Chapter Thirty-Two: The Wei Family

In the city of Chongqing, young people prefer to live in townhouses or spacious apartments in the city center, while the elderly tend to favor secluded villas far from the urban sprawl.

In this mountain city, what level of wealth qualifies one as a tycoon? Chongqing is the only municipality directly under the central government in the Southwest. Situated near Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan, it is a place of abundant opportunity; if one is willing to work hard, earning a few million is not a difficult feat.

At the Caixin Wright Mountains villa complex, an eighty-year-old man lives in a detached house. This society hides many invisible billionaires, and the old man is one of them. Though he has never appeared on the Hurun Rich List, his net worth easily exceeds ten billion. While Chongqing has many millionaires, the old man remains low-key; people know of his influence, but few understand the true scale of his business empire.

The villa and its courtyard span about five hundred square meters. The old man has lived here for a decade, enjoying a life far removed from the city's hustle and bustle. His greatest hobby now is reviewing the photographs he took in his youth, one by one, never tiring of the process. These yellowing photos, mounted in exquisite frames, depict mountains, rivers, and landscapes that reveal the many places he has traveled throughout his life. Beyond that, he enjoys inviting old friends over to watch action stars perform feats of daring on the screen in his private cinema, reminiscing about the glorious days of their youth. Every morning, he enjoys walking his birds in the courtyard. He has a particular fondness for parrots—clever creatures that can mimic human speech and provide comfort.

Today, the villa received a guest: an elegant woman with a refined temperament. She wore a pristine white dress, and beside her sat a young man in a black outfit; a stranger might have mistaken them for a couple. The woman had clear, bright eyes and a faint smile on her delicate face as she stared, lost in thought, at the forest park outside the courtyard.

The young man is the old man’s grandson, who has already taken over the family business. The old man holds him in high regard; as his own son has no interest in serious work, the grandson has stepped up to shoulder the burden. Fortunately, he is highly capable and manages the group with exceptional order.

"Qiqi, I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. Grandfather is awake and should be coming out soon."

The young man was not only handsome but also carried an air of distinction. The old man’s surname is Wei, and the young man is Wei Mingyan. His name is derived from Du Fu’s *Two Night Poems*: "The dark trees lean against the cliff, the bright river winds faintly by the fortress."

"Mingyan, I know Wei Grandpa’s routine. It’s fine, don’t disturb him," the beautiful woman called Qiqi replied with a soft smile.

Wei Mingyan nodded and said, "I heard the fund company you work for went public in Shenzhen. Also, you’ve started a charity fund for children in the mountains—do you need my help?"

The woman’s full name is Pei Qi. Her family and the Wei family have been friends for generations. The old man has been in poor health lately, and since Pei Qi happened to be in Chongqing, she took advantage of the Saturday morning to pay him a visit.

Pei Qi thought for a moment and said, "Next month, we are hosting a charity auction gala. If you have the time, Mr. Wei, you are more than welcome to attend."

"As it happens, I have a few fine antiques on hand; I’ll hand them over to you for the auction," Wei Mingyan replied.

The air on the mountain was incredibly fresh, and the warm sun bathed the courtyard. A servant hurried over to inform Wei Mingyan that the old man was heading their way. Pei Qi and Wei Mingyan stood up simultaneously. About three minutes later, the old man appeared. Dressed in a gray casual outfit, he walked into the dining room with a steady gait, unaided by anyone.

Servants brought steamed buns and porridge to the table, the temperature perfectly controlled. As the old man took his seat, Pei Qi smiled lightly and said, "Good morning, Wei Grandpa."

The old man waved his hand, signaling them to sit. He said nothing; everyone was accustomed to his temperament. Not speaking while eating was a basic rule in the Wei household.

Once the old man set down his bowl and chopsticks, Pei Qi and Wei Mingyan accompanied him back. Only then did the old man ask, "Qiqi, how is your grandmother’s health?"

"Grandma is doing very well. She even mentioned wanting to come to Chongqing to see her old friends," Pei Qi replied.

A look of gratification crossed the old man’s face, smoothing the wrinkles on his brow. "Our generation values sentimentality deeply, but as we get older, there are fewer of us left in this world, and chances to meet are rare. It makes me truly happy to know your grandmother still thinks of us."

"Grandfather, when your health improves, I’ll take you out for a stroll or to go fishing," Wei Mingyan suggested.

The old man shook his head. "I don’t want to go anywhere; I just want to stay at home."

"Grandfather, I’ll listen to you," Wei Mingyan said.

The old man suddenly stopped and asked, "Qiqi, has your grandmother ever mentioned anything about you and Mingyan?"

"Wei Grandpa, Grandma hasn't said anything. I’m not sure which matter you are referring to," Pei Qi replied.

"She hasn't? Well, no rush then," the old man said with a smile. He then turned to instruct Wei Mingyan, "Mingyan, make sure to take Qiqi out when you have time. Don't spend every waking hour buried in your work."

"I understand, Grandfather." Wei Mingyan was sharp and immediately grasped the old man’s intent.

In truth, he had always been fond of Pei Qi, but he had remained restrained to avoid causing her any aversion.

The old man waved his hand again, signaling that the two juniors need not follow him. He walked upstairs alone; it was time for him to organize his photos.

"Qiqi, would you be interested in going boating today?" Wei Mingyan asked.

Pei Qi considered this and said, "I’m sorry, I have a meeting with several managers from listed companies shortly."

"Then I’ll see you out," Wei Mingyan said.

He walked Pei Qi to her Mercedes, and only after she had driven away did he return to the villa. His thoughts regarding Pei Qi were complex. His grandfather had always hoped for a marriage alliance with the Pei family, and he himself was very fond of her, yet Pei Qi always kept him at a distance, seemingly lacking enthusiasm.

"It looks like this will be a long-term battle," Wei Mingyan mused to himself.

Just then, a middle-aged man rushed into the villa and found Wei Mingyan. He said in a deep voice, "Young Master, we still haven't found Sun Yufan."

"Still haven't found him? How can a grown man just vanish into thin air?" Wei Mingyan demanded.

The middle-aged man hesitated for a moment before asking, "Should we inform the old master about this?"

"No need. A mere Sun Yufan isn't worth bothering my grandfather over. Although he had some connections with us, the Wei family treated him well. Over the past few years, if the Wei family hadn't backed him, he would have died a dozen times over; he wouldn't have lasted this long," Wei Mingyan stated.

The middle-aged man took a deep breath. "Then, are we just going to let it go?"

"Of course not. Keep investigating. Contact the police and get to the bottom of this. Everyone in the underworld knows Sun Yufan is backed by the Wei family. Whoever dared to touch him clearly doesn't hold the Wei family in high regard. I am very curious to know who this person is," Wei Mingyan said.

"Young Master, I know what to do." The middle-aged man paused, then added, "By the way, that Han Fucheng has been trying to see you. Sun Yufan was working with him to annex Mu Bolin’s company. Now that Sun Yufan has disappeared, he’s like a stray dog, looking to serve us."

"Han Fucheng? A two-faced traitor like him thinks he’s worthy of working with the Wei family? Tell him to get as far away as possible and stop annoying me," Wei Mingyan snapped.

Though the middle-aged man had accepted generous gifts from Han Fucheng, he dared not speak another word. After all, in the current Wei household, Wei Mingyan was the one who held all the power.