147: Chapter 147 Turmoil

Chen Youhua wanted to take advantage of the rare leisure time during the holiday to relax at home for a few days, sleep in, watch TV with his parents, and enjoy the long-lost family warmth.

However, his current status and influence had long since made him more than just an ordinary son.

News of his return spread quickly through his relatives' circle via his parents' inadvertent sharing of joy, triggering a series of unexpected contacts.

The first to call was his Eldest Aunt.

On the other end of the phone, Eldest Aunt's voice was full of anxiety and helplessness.

"Youhua, you're finally back! Eldest Aunt is really at her wit's end, you have to help your younger brother Xiao Jie!"

Chen Youhua's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly asked.

"Eldest Aunt, don't worry, take your time. What happened to Xiao Jie?"

"Sigh! That child refuses to attend high school anymore. He's on his phone all day and night, saying he wants to play professional e-sports! Saying he can make big money!"

"No matter what your Uncle and I say, he won't listen. We've hit him, we've scolded him, but he's set in his ways! What are we going to do!"

Eldest Aunt's voice carried a sob.

"Youhua, you're a big scientist now, you've seen the world and your words carry weight. Can you help Eldest Aunt talk some sense into him?"

"Or... see if it's convenient on your end to find him an internship somewhere, let him suffer a bit so he knows making money isn't easy? At least let him scrape by to get a high school diploma..."

Chen Youhua listened, his brow furrowing slightly.

Eldest Aunt had been extremely good to him since he was a child, always remembering him when there was something delicious, and giving him a big red envelope every Lunar New Year. She especially favored him, and he always remembered these things.

But this matter...

Asking him to persuade a rebellious teenager to turn back? Or arrange an internship for a minor? This was clearly not according to the rules, nor was it his forte.

He pondered for a moment, not directly refusing or preaching, but using a more guiding approach.

"Eldest Aunt, don't worry yet. At Xiao Jie's age, it's normal to have his own ideas and even be a bit rebellious."

"The e-sports industry is indeed developing very fast now and has become formalized. It's no longer just the pure indulgence that saps one's will that we used to think it was."

"Huh? You're actually speaking up for him?" Eldest Aunt was clearly surprised.

"I'm not speaking for him, I'm looking at it objectively."

Chen Youhua explained patiently.

"How about this—it's better to guide than to block. I know a bit about it; there are some very professional e-sports youth training camps or vocational schools now with very strict management. They treat e-sports as a profession to train for."

"Daily training hours, theoretical study, tactical reviews, and physical exercise all have rigid targets. The intensity is very high, far from being as easy and fun as playing games at home."

He paused and gave a suggestion.

"Since Xiao Jie likes it so much and even treats it as a dream, why not support him to give it a try?"

"Find a legitimate, reliable e-sports school and send him there to experience firsthand what a so-called profession is really like."

"If he can really endure that hardship and has the talent to persevere, then it could be a way forward in the future—at least it's a serious career."

"If he can't stand it after a few days and plays games until he wants to vomit, then he'll naturally know to turn back. That's more effective than us saying ten thousand words."

There was silence on the other end for a while; Eldest Aunt was clearly still torn.

"This... sending him to play games? Is this... reliable? If the neighbors find out..."

"Eldest Aunt, times have changed. It's not unheard of for e-sports experts to have annual salaries of millions or tens of millions. Of course, those are the very few at the top."

"But we have to give the child a chance to make mistakes and recognize himself. It's better than him being at a stalemate with you at home like this, not going to school, and regretting it in the future, right?"

Chen Youhua continued to persuade.

"The key is to choose the right legitimate institution to avoid being cheated."

After much persuasion, almost analyzing the current state of the e-sports industry, career paths, and the hardship of training thoroughly, he finally got the traditional-minded Eldest Aunt to reluctantly accept this fighting fire with fire plan, and she agreed to look into legitimate e-sports schools.

Just after hanging up Eldest Aunt's call, before he could have a moment of peace, the phone rang again. It was Second Maternal Aunt.

"Youhua! Happy New Year! I heard you're back? That's wonderful!"

Second Maternal Aunt's voice was enthusiastic.

"There's something I absolutely must ask for your help with! Your younger sister Niu Niu—sigh, she's in the third grade of primary school, and her math grades are a total mess!"

"Every exam she's just hovering around the passing line. Her dad and I are worried sick! We've hired several tutors, but the results weren't good."

