He hadn't heard that his elder brother had any intention of annexing the Xie family before.
The Xie family was doing fine, with no signs of imminent collapse.
Huangfu Sisong didn't explain much to him, saying, "Let this construction team handle the exterior wall repairs. You should still do as you planned and build rapport with the head of this group. We need to make him useful to us..."
"But Jin Dan's cousin wants to take over the Xie family. I want to help her. Wouldn't it be bad if our group exploited this?"
"How can you think that way? Without us, could she accomplish this alone? When the Xie family is merged with ours, we can make her a nominal chairwoman. She'll still have won against Xie Zhendong."
"But..."
"No buts. You don't need to tell your wife too much about this. Just say you're helping her, understand?" Huangfu Sisong said, already lowering his head to look at other documents.
Huangfu Sishu only hummed in response. It seemed his elder brother had keenly spotted a business opportunity in this matter.
He had to admire his elder brother's business acumen, which was why their father had made his elder brother the heir to the Huangfu family. He and his second brother had always been convinced.
Since his elder brother said so, and everything was for the benefit of the Huangfu family, even though he felt it was unethical and taking advantage of someone's misfortune, he would still do it.
...
Feng Rou received news from her cousin and felt that things were finally starting to show some promise. Although success was still a long way off, it was a step in the right direction.
The thought of Qi Ning no longer being alive made her feel unbearable pain. She didn't weep profusely in front of others, but the profound sorrow she felt was known only to herself.
She finally took the initiative to contact Sasha, asking her to come to Feng Yan's house. There were some things she wanted to ask Sasha in detail.
When Sasha heard that Feng Rou was looking for her, she quickly pulled herself together and went to Feng Yan's house.
During the day, Feng Yan and his wife were not at home. Their children were all older than Qi Ning and had already started their own families, so they didn't live with their parents.
When Sasha arrived, only Feng Rou was there, so they sat in the living room to talk.
Feng Rou no longer hid her grief and asked Sasha for the details of Qi Ning's suicide in prison and where his ashes were buried.
"In the Xie family's cemetery," Sasha said sadly. "The funeral was very somber, with only Sasha and Xie Zhendong present."
Feng Rou smiled through tears and said, "Qi Ning died so disgracefully. He certainly wouldn't want others to know. The Xie family's reputation has always been more important than anything else."
"But they had such a high-profile wedding with that woman, didn't that damage the Xie family's reputation!" Sasha said indignantly.
"That was a legitimate wedding," Feng Rou said with a faint trace of hatred.
Sasha sympathized with her, saying, "Mom, you have such a good disposition. Anyone else would have caused a scene at the wedding, but you didn't do anything, just like this..."
"Sasha, did you have someone cause a scene?" Feng Rou looked at her sternly. "I know what you're thinking."
Sasha was taken aback and admitted, "I'm not as forgiving as you. I couldn't let their wedding go smoothly."
"Does causing a scene like that openly achieve anything?"
"No."
"If not, why did you do it? Was it to continue using me as a shield?" Feng Rou questioned.
After leaving the mental hospital, she had replayed many past events in her mind countless times and understood the motives of everyone involved.
"Mom, you misunderstand. I wanted to stand up for you," Sasha hurriedly explained.
Feng Rou scrutinized her, "Alright, stop pretending. Everything you've done is for Jie Jie's future. To help me, to help me? Forget that excuse. Without your instigation in the past, I might never have seen Xie Zhendong's true face. Should I thank you or resent you?"
"Mom, the person we want to protect is the same, and we have a common enemy."
"From now on, don't act on your own accord. Put away your sinister schemes," Feng Rou said. "I already have my own plans, and everything that should be reclaimed will be reclaimed. As for Jie Jie, he is my only grandson, and he will not be deprived of what he deserves, understand?"
Sasha looked at her, feeling that she was completely different from before. "I understand."
Feng Rou warned her, "If you act rashly again, I will tell Xie Zhendong that all those past things were your ideas."
"Mom, I'll listen to you. Don't worry," Sasha nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Feng Rou also asked her about Jie Jie's custody. She portrayed herself as being threatened by Xie Zhendong.
Xie Zhendong, seeing that the woman had lost her child and could not have another, forcibly took Jie Jie to appease her.
Feng Rou hadn't expected something like this to happen and asked in surprise, "How did Zhan Jiayi miscarry? Why did she lose her fertility?"
Sasha dared not look at her and said, "I heard it was a car accident."
Feng Rou suspected that Sasha was mostly involved in Zhan Jiayi's miscarriage, but she didn't blame Sasha for it, only saying coldly, "Serves her right."
"Yes, I also think that woman deserved it," Sasha said sadly. "But Xie Zhendong took my child for her."
Feng Rou thought for a moment and said, "Even if Xie Zhendong is crazy for Zhan Jiayi, he will still consider the heir to the Xie family. You gave up custody of the child because he promised to make Jie Jie the heir, right?"
Sasha denied it, "That's not true. Xie Zhendong said that even without Qi Ning, an heir could be found from the collateral branches of the Xie family, and it's not certain if Jie Jie would be next."
Feng Rou's anger flared up again. Qi Ning meant so little to him. However, she couldn't believe everything Sasha said.
If Xie Zhendong had promised to make Jie Jie the heir, Sasha's goal would have been achieved. Why would she still be united against him?
It was possible that Sasha had already been bought over by Xie Zhendong, and she could no longer trust Sasha easily.
"Okay, I understand. I'm tired today, let's meet again another time," Feng Rou said, then asked a servant to see Sasha out.
Sasha hurriedly asked, "Mom, is there anything you need me to do? I just want to see my child every day. I'll do anything."
Feng Rou shook her head, "Not for now. Don't worry too much. Jie Jie is Xie Zhendong's only grandson, he won't treat Jie Jie badly."
Sasha could only hum in response and asked again, "Mom, what is your specific plan? Has it been implemented yet?"
"You don't need to worry about that. Go and live your own life," Feng Rou said, pressing her forehead as if in pain, and went upstairs.
A servant came to her and said, "Miss Yang, the third young lady needs to rest. You should go back first."
Sasha got up and left Feng Yan's house, feeling annoyed. It seemed Feng Rou had become wary of her.
She was the only one who had tried to get her out of the mental hospital. Not only was Feng Rou ungrateful, but she was also guarded against her. Truly, good intentions were met with no reward.
She was furious. She couldn't rely on someone like Feng Rou anymore. She had to rely on herself!