The shock in Bai Xiaoxiao's heart was much greater than Jiang Cheng's.
Watching the screen being so bombarded with gifts that even their faces were obscured from view.
At this moment, she didn't even have the heart to play the new game she had just started.
She used to think she was very good at controlling the atmosphere of her streams, and that no matter how much the Stream Viewers went off-topic, she could always pull the conversation back into her control.
But comparing herself to Qiao Yinyin now, she felt weak; her constant suggestive jokes were only good for heating up the room, and she was useless at normal damage control... After the reputation shift, Jiang Cheng watched for a while and then logged off.
As expected, by the latter half of the night after the stream ended, many entertainment reporters' TikTok accounts began to pick up this topic.
#TikTok Investor, Can He Ban Accounts at Will?"
After one person made a video, other bloggers began staying up late to produce their own.
Attempting to stir up the previous controversy once again.
However, not long after these smear campaign hashtags against Jiang Cheng appeared.
They were all taken down with extreme speed, leaving not even a trace behind.
Instead, official channels stepped forward directly.
They not only announced that all the gift money from Qiao Yinyin's stream would be unconditionally donated to multiple orphanages.
But also spoke out through official accounts and partner media.
Successively releasing hashtags such as #QiaoYinyinPositiveEnergy# and #QiaoYinyinPassingOnWarmth#.
TikTok vigorously praised her for her initiative in proposing the donation and her practice of public welfare through action.
These positive hashtags quickly trended on TikTok, instantly shifting the direction of public opinion.
Not a single person mentioned Jiang Cheng, and they even pushed Qiao Yinyin's reputation directly into the position of a role model.
The next day, Qingming Festival.
The early morning mist had not yet fully dispersed in this guarded compound.
The hazy mist added a sense of solemnity and peace to the compound.
There was none of the bustling noise and flying spirit money of ordinary families during the Qingming Festival; the Qingming here was reserved and quiet.
But because it was a festival, everyone's expressions in the residence appeared very solemn, and even the sound of voices was much lower than usual.
Due to their special status, the Jiang Family's ancestral ritual did not take place at a public cemetery; instead, a simple and solemn altar was set up at home.
On the altar were placed the tablets of the family ancestors, as well as small portraits of several deceased revolutionary martyrs.
Jiang Cheng took a look and saw that the offerings were not lavish meats.
But were primarily elegant seasonal fruits, clear tea, and pastries.
Next to them were several bouquets of fresh yellow and white chrysanthemums, looking exceptionally refined.
Great-Grandfather, wearing a dark Zhongshan suit with his back held straight, personally set the items on the altar.
Jiang Cheng had changed into a well-pressed black suit, setting aside his usual casualness to look exceptionally steady as he helped hand over items from the side.
Back when he was in Chengdu, he had never experienced such a ritualistic holiday.
Although they had worshiped their ancestors during the New Year before, the New Year was festive after all.
It felt different from this specific commemorative holiday.
Second Grandfather Jiang Chenghong and Jiang Cheng's mother, Li Yan, were also dressed in plain clothes, standing to the side.
None of them spoke.
After the altar was set up, they began following traditional etiquette, offering incense, bowing, and presenting tea in turn.
Jiang Cheng followed the process very seriously, performing the rituals meticulously.
Unlike some ordinary people who have no feeling for traditional festivals.
In Jiang Cheng's view, this kind of holiday was not feudal superstition.
But rather a way to express remembrance for blood ancestors through the festival.
It was also a form of reverence for a certain spiritual inheritance.
What the Qingming Festival commemorated was not just bloodlines, but also periods of extraordinary years and an unswerving conviction.
Only after completing these did the group stop.
At this time, Great-Grandfather stood before the altar, gazing at the ancestral tablets and those yellowed photographs.
His gaze was deep, as if piercing through time to hold a silent dialogue with his own relatives, old comrades, and old brothers.
