1935 was a significant year for the People's Party. It was the 30th anniversary of the party's founding. Steel production broke 30 million tons, and the population exceeded 700 million. Per capita grain production exceeded 400 jin. A series of major statistics proved that China already had the capacity to fight a world war.

However, in this year, Shang Yuan and Zhang Yu fell ill one after another. Thirty years ago, Shang Yuan was the second oldest member of the People's Party senior leadership, only younger than Yan Fu. Now he was nearly 70. After falling ill, Shang Yuan proposed resigning from all posts within the Party and the government. His work was taken over by Li Shouxian. Zhang Yu was about the same age as Chen Ke, but like Shang Yuan, he developed heart problems. Zhang Yu also requested long-term convalescence.

At this time, the People's Party's "Looking South" plan was entering a critical moment. The naval limitation treaty would expire on December 31, 1936. China's new generation of warships had basically been finalized. At this moment, more than 800,000 tons of warships were under construction simultaneously on major slipways across China. The deadline was the end of 1936. On every large warship of the People's Navy, there were two people for one post, three for one post, or even four for one post.

At such a critical moment, the withdrawal of Shang Yuan and Zhang Yu from the front lines made Chen Ke feel quite uneasy. Even though Li Shouxian became Acting Premier, Wu Xiangyu became Vice Premier, Li Runshi served as Foreign Minister and concurrently as Minister of Propaganda, and Gu Weijun became the de facto Acting Foreign Minister, these personnel arrangements did not give Chen Ke much comfort. In at most ten years, the first generation of leaders of the People's Party would enter their twilight years. The first generation was close in age, and it was very likely that a situation would arise where a large number of leading cadres would withdraw from the front lines at the same time. The unknowable consequences brought about by huge personnel changes required strengthening the construction of the second echelon. But the future war might not end by 1946. Only Heaven knew what kind of things would be encountered then.

Fear was meaningless. Chen Ke had long since lost any feeling towards death. This was not the result of time travel. He had realized a fact when he was very young: since death is inevitable, worrying about death is just disturbing oneself. "When Yanwang calls you to leave at the third watch, who dares to keep you until dawn?" What Chen Ke was uneasy about was merely whether the strategy he had condensed his whole life into could be successfully executed.

History had not changed much. The little mustache, that Man of Destiny, still became the Führer of Germany. The German Communist Party refused the line of connecting with the masses, persisted in taking that weak upper-class and urban struggle path, and insisted on pasting the label of "absolute justice" on their own faces. In front of the Nazi Party, which had mobilized the German masses and established the Stormtroopers, they suffered a crushing defeat.

As for the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt's family had long ago internally decided on him as the candidate for president. Things that these fathers and uncles had discussed long ago naturally could not be disrupted. Even if Roosevelt got polio and was paralyzed, this was not a problem. The Great Depression was in 1934. Roosevelt officially took office with the support of his elders, and after taking office, he began to implement the "Recovery Plan."

Chen Ke did not pay too much attention to Roosevelt's New Deal. This New Deal would fall into a major economic crisis again by 1937. Roosevelt did indeed restrain the exorbitant taxation and tyranny of the financial plutocrats, but without changing the essence of the capitalist system, the United States was still borrowing national debt to engage in development. To put it plainly, it was still letting the laborers pay the bill for the capitalists. Without World War II releasing America's productivity, the outcome of the New Deal would probably not be much better.

At this time, China had only one strategic goal: the Dutch East Indies. Historically, the United States only began to expand its armaments in 1938 and only possessed relatively powerful military strength in 1940. China's military construction had its own methods. Army commanders were all trained at the grassroots level, then entered military academies for advanced studies, and military academy graduates also received grassroots work assignments. In this respect, China not only far exceeded Japan and Britain, but even far exceeded the United States. Among these three countries, Japanese and British soldiers had no chance to become officers, and American soldiers were also basically cut off from becoming officers.

Eliminating the Netherlands in 1937 would give China a relatively sufficient amount of time to complete the subsequent strategic deployment. Even Chen Ke felt uneasy about a total war. Even though from any angle, there was no possibility of China failing, the feeling of unease was still difficult to dispel.

At this time, his daughter's marriage made Chen Ke feel that he was truly old. The groom was a classmate of Chen Ke's daughter, a nice person, studying mathematics. After graduating from university, he worked in statistics at the grassroots level for three years. Now he had returned to school for postgraduate studies. When this child saw Chen Ke for the first time, his face went a bit pale from nervousness.

