It has to be said that Peng Guoqing understands Xie Qian rather well. He knows Xie Qian only grumbles on the surface. If a genuine friend truly comes asking for help, and especially for a goal like “becoming better”, Xie Qian would, in all likelihood, step in.
Xie Qian is the type who is harsh with his words but soft at heart, whereas Xie Jinghu is soft with his words but hard at heart.
Xie Jinghu appears very concerned about Zhang Hua on the surface, worrying that Zhang Hua will be unable to inherit Lu Meishu’s estate. He specially instructed Lawyer Meng to contact Zhang Hua and offer to help him fight the case.
Lawyer Meng does not take just any case.
He had originally not wanted to get involved in Zhang Zhijun’s messy affairs, but after learning the details he felt Zhang Hua was pitiable.
In private, Lawyer Meng said to Zheng Zhihe, “Of course lawyers take cases to earn money. How else do we live? Yet some instructions, even if the pay is modest, are still worth accepting.”
The measure of justice exists in every person’s heart, to be judged by each individual.
Lawyer Meng felt that, with a biological father like Zhang Zhijun and Lu Meishu now dead, by both reason and sentiment Zhang Hua ought to inherit Lu Meishu’s estate. By law, Lu Meishu’s estate should be divided between Zhang Zhijun and Zhang Hua.
Unfortunately, Lu Meishu’s parents had both passed away. Had either still been alive, Zhang Zhijun’s share would have been even smaller.
Lawyer Meng met Zhang Hua, explained all the pros and cons, and added that if they went to court Mr Xie was willing to cover the costs on Zhang Hua’s behalf.
Obtaining the entirety of Lu Meishu’s estate was impossible unless Zhang Zhijun voluntarily relinquished his claim.
But Zhang Hua could, through litigation, secure the portion that was rightfully his.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Hua refused.
“My mother is already gone. What is the point of fighting over these things?”
Lawyer Meng frowned. “That is not how it should be put…”
Fighting a lawsuit against one’s own father over inheritance would indeed be embarrassing, but a person cannot live without money. One need not covet what belongs to others, yet surely one should claim what the law says is one’s own?
Lawyer Meng thought Zhang Hua too young to yet grasp the importance of money. He wanted to persuade him further, but Zhang Hua’s mind was made up. “I know Uncle Xie means well for me. Please thank him on my behalf.”
Zhang Hua’s refusal to pursue the inheritance through litigation stemmed also from a reluctance to bring further ridicule upon the Zhang family.
Lawyer Meng could only respect Zhang Hua’s decision.
Zhang Nan thought her cousin was being foolish. Zhang Hua told Zhang Nan to focus on her studies. “Little Nan, do not let these matters distract you. You still have to carry on Grandfather’s legacy.”
Zhang Nan swallowed all the words she wanted to say.
Apart from studying hard and carrying on Grandfather’s legacy, there was indeed nothing Zhang Nan could do.
She used to think her uncle Zhang Zhijun doted on her, that she could act coquettishly and make demands. Now Zhang Nan was ashamed even to acknowledge Zhang Zhijun as her real uncle.
…
Word somehow got out that Lawyer Meng had tried to persuade Zhang Hua to sue. Outsiders had mixed opinions of Zhang Hua. Some thought him foolish, others said he showed maturity and perspective.
The Zhang family had already endured enough spectacle. Had Zhang Hua truly sued Zhang Zhijun over the inheritance, the drama would have dragged on far longer, and Old Master Zhang would never rest peacefully in the afterlife.
The more sensible Zhang Hua appeared, the more Zhang Zhijun looked like a scoundrel.
Of course, Xie Jinghu was no better. If he harboured resentment, he should direct it at Zhang Zhijun. Why incite Zhang Hua?
By doing such an immoral thing, Xie Jinghu brought shame upon the Xie family too.
Xie Yuping had long known Xie Jinghu was not clever, but even stupidity should have its limits.
If he wanted to goad Zhang Hua into litigation, he did not have to send someone so close to him to do it.
Xie Yuping could not even be bothered to scold him. It was not worth wasting breath.
Xie Qian was not surprised.
As soon as Xie Jinghu decided to carry out this immoral act, Xie Qian had already received word. He had been curious how Zhang Hua would respond, and had not expected Zhang Hua to remain so composed.
Only when Wen Ying was present did Xie Qian allow himself a private sigh. “Zhang Hua has turned cunning.”
“Does cunning help?”
“Whether it helps or not will become clear from Zhang Zhijun’s reaction.”
Everyone assumed Zhang Zhijun no longer cared about his reputation and would let everything go to ruin. Yet a few days later, Zhang Zhijun took the initiative to transfer all of his late wife Lu Meishu’s estate into Zhang Hua’s name.
The properties in Lu Meishu’s name.
The company shares in Lu Meishu’s name.
