“Thank you.”
Xie Qian’s gratitude was utterly sincere.
If he were not confined to the hospital bed and unable to stand, Xie Qian would certainly have bowed deeply to Miss Qi.
What Miss Qi said earlier was ordinary, but the name she mentioned later suddenly cleared Xie Qian’s thoughts. To put it this way, previously when analysing Sara Zhuo, Xie Qian could not understand her logic, especially why, after rekindling her old flame with Xie Jinghu, she still helped Zhang Zhijin have a child.
Was Sara Zhuo simply promiscuous by nature, or did she find Zhang Zhijin more charming?
By ordinary standards, Xie Jinghu was undoubtedly more successful than Zhang Zhijin: handsome appearance, substantial wealth, and stronger family support.
Add the regrets from youth, which could barely count as a deep emotional foundation.
No matter how charming Sara Zhuo was, wealthy men who earned money were not fools. Xie Jinghu was already her ceiling in partner selection.
With such a ceiling right in front of her, instead of scheming to hold on tightly, Sara Zhuo entangled with Zhang Zhijin. How muddled must her brain be?
After hearing Miss Qi’s words, Xie Qian had a sudden realisation.
If from the beginning, Sara Zhuo’s goal was not to rise in status or reunite with the scumbag Xie Jinghu, but to erode the Xie family and seek revenge against them… then her behavioural logic made sense!
Miss Qi looked deeply at Xie Qian. “You are very smart. I truly sympathise with what you and your mother have gone through, but I cannot help you. You can only rely on yourself.”
Having said this, Miss Qi did not linger. She picked up her bag and left the hospital.
Previously, Xie Qian shared Miss Qi’s view that he could only rely on himself. Now, after all these experiences, he knew he was not fighting alone.
Regarding the information Miss Qi brought, Xie Qian did not hide it from Zou Weijun. He told her the name Miss Qi mentioned. Zou Weijun was surprised. “Isn’t that your uncle’s…”
“Yes, Uncle worked as his secretary when young.”
Xie Qian’s grandfather died early. The old Mrs Xie, a widow, raised four sons alone. Strong-willed all her life, she never bowed to ask favours or sought backdoors for her sons’ futures.
When Xie Yuping reached working age, others had family help arranging jobs. Xie Yuping relied solely on himself. Fortunately, that era valued pure background most. Xie Yuping fully qualified and secured a position. At the unit, without connections, he carved his path through sheer ability and caught his leader’s eye.
The leader saw Xie Yuping’s reliability and competence. After a conversation, learning his background and that he was a late friend’s son, with ability plus a touch of old ties, the leader kept him as secretary. Looking back, this was the start of Xie Yuping’s career.
Later, the leader retired.
Then, the leader passed away.
Xie Yuping himself became a “leader” in others’ eyes.
Xie Qian calculated the time difference and called Xie Yuping directly. He did not ask about past events. He only cared about the result. “The one surnamed Zhuo sees the Xie family as enemies. She has always hated the Xie family.”
When the Zhuo family fell, Xie Yuping was no longer the old leader’s secretary, but with that connection, he remained close to the leader.
Sara Zhuo hated by association. Unable to “revenge” on the old leader, she shifted anger to Xie Yuping. Perhaps in her view, the Xie family’s current prosperity came from sucking the Zhuo family’s blood.
On the phone, Xie Yuping sounded like he was hearing a fairy tale.
“…Hate by association, sucking the Zhuo family’s blood?”
“Uncle, I am just analysing that woman’s logic. I do not agree with it.”
The Xie family prospered because the four brothers were capable!
In some families, the eldest siblings shoulder the burden and excel in careers. Younger ones easily become spoiled, unwilling to effort, sucking blood from the successful ones, waiting for jobs, guidance, everything arranged.
The Xie family differed. The old Mrs Xie was strong-willed, refusing to let the three younger sons rely entirely on Xie Yuping. She forced them to find their own paths and develop careers. Even the most useless Xie Jinghu never thought to lie flat and leech off his big brother. This enabled the family’s current prosperity.
Zhuo family blood?
What blood did the Zhuo family have?
Violating laws naturally led to crackdown!
Xie Yuping laughed in anger. “It is ridiculous. If she wanted to revive the Zhuo family, over twenty years ago she went abroad with the old merchant’s support. With his funds, what could she not do overseas?”
Like Wen Ying, from an ordinary small-county family, she became a bestselling author and film company shareholder through her own efforts.
Xie Yuping knew not everyone had Wen Ying’s talent, but Sara Zhuo’s background was far superior. “Sara” was not a random name… Lacking talent, she could use resources. Before the Zhuo fall, she achieved nothing with her privileged background, just playing with young people, enjoying being fawned over.
When the Zhuo family fell, she sought the old merchant’s protection. Abroad was more open then. If she had ambition, with his funds, she could succeed in any field.
Persisting twenty-plus years, even without business talent, she could have accumulated achievements in art appreciation.
