Chapter 1018 — The Kang Family's Attitude Toward the Xiao Family
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Oh? Not bad!" On hearing Kang Jinglong's words, Divine Doctor Kang could not help but laugh aloud. "Hahaha! Zhaolong speaks the truth. The Xiao family has fallen on hard times, and we must make certain they fall even harder! Only once they have fallen further still will we have our chance! Good! Good! Good! A truly excellent idea!"
"Grandfather flatters me!" Kang Jinglong smiled faintly and replied with modesty.
Kang Cuipu knitted his brows. What sort of sense was there in his words? If Kang Jinglong had not been gracious enough to save him face by saying so on purpose, he himself knew full well that his words were pure nonsense. Still, his mind was not on such matters, and he had no gift for strategy in any case.
"What about Zhaoming? Tell us, what should be done?" Divine Doctor Kang turned his gaze to Kang Jingming.
"Grandfather, in truth, what Elder Brother said has some reason to it, but I do not think it is entirely so." Kang Jingming felt that since the old man had lost face, it fell to the son to win it back for him; and he also wished to make a good impression on his grandfather. That was why he had racked his brains for a long while before venturing to say these words.
"Oh? Tell us, then, how is it not entirely so?" Divine Doctor Kang still set considerable store by Kang Jingming's words. For all that Kang Jingming was a profligate wastrel, he was still far better than his father, Kang Cuipu.
"Grandfather, as the saying goes, even a salted fish has its day to turn over!" Kang Jingming said. "The Xiao family may have fallen on hard times now, but they are a great clan after all, and they command connections beyond anything we know. If they truly were to rise again, who can say how things might go?"
"Rise again?" Divine Doctor Kang shook his head. In his view, how could the Xiao family possibly rise again? Their house broken and their people scattered was more like it. Yet Kang Jingming had lately won many merits for the family, so Divine Doctor Kang could hardly rebuke him. He merely went on to ask, "Then in your view, what should be done?"
"I think the marriage alliance with the Xiao family cannot be broken, but it should not be with Elder Brother!" Here Kang Jingming gave a somewhat embarrassed cackle. "Elder Brother's betrothal could be shifted onto me! I shall reluctantly take that pretty girl of the Xiao family off their hands. After all, I am the wastrel of the Kang family. If the Xiao family falls, I simply kick her out, and it makes no difference to us, because I am a profligate son who does nothing but play with women, and if I cast her off, no one can say a word against us. But Elder Brother could never do such a thing! And if they do not fall, then we still keep the connection!"
Divine Doctor Kang listened to Kang Jingming's words and fell into thought. But Kang Jinglong only laughed heartily and, looking at Kang Jingming, said, "Little Brother, have you taken a fancy to Wang Xinyan? There are pretty girls everywhere. Be that as it may, she is your elder brother's wife; such thoughts of yours are not good!"
Kang Jingming did indeed harbor selfish motives, so being exposed thus, he flushed at once. Yet he stubbornly argued on, "I am only doing this for the good of the Kang family!"
"Let us do as Zhaolong says." Hearing Kang Jinglong's words, Divine Doctor Kang said no more about Kang Jingming's opinion and merely remarked, "Zhaoming, Zhaolong is right. One who does great things should not care so much about women."
"Yes... Grandfather..." Kang Jingming was somewhat resentful. In truth, that was indeed how he felt; and as for the chance to get Wang Xinyan, though selfish motives were involved, what if the Xiao family were not stripped of their great-clan title after all?