Yes, Madam Prime Minister

Page 332

After a brief moment of anger, Yang Huaien regained his composure and said the same thing again, "Speak, what do you want me to do? Identify someone, or reveal the employer."

“The employer doesn’t need your testimony. I know who it is, and there’s no need for identification. You’re an outsider, how can you be a witness?” Ronan laughed.

"So what exactly do you want me to do?" Yang Huaien asked, but as soon as the words left her mouth, she realized something was wrong, something she should have noticed from the beginning. "Wait, how do you know He Xinjin is dead?"

It was late at night. He Xinjin's wife was domineering. He had no concubines, only mistresses. His wife was not young either, and they had long since separated their rooms. No one would easily disturb this master's sleep. The body should not have been discovered until the next day.

How did Ronan know that He Xinjin was dead?

After thinking for a long time, Yang Huaien made a judgment: "You had expected him to die."

But this raises a new question: her employer is Yuan Fanghe. Does Yuan Fanghe have any reason to kill He Xinjin? No. Since he doesn't, what makes Ronan so certain that He Xinjin must die?

In retrospect, Yuan Fanghe was also doing someone else's bidding.

Yang Huaien thought to herself, "This is bad." She was now caught in an extremely complicated vortex.

“Don’t worry, I don’t intend to use you for anything. You can leave now,” Ronan added.

"Let me go?" Yang Huaien couldn't believe it.

“You’re useless. If I don’t let you go, am I supposed to kill you?” Ronan retorted.

The word "not" sounded extremely harsh to Yang Huaien, and the smile on her face completely disappeared. "Aren't you afraid that I'll continue?" She wanted to say that she wasn't afraid that she would harm Liu Menglong, but that was obviously impossible, so she used the word "continue," meaning that she could kill any other merchants who were close to Liu Menglong.

Ronan yawned. "Think what you want. Anyway, you can leave now."

Yang Huaien hesitated, worried that Ronan was playing a trick on her.

"What, do you want us to take you?" Ronan asked with a smile.

Yang Huaien was completely confused about what Ronan was thinking and became impatient, "Aren't you going to ask me why I went to Lord Liu's house?"

“I don’t care what you’re doing, you’re not going to kill anyone,” Ronan said. “If you’re not leaving, then you’re staying.”

At this point, Yang Huaien could no longer contain herself and got up to leave. At first, she took a few slow and cautious steps, but soon she quickened her pace and swiftly disappeared from sight.

Two minutes later, Yang Huaien was caught by Ashley. If she had been in her prime and had not encountered Ashley, who was even more skilled at burrowing underground, she might have been able to escape. Unfortunately, her broken limbs had just healed, and she had encountered Ashley, who could move on any surface.

"You foreign devil, you broke your promise!" Yang Huaien had a difficult life and a tragic fate. Years of experience had made her a calm and composed person with a smile on her face. In her own words, if she didn't smile, would she be furious or crying?

But Ronan, that damn foreign devil, really made her lose control of her emotions today.

Ronan spread his hands innocently. "This wasn't my idea, Ashley. Let her go."

"Oh," Ashley replied casually, releasing Yang Huaien.

Yang Huaien, however, did not leave.

However, Ronan ignored her completely and told Dinya, Zhao Yingqi, and Ashley to leave.

Yang Huaien sat alone for a while, and finally ran away. This time, no one chased after her.

"Why did you release her?" Zhao Yingqi asked Luo Nan, puzzled.

Ashley answered on Ronan's behalf, "Because the local officials are emboldened and unafraid of us."

Zhao Yingqi looked completely bewildered. What did this mean?

Ronan further explained, “The local officials think we can’t get anything done. After all, we’re a group of foreigners, too conspicuous to show our faces directly. If we want to do something big, we can only go through the local officials, which means we have to beg them. If we want to do something small, we have to rely on the local bigwigs, but we have no connections and can’t gain the trust of the locals. In the future, I will make these officials willing to do things, but some things still need to be done by others.”

"And that woman just now, she may not be a local strongman, but she couldn't have been alone, so she's usable."

Zhao Yingqi understood some of it, but not all of it. "If you were going to use it, why did you release it?"

