Chapter 1443: The Moon Rises High, He Will Grow Old

hat his political career had reached its peak.Perhaps, in this reshuffle, the new head of the Public Security Bureau who just took over from Jiang Gang will be sidelined by internal methods within the...To Duan Lao's surprise, he saw him standing behind the door. Duan Chuhuang, who had been the first to get out of the car, was startled.

In his memory, there were only three times in the past decade when someone could make Old Duan personally greet them.

But who were the three people who came to visit Mr. Duan at the manor

Their status and influence extend far beyond China; on the international stage, they are also highly influential.

Who is Li Nanfang

He's just a martial artist who's okay at best, surviving mainly by luck. He's a scoundrel who spends his days flitting between women.

The Duan family's downfall was simply because of the gray power standing behind them. This power helped the Duan family rise and shifted power to the north.

But this time he was brought home by Duan Xianting, and Duan Shuchuang, the third-generation head of the Duan family, personally went to Qingshan to greet him. This already showed great respect. What qualifications did he have to warrant Old Master Duan standing at the door to welcome him in person

And that was at midnight.

"Grandpa, how did you get out"

Slightly stunned, Duan Shuhuang hurried forward and supported the old man, his voice laced with trepidation.

He was a little apprehensive because he felt he had already given Li Nanfang the highest possible praise.

But Elder Duan's attitude made him immediately realize that his attitude towards Li Nanzhang wasn't high enough, which was a huge blunder on his part.

"Hee hee, it's nothing."

Lao Duan looked at the car in the middle, seemingly casually said: "I'm getting old. As people get older, their sleep time will be greatly reduced. It's not that they can't sleep, but they are very clear that looking at this world one more time is worth it."

"Grandfather! How can you say that You're supposed to live a long and healthy life!"

After hearing what Lao Duan said, Duan Shuchuang's heart was even more terrified, his voice began to tremble.

He finally understood why his grandfather, regardless of his status, had personally come to greet Li Nanfang.

Because grandpa is old.

The older a person gets, the more valuable their face becomes.

Old Duan personally greeted not Li Nanshan, but the gray forces standing behind him.

If Lao Duan were ten years younger, he wouldn't give anyone face.

Given the bloody sacrifices made by Dali Duan's clan during the last century's war, few people in the world are qualified to be recognized by Old Duan.

Now he's giving Li Nanshan a face-saving gesture because he clearly feels it – he's getting old, his time in this world is running out.

If the talents under the Dàlǐ Duàn family were plentiful, Old Master Duàn would certainly not worry about his funeral arrangements.

The house is empty, no one is here.

Although there were three sons in the second generation of the Duan family, besides Duan Er who could barely make it to the table, the other two brothers were useless. One was a good-for-nothing, and the other was stingy, both incapable of being supported.

The only thing that could console Lao Duan was that he found the right way to educate after discovering his mistakes, and personally taught Duan Shuchang with care. This is how he finally cultivated a qualified successor for the Duan family.

But, Emperor Duan Shuru was only one person.

No one person can single-handedly support the pinnacle of Chinese aristocratic families.

Even Emperor Duan Shuzhuang couldn't do it.

People often say that even a brave man needs three others to help him.

Lao Duan was worried that once he died, Duan Chu would be unable to handle things alone. He feared that the forces surrounding the Duan family would inevitably fall apart.

Gradually, the Duan family will fall from the ranks of top noble families, eventually becoming a second-rate, even third-rate family.

That was something Old Duan didn't want to see.

He believes that his ancestors, who sacrificed themselves on the battlefield of the national war, would not want to see this.

If Lao Duan hadn't made a development plan for his descendants for at least ten years before he died, then he would have no face to meet his ancestors after death.

So Mr. Duan would be the one to personally greet Li Nanfang tonight.

He believed that, based on his status and identity, after taking such a low stance, not only would the gray forces behind Li Nanfang be shocked, but even Yue Zizhong, who was currently gritting his teeth in the north, planning to do something to the Duan family because of the man being taken away by a Duan family woman, as well as Huaye Shen, would also maintain their silence and stay quiet for the time being.

It's just temporary.

Those two women were definitely not the kind who, after a man was abducted, would simply accept the situation out of respect for Old Duan's authority.

Lao Duan was very clear in his heart.

If it can be made clearer, what then

All he could do right now was this.

As for how far Duan's family can go after Duan Jia's death, that depends on the ability of Emperor Duan Shu.

It was from those three words, "I am old," uttered by Old Duan, that Emperor Duan Shuo truly understood their meaning. He suddenly felt the weight on his shoulders increase tenfold.

Heavier than ever before.

The truth was crueler than he imagined.

He twitched his mouth, then closed it again.

My nose felt sour, so I quickly lowered my head.

In an instant, he was overcome with regret.

It was because he had once said to Shen Yun, "I don't love the mountains and rivers, I love beauties."

Before this moment, love had always been far more important to him than his career.

For the sake of being with his beloved girl, he was willing to give up the position of head of the Duan family.

Whenever he had this thought, he would feel an inexplicable sense of pride.

Now, that indescribable sense of pride isn't due to any other reason, but because deep down, he had already defined himself as foolish.

Foolish pride.

Grandpa poured all his life's energy into raising him, and he was pleased by his "robust" growth.

What kind of reaction would Lao Duan have once he learned that Duan Shuchuang, who he had poured all his heart and soul into, had always held the thought "For Shen Yun, I am willing to lose everything, even if we wander the world together, it is happiness"

Die.

It could only be sudden death.

Lao Duan's health had deteriorated, and he was now frail. He needed someone to support him when he walked, a true testament to the ravages of age.

