"Pojun, what do you think of this painting?" Yang Gongming asked.
Yang Pojun was puzzled, but he still looked at the painting carefully.
"The brushwork is elegant, but the layout is meticulous. The details have their own style. From the colors and the inscription, it's at least a masterpiece from the Song and Ming Dynasties. It's a good painting," Yang Pojun said.
Yang Gongming smiled, "Not bad. To be able to determine the era of this painting from the colors and the inscription, it seems like you've put in a lot of effort."
"Father told me to dabble in a wide range of things, and I didn't dare to forget," Yang Pojun said seriously.
Yang Gongming nodded, "Yes … you've always listened to me, and I'm glad."
Yang Pojun felt that it was strange, but he didn't ask.
"Do you see the fisherman in the painting?" Yang Gongming asked.
Yang Pojun looked at the fisherman with a few strokes, and said, "This fisherman … Is there something special about his brushwork?"
Yang Gongming didn't answer, but asked, "Do you know who this fisherman is?"
Yang Pojun thought about it, and frowned for a while, and said, "Father, this question is quite mysterious, forgive me for not being able to answer it."
"It's you."
Yang Gongming said indifferently.
"Me?"
Yang Pojun was stunned, and he couldn't believe what he heard.
Yang Gongming nodded, and sighed, "Pojun, do you know that this painting is actually a fake one that I asked an old friend to make? The real one isn't this one."
Yang Pojun widened his eyes, "But … Father, didn't you say …"
"I said that it's good that you can judge from the colors and the inscription, but I didn't say that your judgment is correct," Yang Gongming said with a smile.
Yang Pojun was stunned again. Indeed, Yang Gongming did not say whether he was right or wrong!
"Pojun, I'm glad that you listen to me … But do you know how much I look forward to the day when you don't listen to me … That way, I'll be even happier," Yang Gongming sincerely patted his son's shoulder.
Yang Pojun was at a loss and asked blankly, "Wh … Why?"
"A son who listens to his father is a good son, but he is definitely not an outstanding son.
If he only listened to his father's words, it would be tantamount to the son not walking the path he had chosen.
Since he was walking on the same path as his father, what was the difference between him and his father? What effect can it have on the future of a family? "
Yang Gongming said earnestly, "You've always listened to me since you were young, and you're very precocious.
You've always regarded yourself as the successor of the Yang Family, the eldest son and eldest grandson of the Yang Family, the only successor.
In your heart, you want to be the most outstanding. You have to let the people outside see the dignity of our Yang Family. You must set an example and treat everything with strict self-discipline … "
Yang Pojun suddenly raised his head, "Is that wrong!? Father! Is that the reason why you don't want to acknowledge me!? "
"No, that's right," Yang Gongming said with a smile, "If there's anything wrong with you, it's that you've set your life on a fixed track before it even started."
Yang Pojun listened blankly, his face turning pale.
"You've never thought of disobeying me, you've never thought that my choice is wrong.
You even sent your own flesh and blood, Yang Cheng, to the orphanage without waiting for my decision …
"Do you think that the Yang Family will disregard everything for the family's interests?"
"Father!" Yang Pojun gritted his teeth, "Could it be that … If it was you, you wouldn't have done that!?"
Yang Gongming smiled bitterly, "Yes … I would have done that …"
"Then why …"
"But that's wrong!"
Yang Pojun was stunned.
Yang Gongming let out a long sigh and said, "You've indeed made the same choice as me. However, that doesn't mean that you and I are both right.
Do you know that after losing my eldest grandson, I've been waking up in the middle of the night with nightmares for the past twenty years …
I kept asking myself, if I didn't abandon Yang Cheng back then, would I really not be able to get through this?
If the Yang Family that I'm in charge of needs to sacrifice a newborn baby to be preserved, then what kind of Patriarch am I!? "
This loud question made Yang Pojun stagger back a step.
His face alternated between red and white, and his eyes were filled with complex emotions.
Yan Sanniang, who was standing not far away, wiped her tears.
