The Jiang Family’s Old Mansion!
When Li Yi and the others arrived, the old man was listening to the radio in the living room, with a pot of steaming green tea sitting in front of him.
In the past, when the old man had nothing to do, his favorite pastime was drinking tea while reading the newspaper or a book, but now that he was getting on in years and his eyesight wasn’t what it used to be, he had taken to listening to the radio.
“Grandpa, I’ve come to see you!”
Hearing Li Yi’s voice, the old man’s half-closed eyes snapped open.
Upon seeing Li Yi, he smiled and said, “It’s Little Yi who’s back. Have a seat!”
Li Yi didn’t hesitate, immediately sitting down next to the old man and handing him a beautifully wrapped box.
“Grandpa, this is a gift I brought back for you from Hong Kong. I hope you like it!”
“Oh, what is it?”
“It’s a small radio. Don’t let its size fool you—it picks up signals just fine, and it’s easy to carry. No matter where you go, Grandpa, you can take this little gadget with you!” Li Yi said with a smile.
“Hahaha, you’ve really put some thought into this. Grandpa, I love this gift!”
“I’m glad you like it!”
The old man nodded, then looked at Li Yi and said, “You didn’t come over today just to give me this little gadget, did you? Did that young comrade surnamed Wang come looking for you?”
Li Yi nodded immediately and said, “Yes, they just left my place.”
“You want to help them?”
“Well, you must know the relationship I have with them. I can’t just stand by and watch them get bullied without doing anything,” Li Yi said.
“Did you call Longcheng?”
“I did. Third Brother said you told him not to let him or Brother Jianhua help!”
“Can’t quite wrap your head around it? Does it bother you?” the old man asked with a smile.
“I do find it a bit hard to understand, but I’m not upset. You’ve walked a longer path than we’ve eaten salt—you must have had your reasons for doing this,” Li Yi said.
“That’s right. That kind of composure is far better than Long Yin’s or Long Cheng’s—especially Long Cheng’s. Back then, when I told him not to get involved in this matter, he caused quite a stir!” the old man said with a smile.
“Third Brother has a straightforward temperament and is a man of honor—those are his strengths!” Li Yi said.
“In an ordinary family, that would indeed be a virtue. But in a prominent clan, the flaws in his character are too glaring—he’s far too easy to manipulate. When that happens, not only will he suffer the consequences, but he might drag his family down with him,” the old man said with a sigh.
Hearing this, Li Yi couldn’t help but admire the old man in his heart. Experience truly comes with age; the old man’s insight into human nature was indeed spot-on.
In his previous life, Jiang Longcheng’s death and the Jiang family’s decline were both directly linked to his personality—didn’t that perfectly illustrate what the old man had just said?
“Grandfather, Third Brother is doing much better now. You needn’t worry so much—after all, Second Brother and I are still here!” Li Yi said.
“Hmm.”
The old man then fixed his gaze on Li Yi and continued, “Xiao Yi, I’ve heard about Director Wang and that spoiled brat from the Liu family. Given his relationship with you, he could be considered part of the Jiang family. If others bully him, it’s only right that we step in to support him.”
“The reason I haven’t intervened yet is mainly because I wanted to leave this opportunity to you!”
“For me?”
“That’s right. We certainly won’t stand idly by, but the one who steps in must be you!” the old man said.
Li Yi furrowed his brow, then asked, “Are you suggesting I bestow a favor on Old Wang and Li Gang to earn their gratitude?”
“It’s not just about gratitude; it’s also about establishing a principle in front of everyone!”
“What principle?”
“Everything revolves around you!”
“Centered around me… that…”
To be honest, Li Yi was utterly stunned. The old man’s words were clearly loaded with hidden meaning—could this be a sign that he wanted Li Yi to become the family heir?
Seeing the astonished look on Li Yi’s face, the old man said solemnly, “Xiao Yi, I had someone look into the matter between you, Director Wang, and Deputy Director Li. Grandpa has no doubt about your brotherly bond and friendship. If you were the one in trouble right now, I’m sure they would do everything in their power to help you.”
“But your status has changed. You are no longer just their friend; you are also the CEO of Starry Sky Corporation, the leader of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, a core member of the Jiang family, and a national hero. You carry the hopes of so many people on your shoulders. You must tread carefully from now on, for every mistake you make could affect the fate of hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of people.”
“That is precisely why you must now establish a principle: whether at the company, at home, or anywhere else, everything must revolve around you. Your words and decisions are orders—they are not to be questioned!”
Li Yi fell silent immediately. He wasn’t stupid; he naturally understood what the old man meant.
Clearly, the old man had seen through it: Li Yi’s relationships with Wang Anguo, Wang Anmin, and Li Gang were based on friendship—they were simply kindred spirits, with no one exerting dominance over the other.
But clearly, such a dynamic could only exist among ordinary people; it had no place within prominent clans.
Smaller clans must rely on larger ones to survive. In daily life, the young men of these smaller clans must revolve around the heirs of the larger clans—serving as henchmen, underlings, and vassals. That is the nature of the circle.
The Old Master is now clearly instructing him to build his own circle, one in which Li Yi is the sole core and the sole center.
Whether it’s Wang Anguo or Li Gang, or even Jiang Longyin, Jiang Longcheng, Jiang Longze, Ye Jianhua, and others—they all have to take his lead on major matters.
Isn’t that just making him the heir…
With that in mind, Li Yi immediately said, “Grandfather, I understand what you mean, but I think Second Brother is more suitable than I am. Fifth Brother would work too…”
Before he could finish, the old man shook his head and said, “Whether it’s Longyin or Longze, or even the second and third generations of the Ye family, they are all capable of maintaining the status quo but lack the drive to forge new paths.”
“But you’re different. You’re capable, have a broad perspective, and know when to advance and when to retreat. More importantly, you know how to make the right choices. You’re a natural leader. With you at the core, the Jiang, Ye, and Lin families—as well as everyone around you—will all thrive.”
Hearing this, Li Yi fell into a deep silence.
“Grandfather, I…”
Before he could finish, the old man cut him off, saying, “Don’t be so quick to refuse. Old Ye and I still have a few years left in us. As long as we’re here, the sky won’t fall just yet. You have plenty of time to think it over.”
“But you should know that once you reach a certain position, many things are no longer entirely up to you.”
Li Yi found himself in complete agreement with this.
Many people assume that those in high positions or with billions in assets enjoy greater freedom—that they can do whatever they please. But the opposite is true: the higher one’s position and the greater one’s wealth, the more constraints one faces.
Because a single decision of yours can affect the fate of many people, because so many depend on you for their livelihood. The saying “with great power comes great responsibility” captures this very truth.
In contrast, ordinary people at the bottom of society, aside from financial constraints, can usually make decisions based on their own preferences most of the time—the phrase “I’ll do as I please” holds true for them.
Just as Li Yi was deep in thought, the old man’s voice rang out again: “Xiao Yi, how do you plan to deal with the Liu family?”
“I’ve already had people gather evidence of Liu Dongping’s illegal activities. If possible, I intend to use the power of the media to thrust Liu Dongping into the spotlight and bring him to justice!”
No sooner had he finished speaking than the old man cut in: “Do you intend to uproot the Liu family entirely?”
“Is that possible?” Li Yi asked, looking at the old man.
“There’s nothing we can’t do. Go ahead and do whatever you need to with the Liu family. I, Crazy Jiang, am not dead yet—that dimwit Liu isn’t going to be jumping around in front of me!” the old man said with authority.
“Grandpa, I understand. I’ll handle this properly!” Li Yi said.
“Good…”
………….