“Thank you, Uncle,” Ouyang Liqun said, taking the cup of tea poured by Ouyang Zhixin and placing it on the coffee table. He took a slow sip, then asked calmly, “When did you return?”
Ouyang Liqun took a small sip of the tea and slowly placed the teacup on the coffee table, a smile on his lips. “I returned last month and have been staying at home. Today is the first time I’ve come to visit you, Uncle. I hope you don’t mind.”
Ouyang Zhixin finished the tea in his cup and placed it on the coffee table, pouring himself another. His expression was unreadable as he said, “Between our two families, there’s no such thing as ‘not minding’.”
Ouyang Liqun’s expression faltered for a moment. He smiled and asked, “How is Fanmeng’s health? Is she any better?”
Upon mentioning his daughter, a flicker of exhaustion and weariness crossed Ouyang Zhixin’s eyes. He shook his head slightly. “Still the same.”
“Alas,” Ouyang Liqun sighed theathetically. “Poor Fanmeng. She’s been suffering from such a strange illness since birth. She’s never even stepped outside this door. I truly wonder what will become of her in the future.”
Ouyang Zhixin said indifferently, “You don’t need to worry about Fanmeng’s affairs.”
Ouyang Liqun narrowed his eyes and glanced at Ouyang Zhixin. He smiled and said, “Uncle, but you will all grow old eventually!”
At these words, Ouyang Zhixin’s left hand, which was holding the teacup, tightened. If he had exerted a little more force, he would have crushed the cup. He turned to look at his nephew, his deep eyes finally showing a hint of change. He remained silent.
Ouyang Liqun smiled. “Uncle, I didn’t mean anything else. I just feel that Fanmeng is my cousin, after all. I will take good care of her in the future!”
“So…” Ouyang Zhixin’s gaze fixed on him. “In exchange for me giving up my claim to the family head position!”
“Heh, I truly didn’t mean that,” Ouyang Liqun said with a fake smile.
Ouyang Zhixin turned back, downed the tea in his cup, and said expressionlessly, “What is mine, no one can take. Don’t assume that the old man favors you; I don’t care. Liqun, you are a smart person. Do you understand what I mean?”
“I do,” Ouyang Liqun replied, nodding with a smile. A chill settled in his heart.
It seemed his uncle intended to contend for the family head position with his father!
Although the Ouyang Group was a family enterprise, and the family head made all major decisions, the election of the future family head was not solely determined by the current head, Ouyang Shenhe. After all, the Ouyang family had numerous branches and disciples. To inherit the position of future family head, a vote from the clan elders and disciples was required to elect someone capable of leading the family business to greater prosperity.
In essence, Ouyang Zhixin currently contributed the most to the Ouyang family’s assets and was the most capable. Although his lineage had no male heirs, and his only daughter suffered from a strange illness and had never appeared in public, Ouyang Zhixin’s abilities were the most outstanding in the entire family, a fact everyone acknowledged. Therefore, in terms of prestige within the family, Ouyang Zhixin’s standing was second only to the old family head, Ouyang Shenhe. Furthermore, the vast majority of the family disciples supported Ouyang Zhixin inheriting the position.
Among them, the most powerful supporter was Ouyang Zhixin’s uncle, Ouyang Xing Teng. This Ouyang Xing Teng was quite an influential figure in the Ouyang family, being the younger brother of the old family head. He was exceptionally capable and held the greatest authority within the Ouyang family’s industries. He was also the first to support Ouyang Zhixin’s succession.
The reason Ouyang Liqun had come to see Ouyang Zhixin was precisely to ask him to voluntarily give up his claim to the family head position, allowing his father, Ouyang Weizhi, to inherit it smoothly. This was because Ouyang Weizhi’s abilities were far inferior to Ouyang Zhixin’s, and not many people in the family supported him as family head. Even if Ouyang Weizhi secretly tried to win people over, with his uncle, Ouyang Xing Teng, present, even if the old family head, Ouyang Shenhe, supported Ouyang Weizhi’s succession, it would be fraught with difficulties.
Originally, Ouyang Liqun had intended to seek out his granduncle to gain his support for his father, Ouyang Weizhi. However, Ouyang Xing Teng was an old traditionalist who believed in clear distinctions between right and wrong. He only valued long-term future benefits and was wholeheartedly in favor of Ouyang Zhixin inheriting the family head position.
As if on cue, Ouyang Xing Teng’s son, Ouyang Zhihui, entered with a few people. He called out to Ouyang Zhixin, “Cousin, I’ve invited Chairman Sima Wentang and the others to see Fanmeng… Hmm, Liqun, why are you here?”
Upon seeing Ouyang Zhihui, Ouyang Liqun stood up and greeted him politely with a smile. “Hello, Uncle Zhihui. I came to visit Uncle and my cousin.”
“Oh,” Ouyang Zhihui nodded and said no more. Standing behind him were Chairman Sima Wentang and his son Sima Xuanyu. He smiled and greeted Ouyang Zhixin, who was seated. “Mr. Ouyang, we meet again.”
Ouyang Zhixin was naturally aware of Sima Wentang. He nodded and said, “Chairman Wentang, thank you for your trouble. Please have a seat.”