Yang Gongming's voice was hoarse, and he smiled bitterly, "Pojun, do you know how much I wish that you would come to me bravely and tell me that you have to protect that child, to let that child appear in our Yang Family's genealogy …
Even if I had rejected you at that time, I think I would have handed over this family to you with peace of mind.
Because even if I had to sacrifice my own child for the sake of the bigger picture, if I tried my best, it would be completely different from giving up completely.
If I don't even have the thought of going against the family's rules, then wouldn't I be controlled by the rules instead of controlling them? "
"Father … I …" Yang Pojun's face was filled with disappointment, and he didn't know what to say.
Yang Gongming turned around and said to the painting, "I said that you're the fisherman in this painting, because in your eyes, there's only that fixed river and that mountain range.
You wouldn't think that this world is just a painting, and that it's not even a treasure, but a fake.
I asked you to be knowledgeable so that you can broaden your mind. Don't be obsessed with your identity as a member of the Yang Family, and don't be obsessed with those dispensable obsessions.
But you, you misunderstood my thoughts, and thought that I really wanted you to study those antique paintings. That's neglecting the essentials … "
Yang Pojun clenched his fists, and his body trembled.
"Father, does Yang Cheng not care about those things? If that's the case, why did he return to the Yang Family?"
Yang Gongming continued, "Yang Cheng is different from you and me …"
"How so …"
Yang Gongming smiled and said, "For Yang Cheng, in this world, there are no so-called rules, no so-called iron laws. In his eyes, a painting is a painting, and the world is just a playground.
He looks down on this world, and in his eyes, those who are his enemies will be killed, and those who are good to him will be left alive.
He doesn't consider whether this is in line with his reputation, or his identity. Everything he does is to follow his heart, and not the rules of this world. "
As he said that, Yang Gongming pointed at the fisherman in the painting, and said, "You, are a fisherman sailing between the mountains and rivers. Yang Chen, on the other hand, is just like us, standing outside the picture, watching everything unfold as an outsider.
The reason why I didn't give the position of Clan Head to you, but was willing to give it to Yang Cheng, is because, what you and I failed to do, Yang Cheng has done … "
"He only killed people indiscriminately! Bloody and cruel! Father, how dare you speak of him in such a condescending manner!? "Yang Pojun questioned unwillingly.
Yang Gongming shook his head and chuckled, "Don't forget, we, the Yang Family, are soldiers. In the world of soldiers, we are either allies or enemies.
There is no neutrality in this world, only interests.
The politicians in the government can choose to negotiate, and then negotiate.
But for us, we can only kill, and be killed.
The Yang Family doesn't need a Clan Head to protect the Yang Family, that will only wear down our courage, and waste time.
What the Yang Family needs is a Clan Head who will wield the butcher's knife for the family, so that the blade of the Yang Family will always be stained with the smell of blood … "
Yang Pojun stared at his father for a long time.
In the end, a trace of disappointment flashed past Yang Pojun's eyes, he smiled bitterly and said, "Father, I still can't accept it, am I not your son … Even if I can't meet your requirements, you still taught me that, didn't you?"
"That's why I never dared to tell you all of this," Yang Gongming said painfully, "It's because I can't escape the blame, that's why I didn't dare to hurt your pride. But since you've already asked so persistently, I have to give you a frank answer.
Pojun, although with your personality, you are destined to be unable to become the Clan Head of the Yang Family, but father has never looked down on or disliked you. You didn't disappoint your mother who left you, it's me who let you and your mother down … "
"Mother?" Yang Pojun sneered, "Ever since I can remember, I don't remember having such a woman. Father, if this is your decision, then I have nothing to say.
I'm a useless son, because I won't reject your choice. But I have my own insistence, at least, I won't acknowledge Yang Cheng as the Clan Head! "
After saying that, Yang Pojun turned around and was about to leave the room.
But just as he was about to leave, he saw Guo Xuehua looking at him with a complicated expression on her face.
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