"As a schemer like you, shouldn't you have a super high IQ?"
Old Ghost chuckled, "No, nobody says you have to be smart to be a schemer. There are two kinds of people in this world: one lives by knowledge, and the other lives by experience. The first type is called rationalism. For example, Zhu Guang's 'Theory of Victory and Defeat' and Li Jiu's 'Underlying Logic' both evolved from rationalism. The second type is like Senior Brother Zhang Si and Senior Sister Wang Ren; their abilities are accumulated through life experiences. They might not be smart, but they are definitely not weak. And you, you should be of this kind."
"Then what about you?"
"Me too. But my skill is a bit special, like the 'Heaven and Earth Great Shift' in martial arts novels. You have to hit me hard, and then I can fight back. Nothing in the world is possessed by me, yet all things in the world are used by me. If you hurt me with a sharp weapon, I'll return with a sharp weapon. If you are good to me, I'll be good to you."
Regarding Old Ghost's statement, I could still believe it. I stopped what I was doing and asked him, "What about Cao Qian?"
"That girl is amazing. Besides her, I've only seen one other person like her."
"Who?"
"My master, old man Wen De."
"You think so highly of her."
"Are you scared?"
To be honest, I had no confidence when dealing with Senior Sister. In this complicated game, Senior Sister acted like a prophet, stirring things up. All I could do was passively defend.
"A little."
"Rationality and experience are two completely different things in scheming, like yin and yang. Yin and yang are the core elements that lay the foundation for the logical thinking of Chinese civilization. Understood through the philosophy of the I Ching, they describe the most basic elements of the universe and their functions, and are one of the foundational concepts of Fuxi's I Ching. With something so complex, do you think that little girl can grasp it all with just her thirty years of life experience?"
"You mean, Senior Sister can't deal with you."
Old Ghost smiled, "Dealing with me should be no problem. After all, I am her master. The waves behind the Yangtze River push the waves before it. Her defeating me would also be a testament to my ability. Her biggest enemy is you."
"Me? Don't joke, how can I compare to you two?"
"Haha, let me put it this way: yin and yang are ancient philosophical ideas, with innate and acquired aspects. Some people are born able to perceive the subtle balance point between rationality and experience, while others need a lot of repeated experience to adjust. You are the former, and Qian Qian is the latter."
Hearing this, I laughed and threw a dumpling wrapper at Old Ghost's face, "I finally understand why Mr. Wen De's skill is called metaphysics. I always thought Zhang Si learned Mr. Wen De's skills. Now it seems Mr. Wen De didn't teach you anything overtly. In fact, through your chess games, he taught you the most powerful metaphysics. In your own words, some people are born to find these subtle balance points. This is your greatest skill all along. Yin and yang transform all things; understanding all things allows you to use all things. Therefore, all things in the world can be used by you."
Old Ghost took the dumpling wrapper off his face and quietly started wrapping dumplings. "Tang Nan, do you know what you're saying?"
"I do."
"You don't. This is what we call 'industry mutual praise.' Enough, let's boil water and cook dumplings."
...
While we were eating dumplings, Old Ghost took out a bottle of Hengshui Laobaigan. It was evident that Old Ghost preferred the spicy taste of this white liquor, disliking the mellow and fragrant ones.
"During her period of mourning, the Second Madam didn't have the opportunity to contact Gao Zihui. Moreover, Gao Ziyan has been performing quite impressively lately. I presume the Second Madam now feels things are slipping out of her control."
I agreed with Old Ghost's assessment and asked, "What do you think she will do?"
Old Ghost gave a wicked smile, "Let's say it together." I nodded and we spoke in unison, "Kill someone." Seeing that Old Ghost and I were thinking the same thing, I felt quite happy. I raised my glass and clinked it with Old Ghost's, "This is what they call heroes seeing eye to eye."
Old Ghost drank, smacking his lips, "The Second Madam's caliber wasn't meant for Gao Lao's grand plan. Someone who lives a lifetime with hatred is considered useless in Gao Lao's eyes."
I was quite puzzled, "Since Gao Lao looked down on the Second Madam, why did he agree to her marrying into the Gao family?"
"Someone has to start the fight."
I understood. This Second Madam wasn't without purpose. She was the fuse for this war. Her murdering her own husband intensified the struggle for the Gao family's inheritance.
