Chapter 1970 — The Argument
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Ah! Uncle Jiu, you gave me such a fright — I thought we had hit a dead end, and here you had already run him down!" The moment Han Xiaohu heard Uncle Jiu's words, he was overjoyed.
"Young Master Po, everything I said before was only to set out this man's background." Uncle Jiu's voice remained flat.
At that thought, Han Xiaohu could not help feeling a quiet, private gratitude.
"According to the register at the university's security office, the owner of the car is a student at Donghai Engineering University... the rest is still under investigation." Uncle Jiu paused there, as though even he found it strange that a man of the Mystery Investigation Bureau should be a student.
"A student?" Han Xiaohu was taken aback. "How could a student be one of the Mystery Investigation Bureau's people?"
"That is still unclear. But I have already reported the matter to the head of the family, and he may convene a family council at any moment. Young Master Po, you had best make ready," Uncle Jiu said.
"Thank you, Uncle Jiu!" Hearing this, Han Xiaohu was deeply moved.
A family council was a fine stage on which to be seen. So long as one put forward a sound proposal for the family's advancement at such a meeting, one would win Grandfather's high regard. The heir to the seat of young family head had not yet been named, but Uncle Jiu clearly favored him.
And among his own generation, the only one with any hope of contending against him was Han Xiaochun, his second uncle's son. Xiaochun had ability enough, but he was narrow-minded and opposed him at every turn — a temperament Uncle Jiu had no liking for.
Sure enough, half an hour later Han Xiaohu received word from one of the family's disciples: a family council was to be held in the council hall.
Of his generation, only he and Han Xiaochun were qualified to attend a family council; both of them were being groomed as heirs to the family.
Han Xiaohu hurried to the council chamber, yet Han Xiaochun had arrived ahead of him — and Old Master Han, the second generation of the Han family, and Uncle Jiu were all present. Han Xiaohu alone came last.
It seemed the disciple who had carried the summons must have been one of Han Xiaochun's people, deliberately set to make a fool of Han Xiaohu.
"Forgive me, Grandfather. I am late!" Han Xiaohu glanced around the chamber and spoke with an air of apology.
"Enough. Sit." Old Master Han was no fool; he knew very well that Han Xiaohu would never have come late on purpose. He saw these little tricks clearly enough — he simply could not be bothered to speak of them.
"Yes, Grandfather!" Han Xiaohu nodded and took his seat.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Han Xiaochun's eyes: Han Xiaohu's lateness had not drawn Grandfather's anger in the least, and his scheming had come to nothing.
"Xiaopo, I hear from your Uncle Jiu that you have found a driver of exceptional skill, and that you mean to have him race on behalf of our Hidden Han family at the approaching Summit of the Reclusive Families. Is that so?" Old Master Han asked once Han Xiaohu was settled.
"Yes, Grandfather!" Han Xiaohu nodded, and recounted what he had seen of that Grand Cherokee on the highway. When he had finished, he added: "Grandfather, this grandson of yours feels that if there is any way at all, we must engage this man to race for us. Otherwise I fear the Hidden Han family will end up winning nothing at all — and this concerns the family's face..."