Xiao Chen collapsed onto the floor, paralyzed.
Qianjun had canceled its partnership with Longteng.
How could this be possible?
Could it be that the person Tang Chuchu called was truly the chairman of Qianjun?
Seeing Xiao Chen’s state, Jiang Chen knew he must have just received news of the canceled partnership.
At the headquarters of Longteng Group, in the president’s office:
Xiao Qizheng was cursing Xiao Chen up and down, berating him mercilessly. Word had come down from Qianjun that the chairman had personally issued an order, stating that Xiao Chen had offended someone he shouldn't have.
"President, it’s bad! Qianjun says the medicinal materials we produced have quality issues. They’ve filed a lawsuit against Longteng, demanding three billion in compensation!"
"President, it’s bad! The banks are calling to demand immediate repayment of our loans!"
"President, something terrible has happened! Our factories have been sealed by the authorities due to the quality concerns!"
"President, the sky is falling! Our shareholders are dumping their stock. Our share price has plummeted, and we’ve lost ten billion in an instant!"
"President, Longteng is bankrupt. The other businesses under the Xiao family are also being implicated; many of our assets have been seized..."
Xiao Qizheng had been on the phone berating Xiao Chen when he heard these reports, and he fainted from rage on the spot.
Xiao Chen heard the chaos through the phone as well. In that moment, he realized that Tang Chuchu had indeed called Ye Xiong, and that Ye Xiong’s threat to bankrupt the Xiao family was real!
Cold sweat broke out all over his body, and he fell to his knees with a thud!
"Chuchu, I was wrong! Please, call Chairman Ye and tell him to stop targeting the Xiao family! I’m begging you, I’m begging you!"
This scene left the Tang family stunned.
Tang Chuchu was also somewhat bewildered.
Ye Xiong had said he would bankrupt the Xiao family, and in such a short time, they really were bankrupt! The speed of it was terrifying!
The Xiao family was the head of the four great families in Jiangzhong. For them to be brought to ruin in an instant—the power of the Qianjun Group chairman was truly immense!
Tang Tianlong realized the Xiao family was finished.
He also knew the Tang family was about to rise!
He issued an order: "Security, throw Xiao Chen out!"
Two guards walked over and dragged the kneeling Xiao Chen away.
"Chuchu, I was wrong, I really was! Give me a chance, give the Xiao family a chance..."
Xiao Chen’s desperate pleas could be heard from outside the door.
Tang Tianlong stood up and helped Tang Chuchu to a seat. "Chuchu, come, sit down. Don't stand."
Tang Chuchu was now the heroine of the Tang family. Having befriended someone as significant as Ye Xiong, the Tang family was bound to rise.
Tang Tianlong immediately gave his command: "From now on, Chuchu is the executive chairwoman of Tang's Yongle Company, with a monthly salary of three hundred thousand!"
Tang Chuchu regained her senses, her face full of joy. "Grandpa, really? Are you really letting me be chairwoman, with a salary of three hundred thousand?"
"Of course!"
"Then... what about Jiang Chen?"
"Since you like him, let him stay in the Tang family for now."
Tang Chuchu was overjoyed. She stood up and grabbed Jiang Chen’s hand, acting like a young girl again, full of excitement. "Husband, you don't have to leave!"
Jiang Chen smiled faintly. Seeing Tang Chuchu so happy satisfied him deeply. He vowed to spend the rest of her life ensuring her happiness and never letting her suffer even the slightest grievance.
This day would surely go down in history in Jiangzhong.
Last night, the head of the Xiao family, Xiao Biehe, had passed away.
Today, the Xiao family went bankrupt. The leading family among the four great families had become a thing of the past, falling from a top-tier dynasty to a debt-ridden family.
At the Xiao residence:
Xiao Zhan had returned from the capital only to find the Xiao family in ruins. In a single day, they had completely collapsed!
In the main hall, Xiao Chen knelt on the ground.
"Fourth Uncle, it was all Tang Chuchu. She called Ye Xiong, and Ye Xiong canceled the partnership between the Xiao family’s Longteng Group and Qianjun, and then bankrupted us..." Xiao Chen cried, embellished the story as he told it.
"Crack!"
The teacup in Xiao Zhan’s hand shattered instantly. A dark expression crossed his face. "Ye Xiong, you dare to go against my Xiao family? Even the Ye family won't be able to protect you. And Tang Chuchu, I guarantee I’ll make the Tang family suffer a miserable end!"
Xiao Ruoran, standing to the side, asked calmly, "Fourth brother, what do we do now?"
Xiao Zhan stood up and said, "Don't worry, I have my own plans. We just need to wait a little longer."
While the Xiao residence was shrouded in gloom, the Tang family was filled with celebration.
Tang Tianlong announced Tang Chuchu’s appointment as executive chairwoman of Tang's Yongle Company and declared that Tang's Yongle would henceforth be Qianjun’s most important partner.
With the news of Ye Xiong personally welcoming Tang Chuchu into Qianjun having gone public, the Tang family suddenly became the center of attention, with many families in Jiangzhong eager to curry favor with them.
As for Jiang Chen, he finally received the Tang family’s approval and moved into Tang Chuchu’s home.
After taking the position of executive chairwoman, Tang Chuchu became very busy, leaving early and returning late every day.
Jiang Chen settled into life at home. He didn't go to work; instead, he spent his days sweeping and cooking. When it was time to get off work, he would ride his little electric scooter to pick Tang Chuchu up from Yongle Company.
This was the kind of life Jiang Chen had dreamed of.
In the blink of an eye, over half a month had passed since he married into the Tang family.
One afternoon, after sweeping the house, Jiang Chen took the trash out and rode his scooter to pick up Tang Chuchu.
On the side of the road outside Yongle Company, Jiang Chen squatted down and lit a cigarette.
Xiao Hei squatted beside him.
"Brother Jiang, you just spend your days sweeping, cooking, and picking up your wife. Don't you find this boring? I’m bored to death just watching you. How about we just bring her to the Southern Wasteland?"
"What do you know? This is what life is about. This is living."
Jiang Chen took a deep drag and exhaled a ring of smoke. He flicked the butt onto the ground, looking indifferent. "I’ve had enough of the killing and the bloodshed. It was Chuchu who gave me a reason to endure those ten years of war. For the rest of my life, I only want to stay by her side and make her the happiest woman in the world."
"By the way," Xiao Hei remembered something and said, "The Xiao family is bankrupt, but a lean camel is still bigger than a horse. They still have some connections in Jiangzhong, especially Xiao Ruoran, who is very well-connected. I found out that Xiao Ruoran is holding an auction tonight. She’s putting up quite a few valuable items to raise funds for a comeback. Most of these items were seized from the Jiang family ten years ago—including the *Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains (Huayue)* that you’ve been thinking about constantly."
Hearing this, Jiang Chen’s expression darkened.
Xiao Hei felt a chilling aura of murder radiating from him, and the temperature in the surrounding area seemed to drop in an instant.