Charlie, Yahiko, and Hiroshi exchanged glasses, while Nanako stood by and kept refilling his sake for him.Interestingly, Nanako only refilled Charlie’s sakem and Emi only refilled Yahiko’s sake. Therefore, Hiroshi could only refill his own sake.In Charlie’s opinion, the so-called ‘Laughing Dragon and Nine Heavens’ did not taste good at all. Aside from its pure rice fragrance, this thing was really lackluster. If he wanted to feel slightly drunk, the alcohol content should be at least 40%. For Charlie, this kind of sake was no different from drinking tap water. However, since it was a national treasure that Yahiko had brought all the way with him, Charlie naturally accompanied and drank with him.Charlie was also full of praise for the top-notch sashimi prepared by Emi. In fact, he felt that sashimi itself did not have any taste, and he was only tasting the texture of different fishes. There was not much difference in the overall taste after dipping it in soy sauce and wasabi.
Charlie nodded and said, “That’s good. I was not in Aurous Hill during this period of time, but I probably will not be going anywhere soon. Please feel free to contact me if you need help with anything in Aurous Hill.”“Okay!” Helen was not overly polite and agreed with a smile. She then invited Charlie into the house.Charlie could not help but feel nostalgic as he entered the house.When his parents had rented this mansion back then, they had also restored it carefully, and it looked the same as it was now. Although it still looked very rustic, it gave people a refreshing feeling.After twenty years of idleness, this mansion was once dilapidated, but after Helen’s careful restoration, it seemed as if everything had been restored to the state it was in twenty years ago. For a certain moment, Charlie even felt as if he had gone back to the time when he was just seven or eight years old when his parents had just settled down in Aurous Hill. The family of three had lived an ordinar
Jaime said, “In the second month of departure, I began to treat this pilgrimage sincerely, so I dismissed the entourage that Mr. Wade gave special permission for me to bring along, and I intended to make it to the end by myself...”“I fell ill after being exposed to the rain, so I stayed overnight at a farmhouse. After all, many pilgrims would stay there along the way, so I didn’t think that there was anything wrong with it...”“As a result, the couple tried to sell me to the owner of a black coal mine when I was unconscious with a high fever.”“I heard them saying that an adult with all four limbs could be sold for twenty thousand dollars, and a normal coal mine worker would cost at least three to four thousand dollars a month. As long as the owner of the black coal mine bought someone, he would be able to recover his capital in more than half a year if he worked the person hard, and the rest would be pure profit.”“At the time, the owner of the black coal mine had already driven
Ever since Charlie had confirmed that the Schulz family had nothing to do with the death of his parents, he had never thought of taking the life of anyone from the Schulz family. He could even spare Sheldon’s life, not to mention Jaime.He had also asked people to secretly protect Jaime on Helen and Sophie’s account. The pilgrimage to Jordan Temple was not the same as Dylan cycling on a bicycle to Aurous Hill. The latter had a bicycle, and he would also be passing through the most economically developed areas in Oskia. As long as he did not pedal blindly on the highway, there would basically be no danger to Dylan’s life. However, it was different for Jaime. The environment all the way to the west would get worse and worse, and there would be danger everywhere if he was not careful. Charlie would not be able to explain things to Helen and Sophie if Jaime died on the way if he did not secretly protect Jaime.Jaime also knew that Charlie had not asked people to protect him because he
If Jaime could not pass this test, even if he could regain his freedom from today onward, he would not be allowed to lay his hands on the Schulz family’s assets. This was because Charlie wanted to find an absolutely trustworthy and loyal subordinate for Sophie, so there could not be any hidden dangers buried within this candidate. If Jaime had the slightest idea of giving up on this pilgrimage, Charlie would exclude him immediately. Helen and Sophie did not know Charlie’s real intentions. They could not hide their excitement when they heard that Charlie was willing to be lenient and give Jaime a chance. They hoped that Jaime could take advantage of the situation and agree.However, Jaime hesitated for a moment and then said, “Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Wade, but I still want to finish this pilgrimage.”Charlie had an indifferent expression as he said, “Think about it carefully. The road ahead will be even more difficult in the future. You will enter the mountains, the plate
“Test?” Jaime looked at his mother with some doubt and asked in confusion, “Mom, what do you mean by that?”Helen said seriously, “It seems that Charlie’s main purpose in coming today should be to ask you that question, to see if you would take the opportunity to end the pilgrimage.”Jaime asked her, “What is Mr. Wade testing me for? Is he testing my sincerity?”“Pretty much!” Helen nodded slightly and explained, “Charlie’s style of behavior is very similar to his father's. Although I don’t know Charlie well, I know Curtis. What makes Curtis different from most leaders is his first prerequisite for employing people is not based on the person’s ability or background but on the person’s character.”After a pause, Helen added, “In his eyes, no matter how strong a person’s ability is, as long as that person’s character is not good, he will not make deep friendships with him, let alone put him in his career blueprint.”“But many people don’t care about this now, and many bosses themsel
