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Jiang Chengyu and Fu Chenglin hadn’t chatted for long before the kitchen was filled with a burnt smell.
Madam Jiang was making braised fish, and the soup had dried up, sticking to the pot.
She frantically turned off the heat, not wanting to lose face in front of the younger generation. She shoved the spatula in her hand into Old Master Jiang’s hand. “Oh, you, at your age, you can burn a dish. Aren’t you ashamed? If you can’t cook fish, don’t stand here making things worse, honestly. Never mind, I’m scolding you, but it’s not easy for you either.”
Old Master Jiang: “...”
He happened to be holding the pot with one hand and the spatula with the other. No one would believe him if he said he hadn’t cooked the fish.
Madam Jiang gave him a look, asking him to take the blame.
Old Master Jiang lifted the pot lid to look, and could only take responsibility for the burnt pot. In fact, even if his wife didn’t say anything, he would have taken the blame, knowing she cared about appearances.
He looked at the fish pot with no water in it. “Next time, I’ll know how much water to add.”
“Grandpa, it has nothing to do with how much water you add. The heat was too high; you should stew fish on low heat.” Li Zheng turned to look at Fu Chenglin. “Am I right?”
She looked for praise.
Fu Chenglin: “When have you ever been wrong?”
“Haha.”
Li Zheng took advantage and feigned modesty, nudging Fu Chenglin with her shoulder.
Shen Tang had actually seen Madam Jiang slipping the spatula into Old Master Jiang’s hand. She pretended not to see anything and lowered her head to sort the bok choy in her hands.
Jiang Chengyu realized that his parents really couldn’t cook edible dishes and were just getting in the way.
He told his parents to put down what they were doing. “Fu Chenglin and I will cook. You two go out.”
Since being with Li Zheng, Fu Chenglin’s cooking skills had improved by leaps and bounds in the past six months. From initially only being able to make two dishes, he could now make six, just enough for the family.
Jiang Chengyu’s cooking was mediocre, but definitely better than anyone else in the family.
Madam Jiang and Old Master Jiang went to play chess, leaving the kitchen to the younger generation to experiment.
Jiang Chengyu put on an apron. “Shen Tang.”
He walked next to her, turning his back to her. “Help me tie the apron.”
His arms were long enough to tie it himself, but he still insisted on her help.
Shen Tang put down the greens, rinsed her hands, and used his face as a towel, wiping her hands on his cheek.
Jiang Chengyu’s cheeks were covered in water. Just as he was about to raise his hands to hug her, Shen Tang reacted quickly, circling behind him to tie his apron. “Don’t move. It’s hard to tie if you keep moving.”
Jiang Chengyu didn’t tease her anymore and took the greens she had just sorted to the sink for washing. Fu Chenglin and Li Zheng were trying to salvage the burnt fish, talking in low voices by the sink.
Shen Tang couldn’t hug Jiang Chengyu from behind like she did at home, but she stood close beside him. “Hey, if I can’t cook well in the future, can I blame it on you?”
Jiang Chengyu: “You don’t need to blame me. I’ll take the blame voluntarily. I’m more conscious than my dad.”
Shen Tang smiled. “You saw that just now too?”
“Mm.”
There was a pocket on the front of the apron. Shen Tang put her hands into his apron pocket.
“Still nervous?” Jiang Chengyu asked.
Shen Tang shook her head. “With Fu Chenglin here, I’m not that nervous.” She was a little smug. “When will he call me Little Auntie?”
“He hasn’t even called me Little Uncle yet. Do you really expect him to call you Little Auntie?”
________________________________________
As they chatted, an unwelcome person entered the kitchen.
Yan Heyu was back at the old house today. Passing by Jiang Chengyu’s house, he saw Jiang Chengyu’s and Fu Chenglin’s cars parked in the courtyard. He happened not to want to go home, so he came to the Jiang family for a meal.
He also had another reason for coming today: to settle scores with Jiang Chengyu. Everyone in his family now knew about him swapping cars to block Wen Di, and he was completely unable to explain himself, as no one believed him.
