Ma Liu started pausing for breath again, making Hou Diankui roll his eyes in frustration. "Liu Zi, can you hurry up? I'm about to die of impatience! Oh, I said, what do you want to do? Just say it—"
The people sitting nearby couldn't help but chuckle, looking at Ma Liu and Hou Diankui with amusement.
Ma Liu sat down next to Hou Diankui in a very obsequious manner, putting his hand on Hou Diankui's shoulder.
He said earnestly, "Old Hou, although we're not old acquaintances, we've known each other for quite a while now. You're really stingy. When you have free time, why don't you get us some good luck charms or something? That would be so much better."
We'll be keeping each other company for a long time to come. You know, it must be tough for an old man like you, all alone in your own little house. Don't you think that makes sense?
Hou Diankui clasped his hands in a fist salute to Ma Liuyi and said, "Brother, if you wanted this, you should have said so earlier. No problem, no problem. Just tell me quickly, and I'll send it over to you as soon as I've got it ready."
"You old rascal, you were up to something! You should have said so earlier. Who knew you'd be interested in this stuff?"
Ma Liu proudly raised his chin at Gu Hanting and Qiao Jie.
"Look, Lao Hou is a good friend, he's my brother."
However, I have to start from the beginning of this story.
This Tong family, supposedly, isn't very well-known in the martial arts world. I heard from that person that the Tong family has always been quite mysterious, and nobody knows their background.
I heard that the ancestors of the Tong family left a message: the Tong family members are not allowed to get involved with people in the martial arts world, and they must not compete for fame and fortune. Moreover, this skill is passed down to men but not women, and is passed down from family to family.
Everything was fine before, since there were sons in the family. But when I heard about this, it seemed that the Tong family had no sons, not counting the branches. The direct descendants had no successor, and the family only had two daughters.
What to do? I heard that the old man disregarded the objections of other branches and chose a clever and quick-witted grandson to pass on the teachings. This, in itself, isn't a big deal, but the key point is that, despite the objections from others, this branch is the one that has learned the most authentic teachings.
Jiang Qiao pressed further, "And then what happened? Since they've passed on the legacy to their grandson, and they're willing, it's none of anyone else's business, right?"
Ma Liu smiled and shook his head, then sighed, "We people are taking it in stride. It's such a pity that this thing has been lost. It doesn't matter who it's passed on to. Besides, even a grandson is still a grandson."
However, the other branches of the Tong family were not happy about it. But that wasn't the key issue. It was said that the sickly grandson of the Tong family patriarch had taken a fancy to a woman and insisted on marrying her. The problem was that the woman was the fiancée of the patriarch's grandson.
Then trouble arose. The main family disagreed, but they couldn't overcome the power of the other family patriarch. Because he didn't pass on the marriage to members of the same clan, he sided with outsiders. So, in this conflict, the main family suffered losses. The old man didn't know what happened, but he died, and his grandson's fiancée was taken away.
Hou Diankui pressed on, "And then what happened? Did that man really let the clan chief's grandson steal his wife?"
Ma Liu took a sip of tea, then sighed, "The Tong family has always lived an honest life in the local area. The families their two daughters married into are ordinary people. How could they possibly have the ability to contend with the clan leader's faction, who has the numbers and power?"
I heard he tried to fight back, but he couldn't beat so many people. Not only was his wife taken from him, but he also got injured.
However, on the night of the wedding, I heard that the sickly grandson suddenly died. The reason was not said, and I did not ask, since it had nothing to do with me.
However, he did mention that the new bride later became pregnant, and it couldn't be hidden anymore. Her relatives found out, and the woman refused to reveal who the father of the child was.
I heard that they originally intended to kill the woman, but somehow an official intervened and she survived.
Later, the child was born, but the woman died in childbirth, and the child's whereabouts became unknown.
The man said that the child had actually been secretly sent away by the woman's maid, but no one knew who the child had been given to.
The person who told me this story actually worked under that official back then. The person who pleaded with the official was the master's grandson. Later, that grandson also disappeared; he probably went to look for that child.
Hou Diankui's eyes were already blurry with tears. "Can you tell me what the master's grandson's name is, and what his surname is?"
Ma Liu recalled for a moment, "It seems to be Du, what was his name again—"
"Is his name Du Zicong?"
Ma Liu nodded. "That seems to be the name. How did you know?"
When everyone looked at Hou Diankui again, the old man was already in tears. Only now did he learn about his master's identity and his own background.
Although his master hadn't explicitly told him, he had subtly hinted at it in his words and actions, but he was too dull to grasp the key point.
Now, looking back on what his master said back then, every single word had been a reminder to him.
Hou Diankui held Ma Liu tightly, choking back tears, unable to speak. "Liu Zi, thank you, thank you—"
Others may not know, but Jiang Qiao understands. Hou Diankui once told her that his master treated him better than his own son. Now that she thinks about it, he really is his own son. However, the child already has memories. If she says too much, the child might not understand. It's better to let things be and raise the child properly.
Jiang Qiao sighed, "Master Hou, don't be sad. Although it's a bit late to know, knowing is always better than not knowing, right?"
Besides, the reason your father didn't tell you these things is probably because he didn't want you to bear so much burden. He probably just wants you to live happily; nothing else matters.
Hou Diankui wiped away his tears and said, "I was wondering why I couldn't figure out my fate. It's because I'm my father's bloodline."
Not only Jiang Qiao, but everyone else was stunned. "What do you mean?"
Hou Diankui sighed, "Because I have Tong family blood, I can't be considered myself."
Ma Liu's jaw dropped. "There's such a thing?"
Hou Diankui nodded. "Anyway, my master said this when he taught me. However, I didn't think much about it at the time. If you don't tell me this today, how will I know about my background?"
Chunming stood up. "Master, what are you planning to do?"
Hou Diankui snorted coldly, "What you owe me, I'm going to get back."
Ma Liu looked at Hou Diankui with some difficulty, "Old Hou, it's not that we don't support you, but these days it's not like before where you could do whatever you wanted. How are you going to get revenge? Let me tell you, throwing yourself into it is the most foolish way to take revenge."
Hou Diankui patted Ma Liu on the shoulder and said, "Liu Zi, don't worry. Don't you know what I'm good for? I know what I'm doing. You guys know it yourselves, so don't tell anyone else."
Everyone else unanimously assured that they hadn't heard what they were saying. Hou Diankui looked at Jiang Qiao and the others with amusement.
"Old Gu, I've figured it out now. Your family has produced some really shrewd people."
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