In the past, when he ca here, it was to seek dical treatnt and obtain prescriptions, and although it could still be considered asking for help, it was just the normal act of seeking dical aid. He paid money, and the doctors saved lives; he felt perfectly justified. But this ti, he was truly, purely here to ask for help!
Father, there’s no other way; our Qian Family has reached a critical mont of life and death. Your unfilial son cannot adhere to your last wishes anymore!
Thinking of that phone call, that person, a flicker of hope surfaced in his eyes.
Taking a deep breath, he slowly walked towards the hospital building in front of him.
Inside the advanced special VIP ward, although it was still just before eight in the morning, Mr. Ma was already dressed in a suit and sitting energetically in his chair, with Elder Mr. Ma seated opposite him.
Elder Mr. Ma looked very spirited as well, getting an evident boost from previous tis. On their table, there were several bowls of clear congee, so milk, and other common breakfast items.
Mr. Ma’s wife carefully attended to Elder Mr. Ma’s side, serving him so greens.
The other staff mbers at a nearby table were eating their breakfasts, each with their heads down, silent, nobody finding the atmosphere unusual.
Those who had worked for many years beside Elder Mr. Ma were used to his rules. During als, one would just eat quietly, making as little conversation as possible.
"Alright, I am full now, Dad, take your ti."
Finally, after finishing a bowl of congee, Mr. Ma gently set down his utensils and spoke to Elder Mr. Ma sitting across from him.
Elder Mr. Ma lifted his head, glanced at Mr. Ma, who had already taken up a napkin to wipe his mouth, and gave a slight nod in acknowledgnt; then he returned to his al.
After leaving the dining table, Mr. Ma walked over to a corner lounge, settled himself on the sofa, picked up the phone on the table, and began to dial slowly, as a servant imdiately started to brew his favorite tea to bring over.
"Has the Qian’s child not arrived yet?"
After Mr. Ma made a few phone calls, Elder Mr. Ma finally finished his breakfast and began to leave the dining table. With the help of Mr. Ma’s wife, he slowly walked over and looked towards Mr. Ma.
"Not yet, but he should be here by now; I asked him to co at this ti."
Mr. Ma put down the phone, nodded, and respectfully responded to his father.
After speaking, he hesitated slightly in his gaze but still asked,"Father, how do you plan to handle this matter?"
"Back then, it was Qian who saved my life," Elder Mr. Ma slowly remarked, not directly responding to Mr. Ma’s question, his voice sounding a bit heavy.
"Dad, I understand, I know what to do," Mr. Ma fell silent for a mont and then spoke slowly.
Elder Mr. Ma looked at his son, whose face bore a striking resemblance to his own, with clearly defined features. A trace of reassurance appeared in the old man’s eyes.
"Ring!"
Just then, the doorbell of the ward rang.
"They must have arrived," Mr. Ma hastily got up, ntioned to his father, and then signaled the servants who were ready to open the door to stop, preferring to go himself and open the door.
"The two of you must be the Qian brothers, haha, please co in quickly," Mr. Ma said, seeing two n in suits at the door. Although they forced a smile, their faces were still etched with fatigue. In particular, one of them looked quite ill, as if he might collapse at any mont. This caught Mr. Ma off guard, but after all, he wasn’t so inexperienced young man. In an instant, he regained his composure and greeted them with a warm smile.
"Yes, this must be... Brother Ma, right? Hello, my na is Qian Fuchen, and this is my younger brother, Qian Fuyu," Qian Fuchen said, forcing a smile and extending his hand for a handshake with Mr. Ma.
"Nice to et you, Brother Ma!"
Qian Fuyu hurriedly extended his hand and shook hands with Mr. Ma. During the handshake, his expression seed sowhat tense, with a slight sheen of sweat erging in his palm. He already knew who the man before him was.
Although the other party was very cordial, after all, his status was there, and they had absolutely no prior contact with him before. Moreover, they had co this ti with the intention of asking for help.
"Good, good, co in quickly. We’re all family here, no need for formalities, co."
Watching the two n in front of him, feeling the tension emanating from Qian Fuyu’s palm, Mr. Ma sighed softly in his heart. The perception he had of the two n was even lower than he had imagined. Had it been purely from the perspective of interest, he would not have considered helping these two people, who didn’t seem capable of offering anything in return—one sickly and not of long-lived appearance, and the other evidently limited in scope.
