70: Chapter 70 Arranged Marriage, Family Legacy

Seeing that the nephew, who was once so good-for-nothing, had become so steady and composed, a flash of surprise crossed the eyes of the elders.

"Good."

Second Uncle Li Hongwang spoke first, his voice deep and resonant: "I didn't expect that after spending half a year down at the grassroots level, Li Dakang would have matured so much."

"How is it? Grassroots work isn't easy, is it?"

"It is indeed arduous, Second Uncle." Li Dakang answered candidly.

"But it is precisely because it is arduous that it can better temper a person. I was immature before and caused all you elders to worry."

Third Uncle General Li Hongkai laughed heartily, the stars on his epaulets shaking with the movement: "Good lad! Come to think of it, Li Dakang is the first in our Li family to take a post in a township, right?"

"That's right."

Fourth Uncle Li Honglai pushed up his glasses and sighed with emotion: "Looking at how steady Li Dakang is now, the grassroots level really does temper a person."

Unlike Li Hongji and Li Hongwang, who had extensive experience working in local government, and unlike General Li Hongkai, who had led troops on the front lines, Li Honglai had always worked in the ministries and had never held a local post; thus, his exclamation was heartfelt.

Li Honglai knew that to go further in his official career, local work experience was indispensable, but he did not know how the Old Master would arrange things for him.

Beside them, Li Hongji watched his younger brothers praise his son, unable to hide the pride in his eyes.

His eldest son, Li Daping, had always been Li Hongji's greatest pride, but his younger son, Li Dakang, had previously been so unpromising that he had truly given him headaches.

Now, seeing that Li Dakang had finally made people look at him with new eyes, as a father, that sense of gratification was beyond words.

Li Daping looked at his brother, who had been reborn, feeling both joyful and moved.

As the successor of the Li family's third generation, the burden on his shoulders had always been heavy.

Although his cousin Li Dazheng was also excellent and could help him share some of the load, they were, after all, separated by a degree of kinship.

But Li Dakang was his own brother, connected by blood; if he could succeed, he would surely become his most capable right-hand man.

In a top-tier aristocratic family like the Li family, there were currently no signs of infighting or power struggles.

On one hand, the Li family's population was not yet large, the third generation had not fully grown up, and the fraternal affection left by the older generation still remained.

On the other hand, as long as the Old Master Li was alive, it was absolutely impossible for the Li family to have internal strife.

Furthermore, Li Daping's status as the third-generation successor had long been established and received unanimous recognition from the entire family; no one could shake it.

The rise and fall of a family was a matter for the entire clan; if there was no internal unity, decline would not be far off.

The reason aristocratic families were able to pass down their legacy lay in their internal unity.

In daily life, there might be some minor frictions, but when it came to major matters involving the overall interests of the family, everyone's interests remained consistent.

This was the so-called "If the skin does not exist, to what can the hair attach?"

The rise, fall, glory, and shame of the family were by no means a distant, grand narrative, but were closely related to the future and destiny of everyone in the family.

In this intricate system of aristocratic families, everyone was both an independent individual and an indispensable part of the whole.

Only by uniting sincerely and working together with one heart could they make the family's "cake" bigger and bigger, allowing every member to share in more generous dividends.

Admittedly, in a large, flourishing family, friction between branches was inevitable.

But whenever they faced important choices concerning the fundamental interests of the family, everyone would unhesitatingly put aside personal gains and losses and prioritize the greater good of the family.

This collective consciousness, deeply ingrained in their bones, was the spiritual pillar that allowed aristocratic families to stand tall despite the storms they endured.

Additionally, the rise and fall of a family was never about momentary gains or losses, but about looking at long-term inheritance and development.

Even if they fell into a temporary slump, as long as an outstanding successor appeared, they could quickly restore the family's reputation by relying on their deep family heritage and network of connections.

This was the secret to why those aristocratic families that had lasted for hundreds of years were able to pass the torch from generation to generation.

Conversely, even if they were currently at the height of their power, if there was no successor, they would eventually be unable to escape the fate of decline.

Once a family failed to cultivate outstanding descendants for two or three consecutive generations, even the most illustrious family would gradually be submerged in the long river of history.

Precisely because of this, the more talent that emerged among the Li family's third generation, the more guaranteed the family's future would be, allowing them to remain invincible in fierce competition.

"Second Brother, has the marriage between Li Dazheng and the Chen family girl been finalized?"

Li Hongji put down the teacup in his hand and asked casually.

Hearing this, Li Hongwang's face showed a gratified smile: "It has been finalized, Big Brother. The engagement is on the fourth, and the wedding will be officially held during National Day next year."

Li Dakang listened silently from the side, understanding the situation clearly in his heart.

His elder brother, Li Daping, had long been married; his wife came from the Zhao family, the head of the eight top-tier families in the capital, a perfect match in terms of social standing.

Now that his cousin Li Dazheng was also going to marry into the Chen family, it seemed the family was carefully weaving a vast network of relationships.

"How is Li Daping's wife doing lately? Is the little one doing well?" Li Hongwang asked with concern.

Mentioning his grandson, Li Hongji's serious face softened immediately: "They are both doing very well. The little one is three years old now and very naughty, pestering the Old Master for candy all day long."

Everyone smiled knowingly upon hearing this; Old Master Li was usually dignified and steady, but he doted on this little great-grandson without limit.