“Grandma has lived to this age with reasonably good health. She can see through everything and take it lightly.”
Having reached ninety, the old lady had long since come to terms with life and death.
“We still do not like hearing it. Grandma, I will take you to the Shang family home, then come back in the evening to collect you and Beibei. How does that sound?”
Zhan Yue changed the subject. He did not want to discuss life and death with her.
“No need for you to collect us. Your eldest brother will come. Even if he and your sister-in-law are both busy, could Fengying fail to arrange a car to send us home?”
“You should concentrate on earning money without worry. After work, come and pick Xiaoya up. Invite her for supper, or take her to the cinema. In short, you must find every possible way to spend time with her.”
“Also, there is no need to keep it hidden. You love her, so confess to her. Let her know you love her.”
“Grandma feels Xiaoya does not dislike you. If you confess, she may not accept at once, but once she knows your feelings, she will consider you.”
“If you do not confess, she may think of the great difference between our families and not dare to hope. That way, it would take you a very long time to be together.”
“Grandma would love nothing more than for you to marry this year. Look at your seventh brother. After he confessed to Ruoruo, they are now talking of marriage and getting engaged. How quickly it has happened. It was settled in just one summer holiday.”
“No, at the beginning of the summer holiday your seventh brother had not even confessed to Ruoruo. He did not realise he had loved her for a long time. It was only when your sister-in-law took the child travelling to Yangcheng and Ruoruo misunderstood that the two finally saw their true feelings.”
The grandmother and grandson talked as they walked out of the hospital.
Zhan Yue helped his grandmother into the car. He said, “Grandma, do not worry about me. I know the measure. Rest assured, Xiaoya will certainly become your granddaughter-in-law.”
“In future, you can just concern yourself with Old Nine.”
The old lady fastened her own seatbelt. “Old Nine is still young. There is no hurry. He does not need Grandma to worry. You lot will urge him on Grandma’s behalf.”
The wives of the first six grandsons had all been chosen by her. For the last three, she had not been able to take charge, not because she lacked the will, but because she no longer could.
Age had caught up. She could not rush about everywhere, and none of these three boys had taken a liking to any young lady in Guancheng.
The old lady could only hand the task over to her grandsons and granddaughters-in-law, letting the older brothers and sisters-in-law do the urging.
“Old Nine seems not to understand love at all. All day long he only knows how to play. He is not mature enough, still like a child.”
Zhan Yue drove out of the hospital and headed towards the Shang family mansion.
The old lady said, “He has not yet awakened to it. Did you not all awaken late? Once you awaken and fate arrives, all will be well.”
At that moment Zhan Yue’s phone rang. He said to the old lady, “Grandma, I am driving. Please answer it for me.”
He freed one hand to take out the phone and let her answer.
It was his secretary calling about a work matter. The old lady did not question him. She listened to the secretary, then told him how to handle it.
Zhan Yue remained silent throughout. When she hung up, he said, “Even the affairs of my company, Grandma knows them all perfectly clearly.”
“Do not forget that your grandma is still a businesswoman. I have many businesses in my name too, though I do not manage them personally.”
“The investment projects of you brothers, Grandma has looked into them all and understands them well.”
Zhan Yue thought his grandmother was truly vigorous in old age, the true stabilising force of their family. Nothing escaped her eyes.
It was simply that she no longer wished to manage things. If she did, the entire Zhan Group could be handed to her to run.
“Next week you should go on a business trip. One of your subsidiaries has a problem. If you do not deal with it personally, it will not do. Your business rival is formidable. Do not be careless.”
Zhan Yue’s expression grew serious. “Grandma, I know. In the next day or two I will make the trip and handle it. I will not give the opponent any opening.”
“On Saturday Xiaoya has the day off. We agreed, did we not? Invite her to your home for a visit, and let her chat with me. This is a perfectly open opportunity that Grandma went to some trouble to secure for you.”
The old lady felt business was important, but pursuing a granddaughter-in-law was slightly more important.
The Zhan family had vast wealth and enterprises. Even if problems arose in the grandsons’ companies, the sky would not fall. At most, it would cause them a few days of headache.
