Two or three decades ago, in that unique economic climate when China desperately needed foreign exchange, overseas investment was highly sought after. As long as you carried the label of a foreign investor, you could do no wrong in China. Bank loans were approved with ease, and local governments rolled out the red carpet, all to attract investment and stimulate the economy.
After the millennium, local governments became less gullible.
A decade or so later, the tables turned entirely. Not only was it hard to take advantage of local governments, but they might even trap you under the guise of a “development zone.”
Zhao Dong’s timing for returning with capital was decent. In 2004, it was still easy to make money in China. The government wanted to boost employment, locals wanted jobs, and cheap labour meant lower production costs. If Zhao Dong invested in industry in Rongcheng now, the government would welcome him with open arms and legs.
But Zhao Dong wasn’t interested in industry. He had his sights set on the gap in the market for a large-scale amusement park in Rongcheng.
His vision wasn’t bad, but his overall strength was lacking. He missed out on the franchise rights offered by the Rongcheng government, a significant blow to him.
At the end of the day, his capital wasn’t robust enough. With a few hundred million in funds, how could he fail to secure a major project?
Xie Qian nodded. “What he wants, the Xie family has.”
Xie Jinghu might be a terrible person, but he was brilliant at making money.
More importantly, the connections Zhao Dong couldn’t secure were child’s play for Xie Jinghu.
But Xie Jinghu wasn’t sitting around with nothing better to do. Why would he help Zhao Dong?
Unless Zhao Dong could first prove his value to Xie Jinghu!
Judging by Zhao Dong’s actions, he seemed to want to meddle in the Xie family’s domestic affairs. When Xie Qian first got wind of this, he was furious, but now he’d calmed down.
No one in the Xie family supported his mother, Zou Weijun, divorcing Xie Jinghu—not even his uncle Xie Yuping, who doted on him most. Xie Yuping’s bottom line was to let Zou Weijun and Xie Jinghu live separately.
Separation was just a way to ease tensions. Once Zou Weijun’s emotions settled and Xie Jinghu recognised his “mistakes,” Xie Yuping would still try to reconcile them.
Xie Qian had originally planned to bide his time, build his strength during the separation, and wait until he had real influence in the Xie family to settle scores with Xie Jinghu. But now, with Zhao Dong stirring the pot in the Xie family’s affairs, Xie Qian saw another possibility.
Internal conflicts that couldn’t be resolved might erupt early with external interference.
Xie Qian wanted his parents to divorce, and his uncle Xie Yuping’s stance was crucial.
If he could make his uncle see how Xie Jinghu was using outsiders to cause trouble for him, would Xie Yuping change his mind?
“Xie Qian, what are you really thinking about your family’s situation?”
Jiang Youjia hesitated.
He had no place meddling in Xie family matters, but with Xie Qian and Zou Weijun forced to Rongcheng, wasn’t Xie Jinghu going too far?
Lin Lin had been furious since returning from Beijing, saying Xie Jinghu was a bully.
Xie Qian’s mother had come to Rongcheng to recuperate because she couldn’t hold her ground in Beijing. Jiang Youjia felt sorry for Xie Qian. To outsiders, he was a golden boy, but beneath the glamour lay filth. The more this was the case, the less Xie Qian should run away. If he fell out with Xie Jinghu, wouldn’t that just play into others’ hands?
Xie Qian’s face was cold. “Brother-in-law, it’s not about what I think. The damage is done. Who can mend a crack so it’s flawless?”
Besides, Xie Jinghu had no intention of mending anything or admitting fault.
“That bastard Zhao Dong!”
Jiang Youjia couldn’t curse Xie Jinghu, so he cursed Zhao Dong instead.
“We can’t just sit back and let Zhao Dong scheme against you. We need to give him some trouble. He wants to open a hotel, right? Why don’t we—”
“Brother-in-law, we don’t do anything illegal.”
Xie Qian set the tone firmly, then sincerely asked for Jiang Youjia’s help. “You met Zhao Dong while studying abroad. Do you have any mutual friends? Can you find out who the Zhao family offended to make them return to China?”
It wasn’t a big ask, and Jiang Youjia agreed readily.
He asked if Xie Qian needed to talk to his father, Jiang Xuekun, but Xie Qian politely declined. “If I need to, I’ll visit Uncle Jiang myself.”
In other words, it wasn’t necessary yet.
Sigh. Jiang Youjia wasn’t new to Xie Qian. He should’ve known how proud Xie Qian was.
Not relying on the Xie family’s power, not needing the Jiang family’s help—how could a sixteen-year-old Xie Qian take on Zhao Dong?
Jiang Youjia was both worried and curious!
He wanted to ask more, but Xie Qian was back to fiddling with his phone, seemingly texting someone.
…
“There’s some trouble, but it’s not a big deal. Let’s talk when we meet tomorrow.”
Over an hour later, Wen Ying finally got Xie Qian’s reply.
No rush for one night.
Wen Ying wanted Xie Qian to rest early, but there was a loud banging on the door.
“Wen Ying, open the door!”
It was Wen Dongrong’s voice.
He’d arrived pretty fast.
Wen Ying opened the door, and Wen Dongrong peered inside. “Where’s your mum? The car’s still running. Tell her to come with me to the hospital.”
Wen Ying pointed to the bedroom door. Wen Dongrong strode over, said something to Chen Ru, and she reluctantly came out.
Wen Ying grabbed Chen Ru’s bag and went to support her.
Chen Ru wanted to tough it out, but with her sprained ankle, going downstairs was far harder than coming up. After a few steps with Wen Ying’s help, Wen Dongrong ended up supporting her down.
As he’d said, the car was parked downstairs, still running.
It was late, and Wen Dongrong hadn’t used the company car. Instead, he’d borrowed one from a friend.
For someone so concerned with appearances, borrowing a car was rare. Chen Ru’s expression softened slightly as she got into the back seat.
Wen Dongrong took Chen Ru and Wen Ying to the hospital. He must have pulled some strings, as a doctor took Chen Ru for a scan and quickly got the results. After confirming she had no dizziness or nausea, the doctor said it was just a surface injury.
“Keep the wound dry, and it’ll heal soon. But the ankle’s badly swollen, so take extra care. Don’t put weight on that foot for a few days.”
The doctor instructed Wen Dongrong, who nodded repeatedly.
Wen Ying let out a dramatic “Oh no!” “How’s Mum supposed to go to work then?”
Wen Dongrong glared at her. “With her foot swollen like that, what work? Didn’t you hear the doctor? She needs to rest at home!”
“Why’re you snapping at me? I’m not the one who pushed her!”
Wen Ying muttered, and Wen Dongrong fell silent.
Chen Ru’s anger flared, the stitched wound on the back of her head throbbing.
“It’s my fault for meddling. If I’d just ignored it, I wouldn’t be in this mess tonight!”
How could she not be furious?
Her kindness was taken for granted, and now it looked like her work would be delayed.
She’d only just transferred to Rongcheng and was still finding her feet at work. Chen Ru was ambitious, eager to prove herself quickly and earn her new boss’s approval.
Tracing it back, it was because of Shu Lu’s family that she’d argued with Wen Dongrong, leading to her rushed transfer to Rongcheng without proper preparation…
Women love to dig up old grievances, and as Chen Ru followed this thread, she felt Wen Dongrong had never done anything right. She was about to give him a proper tongue-lashing when his phone rang.
The caller ID showed “Hongyan.”
Wen Ying shot her dad a pitying look.
Life or death hinged on this call—on how Wen Dongrong handled it.
—The path is right there, Comrade Old Wen. Don’t narrow your own road!
