Matthew King broke out in a cold sweat, wiping his forehead as he spoke. “You really overestimate me. What big shot? I’m embarrassed—my dad is just a deputy division-level cadre, totally incomparable to the The Ford Family patriarch. He’s not even qualified to carry his shoes.”

“Don’t even mention Old Mr. Ford, even Samantha Ford’s father’s generation are all remarkable figures. Let me tell you, her dad is a high-ranking Deputy Director of the National Planning Commission, a full ministerial-level leader, and is rumored to be a top candidate for Vice Premier in the State Council. Her second uncle is a field division commander, about to be promoted to Major General and Deputy Army Commander; her aunt works in a national political advisory body, and her uncle is impressive too—he’s the seventh-ranking official in Jiangnan Province.”

Matthew King rambled on, while Brian Perry listened intently.

The information Matthew King revealed was basically consistent with what he had known in his previous life.

The The Ford Family in the capital was a top-tier red aristocratic family. Old Mr. Ford was currently at the core of high-level power. He had two sons and a daughter: the eldest, Thomas Ford, was Deputy Director of the National Planning Commission, a high-ranking ministerial official, and would later become Vice Premier of a major nation; the second son, Benjamin Ford, was a field division commander who later became Deputy Army Commander, Army Commander, and Political Commissar of a major military region, ultimately reaching the rank of General; the youngest daughter, Sarah Ford, though only a regular division-level cadre in a national political advisory body, had a husband who was a major official—the seventh-ranking official in Jiangnan Province, who would later be promoted to Party Secretary of the capital, becoming one of the few dozen people in the outer core of high-level power.

Brian Perry judged that his own father, Eric Perry, was likely the son Old Mr. Ford lost during the war, the second in line, and the true second son of Mr. Ford.

“So, buddy, I advise you to give up on this idea. There are beautiful women everywhere—why go after someone so far out of our league… Besides, we’re not even qualified to approach her.” As Matthew King pulled Brian Perry toward the train station square, he earnestly tried to persuade him.

Brian Perry gave a wry smile and pulled his hand away. “You rascal, always scheming. I just asked you about one person, and you go off on all this nonsense. I’m looking for Samantha Ford for something important, not for any of those messy reasons you’re thinking of!”

“Oh, I see!” Matthew King was momentarily stunned, then chuckled. “But a girl of that level isn’t someone just anyone can meet.”

……

……

At Matthew King’s home, Brian Perry sat with the 1990, Issue 8 of “Huaxia Spring and Autumn,” which published Mr. Ford’s memoirs, carefully cross-checking the evidence he had on hand, confirming everything beyond doubt.

The evidence he had included a handwritten letter from Mr. Ford, a jade pendant with a dragon pattern, and the birth date and time… all enough to prove his father’s identity. The key issue, however, was how to deliver all this evidence directly and flawlessly to Mr. Ford himself, without a single mistake.

With his current status, he had no chance of meeting Mr. Ford. Even the second generation of the The Ford Family was out of his reach. The only possible breakthrough was through Samantha Ford.

But how to meet Samantha Ford, how she would react to such earth-shattering news, whether she would help him, and whether the The Ford Family would agree to acknowledge their kinship… all of these were unknowns. Even with ample evidence, for a red aristocratic family like the The Ford Family, recognizing a relative would be handled with extreme caution, with many variables in between.

No matter what, Samantha Ford was an absolutely crucial person for Brian Perry; he had to find a way to meet her alone.

Chapter 008: Tai Chi Coach (Part 1)

But how to get in touch with Samantha Ford was a problem.

If it weren’t summer vacation, Brian Perry might have been able to think of something, but it was currently the summer break, and Samantha Ford wasn’t at school. As the saying goes, “the gates of a wealthy family are as deep as the sea”—how could the The Ford Family’s young lady be someone an ordinary person could meet?

Even someone like Matthew King, a cadre’s son from the capital, rarely had the chance to cross paths with Samantha Ford.

Matthew King had no idea what Brian Perry really wanted with Samantha Ford, but he was powerless to help.

Brian Perry spent a night at the The King Family, but still couldn’t figure out a way to meet Samantha Ford. However, an offhand remark from Matthew King gave Brian Perry an idea.

Matthew King mentioned that Samantha Ford was a member of the Tai Chi team at Jinghua University, and that she might often go to the school gym for training during the summer. Brian Perry decided to try his luck at his alma mater the next morning.

Early the next day, Brian Perry set out alone for Jinghua University, which he had left less than a month ago.

Beneath the red walls and green tiles, the ancient, ornately carved and painted school gate gave the impression of a government office rather than a school—this was precisely what set this top, century-old institution apart.

Entering the familiar campus, he hurried straight to the training facilities in the southwest corner.

On the open basketball court to the left, two teams were locked in an intense game, while on the right, many people were practicing the currently popular qigong to the sound of melodious music. Of course, there were also a dozen or so people practicing Tai Chi in the morning.