Chapter 78: The Grandson Has a Proper Way to Take It
“Forgive me for asking, are you a relative of Xiao Ran, or his subordinate?”
“I am the legal specialist for President Guo’s company.” Liang Bo lied with a straight face. “It’s like this: we’re meeting for the first time, and I’m just speaking on the facts. That is to say, when President Guo has large sums of money coming in or out, we definitely have to pay attention. Please don’t mind. I have to ask you one more question: are you intending to gift this money to President Guo?”
The old man raised his eyebrows and laughed lightly. “Yes, of course.”
Liang Bo immediately followed up, “Then are you aware that President Guo has no kinship with you? For him to accept an unconditional gift from you carries a risk of dispute.”
The old man was a bit speechless. He stared at him for a few seconds before speaking, “Xiao Ran is the biological father of my own grandson. My own money, gifted to him—others can’t interfere, right?”
“No, no, it’s not like that.” Liang Bo waved his hand with a serious face. “First, legally speaking, there is no marital relationship between President Guo and your son. Therefore, he and you are just ordinary social acquaintances. If you get along, you’re friends; if you don’t, you aren’t even old acquaintances. For you to now take such a large deposit under your name and gift it all at once to President Guo is unreasonable, you understand?”
Elder Yan waved his hand impatiently. “Fine, fine. Young man, you don’t understand; don’t mess around blindly. This isn’t law; it’s human sentiment. Your President Guo raised the child alone with so much hardship. As a grandfather, expressing my gratitude—what’s the problem?”
Liang Bo squeezed in with a grin, sitting between Guo Ran and Elder Yan. He lowered his body as much as possible to keep his gaze level with the old man’s. “It’s possible, completely no problem… I have no intention of stopping you from thanking President Guo.”
Elder Yan picked up the bank card and handed it toward Uncle Guo again.
The “fake” legal specialist, Comrade Xiao Liang, “intercepted” it for the second time mid-way, forcibly discussing it with the old gentleman beside him. “Your meaning is that this money is intended to compensate President Guo for the expenses of raising Mr. Guo Duoyu, right?”
“Exactly!” Elder Yan took a deep breath and slapped his thigh. “That’s exactly what I mean.”
Liang Bo nodded repeatedly and advised earnestly, “Then that’s easy to handle, easy to handle… My meaning is, you see, when giving money, it should be given clearly. I… I’ll immediately help you issue an ‘Overdue Child Support Payment Agreement.’ It will state that this five hundred thousand is being given to President Guo as payment for Mr. Guo Duoyu’s child support.”
Elder Yan stared at him, dumbfounded, and didn’t make a sound.
Liang Bo pulled out his phone, opened the calculator, and explained while doing the math. “As far as I know, Mr. Guo Duoyu is currently in the stage of further studies and has no personal income. He relies entirely on his family… that is, the support from President Guo’s side to maintain his life. He is twenty-four years old this year… ah… this… if five hundred thousand is converted to each year… that’s 20,833 yuan. If we break it down by month, it’s equivalent to you paying 1,675 yuan in child support for him every month. Heh… this… it’s indeed not much, but it’s a token of your heart, and you’ve done your best. I understand, I understand… I’m not saying it’s too little. The key is that with this agreement, your gift can be protected by law. This way, in the future, your son, your son’s partner, and others who have a legal inheritance relationship with you can no longer reclaim this fee. It can effectively avoid subsequent legal disputes over money… you understand, right? Elder, if you think this is okay, I’ll go print the agreement right now. Sign on the spot, effective on the spot.”
Elder Yan’s gaze went from confusion to disbelief, and finally showed an unacceptable and very sad expression. He looked toward Uncle Guo. “Xiao Ran, do you feel there’s a need to be this formal?”
Uncle Guo looked at Liang Bo, then went along with the flow. “There really isn’t much need; Guo Duoyu is already an adult. Besides, sixteen hundred… sigh! High or low, it’s a token of your heart. I’m fine with whatever.”
Elder Yan was asking if there was a “need” to sign an agreement and be so distant.
Uncle Guo’s answer was that this money was already “unnecessary” to him.
Both were playing the fool while being perfectly aware of the other’s true thoughts.
Liang Bo sat in the middle and urged with a thick skin, “Then how about we do it my way? I’ll go print the agreement for the two of you.”
Elder Yan gave a tearful, bitter smile. “Heh… fine, I came too late. If you feel it’s ‘unnecessary,’ then forget it.”
After speaking, he took back the savings card and stood up dejectedly. “I won’t stay here and disturb you then.”
Uncle Guo also stood up, seeing the guest off perfunctorily. “Take care, Elder. Xiao Liang, help me see Mr. Yan out… help Mr. Yan call a taxi.”
“No problem, don’t worry, you go back to your business.” Liang Bo’s actions were attentive and his manner enthusiastic. He used one hand to guide Elder Yan toward the door.
As he walked, he tapped on his phone, chasing after the old man to explain, “Actually, about this matter… you don’t necessarily have to discuss it with President Guo. Mr. Guo Duoyu is already an adult, after all; we can talk to him directly.”
Elder Yan shook his head and sighed, not making a sound.
While they were waiting for the elevator, Guo Duoyu’s side finally picked up the phone. A loud voice erupted from Liang Bo’s phone speaker: “Wai? I’m in class, what’s up?”
Liang Bo was startled. “Young Master Guo, why has your accent changed?”
“I met a fellow townsman from the Northeast here!” Guo Duoyu laughed heartily. “How did you think to call me?”
Liang Bo laughed along. “There’s definitely something if I’m calling you. It’s your grandfather who came; he wants to give you some money and asked if you want it?”
“Ah?” Guo Duoyu was shocked. “Don’t talk nonsense! Where did I get a grandfather?”
Elder Yan had already stepped one foot into the elevator. Hearing this, he could only step back and wave his hand in apology to the passengers inside.
Then he turned to Liang Bo’s phone and spoke with sincere emotion, “Child, I am the father of your father, Yan Xin. I am your biological grandfather.”
Guo Duoyu realized. “Oh, oh, it’s Mr. Yan. I’ve heard so much… ah, no, I should say I’ve been disrespectful. That… didn’t we agree? Our interactions are one thing, but there’s no need to disturb my dad’s life. I’m not blaming you; I mainly want to express… it hasn’t been easy for my dad to raise me all these years. If you and Professor Yan harass my dad just because you have some blood relationship with me, that’s particularly unreasonable.”
Elder Yan sighed mournfully. “I haven’t harassed your father. On the contrary, I hope to do my best to compensate for the family affection you’ve missed all these years. Especially you, child… I’m almost eighty years old. I heard you don’t come back to the country often. I don’t know if I’ll ever have the chance to see you again in this lifetime.”
Guo Duoyu gave two bitter laughs and played along with the misery. “It’s not that I don’t want to come back; the key is the airfare is too expensive! And the cost of living here in Dubai is particularly high. The time cost of going back converted into Dirhams is enough to buy half a car here. My dad also doesn’t allow me to work while studying, so my spending is really tight. I was even thinking of secretly working two jobs during the winter break this year to try and save up for a second-hand car for commuting; second-hand cars are quite cheap here…”
Guo Duoyu rambled further and further.
His biological grandfather’s heart ached more and more as he listened. “How much more do you need to buy a car?”
“Not much, I can handle it. Sigh! Class is starting. If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up. If we have the chance to meet in the future, we’ll talk again.”
After saying that, Guo Duoyu decisively hung up the phone.
He left Elder Yan deep in thought, who then waved his hand at Liang Bo. “Young man, just send me to here.”
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