He hadn’t expected Shen Tang to be there as well.
“What are you doing here?” Fu Chenglin shot him a glance.
His tone clearly showed he wasn’t welcome.
In the past, Yan Heyu could have retorted, “It’s not your house, you can’t tell me what to do.”
But now, those words had no bite. Jiang’s house was basically Fu Chenglin’s house too.
Yan Heyu munched on nuts; he had grabbed a handful while passing through the living room.
He walked over to see what was cooking in the pot, stating with a sense of entitlement, “I’m here to eat. What else do you think I’d be doing? Make it tasty.”
Fu Chenglin: “Today, there’s no chef helping, only six dishes. If you’re here, it won’t be enough. You figure it out.”
This was a clear hint for him to leave.
Yan Heyu completely ignored it. He actually did figure it out: “I’ll have two bowls of soup before eating, so I won’t eat much of the dishes.”
“...”
Yan Heyu strolled over to Jiang Chengyu’s side. “Couldn’t you have explained it clearly to my dad that day?”
Jiang Chengyu: “I did explain it, but Uncle Yan didn’t believe me. What could I do?”
With Shen Tang nearby, Yan Heyu didn’t want to appear relentless and petty. Since Jiang Chengyu said he explained, then so be it.
It was just his bad luck.
“The funds needed for Huirui Industry, I’ll get them financed for you.”
He started talking business with Jiang Chengyu, hoping to leave a good impression on Shen Tang, so she might help him say a few good words when he pursued Wen Di later.
Shen Tang saw them discussing company matters and excused herself to prepare fruit plates at the island counter.
Less than two minutes later, Jiang Chengyu called her, “Tangtang, come here.”
Shen Tang looked up. Yan Heyu was no longer beside him, now helping Fu Chenglin at the stove.
Jiang Chengyu was afraid Shen Tang would be awkward and bored by herself, so he called her to his side. He had quickly exchanged a few words with Yan Heyu and then stopped.
“I’ll teach you how to julienne ginger.”
Shen Tang: “I know how to cut vegetables.”
“I’ll teach you how to cut standard julienned ginger.”
Jiang Chengyu wrapped his arms around her from behind, guiding her hands.
Normally, they left early and came back late, with almost no time for communication beyond physical intimacy. It was rare to have such leisure today.
Shen Tang’s hands were both enveloped in his, and she was pressed against his chest.
Such intimacy felt inappropriate to her.
Shen Tang turned to look at Jiang Chengyu, pouting playfully, “Teach me when we get home. Today, I’ll just watch you cut.”
Jiang Chengyu knew what she was thinking. “My parents won’t come into the kitchen again.”
The kitchen was over 40 square meters, spacious enough that they and Fu Chenglin’s couple wouldn’t disturb each other.
Shen Tang turned back and stood properly, concentrating on the cutting board.
Throughout, Jiang Chengyu’s hands were doing the work. She was just symbolically holding the knife. How thin the ginger slices should be, how fine the julienned ginger should be, was all controlled by Jiang Chengyu.
Shen Tang looked at the thin ginger slices. “Did you specifically practice knife skills?”
Jiang Chengyu: “You don’t need to practice this; you can just watch and learn.”
When Shen Tang was filming in Hengdian before, she would learn to cook from the chef every night after work. It was such an effort; it took her half an hour just to chop green onions.
“You can just watch and learn, so why can’t I?”
Jiang Chengyu: “It’s enough that I can; you don’t need to.”
One piece of ginger, and after ten minutes, they still hadn’t cut it into shreds.
At the stove, Fu Chenglin was teaching Li Zheng how to cook.
The oil in the pan heated up, and then they started to saute green onions and dried chilies. The moment the chilies hit the pan, oil splattered, startling Li Zheng, who jumped back and directly bumped into Fu Chenglin.
Fu Chenglin’s palm pressed against her cheek. “It’s okay. You might have accidentally gotten some water on the dried chilies.”
Yan Heyu couldn’t stand it anymore. For the first time, he felt so superfluous. He untied his apron, disliking helping out, and went to the living room outside to watch TV.
