Jiang Yicheng: “Tsk. You think you can get something for nothing from me?”
“Third Brother, don’t you want to know how you ended up failing?”
“Trying to drive a wedge between Big Brother and me again?” he sneered. “Jiang Yifeng, you really think I can’t see through that little scheme of yours? I give you my connections and resources, and once you succeed, will you let off the man who caused your legs to become paralyzed? Don’t make me laugh. If Grandfather hadn’t been there that day, would you really not have pulled the trigger? You’ve probably cursed me eight hundred times in private already. You just didn’t dare do it in front of Dad—you were afraid he’d be wary of how ruthless you are.”
Though Jiang Yicheng had hit the nail on the head, Jiang Yifeng didn’t get angry.
“So Third Brother is just going to sit back and watch Big Brother get the green light all the way? Watch him take the group’s inheritance and ownership without a single obstacle? You don’t want to stir up some trouble? You’re really willing to watch him succeed so smoothly?”
There was no denying that Fourth Brother was very good at fanning the flames.
Locked up in this cramped courtyard, he naturally couldn’t stand seeing his other brothers flourishing.
Jiang Yifeng continued, “Don’t forget—you once wanted Big Brother dead. Do you really think he won’t come after you once Grandfather dies?”
After a long silence, Jiang Yicheng asked, “What do you intend to do?”
“You don’t need to worry about the details, Third Brother. Since I’ve accepted your benefits and owe you one, even if I have to take your life when the time comes, I’ll at least make it quick and painless.”
Heh.
He really didn’t shy away from saying it.
But with someone like Fourth Brother, who loved putting on an act and playing dirty in secret, the fact that he was saying it so openly actually made Jiang Yicheng feel more at ease.
“Once it’s done, I won’t stay in the country and get in your way. Just let me leave the country.”
Jiang Yifeng agreed. “No problem.”
That was part of the old master’s arrangements in the first place, so he agreed without the slightest pressure.
Jiang Yicheng gave him a list containing all his people.
“How you bring them over to your side is up to you. I’m not sure whether they’ll still be loyal to me after I disappear.”
“Thank you, Third Brother.”
The call ended.
Jiang Yicheng let out a cold laugh, removed the earpiece, and tossed it into the drain.
Then he went out to eat.
The next day.
Jiang Chuling went to the main house, claiming that she had lost something and wanted to look for it.
The servant grew nervous. “What did you lose, Seventh Miss? Should I report it to Butler Lin?”
“It’s just a little trinket. It isn’t worth much, but it was a gift from a close friend, so it has sentimental value.” Jiang Chuling thought for a moment. “How about this? I know I’m not allowed in Grandfather’s study or the conference room. Tell me who went in yesterday, and I’ll ask whether any of them saw it while they were cleaning.”
When the servant heard that it wasn’t valuable, he relaxed. “That’s easy. Only a few people are allowed to clean the old master’s study every day.”
After listing several names, he added, “Oh, right. Technician Hu went in yesterday too. She should have been the first person to enter after you and the two gentlemen left. Why don’t you ask her?”
Jiang Chuling asked, “Who’s Technician Hu? Was she here before we arrived?”
“She was. She’s the old master’s traditional massage therapist. His legs hurt for several hours every day now, and he needs someone to massage them to relieve the pain.”
“Is that so?”
Jiang Chuling asked a few concerned questions about her grandfather, then followed the directions to find Technician Hu.
Naturally, she got nothing out of her.
“Then I might not have lost it here. I’ll go look somewhere else.”
Technician Hu replied politely, “Take care, Seventh Miss.”
Ten minutes later.
Jiang Chuling returned to the room, her face glowing with excitement. “Sister Qiuyun, I found out! It’s that technician named Hu!”
“Miss, you’ve done a great job!”
After all, who would have thought that a child would deliberately come asking about something like this?
