Gao Wu: A centenarian old man, many children and good fortune! Chapter 022

Following the escort convoy, through layers of fortified areas, Xiao Yan, with Li Xiuying and the innocent Xiao Xiuyun, finally arrived at their new home—a manor located in the core area of the city defense army, surrounded by high walls and lush greenery.

When the massive, intricately carved alloy gate slowly opened, revealing a spacious courtyard, an exquisite fountain, and the distant three-story main building resembling a castle, Li Xiuying, holding her daughter, stared wide-eyed, her mouth slightly agape, completely stunned.

“This…is this…a detached villa?” she murmured, her voice filled with disbelief.

Where was this a villa? This was clearly a luxurious manor, like those she had only seen in virtual images, belonging to the top echelons of the privileged class! Its vast area and magnificent architecture far exceeded her imagination!

Entering the main building, the luxury was even more dazzling. High ceilings, mirror-like marble floors, priceless art displays, and various military-grade smart home and security systems she had never seen before…

The accompanying professional moving team was highly efficient, quickly moving and arranging all their belongings from their previously cramped apartment, sorting them by category. But even so, their somewhat humble possessions looked out of place in this magnificent manor.

“Isn’t this place…a bit too big?” Li Xiuying, holding her daughter, stood in the vast living room, large enough to accommodate a small hovercar, feeling somewhat at a loss, even a sense of unreality and awkwardness. “Just the three of us living here, it feels…empty.”

Moreover, such a large manor would certainly require more than just her to manage, clean, and maintain daily. This meant hiring servants. For Li Xiuying, who came from an ordinary family, this was another significant change she needed to adapt to.

Xiao Yan noticed his wife’s uneasiness and understood. He walked over to her, put his arm around her shoulder, and said gently, “I know you might not be used to it yet. But this is our home now, and you’ll get used to it gradually.”

He paused, then suggested, “I’m a hundred years old this year, and my relatives are long…gone. Now that we have such a big place, why don’t we invite your parents and your younger brother to live with us? It’ll be livelier with more people.”

Hearing her husband’s suggestion, Li Xiuying’s heart warmed, but she still shook her head, a hint of concern on her face. “Mom and Dad are old, and they’re used to living in the old district; they might not want to move. And…my brother is taking the college entrance exam this year. This is a critical moment in his life; he can’t be distracted.”

Xiao Yan smiled, a hint of confidence flashing in his eyes. “You don’t have to worry about the college entrance exam. Since he’s my brother-in-law, I’ll naturally provide him with the best resources. Whether it’s top-tier cultivation techniques, high-energy nutrient solutions, or hiring the best teachers for tutoring, it’s not a problem. I’ll guarantee he gets into the best martial arts university in the Alliance!”

As a general now, he possessed sufficient resources and authority to pave the way for a promising young man, which was effortless for him.

Hearing her husband’s confident words, Li Xiuying was filled with emotion and pride. She knew her husband wasn’t exaggerating; he truly had the ability now. She nodded vigorously, her eyes a little moist. “Okay! Thank you, husband!”

Just as the two were sharing a tender moment, the security system at the manor’s entrance announced a visitor.

It was Zhao Meng.

And he wasn’t alone.

Through the surveillance footage at the gate, Xiao Yan saw Zhao Meng accompanied by two women of different temperaments but both attractive, and…five children of varying ages, all looking lively and active!

Xiao Yan understood and said to Li Xiuying, “It’s Old Zhao. He brought his family. Let’s go greet them.”

Soon, Zhao Meng entered the living room with his two wives and five children.

The two wives had distinct temperaments: one appeared gentle and dignified, while the other seemed more vibrant and lively. Both were exceptionally beautiful and carried themselves gracefully. Among the five children, the eldest looked to be in their teens, and the youngest was still toddling. All of them inherited Zhao Meng’s robust physique, with a hint of heroism in their brows.