A variety show was playing on the TV, hosted by Wen Di. Her co-host and guests were teasing her about her new relationship.
Yan Heyu changed the channel, his heart sinking.
________________________________________
Two hours later, eight dishes were finally served. Two dishes were made by Shen Tang, while the remaining six were prepared by Fu Chenglin, with Li Zheng responsible for putting the ingredients in the pot.
Yan Heyu was almost starved. As soon as he sat down, Fu Chenglin served him two large bowls of soup and placed them in front of him.
Not enough dishes, so soup made up for it.
Jiang Chengyu handed him chopsticks. “If the soup isn’t enough, I’ll give you two more bowls of rice.”
Li Zheng laughed. “You guys aren’t allowed to bully my Uncle Yan.”
She took a bowl of soup and drank it herself.
The intimacy in the kitchen, the sense of accomplishment from cooking themselves, and the joy at the dinner table made Shen Tang temporarily forget that this was her first formal visit to her in-laws’ house.
She sat next to Jiang Chengyu, no longer as reserved as when she first arrived.
With Yan Heyu at the table, the atmosphere remained lively throughout, not a single moment of awkward silence.
After dinner, Jiang Chengyu asked Shen Tang’s preference: “Do you want to leave now, or stay for another half hour or an hour? Whatever you prefer.”
Shen Tang: “Let’s stay for another hour. I don’t have anything else to do today.”
Everyone moved to the living room, and the auntie brought out after-dinner fruits.
While chatting, Yan Heyu sat next to Shen Tang. He lowered his voice and said to Shen Tang, “If I pursue Wen Di again in the future, you have to help me.”
Shen Tang retorted, “Why should I help you?”
Yan Heyu reasoned with emotion and logic: “Think about it. If Wen Di and I get together, then every time you come back to the old house for dinner, I’ll bring Wen Di along. We men will be responsible for cooking, and you and Zhengzheng can mess around in the kitchen. How great would that be? After we get married, we’ll interact even more frequently. Don’t you want to see her often?”
The picture he painted sounded beautiful.
Shen Tang wasn’t unmoved, but she couldn’t force Wen Di for this small benefit. “I only do things that make Wen Di happy.”
Yan Heyu was not discouraged. “Thank you for being so good to Wen Di.”
________________________________________
While chatting, Madam Jiang brought up her eldest son. She said to Shen Tang, “Tangtang, next time your elder brother and sister-in-law are home, come back for dinner with Chengyu. It’ll be livelier with more people.”
Shen Tang happily agreed.
Fu Chenglin, sitting on the edge of the sofa, asked Li Zheng, “Next time there are more people, I won’t have to come, right?”
“Crunch!” Li Zheng bit down on a nut. She was a very picky eater; she hadn’t eaten much at dinner and started snacking as soon as they left the table.
“Of course, you have to come! What would I do without you? After a long time apart, my parents also want to see you, their son-in-law.”
Fu Chenglin fell silent. Every time he saw his in-laws was an ordeal. He used to call them Elder Brother and Sister-in-law, just like Shen Tang.
They stayed until 2:30 PM before leaving the large compound.
Shen Tang received so many gifts that her hands ached, and the trunk was almost full.
Jiang Chengyu took the day off today and asked Shen Tang where she wanted to go.
Shen Tang didn’t care where they went. “Just being with you is fine.”
Jiang Chengyu turned the car around. “Then accompany me to watch a movie.”
The sunlight streamed diagonally through the car window, falling on her body and his hand.
Today, Beijing had a clear blue sky, while Shanghai at this moment was cloudy and rainy.
________________________________________
Xiao Donghan had arrived in Shanghai last night and called Chu Yueli early in the morning to arrange a meeting time. Chu Yueli had a business negotiation in the morning and would only be free in the evening.
He didn’t go to his aunt’s house; discussing business at home would be inadvertently constrained by family ties. He arranged to meet Chu Yueli at a riverside restaurant.
In the afternoon, it started to rain.
The air was muggy and damp, and the heat waves were blown by the wind, hitting his face from all directions.
