Rebirth of the King of Waves

Chapter 156 Pillar

Ding-dong!

At the entrance of Building C, Block 12 of the Wangfu Jinxiu Jiayuan residential complex, Ning Qian frowned and reluctantly pressed the doorbell. Upstairs in apartment C06, amidst the clatter of mahjong tiles, the young nanny glanced at the security camera and, seeing it was her eldest son returning home, quickly opened the outer door, excitedly calling out, "Uncle and Auntie! Your eldest son is back!"

"Oh! Director Ning is here?"

"Director Ning is back?"

In the living room on the first floor, a group of people gathered around the mahjong table, all with happy expressions. My great-uncle's eldest and youngest cousins ​​rushed out of the house and dashed to the elevator.

Then, after waiting anxiously for half a minute, the moment the elevator doors opened, upon seeing Ning Qian dressed in an executive jacket, their faces immediately lit up with enthusiasm. They both reached out to grab Ning Qian, shouting, "Director Ning is here! Director Ning is here!"

"Director Ning, it's been a long time! Hahahaha!"

Ning Qian hadn't expected a welcome ceremony for returning home. His initially sour face was now completely softened by his two uncles. Seeing that many people were still coming out of the house, his aunts beaming with obsequious smiles, and the children peeking out with eyes full of awe and curiosity towards his cousin, the deputy bureau chief, Ning Qian couldn't help but smile as well, saying, "No, no, Uncle Wen, Uncle Bin..."

Even though the deputy director went home, you still have to call for help.

Ning Qian wasn't sure if he had called it wrong.

However, judging from their wide grin, it must be true.

Surrounded by a group of distant relatives, Ning Qian entered the house and walked into the living room. Several of his great-uncles, who were playing mahjong in the living room, stood up and shook hands with Ning Qian in a serious manner.

Ning Qian patiently exchanged a few perfunctory pleasantries with them through smiles.

He immediately abandoned them and ran straight upstairs to his study.

As expected, Ning Guorong was sitting in the study on the second floor.

Ning Qian walked over and said irritably, "Dad, why did you have to call me over? I've been so busy these past few days, and I finally have a free moment today to rest..."

When Ning Guorong heard his son speak to him in such a blaming tone, his brows immediately furrowed, and he said impatiently, "Is it making things difficult for you now that I've asked you to come over for a meal? Now that you're an official, you think you're all grown up and don't respect your father anymore?"

No!

"Where are your... Wanwan and the child?"

“She went out with her friends,” Ning Qian said. “The child is at her mother’s house.”

Ning Guorong retorted irritably, "Playing, playing, all you ever do is play!"

Ning Qian said, "Anyway, she has nothing to do at home."

Ning Guorong said, "Can't you stay home and take care of the child?"

"Let's not talk about that!" Ning Qian said. "You called me over just to have dinner with those people downstairs...?"

Ning Guorong looked displeased and retorted, "You got promoted, can't I even celebrate with you?"

"Promotion my ass, the rank hasn't changed," Ning Qian said. "You're putting me in a very passive position. I really don't know what to say to you. You're so old, what's the point of doing this kind of thing? Everyone in our family knows how capable you are."

"Tsk tsk tsk! I was just trying to celebrate for you, and you said I was just putting on airs..." Ning Guorong poked Ning Qian, and for some reason, blurted out, "I think even A-Shu is better than you. He's got money and he still knows how to treat his dad well!"

Ning Qian was clearly taken aback upon hearing this.

This kind of comparison between him and Ning Bishu has never happened at home before.

After all, from the day they were born, the two were completely incomparable.

From family background to education, and then to entering the workforce, he was always ahead of Ning Bishu.
Even Ning Bishu, who was known for consistently topping the rankings at his lousy high school, ended up with a science score that placed him in the top 2000 in the province, ranking in a 985 university. Ning Bishu, who was a few years ahead of him, ranked in the top 20000 in the province, scoring in the arts, which barely made it into a second-tier university.

With this difference, what's the point of even comparing?

As for Ning Bishu's experience after entering the workforce, he failed the civil service exam seven times in a row and eventually had to work for a small, run-down private company, earning only a few thousand yuan a month. This was far worse than what he had experienced before.

For the past ten years since Ning Qian turned 18, his entire family has never compared him to Ning Bishu, let alone ever did. In fact, if they did, it would be an insult.

If we really have to compare, it should be between him and Ning Quan.

The two brothers, Ning Quan and Ning Quan, both scored higher, ranking among the top 100 in the city. Ning Quan is currently doing his postgraduate internship at a well-known investment institution in Hong Kong, and he's no less capable than his older brother, who was promoted to a managerial position at 28.

