Chapter 604: Chapter 604 But You’re Already Involved
After Ling Ruonan left, Ling Jinhua asked Luo Ziling very directly, “Have you ever thought about why, after you caused such a commotion yesterday, I didn’t bla you but only punished the people of the Ling Family?”
This question took Luo Ziling by surprise.
After thinking for a while, he t Ling Jinhua’s gaze and replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, “Are you hoping that I would serve as a catfish for the Ling Family, to stimulate them into unity against external threats instead of internal strife? Is that it?”
“Quite clever, to be able to think of that,” Ling Jinhua didn’t deny it.
“But I don’t want to be involved in such affairs,” Luo Ziling flatly refused, “I’m not interested nor do I wish to participate in any strife. I only want to live a quiet life with my mother.”
“But you are already involved,” Ling Jinhua signaled for Luo Ziling to place a pillow behind his back, and after Luo Ziling placed the pillow there, he lifted his head slightly, looking at Luo Ziling, “As long as your mother is here, you can’t avoid it even if you want to.”
“Why drag into it?” Luo Ziling was a bit angry but held back his emotions from coming out.
“People of the Ling Family have been living in comfort for too long, completely lacking a sense of crisis. They think if they can win in the family’s internal strife, they can get everything, completely ignoring the threats from outside,” Ling Jinhua ignored Luo Ziling’s question and continued on his own, “If things continue like this, the decline of the Ling Family is inevitable. It’s not easy for an old and established family to rise, but it can fall quickly. Once fallen, rising again won’t be easy.”
“Great Grandfather, you shouldn’t have said such things. If you say them out loud, wouldn’t I be revealing my cards?” Luo Ziling said doubtfully, “Why would you tell your intention? Besides, the Ling Family owes us no favors. Aren’t you afraid that I might stab you in the back and cause mischief?”
“The continued strength of the Ling Family will certainly be good for you; its downfall has no benefit for you, I believe you understand this,” Ling Jinhua said, his face breaking into a smile, “Let tell you sothing. Your maternal grandfather and his brother have been rivals for a long ti. Compared to his brother, Ling Mingqing is more flexible-minded, but his vision is a bit narrow. That’s why I ultimately supported your maternal grandfather. Nevertheless, Ling Mingqing has never been satisfied. Yesterday, by hitting his son and grandson, you hit him in the face as well. In the upcoming days, your maternal grandfather will protect you and your mother, but Ling Mingqing and his son and grandson will surely make things difficult for you. What do you think you should do? Should you help your maternal grandfather or stir up trouble with them?”
“Great Grandfather, you shouldn’t be discussing these matters with , it’s unbecoming of your status!” Luo Ziling shook his head, incredulous as he looked at Ling Jinhua, “If my mother and I talked about this, then I would find it normal. But now, you’ve confused .”
“You are not a mber of the Ling Family, and you have more courage than any other Ling Family person, so I’m discussing this with you,” Ling Jinhua continued to look at Luo Ziling with a smile, “No one has ever dared to beat up a mber of the Ling Family in the courtyard of the Ling Family Old Mansion. You’re the first, and the last. It’s precisely because you’re different that I’m speaking plainly to you. By having an understanding between us, it will be easier to play the part. Don’t you want to take a leading role in an exciting drama?”
“Alright, I guess I just don’t understand the way you older folks think. It’s all a blur to ,” Luo Ziling struggled to comprehend but then asked directly, “So what do you want to do, how should I do it, and what benefits can you offer ?”
“Courageous, daring to ask for benefits,” Ling Jinhua laughed heartily, revealing his imperfect teeth, “You’re the first person who has spoken to like this in a long ti. For that alone, I look at you with new eyes. Now let ask you, what do you want?”
Luo Ziling replied without hesitation, “I have already told you. All I want is for my family to be reunited.”
“That was your request to yesterday. I am asking you now what it is you want,” realizing Luo Ziling was still sowhat unclear, Ling Jinhua smiled again, “Let’s make a deal. I need you to be that catfish that stimulates the descendants of the Ling Family so that I can see clearly who among the next generation stands out. If you can play this role, then you may make requests, seek benefits.”
Only then did Luo Ziling understand Ling Jinhua’s intention, and he was even more surprised, “Great Grandfather, you really surprise .”
“Getting old, it’s not bad to play a ga similar to playing house,” Ling Jinhua said, his smile fading, “You have great courage and decent capabilities, not just in fighting but also in using conflicts to your advantage. Yesterday, you successfully drew your maternal grandfather and grandmother into the fray, letting the term ‘bastard’ fall on their heads as well. You successfully deepened the rivalry between my two sons and helped your maternal grandfather hit his brother’s face. It was only after talking with your mother alone that I decided to do this. I want to collaborate with you, as long as you’re willing, you can set conditions.”
Luo Ziling looked seriously at Ling Jinhua for a mont, then said with a smile, “I really want to touch your face and see if soone else is pretending to be you, playing tricks on until I fall into the trap, then leaping out and shouting, ‘Haha, Luo Ziling, you’re finished. You’ve been played.’
“Haha, kid, quite amusing,” Ling Jinhua laughed again, “You are a completely different person from them. I think anyone who has no interests conflicting with you would enjoy your company. Talking with you, I feel a bit younger myself, so free in conversation. I’ve spoken more to you today than I have in several days combined.”
Luo Ziling didn’t know how to respond; he felt sothing was odd, as everyone perceived Ling Jinhua to be a decayed old man who should be sparing with his words, not soone who would talk so much to him.
The fewer the words, the more profound the impression, the more awe-inspiring the presence. He truly doubted whether the man before him was really Ling Jinhua, as if lifted from a novel where soone’s spirit had been swapped through possession.
Because Ling Jinhua’s behavior was too abnormal and didn’t fit his age or personality, Luo Ziling felt everything was unreal, and he half-believed what Ling Jinhua had said.
Luo Ziling thought he should go out to find Ling Ruonan to discuss what had just happened, to ask his mother what was going on, as he felt sowhat uneasy.
“In the future, co and chat with often. Talking with a young person like you makes feel younger,” Ling Jinhua smiled again, “With you treating , I believe I can recover my health. If you can also rejuvenate my mindset, maybe I can live past a hundred. Don’t you think my being here is greatly beneficial for you and your mother?”
“Okay,” Luo Ziling didn’t refuse, and then said to Ling Jinhua, “Let’s continue our previous topic.”
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