After the meeting ended, He Ying scolded Chen Ke, "Why were you keeping a straight face? Look how you scared that child!"

Chen Ke thought to himself, In such a situation where we are about to go to war immediately, I really can't smile. Moreover, that child is too tender, looking like a silly child doing academic research. I like the strong and powerful type.

He Ying had been husband and wife with Chen Ke for so many years, how could she not know Chen Ke's thoughts? She advised, "That child looks a bit weak, but his character is good."

Chen Ke did not quite agree with this view. "Marriage is for living life. The big lazy one orders the small lazy one, and the small lazy one stares in anger. Struggle is omnipresent."

"Come, come, come! Tell me, what kind of struggle method is it!" He Ying immediately questioned her husband unceremoniously.

Chen Ke knew that He Ying wanted to amuse him. He finally couldn't help but smile bitterly. "Look, in our family, you, my dear matriarch, are the head of the household. Whatever you tell the three of us to do, we still try our best to obey."

He Ying was amused to the point of anger. "When have the three of you ever listened to my words! Let's not talk about your daughter, she has battled wits and courage with me since childhood. The son is even more disobedient. As for you, when have you ever truly listened to me? How come I don't know about it?"

Young couples become companions in old age. The bickering between He Ying and Chen Ke was becoming more frequent. Chen Ke also knew that He Ying wasn't really angry; she never spoke when she was truly angry. Chen Ke smiled, "Alright, alright. Every family has its own difficult scripture to read. You women are born to maintain the family. I really have no objection to our daughter's marriage. I'll only say one thing. I don't know much about that child. The only problem lies in the fact that I don't know if, in his heart, he feels he is marrying classmate Chen Qianru, or marrying Chen Ke's daughter. I sincerely hope he holds the former attitude. If he holds the mentality of becoming a Fuma, I absolutely cannot agree to this matter."

Hearing Chen Ke's words, He Ying did not refute him anymore. Back then, her aunt He Qian married into the Sun family. Sun Yongsheng flipped his face as soon as the He family had an accident because he didn't have the intention of truly taking a wife. Sun Yongsheng also didn't take a clear stand to protect his wife He Qian, which led to the tragedy. Chen Ke's worry was not without reason. The Imperial family is the most ruthless, not because they are inherently ruthless, but because the people around them are never tolerant towards these people. If the communist era described by Marx could be reached, marriage would only be an emotional issue between a man and a woman, not involving interests. At that time, whether life was good or not would be a problem for the two people, and conflicts of interest and family contradictions would be matters between the two people. It was far from reaching that era now. Once family interest issues were dragged in, things would be troublesome. Even if that child treated Chen Ke with the same mentality that Chen Ke treated his father-in-law He Ruming, Chen Ke could accept it.

Finally, under Chen Qianru's command, the boy seriously paid a formal visit to his prospective father-in-law Chen Ke once. Even though he was still timid, he at least very sincerely expressed his attitude to Chen Ke, wanting to live with Chen Qianru and build a family together. Having at least heard the words he wanted to hear, and seeing that Chen Qianru's attitude was still very firm, Chen Ke could only agree.

At this time, the People's Party had already implemented the policy of "Practicing Strict Economy." Especially for Party members and civil servants, weddings absolutely could not be extravagant. Chen Ke also didn't like grand banquets. When not discussing work, Chen Ke would rather stay alone reading books than participate in so many social activities. Marriage was just getting a certificate, taking a photo, having a meal with relatives and friends from both sides, and holding a small tea-serving ceremony.

The other party's parents were high-level intellectuals working in Hebei, and they were extraordinarily respectful towards Chen Ke, a senior in the scientific community. Chen Ke was not polite either. He asked amiably, "I have this plan, to provide a sum of money for the children to buy a house."

The two were stunned upon hearing this. Chen Ke's in-law mother tentatively said, "Chairman Chen, since our children are married, I'll call you Big Brother. Big Brother Chen, do you want the children to buy a house in Zhengzhou?"

"Whether buying in Zhengzhou or in Hebei is not the problem. I feel that since the children are married, they must have their own house," Chen Ke replied.

The other party wasn't stupid. They understood immediately that Chen Ke hoped the children could live independently. In these years, more and more children were setting up their own households to live. At least in the cities, large clans were in a state of complete disintegration. Chen Ke's in-laws agreed readily, "We will provide the money to buy this house."