“She will come back to us; she’s a cat, not a mouse,” Ronan said, using a metaphor.

Chapter 769 Fighting for the family fortune is important; only a capable son can provide motivation; his attitude changed incredibly quickly.

The news of the wealthy businessman He Xinjin's death spread throughout the county town by the morning of the following day through various well-informed individuals. Even the lychee vendors who came to town to sell lychees heard the news and chatted with their fellow vendors about He Xinjin's character and his mental journey before his suicide during their lunch break.

He Xinjin is 52 years old, a samurai, and a second-rank warrior.

Becoming a samurai at the age of thirty is an extraordinary achievement for most people, but for those with exceptional abilities, it's basically the end of their lives. He Xinjin realized he wasn't cut out for the civil service exams, and as for the military exams, he wasn't from a military family and didn't have any outstanding skills, so he simply switched to business.

Unexpectedly, he was truly gifted in this field, and everything he did turned out perfectly.

More importantly, when he was thirty-four, his first wife died, leaving behind only a son who miraculously possessed talent, and quite exceptionally so, becoming a first-tier scholar at the age of fifteen. At thirty-five, He Xinjin had another stroke of good fortune, marrying a twenty-five-year-old widow. The widow was even stronger than him, also a second-tier warrior, and, crucially, came from a wealthy family.

In the following decade or so, with the support of his wife's family, his business grew bigger and bigger.

He Xinjin is dead. Anyone with a brain can see that he didn't commit suicide, but was murdered. It's not hard to guess who the murderer is.

Neither his eldest son nor his current wife had any intention of reporting it to the authorities.

The reason is simple: they want to fight for the family fortune and don't want any unnecessary complications.

He Xinjin's eldest son is now at the third level, thirty-three years old, in his prime. Moreover, after his cultivation progress has slowed down in recent years, he has been involved in the management of the business.

He Xinjin's wife is a second-tier scholar. She and He Xinjin have five children, three sons and two daughters. Unfortunately, only the second son has talent, but he's not very good at it. He's almost fifteen and still far from becoming a scholar. Although her younger brother is a good-for-nothing with no talent, his son, her nephew, is exceptionally gifted. Like He Xinjin's eldest son, he became a first-tier scholar at the age of fifteen.

Compared to his son, who was in his prime, had no blood relation to him, and was merely a figurehead, his younger nephew, who was single-mindedly focused on cultivation, was clearly more reliable.

Under these circumstances, He Jinxin's funeral invited not only relatives from both sides, but also his business partners, namely Master Wang and others, as well as Ronan, the foreign advisor who had only recently arrived but was already quite famous in Foshan, and many people had only heard of him but never seen him.

Three days later, the funeral procession entered the stage of attending the funeral, where relatives and friends from all walks of life would bring gifts, elegiac couplets, and other items to participate in the funeral.

After that, there are three procedures: laying the body in state, keeping vigil, and sealing the coffin. Only after these three procedures are completed can the funeral procession begin.

On the way, Ronan noticed the change in the attitudes of Master Wang and the others. Master Wang and Master Zhou were alright, Wang Zhixiao was determined to take a gamble, but Master Zhou was actually more determined than him. The reason was that although Master Zhou himself was not a scholar, and his source power was not inheritable, meaning he was neither a scholar nor a warrior, his two sons, Zhou Xiangeng and Zhou Xianyun, were both warriors, and they were even mutated. Their source power could be inherited, so he naturally had the ambition to take a gamble.

It's more accurate to call it a resurgence than a mutation.

There's a saying that poverty doesn't last three generations, meaning that in a cruel and barbaric era, if someone was poor for three generations, there was a high probability that they would have no descendants.

So in reality, most people probably have some noble blood in their ancestors, meaning their ancestors were people with the power to summon.

Sometimes, after ten or even dozens of generations, a person suddenly possesses a hereditary summoning power.

Alice was like that, and so were Mr. Zhou's two sons.

As for the hot-tempered Mr. Xu and Mr. Lin, they were clearly starting to have second thoughts. They themselves had risen from humble beginnings, but their children were no match for them. Their current wealth was enough for them to live comfortably for the rest of their lives, and even if they amassed a larger fortune, their descendants wouldn't be able to maintain it.

