69: Chapter 69 Family Meeting

Li Dakang sat upright, listening with rapt attention.

In this country, only a handful of people could receive direct instruction from Elder Li, and every word he spoke was the crystallization of the old man's lifelong experience.

"Yes, Grandfather. The grassroots level is a good place to do real work," Li Dakang said sincerely.

Elder Li nodded with satisfaction: " 'If the foundation is not solid, the earth will shake and the mountains will sway.' The firmer the foundation, the further one can go."

He paused and exhorted earnestly: "Remember, you must always think about doing practical things for the common people."

"Don't worry, Grandfather. I will work hard," Li Dakang promised solemnly.

"Chief, it is almost time. You should rest," the special care staff reminded softly.

Elder Li nodded slightly and waved his hand at Li Dakang: "Go, and do not let me down."

Walking out of Elder Li's courtyard, Li Dakang took a deep breath.

The winter sunlight shone on his face, bringing a faint warmth.

A surge of unprecedented fighting spirit welled up in his heart. With the experience from his previous life and the background of the Li family, in this lifetime, he would surely leave his mark on this land.

...

In the living room, Li Hongji was sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up and saw his son standing at the doorway; a flash of pleasant surprise appeared in his eyes.

"Dad, I'm back!"

Li Dakang walked to his father in two or three steps, his voice full of joy.

Li Hongji put down the newspaper and scrutinized his son carefully.

More than half a year of grassroots training had shed the childishness of the past from Li Dakang; his skin was tanned, but his eyes were brighter than ever.

As a father, he felt both heartache and gratification.

"It's good that you're back."

Li Hongji stood up and patted his son's shoulder: "Look at you, you've become dark and thin."

Li Dakang straightened his back and said proudly: "Dad, don't worry! Although grassroots work is hard, it is especially good for training people. I have gained a lot in this half year!"

"Good, it seems you have really grown up."

A gratified smile appeared on Li Hongji's face, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothed out.

At lunch, the women of the Li family prepared a sumptuous table of dishes.

Department Director Zhou Lan kept putting food in her son's bowl, her eyes full of heartache: "Eat more, look at how thin you've become."

"Mom, I've been eating very well down there," Li Dakang explained with a smile.

"The local chicken and duck in the countryside are just delicious!"

During the meal, relatives asked about Li Dakang's work and life at the grassroots level.

The harsh conditions, which seemed unbelievable to those in the capital, sounded filled with a sense of pride when spoken from his mouth.

After lunch, Elder Li went back to his room for a nap.

According to the Li family's tradition, all male members who were already working gathered in the study, preparing to hold a family meeting.

Inside the study, sandalwood incense curled in the air.

The classics neatly arranged on the mahogany bookshelves shone with an antique luster under the light. Li Dakang stood at the door, feeling the solemnity unique to the core area of this family's power.

In the past, although he was qualified to attend family meetings, he could basically only sit in the corner and listen, without even a chance to speak.

Under that image of a playboy, the elders of the Li family had long regarded him as a second-generation ancestor who only knew how to eat and wait for death.

Over time, Li Dakang himself avoided such meetings.

Anyway, if the sky fell, the tall ones would hold it up, so why bother asking for trouble?

But today is different from the past. Since he was determined to make achievements in his official career, he must integrate into the family's core circle.

This was not only to obtain high-level trends that were difficult to know from the outside but also to absorb valuable political wisdom from the elders' conversations.

After all, the Li Dakang of his previous life was just a grassroots section-level cadre who knew very little about the operation of upper-level politics.

Today's meeting was small in scale, with only the male members of Elder Li's lineage participating.

Elder Li also had a younger brother, who was Li Dakang's second grandfather. Although he had long passed away, the two sons and one daughter he left behind were now all holding important positions under Elder Li's support.

The real family gathering would have to wait until New Year's Eve, when all the Li descendants would gather, and even the descendants of Li Dakang's second grandfather would be present.

Of course, Elder Li himself would also attend to steer the direction for the family's future development.

Looking around the study, Li Dakang quickly scanned every family member present:

Second Uncle Li Hongwang, fifty-two years old this year, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, with a serious face and sharp eyes;

Third Uncle General Li Hongkai, forty-nine years old this year, Lieutenant General, Deputy Commander of the Capital Military Region, the rank stars on his epaulets shining brightly;

Fourth Uncle Li Honglai, forty-six years old this year, Deputy Minister of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, the look behind his gold-rimmed glasses unfathomable;

Eldest Brother Li Daping, twenty-nine years old this year, Division Chief of the Ministry of Land and Resources, as the third-generation successor of the Li family, he already showed the demeanor of a great family in his every move;

Second Uncle Li Hongwang's son—Cousin Li Dazheng, twenty-six years old this year, Deputy Division Chief of the Ministry of Agriculture, young and promising, with a bright future.

As for the female members of the family, unless there were special circumstances, they could generally only participate in the family gathering on New Year's Eve and could not participate in such core meetings.

This was the Li family's tradition and also a characteristic of this era.

"Second Uncle! Third Uncle! Fourth Uncle! Eldest Brother! Second Brother!"

Li Dakang greeted them one by one, his voice clear and his manners appropriate.