Chapter 5: A Lesson in Loyalty and Integrity

Hit, hit, hit, I'll smash you, you big-headed ghost, hurry up, don't get run over by me

As the saying goes, if a child is not taught, it is the father's fault

The old man pressed his hand down and said, "It's all about face; he can't let go of his old pride. The Liu family has had three generations of loyalty and righteousness, with over ten men sacrificing their lives for the country in the past. Xiao Wei's actions have truly put him in a difficult position. No more talk about it; we will find a way ourselves. You take me back to the capital, and I will visit a few old comrades-in-arms."

"No rescue!" Liu Laohan replied decisively, leaving no room for negotiation

Old Liu seemed not to have taken the old man's words to heart, merely increasing the frequency of his exhalation of blue smoke

Although Liu Xiuhui was not well-regarded both inside and outside, he sacrificed himself for the country and did not bring shame to the Liu family. Old man Liu not only personally carved a memorial tablet for his son but also erected a tomb with ceremonial attire.

Do not save!

Did you know earlier? The old man is astute; how could he not see through the matter

However, Xiao Wei is his ... ...

How could such a monstrous creature come into existence

The old man ceased his rambling, strode out of the hall, called over Li Tingxuan, who was chatting with the young man outside, and headed straight for the sedan parked outside

"You... how can you still be so stubborn that not even a nine-headed ox could pull you back?" The old man was also getting angry. "Back then, when I asked you to adopt the youngest and take my surname Zhang, you absolutely refused. Now that trouble has arisen, you seem to be sitting comfortably, as if nothing is wrong. What kind of confusion is this? The emperor is not anxious, but the eunuch is anxious!"

Among the five brothers of Old Man Liu, he is the only one who survived the tumultuous years of war. Of his four elder brothers, two died on the battlefield during the War of Resistance Against Japan, one fell in Korea, and the last was buried in a cow shed

Do not say anymore, that old stubborn one will not shed tears until he sees the coffin, there is little hope.

In the second row, there are eight plaques, one of which belongs to Liu Laohan's biological son

Old Liu nodded at the library and continued to smoke one cigarette after another

This spirit of bravery did not originate with Liu Wei's generation; rather, it took root in the generation of Old Man Liu.

At the very top is Liu Laohan's elder brother, Liu Jinjian, followed by Liu Jinkun, Liu Jinhong, and Liu Jinxiang

Twenty-three years ago, he was abducted to Sichuan. On the way, he encountered the police, but was thrown into a rice field by the traffickers. When he was starving to death, he met an old man named Liu who was returning home from the market, and from that moment on, he took the surname Liu

"If he wants to ask, let him come and ask me. I haven't used that golden staff in years," Liu Laohan muttered, striding towards the hall.

Who

In the main hall, the elderly man with the surname Zhang patiently recounted the events in a deliberate manner, word by word.

Old Liu sighed again and said to Liu Tian, "Do you have your second father's phone number?"

The Liu family is not lacking in descendants of heroes, yet the feelings of the old man Liu, who personally buried his grandson who had not yet reached the age of adulthood, are undoubtedly imaginable

Brother Liu, just one question: will you save him or not

The third generation has seventeen male descendants, four of whom are engaged in civil professions, while thirteen are in military service, with the highest rank having reached colonel

At the very bottom row, there are three more plaques; the last one is newly made, prominently inscribed with the bold red characters "Liu Family's Thirty-Ninth Generation Grandson Wei"

Having a 30% chance is not bad, but I fear that those guys from MSS might take action while in prison

Old Liu stopped in his tracks and said to Liu Tian, who had just caught up, "Go call your second uncle and tell him that your uncle passed away early. With such little blood relation, we should at least lend a hand."

Liu Tian is a clever fellow, aware that Old Liu understood his meaning

The old man hesitated for a moment and said, "Yuan Changqing"

Upon hearing the words of the young people, Old Liu turned around

Liu Jia's second son, Liu Xiuxun, has fared the best among the eleven brothers of the second generation. A few years ago, he was awarded two military stars and is currently working in the military district

This departure lasted a full ten years

A few days ago, when he heard that Liu Wei was not dead and had returned to the country, it truly seemed like a turn of fortune. However, after hearing about the things Liu Wei had done, Old Man Liu could not feel happy at all

Are their parents and children traitors to the Han people

It was not until five years ago that Old Man Liu received the news that Liu Xiuhui had sacrificed his life for the country while carrying out a secret mission

Yes, your second uncle called a few days ago to ask about your health. I was worried it would trouble you, so I didn't mention it to you

A hint of surprise appeared on Li Tingxuan's face, which was soon replaced by calmness

Old Liu shivered slightly but did not speak

Erzi, please send my regards to Uncle Liu

This expression is almost identical to that of Liu Wei after committing murder

You all eat; I have no appetite

Father-in-law, what are you doing here? The food has gone cold

This is not the main hall of the ancestral temple, but rather a side room. The ancestral tablets are enshrined in the main hall's incense hall, while those enshrined here are the loyal and valiant members of the Liu family from three generations.

Old Liu stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed intently on the more than ten memorial tablets in the incense hall

But who can be blamed for this

Although the descendants of the Liu family do not claim to be immensely wealthy or powerful, they are all individuals of loyalty and righteousness. The men are all upright and strong, while the women are well-educated and sensible

If Second Dad asks, how should I respond

To this end, Liu Xiuhui also stole two bottles of Moutai that others had given to Old Liu.