That's how it is in a world with extraordinary powers. You need power and wealth, and you don't necessarily need to have strong extraordinary powers, but you can't be without them. If you don't have them, then you're not a member of the extraordinary class, and you're not one of them.

As a mere mortal, we, with our extraordinary powers, will not speak up for you.

If you are just a minor official, working for the country, and you are respectful enough to the "gentry," then no one will do anything to you. But if you are very rich, but not extraordinary, then you may not have the fortune to enjoy it.

Originally, they just wanted to give it a try. At worst, they would lose some money, but if it worked, they would make a fortune. However, Chen Zuolin was so ruthless that she killed Lao He, which really shocked them.

Their motivation was already insufficient, so naturally they didn't want to continue taking risks.

"Mr. Lin, Mr. Xu, have you heard of talent transplantation surgery?" Ronan suddenly asked.

Mr. Xu, who had initially been uninterested and prepared to donate money after the funeral and only offer spiritual support, suddenly perked up.

They knew that Ronan wouldn't be making baseless accusations.

However, the two were still not quite convinced. Master Lin's voice was deep and powerful, "Master Luo, don't try to fool us with things like 'we're almost done with the research,' we're not donkeys."

"Damn it, that's right, Master Luo, don't get a carrot that you can't have," Master Xu shouted.

"Those of you who have children outside the family, especially the younger ones, or those who have just awakened their talents, feel free to give it a try. If I can't do it, you can withdraw at any time, and I will not make things difficult for you," Ronan assured him confidently.

Mr. Lin and Mr. Xu's eyes lit up. Actually, they were also afraid of Ronan. Chen Zuolin could hire someone to kill, but Ronan didn't even need to.

Even if things don't work out, it's a good thing to be able to withdraw without paying a price.

As for children outside the family, of course there are, quite a few. After all, everyone understands that unless it's a hereditary birth, it's basically a lottery. The only option is to have more women and more children. But the law doesn't allow too many. The authorities who investigate this are even more ruthless than those who investigate taxes.

If this isn't strictly investigated, the whole society will descend into chaos.

Both Master Xu and Master Lin, who came from humble backgrounds and were now wealthy, had several mistresses and a dozen or so children. However, they were unlucky; with only a one percent chance, they had tried ten or so times but still hadn't succeeded. They were already planning to do the same as other people and find a son-in-law to marry into their family.

However, there are so many talented people in Seris. Men might not be willing to sell their talents, but there are plenty of women.

As I said before, men can have more women and win more prizes, but women can't.

"However, when we get to the mourning hall, you must listen to me."

Ronan said that Mr. He was involved in many industries and could be considered a distributor, which was something the other people did not have. Therefore, as long as conditions allowed, he had to seize the opportunity to become Mr. He's successor.

"Alright, whatever Master Luo says in a moment, that's what it is."

"Yes, we support letting his dog inherit the family business."

Master Xu and Master Lin changed their expressions incredibly quickly, while Master Wang and Master Zhou could only chuckle to themselves.

Chapter 770 Discussing business in the mourning hall—they're already dead, this is called international spirit.

When the four masters, Wang, Zhou, Lin, and Xu, along with Luo Nan and their entourage, arrived, He Zhiyuan, the eldest son of Master He, and Madam He immediately came to greet them.

To truly inherit the business left by Master He, it's not just a matter of money; you also need the support of the managers of all the businesses, big and small, to truly secure it.

Between the two, He Zhiyuan had the upper hand. He was capable, experienced, and was also the son of Master He.

However, Madam He is not much different. Although Mr. He's business has long surpassed that of Madam He's family, and most of the people from her family have been purged, Madam He still has a lot of influence. Of course, more importantly, if Madam He were in charge, she would definitely be willing to share some of the profits to win over her subordinates.

Now, the two sides are evenly matched, and the key to victory lies with Mr. He's four former business partners.

For Mr. He's businesses to operate smoothly, they still need the support of these four people.

Although the eldest son and his wife came to greet them, they did not discuss business matters, but only expressed their gratitude.

This is normal. If a son is discussing business in front of so many relatives, friends, subordinates, and servants in the mourning hall, then he is truly showing great filial piety.