Zhang Zhijun kept nothing. He gave everything to Zhang Hua.
Wen Ying was genuinely stunned. “Zhang Zhijun is that generous?”
Even Wen Ying had guessed that, with Old Master Zhang dead and Zhang Zhijun expelled from the family, Zhang Zhijun would not hand over Lu Meishu’s estate so readily. Yet he did precisely that. This man’s behaviour truly defied prediction.
“He is giving what he can afford to give.”
Xie Qian believed Zhang Zhijun dared not let Zhang Hua touch the smuggling business. At least for now, Zhang Zhijun did not trust Zhang Hua. Thus the portion given to Zhang Hua was certainly clean.
Xie Qian already knew the alliance between Zhang Zhijun and Sara Zhuo was far from solid, yet he still felt an inexplicable unease.
What exactly was Zhang Zhijun planning? Acting this way would surely enrage Sara Zhuo.
Their alliance was already fragile. For Zhang Zhijun to so readily hand Zhang Hua a large sum would be more than Sara Zhuo could bear.
If Sara Zhuo could not bear it, she might do something extreme.
Both Xie Qian and Xie Yuping suspected the “car accident” had been Sara Zhuo’s unilateral decision, though they had never found proof. If Sara Zhuo erred again, the Xie family could seize the opportunity to grasp this woman’s weakness.
Zhang Zhijun should not provoke Sara Zhuo at this juncture, unless…
Wen Ying and Xie Qian pondered deeply. Almost simultaneously, inspiration struck, and their wandering gazes met once more.
From Wen Ying’s expression, Xie Qian knew she had a new idea.
By coincidence, Xie Qian had one too.
“You go first.”
“No, you go first.”
“Why don’t we each write down our guess on paper, then swap.”
“Good idea.”
Wen Ying found the method amusing. She fetched paper and pens and handed one to Xie Qian.
They turned their backs, wrote their guesses, folded the papers, and exchanged them.
Wen Ying unfolded Xie Qian’s note. On it were two characters: “弃子” (pawn to be discarded).
Xie Qian opened Wen Ying’s. On it were four characters: “过河拆桥” (burn bridges after crossing).
They looked up at the same moment and smiled at each other.
“Sara Zhuo is in danger.”
Xie Qian nodded. “Exactly. When Sara Zhuo allowed Zhuo Yue to go to the capital to find Zhang Zhijun and stay there, Zhang Zhijun probably already marked her as a pawn to discard. Zhuo Yue lingering in the capital angered Old Master Zhang to death. Zhang Zhijun’s hatred for the mother and daughter only grew.”
That was why the family of the small lorry driver had revealed flaws around Spring Festival.
What seemed coincidence might not have been coincidence at all. It could have been deliberate.
Zhang Zhijun was likely preparing to kick Sara Zhuo off the boat.
Wen Ying felt somewhat dazed. “Sara Zhuo has so little fight in her. Has she truly sensed no danger from Zhang Zhijun’s intentions?”
Ally, ally. To form an alliance without thoroughly understanding the other party first, and still dare to do it.
In Wen Ying’s subconscious, Sara Zhuo had always been a big-boss figure, the ultimate winner of her previous life. That winner had utterly defeated Xie Qian and Zou Weijun, allowing the illegitimate son Zhuo Chen to successfully inherit the Jinhu Group.
Now Wen Ying was unsure whether she needed to change her perspective.
Perhaps Sara Zhuo had never been particularly formidable. Wen Ying had thought her formidable because she had been misled by Xie Qian’s tragic outcome in the previous life.
In that life, Xie Qian had not actively fought for the family fortune as he did in this one, and almost certainly would not have tested the DNA of Zhuo Chen and Zhuo Yue. Sara Zhuo and her children’s plans had proceeded smoothly, and Zhang Zhijun might never have needed to surface at all.
In this life, with Xie Qian contending, the situation had developed to its present state. The likelihood of Jinhu ultimately falling to Zhuo Chen was now extremely small. Because Xie Qian fought actively, Sara Zhuo made blunder after blunder, and Zhang Zhijun could no longer tolerate his ally’s stupidity. He intended to use the Xie family’s hand to eliminate Sara Zhuo.
Xie Qian held Sara Zhuo in contempt. “All these years, her fighting strength has come from relying on different men. Apart from her beauty, what ability does she have?”
Sara Zhuo was far too confident in her looks.
She had been overly flattered in her youth.
The old overseas Chinese businessman had been generous to her, and Xie Jinghu had foolishly come running at her beck and call. She had come to believe her beauty could conquer all.
In this world there are lechers like Xie Jinghu, but there are also iron-hearted men like Zhang Zhijun who remain unmoved by beauty.
Wen Ying mused, “Confirming our guess should not be difficult. We need only watch whether the family of that small lorry driver continues to expose flaws.”
