Silan Biotech holds 20% of the shares for Sara Zhuo’s eldest son.
This isn’t a small sum; it’s a fortune most ordinary families could never earn in a lifetime.
But compared to the scale of Jinhu Group, 20% of Silan Biotech’s shares is negligible.
After Xie Yuping’s oversight, Xie Jinghu could no longer freely gift large assets to Sara Zhuo and her son. Even this 20% stake was only secured through several layers of concealment.
In stark contrast is Xie Qian.
In just over a year, Xie Qian has acquired land worth nearly two hundred million, a logistics company, and Jiaxin Film Company. Even though Sara Zhuo played a role in pushing him toward Jiaxin, she’s far from pleased.
It’s only a temporary measure.
Under the Xie family’s scrutiny, Sara Zhuo dares not make overly bold moves. Directly targeting Xie Qian would surely enrage the Xie family, a consequence she can’t yet afford.
But ignoring Xie Qian entirely also troubles her.
Every cent Xie Qian takes is a cent less for her children. No one could stay calm in her position.
Xie Qian has the advantage of being a legitimate son.
Moreover, growing up under Xie Yuping’s watch, Xie Qian shares a deep bond with the Xie family patriarch.
If her own children were accepted by Xie Yuping, they wouldn’t lose to Xie Qian.
Yet the Xie family made it clear early on that they wouldn’t allow Sara Zhuo’s children to be recognised as part of the family, which infuriates her.
The Xie family’s differential treatment of Xie Qian and her children has shifted Sara Zhuo’s mindset. The gap between legitimate and illegitimate children is too vast.
If she doesn’t rise to the top, her children will forever be illegitimate, never able to step into the light, let alone inherit Xie Jinghu’s Jinhu Group.
For Sara Zhuo to rise, Xie Jinghu must first divorce Zou Weijun, making room for her to become the third Mrs. Xie.
Divorce involves splitting assets.
Zou Weijun would take at least half of Xie Jinghu’s wealth.
Jinhu Group would be split in two, a scenario Xie Jinghu absolutely doesn’t want, which is why he’s never mentioned divorce.
Sara Zhuo doesn’t want him to divorce either, especially now, when Zou Weijun and her son already hold more than half the share. Xie Qian alone owns 5% of Jinhu Group.
If they divorced now, Zou Weijun and Xie Jinghu would split the assets evenly, and with what Xie Qian already has, they’d hold the upper hand.
If a divorce happens later, Xie Qian might gain even more, another outcome Sara Zhuo dreads.
Inevitably, Sara Zhuo recalls Zou Weijun’s suicide attempt.
If she hadn’t been saved, Xie Jinghu wouldn’t have needed to divorce… The malicious thought flashes by, and Sara Zhuo feels regret. Zou Weijun was rescued.
Sara Zhuo is a pragmatic person. There’s no point dwelling on what’s done. She must prevent further losses.
First, whether Zou Weijun and Xie Jinghu divorce or when, she must stop Zou Weijun from transferring marital assets to Xie Qian under his name.
Temporarily tying Xie Qian up with Jiaxin Film Company isn’t enough. Sara Zhuo reflects on the past year.
In the summer of 2004, right after Xie Qian’s middle school exams, Zou Weijun’s mental state was at its worst, and the father-son relationship with Xie Jinghu was strained. Zou Weijun and her son were at a disadvantage.
Unexpectedly, after Zou Weijun’s failed suicide attempt, Xie Qian took her to Rongcheng to recuperate, gradually turning the tables.
Her emotions stabilised, and there were no further reports of suicidal behaviour.
While continuing to clash with Xie Jinghu, Xie Qian didn’t refuse the group shares Xie Jinghu was forced to transfer.
Sara Zhuo knows that of Xie Qian’s 5% stake, 2% came from Old Madam Xie, and the remaining 3% was forcibly transferred by Xie Jinghu.
Xie Jinghu was pressured by Xie Yuping, who held leverage over him, to transfer the shares.
At the time, Sara Zhuo appeared to lose ground, restricted by the Xie family from returning to the country. But she and her children held Xie Jinghu’s heart, receiving “compensation” for every grievance caused by the Xie family, giving her the upper hand.
Overconfident, Sara Zhuo underestimated Zou Weijun and Xie Qian. Being abroad, she relied on second-hand information, unable to access firsthand details about their lives in Rongcheng, making it impossible to judge accurately. She hadn’t anticipated such drastic changes in the domestic situation.
Discussing Xie Qian’s performance at Jiaxin with Zhao Dong, Sara Zhuo couldn’t hold back. “When you were in Rongcheng, you interacted with Zou Weijun and her son. Did you notice anyone helping them?”
How did Zou Weijun’s depression improve?
Why did she abandon her pride and soften toward Xie Jinghu?
And Xie Qian, once aloof and indifferent to family wealth, now aggressively pursues it, as if he’s a different person.
After much thought, Sara Zhuo suspects someone is aiding Zou Weijun and Xie Qian, influencing and changing them.
Who could it be?
Xie Yuping?
Xie Yuping genuinely cares for Xie Qian.
Dealing with Xie Yuping would be too difficult, and Sara Zhuo lacks confidence.
But if it’s someone else, she’d make them regret meddling.
It’s probably not Xie Yuping. He’s not only Xie Qian’s uncle but also Xie Jinghu’s brother. If Sara Zhuo were in Zou Weijun’s shoes, she wouldn’t fully trust her husband’s brother.
Who’s helping Zou Weijun and her son?
Zhao Dong was stumped by the question.
It couldn’t be Song Foxiang, could it?
Having been burned by Song Foxiang before, Zhao Dong felt physically ill at the name, unable to accept him as the mastermind behind Zou Weijun and her son.
Ruling out Song Foxiang, Zhao Dong carefully considered every suspicious person around them.
“Jiang Xuekun is a strong possibility. He’s the general manager of Rongcheng Publishing Group and has marital ties to Zou Weijun’s family. Her career success owes much to his support. I tried to build a relationship with him, but he was unyielding, showing he’s a man with his own ideas.”
If Zou Weijun and her son are being helped, and someone is guiding them, Zhao Dong strongly suspects Jiang Xuekun.
Another name flashed through Zhao Dong’s mind, but he dismissed it reflexively.
It couldn’t be.
A young girl couldn’t pull off something this big.
At the same age, his sister Zhao Qian is still immature.
Last year, Zhao Dong forcibly sent Zhao Qian to the U.S. to “visit family,” hoping she’d get close to Sara Zhuo’s son. Zhao Qian resisted, but when Zhao Dong mentioned her son’s resemblance to Xie Qian, she reluctantly agreed.
Once there, Zhao Dong kept Zhao Qian in the U.S.
Schooling is schooling anywhere, and the Zhao family isn’t like ordinary families who rely on academic success. If it serves their goals, keeping Zhao Qian in the U.S. for her studies is the best choice.
