Chapter 22: Seeing the Truth Clearly

If it hadn't been for his fourth concubine’s brainwashing and obstruction back then, would Xiang Zhenhai have ever thought of catching bandits to establish his authority?

"Evidence? Mr. Xiang?"

Does the old man really think that just by saying that here, he could make him afraid?

Xiang Zhihua cast a languid, fleeting glance at Xiang Zhenhai. "Without proof or evidence, based solely on your own words, who do you think would believe you? Do you believe him, Cheng Gang?"

Xiang Zhihua’s infuriatingly calm demeanor made Xiang Zhenhai’s chest heave with rage.

"Cheng Gang is your man; of course he’s going to speak in your favor," Xiang Zhenhai retorted, trembling with fury. "Do you think I’m a fool?"

In his lifetime, Xiang Zhenhai had taken one wife and four concubines. An Huilan, Xiang Zhihua’s mother, was the woman he had formally married in a grand ceremony. Of the remaining four concubines, three had died young from illness without leaving behind any heirs. The first, second, and fourth concubines had each borne him sons and daughters.

Xiang Zhenhai’s favorite was his fourth concubine. He claimed she was his first love. But how could a man who had already married and fathered children have a "first love"? He said this only to find an excuse for himself, refusing to admit the fact that his heart had wandered.

Because she held his favor, the fourth concubine acted with arrogance and tyranny within the Xiang household, even targeting the child of the original wife—Xiang Zhihua. That year, the twelve-year-old Xiang Zhihua was kidnapped. No matter how much An Huilan begged Xiang Zhenhai to save their son first, he remained indifferent, while the fourth concubine mocked and provoked her, saying that the one who wasn't loved was the true obstacle to love.

Seeing how fiercely Xiang Zhenhai protected the fourth concubine, the other women dared not provoke her, fearing that angering her would bring harm to their own children. It was not until the elder Mr. Xiang stepped in and reprimanded Xiang Zhenhai that the fourth concubine’s arrogance was curbed. But a few years later, An Huilan passed away from illness, and from then on, her name vanished completely from the old mansion.

It wasn't until five years ago, when the fourth concubine’s child went missing on the day of the Xiang family’s ancestor worship and Xiang Zhenhai came to confront Xiang Zhihua, that the story began anew. The missing child, Xiang Tianjie, was the youngest son of Xiang Zhenhai and his fourth concubine. That year, he was twelve years old—the same age Xiang Zhihua had been when he was kidnapped. When the family found him deep in the dense forest, the boy had already been mauled by wild beasts, with only half his cheek remaining. The fourth concubine was devastated and fell into a severe illness. Xiang Zhenhai knew for certain that Xiang Zhihua was behind it, but he lacked the evidence.

Now that history was repeating itself, how could Xiang Zhenhai not be furious?

The fourth concubine had always been the apple of Xiang Zhenhai’s eye. Touching her was equivalent to touching his reverse scale and his softest spot.

"Let them go," Xiang Zhenhai ordered. "Otherwise... otherwise I will sell this five percent share tomorrow!"

Xiang Zhenhai was desperate. Since Xiang Zhihua wouldn't let him have peace, he wouldn't let him get what he wanted either. Didn't he care most about his mother’s legacy? Then he would destroy it all. If they were both to go down, he would see who was more afraid.

The old man clearly wouldn't shed a tear until he saw the coffin. So, he would let him see it clearly.

"Cheng Gang!" Xiang Zhihua parted his lips slightly.

"What are you doing?" Xiang Zhenhai’s hand gripping his cane shook, his eyes filled with terror. Could this rebellious son actually be planning to have someone move against him at the banquet?

"Ask everyone present who wants to buy the shares you hold," Xiang Zhihua said, tilting his chin with refined arrogance toward the guests. He saw the fear in Xiang Zhenhai’s eyes. He hadn't expected the old man to ever feel fear. It seemed he was truly getting old.

"And let me take a good look at their faces," Xiang Zhihua added, his tone laced with an ambiguous threat.

Everyone present looked at one another. This was a case of being caught in the crossfire. How could they dare to interfere in the Xiang family’s affairs? Why not handle it themselves? Why ask them? Was he trying to drag them down with him? The eyes of the wealthy tycoons were filled with complex emotions and regret. If they had known, they wouldn't have gathered here. Wouldn't it have been better to find an excuse to walk away and look at jewelry elsewhere?

"Mr. Xiang holds these shares; do you want them?" Xiang Zhihua’s gaze suddenly landed on one of the tycoons who had been watching the spectacle. This man was a top figure in the Hong Kong underworld, known for his cutthroat dealings. If even he didn't dare to touch these shares, then no one else would. By doing this, Xiang Zhihua wanted to make it clear to Xiang Zhenhai that aside from himself, no one dared to touch those shares. His goal was to kill the old man’s plan to sell them.

The tycoon looked surprised, never dreaming that Xiang Zhihua would point him out. This was a matter between a father and son; how could he dare to get involved? Even if he were a shark, he wouldn't dare prey on this formidable figure. Besides, the An family’s business was already an empty shell, lacking its former prosperity. Even if he got the five percent stake, what could he do with it? Offending Xiang Zhihua would only bring him trouble in the end. He wouldn't do such a thankless task.

"Young Master Xiang, this is your family business, so we shouldn't get involved," the tycoon said with a smile. Xiang Zhihua was a madman; he didn't want to offend him. Whoever Xiang Zhenhai wanted to sell to was his business. Even if he were offered, he wouldn't dare risk offending Xiang Zhihua for a mere five percent.

Xiang Zhenhai’s face turned bright red. He knew full well that Xiang Zhihua was doing this specifically to spite him. He was so angry he could almost shatter his own teeth.

"How about you?" Since the other man refused, Xiang Zhihua shifted his gaze to another tycoon.

"Young Master Xiang, you’re joking. I can barely manage my own company; I wouldn't dare take on someone else's." He wasn't tired of living. Besides, his company relied on investments from the Xiang family every year. He wouldn't be so blind as to offend his own god of wealth.

"Yes, Young Master Xiang, please don't tease us." The other tycoons, seeing Xiang Zhihua’s gaze sweeping over them one by one, hurriedly expressed their resolve, desperate to avoid being labeled as an enemy. "Please handle your family matters with Mr. Xiang; we won't disturb you any further."

They didn't want to be cannon fodder for the father and son.

The atmosphere grew stagnant. The wealthy guests who had crowded around to watch all picked up their champagne glasses and headed elsewhere. Only Xiang Zhenhai stood there like a wooden stake, motionless. The look of humiliation on his face was clear enough to be seen without a magnifying glass.

"See?" Xiang Zhihua shrugged helplessly. "No one wants to buy your shares."

"Except for me."

With the facts laid out before him, even if Xiang Zhenhai wanted to retreat, Xiang Zhihua would not give him the chance.