These memories, which had been long past, suddenly surged from the depths of Ning Qian's mind the moment Ning Guorong spoke.

This time, although Ning Qian felt strange, he didn't feel insulted at all.

“That’s… what he should do!” Ning Qian not only didn’t refute Ning Guorong, but even spoke up for Ning Bishu, “Brother Bishu really has it tough. He’s managed to turn things around despite his family’s situation and improve his parents’ quality of life. Isn’t that normal? If you ever end up like that, I’ll send you to the Snow Mountain Nursing Home!”

"What Snow Mountain Nursing Home?" As soon as the words were spoken, Ning Bishu's grandmother came out of a room on the other side of the second floor.

Ye Qihui smiled and helped her up.

Beside her was another woman, Bi Guifen, with a full head of white hair.

Ning Qian stared at Bi Guifen for several seconds before finally recognizing her. He was immediately surprised and hurriedly stepped forward, exclaiming, "Auntie, how come your hair is so white!"

Bi Guifen chuckled awkwardly, unsure how to respond.

Grandma quickly grabbed his hand and asked with delighted eyes, "Qian, your dad said you became an official?"

"Mom, Qian has been a leader for a long time. This is just a job transfer; he's changed units." Ye Qihui said with pride.

Ningqian's attention seemed to be entirely focused on Bi Guifen, as she kept asking, "Auntie, has Brother Bi Shu come back yet?"

Bi Guifen shook her head: "I don't know, he hasn't come to see me these past two days."

"He's back! He's back!" Uncle Chen Wen came up from downstairs and said with a smile, "A-Shu's concubine is back, so he must be back too!"

"A concubine?" Ning Qian felt he didn't understand.

What an obscure term...

Chen Wen said with a gossipy look, "Yeah! And she's a lawyer! Ashu's real girlfriend is studying in Jinling right now, she's still in high school! This time, another girlfriend came back with him. Your grandma still doesn't understand, she thinks she's the empress, and without saying a word, she gave her all the gold bracelets."

Grandma Ning Bishu's eyes immediately changed, and she scolded Chen Wen, "Why isn't she the Empress? She's so beautiful! She looks so elegant! She's learned and classy."

However, the younger cousin refused to admit defeat. He smiled, picked up his phone, and showed the photos Ning Bishu had posted of him and Xiao Taotao to Ning Bishu's grandmother, saying, "Second Aunt, look, this is the real one! She looks just like a celebrity..."

Grandma Ning Bishu looked closely and, sure enough, her resolve wavered again.

"Wow, this one really is..." She took Chen Wen's phone and showed it to Ye Qihui, "Ahui, this girl is beautiful. So fair-skinned, how can anyone be so pretty..." Before she could finish speaking, the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up, "Okay, okay! This one is good! That one is good! They're all good! I'll marry them all!"

But Ye Qihui couldn't quite manage a smile.

She had helped Ning Qian choose countless wives, but the one Ning Qian finally married was beautiful, though neither she nor Ning Guorong liked her; and now, even in terms of beauty, she couldn't compare to Xiao Taotao.

Not to mention, on Ning Bishu's side, Xiao Taotao was only—

One of them!

In both making money and chasing women, Ning Qian suffered a complete defeat today.

The only thing he could rely on was his newly promoted position as deputy director.

As for comparing family background...

It's better not to compare.

After all, what are Ning Guoqiang's circumstances, and what are his family's circumstances?
Ning Bishu was able to make it this far despite such a disastrous start—regardless of how he managed it, at least he has two hundred million yuan in real money, which is a tangible thing, right?
Compared to this, Ning Qian seems even less useful...

Even if we include Ning Quan.

Ning Quan currently earns an internship salary of just over ten thousand Hong Kong dollars per month.

She claims to be a financial elite, but he still asks her for subsidies from time to time!
Just in the last few days, I heard that he closed a big deal and earned hundreds of thousands of yuan. So he called her, bragging that he no longer needed financial support from his family, and he was jumping for joy over the money.

Ye Qihui was truly speechless...

"Mom, you can't marry two women, it's illegal." Ye Qihui forced a smile and asked Grandma Ning Bishu to give up her evil thoughts.

Grandma, however, was very stubborn and immediately retorted, "What law are we breaking? How is that illegal? We're just a family living our own lives behind closed doors. We haven't harmed anyone, so whose law are we breaking? Isn't that how everyone has lived in the past?"

Ye Qihui said, "Mom, that's ancient history. The People's Republic of China has been established for so many years, it's been a long time since we were allowed to marry two people."

