Chapter Fifty-Three: Sentimental Old Jiang

Jiang Zhengguo was stunned, casting a strange look at Jiang Changyuan.

"Son, Dad knows you have anger in your heart. Don't worry, Dad will definitely settle this score for you."

"However, the matter of cooperating with the Liu family is no small affair..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Jiang Changyuan already understood his father's intention.

The Jiang family started with manufacturing, and various manufacturing industries in the market were all connected to the Jiang family in one way or another.

To be honest, the Liu family's rapid rise to become the second most prominent family in Beining was largely thanks to the Jiang family's assistance. Of course, Jiang Zhengguo wasn't just playing the good Samaritan.

"Dad, are you worried that today I was just having a petty dispute with Liu Lili?"

"Mhm. In the past, you were close to Liu Lili, and it was solely for your sake that I gave the Liu family the green light on certain projects."

In other words, if not for Jiang Changyuan's relationship with her, Jiang Zhengguo would never have given Liu Hai the time of day.

What on earth was the Liu family anyway? Taking a fancy to his daughter was already doing them a favor, yet she dared to treat his son like a brainless doormat?

"Ahem, it's not that Dad necessarily wants to stop you from getting close to Liu Lili, it's just..."

"Liu Lili is no good. She's not worthy of my son."

Jiang Zhengguo nodded in prompt satisfaction. His doormat of a son had finally awakened to reality!

He delivered a hearty slap to his back, and caught off guard by the sudden assault, Jiang Changyuan almost face-planted into the car window.

"Good son... Oof, you didn't bump yourself, did you?"

"Dad, next time before you hit me, remind yourself silently: I am your biological child."

Jiang Changyuan was somewhat speechless. Was it because he saw his injuries were minor that he wanted to inflict a few more?

"Hehehe, Dad was just too happy. Don't go snitching to your mom when we get back, alright?"

"A middle-aged henpecked old man, tch."

Before Jiang Zhengguo's expression could turn dangerous, Jiang Changyuan quickly brought up the main business.

"Dad, the Liu family still harbors intentions of destroying our Jiang family, and Chen Yuan's case is about to go to trial."

"Why not take this opportunity to cut off all ties with the Liu family, so we don't end up being morally blackmailed by them later?"

Jiang Zhengguo knitted his brows slightly; he had his own considerations.

"We have already gathered sufficient evidence, so Chen Yuan will undoubtedly win the lawsuit."

"It's just that the Liu family has numerous business dealings with us. Pulling one hair moves the whole body; who knows what other schemes they might hatch at that time?"

"Aren't you being too narrow-minded?"

Jiang Changyuan shook his head, a mischievous smile playing on the corners of his lips.

"The cake in Beining is only so big, and everyone wants an extra bite."

"Cutting off cooperation with the Liu family will certainly cause certain people to harbor improper thoughts, but don't forget that the Liu family will only end up in an even more miserable state than us."

"Dad, if we sever cooperation with them while simultaneously handling the Shuguang Technology matter, do you think outsiders will choose to bite the hard bone or pinch the soft persimmon?"

Hearing this, Jiang Zhengguo's eyes suddenly lit up. He looked Jiang Changyuan up and down, front and back, scrutinizing him thoroughly.

Constantly being stared at made Jiang Changyuan's scalp tingle. Could it be that by talking too much, his old man had figured out he swapped the goods behind his back?

"Dad, you..."

Just as he opened his mouth, Jiang Changyuan received a bear hug.

"Good son, my good son! Everyone says you're good for nothing and that the Jiang family will sooner or later be ruined in your hands."

"Now, your old man wants to drag them all over here and make them open their eyes wide to see clearly that Jiang Zhengguo's son is no coward!"

Under the night sky, the rims of Jiang Zhengguo's eyes turned slightly red, though this was still him trying his utmost to suppress the surging emotion in his heart.

Jiang Changyuan's body stiffened. Having neither a father nor a mother in his past life, he had never understood what paternal love was.

Yet he knew very well that he had once yearned for it to the extreme.

Paternal love is like a mountain, paternal love is like the sea. The paternal love within arm's reach at this moment was the most ordinary of expectations, yet immensely precious.

Enveloped in that broad embrace, Jiang Changyuan sighed inwardly.

Having a father who cherished him like the apple of his eye meant his starting point in this lifetime was already complete.

"Dad!"

