Chapter 521 — Kang Zhaolong's Scheming

"Exactly! This is an opportunity — I was only just mulling over how we might make use of it." Divine Doctor Kang smiled and said: "If it were this opportunity alone, it would not suffice. But with the Wu family's backing behind you, it is like adding wings to a tiger. Put the two together, and I dare say they will not refuse to let our Kang family rise to the rank of a great house!"

"Wonderful!" Kang Zhaolong was somewhat excited. "In that case, I shan't need to keep on such good terms with that Wang Xinyan. Pretty as the girl may be, the Xiao family is utterly finished — and in any case Wang Xinyan is not a Xiao by blood. If our Kang family truly becomes a great house, I can find someone far more befitting our station!"

"Mm, well said. Zhaolong, you have done well — putting the family's interest and the bigger picture first," said Divine Doctor Kang. "You are a man fit for great undertakings!"

"Grandfather, I am the eldest son and eldest grandson of the Kang family; naturally I must put the family's interests first at all times," Kang Zhaolong said. "It is only a bit of a pity — that girl Wang Xinyan is truly captivating, and she would be fine sport. But though the Xiao family has fallen on hard times, it is still a great house; you cannot simply toss a woman aside once you are done with her. The less I have to do with her, the better."

"Quite right!" Divine Doctor Kang nodded as well. "Your brother at least draws that line clearly. He may bed women, but he beds only those with no power and no background — people he can smooth things over with when the time comes. It is only that temper of his... spoiled rotten since he was a boy!"

"Heh heh, Grandfather, actually I do not think Zhaoming's being like this is necessarily a bad thing for our Kang family," Kang Zhaolong said. "There are things we cannot bring ourselves to do — but Zhaoming can."

"Oh?" Divine Doctor Kang started, looking at his eldest grandson with some puzzlement, not knowing what he meant. "Zhaolong, are you afraid Zhaoming will compete with you one day for the position of family head?"

"Of course not." Kang Zhaolong smiled faintly. "If Zhaoming truly has the makings, I shall gladly step aside for the worthier man. Even as head of the family I would not shut him out — so long as the Kang family prospers, his branch shall never go short. And what I said before, I meant with all my heart."

Hearing Kang Zhaolong speak so, Divine Doctor Kang was somewhat taken aback — for this was the first time his eldest grandson had opened his heart to him, speaking of his own ambitions and of his considerations for the future of the Kang family and for Kang Zhaoming.

"It gratifies me that you can see it that way. Then tell me — why is Zhaoming's way not a bad thing?" Divine Doctor Kang asked, with keen interest.

"That Wei Zhao is no simple man. I still do not know his background, but the way he runs around with Guan Xuemin and Fatty Lai tells me the fellow is not to be trifled with," Kang Zhaolong said. "And now Guan Xuemin has gone and set up Guan Pharmaceuticals, putting out that life-prolonging detox elixir — who knows what other flagship products he has in store. Our Kang family is in a very passive position."

"Indeed! The son of a whore — it makes my blood boil just to hear him mentioned!" Divine Doctor Kang said in a fury. "Is this not learning off me — and then robbing us of our business?"

"It is. Still, I have heard that Guan Xuemin has a granddaughter — quite pretty, as it happens — working as a nurse in a hospital, and about Zhaoming's age," Kang Zhaolong said evenly.

"You mean..." Divine Doctor Kang stared, momentarily stunned. "You would have your brother form a marriage alliance with Guan Xuemin's granddaughter?"

"Marriage alliance? Does the Guan family even merit it? Never mind that Guan Xuemin presently stands above our Kang family, and that in outsiders' eyes he is a true miracle doctor, seemingly more prestigious than you, Grandfather — in my eyes it is nothing but fleeting glory." Kang Zhaolong spoke with disdain. "Splendor is but a dream. The day Guan Xuemin kicks the bucket, the Guan family will be finished overnight!"

"So you see that clearly, eh? It is something I myself had not even considered!" Divine Doctor Kang threw back his head and roared with laughter. "Hahaha — I had been agonizing over this very matter, yet hearing you put it, the knot unties itself in an instant!"

"Exactly. So a marriage alliance with the Guan family is out of the question. But before Guan Xuemin dies, letting Zhaoming work his way toward his granddaughter and lift some inside information would be of enormous benefit to our Kang family — we might even get hold of the secret formula," Kang Zhaolong said.

"Oh? That would work as well?" Divine Doctor Kang's eyes went wide. All along he had believed himself thoroughly calculating and far-seeing — only now did he discover that this eldest grandson of his was the bigger schemer of the two!

"Why would it not work? Zhaoming is a born lady-killer — what woman can't he win over? Leave this business to him and it is as good as done!" Kang Zhaolong said. "In the future, even when I am head of the family, I shall divide the estate and give him his share — so long as he accomplishes this great service."

Divine Doctor Kang nodded. This too was the first time he had learned his eldest grandson's true feelings and designs. Since he could declare himself so openly, Divine Doctor Kang could rest easy. The Kang family might be rising day by day now, but what he feared most was that Kang Zhaolong and Kang Zhaoming would war over power after he passed from this world and tear the Kang family apart.

But now, with these words of Kang Zhaolong's, he could hand the family over to him with a light heart. At the thought, Divine Doctor Kang said: "Very well. This matter still needs to be weighed at length — we must not be rash. Only once it has been thoroughly planned can we put it into operation."

"Quite right. I was only speaking of the role Zhaoming can play. Actually, survey all the great families and you will find that each one harbors a young master who is all but a ne'er-do-well. Are they truly all worthless playboys? Some may be — but others, I suspect, have been deliberately fashioned that way," Kang Zhaolong said. "And these playboys exist precisely to do the things ordinary people cannot do."

"Yes — you have a sharp head on your shoulders, my boy!" Divine Doctor Kang nodded. "Courtship with Guan Xuemin's granddaughter — a decent man simply could not carry it off. Pursue her and then toss her aside, and the family's reputation would take a grievous blow. But let Zhaoming do it and nobody will say a word, because Zhaoming has always been a playboy. Whatever he does, he does — it has always been so. This time is merely a shade more brazen, that is all."

"Heh heh, Grandfather, that is exactly my meaning." Kang Zhaolong nodded.

"Mm. Tomorrow morning I shall go and contact the people of the Yu family; you contact Wu Chengtian as well. We will travel over together and then discuss our family's elevation to the rank of a great house!" Divine Doctor Kang declared, with some excitement.

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