Liu Su finished those tasks and then turned to watch Ye Hao play chess with the old man, his gaze gentle as he looked at Ye Hao...
Ye Hao smiled as he moved the pieces, calm and collected, without any worry of being defeated swiftly by the old man at the very start.
At first, it was back-and-forth, and Ye Long secretly scoffed, thinking to himself: These simple games, yet they seem as if they are facing a great enemy. I really don't understand what they are thinking.
The old man's gaze was sharp, and before the pieces were moved, he had already thought out the next five moves. His experience in chess was seasoned, and his skills profound. Even though Ye Hao had the eighth-generation system, capable of predicting the next twenty moves, he still couldn't advance a step forward in a short time.
The old man had lived most of his life, and after retiring, he diligently studied chess night and day. His chess strategy had become unpredictable, as fluid as water, as stable as a mountain, calm with an undercurrent of danger, akin to strategizing a position rather than seeking the swift thrill of defeating an enemy, aiming solely for the victory in the end, steady as Mount Tai, leaving Ye Hao unable to make progress.
"Hehe, young man, calm yourself, achieving clarity beyond five moves isn't that easy. Life is like chess; make no wrong moves, for not every opponent will give you the chance to retract." The old man chuckled, then took a sip of the tea brought over by his dedicated nurse.
"Old man, you're right. I have learned the lesson. Since I can't move swiftly like a rabbit, I'll defend as flawlessly as you. At least this way, I won't be caught off guard by you, old man, and can act opportunistically." Ye Hao smiled as he moved a knight step forward.
This way, although Ye Hao hadn't captured his opponent's pieces, he saw no need to abandon the main board for one wrong move.
"Hehe, young man, you are so young yet can endure what middle-aged men might not be able to; I must say, I admire you. However, as the ancients said, the best defense is a swift attack. Since you're giving me, the old man, a chance, I'll make a big move first." The old man instructed Ye Qingcheng to start the move, flowing like water and indulging.
Ye Hao was also attracted by the old man's style of play, engaging in battle with him...
Ye Hao thought, you may play with the finesse of flowing water, but I can counter every move.
The old man had studied for most of his life and seeing Ye Hao's quick moves, even predicting several moves ahead, had to admire Ye Hao at this moment.
He was able to kill and attack fluidly, but never expected Ye Hao to be even more clean and efficient in this area. Even though every move was countering with him, after each engagement, there was a sense of being calculated in a scheme.
This feeling even made him feel a sense of danger, yet after studying for most of his life, he wouldn't be defeated easily.
"Qingcheng, enter the cart." The old man began to change tactics, planning to use surprise in the endgame to make Ye Hao lose.
"Old man, playing like this isn't stimulating enough, so I'll add a little fire, a fiery general attack." Ye Hao's cart made a threatening move as the old man moved out his cart.
"Hehe, I thought you would block me defensively, but unexpectedly you get stronger when encountering strength. Qingcheng, let the general move around; a lifelong general shall not be provoked." The old man chuckled, instructing Qingcheng.
At this time, Liu Su and several others who understood chess were secretly astounded; that moment was thrilling. If the old man hadn't moved the general, he would have lost in the next three moves, but the old man moved the general within the first three moves, directly pushing Ye Hao's general, making it just a display.
"Old man, your strategic move puts me at a dead end. I retreat a step back for broader horizons, return the cart." Ye Hao smiled moving the cart back, and for the next two moves, he didn't touch the main base, only advancing small soldiers...
"Calm and poised, bending and stretching at will, not easily swayed by sight and sound, nor tempted by fame and fortune; you have the demeanor of a grand master, yet still unable to escape my control. Thirty moves ago, I had set a dangerous trap." The old man contentedly stroked his chin.
"Qingcheng, move the cannon."
"Hehe, old man, when you strike, you wish to place me in adversity. Unfortunately, thirty moves ago, I had solidly prepared to counter your edge, a mere soldier blocking your big cannon, why not?" Ye Hao smiled as he moved a small soldier up.
"Young man, you remain calm in crisis, turning dangerous and missed moves into illusions for me. Unexpectedly, you have laid the necessary precautions; this chess game has reached a stalemate. May I take a rest first?" Though the old man loved playing chess, moving hundreds of pieces in a short time had tired him.
The important thing is that the mind needs to think about too many things.
"Hehe, old man, you've been a renowned general all your life, rest when needed, act when necessary." Ye Hao's words caused confusion among the crowd.
But the old man understood; Ye Hao was enlightening him.
He thought the chess match was deadlocked, but unexpectedly faced a turning point.
"Haha! Good young man, you're skilled, Qingcheng, move the general." The old man laughed heartily, but after laughing, he started coughing.