Second Maternal Aunt paused, her tone becoming incredibly expectant.

"Youhua, you're the mathematician of our Chen Family! Teaching a primary schooler should be a piece of cake for you, right?"

"Since you're back for a few days, can you find some time to tutor your younger sister? Just a little pointer would do! Maybe one word from you will make it click for her!"

Chen Youhua almost saw stars.

Asking him to teach the Navier-Stokes Equation or design neural interfaces was no problem, but asking him to teach a primary schooler how to solve Chickens and Rabbits in the Same Cage or fraction word problems?

He likely didn't even know how to communicate with children as well as an ordinary normal school student.

He massaged his temples, trying to keep his tone gentle.

"Second Maternal Aunt, it's not that I'm unwilling to help."

"It's mainly that I'm only staying for a few short days this time, time is tight, and I'll have to leave again soon."

"Niu Niu's learning issues can't be solved by one or two tutoring sessions; they require systematic and continuous effort."

He changed the subject and proposed a solution.

"How about this, don't worry."

"I know some friends at the Normal University, or through the education system, I can help you contact a truly experienced special-grade teacher or gold-medal tutor who is good at guiding primary schoolers."

"They are more professional and have better methods to stimulate a child's interest in learning. Don't worry about the cost; I'll arrange it."

After quite a bit of soothing and promising, Second Maternal Aunt finally hung up the phone with a bit of regret but full of hope, looking forward to the super tutor Chen Youhua would arrange.

Immediately after, the phone seemed to become a hotline.

Aunts and Uncles, near and far relatives, all sorts of requests came flooding in.

There was a Second Cousin who wanted to use connections to get his son into a good unit—declined.

There was a Distant Paternal Cousin whose business had cash flow problems and wanted to borrow some money for an emergency; after a careful assessment.

Claiming personal financial tightness, Chen Youhua stated he could lend a small amount but only through formal loan procedures, leading the other party to hang up while hemming and hawing.

There were even relatives several times removed who, hearing he knew big leaders, wanted him to help pass on some materials.

He sternly refused them, telling them they should follow formal legal channels.

For those requests from close relatives who had indeed been kind to his family in the past, Chen Youhua would still listen patiently.

Within his capabilities and without violating principles, he would find ways to help solve things in a more reasonable manner or provide advice.

For those distant relatives who had no real connection and just wanted to take advantage of his success, or for clearly unreasonable requests, he was exceptionally calm or even a bit cold, refusing directly and bluntly, leaving no room for illusions.

After finishing the series of calls, Chen Youhua leaned back on the sofa and let out a long sigh, with an unmaskable fatigue on his face.

This entanglement of social obligations—how did coming home end up more tiring than being in the lab?

He rubbed the bridge of his nose and said to his mother, who was busy in the kitchen.

"Mom, I just came back wanting to rest quietly for a few days. I didn't come back specifically to help people solve family trivialities, schooling, or employment issues."

"Can you... please mention it to the relatives and let me have some peace for a few days? I really need to rest."

Mother Chen had just brought out a plate of washed fruit from the kitchen. Hearing her son's words and seeing the rare look of exhaustion on his face, she was momentarily stunned.

She only then realized that because she and her husband were so happy, they couldn't help but mention to the relatives over the phone that their son was back, not expecting it would bring such great trouble to him.

Heartache and guilt immediately appeared on her face. She quickly put down the fruit plate and walked over.

"Look at me, I was just so happy... Youhua, I'm sorry."

"Mom didn't know they were so... Mom will go into the group chat right now and tell them. No one is allowed to bother you with anything anymore! You just rest well at home!"

Saying this, Mother Chen immediately took out her phone, her fingers tapping and swiping on the screen, and sent several voice messages in the Family WeChat Group in a serious tone.

The general idea was that Youhua was back on vacation, his work was very tiring and he needed absolute quiet, and no one was allowed to disturb his rest with trivial matters anymore, and so forth.

After sending the messages, Mother Chen, feeling sorry for her son, peeled an apple for him.

"Hurry and eat some fruit, ignore them. Mom promises, you don't have to pick up anyone's calls from now on!"

Seeing his mother's apologetic and protective manner, the bit of irritation in Chen Youhua's heart dissipated.

He took the apple and took a bite. The sweet juice filled his mouth. The warmth of home and the touch of mundane life—perhaps this was what the New Year was about.