As for the wife, at this time, she can only cry and mutter a few words, otherwise wouldn't she be a wicked woman?

After a round of polite formalities, the eldest son, He Zhiyuan, found an opportunity to pull the four masters and Master Luo aside and bring them inside to talk.

"Uncles and elders, I won't bother with formalities." He Zhiyuan sat down without offering any seats and began, "My father was murdered by a villain. It should have been a fight to the death, but I am willing to give up this huge family business, but others are not. My younger siblings are still young, and there are hundreds of people who depend on me for a living."

"A gentleman takes revenge even after ten years."

Ronan couldn't help but exclaim, "A true man knows when to yield and when to stand firm. Young Master He, you are truly a great man."

"Master Luo, you flatter me," He Zhiyuan replied with a smile. He had heard that Master Luo's northern accent was much more fluent than that of the locals, and he hadn't expected it to be true.

"What are your plans, my dear nephew?" asked Master Wang Zhixiao.

“I have a good friend who knows that scoundrel surnamed Chen. We can talk to him. When the time comes, my uncles and I will go together and talk things out. That will settle things. I will handle the rest myself. The hatred for the murderer of my father is irreconcilable. I will make him pay sooner or later.”

Young Master He Zhiyuan spoke in a fierce tone and boasted loudly, but what he kept saying was that he wanted to make peace.

Mr. Lin and Mr. Xu remained silent. If it weren't for the conditions Ronan had previously set out, they would have agreed immediately.

Neither Master Wang nor Master Zhou spoke; they couldn't possibly support Young Master He's decision to submit to Chen Zuolin.

“Then, let’s wait until after the funeral and then we can discuss this in detail, shall we?” Ronan said, his words leaving no indication of whether he agreed or disagreed.

After exchanging a few more polite words, Ronan and his group left.

A short while later, Madam He led the group to another room.

As soon as they entered, Madam He twisted her youngest son's waist and pressed him down on the shoulder, and he knelt down with a thud. "These are all my husband's good friends. It's inconvenient with so many people outside. Know to step back and kowtow to your uncles."

He Zhitui wasn't a child anymore; he was eleven years old and knew a bit about things. He lived the life of a young master, though he was somewhat unwilling. But his mother forced him to kowtow, so he had no choice but to do so.

"Sister-in-law, what are you doing?" Wang Zhixiao quickly went up to help He Zhitui up.

Madam He wiped away her tears with a handkerchief. “I am just a woman, and it is not convenient for me to manage the family business. I can only ask my younger brother to help out. But he is also a good-for-nothing. He can’t even keep such a large family business. You are all my late husband’s close friends and benevolent merchants. I want to sell part of the family business and let my brothers take over so that I, a widow and orphan, can get through this difficult time.”

Good heavens, the old fox is still the spicier. Madam He made it sound like she was begging for help when she talked about selling off her property at a low price to get support. Just in terms of ruthlessness, Young Master He is much less capable.

However, this did not sway Ronan. Ronan did not want Mr. He's fortune at all. He had no interest in money. He just wanted to create a platform so that he and Didi could have some fun here.

"What is Madam's opinion on the death of Master He?"

Ronan asked.

Instantly, Wang, Zhou, Lin, and Xu perked up.

"Alas, the dead are gone," Madam He replied with a sigh.

“That’s true. However, although revenge is not yet possible, we can’t just accept it like this, don’t you think, Madam?” Ronan asked.

"As an orphan and a widow, there's really nothing we can do," Madam He replied. All she wanted now was a peaceful and wealthy life. She wanted to bring her nephew into the family and find a promising son-in-law. Ideally, her nephew would marry her daughter and become part of the family, but that was difficult. Her daughter wasn't exactly virtuous, nor was she particularly beautiful, so her nephew might not be interested.

As for her husband's death, he's dead, what does it have to do with her?

“There’s nothing we need to do, we just hope to continue doing business together,” Ronan added.

“That’s certainly no problem,” Mrs. He replied.

"That's good." Ronan smiled.

It's obvious that Madam He isn't very ambitious either, but she's still better than Young Master He, who's a loud and boisterous surrenderist. So, we can only choose her.