Assistant Qi, who knew Xie Jinghu’s mindset best, gave an awkward smile to the police officer, “Let’s just settle with money, it’s simpler. Mr Xie’s schedule is tight, he can’t stay in Rongcheng for long.”
Song Shao nodded, “Oh, if Mr Xie can’t afford a million, then make a counter-offer, after all, we don’t know Mr Xie’s financial situation.”
Can’t afford a million?
Mr Xie could pay ten million without blinking!
The issue was, paying a million to Song Foxiang would make Mr Xie feel utterly humiliated.
A million wasn’t something Assistant Qi could decide without Xie Jinghu’s approval.
Before Xie Jinghu could speak, Xie Qian’s voice rang out from the doorway:
“No need to haggle, a mere million is nothing my dad can’t handle. Asking him to counter-offer is an insult to him, and to our whole family!”
Xie Qian strode in, delivering the final blow as the dutiful son.
Song Shao turned to look at Xie Qian, Song Chan was staring too, and Song Foxiang was the most shocked: Was this really that Xie guy’s son?
Song Chan had said Xie Qian was the top student at the provincial key school!
Song Foxiang now suspected Xie Qian’s top rank was bought.
Assistant Qi was equally stunned, gawping at Xie Qian.
Only Xie Jinghu reacted first, realising why Xie Qian was doing this: that rebellious son was thrilled to see him lose money!
Even if Xie Jinghu’s money wouldn’t go to his son, Xie Qian would make sure it was squandered!
Xie Jinghu was initially furious, but for some reason, his expression gradually normalised, “Fine, a million it is.”
With a million paid, there was no need to question the sincerity of Xie Jinghu’s apology.
The police officer was dumbfounded.
If the police station had handled it, the fine would’ve been four figures at most, not even ten thousand.
Assistant Qi wheeled Xie Jinghu out, Xie Qian followed, and Song Shao, after a moment’s thought, chased after them.
In the corridor, Xie Jinghu and his assistant had vanished, but Xie Qian’s back was still visible.
“Xie, wait up!”
Xie Qian stopped and extended a hand to Song Shao, “Call me Xie Qian.”
Song Shao paused, then shook his hand confidently.
“Hi, I’m Song Shao, the man in the room is my uncle.”
I already knew you were Song Shao, but you didn’t know I was Xie Qian.
Xie Qian had glimpsed Song Shao from afar before, though it was to keep tabs on Wen Ying, it felt underhanded. Now, with the chance, Xie Qian introduced himself openly.
Song Shao didn’t overthink it. He withdrew his hand and explained to Xie Qian:
“Xie Qian, there’s something you should know. A million was just a figure I threw out. My intention was to make your dad learn to respect others, not to actually make him pay a million to my uncle. Such a large sum might not even be good for my uncle.”
A million was just a random demand.
Song Shao hadn’t expected it to actually be agreed upon, it felt surreal.
Xie Qian looked at Song Shao.
No wonder Wen Ying had lost touch with other junior high friends but couldn’t forget Song Shao.
Song Shao was truly sharp.
He must’ve guessed something earlier, hence the million-dollar demand, a smart move based on reading the situation.
But Song Shao didn’t care much about actually getting the million, it was a figure meant to humiliate Xie Jinghu, which was why he offered second and third options for mediation.
Let Xie Jinghu stand still and take a few punches from Song Foxiang.
Or go to Song Foxiang’s workplace and read a public apology.
“I understand your thinking, and I don’t believe you or the rest of the Song family are money-grubbers, but wanting my dad to realise his mistakes… honestly, it’s more practical to take the money. You can accept it without worry, the Xie family won’t come after you.”
If Xie Jinghu could change, he would’ve had an epiphany when Xie Qian spent nearly two billion buying land.
The truth was, Xie Jinghu never thought he was wrong, it was always someone else’s fault.
Since that was the case, why not take Xie Jinghu’s money?
Xie Qian didn’t want Xie Jinghu to have too much cash. Rather than letting him funnel it to overseas lovers and illegitimate children, it might as well go to the Song family.
Though Xie Qian had no ties to the Songs, it would infuriate Xie Jinghu, and that alone made Xie Qian happy!
Song Shao was taken aback.
Xie Qian only said the Xie family wouldn’t cause trouble if they took the million, not that “Mr Xie” wouldn’t.
But there was nothing to fear.
Offending a petty person meant they’d retaliate later, compensation or not.
“Got it.”
Song Shao sincerely praised, “You’re very different from Mr Xie.”
Mr Xie was unlikeable, but his son was reasonable, that was Song Shao’s take on Xie Qian.
Xie Qian wanted to return the same compliment.
Who’d connect Song Shao to Song Foxiang?
What a starkly different uncle and nephew in character and style!
…
Back in the room, Jiang Xuekun was already there.
Song Foxiang clung to Jiang Xuekun’s sleeve, “Mr Jiang, the police officer was there, I didn’t extort anyone. That Xie guy willingly offered a million, can I take it?”
The officer nodded reluctantly.
Jiang Xuekun hadn’t expected this.
He’d told Song Foxiang to be bold, but Song Foxiang’s boldness was off the charts!
Xie Jinghu wasn’t willingly paying, he was constrained by Mr Xie Yuping. Jiang Xuekun had felt the weight of the Xie family patriarch today.
As for why Xie Jinghu agreed to pay a million to settle, perhaps not paying would cost him even more?
Jiang Xuekun asked Song Foxiang, “If the compensation comes through, how will you spend the million?”
Send Song Chan to study abroad, of course.
That was Song Foxiang’s first thought.
A million might not cover Song Chan’s full undergraduate degree overseas, but it would secure her future. She could aim for top domestic universities, and if that didn’t work, go abroad.
Song Foxiang daydreamed about the future, unable to suppress a smile.
Before he could speak, Song Shao, back in the room, cut in, “My uncle wouldn’t feel at ease keeping all that money. He plans to donate half the compensation to the provincial writers’ association for event funding, to support struggling writers so they can create good work without worry.”
Half, that’s 500,000.
The price of a flat in Rongcheng.
With one casual sentence, Song Shao donated 500,000 on Song Foxiang’s behalf.
Jiang Xuekun was sceptical, looking to Song Foxiang for confirmation.
Song Foxiang was too heartbroken to speak.
How could Song Shao give away his money?
With only 500,000 left, the gap for study abroad was even bigger!
Song Shao’s eyes carried a warning, and Song Foxiang, powerless to resist, nodded listlessly.
Soon, Song Foxiang found a way to console himself: donating 500,000 left him with 500,000. Xie Jinghu had hit him four or five times, so each punch was worth about 100,000, he was still pretty valuable!
