It was only now that Zhou Zhishan realized he had been wrong.
Terribly, disastrously wrong.
Originally, his Zhou family had the chance to ascend to the ranks of China's top elite families.
If Li Ziqing had not fallen out with the Zhou family, then the Zhou family would have had Chen Xiao, such a formidable son-in-law.
Not to mention other places, at least in Weicheng, the Zhou family could walk with their heads held high.
But alas, with a single thought, the Zhou family had fallen to this state. Their own granddaughter by blood had become the Zhou family's greatest enemy.
Zhou Zhishan's lips trembled, and he finally managed to force out a few words: "Ziqing, Grandpa was wrong..."
"You were wrong?"
Li Ziqing sneered, "If my man wasn't so capable, would you have admitted you were wrong?"
The phrase 'my man' made Chen Xiao's heart flutter.
As for Zhou Zhishan, his old face flushed. The answer was obvious: if Li Ziqing hadn't had a man as capable as Chen Xiao, Zhou Zhishan would have torn her to shreds long ago, let alone admit his mistake.
In this world, in the end, it was still strength that mattered.
Family affection certainly existed, but in Zhou Zhishan, there was none to be found.
This man was a cold-blooded animal driven by profit. Time could give him a benevolent face, but it would not soften his heart.
"Ziqing, tell me, what do you want Grandpa to do for you to forgive Grandpa?"
Zhou Zhishan asked shamelessly.
"Forgive you? I'm sorry, that's God's job. My job is to send you to see God!"
Li Ziqing's expression was indifferent, but her eyes held a boundless hatred.
She had been waiting for this day for over a decade!
Zhou Zhishan's eyes sharpened, for he could see that Li Ziqing truly intended to kill him!
He finally realized that the person standing before the Zhou family was no longer the weak and easily bullied Li Ziqing, but a venomous viper, a bamboo viper!
The entire Zhou family was in a state of panic, but intimidated by Chen Xiao's power, they dared not say a good word for the old man.
Only Zhou Yuanyuan was an exception. She angrily rebuked, "Ziqing, that's enough. Don't go too far! After all, he is your maternal grandfather, your mother's father. If your mother were alive today, she would never let you act this way!"
Li Ziqing smiled, "Aunt, it's a pity my mother is not alive. But then again, if she were alive, why would I need to seek revenge?"
Li Ziqing's retort left Zhou Yuanyuan speechless. She realized she had been ensnared by Li Ziqing's words.
Then Li Ziqing continued, "Aunt, I truly didn't expect that, even now, you are the only one speaking up for this old scoundrel!"
"Have you forgotten how he caused the death of your beloved? Your lifelong happiness was destroyed by his own hands!"
Zhou Yuanyuan's eyes darted away, and a pained expression appeared on her face. But she bit her lip and said, "One thing at a time. That's my business, and it has nothing to do with you. Besides, I also made mistakes in that matter; you can't blame all the fault on your grandfather!"
Hearing her aunt's words, Li Ziqing didn't know whether to pity or hate this woman.
"Of course, you made mistakes. Honestly, hearing you say that today, I truly feel your former lover's suffering was in vain!"
"Cowards are sometimes more detestable than villains!"
Zhou Yuanyuan's eyebrows furrowed in anger. She could never have imagined that Li Ziqing would speak to her, her aunt, in such a manner.
"Li Ziqing, how dare you speak to me like that? After your parents passed away, I raised you with my own hands. I am, in a way, your second mother. Now that you've spread your wings, you treat me like this?"
Li Ziqing shook her head helplessly.
"How ridiculous. According to your logic, since my mother was raised by this old scoundrel, and he caused her death, I shouldn't seek revenge, should I?"
"Just because he is the one who gave birth to you and raised you, does that mean your life can be dictated by him at will? Aunt, you are not only ridiculous, but also pathetic!"
"When a person is constantly oppressed and does not know how to resist, they become the greatest accomplice to evil!"
Li Ziqing's words left Zhou Yuanyuan completely unable to speak.
She pointed at Li Ziqing, "You, you, you..."
A severe illness requires strong medicine.
The reason Li Ziqing spoke so harshly to her aunt was simply to hope that her aunt would awaken and live her own life.
Next, her gaze fell back on Zhou Zhishan.
"I'll give you two choices. First, you end it yourself and personally apologize to my parents in the afterlife."
"Second, I want you and all your descendants to get out of the Zhou family. The Zhou family's assets will be taken over by me!"
In an instant, Zhou Zhishan was caught in a dilemma.
Although he was eighty years old, he had not lived enough, and the older he got, the more he feared death.
Especially after seeing Master Luo, with whom he had spent many years, die before his eyes, his fear of death intensified.
But he was also unwilling to give up the vast fortune of the Zhou family.
That was the foundation he had built with half his life's effort. For this wealth, he had committed countless heinous acts.
"Li Ziqing, are you giving your grandfather a choice? You are forcing him to die. I never thought you, at such a young age, could be so heartless!"
Zhou Weiguo, standing nearby, said fiercely.
Li Ziqing smiled charmingly, "Uncle, thank you for the compliment. I gladly accept the words 'heartless.' I will continue to strive for it. If you don't believe me, how about I let you experience it firsthand right now?"
Zhou Weiguo's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately fell silent. Li Ziqing's methods were so ruthless that even the old man couldn't outmaneuver her; he was even less of a match.
At this moment, Zhou Wen stepped forward and said, "Li Ziqing, what kind of skill is it to pressure an elder like this? If you have the guts, let's meet in the business world. I will defeat you honorably!"
"Oh..."
Li Ziqing responded with a faint "oh." "Alright, since you say so, then let's meet in the business world. I have plenty of time recently, so I'll play with you!"
Hearing this, Zhou Wen's heart rejoiced. With a little trick, he had fooled the girl. It seemed the Zhou family's assets were safe!
However, before he could finish his gloating, he heard Li Ziqing say to Zhou Zhishan, "Old scoundrel, it seems you don't have the support of the Zhou family either. Your grandson has already made a choice for you. You can go and die now. Whether it's hanging, poisoning, jumping off a building, or electrocution, I can satisfy you!"
Zhou Wen immediately became anxious, "When did I say Grandpa should die? Li Ziqing, don't talk nonsense!"
"Heh, you said it yourself, you want to meet me in the business world. So, your intention is for the old man to die, isn't it!"
Li Ziqing shrugged, saying with a playful tone.
At this moment, Zhou Zhishan also became anxious. He felt that the situation was turning for the worse. Li Ziqing's move was like pulling the rug out from under him.
If she was allowed to continue like this, Zhou Wen and the others might force him to die to preserve the Zhou family's assets!
With this thought, he made a swift decision, "I choose the second option. Ziqing, I can give you all the Zhou family's assets..."