"Okay, I'm very happy that you are so open and honest..." Si Hongchu nodded with satisfaction and said frankly: "If you told me some great principles and heroes to influence me from the beginning, I would despise you!"

"So we can have a good talk now?"

"Can."

"To be honest..." After taking a long breath, Si Hongchu said to Lu Zhengming in a rare and solemn tone: "You may think what I said just now is a joke, but it is actually my true thoughts. I am a rural student, and I don't have much requirements for the future. I really hope to spend four years of college life in a simple way. Before, I was indeed involved in a lot of trouble, but none of them was my proactive choice, and it can be said that they were forced."

Lu Zhengming nodded: "What about?"

"I really want to restore peace to my life and don't want to participate in any disputes anymore." Si Hongchu said this and breathed a long sigh: "I appreciate General Lu's kindness, but I can't obey my fate."

"You have to understand that this opportunity is very rare and many people want to fight for it." Lu Zhengming looked at Si Hongchu and said deeply: "It would be a pity that you just give up like this!"

"I know it's a pity, but everyone's values ​​are different, which means that my values ​​are different from others."

"Okay, since you said that, I'll analyze it from a more realistic perspective." Although Si Hongchu rejected it again, the conversation between the two made Lu Zhengming feel very comfortable: "Since you have been involved in some trouble in the past, who dares to say that there will be no trouble in the future? You will now have friction with Hongzhou and other forces. Do you think these disputes will end here?"

Si Hongchu was speechless when he first started: "This..."

"If there is another conflict in the future, how can you protect yourself and the people around you?" Lu Zhengming smiled and said with a smile: "In other words, the greatest benefit that you can bring to you is to protect yourself!"

"Let me do this, Chief Lu, it's a hasty answer to you now. Why don't you give me some time to think about it?"

"Okay." Lu Zhengming nodded: "I look forward to your joining."

The conversation was quite pleasant, and Lu Zhengming sent Si Hongchu back to school. Si Hongchu thought about it before and afterwards, he decided to go to Sikong You to ask for advice.

Although Sikong You taught in college, his life was a bit isolated from the world. This time Si Hongchu went there, he found that he had many guests there.

Seeing Si Hongchu, Sikong You sent all the guests away, and then asked with a smile: "What's the matter again?"

"I know who Zhaoyue is. She is one of the three concubines of Blood Moon, and my father's decent subordinate back then."

Sikong You nodded carelessly: "I understand, too."

"I asked you before, didn't you say you didn't know?"

"Since you've found out now, of course I can."

Si Hongchu said angrily: "Did you know it for a long time, but you just don't want to tell me?"

Sikong You smiled deeply: "Guess!"

Sikong You seemed to be intentionally making Si Hongchu angry. Si Hongchu looked at his eyes and couldn't tell which sentence was true.

So, Si Hongchu said thoughtfully: "Even if you don't say it on purpose, I can understand it. After all, I have to walk the road myself."

"I didn't expect that your ideological level has improved a lot."

"No matter what, I want to thank you." Si Hongchu smiled slightly: "You have helped me a lot."

Sikong You nodded slightly: "It's easy to say, it's easy to say."

"In this way, I have a question - Zhaoxue is missing, Zhaoyue is rebelling out of the Guantang, but where is Xuelong?"

"Because Zhaoxue disappeared, Zhaoyue suspected that it was your father's secret execution, so she rebelled, and the three concubines of Xueyue split. At that time, Xuelong watched coldly at these things, and made no statements, but just continued to perform his duties at the post." After a pause, Sikong You continued: "It was not long before your parents died, and at the same time, Xuelong also disappeared."

"What?" Si Hongchu was quite surprised by this answer. Two of his father's three capable subordinates disappeared, and the other was still deliberately trying to take his own life.

"If this is not the case, as long as there is one person in the Three Concubine Blood Moon, Ding Chengen will not take you to escape at night, at least it will make your life much more comfortable over the years." Sikong You said, sighing: "You have been in the deep mountains of Northeast China for so many years, and many factors are combined."

"So... where is Zhaoxue? Where is Xuelong?"

"Actually, I have been inquiring about it all these years, but there has never been any news about Zhao Xue. As for Xue Long..."

Si Hongchu hurriedly asked: "How is it?"