Chen Ke smiled. "Why should we pay? Let them apply for a loan themselves. If we old fogies must pay, in this era men and women are equal, so let's each pay half."

Seeing Chen Ke's attitude was so firm, the other party couldn't help but smile. "Big Brother Chen, rest assured, we will definitely treat Qianru like our own daughter."

Chen Ke thought to himself, Stop bullshitting me. Saying 'like our own daughter' obviously means you want my daughter to serve you like her own parents. Leaving aside whether my daughter is willing or not, I first of all cannot accept it. Thinking of this, Chen Ke smiled, "In modern industrial society, raising children to provide for old age is not very realistic. When we are old, they will have elders above and little ones below. We should still rely more on ourselves and not bother them. I don't even count on this child to take care of me. If they can live their own lives well, I'll thank Heaven and Earth!"

Hearing Chen Ke's words, although Chen Ke's in-laws forced a smile, their expressions were not very good. They tentatively said, "I think let's buy the house in Hebei."

"That's fine!" Chen Ke did not tangle over this matter. As long as they lived separately, there would be no issues. Contradictions are omnipresent. Daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law have natural contradictions. This is fundamentally not a problem that can be solved by reason and rationality.

After marrying off his daughter, Chen Ke felt incredibly unhappy in his heart. He Ying also secretly shed tears. Chen Ke could only speak more with He Ying. "Children growing up must build their own families. Natural law, natural law. In a few years, you'll be a grandmother! Having a little grandson, how interesting that will be."

He Ying burst out laughing with tears in her eyes. "Wen Qing, what you say isn't wrong, but I still feel bad in my heart."

"Don't feel bad, I'm still here. When I retire, I'll accompany you every day. Let's the two of us live to be a hundred!" Chen Ke held his wife's hand and started talking about all sorts of unrealistic silly things.

"Living to a hundred, we'd be tired to death. Not to mention that much, what can we still do after living past seventy?" He Ying also held Chen Ke's hand and said slowly.

"After living past seventy, we can wait for death," Chen Ke smiled.

He Ying sighed. "It seems that's the only way." After saying this, He Ying leaned against Chen Ke. "When the time comes, it would be quite good if we could just sit leaning against each other like this every day. But Wen Qing, can you really retire?"

Chen Ke dared not talk big anymore. With his work, being able to retire would be a joke. The leaders of the major powers in WWII: Roosevelt died at his post; Uncle Steel lived through WWII but also died at his post; the Little Mustache could be considered to have died for his country; Fatty Qiu could blow his own trumpet about being the WWII wartime Prime Minister, but he was fundamentally not the leader of Britain. As for De Gaulle, he was just the head of the Free French resistance movement, far from being the leader of France.

Sitting in this position, one must have this consciousness: risk this life to serve the country.

Chen Ke embraced He Ying. "As long as I have free time, I will accompany you. In case I'm lucky enough to get sick, finding a chance to slack off, you must accompany me."

He Ying grabbed Chen Ke's arm. "What nonsense are you talking about? I don't want you to get sick." Of course, she didn't know that what her husband was thinking of at this time was US President Roosevelt. This old man had numerous lovers. When he died, the one by Roosevelt's side was one of Roosevelt's mistresses, not Roosevelt's wife. For this matter, Roosevelt's wife never forgave Roosevelt until her death.

Even when discussing family matters, Chen Ke's thoughts would involuntarily turn to work. In the future, China's greatest opponent would be the United States. Now he had to consider the possibility of war with the United States and begin to make comprehensive preparations.

However, on July 7, 1935, a piece of news came from the Dutch East Indies. Several large Chinese oil palm plantations in the local area were attacked, with heavy casualties. The Dutch East Indies authorities not only did not investigate immediately but instead sealed up several plantations on the grounds that Chinese pioneers illegally possessed large quantities of weapons.

After this news reached China, the Chinese side was shaken. What were the Dutch trying to do? Chinese compatriots, especially oil palm plantations with Chinese official backgrounds, being attacked was a completely different matter from the Bank of China being made things difficult for. The bank issue was a matter of financial sovereignty between nations; the People's Party could not use that as an excuse to start a war no matter what. But after plantations were attacked and lives were lost, the Dutch authorities began to make things difficult for Chinese capital. Even placed on the international stage, this could be used as an excuse for war.

Could it be that someone inside the Dutch East Indies wanted to "collude with the Communists and sell out the Dutch"?