, "Good brother!"
"Please co in." Bert smiled, making a gesture of invitation.
Tong Airui held Yi Luowa’s hand as they walked into the hall.
Seeing them enter, Muta waved with a smile, "Co on over, we were just waiting for you two."
Looking at the table full of delicious dishes, Yi Luowa smiled and said, "Thank you Uncle and Aunt for preparing such a lavish feast for us."
"Have a seat." Royce patted the spot next to her.
Yi Luowa responded and sat down.
At the dinner table, Muta only talked about the collective wedding and ntioned nothing else. The dinner was quite harmonious.
After dinner, Muta finally got to the point, "Luowa, your father-in-law didn’t get angry when he got ho, did he?"
"No, he even joked around with Aunt Xixi when he got back."
Muta sighed, "He threw quite a tantrum at my place. I feel guilty towards him. What he wants is freedom, but I just can’t give it to him."
Yi Luowa smiled apologetically, "Uncle, my dad just has that temper. Please don’t be mad at him."
"I know, that’s just how he is. I certainly won’t hold it against him." Muta smiled, "Luowa, isn’t your Haotian’s Pri Minister Marcus also the commander of the Haotian’s three armies? Despite holding such a heavy workload, he’s never complained?"
Yi Luowa glanced at Tong Airui, then said, "I’ve never heard him complain, but watching him too busy to get more than a few hours of sleep each day makes my parents feel very guilty."
"Marcus is the person your parents trust the most, so they have given him significant responsibilities. Given their trust, I doubt he would complain." Muta sighed deeply, "Xiawu is so vast, yet aside from people from the Aldrich family, I really don’t dare to trust anyone else. If there were soone to take over your father-in-law’s position, I wouldn’t be holding onto him like this."
Yi Luowa slightly rolled her eyes. Aren’t these words supposed to be directed at Tong Airui? Why has Uncle Muta been speaking to this whole ti? Doesn’t he realize I’m not the one deciding for Tong Airui?
"Uncle Muta, thank you for trusting our family. The Aldrich family won’t let you down."
Muta smiled with relief, "Luowa, you’re so sensible!"
Tong Airui smiled as he looked at Muta, "Uncle Muta, Xiawu is full of talented people. It’s not just my Aldrich family; you should cast a wider net in recruiting talents."
"Your dad has told that too. Over the years, I’ve appointed many newcors, but for important positions, I still don’t dare to let go. Airui, I’ve always treated you like my own child. Let’s be honest. I know you’re already training a successor.
How about this, if your dad insists on retiring, you take over for a few years like Pri Minister Marcus, and once Chen Xuan is ready, you can go back to being the Pri Minister and hand Shenying over to Chen Xuan. I’m getting old too; this position will inevitably beco Leon’s eventually. In the future, you brothers can join forces to create a beautiful future for Xiawu."
Tong Airui began with a smile, "Uncle Muta, even if you hadn’t brought it up, I was planning to. I’m still young; holding two jobs at once definitely won’t work. If you trust enough, I’ll take over my father’s position and let Bert take over Shenying."
"I can’t do it!" Bert jumped up, "I originally studied economics; I know nothing about leading troops in battle. If you don’t want to do it, aren’t there still Colin and Uncle Sheng!"
Tong Airui smiled and glanced at him, "Those guys are even older than my dad. If my dad is talking about retirent, how many more years do you think they can work?"
"In those years of war, our generation suffered losses, and now it’s a transitional period. We can only rely on your generation." King Muta pointed at Bert, "He definitely can’t lead, Airui. Uncle won’t force you, but discuss it with Luowa when you get back. Anyway, if no one takes over your dad’s position, I won’t let him go."
Yi Luowa chuckled, turns out, King Muta can be quite unreasonable too.
Tong Airui laughed and pulled her hand, "Honey, let’s go ho and discuss."
Yi Luowa smiled and patted his hand, "Don’t upset Uncle Muta."
Tong Airui frowned and said, "I didn’t an to upset him; he started being unreasonable first. I intended to take my dad’s position, who would have known Uncle Muta would be so greedy."
King Muta smiled helplessly, "I’m being pressured by your dad, you didn’t see him, every ti he hands in his resignation, his face as dark as if he wants to eat alive. Luowa, I can’t figure it out, he ntioned retiring before, but never as strongly as now."
Yi Luowa laughed and said, "Mainly because my grandparents are getting older, my dad wants to spend more ti with them. Also, my uncle and aunt have retired, so my dad is a bit anxious."
"I knew there must be a reason, otherwise he wouldn’t react so strongly."
"Achoo——" Long Che sneezed suddenly without warning.
Tong Yao raised her hand to touch his forehead, "Caught a cold?"
"No, I bet Muta is cursing , and your son is blaming ."
Tong Yao shook her head helplessly, "Most people bla their parents, but you’re the one who blas your son!"
"Rui’er has the ability, and he will definitely do better than ."
"If I were you, I would wait a few years, let the kid have so easy days."
Long Che sighed, "Mom and Uncle Chen’s age is catching up, I can afford to wait, but they can’t. I want to take them out while we can still move around."
"Can you bear to leave Sangyu?"
"Sangyu is almost in elentary school, and the younger ones are in kindergarten. We can go out and co back if we miss them."
Tong Yao glanced at him, "I understand how you feel, but can the kids understand? Aren’t you afraid Rui’er will co back and make a fuss with you!"
"With Luowa there, he won’t make a fuss with you."
"Our dad is a pri example of a parent who pits his son!" Tong Airui’s voice ca from outside the door.
Tong Yao pursed her lips and smiled.
Long Che turned his head to glance towards the entrance, seeing his son hadn’t co in yet, he got up and ran upstairs.
Yi Luowa changed her shoes and glanced at Tong Airui, "Say less! You clearly want to follow Dad’s wishes, so why say this now, does it make sense!"
"It makes sense; if I keep it in, I’ll feel stifled! I’ve learned my lesson this ti, when I see soone I like in the future, I’ll trick him just like this!"
Yi Luowa laughed and said, "Just don’t trick my son!"
Long Che turned back halfway.
Tong Yao smiled at him and mouthed, "Why didn’t you run?"
"Ahem ahem..." Long Che cleared his throat.
Yi Luowa stuck her tongue out at Tong Airui.
Tong Airui took a deep breath, took her hand, and walked into the living room.
Before his son could speak, Long Che said first, "In a year, I’ll hand in my resignation for the last ti."
Yi Luowa gently scratched the palm of Tong Airui’s hand.
Tong Airui took a deep breath, "Then I must thank you."
Long Che tilted his head and glanced at him, "No need to thank."
"Mom, look at Dad, he’s not the least bit guilty after tricking ."
"Since he made up his mind to trick you, how could he feel guilty?" Tong Yao laughed and stood up, "Go upstairs and rest."
Yi Luowa smiled and hugged Tong Airui’s arm, "Mom, are the kids asleep?"
"They’re asleep, your dad put them to sleep."
"Then you and Dad should go rest too." Yi Luowa said with a smile, "Good night, Mom and Dad."
The daughter-in-law gave them an out, so Tong Yao took Long Che upstairs.
Reviews
All reviews (0)