Xiao Donghan stood on the riverside balcony of the private room, smoking two cigarettes consecutively.
His phone in the private room rang. It was an unexpected call from Xiao Dongkai.
In just one day, Xiao Dongkai had figured out what had happened between Jiang Chengyu and Xiao Donghan, and Xiao Donghan’s several investments in Fan Yu’s company were also going through the breach of contract compensation process.
He advised his brother, “Know when to quit.”
Xiao Donghan lit a third cigarette, his throat dry and uncomfortable. He put it out after only a few puffs.
There was no sound from the other end of the phone. Xiao Dongkai continued to speak to himself, “The patent usage fee, even if you didn’t profit, at least you’ve almost broken even.”
Xiao Donghan drank some tea to moisten his throat. “I worked for so long. If I don’t make a profit, it’s a loss.”
The extinguished cigarette butts in the ashtray still emitted lingering smoke.
A few faint wisps.
What bothered him was that Chu Yueli had sided with Jiang Chengyu. “He’s my aunt’s husband. I didn’t guard against him, and I didn’t expect him to be so ruthless, stabbing me in the back.”
If it weren’t for his uncle’s company deciding to collaborate on new technology development, Jiang Chengyu wouldn’t have been able to make such a desperate move to replace the new technology and all equipment. It was only with his uncle sharing the risk that he could persuade Huirui’s shareholders to abandon the original technology.
There were two knocks on the door. The waiter pushed it open, and Chu Yueli entered.
“I’ll call you back after this is over.” Xiao Donghan hung up on his brother.
No matter what, Chu Yueli was his elder, so he politely called him “Uncle” and personally poured tea for Chu Yueli.
Chu Yueli didn’t even take off his suit, having no intention of staying long. He sat down. “Donghan, your trip here is pointless.”
He cut straight to the chase, saving them both time.
Xiao Donghan handed the teacup to Chu Yueli. “I’m not here to bind you with family ties. I’ve brought sincerity.”
Chu Yueli stated clearly, “The contract with Jiang Chengyu has already been signed.”
“It’s okay that it’s signed. The cooperation hasn’t started yet, so no losses have been incurred. I’ll cover all the liquidated damages.” This was Xiao Donghan’s sincerity.
He withdrew the investment from Fan Yu’s company specifically for his uncle’s urgent use. He was giving this money to his uncle’s company for free, with no other conditions.
“As long as you don’t cooperate with Jiang Chengyu, I won’t ask for anything else.”
Xiao Donghan gestured, inviting him to drink tea.
A small cup of tea, which cooled quickly.
Chu Yueli picked it up and took two sips.
Xiao Donghan offering Chu Yueli tea was also giving Chu Yueli time to consider whether to break the contract.
“The initial intention of developing new technology is good, but for at least three to five years, there will only be input and no output. Whether the new technology will succeed in the end, or if it will be stronger than the original technology, are all unknowns. Why would you accompany Jiang Chengyu in this race? It’s not worth it.”
Chu Yueli put down his teacup. “Ten years ago, I had the same doubts as you about the existing technology, afraid of failure, afraid of losses. Facts have proven that my decision to invest heavily in R&D back then was a wise one, otherwise, the company wouldn’t have today’s achievements.”
Xiao Donghan found Chu Yueli impenetrable, determined to cooperate with Jiang Chengyu. “You’d rather believe the grand vision Jiang Chengyu painted for you than my sincere advice?”
“It has nothing to do with believing or not.”
Chu Yueli had his own considerations. “If I don’t prepare for future challenges, perhaps in ten years, our group’s technology will be obsolete. As the person in charge, I must plan ahead.”
The new technology was universally applicable to their company, the target company, and Huirui Industry, and not just these three companies; it could be widely applied in multiple fields.
This was the crucial reason why he was intrigued and decided to invest in developing new technology.
For companies like theirs, if their technology wasn’t leading, their products wouldn’t be able to dominate the market.
Chu Yueli truthfully said, “Jiang Chengyu came to me to consult on some technical R&D issues during the Time fashion show.”
