novelraw Chapter 647 - 649: Revisiting Old Matters
Chapter 647 - 649: Revisiting Old Matters
Chapter 647: Chapter 649: Revisiting Old Matters
Zhuge Zhi was truly disappointed in Zhuge Mingshan, the granddaughter of his elder brother, whom he had somewhat cared about before.
"You say it."
"She actually said that at the door, thinking no one would hear."
"Obviously, sister-in-law wouldn’t ordinarily do something so foolish."
Zhuge Zhi, being childless, didn’t think much of his brother’s descendants and never intended to pass on his medical skills to them. They might not even want to learn.
Even if Zhuge Zhi hadn’t thought of helping them a bit, he still hoped that one or two of them might achieve something, but now even the promising Zhuge Mingshan was like this.
"Old Ge, do you think I’m asking too much?"
"I shouldn’t have expectations of them, shouldn’t hope for them to achieve anything."
Ge Yunkui listened to his master mumble to himself. He knew that no matter how the master expressed disdain for those relatives, Chinese people never truly ignore their clansmen.
The master let those children move in partly to prevent his friend’s descendants from having trouble attending school, partly to avoid missing out on good talents, and partly to see how those people would react.
The Zhuge family’s people acted well-mannered and knew boundaries in front of the master, even if they were not competent. But once out of his sight, Ge Yunkui really didn’t know how to evaluate them.
Ge Yunkui didn’t care how they treated him; he cared about how they treated the master.
Now they pleaded with the master, hoping he would adopt them, so they behaved well. But once truly adopted, would they treat the master well?
Ge Yunkui was loyal to Zhuge Zhi, but he couldn’t guarantee he would outlive the master. Even if he did, when he was old, would those people want to keep him around?
Ge Yunkui knew that, in the eyes of the Zhuge family members, he was someone to deal with.
"Old Ge, I know you look down on them. In fact, I don’t think much of them either," Zhuge Zhi was equally disappointed; they were truly useless.
"Short-sighted people, they are. If they can even maintain the current family business, that would be good enough." Zhuge Zhi wanted a reliable heir, not requiring them to be highly capable. He knew these people were spoiled and considered teaching a great-grandchild, but now it seemed even the grandson was not good, let alone teaching a great-grandchild.
"What do you think if I have Ban Xia or Zisu adopt a child to me in the future?" Zhuge Zhi really liked Zhan Jing’s children during these days with them.
"You’d say Old Zhan’s biggest assets in life are such an excellent daughter and a good son-in-law."
Although he had four sons, few men would want their child to take their wife’s surname. But Zhao Gang suggested it himself. "What do you think if I have Zisu adopted to me?"
Ah, having Zhan Zisu adopted to the master. Ge Yunkui was shocked by Zhuge Zhi’s idea. Previously, he had suggested adopting Zhan Banxia as a god-grandchild, but that was informal, and now it involved changing surnames.
If it was about god-grandchildren, Ge Yunkui knew Zhan Jing wouldn’t oppose it, but adopting and changing the surname worried him.
"This, this." Ge Yunkui didn’t know what to say. He wanted to dissuade his master but didn’t know how to advise.
The master wasn’t one to easily voice decisions. But once he spoke, he was serious. "I don’t know what to say."
"Speak, share your opinion. After all, it concerns your future too."
"Although you have a son, he’s busy, and in the future, you will follow me. When we’re old, we’ll let the two of them take care of us." Although he was a master and grandfather, Zhuge Zhi truly didn’t worry that Zhan Banxia wouldn’t take care of them.
"That’s for sure." Zhuge Zhi had a good impression of Zhan Banxia, polite, never looking down upon him due to his status.
Sometimes, when seeing him busy, they would run over to help, calling out "Grandpa Ge" affectionately. Between the two choices, it was obvious who to choose.
"I’ll talk to Zhan Jing about it." Zhuge Zhi knew his request was not light, but he had no other option. "My things won’t go to those Zhuge family members."
"If given to them, who knows how quickly it would be squandered." Donating it wasn’t an option Zhuge Zhi considered; he wanted to ensure his things were inherited by someone who wouldn’t squander them, at least maintaining the status quo.
"In the future, if anyone says anything about those people, handle it impartially." Having completely given up hope, Zhuge Zhi didn’t want to cover for them any longer.
Covering for them wouldn’t make them see him as a good elder; they would only complain behind his back. Since they thought he wasn’t good enough, it was better to let them fend for themselves.
Ah, really? Not even caring about that? Ge Yunkui was shocked. Even though the master often showed not wanting to deal with them, he had helped them out behind the scenes numerous times.
"If that’s the case..." If he truly stopped caring, Ge Yunkui knew their happy days would be over.
It wasn’t out of pity for them, but Ge Yunkui genuinely worried they would cause trouble, making the master unhappy. At the master’s age, worrying about these issues could be dangerous.
Seeing Ge Yunkui’s concerned face, Zhuge Zhi felt a pang in his heart. For someone who had seen it all and thought he had a hard heart, the worried look of his lifelong companion warmed his heart.
At least at this moment, someone cared about him. "Give the book Ni Zi liked last time to her."
"That travelogue set?" For the master to know what Gong Ruini liked must mean that set of travelogues, but weren’t those the master’s favorites?
Even when the master read them, he treated them with love. Giving them to Gong Ruini seemed overly generous. Ge Yunkui knew it was to compensate Ruini, but was it necessary to give something so precious?
"Good things are for those who appreciate them. Otherwise, they are wasted. Do you think giving a book like that to Ban Xia, they would read it?" Although those two were still young, perhaps from seeing their siblings read, they also embraced books.
Unfortunately, the books they read were not broad in scope; they preferred medical books. So this was a form of compensation.
Seeing the master’s resolute expression, Ge Yunkui acknowledged, "I’ll deliver it."
Zhuge Zhi waved his hand, "Don’t call me for dinner. I’m reading."
Despite Zhuge Zhi’s previous righteous declarations, deep down, he felt uneasy and needed some peace.
Hearing Zhuge Zhi speak so powerlessly, Ge Yunkui initially paused, knowing the master’s mood was bad, then quietly left, shutting the door gently.
Standing quietly at the door for a long time, he slowly walked away, hoping the master would find clarity and not be saddened by those unworthy of his regard.