After staring at the tablets for a good while, he whispered a few words.
"Everything is fine at home, the younger generation is capable, don't worry."
Great-Grandfather's voice was not loud, yet it contained a heavy power.
After the simple ceremony ended, the family moved to the living room.
Great-Grandfather sat in the main seat, looking at the spring scenery outside the window, and spoke slowly with a tone of reminiscence.
"Thinking back to those days, there are very few of the old comrades who went abroad to study with me and those who helped build Shanghai who are still around today."
After saying this, he looked at Jiang Cheng, as well as Jiang Chenghong and Li Yan.
"Your Great-Great-Grandfather, and those few grandfathers in the photos, they didn't get to see the good times we have now. We celebrate Qingming not just to remember them as individuals, but to remember what they fought for and the road we came from."
Li Yan, seeing this, softly followed up: "Dad, although Jianming hasn't returned, he always keeps it in his heart. His work over there also follows the teachings of you and the predecessors, wanting to do more practical things for the local people."
Great-Grandfather nodded: "Jianming is doing the right thing. In one's position, one must perform one's duties. A family like ours must know even more how to define the word responsibility."
After saying this, his gaze fell upon Jiang Cheng once more.
"Jiang Cheng, you have now begun to take over the family business. Remember, in business, integrity is the foundation, but you must also know how to give back to society. Our family has what it has today because of the country and the people. Taken from society, used for society—I give this sentence to you today, and I hope you never forget this principle."
These words were not spoken heavily, yet they struck Jiang Cheng's heart like a hammer.
This was the first time Great-Grandfather had spoken to him in the tone of an elder.
Although both grandfathers usually pampered him and had never spoken a harsh word to him.
Today's words were not just a grandfather's expectations, but a form of invisible family rule.
Jiang Chenghong also spoke with red eyes, his voice somewhat raspy: "Jiang Cheng, your Great-Grandfather is right. Our Jiang Family only has you as a child now, and the burden you will carry in the future will be heavier than ours. The things left behind by the family... are truly too many."
Jiang Cheng looked at Second Grandfather and clearly saw his eyes were rimmed with red,
his eyes filled with an undeniable sadness and gravity.
He nodded solemnly: "I understand."
At this moment, Jiang Cheng fully understood Second Grandfather's emotions.
It is said that people become more sentimental as they grow old.
That is because as various organs of the body age, seeing tragic events feels like seeing one's own end.
As one reaches their twilight years, witnessing the continuation of the family line on such a festival inevitably brings to mind one's own final journey.
This low mood and melancholy were enough to evoke empathy.
Seeing this, Great-Grandfather reached out and gently patted Chenghong's shoulder, his tone softening with a brother's consolation: "Alright, Chenghong, don't think too much either. The most important thing right now is to take good care of your health."
Jiang Cheng also spoke up to persuade him: "Second Grandfather, please rest assured. I will definitely find a way to cure your illness. Modern medical technology is constantly advancing, and no matter what is needed, I will go find it and invite whoever is necessary."
Looking at Jiang Cheng's serious expression, a warm current surged in Jiang Chenghong's heart.
He knew his own body best.
Although he had received the best treatment recently and his body seemed to have improved slightly, the shadow of late-stage cancer was like a high-hanging sword; no one knew when it would fall.
He knew this illness was likely incurable, but the child's intention was enough.
"No need, I'm already at this age. In the future, when you have time, come back to see me on the Qingming Festival too."
Hearing this, Jiang Cheng couldn't help but frown.
It was true that he had used a healing card on him, but Jiang Chenghong himself didn't know that.
While active treatment is important for a sick person, their mindset is also crucial.
Now that things had come to this, Jiang Cheng felt it was necessary to deploy some white lies.
Jiang Cheng weighed his words, pretending to look somewhat conflicted as he looked at Jiang Chenghong.
"Second Grandfather, I actually didn't want to say this at first, but seeing your state today, I feel I must tell you."