"Will she kill Gao Xiaozhi?" I asked Old Ghost.
Old Ghost looked at me with a playful smile and retorted, "What do you think?"
"No!"
"Correct. The Second Madam loved Gao Xiaozhi and knew he wasn't a dimwit. Therefore, the Second Madam's target is the First Madam."
The situation in Gao Xiaozhi's family is currently as follows: due to Gao Xiaozhi's apparent incompetence, everyone believes supporting him is unrealistic. Thus, the First Madam and her family spared no expense in using their fortune to buy up scattered shares of the financial investment company to support Gao Zihui. These scattered shares are still in the First Madam's hands. Once the First Madam is dead, Gao Zihui will logically gain that 3% stake.
The Second Madam should be quite confident in dealing with the First Madam. Making the First Madam realize her son was in love with his sister-in-law would surely shatter her mentally.
"What are we going to do? Can we only sit and watch?"
"The Second Madam is a sharp weapon. Gao Lao knew she was 'puA'-ing his eldest grandson and didn't intervene. This means Gao Lao had already planned for this Second Madam to stir up this clear water."
Hearing this, I sighed repeatedly. Old Ghost looked puzzled, "What's wrong? Moved by compassion?"
"No, I'm thinking about having to tell Gao Ziyan this news again, and I feel bad about it. I wanted to deceive her, but how could I dare to lie to her at this time? She knows nothing about what's happening, and if I lie to her, I might turn her into another Gao Ji."
Old Ghost listened and looked at me curiously, "You think that way?"
"Yes! Is there something wrong with that?"
"It's not wrong, not logically. If it were me, I would assume Gao Ziyan would definitely become like Gao Ji. Given her current performance, she is likely Gao Ji's most favored successor."
"I understand what you mean. Gao Ziyan's learning speed is indeed too fast. However, I want to try and see if Gao Ziyan can change the status quo of the Gao family with my help."
Old Ghost smiled helplessly, "You've just added difficulty to this inheritance battle for no reason."
"You don't agree?"
"No, human nature is inherently good. I watched Gao Ziyan grow up, and she's always been an innocent little girl. However, you must understand one thing: women are more likely to inherit their father's genes, and genes can be inherited across generations. Gao Lao was smart his whole life, but he didn't have any decent children. Looking at Gao Ziyan's current learning speed, she likely inherited Gao Lao's intelligence."
Hearing Old Ghost say this, I gave a wry smile. From Old Ghost, I already knew Gao Lao's dream: to dominate a region and become an 'emperor'. If I truly nurtured someone like Gao Ji, it would be a disaster for the country.
However, when I pictured Teacher Ziyan's hesitant expression, I made up my mind again. Some things might be fundamentally corrected.
"I want to try!" I said to Old Ghost.
Old Ghost didn't stop me. He nodded and said sternly, "Good luck."
...
The next day, I told Gao Ziyan the news that the Second Madam intended to kill the First Madam. Gao Ziyan looked troubled, "Tang Nan, what do you want me to do?"
"What do you want to do?"
Gao Ziyan bit her lip, hesitating for a long time before saying, "I want to have a big fight with Mom."
All along, Gao Ziyan wasn't exactly a gentle or good-tempered girl. In the hospital, she chased everyone out of the ward for her sick grandfather. She also berated everyone without reservation in front of her father's coffin.
However, Gao Ziyan had become somewhat different recently. After cooperating with me, she felt immense pressure and forced herself to grow up, abandoning childish tantrums.
"Since you want to, then go ahead."
"But won't that affect the bigger picture?"
"I believe, and this is just my opinion, it might be wrong. The hardest thing for humans to do is to maintain their original intentions. We can't forget our past selves just because the world has changed."
"Did you manage to do that?"
Gao Ziyan asked me earnestly, her eyes full of expectation.
"In '05, I went through an unprecedented upheaval, and I became an outstanding schemer. At that time, your grandfather appeared before me. He told me there was a type of schemer in the world called a 'demon,' and we should treat these schemers with awe, without interference, and develop peacefully."
"Did you listen to my grandfather?"
"Yes. For two years, I didn't dare to contact the woman I loved most. I hid like a coward. I forgot my original intention for becoming a schemer and lived in fear."
"What was your original intention for becoming a schemer?"