Chapter 51 Dai Sihuai
"Mom, my son is back late. Please open your eyes and look at him!"
Amidst the heart-wrenching cries, Dai Sihuai, who had just rushed back from the United States, hugged Qi Xiu's portrait and sobbed. Qi Xi, the biological aunt standing next to Sihuai, also covered her face with silk and cried with her.
"Mom, mom, I'm Si Huai." Dai Jiliang slowly walked into the small building with sad cries. Although he was the supreme commander of the 500,000 Northwest Army and was used to seeing the separation of life and death on the battlefield, he also found it difficult to endure the heart-wrenching pain when it came to him. After a long time, Dai Jiliang woke up from his past memories and touched his son who was hugging his legs and sobbing silently, and patted Qi Xi who was looking at him with worried eyes, and ordered: "Come, help the third wife down to rest."
The maids who had been waiting outside quickly helped Qi Xi out. Dai Jiliang then said to Dai Sihuai, "Get up. I don't think your mother would want to see you like this."
Dai Sihuai nodded with tears in his eyes, stood up and went out to wash himself. Dai Jiliang sat alone in front of Qi Xiu's portrait and waited. It was unknown how long it had passed before Dai Sihuai, with slightly swollen eyes, stood in front of Dai Jiliang again. Looking at his son who had come out of grief, Dai Jiliang waved his hand: "Sit down and tell me about your situation in the United States first."
In fact, Dai Jiliang knew Dai Sihuai 's situation in the United States very well through Gu Changqing.
When Dai Sihuai first arrived in the United States, he looked like a lazy and dissolute young man. He didn't study hard and changed two universities before he could barely graduate.
For this reason, Gu Changqing was determined to control his pocket money to 10 US dollars a month. This amount of money was only slightly better than that of the poorest people in the United States, and was not enough for Dai Sihuai. As a result, he lost all his money for a meal.
When Dai Sihuai asked for it again, Gu Changqing refused to give it to him. Not only that, he also cancelled his part-time job in the Gu company on the grounds that he was not working hard, leaving him to fend for himself.
At first, Dai Sihuai wanted to borrow money in the name of Dai Jiliang's son, but Gu Changqing had explained to some influential Chinese Americans and overseas Chinese that Dai Sihuai was only a distant relative of Dai Jiliang and not his son at all, and asked them not to be fooled.
Gu Changqing is worth tens of millions of US dollars and is definitely a privileged person among Chinese Americans. When he speaks, others have to give him face even if they find it strange.
As a result, Dai Sihuai was forced to sell all the valuables he had and work as a helper on a construction site to make a living. Racial discrimination in the United States was severe, and Dai Sihuai suffered a lot during the year he worked there, which completely wore away his arrogance.
It was then that Gu Changqing called Dai Sihuai back and arranged for him to enter the company under the Gu family name and start from the bottom . He gradually became the current mid-level employee and learned a lot.
However, these experiences were kept secret from Qi Xiu, and even the letters were forged by people sent by Dai Jiliang.
After listening to Dai Sihuai's story, Dai Jiliang held his son's hand in his palm and said, "As the old saying goes, only those who have endured hardships can become successful people. Your uncle is doing this for your own good. Don't blame him."
"Don't worry, father. I understand. In fact, I am very grateful to Uncle Gu. If it weren't for this year's training, I don't know what I would become in the future. Maybe I would have lost all my millions of dollars in one day."
"I'm glad you understand."
Dai Sihuai's statement made Dai Jiliang very satisfied. Of course, he understood what it meant to be hard to change one's nature. He still had to wait and see whether Dai Sihuai really did not bear grudges and whether he would return to his old ways in the future.
"Then father will talk to you about two things. The first is your marriage, which your mother was always concerned about when she was alive.
You are not young anymore, and it is time for you to get married. If there is someone you like in the United States, whether he or she is of Chinese descent or not, you can bring him or her home to take a look, and if it is possible, then make a decision.
But if you don’t find anyone you like in the United States, I can help you arrange a few blind dates. You can tell me what type you like, and I can arrange it for you to meet by chance or by coincidence.”
Dai Sihuai was stunned: "Father, my mother's anniversary has not yet passed, and I am still in mourning. Isn't it inappropriate to talk about marriage now? Let's wait until the three years of mourning are over."
However, Dai Jiliang shook his head and said, "Your mother was desperate for a son and a grandson. Every time she saw Xinye, she complained that I took too long to send you to the United States. So I think fulfilling your mother's greatest wish is the true filial piety, which is far more important than the so-called three-year mourning period."
"Since my father said so."
Dai Sihuai was stunned for a moment before making this statement.
"Just obey my orders, son."
"Don't say that. After all, marriage is your business. A forced marriage is not a happy one."
Dai Jiliang smiled bitterly.
"As a father, I have set a bad example. I hope you don't follow my example. But it doesn't matter if you follow my example. As long as you are happy and your family is harmonious, that's all that matters."
