Who is Peng Guoqing?
A spoiled rich kid who doesn’t work, a high school senior facing university entrance exams.
Throwing out millions like it’s nothing isn’t because Peng Guoqing is particularly impressive, but because the Peng family is wealthy.
Zhao Dong, after a brief investigation into the Peng family’s background, felt overwhelmed and immediately called overseas. “There are quite a few people backing Xie Qian and his mother, each with their own influence. The situation seems very unfavourable for us!”
A high school student casually investing millions? Even Zhao Qian doesn’t have that kind of pocket money. Zhao Dong believed Peng Guoqing was merely a front, with the real support for Xie Qian coming from the Peng family.
Digging deeper, the Peng family’s willingness to help Xie Qian was, naturally, out of respect for the Xie family, specifically for Xie Yuping!
Xie Yuping himself may not have much money or assets, but the name “Xie Yuping” carries weight. Now, the Peng family has stepped in, and who knows who else might emerge later? With “noble allies” helping Xie Qian at every turn, how could this battle be fought? The resources on both sides were too unevenly matched!
Failing to drag Jiang Xuekun down as planned already left Zhao Dong displeased.
Peng Guoqing’s investment made Zhao Dong realise that targeting the Jiang family was pointless. Xie Qian’s true backing was Xie Yuping. As long as Xie Yuping stood firm, even without lifting a finger, he could summon countless “Jiang families” to protect Xie Qian and his mother!
See, hasn’t a Peng family already appeared?
Sara Zhuo fell silent for a long moment.
Xie Yuping was the Xie family’s anchor, its soul. She and Zhao Dong could scheme in the business world, but their reach didn’t extend to Xie Yuping. The moment they even thought of trying, Xie Yuping would likely crush them.
When one path was blocked, Sara Zhuo switched tactics. “You should tell Jinghu about this. He and Xie Qian likely have some agreement. Whether Xie Qian accepting the Peng family’s help violates that agreement, let Jinghu decide.”
Sow discord, use someone else’s hand to strike.
Two phrases flashed through Zhao Dong’s mind, and he grew wary again. Sara Zhuo was cunning, never dirtying her own hands, masterful at stirring trouble. Using Xie Jinghu as a tool against Xie Qian, Xie Jinghu was foolish enough to let this woman drive a wedge between father and son, husband and wife. While Zhao Dong sought to profit from her, he had to stay vigilant to avoid following in Xie Jinghu’s footsteps!
After their discussion, they reached a consensus, and Zhao Dong passed the news of Jiaksin’s shareholder change to Xie Jinghu.
Xie Jinghu had his own informants in Jiaksin, and Peng Guoqing’s investment caught him off guard.
Xie Jinghu had expected Jiaksin to fall into chaos. Gong Sheng, sent by Xie Qian to take over, was capable, rallying one group against another without letting Jiaksin implode.
Now, Jiaksin had a new shareholder.
Though Peng Guoqing was a minor shareholder, it sent a troubling signal to Xie Jinghu!
Peng Guoqing was a nobody, barely worth a glance in the past. Xie Jinghu could take all sorts of precautions against his own son, Xie Qian, but objectively speaking, having a son like Xie Qian gave him a sense of superiority over Mr. Peng.
No exaggeration—Xie Qian outshone Peng Guoqing in every way.
Xie Qian didn’t run in the same circles as spoiled rich kids like Peng Guoqing. Yet now, to develop Jiaksin Film Company, he’d lowered himself to take Peng Guoqing on as a shareholder?
After some digging by Assistant Qi, it turned out Peng Guoqing had transferred to a school in Chengdu long ago!
What was Peng Guoqing—no, the Peng family—up to?
Xie Jinghu’s face darkened as he pondered, then called Mr. Peng.
After some pleasantries, Xie Jinghu brought up Jiaksin Film Company, making his point clear: he hoped the Peng family wouldn’t meddle in Xie family affairs, explaining that Jiaksin was a test of Xie Qian’s abilities, and outside help went against his intentions!
The strained relationship between Xie Jinghu and Xie Qian was a half-open secret in Beijing’s elite circles.
Others might be intimidated by Xie Jinghu, but Mr. Peng’s wealth didn’t rely on Xie Jinghu’s goodwill, so he wasn’t particularly afraid. His courtesy was more for Xie Yuping’s sake.
“Teenagers are tough to manage, Third Brother Xie must know that well. My Guoqing’s lack of ambition is no secret, and my wife spoils him, stuffing him with pocket money. How he spends it is beyond my control. Of course, it’s no secret among friends that my wife and I don’t get along. She spoils Guoqing, and I can’t stop her.”
Mr. Peng didn’t shy away from family scandals, admitting his son was a spoiled brat and his marriage was rocky. He couldn’t control his son or his wife’s actions.
Peng Guoqing’s investment in Jiaksin was entirely his own doing, unrelated to Mr. Peng or the Peng family!
Xie Jinghu was dissatisfied with this excuse. “A high school student with millions in pocket money? Is that reasonable?”
“Of course not!” Mr. Peng agreed, harshly criticising his wife’s indulgence, but added, puzzled, “But I heard, Third Brother, you gave Xie Qian two billion to buy land in Shanghai. Compared to two billion, a few million is nothing. If not for Xie Qian’s high-profile land purchase, my spoiled son wouldn’t have been inspired to emulate him in business. Third Brother, are you saying only you can play with fire, but others can’t light a candle?”
Xie Jinghu was so furious he nearly spat blood.
As if he willingly gave Xie Qian two billion to buy land! Xie Qian stole that money. Mr. Peng’s example blamed Xie Jinghu’s flashy parenting for inspiring Peng Guoqing.
Xie Jinghu could spend two billion, so why couldn’t the Peng family afford a few million?
A mere few million, lost is lost. It’s just tuition for the kid. Mr. Peng didn’t mind and hoped Xie Jinghu could let it go.
In business, there are wins and losses. Even if Peng Guoqing’s investment in Jiaksin went bust, Mr. Peng wouldn’t ask Xie Qian for compensation!
“That’s not what I mean,” Xie Jinghu said, losing patience.
Mr. Peng dropped his playful tone and got serious. “Let the kids handle their own affairs. We have our own businesses to run. I don’t have time to meddle in their ‘ventures,’ so Third Brother can rest easy.”
Though optimistic about Xie Qian, Mr. Peng had no intention of getting involved in Xie family matters.
A dragon or a worm isn’t proven by words or appearances.
Relying on external help only brings temporary victories. For Xie Qian to become the Xie family’s heir, he must rely on himself.
Mr. Peng wanted Xie Qian, Peng Guoqing, and other youngsters to forge their own paths, not expecting Xie Jinghu to be so narrow-minded.
Others fear their children won’t succeed, but Xie Jinghu feared Xie Qian’s success, trying to cut off all his external support.
On the phone, Mr. Peng was polite, but after hanging up, he cursed Xie Jinghu as an idiot.
Curse as he might, Mr. Peng still warned his wife not to overstep. “This is their family matter. We shouldn’t get too involved.”
Peng Guoqing could be close to Xie Qian, but the Peng family’s resources wouldn’t unconditionally back him.
Mrs. Peng snapped back, accusing Mr. Peng of looking down on others. “My son doesn’t need your help to succeed. Who are you underestimating?”
