Chapter 1221 - 1221 1221 Complaining

Chapter 1221: Chapter 1221 Complaining Chapter 1221: Chapter 1221 Complaining Luo Ziling and Ling Ruonan arrived at the Ling Family Old Mansion around 2:10 in the afternoon.

When they arrived, Huang Chen personally welcomed them into the courtyard.

In front of Ling Ruonan, Huang Chen didn’t say anything to Luo Ziling, nor did he thank him for the incident that happened yesterday.

Luo Ziling was not surprised by this, knowing that Huang Chen was not one to easily show his emotions.

When Luo Ziling and Ling Ruonan arrived at the Ling Family Old Mansion, Ling Jinhua had just woken up from his afternoon nap.

During this period, the weather was extremely cold, and Ling Jinhua rarely participated in outdoor activities, spending most of his time in a heated room.

Upon waking from his nap, he sat up in bed reading a book.

When Luo Ziling and Ling Ruonan followed Huang Chen into the room, he put down the book and took off his reading glasses.

“You’re here,” Ling Jinhua asked faintly, a childlike innocence blooming in his smile, “Such cold weather, you’ve had a hard time.”

“It’s alright,” Luo Ziling smiled, “Although it’s cold, the sun is out and it’s quite warm where there’s no wind. Great Grandfather might want to get some sun in the courtyard, it’s good for both the body and mind.”

“The body needs more sunlight, and so does the old man’s heart. Otherwise, it could affect your mood, just like everyone else,” Ling Jinhua chuckled warmly, glancing at Huang Chen who stood by.

Huang Chen’s face showed a flicker of panic, but it quickly passed, noticed only by Luo Ziling who was paying attention. The other two didn’t see it.

This piqued Luo Ziling’s curiosity greatly, could it be that Ling Jinhua’s words were meant for Huang Chen?

Recalling what Huang Chen had said over the phone when he called them, Luo Ziling began to feel suspicious.

However, Luo Ziling didn’t ask Ling Jinhua further questions, instead instructing him to lie down, ready to start the treatment.

While Luo Ziling treated Ling Jinhua, Huang Chen stepped outside, allowing a few nurses to wait at the door, ready to follow Luo Ziling’s orders.

Ling Ruonan stayed by his side.

The past few visits had been similar during the treatment.

As Luo Ziling examined Ling Jinhua, he brought up the matter about Huang Chen.

He started by discussing Huang Chen’s elderly mother.

Listening to Luo Ziling, Ling Jinhua squinted his eyes when he heard about Huang Chen’s mother, whose health was deteriorating and who had been unsuccessfully treated locally before coming to Yanjing for treatment.

“I really can’t believe it, how Secretary Huang treats his family,” Luo Ziling spoke with a hint of indignation, “Great Grandfather, your secretary is quite unfilial. Neglecting his sick mother at home, not bringing her for treatment in Yanjing. He very well knows that my medical skills are quite good. He didn’t mention it at first, and only hoped for my help after multiple failed treatments back home. He really didn’t trust my medical skills.”

“Oh, is that so?” Ling Jinhua was slightly surprised.

He had asked Huang Chen about his family situation many times, but Huang Chen always said it was good, never mentioning that his own mother was seriously ill.

Today, upon hearing Luo Ziling mention it, he finally understood the situation.

Of course, back when Huang Chen was being considered for the position of Confidential Secretary, his family background was thoroughly examined.

It was precisely because Huang Chen came from a rural area in the Northwest and all his relatives were farmers with no interest in conflicts, making him a genuine member of the proletariat class. Moreover, being a loyal and honest person who did reliable work, Ling Jinhua had chosen him to be his secretary.

Over the years, apart from routine political vetting, Ling Jinhua himself hadn’t delved into Huang Chen’s family matters, only occasionally inquiring about it.

Huang Chen always replied that his family was in good care under his brother, and that he regularly sent money back home to support them.

Who would have thought it’d turn out to be like this?

However, Ling Jinhua did not show any reaction but quietly listened to Luo Ziling’s complaints.

Luo Ziling criticized Huang Chen for his “unfilial” behavior towards his mother, then became emotional, saying that even though Huang Chen worked close to the Grandfather of the Ling Family, he never sought personal gain. His family was poor as could be, yet he did nothing to improve their dire financial situation nor did he try to arrange something for his brother who continued to work the land at home.

Ling Ruonan was also sitting nearby, listening without interrupting, she of course understood Luo Ziling’s intentions in saying these things.

Then, Luo Ziling spoke about a recent incident where Huang Chen’s brother, while buying fruit for their sick mother, had been bullied by some thugs. Unable to get there himself, he had called Luo Ziling to ask for help.

“He still thought I was treating his mother, so he called me,” Luo Ziling said with a bitter smile, and then detailed the incident that happened yesterday, including Yang Xiaodong taking the initiative on claiming five hundred thousand in compensation, and Huang Chen hurrying over later.

After recounting the situation, Luo Ziling could not help but reflect, “Grandfather, this secretary of yours, has such a pure character that I can hardly believe it. I thought people like him only existed in literary works, but here’s one right beside you.”

“Being in such a critical position, he could leverage the Ling Family’s power, yet does nothing. He has earned a reputation for himself, but at the expense of his family’s suffering. As a young person in this new era, I absolutely cannot understand his actions. If it were me, I’d never act like that.”

After hearing Luo Ziling’s reflection, Ling Jinhua finally couldn’t hold back and spoke, “Let me tell you, Luo Ziling, don’t you know that someone like Huang Chen, who doesn’t seek personal gain, is exactly the kind of person the new era needs most? If everyone prioritized the welfare of themselves and their families, everything would descend into chaos.”

“It’s just that, almost no one acts like he does nowadays,” Luo Ziling bluntly replied: “Aren’t you the same, Grandfather?”

“Ling’er, don’t talk nonsense,” Ling Ruonan appropriately chastised Luo Ziling.

“I think that filial piety is greater than heaven,” Luo Ziling ignored Ling Ruonan’s rebuke and continued: “Secretary Huang really does perform poorly in taking care of his family. No matter what, he should look after the mother who gave birth to and raised him. I just couldn’t hold back my sorrow seeing his mother’s situation. Moreover, seeing someone bully his brother so badly, and him, being in such a critical position, having to ask someone like me for help instead of intervening himself, made me want to call him a coward.”

“Didn’t he intervene in the matter later on?” Ling Jinhua murmured.

“What does that count?” Luo Ziling seemed frustrated, “We had already agreed on everything, but unexpectedly, when he came over, he didn’t agree with our way of handling it, thinking it was too excessive for those thugs to pay some money as compensation. It was their willingness to compensate recognizably for their wrongdoings.”

“It was because you coerced them,” Ling Ruonan interjected.

“Mom, when Li Jiaqing and Lu Weiguang crossed me back then, you insisted they pay a huge sum of money in compensation; this mere five hundred thousand, what is it compared to that?” Luo Ziling said disdainfully: “If my family were mistreated in the same way, I would not let them off so easily.”

“It’s a matter of face and integrity,” Luo Ziling declared with pride.