Atlas of Heaven and Man.

Chapter 1002: Breaking the old and creating the new
Chen Chuan looked at Cheng Zhou. With his current spiritual realm, he could of course see that the old gentleman said this from the bottom of his heart and was not deliberately trying to curry favor with Cheng Zitong or gain his favor.

It can be seen that this old man has been strong all his life and it is impossible for him to bow down for matters of principle. He will only be willing to lower himself for something that he feels is more important and worthwhile.

I'm afraid that the old gentleman's respect for him at this moment comes largely from what he has done, rather than simply because he is a fighter.

Cheng Zhou continued, "This is Director Chen's first visit, and he brought a generous gift. I should have treated him well, but after meeting Director Chen, I was touched and have something to say to him. Is that okay?"

Chen Chuan said: "Mr. Cheng, you are the host, and today is your birthday party. Of course, I am willing to listen to your teachings."

"I don't deserve to be taught by you. I just want to say some ramblings. I hope Director Chen doesn't mind my nagging." Cheng Zhou asked, "Director Chen, I heard that you are also from Yangzhi?"

Chen Chuan nodded.

"Then we are fellow countrymen."

Cheng Zhou called out to the younger generation of the Cheng family behind him and said, "Go, bring me my Lingyun tea."

"Okay, old man." The younger generation of the Cheng family who was in charge of greeting responded quickly.

Lingyun tea is not a top-notch tea, but an old tea produced in Yangzhi. They didn’t have it in stock before, so they will have to look for it for a while now.

As for Cheng Zitong, he looked at Qiao Linhu who was drinking at the table and smiled at him. Qiao Linhu looked a little unnatural and subconsciously avoided his gaze.

Cheng Zitong refused to let him go, saying, "Brother... hey..." He waved his hand in front of him, "Here, here, don't look anywhere else."

Now Qiao Linhu couldn't pretend he didn't see it. He put the cup down and said in a deep voice, "Junior brother, what do you want to do?"

"What? I didn't mean to do anything." Cheng Zitong looked surprised. "I just wanted to ask why you didn't tell me that day and why you left like that, so that I could see you off. Brother, you are so unkind. What's the matter? Do you think I ate too much rice from your house?"

Qiao Linhu picked up the teacup and took a sip. After he put it down, he said expressionlessly, "I had something urgent to do that day and I didn't make it in time."

"Oh? You left too fast."

Cheng Zitong nodded to show his understanding. "I heard that you are in a hurry to take your apprentice away. I understand that. Your apprentice needs to be sent to the central city for proper training. Yes, he needs to be taught well. Especially since your apprentice is talented. After so much time, he should have reached the third limit, right?"

He looked around and asked, "Your apprentice is here today too, right? Where is he?"

Qiao Linhu didn't want to answer at first, but Cheng Zitong's voice was a little loud, and the elders present all looked over. He said in a muffled voice, "He's not here."

"Oh, he's not here." Cheng Zitong suddenly realized.

Qiao Linhu couldn't help but look up and said, "He will soon reach the third limit."

"You're almost at the third level," Cheng Zitong said with surprise, raising his thumbs. "Well, you're rare in the central city at this age. It's all because of your good teaching by your senior brother. Where do you plan to go after you succeed? The Management Bureau or Wuyi College? Or the army? I don't say anything, I..."

Qiao Linhu could no longer sit still, he stood up suddenly, and then walked out quickly without saying a word.

"Hey, brother, where are you going?"

The tea at the main table had already been served. Cheng Zhou glanced at it and pretended not to notice. He invited Chen Chuan to drink some tea and picked up the teacup himself, saying, "Director Chen, perhaps you have heard that my father and grandfather's generation participated in overthrowing the old imperial family?"

Chen Chuanshuo said: "I heard about it from my teacher."

Cheng Zhou said: "In fact, I had no choice at that time. It was not motivated by any lofty ideals at the beginning.

My ancestors' generation lived in the last years of the old dynasty, when people were living in dire straits. The family martial arts school could no longer be run, so they returned to their hometown to farm, but they couldn't even farm well.

I remember what my father told me: the imperial court bullied us, the landlords bullied us, the big business houses bullied us, and some foreigners also bullied us. At that time, if we didn’t resist, we would have no way to survive.”

He said with emotion: "My grandfather had seven brothers, 23 Cheng family descendants, and 300 fellow villagers who joined the expeditionary army. In the end, only 13 people survived. At that time, only my old grandfather and father were left in the Cheng family. But what they hoped to see was realized."

He put his hand on the table and said emphatically, "No one will bully us anymore."

He shook his head again, "But is it really like that? It's just that the Cheng family has stood high enough, so no one comes to bully them for the time being, but this matter is still there, and all I can do is to restrain the Cheng family from bullying others.

I have worked hard all my life, but no matter how hard I try, the world seems to be still the same. It seems to have changed, but it also seems not to have changed.

I am a martial artist, and the only solution I can think of is to train a younger generation who can inherit the mysteries. That way, perhaps things can change. However, neither the descendants nor the disciples of my old family are up to the task, and none of them can succeed.

I don't have much ability, I can only use the rules of the older generation to restrain the younger generation, because these old things have been proven to be useful generation after generation. Even if some people are wronged, they have to endure it. Who hasn't been through this? Endure it and clench your fists. "

As he said this, he punched out with a bang, "Only then will we have the confidence to fight back and shout out new rules."

