Applaud for Happiness

A villainous BOSS must have a tragic experience, and Zhao Huaiyu’s tragic experience comes from his childhood.

His father, Zhao Zhenghe, was a bandit. When the world was in turmoil, he led a group of bandits to join President Hua, becoming one of his trusted aides. In the olden times, it would have been called “helping the king”.

Although he was illiterate, had bad personal morals, and was bound to find a new wife wherever he fought in the war, which was now twenty-four, he was still not confused in official matters.

Zhao Huaiyu’s mother was considered distinct for giving birth to a son. However, this twelfth concubine, who was a famous prostitute, did not like Commander Zhao. Instead, she had a crush on Xue Zhongxian, a talented man, and would rather work for him as a maid than as Zhao’s concubine. She was even bold enough to leave the house privately while pregnant to see Xue Zhongxian in Lu Province.

When Commander Zhao could no longer endure it, he kept her in captivity. Her son was then given to the madam of the house, but because she already had two sons and two daughters, she couldn’t take care of Zhao Huaiyu. When he started walking, the madam gave him back to his birth mother.

Zhao Huaiyu’s birth mother died when he was eight years old. The outline did not explain what happened in those eight years. The information above was also obtained by Shen Qi over the years, but it was definitely not good. It also laid the foundation for Zhao Huaiyu’s later distorted thinking.

He pretended to follow Zhao Huaisen but secretly provoked Zhao Huaisen and Zhao Huaichao’s relationship to make them hate each other. When the fifth young master, Zhao Huaitang, grew up, they eventually fought to the death. One by one, they were all killed by his own hands. When Marshal Zhao finally realized that he only had one son left.

At this point in the plot, Zhao Huaiyu had blackened to the core and did not hesitate to paralyze his father. He then used his father’s reputation to do evil, which stirred the hearts of the country that had just gained peace. Yet when the main culprit felt life was boring, he killed himself.

Shen Qi: ……

He had……nothing to say.

In short, this was a story about a villainous character with a happiness value of only ten points. Moreover, these ten points slowly declined to five, and his heart completely blackened. When he committed suicide, his happiness value was already at one.

Shen Qi had already been in this world for ten years. He had thought of meeting Zhao Huaiyu earlier, but due to the rules of the world, he could only wait until the plot started, and could not take the initiative to meet him.

He finally met him today.

He leaned down, stretched out two fingers, cupped Zhao Huaiyu’s chin, and made him raise his head.

Although Zhao Zhenghe was a bandit, he was good-looking. Zhao Huaiyu’s mother was a famous prostitute, so her looks were definitely not bad. It was said that this famous prostitute had foreign ancestry, and her features were more defined than the average person’s.

Zhao Huaiyu’s features were also sharp, as if cut by a knife. His nose bridge was high, his eyebrows were thick, and his eyes were charming. He did not look 14 years old, but instead 18.

His eyes were the standard peach blossom eyes. They looked faintly blue if he looked at them carefully. At the moment, with tears in his eyes, it made him look seductive, yet it was difficult for people to see the real meaning in his eyes.

His face was pale and he seemed frightened. He only glanced at Shen Qi once, before immediately lowering his eyes. His eyelashes were shaking violently as his whole body shivered.

If Shen Qi had not known his true face, he would really have been fooled by this little pitiful look.

Shen Qi observed him with an indifferent face, as if estimating something. Moments later, he released his hand from Huaiyu’s chin and removed his scarf. Absent-mindedly, he wrapped the scarf around Huaiyu without saying anything, then turned around and left with the guards.

Zhao Huaiyu abruptly raised his head after he left, staring at the distant back, straight and dashing, and with a noble presence that was intimidating.

The other party’s body heat still remained, and he pinched the corner of the scarf while licking his lips.

“Pa!”

The back of his head was slapped hard, with such force that his vision blackened. When he recovered, he saw Zhaosen’s distorted face: “What are you staring at? Go back and change your clothes. Third brother is being taken care of by the seventh young master. Let’s see how you will explain when father comes back!”

Zhao Huaiyu closed his eyes, hiding the murderous gaze. Pulling Zhao Huaisen’s pants, his face showed panic, and his lips were trembling, “Second brother, you can’t leave me alone! Father will kill me if he finds out! It’s, it’s you who told me to drag him down, you can’t-“

“Shut up!” Zhao Huaisen quickly glanced at the few teenagers who had not gone far. He grabbed Huaiyu up, lowered his head and gritted his teeth, his eyes showing a fierce look, “We will both explain it to dad! You shut your mouth!”

“I, I know ……,” Zhao Huaiyu was stunned and hastily responded.

Zhao Huaisen half-supported his brother. After walking a few steps, he had an idea: “If you don’t want father to beat you, you have to listen to me. When we are back at the hotel, don’t take off your clothes and take an ice bath. When father comes back and sees that you have a fever, he definitely won’t hit you.” Huaisen forcefully grabbed his arm. His eyes showed an evil gaze, “Remember, it would be best if you became really sick, and you have to look more pitiful than third brother, so that father won’t beat you.”

“Okay…” Zhao Huaiyu lowered his eyes; the hostility in his heart grew.

As the sun set, the new presidential election ended, with Grand President Shen winning by a nine-to-five margin and continuing his re-election until another election in five years.

The news came out of the Xinhua Palace, and the newspaper immediately started printing. The news spread throughout China quickly with the help of the radio and broadcast.

When Shen Qi returned to Xinhua Palace by car, he saw many vehicles coming out from afar.

