Chapter 737 Winning Over the Wei Family
“Brother, we’re going to be rich!”
Gu Junjie swirled his wine glass, his eyes narrowed. “It seems we’ve picked the right side this time…”
“Brother, how about we release Wei Linlin quickly? That way we’ll still make over a billion.” Wang Chunsheng was tempted.
“What do you know! What’s a billion to us?”
Gu Junjie scoffed.
“Brother, what do you mean?”
“If we hold on for two more days, according to the agreement between the Wei family and Chen Xuan, the Wei family will definitely trade Chen Xuan’s life for Wei Linlin, and I’ll even become the Wei family’s son-in-law. What’s a billion compared to that?”
Gu Junjie chuckled.
While a billion was a vast fortune, becoming the Wei family’s son-in-law was far more valuable.
“That makes sense, that makes sense!”
Wang Chunsheng nodded, but a sense of unease washed over him.
He swallowed, suppressing the flicker of disquiet in his heart.
Meanwhile, at the Li family.
In the spacious living room, figures were seated.
Li Tianxing, the head of the Li family, Gu Chengtian, the head of the Gu family, along with Sima Hongtu, the patriarch of the Sima family, and Fang Yongning, the head of the Fang family, were all present.
The Sima and Fang families were both among the four great families of the provincial capital. Their patriarchs wielded power no less than that of Li Tianxing.
However, today, the one in charge was Shi Menglu!
“Head of the Li family, Miss Shi, what business do you have calling us here today?”
A resonant voice spoke. It was Sima Hongtu, the patriarch of the Sima family.
Shi Menglu was peeling lychees. She seemed to ignore Sima Hongtu’s question, meticulously peeling the fruit.
Sima Hongtu frowned, a flicker of displeasure crossing his eyes.
The Li family had developed to its current standing due to the Su family’s favor. However, their Sima family had achieved success through their own efforts. If they hadn’t perceived the provincial capital’s Su family as a threat, they would never have allied with the Li family against them.
Now, Shi Menglu was putting on such a display of airs, which greatly irked him.
However, he did not outwardly express his displeasure.
“Cough, cough…”
Li Tianxing coughed twice.
The Li family knew that Shi Menglu intended to put on a show of superiority to subtly assert dominance. However, it was clearly not the right time, as they needed the Sima family’s cooperation and had to cater to them.
Shi Menglu, hailing from a prominent family, was not foolish. She glanced at Sima Hongtu and said, “The reason I’ve asked you here is simple: to join forces with the Wei family to suppress the Su family.”
Sima Hongtu frowned. “The Wei family has deep ties with the Su family…”
Li Tianxing chimed in, “Don’t you know? The Wei family and the Su family have fallen out due to Wei Linlin’s kidnapping. Wei Changzhe, who is stationed in the provincial capital, is already preparing to deal with the Su family. If we go and ally with the Wei family now, they will surely agree.”
Upon hearing this news, Sima Hongtu and Fang Yongning’s eyes gleamed.
“With the Wei family’s involvement, defeating the Su family will be effortless!”
Li Tianxing stated, “If you agree, I will go and lobby the Wei family immediately!”
Sima Hongtu and Fang Yongning exchanged a glance and chuckled, “Very well, we agree!”
Li Tianxing and the others were overjoyed and immediately expressed their intention to ally with the Wei family.
Without delay, Li Tianxing took action.
To demonstrate sincerity and respect, he brought a valuable gift to visit Wei Changzhe. After much effort, he managed to meet Wei Changzhe and presented his proposal to unite against the Su family.
To his surprise, the outcome was entirely contrary to his expectations. Wei Changzhe not only had Li Tianxing thrown out but also discarded the gift he brought.
He left Li Tianxing with a single message: The Wei family’s conflict with the Su family does not require outside interference, and the Wei family will not assist any other family in dealing with the Su family!
Having been rebuffed, Li Tianxing was furious. He relayed the news to Shi Menglu, who flew into a rage and severely reprimanded Li Tianxing.
Li Tianxing felt incredibly wronged. The matter of forming an alliance against the Su family was temporarily stalled, but he remained determined.
The next day passed in a blink. The three major chambers of commerce, along with the Wei and Su families, scoured the provincial capital but found no trace of Wei Linlin. The Wei family was genuinely anxious now, with the three-day deadline approaching.
The kidnapper had given them very little time!
Meanwhile, Shi Menglu received some very good news: Wei Changgeng was about to return.
“Excellent news!” Shi Menglu said with a sinister smile.
“Miss Shi, what is it? What good news?” Li Tianxing asked, frowning.
“Wei Changgeng will be back soon.”
“What does Wei Changgeng’s return have to do with us?”
“Judging by the current situation, Wei Changzhe dared not inform Wei Changgeng about Wei Linlin’s kidnapping. He must have been afraid of Wei Changgeng’s reprimand. Now that Wei Changgeng is returning soon, Wei Changzhe will certainly be more anxious.”
Shi Menglu said with a faint smile.
Li Tianxing’s eyes brightened, and he picked up the conversation, “So, if we approach Wei Changzhe now, he’ll have no choice but to cooperate with us.”
“Head of the Li family is indeed very clever,” Shi Menglu nodded faintly.
At the same time, Wei Changzhe also learned of Wei Changgeng’s imminent return, which indeed made him anxious. He once again approached the Su family and questioned Chen Xuan. The Su family fiercely protected Chen Xuan and adamantly refused to trade Chen Xuan for Wei Linlin.
The relationship between the two families had become extremely strained, filled with animosity. Wei Changzhe left the Su family in anger.
When Li Tianxing finally found Wei Changzhe, Wei Changzhe had just returned from the Su family and was extremely agitated. The Wei family began to consider Li Tianxing’s proposal to unite against the Su family…
“Second Master Wei, confronting the Su family will bring you nothing but benefits. You must have seen clearly how fiercely the provincial capital’s Su family protects that live-in son-in-law. With the deadline looming, if Wei Linlin is not found, the Su family may not necessarily trade that live-in son-in-law’s life for your niece’s life.”
Li Tianxing earnestly advised Wei Changzhe.
Wei Changzhe’s face was so dark it looked like it could drip water. He pondered Li Tianxing’s words.
To be honest, before meeting the Su family, Wei Changzhe hadn’t taken this matter too seriously. After all, Chen Xuan was just a live-in son-in-law. Would the Su family really turn their backs on the Wei family?
However, the Su family’s resolute stance had greatly surprised Wei Changzhe.
The Su family was willing to perish rather than abandon that live-in son-in-law!
This was beyond Wei Changzhe’s expectations.
At this very moment, Li Tianxing was correct. If pressure was not applied to the Su family, even by tomorrow, the Su family might not trade Chen Xuan’s life for Wei Linlin’s.
However, Wei Changzhe felt it was not proper, as the Su family and the Wei family were very close acquaintances.
“Second Master Wei, I heard Mr. Wei is returning soon. If Mr. Wei doesn’t see his beloved daughter, I believe perhaps…”
Seeing Wei Changzhe hesitate, Li Tianxing deployed his trump card.
He left his sentence unfinished, as Wei Changzhe understood the implication.
Wei Changzhe’s pupils contracted.
Wei Changgeng had always cherished Wei Linlin like a treasure. If Wei Changgeng learned that his niece was in mortal peril during his absence, how could he account for it?
“Fine! I agree to unite with you!”
Wei Changzhe gritted his teeth and made up his mind. “Su family, oh Su family, don’t blame me for being heartless. Blame yourselves for protecting a live-in son-in-law over caring for my dear niece!”