"Nonsense!" Grandma said. "Aren't there plenty of men 'bumping into' each other' these days? I can count on my fingers all over the countryside! If a man is capable, he can marry several wives. Only the incapable can't afford to raise children!" The old woman spoke so confidently that even Ning Guorong, who was sitting in the study, couldn't help but nod in agreement.

Come to think of it, he hasn't visited his concubine's place for quite some time.

I wonder if Zhang Long, now that he's with Ning Bishu, will say anything to him...

Emmm...

Ning Guorong shuddered involuntarily at the thought.

Damn it, this is bad!
I shouldn't have exposed my dear nephew's affair today!
It's all because Mu Shanming is too handsome that he's so attracted to him. Damn it, jealousy really drives people crazy!
Ning Guorong suddenly panicked. He was thinking that after dinner, he should send the group of people downstairs away as soon as possible and go on a "business trip" for a few days to avoid Ning Bishu's attention.

But just as this thought crossed my mind, I seemed to faintly hear the doorbell ringing downstairs again.

Ning Guorong's heart skipped a beat, and he waited for two seconds.

Immediately, the aunt shouted from downstairs, "Uncle! We have a guest downstairs, someone who calls you Third Uncle! And he brought a pretty lady with him!"

I wipe! ! !

Ning Guorong's expression changed drastically in an instant.

Has the alpaca brought his mistress to seek revenge?
Ning Guorong stood up and ran downstairs.

Unexpectedly, Ning Qian ran even faster than him. The father and son dashed down the slope one after the other. When Uncle Chen Wen saw them, he immediately remembered why he had come today and hurriedly shouted, "Oh dear! Shu is here! Shu is here!"

Hearing the commotion, the people inside all went outside as well.

The three aunts-in-law seemed quite puzzled.

After all, Ning Bishu only has "a mere two hundred million," while Ning Guorong's family has "several hundred million in assets" plus the position of "deputy director." Why is this being done in such a grand manner?

"Wow! The stock market guru is here!" Ning Bishu's younger cousin, Chen Xin, squeezed out of the crowd.

A dozen or so people quickly blocked the elevator entrance.

Bi Guifen was squeezed at the back, unable to get through, but at this moment her eyes were filled with indescribable pride.

What does it mean to stand out from the crowd?

What does it mean to return home in glory?

With this scene, this setup, this spectacle...

To be honest, it didn't even amount to a fart.

But this is already a level of dignity that she and Ning Guoqiang have only dreamed of their whole lives, a dignity they never even dared to dream of!
ding dong~~
The elevator door slowly opened.

Ning Bishu was caught off guard and startled when he suddenly saw a group of people outside.

However, he immediately realized what was happening and started calling out, "Great-uncle, Great-aunt, Third-uncle, Great-aunt, Little-uncle, Little-aunt, Uncle Wen, Uncle Bin..." as if reciting a tongue twister, while calling out to people and taking Mu Shanming's arm in his, their fingers intertwined as they walked out.

Two bodyguards, Zhang Long and Zhao Hu, followed behind him.

The grandeur of my return home today is practically off the charts, just missing a few strings of firecrackers.

"Ah Shu, why are you only getting back now!"

We all missed you so much!

"Ah Shu, we went to see your dad a few days ago!"

They use all sorts of tricks: trying to get close, flattering, or asking for credit.

Ning Bishu chuckled and walked straight inside without looking to the side.

Then, turning to look at Ning Guorong indifferently, she said, "Third Uncle, I heard you've had a lot of good news lately! Your rival got arrested, and did you manage to get the orders back?"

"Hahaha, we're talking, we're talking..." Ning Guorong laughed heartily, but his eyes kept glancing at Zhang Long and Zhao Hu.

Zhang Long and Zhao Hu avoided eye contact, both feeling guilty.

Ning Bishu suddenly added, "Third Uncle, you have so much going on outside, you need to take care of yourself. Ah Long told me that you're usually very busy, sometimes you even spend the night at the factory, working overtime all night without going home!"

Ning Guorong's face instantly lost some color.

He first turned and glared angrily at Zhang Long, that traitor, then quickly grabbed Ning Bishu's other hand and whispered to him, "Don't listen to what Ah Long is saying. What does he know? He's just talking nonsense!"

Before he could finish speaking, Ning Qian pressed closer, eagerly calling out, "Brother! Brother!" His eyes were full of anticipation. "You have so much money now, do you have any investment ideas? Our bureau is currently implementing new industrial policies, and the preferential policies for enterprises are very generous!" As he spoke, his eyes kept glancing at Mu Shanming.

The father and son seem to have similar tastes.

"With the current economic situation, what's the point of talking about investment..."

Ning Bishu gave a perfunctory reply, surrounded by a group of people, and continued walking inside.

