Chapter 156: The Pei Family Shuffles the Cards
“How is it? The antidote hasn’t been concocted yet?”
Yan Kuan looked at the old man in front of him tiredly. This was already the top Chinese medicine pract.i.tioner in the country. All kinds of precious medicinal herbs were sent over one after another, but it was still not enough to save that person’s life.
Could it really be that Black Ganoderma mushroom?
“I’ve already said it before. In this world, other than the Black Ganoderma mushroom, no other medicine can save her. Right now, I can alleviate her pain and occasionally keep her awake. However, in order to fully recover, only the Black Ganoderma mushroom can do it.”
When Yan Kuan heard the old man’s words, he felt somewhat comforted. He immediately asked anxiously, “You said you can wake her up?”
“Of course. My golden needle technique still needs one last course of treatment. It’s not a problem for me to wake her up after finis.h.i.+ng it, but if I want to save her life, I still have to use the Black Ganoderma.”
“Then let’s wait for her to wake up first.”
Yan Kuan turned around and walked out of the laboratory with some annoyance. Black Ganoderma? Black Ganoderma was with him, but he understood what the old man meant. It was a key that could cure the poison of Black Ganoderma, and that key was the little thing’s family heirloom. Would she give it to him? And could he ask for it? For him to ask for the little thing, why did he feel so annoyed when he thought about it!
…
Liu Qiangui hung up the phone. His expression had never been good. During this period of time, his good big brother really did not leave him any face. Not only that, he even spoke sarcastically. Did he really treat him as one of those little rascals? If he wanted to scold, he could scold. If he wanted to yell, he could yell?
Liu Qiangui took out the stack of photos from the drawer. Initially, he thought that he should just forget about it. It was not easy for his big brother to find a sponsor. He should destroy it and return the photos to his big brother. However, he did not expect that he would wholeheartedly plan for him, but he did not appreciate it at all.
Since that was the case, then don’t blame him for being ruthless. If these photos were not sold at a good price, he would be letting himself down.
But who was he going to sell these photos to? Ouyang Minyan? No, giving them to her was equivalent to giving them to his big brother. Moreover, not only would he not get any benefits, his big brother might not spare him.
Give them to Pei Tianheng? He was the most qualified to get this thing if his wife cheated on him. However, if he got angry and stopped all business related to the Pei and Shen families, then he would also be indirectly implicated. There would be no benefits, and this would not work either.
Then he could only give it to Pei Li. Didn’t that brat always claim to be one of the ten most outstanding youths, the most outstanding successor of the capital society? Then he had to give it to this outstanding successor and see how he would handle it. Perhaps he could really exchange it for a large sum of money.
…
The Pei family reunion dinner was the first time in more than ten years that they had gathered together like this. Although Old Master Pei’s mood did not seem high, he still perked up.
No one in the younger generation of the Pei family knew what had happened to their grandfather. His complexion had always been unsightly. Other than treating their aunt slightly better, no one dared to go up and tease his beard.
Even Pei Meimei, who was usually the most doted on, was mercilessly reprimanded by the old man. She did not dare to go up and provoke him.
This atmosphere continued until the evening banquet. After dinner, Old Man Pei sat on the sofa as usual. He looked at the younger generation and sighed. Then, he slowly said, “Now that I’m old, Tianai, since you’re back, don’t leave. Otherwise, when your father dies one day, you won’t even know it when you’re abroad.”
Pei Dongguo’s words were firm, giving everyone a fright. However, Pei Tianai was not afraid. Instead, she smiled and said to Pei Dongguo, “Dad, you’re in good health. Live a long life. Live a long life. If you don’t want me to leave, then I won’t leave. I miss Dad too. It’s been so many years since I last came back. I understand when a fallen leaf returns to its roots.”
Hearing Pei Tianai’s words, Ouyang Minyan was filled with hatred in her heart. However, there was no room for her to doubt. She had already angered the old man in the afternoon, so she did not dare to go against him.
Instead, she looked at Pei Meimei. A person like Pei Meimei naturally knew what she meant. She did not like her aunt either. When she was young, she liked to shut her up and criticize her. During the six months that she studied abroad, she listened to her nagging every day. She was so annoyed that she applied to stay in the dormitory. She did not expect to anger her aunt and have her call her an ingrate. In any case, she did not have a good impression of her aunt.
“Then if Aunt is not going back, who should be responsible for the foreign business?”
“This is not something a child like you should ask. You should focus on your studies. I have not settled the score with you regarding the matters in M Country. You better study well and don’t cause trouble for me.”
Pei Dongguo fiercely banged his crutch, scaring everyone. They did not expect that Pei Dongguo would even be willing to scold his favorite granddaughter. It seemed that he was determined to keep Pei Tianai.
Ouyang Minyan looked at Pei Tianai and then at her second son who was sitting next to her. He was clearly her son, yet he was so close to her aunt as though they were mother and son. She felt even more uncomfortable and thought for a moment before saying,
“If Little Aunt returns, then Ah Xi will have no one to take care of him overseas. And Ah Xi’s studies…”
“If there’s no one to take care of him, then he will naturally come back. How can the descendants of my Pei family stay abroad all the time? And the eldest daughter-in-law, are you a mother? Ah Xi has graduated for a year. Don’t you know that?”
Ouyang Minyan’s face turned red. She had actually forgotten such an important thing. This Second Brother had graduated for a year? So soon? Why did she remember that he was only a senior when he came back last time?