“Old Xiao! Sister-in-law!” Zhao Meng greeted them with a hearty laugh. “I brought my family to pay our respects. We’re neighbors now, so we should visit each other often!” His new home was also in this core area, not far from Xiao Yan’s.

“Welcome, welcome!” Xiao Yan said, stepping forward with a smile.

After a round of introductions and pleasantries, Zhao Meng pulled Xiao Yan aside, saying he wanted to “discuss some serious matters” in the study. This was, of course, to give the women space and time to get to know each other.

In the living room, only Li Xiuying, Zhao Meng’s two wives, and a group of children curiously observing their new surroundings remained.

The atmosphere was subtly awkward for a moment.

Li Xiuying, holding Xiao Xiuyun, stood there somewhat at a loss, her cheeks slightly flushed.

She knew that, according to Alliance regulations, to encourage the continuation of strong bloodlines, extraordinary individuals who reached the rank of general were permitted to marry multiple wives under certain conditions. This was not uncommon in the warrior circles, especially among the upper echelons.

But knowing it was one thing; experiencing it firsthand was another.

The two women before her, both wives of a general, addressed each other as sisters and seemed to get along harmoniously. Their attire, their confident and composed demeanor in speech and manner, made her, an ordinary girl who had just “turned from a sparrow into a phoenix,” feel a hint of inferiority and nervousness.

She didn’t know what to say or how to interact with them.

The gentle and dignified-looking wife seemed to sense her discomfort and took the initiative to speak with a smile, breaking the silence: “Mrs. Xiao, please don’t be so reserved. My sister and I will call you Sister Xiuying from now on, okay? You’ve just moved in and must still be unfamiliar with the place. If there’s anything you need help with, just ask. Our families are close, so it’s only right that we look out for each other.”

Her voice was soft and kind, carrying a sisterly warmth that instantly eased much of Li Xiuying’s tension.

The other vibrant and lively wife also smiled and leaned closer, curiously looking at Xiao Xiuyun in Li Xiuying’s arms: “Oh! Is this General Xiao’s daughter? She’s so cute! Her eyes are just like yours, Sister Xiuying! Come, let Auntie hold you, okay?”

As the two wives actively extended their goodwill, the atmosphere gradually became more harmonious. They began to chat about everyday topics, such as children’s education, manor management, and nearby living facilities. Li Xiuying slowly relaxed and began to respond softly. Although still a bit shy, she was no longer as nervous as before.

Watching Zhao Meng’s two wives interact harmoniously, laughing and chatting, and then thinking about her husband’s current status and position, and considering that she was now pregnant and might be unable to… for a long time in the future…

A thought suddenly popped into Li Xiuying’s mind, one that even startled her:

Perhaps… she should also consider this for her husband? Find a gentle and virtuous sister to share the burden… After all, she didn’t want her husband to feel suppressed because of her.

As soon as this thought emerged, Li Xiuying’s cheeks instantly flushed even redder, and her heart inexplicably quickened. She quickly lowered her head, not daring to look at the two composed wives, but her heart rippled as if a stone had been cast into it.

…

In the study, the rich aroma of invigorating tea steamed.

Xiao Yan and Zhao Meng sat opposite each other, their smiles gone, their expressions becoming serious.

“Old Xiao, the follow-up investigation results from the Social Security Bureau are not optimistic,” Zhao Meng spoke first, his voice low. “Luo Wu and Chen Li, those two traitors, all their social connections and past records have been thoroughly scrutinized, but no obvious traces of contact with the Blood Ghost Cult were found. It’s as if they were suddenly converted; the clues stop with them.”

He frowned tightly. “As for the second-rank cadre you killed, his identity still cannot be confirmed. The Blood Ghost Cult operates clandestinely, and information on their high-ranking personnel is highly confidential…” He paused, his tone growing heavier. “In short, tracing their superior through him is a slim hope.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan’s gaze deepened slightly.

He had long anticipated that the Blood Ghost Cult would not easily leave clues, but he hadn’t expected them to be so clean. The depth of this organization’s concealment and the strangeness of its methods indeed exceeded imagination.