What is the withered and dying years

It's like a candle burning in the wind. If the wind picks up even a little, it could be blown out.

And the Duan Shuchuang he had carefully cultivated was a lovestruck seed who preferred beauty to the throne—this wasn't just wind, it was a hurricane. How could a candle stand against it

"How can I disappoint my grandfather's expectations and, in a fit of madness, abandon everything to wander the world with Shen Yun No. I won't do that. I am the future head of the Duan clan. The prosperity of the Duan clan, like that of our ancestors, depends entirely on my unwavering efforts. I absolutely cannot sacrifice the great Dali Duan clan for romantic entanglements."

Duan Shouchang took a deep breath and slowly raised his head, only to find Lao Duan looking at him.

A hint of satisfaction played on Old Duan's lips.

With his hand, covered in age spots, he gently patted the back of his own hand.

"Grandpa—"

Duan Shu Huang's eyes widened suddenly, his pupils shrinking violently, and he exclaimed in surprise.

He understood.

Grandfather had known for a long time about his and Shen Yun's intimate relationship, and he probably already knew that he was willing to "love a beauty over the mountains and rivers".

But Mr. Duan always pretended not to know.

This is a wise old man.

He knew full well that once he intervened, as the head of the family, for Duan Jia's future, to force Duan Chuhuang away from Shen Yun in, it would inevitably cause everyone in the family to know about this—in that case, Duan Chuhuang might just stubbornly stick to his flawed ideology and immediately abandon everything he had now, to wander the world with Shen Yun in.

Old Man Duan didn't want to see his life's work go down the drain.

He could only wait.

Wait for the best opportunity.

Wait for the emperor to realize it himself.

Now, Lao Duan finally got the best opportunity, waiting for Duan Shuhuang's epiphany.

Old Duan's heart, which he had always carried with him, could finally be put down.

Even in death, I would smile contentedly.

The grandfather and grandson looked at each other for a few seconds. Then, the guilt and other emotions in Duan Cuo Huang's eyes were quickly replaced by determination. He said softly, "Grandpa, rest assured, I will not disappoint your hopes. I will do my best to become someone like you."

Lao Duan didn't say anything, he just patted Hope's hand again, then looked towards the second car.

Duan Xiangning had already gotten out of the car and was standing in front of the door, staring blankly this way.

Compared to Duan Shuchang, seeing her grandfather personally greet her, Duan Xiangning was even more shocked.

She never dreamed that one day, her grandfather would personally come out to greet her homecoming.

Although she was very clear that her grandfather put on such a high-profile act for Li Nanshan, and for the beneficial gray power he had behind him to the Duan family.

But she is the person involved, after all.

A soft cough came from behind: "Cough, there are so many people."

Li Nánfāng also got out of the car.

Li Ren ZHA's arrangement of such a grand scene for Duan Jia to welcome his son-in-law home, of course, wouldn't feel as shocking as it would to Duan Shuo and his siblings.

At most, he just felt it was too grand.

Since we are all family, why be so polite

He isn't some royal or nobleman. Why would it be necessary for an old man of such age to greet him at midnight

"Come, I'll take you to see grandpa."

Duan Xiangning was awakened by his light cough. She took his hand and said softly before quickly walking towards the mountain villa's entrance.

"Grandpa, how did you get out"

Duan Xiangning walked up to Duan Lao, released Li Nanfang, and bent down to bow respectfully, her heart pounding with anxiety.

Uninstructed, Li Nanshan bowed to Old Duan just as Duan Xiangning had done.

"As the first time my granddaughter's husband came to visit, I naturally had to make a show of it. Well well, Ye Shen, you must have been tired from the journey, weren't you"

Lao Duan smiled slightly at his granddaughter before turning to look at Li Nanfang.

After Li Nanfang arrived, everyone had to call him Ye Shen.

This was ordered by the old man himself.

The Duan family didn't find any meaning in this.

Whether Li Nanfang is called Li Nanfang or Ye Shen doesn't really matter to them.

Some even felt that, regardless of Li Nanfang being a person – even if he were just a cat or a dog – as long as he was useful and worthy of the old master's personal visit at night, he deserved to be treated with enough respect.

"It's alright, not too tiring. I'm in relatively good shape."

Li Nanfang respectfully replied, his tone brimming with deference. When Lao Duan called him Ye Shen, he did not object in the slightest.

Respecting the elderly and loving children is something that Master's wife has always taught him since he was young.

Even though he may have forgotten who his master's wife is now, he hasn't forgotten this.

This has already become his instinct.

As for him saying he's not too tired, if his physique is a bit better, it's not boasting, but the truth.

"Lao Duan was very pleased with Li Nanshan's attitude. He took his arm and said with a smile, "Come on, let's go home."

Accompanied by a crowd, Li Nanfang and Duan Xiangning walked side-by-side, supporting Elder Duan as they entered the mountain villa's gate.

When visiting her parents' home with other new brides, she was treated no differently.

Undoubtedly, Lao Duan's attitude surprised everyone, including Chen Shunan. When they looked at Li Nanshan again, their eyes were more serious than before.

In the city direction, many small points of light are speeding towards us.

As everyone can see.

They all secretly guessed that those cars were probably going to Duan's Mountain Villa.

Including Lao Duan.

But no one said it out loud, pretending not to see it. Everyone wholeheartedly threw themselves into the "joy" of welcoming their son-in-law home.

Except for Duan Xiang.

As soon as Li Nanfang got out of the car, Duan Xiang saw him at once.

Eyes, full of malice, like a venomous snake lurking in the dark.

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