Director Nan’s expression immediately changed upon hearing this, his eyes fixed on Xia Qingtian.
“This Azure-Winged Thrush, being a second-class national protected animal, is not supposed to be kept by individuals, nor is it allowed to be hunted or traded,” Xia Qingtian said, looking back at Director Nan with a smile. “As far as I know, you originally received a pair of Azure-Winged Thrushes, but now, only one is left, right?
Look at this! This is a second-class national protected animal. If you were going to buy it, you should have taken good care of it!
And you even managed to kill one. This…”
Xia Qingtian feigned difficulty, then finally gave a sly smile and said, “Such a severe offense will mean several more years added to your sentence!”
“You!” Director Nan’s face contorted, not understanding how Xia Qingtian could have investigated such a matter.
“Don’t look at me like that. Didn’t I tell you before? Big data, it’s a lot of fun,” Xia Qingtian said with a bright, innocent smile, but her words were chilling. “Pull out one thread, and the whole darn thing unravels. None of you will escape.”
Upon hearing Xia Qingtian’s words, the other directors fell silent.
“Come, let’s slowly go through all this evidence, piece by piece,” Xia Qingtian continued. “It’s best for you to understand clearly yourselves, so when the police arrive, you can accept your fate, right?”
Hearing that Xia Qingtian was still going to call the police, everyone was dumbfounded. Their previously arrogant and overbearing demeanor vanished, and they immediately looked pleadingly at Xia Honglang, appealing to their brotherhood: “Old Xia! Chairman Xia, you can’t do this to me!”
“That’s right! We’ve been brothers for so many years! You’re forcing us to our deaths!”
“Our old bones can’t withstand the punishment of prison!”
“Yes! Old Xia, we have a life-and-death friendship, you can’t do this!”
…
Xia Honglang looked back at each of them in turn.
He had felt regret, pain, confusion, and anger before.
Now, looking at these aged faces, he felt only amusement.
Xia Honglang wanted to say something, but ultimately felt it was unnecessary.
Finally, Xia Honglang sighed and said, “Sign an equity transfer agreement. I will buy back your shares at one percent of the market price.”
“O-one percent! That! That’s too low!” Everyone was stunned. This was far from their expectations!
“You want money more than your lives, don’t you?” Xia Qingtian said, crossing her arms.
“I’ll sign!” Director Nan, who had been the most stubborn with Xia Qingtian, was the first to yield. One had to realize that while others might only get three to five years in prison, he was looking at ten years or more!
What use would money be to him then, when he had lost his life!
No matter how grand the promises or how large the dividends others painted for him, they would be useless!
He wanted his life! He wanted to live!
With Director Nan leading the way, the others who had been slightly hesitant also lowered their heads and silently took out their pens, signing the contracts on the spot.
Xia Qingtian checked each contract, and Xia Honglang stamped each one.
After all the contracts were signed, the group appeared reluctant yet helpless.
“That’s more like it! Why put yourself through all that?” Xia Qingtian smiled, looking at the stack of signed contracts in her hand and then at the directors. “Esteemed… elders, after you go in, reform yourselves well. When you come out, be good people.”
“What?” Everyone was stunned, looking at Xia Qingtian in disbelief, then turning to Xia Honglang in shock. “You! You tricked us!”
“I told you, you can question my work ability, but you cannot question my daughter,” Xia Honglang said to the directors. “This is the price you have to pay.”
“You!” Seeing their money gone and themselves caught, the directors’ eyes turned red, and they lunged towards Xia Honglang.
The next second, the conference room door was pushed open, and a contingent of law enforcement officers rushed in, immediately subduing the most frantic and aggressive Director Nan… no, he was no longer a director, but a criminal suspect for hunting and purchasing second-class national protected animals.
After the group was taken away, Xia Qingtian unplugged the USB drive connected to the computer and handed it to the leader. “Here is all the evidence. The secretary will go with you to record your statements.”
“Alright, we will investigate and clarify this as soon as possible.” The leader saluted and left with the secretary.
The once crowded and oppressive office was now completely empty.
Xia Honglang remained seated, unable to recover for a long time, finally letting out a long sigh: “Alas…”
“Dad,” Xia Qingtian pulled up a chair and sat beside Xia Honglang. “It’s truly a family business from now on. Do you have anything you want to say?”
Xia Honglang finally came back to his senses and clasped Xia Qingtian’s hand, his emotions a mixture of feelings. “Qingtian, you’ve grown up…”
Hearing Xia Honglang’s words, Xia Qingtian’s gaze also shifted, and a strange, sour emotion welled up in her heart. “Dad…”
Before Xia Qingtian could finish, Xia Honglang continued, “It’s time you started helping your father. Otherwise, I’ll transfer this Xia Corporation to you, and you can let your Aunt Liu and me enjoy our retirement, can’t you?”
“???” Xia Qingtian’s words of emotion were suddenly stuck in her throat. She abruptly pulled her hand back and protested, “You think that’s a beautiful plan!”
“Ah, it’ll be yours sooner or later anyway.” Xia Honglang said with a dry laugh. “You should help me a bit now, shouldn’t you!”
“I am helping you!” Xia Qingtian said speechlessly. “And I haven’t even graduated from university yet! What are you even thinking!”
“Then I’ll help you until you graduate from university at most,” Xia Honglang replied. “Or until you graduate with a master’s degree. After that, it’s up to you.”
“How did it suddenly become me helping you! This is your company!” Xia Qingtian didn’t even know where to start complaining.
“Ah… that’s wonderful. I can start planning my retirement life,” Xia Honglang stretched. “Time flies so fast!”
“It’s not that fast, is it!” Xia Qingtian said speechlessly.
The father and daughter looked at each other, then both burst into laughter.
The board of directors of Xia Corporation had always been a thorn in their side, but now, it was finally completely resolved.
“I want to go home,” Xia Qingtian said after they had laughed enough.
“Take this document home with you,” Xia Honglang handed a prepared document to Xia Qingtian. “Have Qingyu and your Aunt Liu sign it.”
“Is this something I can look at?” Xia Qingtian asked curiously.
“Go ahead,” Xia Honglang replied casually.
Xia Qingtian looked through it and said, “You’ve transferred fifteen percent of your shares to Qingyu?”
“Yes, fifteen percent each for you and your sister,” Xia Honglang said. “When she gets married, I will also allocate shares from my own holdings to her, just like the dowry discussed for you. Since she is underage, they will be held under your Aunt Liu’s name and will take effect directly once she becomes an adult.”