"This has to start from the beginning. Guguantang has many businesses, the main pillar is the financial and securities industry. Your father had a close relationship with Lingyang during his lifetime. One factor is that Ling's family also has a lot of cooperation with both parties on weekdays. Guguantang, Ling's family, and if Jingsi Cao's family are added, these three families can almost influence the economy of a region. At the same time, your father also has some businesses and allows the heads to run their own business. This is also considered the tradition of Guguantang. In this way, if the descendants of the heads cannot take over as heads, they can at least carry forward the business of their fathers and spread the branches and leaves of Guguantang." After a pause, Sikong You continued: "All these businesses are left to Xuelong to manage. In essence, Xuelong is a businessman."

Si Hongchu nodded thoughtfully: "The merchant valued profit!"

"That's right." Sikong You sighed and said helplessly: "Zhaoxue is infatuated with Zhaoyue Chongyi, Xuelong is different from them. Xuelong's business talent is almost unparalleled, but he only regards interests as his only pursuit. I now suspect that after the three concubines of Xueyue split, Si Hongyu began to gain a steady advantage, and Xuelong realized that Guguantang might be about to change the world."

"So she is willing to protect herself?"

"It is precisely because she has escaped from the world with your father's business. Maybe she lives a free life in some beautiful place." With a snorting, Sikong You continued: "Don't blame her, she has not rebelled, neither surrendered to Si Hongyu nor accompanied Zhaoyue. She has been loyal to your father."

"I understand." Si Hongchu smiled indifferently: "In this era, everything is profit-oriented, and you cannot have too many requirements for others. All loyalty is actually based on common interests and needs. It is precisely because of this that loyalty like you who is not driven by interests is rare."

Sikong You nodded with praise: "It is rare to have such an enlightenment at a young age."

"I have another thing on this topic. I want to ask you for advice." Without waiting for Sikong You to ask, Si Hongchu told Lu Zhengming's invitation, and then said: "I know that if I become Lu Zhengming's subordinate, my life will turn a new page. I will gain more powerful strength and face more opportunities, but..."

Sikong You interrupted Si Hongchu's words: "But your simple life in the past will be completely destroyed."

"That's right." Si Hongchu nodded heavily: "I really have no ambitions. When I first learned about my life experience, I was very conflicted. It took me a long time to make up my mind and decide to get back what should belong to me. As for Lu Zhengming's side..."

Sikong You took Si Hongchu's words and said, "This is a completely unexpected thing. If you agree, it means you may be involved in more dangerous games in the future."

"yes."

"Your requirements are really simple..." Sikong You looked at Si Hongchu, changed the subject and suddenly asked: "You have read a lot of books in the mountains of Northeast China, so I will test you now. Do you know the Masno theory?"

"It is a theory that studies the needs structure of human beings. It believes that life is divided into five levels. The lowest level is physiological needs, that is, eating, drinking, defecating, urinating, and sleeping. When this need is met, it will enter the second level - safety needs, that is, there must be a psychological and physical security guarantee; the next is the third level - belonging needs. After all, people are group animals, and they must have their own social circle and have a sense of identity based on the group, region, nation or country. The first three levels are the most basic, and the fourth level is the need for honor. When you meet the first three levels, you need to gain spiritual gains. Career success, respect from others or reputation brings to you are all honorary. The highest fifth level is the realization of self-worth, and there is nothing to explain."

“Which level are you at?”

"Me?" Si Hongchu smiled: "I am a poor student recruitment, which is good enough to meet the most basic survival needs. Of course, I have invested in Zhongyuan Pharmaceutical and have collected hundreds of thousands of cash from all aspects. I don't have to worry about food and drink, but I can only be limited to the second level. I am facing too many troubles and safety is a problem, so my level cannot be higher."

"In fact, these five levels do not need to be met one by one. Some people have been at a high level since the beginning. They may even be a problem with eating and drinking, but they have been pursuing self-realization." Looking at Si Hongchu, Sikong You said meaningfully: "For example, after you know your life experience, what do you think of Guguantang?"

"I am a member of Guguantang. I am proud to be born in such a family, although I may not be able to return to Guguantang for the rest of my life."

"You see, that means you already have the third level of attribution needs, and the fourth level of honor needs."

"It makes sense." Si Hongchu nodded, looking at Sikong You's gaze, and couldn't help but feel a little admiration.

This kind of old guy can act as a think tank for the two major families. After all, he is not an ordinary person, and his words are justified.

"Okay, now let's talk about the next topic. Have you read "Journey to the West"?"

"Of course." Si Hongchu was a little confused. Masno's five levels of life and the classical masterpiece "Journey to the West" were two unrelated concepts, and Sikong You's topic span was too large.
Chapter completed!