“It seems they have big ambitions,” Xiao Yan said slowly. “One attack involved a second-rank cadre and at least two converted first-rank generals; this is no small skirmish.”

“Indeed,” Zhao Meng sighed. “The Security Department and military high command are very concerned. The alert level for Fourth New Nanjing has been raised to the highest. But the enemy is hidden in the dark, and we are in the open, making it hard to defend against.”

They were silent for a moment, both feeling the invisible pressure.

Then, Zhao Meng changed the subject, discussing Xiao Yan’s new appointment.

“By the way, Old Xiao, regarding that special operations unit you’re taking over…” Zhao Meng looked at Xiao Yan, his eyes becoming somewhat meaningful. “I’ve heard some rumors; you should be careful.”

“Oh? How so?” Xiao Yan asked.

Zhao Meng leaned slightly forward, lowering his voice: “That unit of yours was originally intended for that woman, Lin Wei, to lead. She’s the direct descendant of the Lin family, with good talent and strength. The Lin family has been working for quite some time to get her this position.”

“But who would have thought you’d emerge out of nowhere, achieve such great功绩, and be ridiculously strong, directly appointed by Commander Liu to be the captain? That woman, Lin Wei, is very ambitious. Now that she’s your subordinate, how could she not have some thoughts?” Zhao Meng chuckled.

Xiao Yan’s eyebrows raised slightly at this, then returned to normal. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said indifferently, “Just a woman, she can’t stir up much trouble.”

In his view, strength was the foundation of everything. As long as he was strong enough, any small maneuver would be futile. Moreover, as an old man who had lived for over a hundred years, he had experienced far more storms than she could imagine. How could he be easily disturbed by a young woman?

“Hahaha!” Zhao Meng was amused by Xiao Yan’s understated attitude, pointing at him and saying, “Old Xiao, Old Xiao, your temper really hasn’t changed at all! However…” He sobered his smile and said seriously, “That being said, don’t be too careless. Be careful not to stumble in the gutter. Sometimes, women can be more troublesome than men, especially women with connections.”

He tapped the table, reminding him, “This Lin Wei is no ordinary character. She’s the eldest direct descendant of the Lin family in this generation, exceptionally talented. At just over thirty, she’s already at the peak of first-rank extraordinary, ready to break through to second-rank at any time. More importantly, the Lin family!”

Zhao Meng’s tone became serious: “The Lin family is a true local power in our Fourth New Nanjing. From her grandfather’s generation, three generations have held important positions within the city defense army system, deeply entrenched, with protégés and old acquaintances throughout various departments. Her uncle, Lin Tao, is now the deputy commander of the Third Division, and her father is said to hold real power in the logistics department. Although this woman is young, her connections and influence within the city defense army are not to be underestimated.”

“If she openly opposes you, you naturally won’t be afraid. But what if she plays some deceptive tricks, outwardly complying but secretly hindering you? That would be disgusting enough. You’re new here and unfamiliar with the internal situation of the unit and the various rules of the city defense army. It’s easy for her to undermine you or find something to hold against you.”

Xiao Yan listened to Zhao Meng’s analysis, his fingers gently tracing the rim of his teacup, his eyes calm.

He indeed didn’t take a young woman seriously, but Zhao Meng’s reminder was not without reason. An open spear is easy to dodge, but a hidden arrow is hard to guard against. The Lin family’s influence in the city defense army was deeply rooted, and if this Lin Wei truly intended to cause him trouble, it would indeed bring some unnecessary complications.

However…

A subtle curve appeared at the corner of Xiao Yan’s mouth.

Trouble? Xiao Yan, in his life, feared trouble the least.

Moreover, in the face of absolute strength, all conspiracies and schemes would be nothing more than mud and straw.

All he needed to do was to quickly improve his strength, and then… use the simplest, most direct method to make everyone with ill intentions understand one truth:

Whoever has the biggest fist calls the shots.