Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Liu Lin sat down next to her and comforted her, "Yao'er, the Great River Gang believes in letting things come and go as they come. The brothers leaving means that our time together has come to an end, so there's no need to be too sad."

“Uncle Liu is right, our fate has run its course.” She squinted at the sky: “Uncle Liu, if only I had studied hard before and learned more skills.”

Liu Lin: "Boss, you've worked very hard all these years."

Nianyao shook her head: "No, I know it's not enough. I used to think that with Dad, with you all, with Brother Kongming, I didn't need to work so hard... Uncle Liu, most of your hair has turned white."

Father is gone, Brother Kongming is gone, Uncle Liu is old, and Xu Lai suggests she step down. Does she not yet have enough ability and confidence to face the future? For the first time, Nianyao felt helpless and panicked.

Liu Lin laughed and said, "Uncle Liu is older than your father, of course he's old."

Nianyao asked, "Uncle Liu, what do you think Brother Kongming would do?"

Liu Lin said, "They'll probably create another Great River Gang, right?"

Nianyao asked, "Will it affect us?"

Liu Lin said, "Two tigers cannot share one mountain, and two masters cannot share one river."

Nianyao said, "He is capable and ambitious. If I hand over the position of leader of the Great River Gang to him, will everything be fine?"

Liu Lin sighed: "Kongming is right. The old gang leader did indeed arrange for you and the young master to get married while he was away. What did the old gang leader tell you before you got married?"

He said, "Yao'er, now that your father is gone, you will be the leader. If you are capable of managing the Great River Gang well, that would be great. If you are not capable, find a suitable person and gradually hand over the Great River Gang to them. If you don't even have a suitable person, then gradually reduce the size of the Great River Gang and eventually disband it."

If the Great River Gang is without a leader, the various ship owners will rise up in power struggles, leading to bloodshed. Only a gradual transition can prevent major chaos and turmoil, and ensure the safety of everyone in the Great River Gang, including yourself.

Young Master Luo is a doctor with superb medical skills. After you marry him, no matter what poisoning or danger you encounter, he has the duty and ability to save you. Father doesn't require you to observe mourning, as long as you agree to marry Luo An for three years. Three years is enough time to find a way out for the Great River Gang.

She said, "The Great River Gang has so many brothers and uncles, they will all protect me, and Brother Kongming will protect me too. Father, why are you still worried?"

Father said, “Yes, they will all protect you. Once you marry Young Master Luo, you'll have one more person to protect you. Yao’er, this is just an excuse; you can say that to others in the future.”

If you marry Kongming, the gang leader's power will inevitably be lost. If you don't marry him, your father's influence remains, and he won't dare to touch you in the short term. You will have loyal elders and brothers to assist you on Chongming Island and in various shipping companies.

Let me tell you the truth, if the Great River Gang didn't give its brothers so much profit-sharing, the wealth it accumulated in a year could rival that of a nation. The Great River Gang consists of strong men who brave the storms of war; they are the most powerful navy in the world. In other words, any country in the world that gains control of the Great River Gang could potentially unify the world.

The Great River Gang's immense wealth and power require a person of integrity and compassion to maintain balance; otherwise, it will bring disaster upon the gang. Kongming, ambitious but lacking in self-control, is easily led astray by wealth and power.

Nianyao said weakly, "Kongming wouldn't do that. Father, why don't you believe him?"

Father said, “Your marriage to Young Master Luo is just a formality. You will sleep on the bed while he sleeps on the floor. He is an upright man and will not harm you. You will remain a virgin.”

I'll give you three years to verify. If he's truly devoted to the Great River Gang and wholeheartedly protects you, then you can tell him the truth, divorce Young Master Luo, and marry him.

She remained silent for a long time, then suddenly said, "Father, you should have another child. If we could find him..."

The old gang leader shook his head: "No, she boarded the boat and didn't travel more than ten miles before it capsized and she died."

Nianyao asked in shock, "You killed her?"

The old gang leader simply said, "Yao'er, there aren't many people in this world who are truly devoted to you, but there are some. People's hearts are unpredictable, and you can't trust everyone in the gang. You can trust Liu Lin. Honest advice is hard to swallow, but no matter how harsh his words are, you must listen to them. As for others, you can't judge them by their eyes; you must judge them by their hearts."

Your heart is too pure and your experience too limited; the Great River Gang will inevitably face a crisis. Your marriage to Young Master Luo is the key to overcoming this crisis. You must agree, so that your father can reunite with your mother in heaven without any worries. If you don't agree, your father will die with regrets.

A man lost his wife when he was young and raised his daughter alone. With his circumstances, countless women would have been eager to be with him if he wanted to. But her father gave her all his patience and love.

So how could she refuse? No matter how outrageous, unfilial, or dissatisfied she was, she couldn't let her father die with regrets.

Nianyao's eyes welled up with tears as she thought about it. She raised her hand to cover her eyes and said, "Father said that Brother Kongming is ambitious but lacks self-control and is easily lost in the pursuit of wealth and power."

Liu Lin asked, "What's your opinion of him?"

Nianyao frowned slightly: "I think he's a good person, and he's good to me too."

Which girl doesn't dream of love? Nian Yao is dressed as a man, and the gang members all treat her like a brother, but in the end, she is still a girl.

Liu Lin asked, "If you had to choose between Kongming and your father to trust, who would you choose?"

Nianyao said, "Of course it's Father."

Liu Lin said, "Since you choose to believe your father, you should remember what he said. If you choose to believe Ji Kongming, you should go with him."

Nianyao lowered her hand and looked at Liu Lin, somewhat surprised.

Liu Lin said, "A person can only walk one path, regardless of right or wrong; they can only believe one fact, regardless of good or bad. Wavering will only erode one's resolve and fighting spirit, and will not help anything."

Nianyao pondered these words for a while before slowly saying, "I believe in Father, and I believe in you all. And all the brothers who stayed behind."

Liu Lin nodded with satisfaction: "Since the old leader passed the position to you, he must have believed that you could lead the Dahe Gang well. Uncle Liu also believes that under your leadership, the Dahe Gang will definitely get better and better."

Nianyao sat up abruptly: "Why?"

Liu Lin said, "The Great River Gang is full of talented people. In terms of kung fu, your father is not as good as me. In terms of strategy, your father is not as good as Qin Jiu. In terms of the ability to sail and steer a boat, many people are worse than your father. But your father has been the respected leader of the gang for so many years."

Human abilities come in many forms, and no one can possess them all. A leader only needs to make good use of capable people. This is what the sages meant when they said, "Those who do good deeds are capable, and those who treat others well achieve success." Your abilities may not match Kongming's, but you are upright, kind, and value righteousness over personal gain; you are suitable for the leadership position. The old leader's decision is correct.

Nianyao seemed encouraged, and she smiled at Liu Lin: "Uncle Liu, thank you."

Liu Lin patted her shoulder and looked up at the tea room: "Young Master Luo is a kind-hearted doctor with noble character. I think it would be good for you to be with him."

Nianyao shook her head: "Uncle Liu, don't force yourself to do this."

If the man has no interest and the woman has no interest, they simply cannot be together.