He did not take the main entrance, directly telling the driver to take the west side of the narrow street, all the way into the northwest corner of Xinhua Palace, and then stopped in front of a large mansion. The name of the mansion was simple, Home and Garden1. President Hua named this mansion to mean that everything would be prosperous if the family lived in harmony. The regent of the previous dynasty also once lived in this area.

After the establishment of the Republic of China, the Imperial City next door was opened as a scenic spot. The President’s residence and office was located in Xinhua Palace, with the front used as an office and the back as a residence.

After President Shen was elected, the Shen family moved into Home and Garden. President Hua and his wives moved to the front of the Yingtai2 to recuperate, but his body was already at its limit, and he could only last for 2 more years. Before he died, he arranged his will for his wives. If they had children, then they could go live with their children. For those who didn’t have children, he could give them money or property. When President Hua died, they all had to move out.

Since President Shen was re-elected, the Shen family naturally did not need to move out and continued to live at Home and Garden.

President Shen has a total of seven children, four sons and three daughters. The eldest son, second son, and Shen Qi were born to his first wife. His third son was born to his first wife’s maid, who died after giving birth and was then raised by his first wife. His remaining three daughters were born to his second wife and third wife.

His three sons and three daughters were all married, so the only single person in the family was Shen Qi.

As the saying goes, the grandparents love the eldest, while the parents love the youngest.

Shen Qi, the youngest child of the Shen family, was raised by the whole family as a treasure. Yet he was mischievous and naughty. When he was eight years old, he climbed a tree to pull out a bird’s nest and almost died when he fell off.

“Old Seven is back!”

“Uncle Seven is back!”

“Seventh master is back!”

As soon as Shen Qi entered, he was immediately surrounded by a circle.

“Where are your clothes?” The first wife was listening to the election report on the radio with the other wives of the young masters. When she saw Shen Qi enter, she immediately frowned and waved at him, “I remember you brought a scarf when you left. Why did they disappear? It’s cold outside. Why don’t you know to add another one. What if you catch a cold?”

The eldest of his big brother’s children, Shen Pei Xuan, is fifteen years old and has always been fond of clinging to her little uncle, who is only three years older than her. She jumped up from the sofa and ran to Shen Qi in three or two steps, grabbing his arm with a teasing face: “Uncle Qi, tell me quickly, did you do something bad? Like rescuing a beauty?”

The young girl was still in her spring phase, and her head was full of romance and fantasy.

Shen Qi directly flicked her forehead, and came to the first wife’s side: “Do not listen to this girl’s nonsense. I went to the Capital Hua Hotel, and happened to see two children of Commander Zhao’s family fall into the water, so I gave them the coat and scarf. I went out and took the car, so there was no way for me to catch a cold. My body is still strong. Mom, do not worry about it.”

The first wife shook her head helplessly: “Well, I can’t say no to you. Go back to your room and change your clothes to remove that cold air from your body. See how cold your hands are? I’ll order the kitchen to make a bowl of ginger tea for you.”

“Lao Qi went to the Capital Hua Hotel? Did you see the ladies?” The second young master’s wife laughed, “Lao Qi should also think about marriage. When your second brother was your age, we were already married for a year.”

The first young master’s wife, who was from a traditional wealthy family, smiled gently, “That’s right, it’s time for Lao Qi’s wedding to be prepared.”

The first wife agreed: “Indeed, your elder brother got married at 15, and your second brother at 17. Although it is now a law that men and women must be older than 20 to get married, you can start having a few dates. If you have someone, you must tell mom. We do not need the other family to be from a noble line, but they must be of good character, understand?”

Shen Qi was helpless. He knew they would mention this. Starting from his eighteenth birthday, from his mother to sister-in-laws, as if they had no more work to do, they all started putting their efforts into his wedding, and would not stop until they found someone for him.

Shen Qi wanted to muddle over this topic, but suddenly his heart thumped and he said, “Actually, I do have my eye on one today.”

The first wife and several wives instantly looked over in unison, including nieces and nephews.

Shen Qi smiled: “There is no hurry. We only met once, and did not even talk. When I am sure, I will come back to tell you, okay?”

Not waiting for several people to answer, he stood up: “Mother and several sisters-in-law should prepare to answer numerous phone calls. You guys will be busy in the next few days.”

Since President Shen was re-elected, it is natural to celebrate a little. Even just inviting people would take up most of their time.

As if to confirm what he said, the phone rang just as the words fell. Each room in the house had an exclusive phone, and they rang one after another.

Shen Qi took advantage of this to speed up his steps back to his room.

He thought there would be nothing else to worry about, yet at nine o’clock, his attendant, Shen An, knocked on the door and reported: “Master Qi, something happened at the CapitalHua Hotel.”

“What’s wrong?” Shen Qi was flipping through the handwritten notes left behind by President Hua who had transmigrated from the future. Before his death, he left many important notes to his adopted son about the future, who most likely noticed his difference.

Shen An said: “Fourth young master Zhao (Zhao Huaiyu) went back with a fever, which still hasn’t receded.  Third young master Zhao (Zhao Huaichao) told Commander Zhao that fourth young master Zhao pulled him into the water. Commander Zhao is now furious and is not letting people invite a doctor for the fourth young master. Xiao Jia went to look, and said that his fever is getting worse.”

Shen Qi frowned, snapped closed the notes, stood up, took the coat: “To Capital Hua Hotel.”

Footnotes

I translated this mansion name,家和园, as Home and Garden. 颐和园 is Summer Palace in Beijing, but I decided to use the literal translation.Ocean platform in Zhongnanhai 中南海 surrounded by water on three sides