They walked right up to Bi Guifen and her grandmother.

Before Ning Bishu could say a word, Mu Shanming took out two thick red envelopes from his bag, one for each of them, and handed them to Bi Guifen and Ning Bishu's grandmother, sweetly calling out, "Mom, Grandma."

"Hey~!" Ning Bishu's grandmother was overjoyed, immediately accepting the red envelope and grabbing Mu Shanming's hand, afraid she would run away again. Bi Guifen, holding such a thick red envelope, was a little dumbfounded, and uneasily whispered to Ning Bishu, "Ashu, so much... is it really necessary..."

"No need for a damn thing!" Ning Bishu laughed. "Take it as pocket money; it's all Mingming's kind gesture!"

“That’s right, it’s the daughter-in-law’s sentiment!” The large group of uncles’ families stopped asking Xiao Taotao about it.

Ning Bishu's arrival was like a pillar of stability.

Both Mu Shanming and Bi Guifen suddenly had powerful backers.

But even though they didn't ask, Ning Bishu insisted on telling them.

He then loudly announced, "Dear uncles, aunts, brothers, and sisters, let me introduce you. This is my son, Mingming, also known as Mu Shanming, or Attorney Mu. If you have any cases to handle in the future, you can contact Attorney Mu's assistant! I'll call Mingming's assistant over in a bit. Everyone, please add him on WeChat, even if you don't need it!"

"Also, the one you all saw online, Xiao Taotao, is also from my family. Both of them are from my family. All the younger kids here today, if you see her, call her 'sister-in-law,' understand?"

"I heard you!"

A small group of children shouted in unison.

Mu Shanming suddenly gripped Ning Bishu's hand tightly.

Ning Bishu turned and smiled at her.

Mu Shanming's eyes welled up with tears; he was so moved he almost cried.

She never imagined that one day she would care so much about such a thing.

Forget about laws and regulations, at this moment, they're all screwed!

The law is there to protect my vested rights!

"Give the kids a red envelope." Ning Bishu gently patted her bottom.

Mu Shanming rolled his eyes at Xiaobai.

He then took out a stack of red envelopes from his bag and scattered them all over the room.

Upon receiving the money, the cousins ​​immediately cheered even more enthusiastically.

"Thank you sister-in-law!"

Wow! A thousand dollars!

"Sister-in-law, you're so kind!"

The room was filled with laughter and cheerful conversation.

Ning Bishu strolled leisurely over to Ning Guorong and said with a faint smile, "Third Uncle, you know that my father has been sent to the snow mountain."

Ning Guorong nodded quickly: "I know, I know, your mother told me."

Ning Bishu said, "Go visit when you have time. You should at least call me Dad... what was that?"

"What?" Ning Guorong blinked, feigning ignorance.

Ning Bishu stared at him intently, and in front of Ye Qihui and her grandmother, she asked seriously, "What did you say?"

Seeing her husband's embarrassment, Ye Qihui quickly said:
"Arong, what time is it? Go and urge the hotel, why hasn't the food been delivered yet!"

"Oh..." Ning Guorong immediately wanted to slip away.

He had called Ning Bishu's father "Hey," "Hey," and "A-Qiang" for decades, and now asking him to call him something else would be more painful than killing him.

But just as he was about to turn around, the doorbell rang first.

"It's here!" Ning Bishu immediately said, "Third Uncle, what should you call my dad?"

A large group of people nearby also noticed that something was wrong with the atmosphere here.

The uncles and aunts all looked up.

Mu Shanming also turned around and watched this family ethics battle, the scene of the nephew mentally forcing his uncle to step down.

Grandma couldn't hold back any longer. She tugged at Ning Guorong's sleeve and urged, "Call him 'brother'! Why can't you say it yet?"

Ning Guorong's smile froze. After a two-second pause, he suddenly burst into laughter and loudly proclaimed to Ning Bishu, "That's right! He's my brother! Of course he's my brother! Your dad's my brother, what's there to ask?"

He quickly brushed it off, unaware that he was frowning deeply.

He loudly called out to everyone in the room, "Eat! Eat!"

Ning Bishu watched as Ning Guorong fled.

Mu Shanming walked over and took his hand.

The two looked at each other.

Ning Bishu asked, "Is this interesting?"

Mu Shanming took his arm and said sweetly, "If you think it's interesting, then it's interesting."

"Haha." Ning Bishu laughed, putting his other arm around Bi Guifen. "Come on, let's eat."

Bi Guifen's eyes were full of smiles.

Turning to look at Mu Shanming again, she felt an indescribable sense of fulfillment, as if her life had been complete.

(End of this chapter)