"Not help? Zhenguo, I think you've misunderstood something. No matter what happened all those years ago, the blood of our Chen Family flows in his veins. Therefore, he has the duty and the unconditional obligation to do anything for the family. This isn't a matter of whether he wants to or not. He *must* do it."

But upon hearing this, the white-haired elder known as Hua Qin snorted coldly. His aged yet sharp eyes swept toward Chen Yaohong as he spoke slowly but assertively, "Old Three, regardless of your current relationship with that boy, family matters are family matters. The family is paramount! If our Old Chen Family suffers such unnecessary and tremendous losses because of this, who will take responsibility?"

The moment Hua Qin finished speaking, many in the room grew restless. These were special times. With the passing of the Old Master, the Old Chen Family would inevitably be implicated and targeted by those who watched them like tigers stalking their prey. A major shake-up aimed at their family was bound to come, an unavoidable certainty, just three months after the deadline passed.

Under these circumstances, individuals like Chen Zhenguo and Chen Zhenjun, who belonged to the Direct Lineage and had already climbed to sufficiently high positions, were generally untouchable. It would be difficult to move against them. This meant that the collateral branches, or those in the Direct Lineage without high enough positions, would naturally become the prime targets. They could very well become the scapegoats, deposed from their posts and imprisoned.

This is a matter of our own vital interests! Realizing this, many from the Old Chen Family's collateral branches, and even those in the Direct Lineage with insufficient status, could no longer sit still. They began to clamor all at once.

"I think what our elder said is right. Allowing them to rejoin our Old Chen Family is a special favor, a grace bestowed upon the mother and son. If they don't understand gratitude or cherish the opportunity to serve the family, wouldn't they be foolish and excessive?"

"Exactly! As a member of our Old Chen Family with our blood running through his veins, he has an unconditional obligation and responsibility to do anything for the family. This is especially true now, during such a critical period for our family, with all sides watching us like hawks. In a situation like this, how can we tolerate personal emotions and willfulness getting in the way?"

"Yes! If he has the ability to attract Old Master Xuu's attention, he should immediately go and secure an alliance with him for the honor of our Old Chen Family! If chaos ensues and the family suffers huge, unwarranted losses, who can bear that responsibility?"

...

At this moment, each of them adopted a righteous and emphatic tone, as if they were genuinely concerned for the honor of the Old Chen Family and couldn't bear to see it destabilized or suffer unnecessary losses.

In reality, anyone with discerning eyes could see the truth. They were afraid of becoming targets themselves after the three-month deadline, scared of being the ones their opportunistic enemies would strike against, thus losing their official positions.

If that really happened, how could we accept it? How could we, who have long been considered important figures, accept being deposed and stripped of the power and reverential treatment we've grown so accustomed to?

To a certain extent, this was the tragedy of the so-called top-tier Red Families of Forty-Nine City. Affection? Responsibility? Duty? If they truly possessed such things in their hearts, they wouldn't have indifferently disregarded Chen Fei and his mother, who had been living in a small place like the North Mountain of Jiangnan for over twenty years.

They only remembered Chen Fei now because he had once again become useful. Chen Fei was Old Master Xuu's lifesaver, and Old Master Xuu was currently the only person who could help their Old Chen Family escape its perilous predicament. That was why they were now acting so "gracious" and "magnanimous," allowing that low-status country bumpkin to return to the family.

They seem to think this is a tremendous gift! Therefore, Chen Fei must be eternally grateful. He has an unconditional obligation and responsibility to do anything for the family.

"Hua Qin, what you've said is correct. Family matters are family matters, and the family comes first. Our Old Chen Family certainly doesn't need to suffer such unnecessary and tremendous losses," Old Master Chen Bingzhang suddenly said. "But have you considered one thing? Who is going to approach that boy with this proposal? You? Me? Or Zhenguo?"

"Big Brother, what do you mean? I don't quite understand," the elder known as Hua Qin asked, a confused look on his face. "That boy is Zhenguo's son. Shouldn't he be the one to step forward and handle this...?"

"Uncle Four, you'd better find someone else for this. I will not be stepping forward," Chen Zhenguo said slowly at that moment.

"Nonsense!"

