Chapter 006: The Bond Between Father and Son

“Hmph!” Liu Dahua let out a cold snort. “It’s very simple now! Bring out your family’s heirloom! Let me tell you, Young Master Xiang has his eye on it!”

Zhao Feng frowned, puzzled. “Heirloom? What heirloom?”

Beside him, Zhao Jun’s face darkened, a storm of anger barely contained.

Zhao Feng noticed his father’s expression. Placing a reassuring hand on Zhao Jun’s shoulder, he said, “Dad, don’t worry! Trust me, they can’t take our heirloom!”

With a smile, Zhao Feng added, “But Dad, what heirloom do we actually have?”

Sighing deeply, Zhao Jun looked around at the villagers, at Liu Dahua, and those local thugs. At this point, their family’s secret was already exposed—there was no point in hiding it any longer.

Straightening his clothes, Zhao Jun said, “Xiaofeng, now that things have come to this, I would have told you even if you hadn’t asked. Back when you went missing, I regretted not telling you sooner. Your mother blamed me plenty for that.”

Zhao Feng nodded. “Just say it, Dad. Right here, I declare: no one will take our family’s heirloom from us!”

Liu Dahua sneered from the side.

Zhao Feng shot him a cold glance. “What are you laughing at?”

Liu Dahua shook his head. “I’m laughing at your stubbornness. I’m telling you, there’s nothing Young Master Xiang wants that he doesn’t get.”

“Then let him try,” Zhao Feng replied icily.

He turned back to Zhao Jun, signaling for him to continue.

Zhao Jun had watched every change in Zhao Feng since his return. Seeing his son stand up for him filled his heart with comfort and pride. His child had finally grown up, finally learned to protect his family. Yet, the thought brought a tinge of guilt—after all, Zhao Feng wasn’t even eighteen yet. After the New Year, he’d still just be a boy, a student.

Shaking off these thoughts, Zhao Jun spoke in a low, gentle voice, “Actually, our family’s heirloom is an incense burner, passed down from your great-great-grandfather. When your grandfather passed, he told me to wait until you turned eighteen before telling you. But today’s circumstances force me to reveal it early. I’ve broken my promise.”

Zhao Feng patted his father’s shoulder. “It’s alright, Dad. If Grandpa’s spirit is watching, he’ll understand.”

Zhao Jun nodded, pride lighting his features. “Xiaofeng, you’ve grown up. You stand up for your father now. You’re my pride.”

Zhao Feng scratched his head and offered a bashful smile.

In that moment, he looked every bit his age—seventeen going on eighteen. His smile was bright as sunlight, warm and healing, gentle yet magnetic.

For a moment, Chen Ying and Wang Xiaoyun among the crowd found themselves lost in admiration.

The glow of Zhao Feng’s smile faded quickly, like the wind in March or the rain in June—beautiful, but fleeting.

Zhao Jun patted his son’s shoulder. “Xiaofeng, this incense burner has been in our family for generations. All I know is that it’s old, likely an antique worth a fortune. That’s probably why your classmate Xiang covets it.”

Zhao Feng frowned. “Did Grandpa leave any message about it?”

Zhao Jun thought hard, then shook his head. “No…”

“Oh.” Zhao Feng looked a little disappointed.

“Wait!” Zhao Jun’s expression shifted as if recalling something.

“What is it, Dad?” Zhao Feng’s eyes lit up.

Frowning, Zhao Jun said, “Your grandfather didn’t leave a message, but when I was little, I overheard him and your grandmother talking about something once. I was so young, sleeping in the same bed with them. They thought I was asleep and chatted nearby. I can’t remember exactly what it was, only a vague impression.”

“That’s easy to fix!” Zhao Feng responded confidently.

Zhao Jun blinked in surprise. “Easy? How is it easy?”

With a bright smile, Zhao Feng replied, “Don’t worry, Dad, I’ll help you remember.”

Zhao Jun was stunned, a little incredulous. “Xiaofeng, don’t joke around. If I can’t remember, how are you going to help me recall?”

Carrying himself with calm assurance, Zhao Feng said, “Just trust me, Dad.”

Both Zhao Jun and Chen Lan looked doubtful. Many villagers in the crowd didn’t believe it either.

Lying on the ground, Zhao Xiao burst out laughing.

Mocking, Zhao Xiao said, “Xiaofeng, you were gone a whole year. If nothing else, you sure learned how to brag!”

Zhao Feng only stood silently with his hands behind his back, fixing Zhao Xiao with a quiet, unwavering gaze.

Under that look, Zhao Xiao felt a chill. He shrank his neck and muttered, “I’m just saying…”

Liu Dahua laughed harshly. “So, Zhao Feng, is it? Your whole family is stubborn. You’re stubborn, your father’s stubborn—you’re all the same!”

“What did you say?” Zhao Feng’s brow arched sharply, startling Liu Dahua.

Clutching his handgun for reassurance, Liu Dahua steadied himself. He drew a deep breath. “Fine, go ahead and try. Frankly, your dad was probably still nursing at the time!”

Everyone erupted in laughter at Liu Dahua’s remark.

As the crowd jeered, Zhao Jun’s face flushed red. He took a step forward, drew a deep breath, and declared, “I believe in my son!”

“That’s right, I believe in my son too!” Chen Lan, undaunted, stepped up beside him.

Liu Dahua snorted in disdain.

Zhao Jun patted Zhao Feng’s shoulder. “Xiaofeng, your father believes in you. Just tell me what to do.”

Zhao Feng smiled. “Don’t worry, Dad. I won’t let you down.”

Zhao Jun chuckled. “It should be me telling you not to worry. Even if you can’t help me remember, I won’t blame you. As long as we stand together, let others laugh if they want.”

Zhao Feng nodded firmly. “Yes.”

Many in the crowd envied this father-son bond, though Liu Dahua and his cronies only scoffed.

Zhao Feng glanced around, saying nothing more. From his satchel, he took out a jade pendant.

The onlookers frowned, puzzled.

“What’s he doing with a jade pendant?”

“Yeah, what’s the point of that?”

“Hmph! I say he’s just being stubborn to the end!”

“That’s right! Stubborn as a mule!”

“Haha! This is going to be a show!”

“Exactly! It’s their family that’ll be embarrassed!”

“Serves them right!”

Zhao Jun was also confused. “Xiaofeng, why the jade pendant?”

Zhao Feng replied with a confident smile, “Dad, you’ll see soon enough.”

Scratching his head, Zhao Jun was utterly mystified.

Beside him, Chen Lan grasped his broad hand. “Trust our son.”