Seeing that Master Qian fainted, those usually pretentious brothers and sisters did not know what to do, and their faces turned panicky and pale, Qian Xi heaved a long sigh.
He suddenly thought of that advice Ding Ning spoke of jokingly. “Don’t open this casino anymore.” Perhaps on that day, he had foreseen that the casino would be the root cause of the collapse of the Qian Family.
He had lived a very bad life in the Qian Family these years, highly wishing it to have bad luck, but when this really happened, he found that he was not happy at all. After all, this was his family, and they were his biological family members.
“Perhaps, I should do something for the family.” When every one of the Qian Family was in a mess, Qian Xi adjusted his clothes and strode out.
“Third Brother, what are you going to do? Why do you still want to go out now? This is your family, and this is the time for us to join hands to work out solutions. Can you take the profit of the family into account?”
Qian Ping caught a glimpse of Qian Xi and reprimanded him with displeasure at once.
“Right, Third Brother, now our grandpa has passed out, our Fourth Brother has been arrested, and our family’s properties have been seized, but you don’t try to find a solution. What do you want by going out? At least, we should find a way to take our Fourth Brother out of the prison, shouldn’t we?”
Qian An followed suit.
“Right, Third Brother, it’s not a big deal for you to usually ignore our family’s affairs, but now such big trouble has happened and you still want to go out. This is not suitable, right?”
Qian Ping’s wife said sarcastically.
Qian An’s wife also said aggressively, “You don’t make contributions to the family but always take profits from it. Now when the family has trouble, you want to escape. Are you not the descendant of the Qian Family?”
“Qian Xi, you are a coward. In the past, I still thought you were a bit manly, but now I know that you are a cowardly man. No matter what, when the Qian Family meets trouble, we should join hands to work out solutions to shoot the trouble. Today if you dare to take a step out of the Qian Family, let’s divorce!”
Qian Xi’s wife Chen Shumei had wanted to divorce a long time before. Now when the Qian Family had trouble, her mother’s family would not prevent her from divorcing for the sake of profits. So, she took this opportunity to threaten him.
Qian Xi turned around, slowly glanced at them over, and said to Chen Shumei lightly, “Okay, as you wish. Go and draft the divorce agreement, and I will sign it straight when I return.”
“You, don’t regret!”
Chen Shumei was happy and also surprised. “My long-expected aim to divorce has been finally reached, but why don’t I feel so happy as I imagined.”
Qian Xi did not care about her anymore and took a peaceful look at everyone. “Is it not true that all of you just think I am an illegitimate child? Have you ever treated me as a member of the Qian Family since I was young? Fourth Brother is your biological brother and treasure, and all of you have been spoiling him, but what has happened now? Who brought the disaster to the Qian Family? Is it not that b*stard Qian Le? Last time I said that the Qian Family was a business family but not an underworld society, should not do business with improper means, and could not open the casino, but none of you agreed with me, including this stubborn old man.”
Pointing at Master Qian who had fainted, Qian Xi said coldly, “Our father works in other places and our grandpa should serve as the head of the family, but the problem is that he is partial and can’t suit the head of the family. He spoiled Qian Le too much and then caused today’s bad result. Stay? Humph, do I need to stay with you useless guys to be gloomy or just sit here to repetitively talk nonsense? I admit I don’t like the Qian Family, but no matter what you think of me, my family name is Qian. Now I am leaving to find ways to solve the crisis of the Qian Family, not to stay here to listen to your meaningless crap.”
After finishing his talk, Qian Xi turned around and left, ignoring their reactions.
All the Qian Family members took a look at one another and then at the straight back of Qian Xi. At this moment, it seemed that the most useless man they thought had shown a striking and admirable talent.
Chen Shumei had a different luster in her eyes because she was the victim of a marriage done for the profits of two families, her dissatisfaction with the marriage always filled her heart with unwillingness, and she had never looked straight at the decadent and incompetent waste Qian Xi.
In public, they treated each other as well as good guests, but they did their things separately in private and did not care about each other. However, now she felt that she seemed to have missed something.
When the Qian Family was in a mess, a joint military and police investigation had come to Nameless Villa for the first time since its opening. The general manager Shangguan Lu heard the news and absconded, but Nameless Villa had been seized, all the whoremongers and gamblers had been taken away for investigation, and the 580 million gambling money had been confiscated. These people were either rich or noble, and many of them were senior officials, which led to the fury of the high-level leaders of the government. In Ninghai, after Deputy District Chief Luo Shihai was fired for investigation, another great earthquake in the officialdom took place.
After the incident of Nameless Villa, the properties of the Qin Family also suffered a joint investigation, many unqualified entertainment properties were mercilessly seized, and as the head of the properties, Qin Canglan was also taken away for investigation.
The Qin Family had never expected the sudden attack and collapsed in prestige, and the great forces in the underworld were as quiet as cicadas in late autumn, quietly watching the next movement of the government.
If the government wanted to deal with the Qin Family, they would not mind stepping on it in a merciless manner. After all, no gang parties hoped to have someone more powerful than them forever.
Surprisingly, the Seventh Lord’s Mansion, which should have made waves by the chance, did not do anything. Instead, it kept gathering the forces under its rule and warned them not to make trouble. It seemed that it had realized that something was different.
