"Come, let's have a toast to celebrate my father's death," Gong Jian raised his glass.
He had put into practice what it meant to be a son laughing at his father's demise.
"Brother Jian, you..."
Chen Nan's mood was complex.
Filial piety was the most sacred thing in his heart.
Especially the fatherly love from Chen Shan, which he was most proud of.
However.
He could feel that Gong Jian was very happy.
He was genuinely happy because his father had died.
Gong Jian took a sip of wine and muttered, "Do you feel I'm a bit rebellious?"
Chen Nan replied, "There is no hatred without reason in this world!"
He believed that.
Gong Jian must have an untold story behind his hatred for his father and his happiness at his father's death.
Gong Jian forced a smile, "Actually... it's a rather cliché story."
"My mother was a maid in the Gong family."
"And my father was the eldest son of the Gong family."
"Once, after drinking, he took advantage of my mother."
"And then I was born."
"Actually, my name is not Gong Jian."
"My original name was Gong Jian."
"The 'jian' from 'jian ren' (bitch)."
"Meaning born of a bitch."
"It was only when I went to Yan Country that I changed 'jian' to 'jian'."
He smiled sadly, "By age, I am the eldest grandson among the younger generation of the Gong family."
"But..."
"Because my mother was a maid, I was completely ignored in the Gong family."
"Even the servants looked down on me."
"I didn't have enough to eat or wear."
"My mother pleaded with my father more than once, hoping he would treat me better."
"But not only did things not improve, my father even intensified his cruelty."
"Not just beating me brutally."
"But also my mother."
"Because their scandal affected the Gong family's reputation."
"And made the Gong family a laughingstock."
At this point.
Gong Jian did not hide his inner rage.
Those were the darkest times of his life.
"Five hundred years ago."
"That man, after being refused by someone he hired to forge a celestial artifact, decided to send me to the Sword Forging Academy to learn artifact forging."
"His intention was for me to bring him glory."
"But why should I bring glory to him?"
"Just because he is my biological father?"
"If I could, I truly wouldn't want to be in this world."
"There's nothing here worth my lingering on."
Chen Nan understood.
He had previously wondered why Gong Jian, with his strong talent in artifact forging, was willing to be a cook.
Now he got it.
It was because he didn't want the man who had hurt him to take pride in it.
"I had originally planned to bring my mother to Yan Country, as I already had a place there." Gong Jian sighed, "But my mother refused to leave, even to the point of death. She remains at that man's grave."
"I don't understand, she was the victim, so why is she so devoted to that man?"
Chen Nan replied, "Affection is the most unsolvable poison in the world."
"It's a joyous occasion, let's not discuss unhappy topics," Gong Jian said with a smile. "Anyway, my life is good now. The salary is decent, and I can fully support myself and my mother."
He changed the subject, "What about you two, how did you end up in Gan Country?"
"Are you planning to be companions in the mortal world, wandering the earth?"
He had long known that Nie Yao had a good impression of Chen Nan.
Now seeing them together.
He blessed them from the bottom of his heart.
Nie Yao's face flushed red. "Yes, companions in the mortal world, wandering the earth."
Bang!
Without any warning.
The door was kicked open.
Then, a young man in a white robe.
Holding a folding fan, with a hooked nose.
Walked in haughtily with two followers. "Yo, drinking during work hours?"
"You're quite good at slacking off, aren't you?"
Gong Jian's face was filled with anger. "Gong Yi, who do you think you are? Do I need to explain my actions to you?"
This was his second uncle's cousin.
He was currently a genius among the younger generation of the Gong family.
The heir of the Gong family.
Gong Yi had a playful smile on his face. "I regret to inform you that I've already spoken to the restaurant owner, and effective immediately, you have been fired."
"Yes, you have violated the Gong family's orders, and there is no place for you in the entire Gan Country."
"Even with your exquisite culinary skills, no one will dare to hire you."
"Unless they are willing to become enemies with the Gong family."
The restaurant manager, with a bruised nose and face, walked in. Holding some immortal stones in his hand, he said nervously, "This old man did not know of Young Master Gong's identity before. I beg for your forgiveness for any offense."
"Our humble restaurant cannot accommodate a distinguished guest like you."
"Here is your salary for the past ten days."
"You should seek employment elsewhere."
In fact, the restaurant manager very much wished Gong Jian could stay.
Because ever since he started working there, the restaurant's business had improved significantly.
Many people came out of curiosity.
His income in just over ten days was equivalent to half a year's income normally.
However.
He couldn't afford to offend the Gong family.
After all, the Gong family was a legitimate prominent clan in Gan Country.
"Gong Yi, your methods are as despicable as ever. Firing me is one thing, but why did you beat Manager Liu?" Gong Jian stood up angrily.
Gong Yi sneered, "What, are you going to hit me?"
"Heh!"
"You're just a straw man, try touching me if you dare."
"If you dare to touch me even once, I guarantee I'll send your bitch of a mother to reunite with your father."
Gong Jian's killing intent surged.
His mother was his soft spot.
But now.
Even though he felt a strong killing intent,
He still dared not touch Gong Yi.
Because he knew.
This guy was a ruthless and unfeeling man.
If he dared to touch him, he would surely keep his word and kill his mother.
Gong Yi said calmly, "As I said."
"As long as you obediently return to the Gong family and be a cook."
"The Gong family will definitely treat you and your mother well."
"You can consider this matter."
"Otherwise, don't blame me for not caring about kinship!"
"Give me your answer before dawn." He turned and left.
Bang!
Gong Jian slammed his fist on the table.
His eyes were icy, filled with rage and killing intent.
Rage because his mother was unwilling to leave.
Killing intent because he wanted to kill Gong Yi but dared not act.
Chen Nan couldn't help but ask, "Brother Jian, is the Gong family very powerful in Gan Country?"
Gong Jian said in a low voice, "The Gong family's main business is medicinal materials, ranking fifth in the entire industry. They are a prominent family even in the whole of Gan Country."
Chen Nan hadn't expected the Gong family to have such a background.
After a moment of contemplation.
He said, "Do you want to become the patriarch of the Gong family?"
"To trample all those who once humiliated you and trampled on your dignity under your feet?"
Gong Jian was stunned. "What do you mean?"
Chen Nan grinned. "Don't worry about what I mean."
"Just tell me honestly, do you want to trample those people under your feet?"
"If you want revenge."
"I can make you the new patriarch of the Gong family."
If it were any other industry, he would be helpless.
But the Gong family was also in the medicinal materials business.
Having Ao Ji support Gong Jian to become the new patriarch of the Gong family, what difficulty would there be?