However, his face did not betray any of these inner thoughts; he smiled warmly and hastily led them inside.
No matter what, from Elder Mr. Ma’s stance just now, and even from last night when he had them co over, he had known that Elder Mr. Ma had decided to wade into these troubled waters. Naturally, he would not be soone who worked thanklessly and unappreciated.
Moreover, this was a matter in which the Ma Family admittedly owed the Qian Family a great debt of gratitude, so he could not consider it solely from the perspective of self-interest.
"This is our father."
After leading the two n into the living room, Mr. Ma introduced them to Old Master Ma sitting in the center, who said nothing but assessed the two brothers with a pair of cloudy old eyes.
"Uncle Ma!"
Upon hearing Mr. Ma’s introduction, both Qian Fuchen and Qian Fuyu were visibly shaken and revealed a respectful deanor as they bowed deeply to the elderly man.
"The resemblance, it’s truly uncanny."
Old Master Ma ignored their greetings and simply stared at the two brothers, murmuring to himself with slightly moist eyes, fixing his gaze intently on Qian Fuchen, "You’re the spitting image of Qian when he was younger, you must be the third brother, right?"
"Yes, Uncle Ma, that’s correct."
Qian Fuchen had not expected Old Master Ma to beco so emotional. A wave of emotion stirred in his heart, and as he thought of his late father’s circumstances and considered his own twilight years, a wave of lancholy welled up inside him. It took him a while to suppress these feelings before he replied respectfully.
"You resemble your father indeed. But how could you, so young and not yet sixty, appear so sickly?"
Old Master Ma had long passed the age of sentintal nostalgia. Through the years, he had grown accustod to all manner of separations and deaths, and such emotions had faded for him. After wiping his eyes slightly, his mood cald a bit, and, with a frown, he began to inquire.
"Uncle Ma, I am fifty-two this year and have always been in poor health. I’ve felt guilty for not living up to my father’s na, and now, with this trouble that has arisen, more so...," Qian Fuchen replied, his expression suddenly becoming extrely somber.
"What exactly happened? Tell in detail, how did you get involved with the Zhang Family? Your explanation over the phone yesterday was unclear."
Old Master Ma nodded gently as he spoke.
"Yes, Uncle Ma, the situation is as follows..."
Hearing that Old Master Ma seed prepared to take an interest in the matter, Qian Fuchen’s spirit was abruptly invigorated. Bowing his head, he began to recount the events. In front of this internationally renowned elder, his father’s forr superior and a respected elder, he dared not withhold anything; he honestly related the entire sequence of events, including how his own son had been so disappointing.
He was acutely aware that lying or trying to be clever in front of this elderly man would be an utterly foolish act.
"Uncle Ma, it’s my fault for being preoccupied with business and neglecting to discipline the younger generation, leading to such an unruly scion. Now, such a catastrophe has occurred. I realize that we are truly at fault in this matter, and we are willing to accept any demands the Zhang Family might make. We only hope that the Zhang Family would allow the Qian Family a way to survive!"
Having spoken, Qian Fuchen bowed deeply, his voice filled with emotion as he continued, "Originally, we did not want to bother you, Uncle Ma. Before my father passed, he explicitly instructed us brothers not to trouble you, and that’s also why, despite the many years, we have been so rude as to not visit and greet you—it was too presumptuous! But this ti, we are truly out of options and can only hope that you, Uncle Ma, would be willing to diate on our behalf!"
Qian Fuyu also bowed deeply alongside his elder brother.
After listening to Qian Fuchen’s account, Old Master Ma’s brows furrowed deeply. The issue had erupted in such a manner that he, who had already decided to intervene, started to feel hesitant. He was soone who had co up through the ranks from an ordinary civilian amidst the turmoil of war, and he greatly disliked such descendants who bullied others with their power. Normally, he was very strict in guiding his own descendants’ conduct, and if any of them committed such wrongdoing, they would face severe punishnt.
Yet looking at the two brothers before him, the image of his old comrade-in-arms lood unbidden in his mind, especially knowing that his comrade-in-arms had still been thinking of him on his deathbed. A sense of helplessness rose in his heart, and he waved his hand wearily, "Get up, both of you."
"Uncle Ma!"
Qian Fuchen, unsure of Old Master Ma’s intentions, lifted his head to look at him but did not dare to rise without permission. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welco to vote for it on Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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