Chapter 408: Do You Have Any Evidence?
“It’s just his bad luck.”
“Is that so? You would get less sleep if this continues.”
“Insolence!” Old Sheng slammed down his brush in fury.
Nonetheless, Third Brother said nothing else. The old man must be convinced that Sheng Xiao’s family had nothing and could only watch as Jing Ting was burned down, and certainly did not know that Eighth Brother was the chief of Zhongteng now.
Not to mention that countless mysterious influences in Jianchuan had Sheng Xiao’s back.
He would burn down Jing Ting now, would he?
Sure. Just wait for Eight Brother’s retaliation.
As such, Third Brother did not continue debating against the old man, and simply went to the garden to calm his poor mood.
Soon, Sheng Kai came to Third Brother and asked him, whose forehead was dripping with sweat. “Why are you angry at Grandfather over the fire at Jing Ting?”
Third Brother said nothing.
“What’s wrong with letting him vent after he was given grief for days? Isn’t it just a building?”
Third Brother turned to Second Brother in shock and disbelief at his words. “Don’t you think you are becoming like Grandfather, Second Brother?”
“Eldest Uncle was inside Jing Ting when the fire started. If he wasn’t lucky and got killed, do you think that it is still ‘just a building’?”
“Isn’t he alright in the end?”
Third Brother promptly rose from the lawn at that.
Why say anything? He would never get a word in.
Now, he found that there was less and less common ground between him and the Sheng family.
Really, it makes you want to escape it.
Still, Third Brother would not believe that Old Sheng could have a clear conscience if he killed his own son.
But no, the old man didn’t have a heart since a long time ago.
***
The damage of Jing Ting being burnt down was immeasurable. And would that sit well with Mama Sheng?
Be that as it may, the old man must have believed that they would not come looking for trouble with him even if they knew that it was the Sheng family who did that.
Did he really believe that they were at a dead end?
By the next day, Xu Che had already arranged for the media to arrive at the ruins of Jing Ting, with Papa Sheng and Mama Sheng receiving their interview as agreed.
Naturally, the journalists’ interview was scripted thanks to Xu Che’s arrangement, and they knew what to ask and how to lead the discussion.
“I heard Chairman Sheng—head of the Sheng family had personally visited Jing Ting just a few days before the fire. It was claimed that he had wanted to take back the property but did not get his wish, was that true?”
“Jing Ting is a present I bought for my son and daughter-in-law with my own savings. The money for it mainly came from my own maiden family.” Mama Sheng answered.
“I’ve also heard gossip circulating that Chairman Sheng was taking his anger out on out over Sheng Xiao, and demanded a divorce between you and your husband. Were the rumors true?”
“My father-in-law has developed some strong opinions against me over my son, and wanted me out of the family. Unable to bear the pressure from him, my husband left the Sheng family with me… but we didn’t expect that something like this would happen right after we moved to Jing Ting. My husband was still inside when the fire started, and I’m still scared even thinking about it now.” Mama Sheng replied while wiping away tears.
“There has been word from the police that the fire was deliberate. Could it be some old rival?”
“No.” Husband and wife shook their heads together.
“Then perhaps there was someone who is trying to get back at you?”
“I’m not at ease to comment on that.”
“Do you have any suspects?”
“Who else could there be?”
Mama Sheng’s replies were artistic. Though she mentioned no names, the content laid out elaborately before allowed everyone to know that she was referring to the chairman of Huang Yao!
All at once, the interview started a storm, with Old Sheng being shoved into the spotlight.
Even though the media still mentioned no one specifically and merely used the terms the ‘Sheng family’ and ‘a certain corporation’, everyone knew that the person bent on his fiery revenge and did not care about losing his son was the chairman of Huang Yao.
When Sheng Kai got word of it, he immediately sent the company’s public relations team to work. Even so, the video of a crying Mama Sheng circulated everywhere, with everyone in the whole wide world spreading it. Moreover, didn’t the way Old Sheng double down even though Sheng Xiao was left with nothing now stir hatred?
It was common for quarrels in rich families, but usually there would be someone who comes out to pretend as if all was well, which reduced such quarrels for brief sensationalism. On the other hand, this incident involved a fire and human lives, therefore setting it on a different level. And with Sheng Xiao sending people to work further on it, news of the fire stayed on the headlines for days.
Huang Yao’s reputation and stocks both started to crumble.
Did anyone ever tell you that people without anything couldn’t retaliate, old man?
In a brief few days, Huang Yao’s market value dropped by several hundred millions, enough to build a dozen Jing Tings.
Naturally, the scandal would not last since Huang Yao’s place as an empire of diamonds was unshakable, and it would not collapse directly from a trifling scandal such as things. They just had to implement countermeasures, keep the company stable and quell their bad image, but those brief few days had already incurred a great loss.
“I really can’t underestimate Sheng Xiao. He could cause so much damage to Huang Yao without really doing much.”
Old Sheng sneered even as he looked at the journalists outside surrounding his house. “It’s most fitting to liken him to a centipede: he might be killed but he doesn’t stop moving.”
“Did you really send people to burn Jing Ting down, Grandfather?”
“Do you have any evidence?” Old Sheng asked Second Brother in return. “Mind your business if you don’t and lead Huang Yao well. By the way, the date of your engagement with Gu Ziling has been decided on the fifteenth of the next month. There’s not much time from now till then. Be prepared.”
“Got it!”
Of course, it was not something Sheng Kai was happy about, although it did not appear horrific.
Still, it just felt immeasurably miserable…
***
Papa and Mama Sheng only felt that they were appeased after personally witnessing the losses Huang Yao suffered.
It was fine to have Jing Ting burnt down, but the old man should never be allowed to feel satisfied since that involved human lives.
And now, they and their two elders were staying under one roof, with them occupying the first floor, whereas the second floor was Mu Qiqi and Sheng Xiao’s territory.
“Qiqi’s idea this time was wonderful. Your father and I don’t have to feel queasy over this.”
“It’s the age of information. Even without evidence, Huang Yao would suffer if we spread the news because of sensationalism. We don’t have to be afraid because we have nothing to lose.” Mu Qiqi explained.
“Would I bother getting square with him if your father wasn’t almost killed? He doesn’t even care about the life of his own son—that is what really doesn’t sit well with me.
“Xiao Xiao, don’t you think the old man’s temper is becoming more heartless recently?”