“Dad, look at what you said. How could I not remember? I mean, should Ah Xi study more like his big brother? It’s always good to study more. Look at Ah Li. He’s already the third year into his masters and is about to graduate. Although families like ours have to follow in their father’s footsteps, we have to study more and have a degree. If this gets out, it’ll be a great honor.”
“Yes, Minyan is right. If Ah Xi wants to take the postgraduate exam, he can go back to the capital. I think Capital University is not bad. If that’s the case, then he can come back. All these years abroad, your father didn’t get to spend more time with you. I think it’s better this way. Your big brother joined the main company as a university intern. You’ve already been working in a branch company abroad for a year. Why don’t you come to the company and start as a department manager? You can learn while you work. Dad, what do you think?”
“Yes, Tianheng, that’s a good idea. It’s just that Ah Xi is a department manager. Ah Xi has long been a department manager overseas. How about this? Ah Xi will learn from Ah Cheng first. The position of department director is more suitable.”
“Dad, how can Ah Xi be a department director?”
Ouyang Minyan was the first to roar. Although Pei Li’s hand was also tightly clenched, he did not expect his father and grandfather to actually let his second brother come back and fight for power with him. Didn’t they say that he would be in charge of the country while his second brother would stay abroad? Weren’t things always peaceful all these years? Why did they have to change now?
“Eldest daughter-in-law, you are becoming more and more unruly. Why can’t the descendants of my Pei family work in the Pei family’s company? Don’t you forget that this Pei Corporation was taken down by this old man using one hand and one foot. Whoever I want to enter the company will enter the company.”
“The descendants of the Pei family should be on guard and help each other. I don’t think it’s inappropriate for Ah Li and Ah Xi to work together.”
“There’s also Tianai. Since you’re back, you can also work in the company. As for the branch company, I’ll send someone else over. Your Uncle Cheng’s grandson has also graduated from university and is studying abroad. It’ll be good for him to go.”
“Grandfather!”
“Father!”
No one expected that the old man would release such a big bomb with a smile. However, who was Pei Li? Even though he had long considered the Pei Corporation as his possession, since Pei Dongguo had not personally handed the company over to him, he absolutely could not reveal any ambition or displeasure.
He believed even more that his grandfather’s actions were to test him, to see if he could be a qualified successor.
Did he think Ah Xi could usurp his position? Don’t be ridiculous. How could he not know who Ah XI was? He was not doted on by his parents since he was young and grew up with his aunt. Just based on this point, his mother would definitely not agree.
There were too many grudges between his mother and his aunt. He could not explain it clearly with just a few sentences. However, Pei Li knew that even if the two of them were not mortal enemies, they would definitely not be any better.
Therefore, when Pei Li saw his grandfather’s actions, he immediately held Ouyang Minyan’s hand and interrupted.
“Alright, Ah Xi should have returned a long time ago. All these years, you have been overseas and the chances for us brothers to meet have decreased by a lot. Now that we are both working in the company, the two of us will definitely be able to carry the Pei Corporation forward. Don’t worry, Father and Grandfather. Ah Xi, right?”
When he heard this, Pei Dongguo’s expression changed. This kid was really smart. Didn’t he once place all his hopes on this kid as well?
Unfortunately, although he was smart, he was indeed a b.a.s.t.a.r.d. However, seeing that he was still so tactful, he didn’t mind letting him work for the Pei family for free. The things of the Pei family could only belong to the Pei family. If others wanted to covet them… It would also depend on whether he, Pei Dongguo, agreed or not.
Pei Li saw that his grandfather was indeed looking at him with a strange gaze. He instantly felt that his guess was correct. His grandfather was doing this just to test him. He immediately put down half of his heart.
This other half of his heart, he would only know the meaning of this after Pei Xi entered the company.
When Pei Xi returned to his room, he asked his aunt, Pei Tianai, excitedly, “Is this really true? Am I the only one in the Pei family who is related by blood?
“Aunt…”
“Ah Xi, silence.”
Pei Tianai was much calmer than Pei Xi and much more mature. The walls had ears, and her sister-in-law was not someone to be trifled with. They had to be careful when they returned this time.
“But Aunt, is all of this real? Can I really go back to the head office to work?”
Pei Tianai looked at Pei Xi’s cautious and excited look and suddenly felt a little sad. This child was still too innocent. He was clearly the child of the Pei family, so why couldn’t he work at the Pei Corporation? Even if her father and big brother left in the future, this Pei Corporation would still have Ah Xi’s share.
She could only blame her father for being too biased these past few years. If not for her, what kind of life would Ah Xi lead?
However, now that such a thing had actually happened, that good sister-in-law of hers still thought that this was the time when she, from the Ouyang family, was allowed to reign supreme over the world more than ten years ago?
This time, when she returned, not only did she want to let Ah Xi get what he deserved, she also wanted to take revenge for the hatred from more than ten years ago. The good sister-in-law had ruined her marriage for the rest of her life. How could she let it go so easily?
She had been alone and helpless all her life. Fortunately, Ah Xi was with her. Otherwise, even if she tore this ugly woman to shreds with her own hands, she would not feel relieved.
If she had not snitched, would her lover have died in that car accident? She had obviously chosen to elope, which meant that she wanted to give up the right to inherit the Pei Corporation. However, the good sister-in-law still refused to let her go.
Just because she had been pampered more than her brother since young? Smarter than her brother? Could that idiot not see that even if she was pampered, the Pei Corporation would never be handed over to the daughter who married out? Idiot, what an idiot…