Chapter 9: The Examination

Xue Wen’s body trembled slightly, tears welling in her eyes as she grasped Xue Ao’s hand. Throughout her life, she had known her father to be a strict man—not only demanding in academics but equally stringent in matters of morality.

So when that incident occurred and she was cast out of the Xue family, Xue Wen bore no resentment toward Xue Ao. Regardless of the circumstances, in the end, it was she who had brought disgrace upon the family name.

Hearing her sobs, Xue Ao frowned. “Stop crying. You’re about to cry all the blessings away!”

“Since you’re already married and have a daughter, you’re no longer a little girl. You must be a wife and a mother now; you can’t be so willful anymore.”

“Lele! Come here, let grandpa hold you!”

A proud figure like Xue Ao would never admit fault or apologize. The greatest concession he could make was to pretend nothing had happened and then, with a gentle air, dismiss past mistakes.

Lele hesitated, glancing between Xue Ao and Xue Wen, unsure of what to do.

Upon hearing Xue Ao’s request, Xue Wen wiped away her tears and smiled, pulling Lele towards him. “Go on, let grandpa hold you!”

Lele leapt into Xue Ao’s arms, sweetly calling him grandpa and pressing her rosy lips to his cheek.

The stern expression on Xue Ao’s face finally softened, a genuine smile breaking through as he laughed heartily.

The meal was filled with warmth and harmony. Remarkably, Xue Ao even made an exception and drank two glasses of wine. Since losing his sight, he had not touched alcohol.

Xue Wen was overjoyed, never expecting that her wayward life might find its way back on track. She looked gratefully at Xiao Ziguang.

Perhaps allowing him to be Lele’s father, her husband, and the son-in-law of Old Master Xue was an acceptable arrangement.

Xue Ao’s fair complexion flushed rosy under the influence of the wine, his taut nerves relaxing a little.

Blind to the world and having once cast his daughter away, Xue Ao had lived in profound loneliness. Now, with his daughter’s return and his granddaughter’s tender affection, his cold heart thawed.

Suddenly, the ever-lonely Xue Ao longed to confide. “Ziguang, I have some new tea in my study this year. Let’s talk.”

“It would be my honor,” Xiao Ziguang replied eagerly, reaching out to steady Xue Ao.

But this “talk” was no casual chat—it was a careful assessment. Different people must be placed in different positions, matched with appropriate resources.

Just as some who don the emperor’s dragon robe scarcely resemble the emperor, much less the crown prince, elevating someone unprepared to a lofty rank by fashioning a grand appearance only harms them.

Before directing resources toward Xiao Ziguang, Xue Ao needed to probe further, gauge his character, and then cultivate him strategically.

Xue Ao’s study was simple: two rows of bookshelves, an austere square table. The shelves were filled with books for the blind; on the table sat a tea set and a radio.

“Ziguang, I hear you transferred from the military and now work in the criminal police?” Xue Ao reached out on the table, deftly boiling water with practiced ease.

“I’m still just an ordinary criminal officer,” Xiao Ziguang said. “But I believe if I work hard, I can achieve results and advance in rank.”

His words sounded cliché, as if spoken without much conviction.

Xue Ao poured the tea and gestured for Xiao Ziguang to drink, then cut to the heart of the matter. “What are your plans for the future? How much money do you want to make, and by what means? How high do you want to climb, and how will you achieve promotion?”

Xiao Ziguang understood the gravity of this conversation—it would determine the resources he could gain. He answered candidly.

“Dad, you can probably tell I’m not a perfect man, but I’m not a bad one either.”

“I have desires and ambitions, vanity too. I want to climb higher, make more money, live well, and earn envy.”

“As for how to achieve this, I’ve thought about it.”

“Criminal police face major cases unlike other branches, so I’ll work hard to improve my case-solving rate and use media publicity to boost my fame, enabling faster promotion.”

“Also, I’ll leverage the Xue family’s connections to open a computer store for Wenwen. I believe the twenty-first century belongs to computers—they will enter every home, indispensable for both entertainment and work.”

“If Wenwen gets in early and uses the family ties, she’ll surely make a fortune.”

“Selling computers is a decent livelihood. I often hear experts on the radio talk about this. I’m glad you thought ahead,” Xue Ao said, though a hint of disappointment crept into his expression.

Though Xiao Ziguang’s ideas were better than many of his peers, they still fell short.

Third-rate companies sell products; second-rate companies sell technology; first-rate companies sell standards.

Xiao Ziguang’s thinking remained stuck at the product-selling level, which left Xue Ao dissatisfied.

Observing Xue Ao’s expression, Xiao Ziguang pondered and grasped his father-in-law’s intentions. He continued.

“Dad, I can’t remain a lowly criminal officer forever. I hope to rise, perhaps become captain of the public security brigade.”

“With technology advancing rapidly, computers will connect in networks. But not everyone can afford a computer, so some will be centralized, like game consoles for public use.”

“How will the state regulate such recreational venues? Besides business licenses, are additional permits required?”

“If I become captain, I’d take charge of this area. Anyone buying computers from Wenwen would need my permit...”

Xue Ao’s previously cold face brightened instantly. Though this was first-rate thinking, the method seemed rather unscrupulous. He couldn’t help but say, “Ziguang, that’s pretty ruthless! Isn’t that just like extortion?”

“Extortion is illegal! My approval certificates follow the legal process. As long as it’s by the book, even if the emperor himself comes, we follow procedure,” Xiao Ziguang replied confidently, feeling more assured. His disdain for privilege was not about privilege itself, but that he was excluded from it.

“How can you be so sure the computer business will boom?”

“Dad, like you, I listen to the news every day. Though I don’t fully grasp national policies, I can roughly guess the country’s direction.”

After this exchange, Xue Ao felt he had glimpsed Xiao Ziguang’s true nature and admired his son-in-law even more. He felt compelled to test him further.

“Ziguang, there’s something I’m undecided about. Since you’re here, why don’t you help me plan?”

“Dad, whatever it is, just say it. I won’t hold back.”

Xue Ao lifted his teacup, sipping gently. “The situation is this: the third branch of the Xue family each manages their own businesses. Our branch has long been in charge of property management in Tianhai City.”

“But recently, the economy has faltered, profits have declined. Your second uncle suggested that our branch shift focus to managing the Yunling County mining operations…”