Upon hearing Chen Zhenguo's words, Hua Qin's expression immediately soured. He turned to Chen Zhenguo's father, Chen Yaohong, and complained incessantly, "Old Three, did you hear that? Don't you think Zhenguo's attitude needs to be managed? Have his wings grown so stiff that he no longer listens to us elders? Make him understand, this isn't some trivial matter! It concerns the entire future path of our Old Chen Family! There is no room for such foolishness!"

Indeed, the affair years ago involving Chen Zhenguo and Lin Ling had met with unanimous disapproval from the entire Old Chen Family. They believed Chen Fei's mother was a low-class woman from the countryside, harboring a dirty scheme to seduce Chen Zhenguo. They saw her as a social climber trying to use him as a stepping stone to Leap the Dragon Gate and enter the most elite circles in all of Huaxia. Therefore, they were unwilling to let a "cheap woman" like her get her way, so they joined forces to persuade the Old Master to kick her out of the Old Chen Family and out of Forty-Nine City, shattering her shameless daydream.

Now, although time had proven some of their ideas and decisions to be somewhat mistaken and the cause of certain misunderstandings, those were all matters of the distant past, weren't they?

Besides, they were now willing to show great mercy, to make an exception and acknowledge the status of Chen Fei and his mother, to welcome them back to the Old Chen Family. What an immense grace! What a great honor! Isn't this the very day that country woman has been dreaming of? Given this, how could they possibly refuse such 'kindness'?

Yet now, Chen Zhenguo had actually refused to handle the matter. How could Hua Qin not be furious? This was a critical time for the Old Chen Family. If this matter wasn't handled well, they would be in serious trouble. Only Old Master Xuu could save them.

Upon hearing this, Chen Yaohong's mouth moved, but he showed no intention of replying. He merely let out a soft sigh, looked towards Chen Bingzhang, and said slowly, "Big Brother, it seems we need to prepare for the worst. The three-month period is already halfway over. There's not much time left."

"Old Three, what do you mean by that?" Hua Qin demanded, his face ugly.

Although he, Chen Huaqin, was only from a collateral branch of the Old Chen Family, his age gave him standing. He was one of the few remaining elders of his generation. For Chen Zhenguo and Chen Yaohong, a father and son duo, to ignore him repeatedly was a blatant humiliation. What else could it be?

At his question, Chen Yaohong finally cast a cool glance at him. He was about to speak when someone else cut in first.

"Hua Qin."

Chen Bingzhang, sitting in the Family Head's seat, looked at him and spoke in a complex tone. "Do you truly believe that allowing the mother and son to return to our Old Chen Family is so attractive to them?"

"Isn't it? Here in Forty-Nine City, and across all of Huaxia, who doesn't acknowledge our Old Chen Family as a top-tier, prestigious Red Family? Countless people, families, and factions are desperate to form a connection with us! Otherwise, why was that woman so persistent back then, clinging to Zhenguo and refusing to let go?" Chen Huaqin retorted immediately.

"Uncle Four," a somewhat dark voice suddenly interjected. Chen Zhenguo, his expression extremely unpleasant, stared at him. "There are some things you shouldn't speak of so carelessly. That is a private matter between her and me, and it has nothing to do with you."

Many people in the room stared at him in surprise, not expecting him to speak to his uncle in such a manner. Although Chen Huaqin was only from a collateral branch, his age placed him in the same generation as the current Family Head, Chen Bingzhang, and Zhenguo's own father, Chen Yaohong. In the past, Zhenguo would never have used such a tone with an elder like Chen Huaqin.

"You..." Chen Huaqin's face became incredibly unsightly, his mouth opening as if to curse.

Just then, another cold, aged voice cut in. Chen Yaohong rose to his feet and stared coolly at Chen Huaqin. "Chen Huaqin, if you want to make a joke of my family, aim it directly at me. Do you really think I have such a good temper that I'll stand here and listen to your nonsense?"

"Old Three, you..." Chen Huaqin's expression changed, a flicker of anger and panic in his eyes. He truly hadn't expected the other man to turn on him at a time like this. And if that man truly got angry, it would be no laughing matter.

In that, at least, he was very much like Chen Fei.

"Enough. Stop arguing. Old Three, sit down," Chen Bingzhang finally said, a note of resignation in his voice. This was a major family gathering, and the day's topic was exceptionally serious. He couldn't allow the conflict to escalate.

Besides, he no longer had the energy to dwell on the messy affairs of the past.

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