"Even if we are scattered across the five lakes and four seas, sharing the same ancestral home is enough. As long as we do not forget our roots and remember to return when our leaves fall, that is what matters. The branches established elsewhere are simply to provide a support system for family members who venture out."
For those wandering far from home, having a place to rely on brings peace of mind. It is a great comfort for those living as strangers in foreign lands.
Zhu Leyao’s mood brightened instantly upon hearing Zhu Yanyi’s words. She had originally thought of these as mere offshoots, but now she understood the difference. The Zhu family’s roots remained in Sicheng Town, but as children grew and gained knowledge, they would naturally venture outward. They could not all stay in Sicheng Town.
It was like the families of Zhu Shunyo and Zhu Chanyao, who had settled in the capital. The branch they established there was like a subsidiary company. They were an extension of the Sicheng Zhu family, not a separation. If descendants from Sicheng came to the capital, they could seek refuge with Zhu Shunyo’s family, ensuring they would not be bullied. This was a significant advantage of the clan.
"Little Divine Doctor, you are right. Our horizons are broadening. No matter where we settle, we are still Zhu family members. As long as we remember to return to our roots eventually, we should feel free to venture out and make our mark," Zhu Leyao said directly.
Zhu Leyao was still young, and his current position gave him a perspective different from ordinary people. Therefore, his becoming the clan leader was a very positive development.
"Uncle Leyao, you are right. Young people should go out and explore. So rest assured, as long as any Zhu family members come to the capital and abide by the law, we will take care of them," Zhu Yanyi assured her.
Zhu Leyao nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Then I entrust the care of any Zhu descendants who come to the capital to you."
Although Zhu Shunyo was not present, Zhu Leyao knew that if Zhu Yanyi agreed, there would likely be no other issues.
After reaching an agreement with Zhu Leyao, Zhu Yanyi asked Luo Gang to escort her back. Then, she went to find Yan Aohan, who was discussing Zhu Xiangyo with Zhu Shunyo.
Zhu Shunyo’s expression was grim. "That rascal. I should have broken all his bones back then, not just his legs. Let’s see how he recovers now."
Hearing Zhu Shunyo’s words, Zhu Yanyi realized she held no brotherly affection for Zhu Xiangyo. She smiled. "Father, why are you angry? She is almost no longer a Zhu family member anyway."
"Have you reached an agreement with Zhu Leyao?" Yan Aohan knew immediately from her words that she had succeeded.
Zhu Yanyi nodded. "From now on, there will be no one named Zhu Xiangyo in the Zhu family," she said calmly.
Zhu Shunyo added, "If Zhu Xiangyo is gone, your Fourth Grandfather in the Fourth Branch will not be content. This is not a good thing."
"That is not difficult to handle. We can spread the rumor that someone saw Xiangyo changing his name and living in luxury. Uncle Leyao will only disown him after confirming this. If the Fourth Branch is greedy, they will come to the capital to find him, making it easy to deal with them all at once. If they are not greedy, they can continue living peacefully in Sicheng Town. The Zhu family ancestral hall still exists. Even if they die, they will not lack descendants to offer sacrifices."
The existence of the ancestral hall meant the Zhu family had heirs, so there was no need to worry about ancestors becoming wandering ghosts without offerings. Zhu Yanyi had considered many details before deciding to expel Zhu Xiangyo.
After hearing Zhu Yanyi’s plan, Zhu Shunyo had no objections. She had no affection for the Fourth Branch, but she could not deny that they had allowed her to survive despite their past grievances. She still held that gratitude in her heart.
Zhu Xiangyo’s mistakes were personal actions and should not implicate Zhu Guifu’s family. This arrangement was the best outcome. Whether Zhu Guifu could accept it was not something he wanted to worry about for now.
Zhu Yanyi and Yan Aohan watched silently. Zhu Xiangyo’s fate had been sealed the day she joined the Holy Cult. She was no longer a Zhu family member.
Unaware that Zhu Yanyi had seen through her identity, Zhu Xiangyo continued to take over Yin Mei’s forces based on the information provided by the Godfather.
Silver Fox was generous, handing over the matter to him before leaving with Old Ma. Of course, Silver Fox’s destination was his teahouse.
In his private room at the teahouse, Silver Fox had just taken a sip of coffee when Old Ma brought Yan Aohan in.
Seeing Yan Aohan alone, Silver Fox smiled. "Why are you here alone today? I thought you and your wife were inseparable."
"Ani is performing the final treatment surgery on Eddie, one of the three patients sent in July. Once it is done and she recovers, she can be discharged. So she couldn’t come. I came just to see what Silver Fox looks like after being kicked out. But it seems you are quite comfortable, showing no signs of being destitute."
Yan Aohan sat casually opposite Silver Fox. Old Ma ordered a pot of tea.
Yan Aohan looked at Old Ma’s actions and said to Silver Fox, "Look. Your subordinate is more thoughtful than you as the host." He poured himself a cup and drank.
Silver Fox gave Old Ma a half-smile. Old Ma hurriedly said, "Master Yan, please don’t frame me."
"I am praising you. If your boss doesn’t appreciate you, why don’t you come live with me?" Yan Aohan did not shy away from poaching someone’s subordinate.
Old Ma said directly, "No, no, Master Yan, you cannot do that. I will not leave our boss. Our boss is very good."
"Sigh, look how loyal your subordinate is to you," Yan Aohan said directly to Silver Fox.
Silver Fox glanced at Old Ma. "Alright, stop showing your loyalty. Go do your work. Tell the kitchen to send over some fresh pastries."
"Okay." Old Ma breathed a sigh of relief. He worried that if he stayed longer, his boss might get annoyed and kick him out.
After Old Ma left, Silver Fox said to Yan Aohan, "You came here just to bully my people."
"Not exactly. I just came to hear your evaluation of Chonglou," Yan Aohan said with a smile.
"A fool who thinks he is smart?" Silver Fox’s evaluation was concise, making Yan Aohan smile. "It seems you really look down on Chonglou."