Chapter 0568: Grandfather's Worries

Seeing Zhao Fusheng, the old man was very happy. As the saying goes, the youngest son and the eldest grandson are the old man's treasures. For this grandson whom he had watched grow up, Grandpa Zhao truly adored him, especially after hearing from Zhao's parents that Zhao Fusheng had matured and become sensible, able to help the family earn money and handle affairs—he doted on him even more.

"Why are you here? Is living at school not good?" Grandpa looked at Zhao Fusheng and asked.

Zhao Fusheng smiled, looking at the wrinkles on the old man's face. In his heart, he thought of many years later, when the old man, with age spots on his hands, would hold him and urge him to be careful out in the world. For no reason, a pang of sadness struck him.

Many times, we only realize after losing how terribly wrong we were and how naive we thought back then.

"No, I just thought I'd come keep you company." Zhao Fusheng helped Grandpa sit down and said to him, "After my internship ends, I might go to Beijing to develop. Then I'll only be able to come back to Ninghai during holidays."

"Oh, oh, going to Beijing—that's good." The old man laughed. "They say only capable people can enter the capital. In ancient times, it was called going to the capital for the imperial exams. Now that you've graduated from university, it's like going to the capital for the exams."

In the old man's mind, Zhao Fusheng going to Beijing to develop was equivalent to pursuing his ideals. As an elder, of course he had to support it.

"Haha, Grandpa, you're so funny." Zhao Fusheng couldn't help but laugh after hearing Grandpa's words.

"You little rascal, I'm so old that I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice. Let me tell you, Beijing is no ordinary place..."

Perhaps because of his age, the old man always liked to ramble on with his children and grandchildren.

In his previous life, Zhao Fusheng disliked listening to Grandpa's nagging, finding it trivial—all about household matters or gossip among relatives. But now, listening to it felt somewhat warm.

After all, for him, what Grandpa said were memories he had missed in his previous life.

"By the way, Grandpa, what did Aunt decide?" Zhao Fusheng hesitated but still asked the old man.

From yesterday until now, he hadn't received a call from his uncle-in-law. It seemed, as his father had said, that there must have been a dispute between his uncle-in-law and aunt.

Sure enough, the old man sighed and shook his head. "Your aunt disagrees. She thinks the risk is too great."

In fact, not only Aunt Zhao Yuexiang, but even the old man himself was somewhat uneasy about the suggestion Zhao Fusheng had made to Zhang Houde and his wife, feeling it wasn't reliable.

After all, quitting a stable teaching job to start a tutoring school sounded like civil servants resigning to go into business.

It was nothing short of gambling!

In Grandpa Zhao's view, staking the fate of the whole family on the scales of life was undoubtedly a very risky move. For example, if the tutoring school failed, Zhang Houde and Zhao Yuexiang would lose their status and jobs as teachers, suddenly becoming unemployed drifters in society.

Although being a teacher didn't pay well nowadays, it was at least a decent job. Losing that would be a huge loss.

Zhao Fusheng sighed softly. It seemed his father's judgment about his aunt was indeed correct.

Thinking carefully, even he, without his foreknowledge, probably wouldn't dare make such a decision easily. For anyone, when it comes to their future, caution is necessary.

"Since that's the case, forget it." After a long while, Zhao Fusheng said, somewhat disappointed.

Each person has their own aspirations. Since his aunt didn't want to do it, there was nothing he could do. He guessed that by the time they wanted to, it would probably be when they lost their teaching jobs.

Many people only decide to change themselves when life forces them into a corner with no way out.

"What, a little disappointed?"

The old man glanced at his grandson and asked with a smile.

Zhao Fusheng was startled, then didn't hide it from Grandpa. He nodded. "Yeah, to be honest, Grandpa, I've been to Beijing a few times before. Because of work, I encountered many people and things. Looking back at Ninghai, I realized how backward we are here."

"Yes, being backward means being vulnerable to attack." The old man nodded in agreement, then, under Zhao Fusheng's surprised gaze, said, "That's what Chairman Mao said, of course I remember."

He paused, seeming to recall something, and said, "Back then, the political instructor told me that no matter when, as long as the common people have enough to eat and wear, and their lives get better day by day, our sacrifices are worth it."

"The political instructor and the company commander were both graduates of Yenching University. I heard many of their classmates went abroad to study, but they went straight to Yan'an and joined the army."

"Heh, back then the company commander said that whether studying physics or fighting as a soldier, it was all for the betterment of this country. Even if they sacrificed themselves later, someone would take up their baton and keep fighting!"

The old man seemed lost in memories, rambling on about past events—words spoken by his old company commander and political instructor.

Zhao Fusheng listened quietly, but many thoughts crossed his mind. Perhaps this nation and this country could reach where they are today and develop better and better over the next ten or twenty years precisely because there were always people who kept the nation and the country in their hearts.

By the same token, his aunt and uncle-in-law's choice was not wrong in their eyes. Everyone must take responsibility for their own life. Others might offer advice they think is right, but without proof, who can pat their chest and say their choice is definitely correct?

Would Zhao Fusheng dare?

To be honest, he didn't dare either.

If he had that ability, he wouldn't have to live as cautiously as he does now. Foreknowledge, while filling his mind with memories others don't have, also makes Zhao Fusheng realize that, like a tiny butterfly, a casual flap of his wings could trigger an unknown storm in others' destinies.

Just like Wang Zhen, just like Fan Baobao.

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Zhao Fusheng had already made a decision. He helped Grandpa into the house, put away his suitcase, then took out his phone, walked outside, and dialed his father's number...