In fact, although there was no monogamous marriage law at that time, the monogamous system had many supporters and practitioners among the upper class and intellectuals . Even those who had wives and concubines were not as unscrupulous as Dai Jiliang. However, apart from his shortcoming of lust, Dai Jiliang was basically like a saint. He also held a high position and became one of the highest leaders of the anti-Japanese war. Naturally, no one would slander him wantonly.
However, the eldest son Dai Jiliu did not quite agree with this attitude towards life, so Dai Jiliang did not know whether his second son was influenced by him.
"Father, I converted to Christianity in America."
Dai Sihuai briefly introduced that although Gu Changqing was ordered to take care of him, he would not send someone to look after him 24 hours a day. Therefore, there were many things that Gu Changqing did not know, and Dai Jiliang naturally did not know even more.
"The church only allows monogamy, and the couple must be religious."
Dai Jiliang understood that Dai Sihuai was obviously influenced by a woman with a strong aura, but this was not important. What was important was what he had just said, that as long as his son felt good about it, it was fine.
"Actually, when I was working on the construction site, I met an American girl. Her father was my co-worker and had taken care of me before." Dai Sihuai's voice became lower and lower. After all, he had a college education and was the son of Dai Jiliang, one of China's leaders. Yet, he fell in love with the daughter of an American lower-class worker. If this got out, it would basically be a scandal.
“It is true that a drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring of water.”
Dai Jiliang did not deny him.
"It's just that repaying a favor is one thing, and feelings are another. Are you sure you like that American girl?"
Dai Sihuai straightened his chest and said, "Yes, I like Zhu Lina, and Zhu Lina loves me too, but her father may not agree."
"That's easy. Just give me the money. If ten thousand yuan doesn't work, then one hundred thousand yuan. If one hundred thousand yuan doesn't work, then one million yuan. As long as you like it, your father will help you decide."
Dai Jiliang is also an unscrupulous person, and there is nothing in this world that can really make him afraid.
"Wait a minute, send a telegram to your uncle and ask him to send the girl to China so I can see her."
"yes."
Dai Sihuai responded, then spoke hesitantly.
"Father, Zhu Lina is only 14 years old. Is it really okay for her to get married now?"
14 years old? Then wouldn't it be only a few years ago? It seems that my son has been influenced by me to some extent and has started to cultivate Loli since he was a child.
However, despite his complaints, Dai Jiliang still gave Dai Sihuai a positive answer, which made Dai Sihuai, who was in love, forget his sadness and smile.
"Don't be in a hurry to telegraph your uncle. I have something else to tell you."
Dai Jiliang called out to his son who was about to leave.
"I want to know whether you are going to return to China or stay in the United States. Just like your recent marriage, you don't have to force yourself. I didn't expect you to be the one who inherited your legacy."
Dai Jiliang's words were more or less provocative, but Dai Sihuai fell into deep thought: "Father, I have just begun to truly learn how to do business. I really don't know what I can do after returning to China. Now it is the time for the whole nation to fight against the Japanese. If I were asked to come back to be an official, I would feel constrained. If I were asked to come back to do business, I am afraid it would affect your reputation, father. So I think it is better to return to the United States."
"There is some truth in what you said."
Dai Jiliang narrowed his eyes, thought for a moment, and nodded.
"Then go back and learn from your uncle. Although your uncle's property will be passed on to your family, your father's foundation is definitely much stronger than your uncle's. You will be in charge of everything in the future, so don't be complacent or slack off."
"Thank you, father."
Dai Sihuai was encouraged by the important task entrusted by Dai Jiliang. He had always been compared with Dai Jiliu and naturally felt that he was always inferior to his elder brother. But now that Dai Jiliang had decided to leave the army to Dai Jiliu and the wealth to himself, he felt heavy in his heart for a moment.
"My son will try his best to meet your requirements."
"That's good. You just came back and you must have been exhausted on the journey."
Dai Jiliang waved his hand.
"You still have to visit your mother's grave tomorrow, so go and rest first."
Dai Sihuai retreated in response, and soon Dai Jiliang was the only one left in the room.
"In the blink of an eye, it has been more than 50 years since I came to this moment. My children have grown up one by one. Time really flies."
Dai Jiliang sighed quietly.
"Time really doesn't wait for us."
Dai Jiliang still had to face two huge mountains, the Japanese and the Chiang Kai-shek clique. He had to move them away and become the supreme ruler of China, thus correcting China's future destiny. This arduous task made Dai Jiliang sigh that Feng Tang was getting old and his youth was gone.
"Your Excellency."
At this time, a call came from outside the door. Dai Jiliang opened the door and saw that it was a servant on duty.
"Your Excellency, I have just received information from the Intelligence Office that the Japanese 11th Army is invading Changsha."
The First Battle of Changsha? Dai Jiliang took the document, scanned it quickly, signed it, and returned it to the attendant.
After the attendants left, Dai Jiliang suddenly laughed: "It seems that I am not qualified to say that I am old now. I want to rest. There are things to do so that I won't be entangled in the passage of time."
