Ning Ge did feel a bit resentful towards the old man, but he had nothing but genuine respect and affection for his older siblings. Hearing what Ning Gang said, he felt somewhat guilty.
"I, I just couldnât stand the sight of him acting all high and mighty, yelling at me," Ning Ge grumbled after a while.
Seeing Ning Geâs submissive attitude, Ning Gangâs tone softened, "The old man just doesnât know how to deal with you, you rascal. Youâre old enough; canât you think for yourself? And to think youâve been educated abroad."
"Whatâs going on? I could hear you lecturing someone from miles away. What unthinkable thing did the fourth sibling do this time?" A female voice came from the doorway.
"Sis," Ning Ge lit up as soon as he saw the woman, calling out to her joyfully.
It was Ning Zhen, seven years his senior, who had studied medicine and became a military doctor in the army. Influenced by the environment, she had a striking and vigorous presence, a very lively woman to behold.
Ning Zhen walked over and playfully punched Ning Ge, laughing, "You little rascal, you finally decided to come back?"
"Youâve been messing around since you returned to the country without doing anything serious. I was about to send out a telegram to find you," another male voice came from the doorway.
Looking over, Ning Ge respectfully called out, "Second brother, second sister-in-law."
"Xiao Ge is back. Youâre not planning on leaving again, are you? Your second brother has been talking about you so much Iâm getting calluses on my ears," Susan, referred to as the second sister-in-law, said with a smile.
Ning Ge scratched his head and smiled sheepishly, "Well, I studied photography, right? And Iâve got a job at a geography magazine, Naturally, I have to travel around, taking pictures of cultures and landscapes and stuff."
"Irresponsible. What kind of photographer is that? Look at that mess of hair. Get it cut into a crew cut and join your elder brother for some military training," Ning Li said with a stern face.
When it came to whom Ning Ge was most wary of in the Ning Family, it wasnât the highest-ranking old master nor the elder brother Ning Gang who had a position in the military district, but this cultivated and genteel Ning Li, known as the "smiling tiger" in the provincial party committee.
"I donât want to go to the military," Ning Ge said.
"So where do you want to go?" Ning Liâs eyes widened, handed his coat to his wife, nodded at Ning Gang and called out, asking, "Whereâs dad?"
"You siblings keep chatting, Iâll go help big sister-in-law in the kitchen." Susan took the coat and went to the kitchen.
"Heâs resting in his room," Ning Gang replied, sitting back down, and looked at Ning Ge, "Youâre right, second brother. Where you donât want to go, what you donât want to doâwhat exactly do you want to do?"
"Xiao Ge, itâs quite nice in the military. There are several pretty girls in my health camp. If you join the military, sis can introduce a couple to you," Ning Zhen said, wrapping her arm around her younger brotherâs shoulders.
"No, I definitely donât want to be shackled by marriage this early. You go ahead and get married first, sis. Xi Rong bro must be getting impatient," Ning Ge chuckled impishly.
"Go on!"
"If you donât follow the familyâs arrangements, donât tell me you still want to be some kind of photographer?" Ning Li narrowed his eyes.
Ning Geâs heart skipped a beat, and without thinking, he blurted out, "Of course not, Iâll do photography and other things too. I want to start a business."
"Start a business?" Ning Gang and the others frowned.
"Yes! Iâm going to start a company, big brother, second brother, youâll support me when the time comes, right?" Ning Ge laughed heartily.
For some reason, he thought of Cheng Su, her jams, and wondered if he started a company and collaborated with her, could they make something great happen?
That way, he could avoid following the familyâs plans and continue his true âcareerâ!