novelraw Chapter 1186 - 1189: How about I just abdicate?
Chapter 1186 - 1189: How about I just abdicate?
The butler brought a cup of tea, Gu Shaocheng received it, took a sip, and didn’t speak for a long time. He just listened to the people at the table chatting, sipping slowly, then raised his voice slightly and said to the butler, "Butler, make me another cup. I’ve been worried about my illness all day and didn’t sleep well last night. Make the tea stronger, or else I’ll be so drained that I’ll fall asleep."
Gu Lianhe was also a man with leg issues, but at this moment, he truly felt that his life was much better than Gu Shaocheng’s. At least he could walk and move, even if one foot had a prosthetic. His two sons were still under Gu Shaocheng’s control, and he didn’t expect Gu Shaocheng to speak so easily about his illness. He didn’t believe such a terminal illness could be cured, so instinctively, he thought Gu Shaocheng might not have long to live, forcing him to be open about it. Perhaps he could privately request his sons be released. A person with one foot in the grave held no further interest for him. He felt the focus should now be on how to win over the several factions within the Gu Family. Although there was no chance for him to regain that position, he could still fight for it on behalf of his sons.
Because if Gu Shaocheng was gone, inevitably everyone would compete based on their abilities for succession. Otherwise, would they pick one of the newborns, just three days old? Ridiculous. Even if Gu Shaocheng agreed, the entire Gu Family wouldn’t jokingly hand over such a large family enterprise to babies to play with as toys.
Everyone harbored their own hidden agendas, deep in thought, when someone finally voiced what everyone most wanted to know: "If this illness can’t be cured, what will happen?"
Gu Shaocheng put down the teacup and propped his head up with his hand, squinting slightly, resting.
Upon hearing the question, he slowly began to speak, somewhat melancholic: "If it can’t be cured, I might only be able to serve the Gu Family for another two years. In two or three years, Young Gu, I might also no longer be able to lead everyone to prosperity."
"So, is it treatable or not?"
He sighed: "It’s hard to say. The doctors gave me a fifty percent chance it could be cured; and another fifty percent chance that perhaps by then, I’ll just have to let go!"
"Fifty percent is quite significant," someone responded immediately upon hearing Gu Shaocheng’s words.
He continued with a shrug and a smile: "Who knows? We’ll just have to see if heaven takes my life."
"If it truly is Lou Gehrig’s disease, and if you’re not so fortunate, what are your plans for the vast Gu Family enterprise, Shaocheng? Some things are better thought through thoroughly. After all, just in case... Heh, my point is, prevent problems before they occur, to ensure the family’s strength and people’s peace. It’s all for the prosperity and flourishing of the Gu Family."
Gu Shaocheng looked at the person who asked, and then nodded humbly: "So the reason everyone called me here for a meeting today is precisely to ask you all how I might arrange things more thoroughly? Hmm, why don’t I just abdicate and let someone capable take over? If I alone can’t lead everyone to prosperity, can’t make the Gu Family thrive, can’t steer it towards a brighter future, then I’ve thought it over, and I don’t have the face to sit in this position. Whoever among you wants to take the lead, I’ll seek everyone’s opinion, to avoid being labeled as autocratic."
"Let me say a few words," the Third Uncle, always the most respected and closest to Gu Shaocheng, shook his head with regret in his heart, never expecting that Shaocheng, who seemed to have solidified his position, would be so unfortunate.