Nan Family Ancestral Hall.
When Nanxi hurried over, Nan Zhenguo was kneeling inside.
The grand ancestral hall, with its carved beams and painted rafters, features a frontal enshrinement of "Heaven, Earth, Emperor, Parents, and Teachers." Below, the Nan family's ancestors are lined up in a solemn and awe-inspiring manner. Directly above the altar is a plaque inscribed with the words "Century-Old Family," written by General Chen Geng in gratitude for the Nan family's generous support of the revolution. To the left, a handwritten inscription by Zhu Xi, the great-grandfather, depicts the family precepts.
The handwriting was already faded, but Nanxi had already memorized every word of it.
"Xixi, come here to burn incense and kowtow to our ancestors." Nan Zhenguo bowed, then stood up and called Nanxi over.
Nanxi walked over obediently, lit the sandalwood, knelt down and kowtowed. Every move he made was respectful and pious.
"Xixi, I was just apologizing to our ancestors. I'm afraid the Nan family's century-old reputation is no longer safe." Nan Zhenguo sighed and sat down on a chair at the side.
"Dad, do you know about the living stake thing?" Nanxi stood up, bowed, walked over and asked.
"Ten years ago, I decided to expand into the Southeast Asian market and went to Myanmar to work on jadeite and build a factory. At that time, almost all of Yuncheng's projects were handed over to your second uncle. Your second uncle has been dead for three years, so this is a headless case in itself.
But the truth of the matter is not important. What is important is that, through this incident, the Nan family's reputation in Yuncheng will be completely destroyed. And when a whale falls, all things will grow. The medical, construction, heavy industry, and new energy projects vacated by the Nan family are enough to create a new group of wealthy people in Yuncheng."
"Are you saying that there is someone else behind this?" Nanxi held onto the armchair and sat on it, her slender fingertips trembling slightly as she suppressed her wildly beating heart.
"Yes, this move is really cruel. It hits the sensitive nerves of the people across the country. No matter how we deal with it, the Nan family will not have an easy time." Nan Zhenguo's face, which still looks elegant, showed a bit of cruelty.
"Dad, do you have any suspicions?"
"Anyone who can be doubted is not an opponent."
Nanxi was silent for a long time after hearing this, then looked up and asked, "Dad, is there any hope for this matter?"
"The incident happened suddenly and has attracted national attention. Besides the driving of piles, the bridge collapse also resulted in hundreds of casualties. How should this be handled? An investigation team has been set up. Although 'Yinglong Road and Bridge' has been deregistered, the Nan family still exists. Regardless, the responsibility will fall on me. I expect someone to summon me soon."
"Dad..." Nanxi couldn't hold it in any longer. No matter how she pretended to be strong, she was just a 19-year-old young bird who had never experienced any hardships. When she heard that her father was going to be arrested, she even lost her backbone.
"Don't cry, Xixi." Nan Zhenguo was as still as a mountain, with no extra expression on his face.
"Brother is separate from the Nan family and will not be implicated. He will take good care of you and Grandpa. Remember, you must be strong, grow up quickly, and protect the Nan family.
Come, recite the family motto written by your great-grandfather to your father again."
Nanxi was so choked up that she couldn't speak, and it took her a long time to stop crying.
"Get up at dawn, sweep the grounds, and keep everything clean inside and out. Go to bed at dusk, lock the doors, and inspect everything personally.
Every meal should be appreciated as it is not easy to come by; every piece of cloth should be appreciated as it is not easily produced.
It is better to prepare before a rainy day than to dig a well when the water is dry.
..."
As Nanxi was reciting the motto, tears began to flow unconsciously. The image of her father taking her to the ancestral hall as a child and forcing her to recite the family motto vaguely overlapped with her current image.
"Louder your voice, Nanxi." Nan Zhenguo sat upright with dignity and seriousness, his eyes flushed red, and the corners of his mouth trembled slightly due to suppressed emotions.
"Although our ancestors are far away, we must offer them sincere sacrifices; although our descendants are ignorant, we must read the scriptures. In life, we must strive to be simple and honest, and in educating children, we must follow the principles of morality..."
Nanxi had never felt that the family precepts she had memorized for more than ten years were as heavy as a mountain as they were now. In the end, the nails on her hands had dug into her flesh.
"Xixi, the Nan family has been able to stand firm through the storms for a hundred years, not because of money or power, nor because of the protection of ancestors, but because of the faith of the Nan family members from generation to generation in their self-improvement and self-discipline.
After Dad passed away, the Shen family will definitely come to propose marriage. Promise them that after you get married, don't feel sorry for yourself because of Dad's affairs. Be respectful. They want the Nan family's century-old education and inheritance to change the family. If they want to increase the huge fortune under your name, they have to support you and keep the Nan family. You just need to wait for the future.
Also, if you have a child, make sure he has the surname Nan, inheriting the family bloodline and beliefs. Just like your father taught you since you were a child, teach him how to be a Nan family member."
Nanxi's nose had turned red. She didn't quite understand for a moment. The bloodline of the Nan family was naturally inherited by her brother's children. Why would her child have the surname Nan?
"I know what you want to say. You are you, and I am my brother. One day you will understand. Although I dote on you, Xixi, you must remember to be independent and strong. Don't rely on me for everything. Maintain a sense of boundaries with me, understand?"
Nanxi nodded in confusion.
At this moment, the cell phone in Nan Zhenguo's pocket rang.
Nanxi was so nervous that her hair stood on end, her breathing became slow, and she stared at her father.
Nan Zhenguo patted her shoulder and pressed the answer button.
"Sir, please come and take a look. The master has fainted in the study..."
#####
When Nanxi and Nan Zhenguo rushed to the hospital, Nan Shixiong had already passed away and they didn't even get to see him for the last time.
Nanxi felt as if her soul had been taken away from her. For a moment, she couldn't even cry. She held her grandfather's body and refused to let anyone get close. She insisted that her grandfather was just asleep and she wanted to sing a lullaby for him.
Nan Zhenguo took a look and waved his hand to let Aunt Ying and Nan Suzhi go out first.
"Xixi is having trouble accepting this for now, let her stay with Grandpa for a while."
After leaving the ward, Nan Zhenguo asked Aunt Ying, "What happened? How could Master suddenly have a myocardial infarction? Didn't he carry his medicine with him? You didn't go in after I left?"
Aunt Ying cried and said, "As soon as you left, the young master went in. Not long after, he ran out and shouted for me to find the medicine quickly because the medicine the master had on him was gone."
Nan Zhenguo raised his eyes and looked at his adopted son who looked guilty.
"Dad, when I went in, Grandpa said he wasn't feeling well. I wanted to help him out, but he told me to find a way to stop you from marrying Luanluan to the Shen family. I said I couldn't do anything, so he started scolding you, getting more and more agitated. I realized something was wrong and looked for medicine on Grandpa's body, but the bottle was empty. I quickly ran out to find Aunt Ying for some spare medicine.
When we gave Grandpa the medicine, his body was still warm and he had a weak pulse. He was sent to the hospital but could not be saved.
Nan Zhenguo's knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists. He was silent for a few breaths. "Suzhi, prepare for Grandpa's funeral. Keep it simple."
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