At this moment, Ye Hao looked towards the dedicated nurse, noticing a look of faint reproach directed at him.
Ye Hao was speechless; can I be blamed for the old man's excitement?
"Cough, cough!"
The old man was so happy that he couldn't stop coughing for a while.
"Old chief, let's go back to the room and rest for a bit? Won't it be better to clean up the mess with this kid after you're well-rested?" The dedicated nurse stepped forward to support the old man.
"Yes, Dad, let's go back and rest first?" Liu Su also nodded, fearing something might happen to the old man.
The old man is now over eighty. Although he was healthy in the past, he's not as strong as he used to be each year. The reason the Ye Family remains one of the top ten families in Huaxia Yanjing is because of the old man's lingering influence.
Once the Ye Family loses the old man's influence, they are left with only one State Council member, the old man's eldest son.
Although a State Council member is a high position, it cannot maintain the Ye Family as one of the top ten families anymore.
Because the Ye Family is a faction, if the old man is gone, other faction members will come to divide the strength of the Ye Family, and they might even find ways to take many important positions away.
Even though Ye Tian, the State Council member, can keep the Ye Family as a first-tier family in Yanjing, it certainly cannot put the Ye Family back among the top ten families in Huaxia.
Of course! There are ways, but they are highly impractical unless others aren't afraid of the Ye Family monopolizing power.
The solution involves Ye Family's second son, Ye Nian Country.
Ye Nian Country is currently the Provincial Party Secretary of Jizhou Province. If the Ye Family wants to return to the pinnacle, Ye Nian Country needs to break into the Huaxia political arena and become one of its committee members.
If the Ye Family has two political committee members, their status would soar, and if Ye Tian enters the Huaxia Central Hub as one of the top leaders, even a deputy, then the Ye Family would undoubtedly have a position among Yanjing's top ten families.
But these are distant goals, and the first obstacle is whether Ye Nian Country can even enter the Central Hub. Without special circumstances, it's tough within this lifetime because it's one position per person. Ye Family's resources are all focused on Ye Tian, so it's naturally impossible to spare additional resources for Ye Nian Country to enter the Central Hub.
So they are more concerned about the old man's health. Now, even if he sneezes, it can cause a great deal of joy or grief for many people.
"Old man, you're getting on in years. Playing chess is good, but you should still rest more." Ye Hao also looked at Ye Batian with concern.
"No, life is like a game of chess, how can I let my life be put on hold?" The old man did not choose to have everyone support him back but insisted that Ye Hao finish this last move with him.
"Haha! Old man, while life is like a game of chess, sometimes a piece can be taken back in chess, but in real life, you can't take back a step you regret because once it's made, you have to face it. Your body needs nurturing, you surely can't make a wrong move in reality, right?" Ye Hao said with a lighthearted smile.
Upon hearing this, the old man seemed to have grasped a bit of wisdom, his eyes gleamed, and he turned to say with a hearty laugh, "Young man, listening to your words has truly benefited me greatly! I never thought I'd be reminded one day by a junior." The old man's complexion seemed to grow rosier as if he had realized something.
Seeing this, Ye Hao smiled and then, like performing magic, produced a very beautiful necklace in front of everyone.
This necklace was originally crafted by Ye Hao from Cold and Hot Ice Marrow to give to Fang Ni to celebrate her promotion, but seeing the old man's current state, Ye Hao couldn't bear to see his health deteriorate further.
So he decided to give this precious necklace to the old man.
"Old man, you've been on the battlefield all your life, and though I'm a retired soldier, I still hold you in high esteem. I have a small ornament here, and though it may not look like much, it is very effective for extending the life of the elderly. How about selling it to you for one dollar?" Ye Hao laughed.
However, his words caused the dedicated nurse and the attendants to glare at him angrily, thinking Ye Hao was being inappropriate. It's one thing to give a gift, but to ask for a dollar?
"What do you mean?" the dedicated nurse asked Ye Hao coldly.
"Nothing, just that I'm planning to sell the little ornament to the old man." Ye Hao smiled.
The old man understood the meaning behind Ye Hao's words and laughed heartily, "Young man, you don't want the old man to owe you a favor, so you're using this method to say you're selling it to me, right? Haha, you're a good kid."
The old man's words made Ye Hao nod because he hadn't intended for the old man to repay him. Rather than have the old man always remember this favor, it was better to call it a sale to him.
"Old man, your body needs nurturing and exercise. If you trust me, old man, I can make you look ten years younger instantly." Ye Hao wasn't lying, as the eighth generation system's medical technology indeed had ways to achieve this.
Even if the eighth generation system couldn't do it, with Ye Hao having items filled with Spiritual Qi, the old man's cells could still undergo a second stimulation. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)