Art has many categories.
Sara Zhuo pursued none.
For twenty years, she consistently did one thing: rely on men!
The old merchant, Xie Jinghu, Zhang Zhijin, possibly others Xie Yuping did not know.
Xie Yuping already despised Sara Zhuo. Now even more.
Miss Qi’s information not only clarified Xie Qian’s thinking but Xie Yuping’s too. If Sara Zhuo thought this way, might Zhang Zhijin too?
Xie Yuping recalled the Zhang family careers. Old Mr Zhang retired smoothly from the forestry ministry. The Zhangs had no major incidents. Sara Zhuo hating by association made sense. But why Zhang Zhijin… No Xie had offended him!
Incomprehensible.
No need to probe Zhang Zhijin’s mindset.
Judge actions, not heart. Whatever his reasons, his deeds harmed the Xies. Xie Yuping must drag this hidden rat into light.
“The Lu family situation, I have people checking. Recover well. I will update you on progress.”
Xie Yuping chatted briefly with Xie Qian, hung up, and called Zhong Yong. “The accident, still no leads?”
Zhong Yong was ashamed.
Xie Yuping waved it off. “Not your fault. Perhaps wrong direction.”
After learning Zhuo Yue was Zhang Zhijin’s daughter, Xie Yuping thought the accident was Sara Zhuo and Zhang Zhijin’s plot, investigating that way.
Now knowing Sara Zhuo likely hated the Xies by association, Xie Yuping was more convinced the accident was Sara Zhuo’s arrangement!
Though she bore Zhang Zhijin a daughter, Sara Zhuo and Zhang Zhijin were not monolithic.
Xie Qian’s accident brought Zhang Zhijin no real benefit, only a chain of troubles.
Unless Zhang Zhijin was certain Xie Qian would die… It was a small truck allowed daytime city access. If doing this, Zhang Zhijin should ensure no survival chance.
“You mean the accident was arranged by the woman surnamed Zhuo alone.”
“Highly likely.”
Xie Yuping thought of Zhang Hua taking Lu Meishu’s body back to her hometown. Sara Zhuo and Zhang Zhijin were not solid allies. Similarly, with Lu Meishu’s life between Zhang Hua and Zhang Zhijin, they could never return to close father-son.
Xie Yuping decided to summon third brother Xie Jinghu for more humiliation.
Stimulating Xie Jinghu more, if he lost composure, he would naturally trouble Sara Zhuo and Zhang Zhijin.
Action followed thought. Next day, Xie Yuping invited Xie Jinghu for dinner at home.
Big brother summoning, Xie Jinghu was very nervous.
Bracing himself to come, Xie Jinghu first asked about Xie Qian’s injuries.
Xie Yuping smiled. “No need to worry about Xie Qian. He is fine. I spoke with him yesterday.”
“Oh…”
Previously, Xie Jinghu rarely spoke to Xie Qian.
He thought if Xie Qian wanted assets, he should fawn on him. Now divorced, assets split clearly, Xie Qian adult needing no guardians. When Xie Qian ignored him, Xie Jinghu had no excuse to force calls.
Perhaps human nature is base. When possessed, not cherished. Now lost, Xie Jinghu wanted to express fatherly love.
Xie Yuping ignored his nonsense brother’s rambling and cut to the point, asking about Xie Jinghu’s lawsuit preparations.
“Court soon.”
Xie Jinghu was very unhappy inside.
Everyone knew Zhang Zhijin’s deeds. Many cursed Zhang Zhijin, but many mocked Xie Jinghu too.
Xie Yuping sighed. “I always opposed you with the one surnamed Zhuo, but you are my brother. I hit and scolded to stop you, but failed. Now I feel a bit sorry for you. You wronged Weijun and Xie Qian, but were faultless to the one surnamed Zhuo. When the Zhuo family fell, you begged me for help. I said I could not. You understood then. Later you wanted to marry her. I understood and agreed, right?”
“Yes…”
Xie Jinghu could not refute these past events.
Marrying Sara Zhuo then would harm Xie Yuping, yet he did not oppose.
So open-minded, Xie Jinghu thought and hated Sara Zhuo more. Why give him a green hat, make him everyone’s after-dinner joke?
Xie Yuping frowned deeply. “The Xie family never opposed you marrying her. Rather, she herself did not want to, following a merchant abroad. Thinking it over, her later actions show no affection for you. Perhaps since the Zhuo fall, she has resented our family?”
Xie Jinghu: ???!
Not pretending stupid, genuinely confused.
Zhuo family fall, why hate the Xies?
Xie Yuping reminded. “The Zhuo investigation was handled by my old leader.”
Xie Jinghu: …!!!
What did that have to do with the Xies?
If the Zhuos obeyed laws, no one could investigate!
Xie Jinghu was utterly bewildered. Xie Yuping piled on. “Think carefully. Over years, did you wrong Zhijun? If not, I cannot understand why he would do this to you.”
