Return to the Day When My Pregnant Wife Jumped Off the Building-Chapter 383: Might as Well Give it a Try_1

The old saying goes that even a prodigal son’s return is priceless.

But in those ancient tales, the reason prodigals were able to return was because they’d suddenly fallen into destitution, utterly broke and hopeless, no longer able to lead a life of indulgence. Having experienced the fickleness of the world, they finally came to a realization and turned back.

To put it plainly, they were forced into what’s called a "comprehensive targeted restriction space," like having your right hand tied and being compelled to use chopsticks with your left hand. You have to change even if you don’t want to.

But what about Xiao Ming?

After his rebirth, although his wife replenished his soul and his boat gained an anchor, his kite a string, he also acquired a sense of humanity and responsibility.

However, the attitude towards life and worldview that he had formed over the past decade in his previous life couldn’t just disappear overnight. They still lurked in his subconscious, influencing his actions and decisions unknowingly.

Was gambling on a ship truly the only option to find someone to care for and protect his wife?

Did he really have to mobilize the Unlimited Elite Squad to cause a scene at the Lu Family Ancestral Hall to take Gu Tinglan and Mengmeng away?

Why couldn’t he live a comfortable life like the countless middle class and small-time millionaires who thrive their whole lives?

There’s only one answer to that: it’s easy to escalate from frugality to luxury, but hard to revert from luxury to frugality.

He wanted to give his wife the best personal protection, so a male bodyguard was inappropriate, and high-level female bodyguards were too scarce. Even if he were lucky enough to find one, he couldn’t guarantee the loyalty of someone hired with money.

Thus, going on a gambling ship to buy a figurine became the only choice.

Though the Lu Family was starting to decline, a skinny camel was still bigger than a horse, and with a son-in-law like Guan Qingchang in a high position, their power was still not to be underestimated.

Xiao Ming, who had once proudly faced the pinnacle of this planet’s hierarchy, how could he be willing to kowtow to a mere family?

So, to avoid future trouble, he could only completely intimidate and frighten the other party in one fell swoop.

As for settling down as a middle class, living modestly and contentedly, that goes without saying. Every household has its own difficulties, and behind a lifetime of comfort lies countless acts of subservience and humility.

With Xiao Ming’s temperament, asking him to beg here and there for a slight advantage in business, to be obsequious even to a basic service window, might as well just kill him outright.

But there’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world; every request comes with a price.

If you want to live proudly with your head held high, then you must continuously climb upwards, high enough.

And climbing mountains is never easy. You must be wary of wild animals that could pounce at any moment, watch out for the stability of each stepping stone underfoot, and even be aware of someone above aiming a hunting rifle at you.

So, the saying holds true: character determines fate. For Xiao Ming, such a life was destined.

Since adventure is inevitable, then might as well make it more thrilling, more unrestrained.

Late at night, in the study located in the back courtyard of the Hao Family Old Mansion, Hao Taixing, Wu Mengsong, An Xianhe, and Chang Chunbai sat opposite each other.

An Xianhe was speaking fervently, while the expressions of the other three men were gravely serious.

Under the dim light, the atmosphere was oppressive.

"...these are all the details relayed to me," An Xianhe sighed, then continued, "Although the Ten Residence Honored One didn’t say anything definite, her attitude suggests that the Red Lotus Society’s interest in Xiao Ming is extraordinary."

Wu Mengsong’s eyebrows knitted tightly as he looked at Hao Taixing and said, "Our four families control the Ancient Appraisal Association and hold the largest smuggling chain for artifacts in the country; we bring in profits exceeding ten million to the organization every year.

What could a greenhorn like Xiao Ming possess? Why on earth should he be more important than us?

In my opinion, Xiao Ming is just bluffing, trying to raise his stakes in order to seize more benefits for himself.

It’s all just a show of force. The Saint surely won’t agree, and we have nothing to worry about," Wu stated.

"I agree with what Old Wu said," Chang Chunbai chimed in, "I asked a friend from Longyin about it yesterday, and what Xiao Ming is best at in business is turning nothing into something.

It may seem impressive but in reality, there’s nothing there, and if you let it scare you, you’re at his mercy.

Dabang Group fell exactly because of this.

If Cao Zhining had gone all out against him from the start, Xiao Ming would have been long gone!

Old Hao, don’t worry. Tomorrow we’ll go ask the Honored One to clear things up. If push comes to shove, all four of us can unite and force a confrontation. I refuse to believe that one young punk could be more important than the entire Ancient Appraisal Association."

Hao Taixing’s face was already dark as water, "I called Lin Jingyou this afternoon, guess what the result was?"

"What?"

"The call was forwarded to his secretary’s mobile."

Upon hearing this, Wu, An, and Chang all had looks of dismay on their faces.

Lin Jingyou was the Hao Family’s biggest support and the reason why the Hao Family could cover the sky with one hand in Qingyang.

If their connection was severed, without Xiao Ming lifting a finger, just the enemies the Hao Family had made over the past few decades would be enough to doom them.

Bang!

Hao Taixing slammed his fist on the table and gritted his teeth, "If they’re going to be ruthless, then don’t blame me for being heartless!

We’re doomed either way, so we might as well fight for it.

If we succeed, not only will we no longer have anyone above us, but we might even have the chance to wash away our past and leave behind a clean legacy for our descendants!"