He looked at Chen Chuanshuo and said, "I have seen all the changes in the Central City over the past two years. Director Chen, you are the one who can accomplish great things. You have eliminated the cancer in the city and connected the skyline. These are all things I wanted to do but could not do. I admire you."

Chen Chuan said sincerely: "Mr. Cheng, I am able to get to where I am today thanks to Mr. Cheng's careful guidance and help to me at that time."

Cheng Zhou nodded, glanced at Cheng Zitong at another table, and said, "Xiaotong, come here."

Cheng Zitong was startled. He didn't expect Cheng Zhou to call him. He stood up and sat down at the table. Cheng Zhou said, "You, your talent has never been as good as your elder brother's. I don't have high expectations for you. Even if you teach others later, I am afraid that you will teach the wrong people. Yes, you may have some ability to teach others, but you are not very capable and cannot suppress others. Then the people you teach are not on the same page with you. What can you do?
It is not acceptable to teach but not learn. "

Cheng Zitong said, "Dad, you are following the old ways. The new era has its own rules. We are not the only family in this world. If we cannot accept the students we teach, there will be others to accept them on our behalf. Besides, Dad, you can't just think about the bad things. Can't you think about the good side?"

Cheng Zhou nodded and said, "Xiao Tong, it was Dad who made the mistake in this matter."

When Cheng Zitong heard what his father said, he was caught off guard and couldn't believe it. He looked at his father in surprise.

Cheng Zhou looked at him and said slowly: "Dad's thinking is old-fashioned. The students you taught are far better than all the students taught by the old Cheng family. Dad is not as good as you, and your brothers and sisters are not as good as you."

Cheng Zitong was stunned for a moment, his heart was a little agitated, his eyes were slightly hot, he didn't know how many years he had been waiting for these words, he said: "Dad..."

Cheng Zhou slapped the table gently and said, "Today is your father's and my birthday party, please bear with it."

Cheng Zitong raised his head hastily and sniffed. After a moment, he regained his composure. He coughed and said, "Dad, could you please repeat those words you just said? I want to hear them again..."

Cheng Zhou said: "Jie Ping must have secretly recorded it, go back and listen to it yourself."

Cheng Zitong smiled and said, "Dad, you reminded me. I just came to the central city and I almost forgot how to use this thing."

Cheng Zhou said, "Then stay a few more days and talk to your father."

Cheng Zitong smiled and said, "Dad, I've taken a year off. I just want to go back home to see my family and reminisce about the past. I also want to visit the elders and fellow apprentices."

As he said this, he was about to stand up.

Cheng Zhou looked up at him: "Where are you going?"

Cheng Zitong pointed to another table and said, "Dad, I'll go sit at my table."

Cheng Zhou gestured: "Just sit here."

"No, then this rule..." Cheng Zitong was stunned.

Cheng Zhou said: "Some rules are no longer rules after today."

Cheng Zitong smiled and said, "That's great. Dad, wait a moment, I'll go call Xiao Ke in. We're here as a couple, I can't just leave him outside alone, right? Dad, Xiao Chuan, you guys continue your chat." With that, he turned and walked out.

Cheng Zhou shook his head and looked at Chen Chuan, "I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, Director Chen."

Chen Chuan said, "That's not true. I am only happy that the teacher and the old gentleman can get along well. I hope the old gentleman will not blame me if I have offended him today."

Cheng Zhou said, "Director Chen, you are too kind. Actually, I have to thank you. Without you, I am afraid my son would not be back today."

Chen Chuanshuo said: "Without Teacher Cheng, there would be no younger generation today."

Cheng Zhou nodded unconsciously.

At another table, Cheng Shang and his eldest son Cheng Zisheng sat together. The latter looked over and said, "Dad, Third Uncle has said more tonight than he has in the past ten days and a half months combined, and he seems quite happy."

Cheng Shang sighed and said, "This is a good thing. Your Third Uncle, although he looks serious on the surface, he is very happy in his heart."

Cheng Zisheng said, "I never thought that Director Chen and Third Brother had such a good relationship. Director Chen didn't ask to be his disciple, he was just his student."

Cheng Shang thought for a moment and said, "Although Zi Tong is usually aloof, he is actually very willing to open his heart to someone he likes. Director Chen also seems to be very nostalgic. It can only be said that this teacher and student are a perfect match."

He had something else to say in his mind. It just so happened that it was Cheng Zitong and Chen Chuan, the teacher and student pair. If it were someone else, or someone with a different personality, the situation today would be hard to predict.

After Chen Chuan arrived, almost all the guests were present. The snacks and some appetizers were removed and the banquet officially began.

Afterwards the younger generations delivered their greetings, paid respects to the birthday boy, presented birthday gifts, and congratulated him on his birthday. When the whole process was over, firecrackers were lit outside, a screen was turned on in the lower hall, and old-fashioned programs were performed in the hall, many of which were traditional operas from Yangzhi City. In order to take into account that Chen Chuan might not be used to watching these, the door of the hall was specially opened, so that the inside and outside of the hall were connected as one.

By the time the birthday banquet was almost over, it was already past nine o'clock in the evening. Chen Chuan did not stay any longer. He said goodbye to Mr. Cheng, talked to Cheng Zitong for a while, and then walked out.

There were still rows of guards standing outside the mansion. Xu Chan was still standing there, talking to a captain. When he saw him come out, he came up to him and saluted, "Director."

Chen Chuan returned the greeting and said, "Old Xu, you've worked hard." He gestured to the front and said, "I'm looking for you for something. Take my car and we'll find a place to talk."

Xu Chan said, "Okay, Director."

……

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(End of this chapter)