Chapter 72 Xiao Family
The Xiao family of E County is a family that has always lived in a small county town, but upon closer examination, their family tree can be traced back to eight hundred years ago, and they have been a prominent family for more than seven hundred years.
During these seven hundred years, dynasties changed, storms rose and fell, and the Tang Kingdom declined and rose several times, but the Xiao family, which was not prosperous, remained standing. Whenever they encountered a crisis, a genius with extraordinary wisdom would appear in the Xiao family to lead the family through the storm.
The Xiao family of E County is not well-known and there are few records of them in history books, but many outstanding talents who emerged from this family have left a mark in history. Some of them are famous ministers and generals, some are wealthy businessmen, some are favorite concubines in the harem, some are the reincarnation of Hua Tuo, and there were even people who took advantage of the troubled times to rebel and proclaimed themselves emperors, but they were assassinated by their subordinates before they could unify the country.
However, no matter how high-spirited these Xiao family members were outside, the Xiao family itself was always low-key. Even at that time, many people did not know that these people came from the Xiao family. What the Xiao family was most proud of was not these children who left their names in history, but the Xiao family library - before the world entered the era of information explosion, it was once the place with the richest collection of books in the world. Every generation of Xiao family members was committed to collecting all kinds of books, no matter how profound or vulgar, no matter how unorthodox and absurd the books were, as long as the Xiao family found them, they would collect a copy in the library. After the grinding and torment of the times, many books eventually became extremely expensive and rare single copies, and there were many worth millions or even tens of millions. There are also some books that are too precious to be valued, and can only be called priceless treasures.
More than a hundred years ago, Tang Country had suffered a disaster that nearly wiped out the country. The invaders burned, killed, looted, and committed all kinds of evil in Tang Country, and the small E County was not spared. In order to protect the library, the Xiao family members died in the battle, and in the end, only three or four masters and servants survived. Among the direct descendants of the Xiao family, only one girl, named Xiao Qingcheng, remained.
It is said that Xiao Qingcheng was young at the time, but she was very decisive. She spent all the family wealth of the Xiao family for hundreds of years to support the army of the Tang Kingdom. She also used the connections and information accumulated by the Xiao family in the past to travel back and forth to purchase a large number of urgently needed materials, such as medicines, salt, gunpowder, steel, firearms, etc., and made an indelible contribution to the victory of the war. Because many books were destroyed in the war, she had countless books in the Xiao family library copied and printed, and then selflessly opened them to anyone who wanted to read. This girl also grew up rapidly in the process, decisive, resolute, brave, intelligent, and very beautiful.
When Xiao Qingcheng came of age, there were countless people who came to her house to ask for marriage. But she declined all the suitors and chose to marry the son of the housekeeper who had been with her since childhood. The two of them had a deep understanding of each other and supported and trusted each other, leaving behind many beautiful legends at the time. A famous movie in modern times was created based on the two of them.
But just one month before the victory of the war, Xiao Qingcheng was assassinated by a spy from the enemy country, leaving behind only a baby daughter. Her husband rejected all the favorable treatment and positions offered by the Tang government and returned to the Xiao family's old house with his daughter. The chairman of the Tang government respected their wish to live a peaceful life and did not mention the names of the couple in all newspapers, magazines and news documents. Gradually, Xiao Qingcheng's story really became a legend, and the impression they left in people's minds was also diluted until no one mentioned it.
Xiao Qingcheng's daughter was not as free and easy as her mother, and her life was not turbulent. If Xiao Qingcheng was like fire, then she was like a pool of water. She grew up quietly, married a son quietly, and died quietly. She lived a secluded life all her life. Except for a few old friends of her mother, she rarely saw other people.
Her son and grandson seemed to have inherited her gentleness and calmness, and they kept a low profile as if they didn't exist. But under the surface of low profile, they didn't really do nothing.
A lean camel is bigger than a horse. The Xiao family has accumulated countless wealth over hundreds of years. Although most of it was spent when Xiao Qingcheng funded the war, the remaining half is still very considerable. They used the money to buy land, mountains, islands, invest in real estate development, and participate in angel investment. The Xiao family did not do business themselves, but quietly accumulated astronomical wealth. Most of the money earned was invested in public welfare, such as many orphanages, nursing homes, affordable hospitals, etc. established around the world. Therefore, although the Xiao family is not well-known among ordinary people, it has a good reputation among the upper class, and can get the greatest degree of inclination and care from the government in many aspects.
