Xie Jinghu could roughly estimate how much money Xie Qian had.
But he couldn’t have calculated that Xie Qian would invest in a TV drama with Wen Ying, let alone that a new company’s drama would sell its copyright for 70 million, allowing Xie Qian to recoup over 9 million, including profit, plus the 1 million borrowed from Wen Ying. Combined with Xie Qian’s initial investment in the logistics company, he had around 10 million in total!
In Xie Jinghu’s eyes, only deals worth over 100 million were worthwhile. In reality, most entrepreneurs start small, accumulating bit by bit. With over 10 million as starting capital, Xie Qian’s venture wasn’t exactly hard mode—countless young entrepreneurs would envy him. Unaware of Xie Qian’s unexpected income, Xie Jinghu, based on Assistant Qi’s investigation into the logistics company’s scale, naturally assumed Xie Qian had other funding sources.
Could Zou Weijun have sold properties under her name to raise money for Xie Qian?
That was Xie Jinghu’s first suspicion.
Property transaction regulations weren’t as strict as they would be in a decade. Disposing of jointly owned marital property didn’t always require the spouse’s presence. If one party exploited loopholes, they could sell a property without their partner’s knowledge. For instance, the villa in Beijing where Zou Weijun lived, a “gift” from Xie Jinghu years ago, was registered solely in her name. It would be easy for her to sell it secretly.
And that wasn’t the only property registered solely under Zou Weijun’s name!
If Zou Weijun was determined to support Xie Qian’s “venture,” Xie Jinghu would struggle to control Xie Qian’s financial lifeline.
Especially since Zou Weijun had a precedent of using marital savings to buy land for Xie Qian, Xie Jinghu couldn’t help but suspect she’d do it again, a second or third time.
For a moment, Xie Jinghu couldn’t figure out which properties Zou Weijun might have sold this time.
The amount, compared to buying land, wasn’t much—maybe 10 or 20 million. Xie Jinghu, having weathered the blow of a 200-million land deal, wouldn’t lose composure over a mere 10 or 20 million—but Zou Weijun’s actions couldn’t be indulged again!
Xie Jinghu’s claim of visiting his son at the hotel was just offhand.
He cut short his Shanghai trip and returned to Beijing.
This time, Xie Jinghu beat Xie Qian to the punch, complaining to his elder brother Xie Yuping and their mother, Old Madam Xie, airing his grievances.
First, she secretly bought properties for the younger family members.
Fine, buy them—he didn’t care about the money, but Zou Weijun should’ve informed him first!
“Don’t I care about Xie Tang and the other two? They’re our Xie family’s children, and I care more than anyone! But caring for kids isn’t about buying houses. Wouldn’t it be better for them to achieve something through their own efforts? Isn’t that right, Big Brother?”
It made sense, especially coming from Xie Jinghu, which surprised Xie Yuping.
But knowing Xie Jinghu was saying sensible things just to pick at Zou Weijun’s faults, Xie Yuping nodded sternly, “Go on, Mother and I are listening.”
Next came Zou Weijun’s secret land purchase.
Shanghai’s property market was booming, and the Hongqiao land had appreciated. Xie Jinghu couldn’t disparage Zou Weijun’s investment acumen, but she’d bought the land in Xie Qian’s name, and Xie Qian refused to let him develop it. Such a prime plot was left idle, which Xie Jinghu couldn’t comprehend—he genuinely wanted to mend their marriage. He hadn’t disturbed Zou Weijun’s recovery in Chengdu, but she never answered his calls. If this continued, their marriage would exist in name only. Was that what Big Brother and Mother wanted?
Zou Weijun did all this without consulting him, eroding trust between them!
Old Madam Xie looked thoughtful, but Xie Yuping wasn’t so easily fooled.
—Whose fault was that?
Xie Yuping cut off Xie Jinghu’s whining, “The land isn’t idle. Didn’t Xie Qian start a logistics company?”
Xie Jinghu faltered, “…Big Brother, you knew?”
Xie Yuping nodded.
“Xie Qian’s venture isn’t some shameful secret. Of course I know.”
“But I didn’t…”
Xie Jinghu stopped mid-sentence, noticing Xie Yuping’s reproachful gaze. He braked in time but was still scolded, “Why didn’t you know? It shows you’ve never cared about Xie Qian. Keep this up, and not only will your marriage be in name only, your father-son relationship is on the brink too!”
Xie Yuping’s scolding was sharp, his authority from years in high positions leaving Xie Jinghu speechless. Xie Jinghu turned to his mother for help, only to find Old Madam Xie siding with Xie Yuping, deeply disapproving of his neglect of Xie Qian.
“Even I, an old woman, knew about Xie Qian’s logistics company, but you, his father, didn’t. You have the nerve to bring it up.”
So Big Brother knew, Mother knew, and he was the only one in the dark?
Xie Jinghu gave a bitter smile, “They’re keeping me out of the loop. From buying houses to land to Xie Qian starting a company, I’m always the last to know. I’ve done wrong, and I don’t blame Weijun for being angry, but her secretly funding Xie Qian’s company is more harmful than helpful. A teenage kid messing around with 10 or 20 million, isn’t that just relying on family to back him up? I’m not saying Weijun’s wrong, but I deserve to know, don’t I?”
Xie Jinghu was there to complain.
He knew his brother and mother wanted him to reconcile with Zou Weijun, but their constant support for her, indulging her as she transferred marital assets to Xie Qian in various ways, would only worsen their relationship.
Old Madam Xie fell silent.
This was exactly her concern.
Xie Yuping’s feelings were complex.
Rationally, he knew Xie Jinghu’s complaints weren’t about fixing his marriage. If he truly had that resolve, he wouldn’t care how Zou Weijun spent money. Only an incapable man nitpicks his wife’s spending. Zou Weijun’s spending was for Xie Qian—what was there to condemn?
To truly mend the relationship, he’d need genuine remorse, cutting off all contact with that foreign woman and her children. That would show sincerity.
Rationally, Xie Yuping thought Xie Jinghu was lying.
Emotionally, he still held a sliver of hope, hoping Xie Jinghu genuinely cared about his marriage, his son, and fixing their family, even if he couldn’t fully cut ties with the foreign woman yet, and his heart was starting to lean toward Zou Weijun and Xie Qian.
Should he trust his younger brother?
Years ago, their mother raised four children alone while working. As the eldest, Xie Yuping had worried over his three younger brothers and couldn’t accept that the third brother he’d helped raise had become unrecognizable.
On one side, a younger brother likely lying.
On the other, a nephew who never lied and trusted him completely.
Xie Yuping didn’t agonize long.
He chose to trust Xie Qian!
“Weijun has no more money to give Xie Qian for his company. He used Jinhu’s share dividends, which you agreed to give him. Are you regretting it now?”
