Chapter 258: The Wu Family's Predicament  

In a northern suburb of London, there is a small valley. The valley is lush and green, with a small creek flowing through it, eventually feeding into a lake at the bottom of the valley.

On the right side of the valley, by the lake, there is a row of houses, with a small palace-like house in the center. 

Strangely enough, these houses are all made of wood and earth in traditional Chinese architecture, rich in Chinese cultural elements. 

A cluster of such Chinese-style houses is rare in the UK! However, knowing which family resides here, this would come as no surprise—it is the oldest Chinese family in Britain!

This is the Wu Family, one of the top three most powerful Chinese families in London and throughout the UK. 

At this moment, in a small courtyard at the very back of the Wu Family compound, two elderly men sit face-to-face at a stone table with a chessboard on it. Judging by the game, the two are locked in an intense match.

"Snap!"

The older of the two, dressed in an elegant Tang suit with white hair, made a move with a crisp sound.

"Snap!"

The other elderly man, who appeared to be the butler, promptly countered by setting up his cannon.

…

After a long while, the elder in the Tang suit finally made a superior move, directly checkmating the game.

"Master, shall we play again?" the butler asked softly.

"No, let's not. I'm old and can't sit for too long. Let's take a walk!" said the elder in the Tang suit, sighing as he picked up his dragon-headed cane and prepared to stand. The butler quickly stepped forward to help him up.

With the butler's support, the elderly man in the Tang suit took a few laps around the courtyard, then looked at the century-old ginkgo tree.

He gently touched the wrinkled bark with his aged hand and sighed deeply, "I'm old; I don't have many years left."

The butler, who had grown up alongside the elder, naturally understood the deeper meaning behind his words and sensed the complex emotions. Concerned, he said, "Master, you will surely live a long life."

"Haha, Ah Fu, no need to say that."

"Ah Fu, I vaguely remember when I was young, my grandfather lived in this courtyard, and you and I used to play under the ginkgo tree. I just never expected time to pass so quickly, and now we're in our twilight years," the elder in the Tang suit said, reflecting on his past as he glanced at the butler, Ah Fu, who was supporting him.

"Master, life and death are part of the natural cycle. You've dedicated your whole life to the family; it's time for you to rest," said Ah Fu gently.

Hearing the mention of the family, the elder showed a helpless smile and sighed, "My father entrusted the family to me, and I've never dared to relax for even a day. I should have been able to rest long ago, but... sigh…"

Ah Fu knew that the master was thinking of the late Wu Huasheng, the second young master. Ah Fu's face also turned somber, and he remained silent, sharing the same sadness.

Wu Huasheng was the second son of the elder in the Tang suit, Wu Chengde. From a young age, Wu Huasheng was gifted and had a keen interest in business, reminiscent of their ancestor Wu Bingjian. At just 13, he began to learn about the family business in his spare time, and by 21, he was actively involved in the family enterprises.

Wu Huasheng learned things quickly, had a vivid imagination, and possessed a strong heart, handling every task in an orderly manner, far surpassing his elder brother Wu Huachang in ability.

For the long-term prosperity of the family, the most outstanding person of the generation would become the family head. Naturally, Wu Huasheng, with his talents, earned Wu Chengde's favor and was early on designated as the first heir of the family, with the full support of all branches.

Seeing the situation clearly, the eldest son, Wu Huachang, gave up competing with his younger brother and dedicated himself to supporting Wu Huasheng, helping to strengthen the family.

Wu Huasheng's son, Wu Hongyi, also showed great promise from a young age, inheriting his father's intelligence and diligence. Under Wu Huasheng's guidance, Wu Hongyi grew rapidly, overshadowing Wu Huachang's two sons.

Wu Huasheng and his son's excellent performance led Wu Chengde to believe that the Wu family had great successors.

However, the good times didn't last long. On a business trip, Wu Huasheng and his wife died in a car accident, leaving behind a young Wu Hongyi.

When this shocking news reached the Wu family, Wu Chengde couldn't believe it until he saw the mangled bodies of Wu Huasheng and his wife. He fainted on the spot and was bedridden for three days.

The death of his son was a heavy blow to Wu Chengde. This was not just about losing a son; Wu Huasheng was also the family's first heir, shouldering the responsibility of reviving the Wu family. His death cast a shadow over the family's future.

The impact of Wu Huasheng's death didn't stop there. His son Wu Hongyi, traumatized by losing both parents at a young age, became withdrawn and often lost in his thoughts.

The intelligence and diligence Wu Hongyi displayed as a child faded away, leaving Wu Chengde deeply troubled. He constantly tried to guide Wu Hongyi, but no one could truly reach the boy's heart.

As Wu Hongyi grew older, he became somewhat more cheerful but remained indifferent to the family business, adopting a laid-back and unambitious attitude, choosing to avoid confrontation.

Two years ago, he bought his own house outside the family estate and rarely returned, leaving Wu Chengde disappointed.

With the first heir gone, Wu Huachang reappeared in Wu Chengde's eyes. Though none of the other family members could match him, Wu Huachang's abilities were only sufficient to maintain the status quo without pushing the family forward. In these turbulent times, Wu Chengde couldn't trust him to take over the family.

Left with no choice, Wu Chengde continued managing the family business himself while gradually grooming Wu Huachang, who saw the opportunity and worked diligently to prepare himself for the position of family head.

Wu Huachang also focused on training his two sons. However, his eldest son constantly fell short of the younger, leading him to concentrate on nurturing the younger son, Wu Honglin, and paying less attention to his eldest, Wu Hongqi.

"Ah Fu, is there any news from the family?" 

After a long silence, Wu Chengde looked up at the sky and asked calmly.

"Master, nothing much, but there have been some changes with the second and third young masters," Ah Fu reported respectfully.

Hearing news about his grandsons, Wu Chengde's eyes lit up with a hint of anticipation. 

He was indeed old and wouldn't be able to manage the family for much longer. The Wu family needed to transition leadership soon so that he could pass away peacefully. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to rest in peace if anything unexpected happened.