Chapter 509
“But your brother just got promoted. Unless there’s an exceptionally great achievement, it’ll be at least two to three years before he gets another promotion,” Grandpa Zhang said with a sigh, as if a bit regretful.
In his opinion, Xiaoxiao’s brother was capable enough that, even without a promotion, he could be transferred to a better military district. But since their family had been targeted by the spy, there was no way they could move him to another location anytime soon—at least not until they got the mastermind.
“It’s fine. I think my brother’s promotion has already been pretty fast. The military has its own arrangements, so there’s definitely no problem,” Su Xiaoxiao said casually, as though she truly hadn’t given it much thought.
But how could she not have any thoughts about her brother’s future? It was just that she didn’t trust the Zhang family and didn’t want to say too much, fearing it might cause more trouble.
“By the way, my grandson is still at home for now. He won’t leave until the summer when the conscription starts. If he upsets you, just let me know. I’ll make sure he learns to be more restrained before he enlists,” Grandpa Zhang said, his tone turning harsh when he mentioned Zhang Hanyu.
Since it had been confirmed that Zhang Hanyu would be stationed at the border, the boy had become unbearable at home, with an attitude that was snide and disrespectful. Even during the New Year, he had to stir up trouble at the dinner table. These days, he was never around, and no one knew where he’d disappeared to.
If it weren’t for the fact that he was a member of the Zhang family, Grandpa Zhang really wouldn’t want to deal with such a grandson.
Zhang Zhiyuan, sitting beside him, furrowed his brow when he heard his father talk about his son. “There’s nothing to manage. I’ve already spoken to his superiors and made sure he gets the hardest, most grueling tasks. If he can stand up to it in two years, then he’s still a member of the Zhang family. If he can’t, I’ll consider him as good as nonexistent.”
Is he really being this harsh?
Su Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but twitch the corner of her mouth at his words.
Zhang Zhiyuan glanced at her and explained, “In families like ours, even if the kids end up being regular folks, they can live well. But if they lack ability or character, promoting them would just end up harming others.”
If his eldest son had still been alive, he would’ve raised him properly from the start. With his mother’s kind nature, there was no way he would’ve turned out like this younger son, who was completely useless.
“He’s still young. Maybe the country can straighten him out,” Su Xiaoxiao said, trying to alleviate the tension with a somewhat awkward smile. “If it doesn’t work, send him to the front lines a couple of times, give him some tough assignments, and let him see the harsh realities of the world. Maybe then he’ll understand how hard it was for China to develop to what it is now.”
She laughed, but secretly, she thought to herself: As if! With a mother like Peng Huijing, who pampered him from the start, Zhang Hanyu would never turn out well.
Su Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes inwardly.
She only suggested these things because she knew Zhang Hanyu was a shallow, pretentious fool who liked to dream big. If he was sent out on a mission, he’d surely become nothing more than cannon fodder.
“I think Xiaoxiao is right,” Granny Wang interjected. “Hanyu is the way he is because he never had any hardships growing up. He’s too full of himself.”
Thinking of her own grandson, who had dared to argue with them at the dinner table during the New Year, Granny Wang truly felt that Zhang Hanyu needed to face the cruelty of the world. Only then would he realize how wrong he had been.
Zhang Zhiyuan thought for a moment, then nodded. “In two years, after his border station assignment, I’ll send him to Yun Province…”
“No!” Peng Huijing, who had been in the kitchen, rushed in and immediately became alarmed when she heard this.
“Old Zhang, Hanyu is your only son. You can’t be so harsh with him. He’s still young, still doesn’t understand. Sending him to the border for two years is already difficult enough. If you send him to Yun Province after that, what if something happens? Won’t that be the end of the Zhang family?”
She walked over to Zhang Zhiyuan and tried to take his hand.
But as soon as her hand touched his, Zhang Zhiyuan frowned and immediately shook her off.
“What do you mean, ’only son’? Jingyou was stolen away, but he’s still alive. And as long as you’re brave and careful with missions, the danger isn’t that great. Even if something unfortunate happens, it could be my son or someone else’s son—what does it matter? Are our Zhang family’s children any more precious than anyone else’s?”
Zhang Zhiyuan’s reprimand was stern and unyielding, making Peng Huijing unable to say another word. She could only stand there, wiping her tears, with nothing else to add.
No matter how much she showed her sorrow, no one in the Zhang family seemed to feel any pity for her.
Grandpa Zhang, in contrast, was still smiling as he addressed Su Xiaoxiao. “Xiaoxiao, you rarely get to stay in Beijing for a few days, so don’t go stay in some guesthouse. Just stay with us. Treat it like your own home.”
“No, it’s fine,” Su Xiaoxiao replied with a somewhat embarrassed smile. “Our relationship with Zhang Hanyu and Zhang Xiyue isn’t exactly the best. Seeing them once or twice is bearable, but if we see them every day, who knows what might happen. I’d hate to make things awkward for you, and it would go against our original intention of coming here.”
As she spoke, she could feel a pair of hostile eyes on her.
Su Xiaoxiao didn’t even need to look up to know where those eyes were coming from.
A bright smile curled at the corners of her lips.
Angry? Resentful?
They didn’t stay in the big courtyard, but that was precisely so they could have an opportunity to take action.
Su Xiaoxiao could only hope that Peng Huijing wouldn’t disappoint them.