But he never expected that now, in his forties, his father would have to shoulder such heavy pressure and set out to fight again.
After learning the real situation of his family,
his first thought was still to let his father bear everything that should be inherited.
He would keep loafing around as a good-for-nothing Second-generation rich.
Thinking of this, Jiang Cheng slowly asked, "Dad, have you really thought it through? You used to say that once I grew up you'd retire and go fishing…"
Recalling bits and pieces of the past, Jiang Jianmin couldn't help laughing.
He stretched out his broad, warm hand, gently stroked Jiang Cheng's hair, and continued earnestly,
"Don't worry. In the next few years you can do whatever you want. Dad knows you love freedom and won't get in your way."
Ever since Jiang Cheng had gradually grown up, Jiang Jianmin had rarely stroked his head like he did when Jiang Cheng was little.
Yet at this moment, when his father's warm, broad palm landed on his head again, that familiar yet strange feeling instantly flooded Jiang Cheng with intense paternal love.
Jiang Cheng quietly savored this long-lost affection; his eyes grew slightly moist, his heart full of emotion.
But the emotion lasted only a few seconds. He suddenly frowned and asked in puzzlement,
"Hold on, Dad, what did you mean by 'these few years'? Then… what about after that?"
Faced with his son's urgent questioning, Jiang Jianmin hesitated a moment before replying slowly,
"That… depends on the situation."
"What do you mean?" Jiang Cheng grew more anxious, desperate for an answer.
Jiang Jianmin took a deep breath and explained gravely, "It depends on how far I can go. If I can reach the level your grandpa did, I can rest a few more years. If not, I'm afraid it will be up to you…"
Hearing this, Jiang Cheng immediately understood the deeper meaning in his father's words.
It was exactly what he had thought earlier.
The management seat would definitely rotate.
One family couldn't monopolize it for long.
So if his father succeeded, he really could slack off.
Jiang Cheng looked helpless: "Why do I feel there's a trap here?"
Jiang Jianmin waved his hand: "How would I know what happens later?"
Seeing Jiang Cheng anxious, Jiang Jianmin looked embarrassed and continued,
"Staring at me won't help. Look at me—I had my fun for so many years, and now… sigh. Blame your grandpa for being too ambitious. If he'd been like your second great-uncle, would we two be so tired now?"
…The next evening, around six, the afterglow of sunset bathed the runway of Kyoto Airport, cloaking the whole field in gold.
The charter plane landed slowly. Jiang Jianmin stepped out of the cabin and suddenly stopped.
He stood quietly, staring at the ground beneath his feet, as though he could see the years gone by through the concrete.
His gaze was deep and complex. After a moment of reflection he slowly lifted his head to the vast blue sky overhead.
His sight pierced the clouds, as if searching for something.
Seeing his mother following his father's gaze to the sky,
Jiang Cheng beside them said nothing.
Though he didn't know whether his parents' expressions were nostalgia for their homeland or memories of times lost,
he understood that this return meant something extraordinary to them.
A dozen seconds later Jiang Jianmin sighed deeply,
the sound carrying all the weight of his years.
"I thought once I left I'd never come back. I never imagined—I'm back…"
The airport felt desolate, nothing like the high-profile welcome when Jiang Cheng had arrived last time.
Chen Ping brought two discreet black business cars and parked at the entrance.
Seeing Chen Ping salute, Jiang Jianmin smiled faintly, waved, and spoke with a trace of feeling,
"Xiao Chen, out here you don't need to salute when greeting people."
Noticing Jiang Jianmin's words echoed what Jiang Cheng had said earlier,
Chen Ping's respect for the two of them deepened.
"You're Chen Hui's son, aren't you?"
Chen Ping nodded solemnly: "Yes, Uncle Jiang."
His manner was courteous and respectful.
Jiang Jianmin looked him up and down, admiration in his eyes, and praised with a smile: "A fine-looking young man—excellent!"
After exchanging a few pleasantries the atmosphere relaxed.
Together they helped Qiu Zheng into the car.
Jiang Jianmin leaned toward the window, about to say something to Qiu Zheng, but before he could speak Qiu Zheng cut in,
"Old Jiang, you go see Uncle Jiang first; don't worry about me. I want to visit my old place—it's been so long, I really miss it."
The two had been friends for years; such things needed no discussion.
Qiu Zheng naturally knew that after so many years away, Jiang Jianmin's family must have much to say.
Hearing this, Jiang Jianmin nodded: "All right, I'll have them take you there first. Don't worry, they'll look after you. I'll come see you later."
The black business car drove quietly along the East-West Ring Road.
Jiang Cheng had been here before; compared with the novelty of his first visit, this time he focused more on his parents.
He had assumed that after being away so long his father and mother would feel intense nostalgia for their hometown.
But to his surprise, the two simply gazed silently at the receding scenery outside the window, exchanging only the occasional brief word.
When Jiang Cheng asked questions they answered patiently,
yet the atmosphere inside the car remained unusually quiet.
Sensing their lack of interest, Jiang Cheng wisely fell silent, not disturbing the indescribable thoughts deep in their hearts.