Jiang Changyuan reached out and gave Jiang Zhengguo's back a series of solid thumps, expressing his moved feelings in the exact manner his father had taught him.

Jiang Zhengguo's old face flushed red, coughing repeatedly from the heavy pats.

He suspected his son was doing it on purpose, but he had no proof.

"Alright, alright. The two of us haven't eaten yet. Let's call your mom and Lu Hai and the gang, and go have a proper meal."

At a five-star hotel, enjoying VIP service and ultimate luxury, Jiang Zhengguo actually got quite drunk tonight.

"Uncle is telling you lot, back in the day, Uncle was also the absolute belle of Beining..."

The little fatty and the others were forced to sit in a row and listen to Old Jiang bragging. Rather than saying it was to give Old Jiang face, it was more out of respect for Young Master Jiang.

Otherwise, being so young, who would actually enjoy listening to an old man's outdated history of development?

Zhong Qin held Chen Xiang's delicate hand, smiling as she glanced over at the men while whispering intimately with her.

The bustling and lively scene made Chen Xiang feel out of place, and Zhong Qin's enthusiasm left her at a loss as to what to do. She cast a silent plea for help toward the window.

Leaning against the window frame, Jiang Changyuan bared his white teeth at her in a grin, then turned his gaze back to the bustling traffic outside.

Tonight he had deliberately provoked Liu Lili, purely to disrupt the relationship between the Jiang and Liu families in his own way.

Creating a rift between the two families would ultimately achieve the goal of parting ways.

In the original book, the Liu family had joined forces with outsiders to kick the Jiang family when they were down. But a lean camel is still bigger than a horse, and the Jiang family still had one last chance to make a comeback afterward.

If successful, they could rise from the ashes; Mr. and Mrs. Jiang were making a desperate final stand. Yet at this exact juncture, the Liu family once again humbled themselves, parading old affections as a disguise.

At that time, Mr. and Mrs. Jiang had staked everything. Even knowing that cooperating with the Liu family was like consorting with a tiger, for the sake of success and to ensure their son could continue living a life of luxury in the future...

They chose to cooperate.

And they failed!

That very last chance for a comeback became the final straw that crushed the Jiang family.

The Liu family pulled the rug out from under them, suddenly cutting off all cooperation, leaving the Jiang family completely isolated and helpless.

Meanwhile, bearing the pressure of mandatory breach-of-contract penalties, the Liu family simply waited a few days before forcing the Jiang family into bankruptcy ahead of them.

When rich, you have distant relatives in the deep mountains; when poor, no one cares in a bustling city. Thinking of the miserable fate of Mr. and Mrs. Jiang after their bankruptcy, Jiang Changyuan closed his eyes to mask the dark gloom in the depths of his pupils.

Now, by using the very method the Liu family had intended to use against the Jiang family to punish them instead, it could be considered letting them reap what they sowed!

Suddenly, a slender, fair hand rested on his arm. Jiang Changyuan raised his gaze and froze.

Chen Xiang smoothed down a stray lock of hair blown loose by the wind, smiling with utter gentleness.

"Auntie Zhong saw you standing here alone and asked me to come keep you company for a while."

"Jiang Changyuan, am I good to you?"

Hiss!

The flesh on his arm was pinched and given a sharp twist, and Jiang Changyuan's eyes widened in shock.

He knew it! With the second female lead's sharp tongue, being gentle simply didn't fit her character!

"Hmm?"

Chen Xiang leaned in slightly, blocking Zhong Qin's timely glance from afar.

"Good!"

"Good enough that I want to let Gu Qing experience it too."

Hearing this, Chen Xiang turned her head back, the smile vanishing from her face in an instant.

She let out a low huff, crossing her arms as she glared down her nose at Jiang Changyuan.

"Jiang Changyuan, you always compare me to Gu Qing. Do you think I have a secret crush on him?"

"Gu Qing is exemplary in both character and studies; it would be strange if no girls had a secret crush on him."

Jiang Changyuan answered the question with a counter-question, eyeing Chen Xiang sideways.

In the original book, it was written clearly in black and white that Chen Xiang harbored an unrequited, secret crush on Gu Qing, and she was practically the most strong-willed person in the entire secret-admiration squad.

However, since it was a young girl's private little thoughts, he didn't have the heart to expose her, lest she unleash her poisonous tongue on him every single day.

"Hah, why couldn't the person I have a secret crush on be you?"