Qiuyun immediately called Assistant Wei and explained the situation. Assistant Wei had plenty of connections as well, and in less than an hour, he managed to obtain the employment records of the people working in the main house.
“She became the old master’s chief massage therapist the moment she arrived, yet there’s no information about where she worked before. Miss, roughly how old did she look?” Qiuyun asked.
Jiang Chuling thought back. “She didn’t look very old. She didn’t have any wrinkles at all. I’d guess she was under thirty.”
To the old master, someone under thirty was practically the same age as a grandchild. How had she become the chief massage therapist of the medical support team without even a transition period?
Qiuyun guessed that someone had probably recommended her—and that person was someone the old master trusted deeply. Putting all the clues together, that person was very likely Jiang Yifeng.
Tsk.
For an old man in his seventies or eighties, the easiest people to have an affair with were usually the housekeeper, nurse, or masseuse.
He had sent his father a young massage therapist under thirty to stay by his side. Qiuyun really wondered what Ge Furen thought of her filial son.
An idea suddenly occurred to Qiuyun.
This might be useful.
Assistant Qian went to investigate Technician Hu’s life before she entered the estate.
After Jiang Yihua learned the whole story, he immediately gave Assistant Qian time off and had him focus entirely on the matter.
Once Assistant Qian left, Jiang Lin’an tossed his disposable paper cup into the trash can. “Do I really have to take this job?”
Jiang Yihua looked on with amusement. “Haven’t you always complained that the family never gave you any freedom? This time, I’m giving you the freedom to choose. You can pick any department you want.”
“Fine.” Jiang Lin’an asked, “Are the identity documents ready?”
“Here.”
He took them and looked them over.
Lin An, twenty-two years old, an overseas student.
“Domestic universities are too likely to put you in contact with someone you know, so I found you a school in Europe. If I remember correctly, you went there for an academic study trip during the summer?”
The corner of Jiang Lin’an’s mouth twitched. “That was A Zhi.”
“Oh. Then just have him tell you about it.”
All right, then.
Jiang Lin’an picked up his registration documents. “I’m leaving.”
Jiang Yihua’s phone rang, and he waved for him to go.
Only after ending the call did he remember that he hadn’t asked which department the boy was going to.
“Excuse me.” Jiang Lin’an went to the front desk. “How do I get to the logistics department?”
The receptionist gave him directions.
When he arrived at the logistics department, the supervisor took one look at the wording on his registration documents and immediately realized that some high-ranking director had stuffed a connected relative into the company. He hurriedly asked what kind of position Jiang Lin’an wanted.
Jiang Lin’an offered his seven-word mantra: “Easy, laid-back, and suitable for slacking off.”
The supervisor: “…”
That was workable, at least.
He wasn’t the kind of person who would cause trouble.
So the supervisor assigned him to the labor union, where his main responsibilities would be organizing sports and cultural activities, distributing holiday benefits, and handling purchases and similar tasks.
He would only be busy a few times a year. The rest of the time, he could enjoy plenty of free time.
Jiang Lin’an was satisfied.
As for his grandfather, he had an explanation ready: he hadn’t graduated from university yet, so he was merely starting out in an easy position to familiarize himself with the company.
—
Throughout the entire month of March, the idol survival show was in full swing. The public hadn’t welcomed any new idols in quite some time, and with its innovative format and entertaining competition system, viewers became deeply immersed in the show. It even became a breakout hit at the start of the year.
Because of his outstanding looks, Qiu Ze remained around tenth place despite not being among the top singers or dancers.
Once he became popular, all kinds of old, recycled “scandals” were dug up. News of Qiu Ze being in a relationship was once again pushed onto the trending lists by his rivals.
His fans were furious and spontaneously rushed to clarify the rumors.
—That’s his sister! His actual biological sister!
—This is hilarious. Is that all they’ve got? They’re even trying to use his biological sister as dirt?
The atmosphere in Jiang Chuling’s anti-fan group for Qiu Ze, however, was an entirely different story.