Xiao Xiao is the fourth-generation descendant of Xiao Qingcheng and the next generation heir of the Xiao family.
…
"It's a huge company... and it has the support of state agencies." Rong Yuan muttered to himself, "Did they have anything to do with the incident back then? The people who erased and tampered with all the surveillance videos of those days might be the Xiao family... But if they are sure that the Merit Book is in my hands, why haven't they taken any action? What do these people want?"
Pea had puffy cheeks. He sat there without saying a word. He even deliberately raised his little arms with an expression: (*￣︿￣).
Rong Yuan took a look at it and asked in surprise: "What's wrong?"
"I'm expressing my anger!" said Pea righteously.
"Angry?" Rong Yuan poked Wandou's puffy cheek and asked, "What are you angry about?"
Pea swayed his upper body back, and then pushed Rong Yuan's fingers away with a serious face, and said with wide eyes: "I think Xiao's development strategy is the most suitable and perfect development route for the "Book of Merit" contractors. When I think of the tense situation between you, Rong Yuan, and the government agencies... I think I have not fulfilled my obligations as a weapon spirit, and I feel very sad! I beat my chest and stamped my feet!"
In order to express the intensity of its emotions, it rarely used several idioms in a row, and it didn't matter whether they were used correctly or not.
Rong Yuan laughed, patted its head and said, "Little guy, everything now is my own choice, what does it have to do with you? Not to mention that you can't stop me, even if you want to stop me, would I not do it? Also, the perfect route for others may not be perfect for me. If you had forced me to take a certain route, I would rather destroy the Merit Book first."
It is also possible that he would abandon the spirit of the weapon first - but Rong Yuan did not say this out loud.
Pea touched his head with both hands and looked at him blankly.
…
"Warm congratulations to Rong Yuan from City A No. 1 Middle School for winning the first place in the National Mathematics Competition!"
"Warm congratulations to Rong Yuan from City A No. 1 Middle School for winning the first place in the National Physics Competition!"
"Warm congratulations to Rong Yuan from City A No. 1 Middle School for winning the first place in the National Chemistry Competition!"
"Historic record! Rong Yuan from City A No. 1 Middle School won first place in the three-subject finals!"
On Monday morning, before Rong Yuan arrived at school, he saw red banners hanging everywhere on the road, all with his name on them. The slogans on them were different. Some said he won the championship, and some said he won the first prize. The same meaning was repeated over and over again by the school with various words to embellish and promote, which was comparable to brainwashing marketing. I believe that under this information bombardment, after today, there will probably be no one in City A who doesn't know the name Rong Yuan.
"Really? First in three subjects? So awesome?" Rong Yuan was asked this question whenever he met an acquaintance.
Rong Yuan said: "I don't know yet!" - The organizer of the competition has not notified him yet.
The person asking the question usually responds like this: "Really, Rong Yuan, are you from Earth? You're not from Mars, are you?"
Some people even pointed at him and introduced him to the people around them: "Look, he is the non-human!"
Some people say that when the gap between people is small, they will be envied by those who lag behind; when the gap is too big, they will only be admired by the other party; and when the gap is as big as Rong Yuan, people's first thought is - is this an urban legend? Hahaha, I must not be awake yet.
Zhou Jing had the third reaction.
When Rong Yuan entered the classroom, he bumped into her. Zhou Jing slipped and floated past Rong Yuan, pretending that she didn't see this person at all.
Rong Yuan watched her leave curiously, returned to his seat, and met Jin Yang's smiling eyes.
"Congratulations!" These two simple words, sincere and genuine, are completely different from the sour, envious and jealous tone of others.
Rong Yuan raised his eyebrows and was about to speak, but Jin Yang said again: "I know what you are going to say - it's a matter of course, there's no need to congratulate, right?"
This time Rong Yuan really laughed.
…
"Yes, I've confirmed it with them... Well, not only the gold medal, but he got first place in the total score among all the contestants... Yes, in all three subjects... I, I don't know how he did it, but... Yes, yes, I'll arrange it right away. When are you free... Yes, I got it. Don't worry, I..."
Before he could finish his words, the other party had already hung up the phone. Rong Lixin was stunned for a moment, then hung up the phone fiercely, picked up the teacup and gulped down a big gulp.
He tugged at his tie and loosened his neck. The humility and flattery on his face disappeared, replaced by a look of disgust and contempt. He opened the phone book , and even the way he stared at the phone number had a condescending look.