He clearly remembered that day when Chu Ran came to Shanghai for the show.
“Jiang Chengyu had already planned the future direction of the target company as early as when the acquisition agreement was signed, but the shareholders were reluctant to invest so much money, fearing it would be wasted.”
This was also what vexed Xiao Donghan; his exorbitant patent usage fees had actually helped Jiang Chengyu.
Huirui’s shareholders would rather use that money to develop new technology, even if it might go to waste, than pay him the patent usage fees without a fuss.
Xiao Donghan poured his uncle another cup of hot tea. “There’s no room for negotiation, is there?”
Chu Yueli laid it out clearly on the table. “Donghan, you don’t want me to cooperate with Jiang Chengyu, simply to force Jiang Chengyu’s company to continue using your patent rights, allowing you to collect billions in usage fees annually. You’re doing it to make money. I’m cooperating with Jiang Chengyu also to make money.”
In the business world, there’s no such thing as aunt’s husband and nephew; only profit is real.
“I have to think about the two children, Chu Xiaoyue and Chu Xiaokuo.”
Xiao Donghan’s tea in his cup had long since cooled. He picked it up and drank half of it. “Speaking of my cousins, do you think Jiang Chengyu would be more reliable to them than I am in the future?”
Chu Yueli smiled. “I never believe promises. They might be true when spoken, but when conflicts of interest arise, who cares about that sentiment? Even if Jiang Chengyu promised to treat Xiaoyue and Xiaokuo so well in the future, I wouldn’t believe it. But I believe Shen Tang.”
“Heh.” Xiao Donghan laughed as if he had heard the biggest joke.
Chu Yueli: “Based on how much she hated your aunt, yet never harmed Xiaoyue and Xiaokuo, that’s enough for me to believe she wouldn’t be bad to her own younger siblings.”
With the conversation reaching this point, Xiao Donghan stopped wasting words trying to persuade him.
After all, it all came down to the word ‘profit’.
No one would back down in the face of profit.
With this matter falling apart, Xiao Donghan used it to ask for a favor. “Next month is the board re-election for Xiao Ning, and one director is retiring. I want to arrange for one of my people to get in. Please and Auntie remember to cast your votes for me.”
Chu Yueli didn’t care who he voted for. He and Xiao Zhen had no intention of participating in the fight for control of the Xiao Ning Group.
“Alright, I owe you one. But this small percentage isn’t enough for the Old Master to agree to your person getting in, is it?”
Xiao Donghan: “Evergreen Group and Ning Yinyin will both vote for me at the shareholders’ meeting then.”
Evergreen Group holds 4.6% of Xiao Ning Group’s shares, and Ning Yinyin holds slightly more.
He had spoken with Ning Yinyin, who had a gentle personality and knew he wasn’t suited for managing a company, so he unhesitatingly supported him.
As for Evergreen Group, that night at the club, he had met with Zhao Zhiyi. Zhao Zhiyi would represent Evergreen Group at Xiao Ning Group’s shareholders’ meeting and was willing to act in concert with him.
Zhao Zhiyi wouldn’t just vote for him for free. Zhao Zhiyi had acquired another hotel chain in Europe and America, and he had helped a lot in that deal.
His relationship with Zhao Zhiyi was purely an exchange of interests.
Xiao Donghan called the waiter and opened a bottle of red wine. He poured two glasses. “Thank you for your strong support at the shareholders’ meeting, Uncle.”
Chu Yueli didn’t decline, downing half a glass in one go. “My voting rights won’t play a decisive role. At that time, it will depend on whether the Old Master favors you or your second uncle.”
Chairman Xiao had two sons. The elder son never interfered with group affairs, and his shares had already been given to Xiao Donghan.
The second son’s capabilities were average, but his father-son relationship with Chairman Xiao was good, and he had always served as a vice president in Xiao Ning Group.
The second son’s children had just come of age, and one had business talent but was inexperienced in the world. They were not enough to restrain Xiao Donghan. Chairman Xiao was afraid that after Xiao Donghan gained power, he would squeeze his second uncle out of Xiao Ning.
