The Li Family

The current generation of the Li family consisted of three branches.

The head of the eldest branch was the Director of the Security Bureau in Huang City, and he had a son and a daughter.

The son was also in the Security Bureau, currently serving as a captain, clearly being groomed as the next Director. The daughter served as the Director of Surgery at Huang City Hospital.

The second branch worked in the Huang City Land Bureau; the head was currently the second-in-command, and he also had a son and a daughter. The son worked at the Land Bureau as well, while the daughter was a shareholder in the Huang City Television Station.

The third branch was not within the government system but instead operated a private bank.

In all of Huang City, anyone with a name worth mentioning had deposits in their bank.

The head of this branch had only one son, an idle playboy who spent his days doing nothing but seeking pleasure, changing girlfriends more often than he changed his socks.

As for the old patriarch of the Li family, he had stopped meddling in family affairs many years ago.

Nowadays, most matters inside and outside the Li residence were decided by the head of the third branch.

The woman Yin Yang had seen during his interview was the Third Madam of the Li family.

Specifically, she was the second wife.

This was the information Yin Yang had gathered, though he knew it was likely incomplete.

Beyond these three branches, the Li family maintained a hidden 'shadow branch' outside the main household.

This had been established long ago as a safeguard, ensuring the family line would continue even if the main house ever faced a clan-extinguishing disaster.

Furthermore, there should have originally been a fourth branch in the Li family—Mo Xiang!

However, Mo Xiang was exceptionally gifted. Not long after joining the Security Bureau, he was scouted by the Headquarters and subsequently promoted step by step until he became a Baleful Star.

Had it not been for that, the position of Director of the Huang City Security Bureau would most likely belong to Mo Xiang today.

Initially, Yin Yang had some doubts about the authenticity of this information.

After all, for a family with nearly two hundred years of heritage, why were there so few descendants? Logically, the family tree should have been sprawling and lush.

Upon further investigation, he found it was indeed true.

The Li family had a tradition: fratricide.

Once a new family head ascended, they would eliminate their own brothers and sisters.

It wasn't until the previous head took power that this tradition was terminated, solely because he only had one child—the current head.

The current head inherited his father's will, which finally allowed the family to grow slightly larger.

...

“Brother Yang, these are the pickled vegetables my dad made. Try some, they're delicious!”

“Mhm.”

“Brother Yang, Brother Yang, here’s some turtle essence my dad was hiding. He said it’s really expensive. Try it!”

“Mhm.”

Inside the greenhouse, Yin Yang was having a meal with the two little ones.

After several days together, the three of them had become quite familiar.

Especially after Yin Yang taught them a few more new games, the two children had come to admire him immensely.

“How do you two have time today? Don't you have school?”

“The school has a holiday today.”

“I see.”

“Brother Yang, when do you get a day off? Let's go play at Tianbao Mountain!”

“A day off? Do I get holidays too?”

“Of course! Everyone in the Li residence gets two days of leave every month.”

“I see. Alright, when I have time, we'll go play.”

Hearing that Yin Yang agreed to go out, the two children became even more excited.

The little girl, Dong Yue, beamed and said, “Brother Yang, we can eat at the top of the mountain then. It’s really beautiful up there.”

“Is it?”

“Yes, yes! I went there once with my mom.”

The little girl's expression turned sad as she said this. Beside her, Dong Xin quickly comforted her.

“It's okay, sister. Mom will come back.”

“Mhm.”

The little one pumped her fist as if cheering herself up.

Yin Yang didn't ask further, because he already knew what had happened.

To put it simply, the mother of these two children had left; she was no longer at the Li residence.

Of course, that was only the official story. Yin Yang suspected that their mother was likely no longer among the living.

The three continued eating. It had to be said that the chef's skills were indeed excellent.

“Haha! I was wondering why I couldn't find you two these past few days. It turns out you've been sneaking off here to play!”

The greenhouse door was pushed open from the outside, and a pot-bellied middle-aged man in a chef's uniform walked in.

He looked very amiable, with a kind and friendly smile on his face, yet Yin Yang could sense the man's underlying vigilance and sorrow.

“You must be the new gardener, right? I'm the cook, Old Dong. You can just call me Old Dong.”

“Hello, Uncle Dong. Your pickled vegetables are very tasty.”

Old Dong only then noticed the three of them were eating and immediately laughed.

“I'm glad you like them! My specialty is pickling vegetables; I've made over a dozen kinds, though it's mostly just people like us who eat them.”

“The masters and young masters don't like pickled vegetables. They say the salt is bad for the health, hahaha!”

Yin Yang smiled along and then brought over another stool.

Old Dong sat down naturally next to Dong Yue, pulling the two children close to his side as he asked, “Who introduced you to be the gardener here?”

“I just came in and looked for the job myself.”

“Huh?”

Old Dong looked at Yin Yang with a dazed expression, as if he hadn't quite understood.

“I heard the Li Mansion was short a gardener, so I came for an interview.”

“Huh?”

“The Third Madam asked me a few questions, and then I passed the interview.”

“Huh?”

Seeing his father in such a state, Dong Xin couldn't help but say, “Dad, which word didn't you understand? Should I translate for you?”

Old Dong gave him an annoyed glare.

“Even food can't keep your mouth shut.”

Dong Xin just grinned, clearly not afraid of his father.

“You're very lucky. The wages at the Li Mansion are high, so the jobs are almost always hereditary. Like my Dong Xin here—he's already started learning how to cook from me.”

Hearing this, Dong Xin puffed out his chest with a bit of pride.

Beside him, Dong Yue also hurriedly raised her hand.

“And me, and me! I'll learn to cook when I'm a bit older too!”

Old Dong smiled and nodded, then looked at Yin Yang.

“When the time comes, Dong Xin will take over my shift, and Xiao Yue can follow the second or third branch. They've grown up under their eyes, so their treatment definitely won't be bad. You should cherish this opportunity too.”

“Mhm, I will.”

Yin Yang nodded with a smile, signaling that he had taken the advice to heart.

Old Dong stood up and said, “The Third Young Master is coming home today. His favorite is my chilled fruit platter. I need to go prepare some for him.”

“Dong Xin, Dong Yue, come back early, understood?”

“Understood~”

The two children drawled out their farewells to their father. Yin Yang watched the scene with a smile.

...

“Hehe, Old Dong's stuff still tastes the best!”

In the third branch's quarters.

The Third Young Master was eating fruit while looking at the Third Madam. There wasn't a trace of respect in his eyes; instead, there was only the purest lust between a man and a woman.

“Stepmom, my dad hasn't been back in quite a while, has he? Why don't you... hehehe.”

Hearing this, the Third Madam's smile remained unchanged, but there was no warmth in her eyes.

“I've recorded what you just said. Should I send it to your father?”

The Third Young Master's laugh grew even more delighted at her words.

“Send it to my dad? What would happen even if you did? Could he actually kill me? Hahahaha!”

...