“Thank you,” Sima Wentang nodded, brought his son Sima Xuanyu, and sat down. He placed a medicinal chest made of rosewood at his feet. Sima Xuanyu’s gaze fell upon Ouyang Liqun. Though they were meeting for the first time, they felt a sense of mutual appreciation and exchanged smiles and nods.
“Mr. Ouyang, this is my son, Sima Xuanyu. He just returned from abroad. I brought him today solely to see your daughter.” Sima Wentang introduced his son Sima Xuanyu to Ouyang Zhixin and continued, “We have examined your daughter before and are aware of the characteristics of her ‘stinky fish’ syndrome. My son has come this time with a method to treat your daughter’s illness!”
Ouyang Zhixin’s previously somber gaze instantly brightened. He looked at the Sima father and son and asked, “Do you truly have a method?”
Sima Xuanyu nodded and smiled. “I have researched the ‘stinky fish’ syndrome abroad and understand its pathogenesis. Therefore, I can try a prescription left by our ancestors on your daughter.”
Ouyang Zhixin’s gaze remained fixed on him, but he did not feel overjoyed by his words. Perhaps he had heard too many such claims and had grown numb. His expression was calm as he asked, “Tell me, what is this method?”
“Medicated bath!” Sima Xuanyu smiled. “In ancient times, medicated baths were used to treat ‘stinky fish’ syndrome. So, I propose to treat your daughter with a medicated bath.”
Ouyang Zhixin, however, said, “A medicated bath? Dr. Liu already tried a medicated bath before, but it had no effect.”
Sima Xuanyu nodded but smiled confidently. “That’s because he used the wrong medication!”
These words caused Ouyang Zhixin to gaze deeply at Sima Xuanyu. He then said to Sima Wentang, “Chairman Wentang, your son has quite the audacity to question the medical skills of Master Liu Pingyi, a national medical expert!”
“Heh,” Sima Wentang glanced at his son but remained silent, merely smiling. In the entire traditional Chinese medicine circle of the capital, his Sima family looked down upon everyone, including those so-called Four Great National Medical Masters, who were recognized as such by the Sima family.
“Mr. Ouyang, the medicated bath I use contains one hundred and eight kinds of traditional Chinese medicinal ingredients, prepared as a medicinal packet according to an ancient prescription. If you trust our Sima family, allow me to try it on your daughter,” Sima Xuanyu stated directly to Ouyang Zhixin, speaking with great confidence.
Ouyang Zhixin remained silent. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of doctors who claimed they could cure his daughter’s strange illness. For over twenty years, he had traveled all over the country searching for countless TCM practitioners and Western doctors, as well as countless experts from abroad, but none could do anything about his daughter’s ‘stinky fish’ syndrome. Those self-proclaimed miracle doctors, who immediately promised miracle cures, proved to be nothing more than charlatans seeking fame, as their treatments had no effect on his daughter.
However, the Sima family was different. They were, after all, the most famous TCM family in the country. Perhaps this Sima Xuanyu had indeed researched ancient prescriptions and found a cure for the ‘stinky fish’ syndrome.
Just as Ouyang Zhixin was about to speak, the middle-aged butler entered, accompanied by Gu Yuanbai, Wan Yunting carrying a medicinal chest, and the cousins Gu Sinuo and Gu Zichen…
Ouyang Liqun turned his head and froze upon seeing Wan Yunting. His gaze remained fixed on him.
“Ouyang Liqun!” Wan Yunting exclaimed, his expression stunned. His gaze also locked onto Ouyang Liqun, whom he had not expected to encounter here.
“Master, Dr. Gu is requesting an audience, saying he has brought a doctor to see the young lady,” the butler informed Ouyang Zhixin briefly.
Having just turned his attention from the Sima father and son, Ouyang Zhixin looked at Gu Yuanbai entering and nodded slightly. However, upon seeing Wan Yunting, Ouyang Zhixin’s eyes instantly widened. He stared intently at Wan Yunting, a sense of uncanny recognition, both familiar and strange, surging within him. His heart inexplicably quickened, and his emotions became intensely agitated. He involuntarily stood up, his eyes growing larger as he gazed at Wan Yunting’s face, finding it difficult to believe the overwhelming feelings.
Ouyang Zhixin and Ouyang Liqun stared intently at Wan Yunting with different expressions. This caused Gu Yuanbai, the Sima father and son, and Ouyang Zhihui to look confused. Sima Wentang naturally recognized Wan Yunting. Sima Xuanyu was seeing him for the first time, but he had seen Wan Yunting’s photograph in the news and recognized him at a glance. He hadn’t expected Gu Yuanbai to bring him to the Ouyang residence today.
The only one who didn’t recognize Wan Yunting was Ouyang Zhihui. Noticing the change in his cousin Ouyang Zhixin’s gaze toward Wan Yunting, he felt bewildered.
“Hmm, this young man…” But in the next second, Ouyang Zhihui also stared at Wan Yunting’s face, then looked back at his cousin Ouyang Zhixin’s face, and noticed a resemblance in their facial features! Gu Yuanbai, standing nearby, also noticed Ouyang Zhixin and the change in his gaze towards Wan Yunting. Could it be that Ouyang Zhixin knew Little Wan?
At this moment, however, Wan Yunting’s gaze was fixed on Ouyang Liqun, as he discreetly assessed this young man and wondered if he was the true mastermind behind the Dragon’s Scale drug trafficking group!