The following morning, Mayor Du hosted a meeting himself and made a government work report. According to the rules of being quick, being serious, and being severe, they should treat anti-corruption, fighting against gangs and evils, eliminating pornography and illegal activities, and purifying the public security environment as their current top agenda, especially taking anti-corruption as their most important thing. They should crack down on both tigers and flies. Anyone who was found guilty would be investigated without bending the law and tackled with the “Three beings” principle.
Mayor Du’s fierce and ambitious measures had shown such toughness for the first time since he took office, and no one dared to raise objection.
According to the analysis of some politics-sensitive people, next year would be the city government renewal period. Mayor Du’s resolute remediation at this time was self-evident.
Many people who knew the situation said that they did not understand and thought that without the support of his wife’s mother’s family, Mayor Du did this too hastily and it was a wrong move, for it would hurt the profits of too many people. The consequence of making too many enemies was that these profit groups would join hands to fight him. When besieged on all sides, his position which was not stable now would become even more precarious.
Jiang Zhongzhe was one of those who thought so. After Mayor Du assigned a clear task, he was not surprised but pleased. That night, he hummed a song and drank 0.1 kg of liquor at home, joyfully looking forward to the bright future of mayor Du’s impeachment.
“Young Master Hai, your strategy is really excellent. Only by using a small kidnapping case have you made Young Master Lan doomed. Now I understand the reason why you ordered all the people not to do the grey industry for the time being after you took over the business of your family. What a wise decision! I, Shangguan Lu, admire you a great deal!”
Shangguan Lu, who was being wanted by the police, was now in Fairview Club affiliated to the properties of the Qin Family and said with a flattery face.
“No matter in politics or in business, a helmsman must have enough political acumen and insight and always be clear about the general principles and policies of the government. Everyone thought that without the support of his wife’s mother’s family, he would be hopeless to be re-elected, but what they do not understand is that a person who once had power is now still more influential than a person who always has no power. The level and information channels that he can reach are beyond ordinary people’s imagination. The Central Bureau has just had this intention and has not officially announced it to the public, but he got the news and made this move before all others. I also saw this through and then set a trap for Qin Canglan by adapting to the situation.”
Qin Canglan looked reserved and honest, but in fact, he spoke in a proud manner.
“Young Master Hai, you do have a pair of sharp eyes and outstanding skills because you saw through what Mayor Du would do next in advance. You are great.”
Shangguan Lu nodded and bent his back to flatter, making Qin Canghai even prouder. He stood up, patted Shangguan Lu’s shoulder with a cold smile, and said, “But the key lies in you. If you had not stabbed Qin Canglan in the back, how could he have fallen so fast?”
“It is in man’s nature to strive for better. Capable men choose the right leader to serve. Compared with Young Master Hai, Qin Canglan is nothing, and I, Shangguan Lu, naturally know who the wise leader is.”
Shangguan Lu’s attitude made Qin Canghai very satisfied. In this game, if there had not been this key chess piece, it would not have been easy to get Qin Canglan in this case, making the Qin Family suffer losses and lose the support of the elders of the clan.
According to his usual habit, since the danger had passed, now it was time to forget God and murder lives to prevent the divulgence of his secrets. However, before Qin Canglan was completely driven into the abyss and he got the position of the family head, the person who knew Qin Canglan best now still had his value.
Qin Canghai’s eyes glinted, and his killing intention appeared and vanished, showing a mild smile. “Work with me and I will reward you. Now you are a wanted criminal, and it is not convenient for you to show up. Let me offer you a place to hide from the limelight. After this matter is over, I will entrust you with a heavy task.”
“Thank you, thank you, Young Master Hai!”
Shangguan Lu was overwhelmed by an unexpected favor and stood up to extend his gratitude repetitively. The panicky look made Qin Canghai feel comfortable, and he could not help laughing wildly.
After Shangguan Lu left, Qin Canghai stopped laughing, showed a strong venomous glint in his eyes, and said in a low, determined, angry voice,
“The Qin Family is only a decaying and weak family. I just made a small mistake, but you sent me overseas for three years. Now, you want to take me as the sharpening stone of the Qin Canglan. Humph, a group of stubborn seniors who think they can control the fate of everyone. How many three years are there in one’s life? As a sharpening stone, I will not be at the mercy of anyone, and I will sharpen the ‘blunt knife’ that you have high hopes for into scrap iron. Humph, since you don’t treat me seriously, so don’t blame me for being ruthless. I am working to damage your Qin Family’s power by sacrificing my own power. Wait, in a short while, there will be only one Qin Family in Ninghai, and that is the new Qin Family I will have created.”
“Ding-a-ling!”
Qin Canghai’s phone suddenly rang and interrupted his imagination. Looking at the call number from Yan Jing, his ferocious expression immediately turned into awe. “Young Master Su, everything is going according to your plan.”
“Very well, I want you to take control of the Qin Family as soon as possible. You know what I want. If we cooperate with each other, both of us will gain benefits; if we separate, both of us will lose. If you cooperate with me, your wish will come true. In the future, there will only be one leader in Ninghai’s underground world. That is the new Qin Family that you will have created yourself. Now it is time for you to show your ability.”
A cool and confident voice came from the other end of the phone.
“Yes, Young Master Su, I will. You just wait and see.”
Qin Canghai straightened his back subconsciously. To the young man with ghostly wisdom and a heart as great as the sea who started to make arrangements and take the initiative to build ties three years ago with him, a man who was disheartened, Qin Canghai was full of gratitude and awe.