Xiao Donghan swirled his wine glass: “Even if Grandpa objects, it’s useless. The votes I have now are enough to get my person onto the board of directors.”
He would return to London in a few days. Before the Xiao Ning Group shareholders’ meeting, he would arrange another meeting with Ning Yinyin, offering Ning Yinyin enough incentives to ensure Ning Yinyin would vote for him without hesitation.
The election of directors has always been the result of a game of interests between various parties, with no exceptions.
Chu Yueli didn’t linger. He put down his wine glass and excused himself.
Xiao Donghan poured himself another glass of red wine and leaned on the balcony railing, looking at the night view.
Over the Huangpu River, the water was misty.
In fact, his uncle didn’t know that his biggest threat wasn’t his second uncle, but Shen Tang. Grandfather had given Shen Tang 3% of the shares. He wondered if she had asked for any other rights.
If she had, he couldn’t just sit back and do nothing.
Xiao Donghan called his secretary, “Prepare to send a letter to the target company next Monday, notifying them to pay off their debts before the end of July.”
________________________________________
Jiang Chengyu learned that the target company’s debt had been transferred to Xiao Donghan at the executive meeting on Monday morning.
When the secretary walked into the conference room with hurried steps, Xie Yuncheng had a bad feeling.
Sure enough, Xiao Donghan’s biggest pitfall had arrived.
Under Jiang Chengyu’s instruction, the secretary projected the newly received letter onto the large screen.
After reading it, all the executives were stunned.
The reason for the target company’s capital chain rupture was its excessively high debt ratio, with debts once reaching over 20 billion, half owed to suppliers and the other half to financing institutions.
This huge hole couldn’t be filled in ten or eight years.
When the acquisition initially took place, some of the debt was repaid, and the remaining debt was paid in installments, within a normal debt ratio range.
Who knew that the debt had been transferred to Xiao Donghan.
Jiang Chengyu looked at the large screen. “When was the debt transferred?”
Secretary: “A month ago, handled by the CEO.”
The CEO had said there were no other pitfalls, but he didn’t dare to mention this one.
In fact, a debt transfer wasn’t a big deal. It was still the target company’s money, and it had to be repaid to someone, but now that they owed money to Xiao Donghan, it was a different story.
If they owed money to others, they could repay in installments, at most paying more interest. No company was free of debt.
But owing money to Xiao Donghan, he wouldn’t allow installments; he demanded a one-time repayment, and the repayment pressure immediately hit.
The secretary’s palms were sweating too. This time, it was truly tricky; it had hit the target company’s Achilles’ heel.
It was like herself. She had just bought a school district apartment on loan, with a total price of nearly 20 million. The down payment had emptied her savings, and the mortgage was barely manageable without stress.
But if the bank suddenly notified her to repay all loans at once, she would have no choice but to sell the apartment, otherwise, where would she get the money to repay?
Jiang Chengyu had the legal department send over the contract. There was a clause in the repayment contract stating that if Party B experienced operational abnormalities, Party A had the right to demand a one-time repayment of the loan.
Now, Xiao Donghan was using the target company’s alleged operational abnormalities to demand full repayment.
Jiang Chengyu also checked which companies had transferred the target company’s debts to Xiao Donghan: five suppliers and three financial institutions.
A total of over 8 billion, which Xiao Donghan demanded he repay within a month.
Jiang Chengyu’s phone vibrated. It was from Xiao Donghan: [If you don’t want to repay all at once, then have Shen Tang vote for me at the shareholders’ meeting.]
Jiang Chengyu: [See you at the shareholders’ meeting.]
Xiao Donghan: [I look forward to discussing it with Shen Tang on the day of the shareholders’ meeting.]
________________________________________
On July 20th, the Xiao Ning shareholders’ meeting was held at the headquarters in London.
Two dedicated elevators simultaneously stopped on the 56th-floor conference room. Xiao Donghan paused, surprised, as he stepped out of the elevator. “Where’s Shen Tang? Why are you here?”
Jiang Chengyu said calmly, “Why can’t I be here?”
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