This is merely a suspicion, as Liu Wei's actions resonate deeply with the old man Liu. More than sixty years ago, the old man Liu joined the army and participated in the fervent national salvation war, during which he personally executed the entire family of a major traitor, amounting to dozens of lives, killing with a blood-red rage, sparing not even the servants

Brother Liu, you have to say something, will you save him or not

What the hell, why are you in such a hurry

Nineteen years ago, after Liu Wei was born, Liu Xiuhui stayed at home quietly for a few years

According to the family genealogy, the Liu family, headed by the old man Liu, is indeed a descendant of Liu Bei from the Shu Han dynasty, albeit from a collateral branch

What can he ask?

"Indeed, my hands are stained with blood, but it is the blood of the enemy, the blood of traitors, the blood of American imperialists; it is not the blood of our compatriots!" Old Liu slammed his pipe down on the peach wood table. "As the saying goes, debts must be repaid, and for killing, one must pay with their life. That wretched creature met its deserved end."

Old Liu filled his pipe with tobacco and began to smoke it with a rhythmic puffing sound, still maintaining an expressionless demeanor

Old Liu was merely speaking out of frustration; if he were to go back sixty years, he would certainly be able to catch up with Liu Tian. However, now, after just a few steps, he is already out of breath.

Six months ago, he personally crafted this memorial tablet, which is also the fifteenth tablet he has made by hand

This young man is named Liu Tian, and he is not a direct descendant of the Liu family

Sigh

"Traitors deserve death, but their crimes should not extend to their wives. Taking a life is a matter of life for a life; this has been true in every era." Old Liu spoke with firm conviction, yet his eyes were also moist as he uttered these words

The old man was momentarily at a loss for words, unsure of how to refute.

Seeing Liu Laohan's silent and expressionless demeanor, the old man sighed and said: "I have thought this over from all angles; this matter is quite serious, and I fear that I alone cannot handle it. Your reputation is well-established, your connections are strong, and you are family, so you should at least be given some consideration. While you may not escape the consequences, a lighter punishment could be possible."

After bidding farewell to the young people, Li Tingxuan rolled up the car window. "Old Zhang, Uncle Liu..."

Who would have thought that such a monstrous creature would emerge

However, no one expected that when Liu Wei was not yet four years old and still in the picture book stage, Liu Xiuhui would take him away from home and return to the army herself

You... are you really going to uphold justice at the expense of family ties

Certainly, this is the term used in Sichuan dialect

In Sichuan dialect, the term "Second Uncle" is referred to as "Second Father." In certain regions, siblings of the father are addressed according to their age as "Several Fathers."

You go find a person

My Liu family has been loyal and virtuous for three generations, without such a wretched offspring as him

Upon seeing Liu Laohan lose his temper, Liu Tian dared not say much and quickly quickened his pace to catch up to the front

It was at this moment that Old Liu realized his grandson was not dead, but had been sent to K1 by his son

Three generations of a family, each one loyal and virtuous

"Little Wei debuted early and lacked discipline from a young age; as his great-uncle, I bear some responsibility as well." The old man sighed deeply, fully engaging in the emotional drama. "The deed has been done, and there is a saying about it; it serves as a lesson. As elders, we cannot just stand by and watch our own flesh and blood being sent to the guillotine."

Old Liu picked up his pipe again, lit it, and began to puff away, the frequency much faster than at the beginning

What did he say

The elderly person lived a lifetime, and what they valued most was their dignity

To think that my grandson, whom I haven't seen for fifteen years, has actually caused a tremendous disaster outside

This kid, scared of me since childhood, doesn't even dare to call me. What did he say to you?" Old Liu said as he walked out of the ancestral hall

Uncle Zhang and Uncle Li, feel free to come by often

Father-in-law

Liu Wei's father, Liu Laohan's youngest son Liu Xiuhui, is also a man of great stature. At the age of five, he was sent to a youth military camp, and at sixteen, he officially enlisted to serve the country. However, more than twenty years ago, after participating in that border war, his temperament changed drastically, and he became exceptionally violent.

Old Liu has four sons, and his four brothers have seven sons, making a total of eleven male descendants in the second generation. Except for the two with poorer health who did not enlist, the other nine are all military personnel, including four generals and four colonels. If Liu Xiuhui had not died, he would have at least achieved the rank of colonel.

There is another way, the opportunity is split in half

Father-in-law, you go back to have your meal. I will quickly call Second Uncle to avoid prolonged uncertainties.

He didn't say much, just inquired about your attitude

What more can be said? It is all about Little Wei.

It is like fifteen cuts made on his heart, each deeper than the last, each more painful than the one before

Lao Liu trembled a few times all over as he picked up the newly made memorial tablet

"Fine, if you won't save him, I will!" The old man slammed his palm on the table, "Although the youngest does not share my surname Zhang, I have always regarded him as my own son. Xiao Wei is the only blood relative of the youngest, and even if it costs me my life, I will rescue him, as a way to give the youngest an explanation"

Due to the age difference, Liu Tian recognizes Liu Laohan's eldest son, Liu Xiuqian, as his father, referring to Liu Laohan as "father-in-law"

At this moment, inside the Liu family ancestral hall

Seeing Liu Laohan's cold and aloof demeanor, the old man trembled with anger. "Liu Jinsheng, have you become senile? My brother has blood on his hands, with hundreds of lives lost; can this really sever the bond between grandfather and grandson?"

Those six fellows were traitors, and they all deserved their fate. The number of traitors we eliminated is not less than eighty, if not a hundred.

Is the hope great

If it were not for his father's presence, Liu Xiuxun would have returned to the capital for a promotion two years ago

Upon thinking of this, Old Man Liu could not help but let out a long sigh

Li Tingxuan immediately furrowed his brows

"For now, we can only drag it out, one day at a time," the old man sighed. "With my abilities, I can at most guarantee a thirty percent chance. Looking at how Uncle Liu is acting, he definitely won't take the initiative, which won't be very effective."

Old Liu once suspected whether the murderer, who spared no one, including the elderly, the weak, women, and children, was a descendant of the Liu family