"Hmm?"
Everyone, upon hearing Jiang Chen’s ’scholarly remark,’ could not help but feel puzzled, all looking at Jiang Chen with bemusent.
"Chen’er, what do you an by that statent?" Elder Master Jiang looked at Jiang Chen with a hint of displeasure in his voice.
After all, he himself agreed with Jiang Yuqing’s opinion; by calling it a ’scholarly remark,’ was Jiang Chen not implicating him as well?
That seed a bit too arrogant.
Jiang Chen, however, did not answer but replied with a smile. His gaze shifted as he glanced towards the back of the courtyard and spoke in a clear voice, "If the three great uncles have arrived, then please co in and join us to listen."
"Haha, just knew we couldn’t hide from this lad. We’re here."
With a burst of laughter.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
Three figures leaped from the rear, none other than the three elderly masters of the Jiang Family.
Elder Master Jiang and the others quickly got up, courteously inviting the three elderly masters to take their seats.
Upon the arrival of the three elderly masters, everyone inside the room promptly stood up. In the presence of these three ancestors, no one dared to sit down.
Seeing that they had taken their seats and the rest were still standing, the First Elder gestured for Jiang Chen, "Chen, take a seat. Your grandfather has already abdicated in favor of younger blood. According to the family rules, you have more right to sit than he does."
Jiang Chen shook his head slightly and said solemnly, "A grandfather remains a grandfather. If he stands, how can I sit with any propriety?"
While speaking, Jiang Chen pulled Elder Master Jiang in front of a seat, prompting him to sit down.
Elder Master Jiang did not refuse and compliantly sat down.
The First Elder did not insist and brought the conversation back on track, "Chen’er, explain your earlier remark. Why do you say Yu Qing’s words are a scholarly remark?"
"Not in a rush, let first ask the First Elder a question," Jiang Chen said with a light chuckle, not answering but instead asking, "First Elder wanted to sit earlier because I am the current Family Head of the Jiang Family. In the presence of elders of even higher seniority, my grandfather naturally ranks lower. As the Family Head of the Jiang Family, I naturally share the sa status as the highest-ranking elders here, and that’s why you asked to sit, am I right?"
"True, that is the rule of our clan." The First Elder nodded affirmatively, as a matter of course.
With a light chuckle, Jiang Chen said, "That is indeed the clan rule, yet, in a way, this is also a scholarly remark. First Elder asked to sit not only to affirm my status and position but also because you didn’t want to feel slighted, is that correct?"
"This... indeed, there is such a consideration. After all, you are now the Family Head, but what does this have to do with scholarly remarks?" The First Elder hesitated for a mont, nodded, yet remained puzzled.
Without answering, Jiang Chen turned to look at the Second Elder and Third Elder, "Second Elder, Third Elder, do you think the First Elder’s action just now was correct? Should I have taken a seat?"
"This... this doesn’t really matter, does it?" The Third Elder hesitated for a mont and turned his head to look at the Second Elder.
"It doesn’t matter!" The Second Elder was still as sparing with his words as ever.
Jiang Chen asked again, "Then, do the two Elders think my action of breaking the legs of those spoiled brats today was correct?"
"Correct!" The Second Elder spoke up first.
The Third Elder hesitated for a mont, then also nodded, "If it were , I would’ve done the sa."
Jiang Chen gave a slight smile, "There’s an ancient saying in the Fla Dragon Kingdom, ’n of valor often butcher dogs, while the heartless ones are often scholars’."
"Those brutes, as long as you are good to , I naturally reciprocate. If you can kill for , I can certainly risk my life for you. When encountering injustice, if it displeases , then I must intervene; their actions are just that simple."
"On the other hand, scholars are different, they ponder too much, worry too much, always weighing the gains and losses. And once there is comparison and weighing, it’s very possible to betray one’s initial resolution. At that point, there’s only one reason for pressing forward, while there are a thousand reasons for retreating."
Having said this, Jiang Chen stopped speaking and looked up at Elder Master Jiang, Jiang Minglou, Jiang Yuqing, and the Family Head.
He did not ask Second Elder, Third Elder, and Jiang Mingcheng, because he knew their answers were clear to him.
Elder Master Jiang was the first to speak, "But... taking actions with consideration for consequences, keeping one’s useful body for an infinite number of tasks, avoiding dangerous actions, perhaps this is also understandable."
Jiang Minglou also nodded gently, "Indeed, such an approach is correct."
Jiang Chen laughed heartily, "Haha, I knew you would say this, which is why you can be the controllers of the family, why you can embark on official careers, and why I let Yu Qing manage the family. Because I know, he’s just like Family Head, Grandfather, and Uncle Third; they are all scholars!"
"This..." Elder Master Jiang and the others furrowed their brows as they turned towards Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen smiled slightly, "Actually, not all scholars are heartless, but because they weigh and compare incessantly, all the fine feelings in the world are asured away, only thinking of gain and loss, forgetting their original intentions!"
At this point, Jiang Chen paused for a mont, then continued, "It’s not about who is right or wrong, especially in today’s society. The word ’righteousness’ is not very fitting anymore. However, I am different from you. In my heart, there’s a spirit of righteousness. When I see injustice, I have to intervene, and if I intervene, I must see it through to the end!"
"I have weighed today’s matter as well, but not as deeply as you have."
Having said that, Jiang Chen brought the topic back, "What I weighed was whether I should kill them or just break their legs. In the end, I chose to break their legs, because killing them, I worry, might bring trouble to the Jiang Family, and their actions do not rit death at my hands."
"This is my nature, in my actions, I do not seek perfection but only wish to be accountable to the heavens above, the earth below, and my own conscience in between. This is my original intent, and the reason why I’m not suited for delicate managent of the family and the company."
At the end, Jiang Chen’s expression suddenly beca serious and he spoke slowly,
"I suppose I can only be counted among the butchers, for in my hand lies the blade, in my heart lies righteousness, unable to bear the world’s injustices.
In this life, I wish to level all injustices in the world with the blade in my hand and the righteousness in my heart!"
His words were forceful and resounding.
Upon hearing them, everyone present was taken aback, gazing in astonishnt at Jiang Chen.
At the sa ti, a relentless spirit burst forth from within Jiang Chen.
At this mont, Jiang Chen, in their eyes, was no longer just a young mber of the Jiang Family, not just a youth; the figure seated there seed suprely imposing.
They seed to envisage Jiang Chen with a sword in hand, sweeping away all injustices majestically.
It was as if they saw a transcendent hero standing steadfast in the world.
It was an aura that made them want to bow down in worship, a deanor that impressed upon them a sense of awe.
Even the Family Head, the oldest and most experienced among them, felt this way.
Remarkable!
This young Family Head of the Jiang Family is truly remarkable!
What a fortune for the Jiang Family to have Jiang Chen!
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