The night passed.
For Jiangnan, it was an extraordinary night.
The Su family in Jiangnan had once again suffered heavy losses. The Su family's control over Jiangnan was precarious, and many prominent families seemed to see a glimmer of hope, wishing for the Su family's downfall so they could devour its corpse and grow stronger.
As the saying goes—
Emperors and generals, are they born noble?
Of course, the Su family was not to be trifled with. At this critical juncture, they immediately contracted their lines and secured their core interests. As for some peripheral interests, they allowed these smaller families to snatch them away.
Sometimes, severing a limb is a necessary means of survival.
There was also something Chen Jinzhao had not anticipated: some merchants gradually realized that Chen Jinzhao's shadow was behind the events. Furthermore, Chen Jinzhao had an intricate relationship with Yu Mengzhi, so some shrewd merchants began to gravitate towards Gou Chen Pharmaceuticals. On one hand, under Yu Mengzhi's leadership, Gou Chen Pharmaceuticals had a rapid development momentum. On the other hand, it seemed Chen Jinzhao was backing Gou Chen Pharmaceuticals.
Even if Chen Jinzhao did nothing but stand there, no one would dare to hinder Gou Chen Pharmaceuticals.
Moreover, in this treacherous society, being someone no one dared to provoke was the greatest advantage.
Even Chen Jinzhao himself had not expected that his intangible influence was helping Gou Chen Group enter a fast track of development. It could be foreseen that in the coming years, Gou Chen Pharmaceuticals would surely rise to become one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the Jiangnan region.
Meanwhile.
Li Tiance and Qin Fengwu also learned the final outcome of the storm—the Su family handed over Su Yuan and bowed their heads to Chen Jinzhao.
Li Tiance said to his brother, "As far as I know, Chen Jinzhao was not directly involved in this matter. This person is formidable in both martial prowess and strategy. If he cannot be used by us, he will be a formidable enemy."
"Brother, haven't you already tried to recruit him privately? What did Chen Jinzhao say?" Li Tiannan asked curiously.
Li Tiance shook his head, "His ideology differs from mine. He won't accept my theories in the short term, so we must make preparations on both fronts to avoid being caught off guard when facing this formidable opponent in the future."
Li Tiannan pursed his lips and remained silent.
Li Tiance let out a long sigh, "Actually, Chen Jinzhao's future is brighter than Qin Fengwu's and mine. One of Qin Fengwu and I will surely be defeated, and the victor will personally send the loser to a dark prison. But Chen Jinzhao is different. It seems no one in the military can shake his position. He will surely succeed Xu Hanchen in the future."
In other words, whoever among him and Qin Fengwu could recruit Chen Jinzhao into their camp would gain an advantage.
"Fortunately, Chen Jinzhao has an irreconcilable conflict with Qin Fengwu. Compared to Qin Fengwu, I can be considered radical." At least Li Tiance didn't have to worry about the two of them joining forces.
Li Tiannan shook his head repeatedly.
Initially, the family had sent him into the military to establish prestige, so that he and his elder brother, one civilian and one military, could combine forces. Then this vast territory would be within easy reach.
Who knew that Chen Jinzhao would appear halfway through?
"Brother, I'm sorry, I'm too useless." Li Tiannan said with a tone of guilt.
"Tiannan, you have done very well, better than 99% of people. You are just slightly inferior to Chen Jinzhao." Li Tiance never easily blamed others, believing such actions made him seem useless.
On the other side.
Qin Fengwu did not return to his residence but went to his office to help deal with the night's affairs.
Frankly, he least wanted to see the current situation. Su Yuan had a good relationship with him, and Su Yuan had a relatively gentle disposition, making him a suitable helper for Qin Fengwu.
He rubbed his swollen eyes and cursed, "Su Hao, you useless scoundrel, how could you do such a thing?"
If not for the fact that he would need the Su family's strength in the future, Qin Fengwu would have wanted to kill Su Hao right now. He knew that once Su Hao's ambition was ignited, he would surely not be satisfied with this.
"To satisfy his own ambition, he is willing to be used by Chen Jinzhao. How foolish!" Qin Fengwu cursed.
"Such a person will eventually die due to his inflated ambition!"
Despite his curses.
Qin Fengwu could not fall out with Su Hao at this moment. Instead, he had to continue helping him consolidate his current position, lest the Su family introduce someone unfamiliar to Qin Fengwu as heir.