Three o’clock in the afternoon.A direct flight to Hong Kong took off at Aurous Airport. Marianne, who was deep in thought, was sitting on the plane, looking out of the window at Aurous Hill which was getting farther and farther. She could not help but think of the details of her acquaintance with Charlie in Hong Kong.Although she felt inferior when she happened to see Charlie and Nanako walking together today, it did not affect her deep love for Charlie in the slightest. All she could think of was for time to pass faster in the future. She could not wait for the day when classes would start at Aurous University. She even decided to call Charlie after school had started to tell him that she had come to Aurous Hill on a business trip and then tell him that she had already been employed at Aurous University when they met up. Marianne was also prepared for the worst. She did not care even if Charlie was not happy after knowing it and wanted her to leave Aurous Hill. This was her
After all, the old man had traveled thousands of miles to come all the way, so the two of them attached great importance to it. Therefore, they had come to the airport half an hour in advance to wait to receive him.As the plane slowly slid into the hangar, Yashita’s hands were trembling out of nervousness. This was mainly because she was unsure as to whether Cadfan, who had a strong temper and was arrogant, would approve of her as his future daughter-in-law.She wondered what to do if Cadfan was dissatisfied with her and pointed at her to scold her for not being worthy of his son as soon as he came down.Sheldon noticed Yashita’s nervousness, so he whispered in her ear, “Don’t worry. My father did not express any dissatisfaction when I called to tell him about this matter.” Yashita said apprehensively, “I know Lord Schulz’s character very well. He likes to hide his emotions and is fond of very sudden outbursts, so I’m afraid that he is just holding back his anger.”“It won’t be
Though Jacob had nothing going for him, he had always had a huge ego, and he had never once admitted that he would lose to anyone in the presence of his wife and daughter.That was why both Elaine and Claire were shocked when he suddenly openly admitted that he was a piece of shit in front of them. They had never heard such a thing from him in the decades they had lived with him!In fact, Jacob himself was reluctant to insult himself like that.However, Charlie told him repeatedly that he absolutely must say it before he came here—because Charlie was dead sure that this line was the key to getting over this impasse, and it truly did put this crisis to rest.Even as Jacob finished, his heart was bleeding as he felt like he had just put his pride on the floor and trampled all over it until it was crushed to oblivion. Even though it was to clear any suspicion Elaine held toward him, to call himself a piece of shit—to say it himself that his beloved woman would think him beneath her,
Before Elaine knew it, she was reading the website she had just read again, and she did indeed find Yolden's name on it.With that, everything Charlie had said snapped together into a perfect chain of logic.Seeing the troubled look on her face, Charlie quickly added, "I'm not going to lie—Dad told me right away when he was told Matilda was getting married. We even discussed if we should tell you, and now you know why." "Matilda is doing so well for herself and got such an amazing husband, and they've picked Shangri-La's Sky Garden—something an average Joe could never hope to reach. And since she invited our whole family and not just us, Dad had to really think about it.""Eventually, he told me to hide it from you or it'd leave you devastated, so none of us said anything. We just didn't think you'd find that invitation and then end up having a big fight about it."Sighing, Charlie then continued, "But if you really want to go, we can go together for their wedding to put your min
Bitterness swelled in Elaine's heart as she really didn't think that Matilda was doing so well for herself.The fact that Matilda was worth millions alone made her far superior.At the same time, she was also rejoicing that she had never actually met Matilda. If Matilda asked how she was doing directly, how would she respond?In the end, Matilda was no Hannah Queen.Elaine would actually feel accomplished if she compared herself to Hannah.On the other hand, Matilda eclipsed Elaine in every way—she was more beautiful, kind, smart, and knowledgeable. Even her figure left Elaine dead in the water!It was as pointless as comparing a hen to a peacock!Whenever she thought of her, she could comfort herself that she had stolen her man even if she couldn't measure up in any way.But now, Jacob was completely insignificant to Matilda while Elaine still treated Jacob like a trophy.Even as a sense of inferiority seized her, Charlie sighed. "Come on, you should understand where Jacob is
