The Uncle's Challenge
The middle-aged man was named Hongyuan Shaw, known by his English name Arthur Shaw. He was one of the high-ranking leaders of the Hongmen, primarily responsible for the various Hongmen lodges in the eastern American states, including parts of Canada. His overall strength ranked fourth among the organization's leadership, making him a strong contender for the next chairmanship.
Luke walked to the center of the study and bowed slightly.
"Uncle."
Arthur Shaw glanced at his son following behind him and casually said,
"Have a seat."
Luke pulled up a chair and sat opposite him, while Danny stood to the side.
Arthur Shaw took a puff from his cigar, pointed at the oil painting on the wall, and asked, "Luke, do you think the Hongmen resembles this ship about to be swallowed by the waves?"
Luke shook his head. "The Hongmen isn't a wooden mast ship; it's a super battleship. It won't be swallowed by the waves; it will only be abandoned by the times."
"How does one avoid being abandoned by the times?"
Luke smiled. "That's a question you and Grandpa should consider. I'm too young; I don't qualify."
Arthur Shaw took another puff. "But Grandpa wants you to be the captain."
His voice was flat and unruffled, devoid of any obvious emotion, yet both Luke and Danny could sense the underlying anger.
Regardless of strength or prestige, Arthur Shaw was a powerful candidate for the next Chairman. But the old man was handing the candidacy to his own grandson. According to Hongmen election rules, once Luke became a candidate, Arthur Shaw, being from the same immediate family, would be disqualified from running for the chairmanship.
Arthur Shaw was only 47, in the prime of his life, ready to achieve great things. How could he willingly step back and assist his nephew?
This was a deadlock that couldn't be broken.
After a long silence, Luke finally spoke.
"You should know, Uncle, that was Grandpa's idea, not mine. I have no interest in being a candidate, and I won't fight for it."
"Not fighting is the greatest fight!"
Arthur Shaw stared intently at Luke. He had always been proud of having such an outstanding nephew, even treating him like his own son, but now he had to treat him as a rival.
"If you don't fight, the people under you will force you to fight. They will force you into a high position. Zhao Kuangyin being crowned by his troops, Li Erlang's Xuanwu Gate coup, Wang Mang usurping the Han and founding the Xin dynasty—isn't it always like this?"
"It's not about whether you fight or not. You don't have a choice."
Luke remained silent, offering no defense. Danny was clearly anxious, wanting to speak but unsure what to say. He was caught between his father and his boss, a terrible position to be in.
Time slowly ticked by, and the atmosphere grew increasingly heavy.
"It seems no matter what I say, Uncle, you won't believe me. Since that's the case, your nephew will say something disrespectful." Luke looked up, his head slightly raised, his demeanor suddenly assertive.
"If I wanted to fight, all of you combined wouldn't be my opponent."
A Family Truce
The moment the words left his mouth, the air went dead silent, as if it had frozen solid.
Danny's heart leaped into his throat. The Boss is crazy! Completely insane.
Arthur Shaw hadn't expected his usually good-tempered nephew to say such a thing. He took a long time to snap back to reality, taking a deep drag from his cigar. Remembering something, a hint of mockery appeared on his face.
"Well said. Since even my own son stands with you, how could we possibly compete?" With that, he let out a long sigh, his voice filled with weariness.
"Grandpa often praises you to me, saying you're smart, filial, sensible, and the future pillar of the Shaw family. If you became the family head, the family would surely soar to new heights. Uncle admits, you have that capability, but in my heart..."
He pounded his chest hard. "...it just doesn't feel right."
Danny stepped forward. "Dad—"
"You shut up! You don't have a right to speak here."
Arthur Shaw exploded in anger, glaring fiercely at his son. Luke sighed softly.
"Cousin, you should go out first."
Danny looked at his father, then at Luke, pursed his lips, and turned to leave.
Leaving the study, he immediately saw his mother, Chu Xuan, and his sister, Julianne, huddled by the opposite door, secretly listening.
"What are you doing here?"
"Quiet, you fool!"
Chu Xuan dragged her son over, anxiously asking, "How did it go? They didn't come to blows, did they?"
"Where did you get that idea? How could they fight?"
"What do you mean, how? Your father is completely obstinate and never compromises, and Little Luke is someone who won't take a loss. When they're together, it's like a tiger versus a lion! It'd be a miracle if they didn't fight."
"And you..."
Chu Xuan pinched her son, annoyed. "Why did you run out instead of staying inside? What are you doing out here?"
Danny looked wronged. "Luke told me to leave."
"He tells you to leave, and you leave? You useless, blind child! Go back inside! If they start fighting, you can at least break it up!"
Julianne rolled her eyes. "Mom, stop making it worse. Luke and Dad clearly have important things to discuss."
"What could they be discussing?"
Just after saying that, Chu Xuan fell silent. She sighed, looking resigned.
"Is it worth all this contention, just for one candidacy?"
The conversation in the study continued for a long time, from noon into the afternoon, and still hadn't ended as night fell.
The three outside grew frantic, afraid that a conflict might erupt inside. Chu Xuan finally couldn't take it anymore.
"That's it, I'm going in to see what's happening."
Before she could move, the door opened, and Luke walked out, beaming.
"Auntie, I won't be staying for dinner. I'm having a dinner party with a group of friends."
Chu Xuan glanced into the study, worried. "Did you two... settle things?"
"Mmm. Everything's clear now. We're family; there's no misunderstanding we can't clear up."
"That's good. That's good."
Chu Xuan patted her chest, letting out a long sigh of relief. With the issue resolved, her mood brightened.
"Where are you having dinner tonight? I'm warning you, don't go to those shady places again. Look at the 'good things' you did before—the people you dated! Not one of them was respectable. Your grandpa was right; you should be married off to rein in your promiscuous ways."
Married?
Julianne froze. "What marriage? Luke, you're getting married? Why didn't I know?"
Danny interjected. "Grandpa arranged it."
"Is that true?"
Julianne still didn't believe it, looking astonished. "Are you really getting married? If those little hussies—those crazy women—find out you're getting married, they'll tear your fiancée limb from limb!"
Luke was exasperated.
"It's just talk. Don't spread rumors."
"Grandpa has spoken; you can't escape it," Julianne giggled, sounding quite delighted by his misfortune. "By the way, who is the fiancée? What does she look like? Is she prettier than me?"
Chu Xuan tapped her daughter on the forehead. "Much prettier than you."
"You've seen her?"
"I saw a photograph!"
"Where is the photo? Let me see!"
"It's in your grandpa's study. Go look if you dare."
Julianne immediately deflated. Among the Shaw grandchildren, no one except Luke wasn't afraid of the old man. He was like a mountain.
After half an hour of chatting and laughing, Luke got up to leave, with Danny following him.
Inside the BMW, Danny couldn't help but ask,
"How did your talk with my dad go?"
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