"However, it's not bad. Ambition brings motivation. If he can be used well, he can become the sharpest spear in my hand."
Qin Fengwu leaned back in his chair and pondered, falling into a deep sleep shortly after.
Donghai.
In a certain villa.
After being disciplined by Chen Jinzhao in the afternoon, Zhu Xiaotian and Yang Qianqian had returned to Zhu Xiaotian's home in Donghai.
The two had just finished their game and were cuddling each other under the covers.
Zhu Xiaotian knew that such days were numbered.
"The Su family actually had an accident," Yang Qianqian suddenly said.
Zhu Xiaotian's heart stirred, "What happened?"
Yang Qianqian handed him her phone. After Zhu Xiaotian took a careful look, his expression changed slightly. "I never expected that even the mighty Su family would experience such a disgraceful event. The Su family's influence has been further weakened."
What surprised Zhu Xiaotian even more was that this matter was actually related to Chen Jinzhao.
He thought of something and looked at Yang Qianqian in his arms, seeming to want to speak but hesitating.
Ring, ring, ring!
Zhu Xiaotian's phone rang simultaneously. It was Han Shangwen calling, which made Zhu Xiaotian's expression change drastically again.
"Qianqian, wait for me here for a moment. I'm going to take a call," Zhu Xiaotian said.
Yang Qianqian suddenly grabbed Zhu Xiaotian's hand. Zhu Xiaotian looked at Yang Qianqian in surprise. Her eyes had become red. "Qianqian, what's wrong?"
Yang Qianqian said weakly, "Mr. Zhu, just listen to the call here. I've already roughly guessed that things will be related to me. What is meant to come, will come, isn't it?"
She had no other option but to accept it calmly.
Zhu Xiaotian felt unbearable, as the reality was too cruel for her. But he could only nod and say, "Okay, I'll put it on speaker."
He answered the call.
Zhu Xiaotian smiled obsequiously, "Young Master Han, why are you calling me so late? What are your orders?"
Han Shangwen got straight to the point, "Stop the nonsense. Make Yang Qianqian clean herself up, dress beautifully, and go meet Young Master Su and President Fang tomorrow evening. Do you understand?"
Zhu Xiaotian quietly glanced at Yang Qianqian beside him. Yang Qianqian's expression was indescribably complex.
"Zhu Xiaotian, are you listening to me?" Han Shangwen was somewhat angry.
"Young Master Han, I'm listening."
"I, I understand. I'll send her over tomorrow," Zhu Xiaotian said meekly, not daring to resist.
Han Shangwen had no intention of talking further with Zhu Xiaotian and hung up the phone.
Beep—
Silence fell upon the room.
After a long while, Zhu Xiaotian broke the silence and said, "Qianqian, I'm sorry, I can't protect you anymore."
Yang Qianqian's eyes dimmed, and she shook her head. "Mr. Zhu, you've already done very well. Compared to these young masters of noble families, our strength is too weak. How can we possibly be their opponents? It's just serving a few old gentlemen, not a big problem. How many top actresses in the entertainment industry haven't done such things? For them, this might even be an honor."
Zhu Xiaotian felt a tightness in his chest and was speechless.
Yang Qianqian, in turn, comforted Zhu Xiaotian, "Perhaps I can use this opportunity to soar to the heavens and become a new top actress in the entertainment industry. Wouldn't that make my life even more fulfilling?"
"Qianqian, you don't actually want this, do you?" Zhu Xiaotian asked.
Yang Qianqian was stunned. Just as she was about to retort, Zhu Xiaotian shook his head. "I know. You actually resist these things, including submitting to me back then, which was also the case."
Yang Qianqian remained silent. She had indeed been forced into it back then.
Hate?
She had felt it then, but it had long since vanished. Compared to other benefactors in the entertainment industry, Zhu Xiaotian was clearly more charismatic.
Zhu Xiaotian said with a wry smile, "Ever since I became a dog of the Han family, my knees have grown softer and softer. I once thought I had become numb and completely a puppet controlled by the Han family. It was only today that I realized there was still a shred of pathetic backbone in my chest. I want to be a man of integrity."
Although Zhu Xiaotian didn't particularly like Yang Qianqian, his damned machismo had already designated Yang Qianqian as his woman. Zhu Xiaotian felt that a person had to be tough at least once in their life!
"Qianqian, I'll show you a way out, a broad path where you will no longer be controlled by others."