"Exactly!"Charlie agreed, striking the metal while it was hot. "To be honest, the years Matilda spent in the States would be wasted if she was actually still interested!" "She's a Wall Street veteran who'd definitely have met so many successful men! Why would she be interested in a loser like Jacbo Wilson? It's not like she returned from the States after thirty years to help the poor, don't you agree?"Charlie then finished with a sigh. "The way I see it? You're the only one who'd be interested in him."Jacob heard that from behind the wall and was left absolutely fuming and humiliated.He was the only one who knew that Matilda had come back for him—even if she was worth millions now.However, he just didn't have the spine to divorce Elaine and get together with Matilda.He presumed that it was no rush and that he could just give Elaine the silent treatment—who knew, she might just give in and ask for a divorce herself, and then, he would have no issues getting together with M
"Her real lover?!" Elaine exclaimed in shock. "What are you talking about?"Charlie put on a serious face as she said, "Matilda came back to Oskia for her one true love, who is now her fiance. His name is Yolden Hart, a top economist who's now a lecturer at Aurous Hill University, who was invited all the way from the States. He's a professional manager and used to work in Wall Street, so he'd be qualified to be a CEO in any Fortune 500 company…""Professional manager?" Elaine pouted. "That still means he's a wage slave!"Charlie laughed. "Don't underestimate professional managers now. Just look at Apple Inc.'s CEO—the man earns around a hundred million USD per year, and that's over seven hundred million in Oskian dollars!"Elaine was left gaping, unable to imagine how a wage slave could earn so much.At the same time, Charlie continued, "To be fair, Professor Hart wouldn't earn that much, but 50 million per year is still no sweat for him. Do you get the amount of money we're talki
Elaine appeared taken aback, and she promptly demanded, "You've met Matilda too?!"It was only then that Claire realized she had let the cat out of the bag, and she suddenly didn't know what to say. "Oh… Uh… Mom… I, uh… didn't?"Nonetheless, Elaine was suddenly pressing her menacingly, "If you've never met her, how would you know she's a serious person?!"As Claire stayed silent, Elaine broke down in tears. "No… You're lying to me too! Aren't you?!"While Claire was left at a loss of how she should salvage this mess, Charlie suddenly entered and said, "Claire didn't—but I did.""What?!" Elaine was left staring at Charlie, stunned.Still, she soon demanded, "Y-You've met Matilda?! Did Jacob take you with him to see her?""Yes," Charlie admitted, nodding.Elaine snapped right then, and she bellowed, "Then why didn't you tell me?! To think that I've always done right by you, treating you like my own son, but you wouldn't tell me that Jacob is cheating on me! Y-You disappoint me!"
Jacob certainly left Charlie speechless—the man might get kicked out of the house, but he was more worried about his car.Sighing in exasperation, he told Jacob, "Look, if it fails, I won't be able to get you a nice place, let alone leave the Cullinan with you."Jacob blurted out, "But why—""Don't forget—I'm still living in this house even if you're gone!" Charlie explained, his expression dead serious. "If I let you have a nice place and the Cullinan, God knows how terrible a grudge your wife would hold against me. I need to have a sense of self-preservation too!""If I got you a rundown apartment, I could at least defend myself even if she gets upset about that. I mean, I can't let you sleep in the streets, can I? Claire and I would be guilty of abandoning our elders."Seeing the serious look on Charlie's face, Jacob breathed a long sigh as he clapped him on the shoulder, groaning mournfully, "Oh, I get it. I wouldn't want to upset Elaine if I were in your shoes too…"Charlie
Charlie sighed. "I told you it'd blow up, Dad, but you had to doubt me.""I wasn't doubting you," Jacob promptly defended himself. "I thought I might catch a lucky break—"Charlie cut him short, "Fair enough. Then, how are you going to handle this? I can try to stop Mom from going to that wedding and prevent her from getting in the hall even if she went, but what's going to happen to the both of you? Do you want a divorce or do you want to stay with her?"The light in Jacob's faded as he shrugged and sighed. "If I could divorce her, I would've—and I would be living happily with Matilda now. What company would I have if I did it now? Do you think Elaine would let me stay in Thompson First, with that attitude of hers?""In the end, I'd be chased out without a place to stay, and I can't suffer the humiliation of moving back with my mom and brother, can I? Hell, they might not even take me back!""So, that's a no?" Charlie pressed.Jacob smiled wryly. "At my age, even if I could, I w
Hearing that Elaine was threatening suicide, Claire exclaimed urgently, "Take me to her now!"The traffic police officer quickly nodded. "Come on!"As the traffic police officer quickly led Claire to Elaine, Charlie arrived just then and gave chase after leaving the luggage by the entrance.Stopping them, he asked, "Excuse me, officer—where's the gentleman who came with Madam Parker? May I see him?""And who are you?" The traffic police officer asked."I'm his son-in-law," Charlier replied. "I was thinking that while my wife talks to her mom, I can talk to my father-in-law, make peace, and take them both home.""Oh, that'd be great!"The traffic police officer exclaimed and quickly beckoned at a colleague, "Come over. Take this gentleman to Jacob Wilson!""Okay!" The other traffic police officer was also quite enthusiastic.Charlie entered the room where Jacob was first, immediately seeing a disfigured Jacob taking deep puffs of his cigarette.Another traffic police officer w