In fact, before dawn broke, the Han family received news of the shocking incident.
Past five in the morning, a sprawling complex of Ming and Qing dynasty architecture was brightly lit, bustling with people.
This was the Han family's ancestral home, where many direct descendants resided.
Although usually, everyone kept to their own schedules, with many direct family members having their own residences elsewhere, any major event or the Lunar New Year would see all members of the Han family gather in this ancient estate to worship their ancestors and discuss important matters.
Within the brightly lit ancient buildings, men and women hurried back and forth, each with a stern expression.
In a hall of ancient elegance, the Han family patriarch, Han Guangyao, sat at the head of the table, his face like frost. Flanking him were some direct relatives, including his three sons.
The atmosphere in the entire hall was oppressively heavy, as if filled with mercury.
Mobile phones vibrated intermittently, prompting individuals to rush outside to answer calls.
As one of Longcheng's most influential families, the Han family had numerous informants. Upon the widespread dissemination of the colorful newspapers throughout the city, they were immediately alerted by their subordinates.
After the entire Han family saw the contents of the colorful newspapers, they were filled with shock and anger. Who dared to do such a thing to the Han family? It was like plucking a hair from a tiger's head, a suicidal act.
Just as the atmosphere in the hall was oppressively tense, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed, and an elder in his seventies strode in.
"Uncle Kong!"
Upon seeing the newcomer, many direct family members in the hall instinctively showed respect, addressing the elder.
The man's name was Kong Nanchao, Han Guangyao's closest confidant, who had been by his side since childhood, taking care of his daily life.
While many in the outside world knew Liu An as Han Guangyao's butler, few knew that there was another person exclusively responsible for Han Guangyao's personal care.
This individual was Han Guangyao's true confidant, holding a position even higher than Liu An. They had played together since Han Guangyao's childhood and had remained together for a lifetime.
Under the gaze of many eyes, Kong Nanchao walked up to Han Guangyao and whispered a few words into his ear.
Han Guangyao, whose expression was already grim, became completely overcast after hearing Kong Nanchao's words, a palpable pressure emanating from his entire being.
*Bang!*
Enraged, Han Guangyao slammed the teacup on the table to the floor. The fragments of the expensive tea set scattered, silencing everyone below.
"Investigate!!"
"Mobilize all our resources immediately to find the mastermind behind this incident. I will tear him to shreds!"
"And confiscate all these colorful newspapers!"
Han Guangyao roared. Despite his advanced age of over eighty, his physique remained robust and his spirit vigorous, perhaps his greatest asset.
"Father, we have already dispatched everyone to investigate and are widely confiscating these detestable colorful newspapers."
"But I hear that these newspapers are plastered all over the streets and alleys of Longcheng, and it will be difficult to clear them all in a short time."
A man in his fifties, exuding an aura of authority, stood up from below.
He was Han Zongshu, Han Guangyao's eldest son, the head of the Han family's first branch, and the general manager of Han's Coal Industry. He held considerable power and was a prominent figure in Longcheng, frequently appearing in news interviews and newspapers.
"The sky is about to brighten, and people will be waking up. It will be impossible to prevent the spread of these colorful newspapers."
Han Guangyao, hearing this, berated him, "Are you saying we can only stand by and let this matter escalate, be slandered and stained by those with malicious intent, and have the reputation our Han family has built over years destroyed?"
Han Zongshu opened his mouth to retort, but at that moment, another man stood up.
"Father, you misunderstand eldest brother's meaning! I believe eldest brother means that since we cannot stop it now, we must quickly devise other methods to curb the escalation of this matter."
He was Han Zongren, from the Han family's second branch, in charge of the entire Xishan mining area of Longcheng. His status was undoubtedly significant.
"Devise methods? What methods can you come up with now?"
Han Guangyao's face was somber.
Everyone fell silent. What was said sounded good, but implementing it was not so easy. What kind of method could quickly curb the spread of this malicious incident?
"I think we can call the police and let them do the work for us!"
In the silence, Han Zongyi, from the Han family's third branch, stood up and said.
"And immediately contact the news media, issue a statement to the outside world, saying that all these photos have been maliciously photoshopped to smear the reputation of our Han family."
"We will make the mastermind pay the price they deserve!"
As soon as Han Zongyi finished speaking, hurried footsteps sounded again, and two figures rushed in.
"Bad news! Bad news!"
"Someone just reported that large crowds of people have gathered around our company building!"
"And many more people are heading towards our ancestral home..."
What?!
Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed.
"These scoundrels, they never tire of seeing trouble!"
Someone immediately cursed.
"Uncle, I'll take people out to drive away all these ignorant fools!"
"Yes, whoever dares to come within half a step of our Han family's ancestral home will regret it for the rest of their lives!"
Many people from the Han family below had fierce glints in their eyes.
"Foolish!"
"At a time like this, do you think we haven't caused enough trouble?"
Han Guangyao, sitting at the head of the table, cursed with a grim expression. He then made a decisive command, "Quick! Call the police! Let the police handle these matters!"
"As for you, hurry to the company building. Our Han family absolutely cannot become the laughingstock of Longcheng, understand?"
"Contact the news media if necessary, and swiftly investigate the people involved. Distribute the tasks among yourselves. I have a terrible headache and need to rest!"
Han Guangyao finished speaking, clutching his forehead, looking pained.
"Master, are you alright? I'll help you inside to rest."
Kong Nanchao, standing by his side, immediately helped Han Guangyao leave the hall and disappear.
Seeing Han Guangyao depart, the group in the hall exchanged glances.
"I'll contact the news media to quickly clarify this matter."
Han Zongyi, from the third branch, spoke first.
"This cunning scoundrel, he always picks the easy tasks, yet is the first to step forward when there's profit!"
Han Zongren cursed inwardly, but quickly said, "Then I'll call the police and contact Director Shao, who is in charge of our district."
The remaining tasks were to deal with the common people surrounding the company and the unrest within Han's Coal Industry. Only Han Zongshu remained silent.
He looked at his two younger brothers expertly taking the easier jobs, his mouth twitched, but he said nothing more.
As the general manager of Han's Coal Industry, this matter naturally fell to him.
However, he was no pushover. After a moment's thought, he quickly said, "Second brother, third brother, after you finish your respective tasks, immediately send people to conduct thorough investigations. We must swiftly determine who is targeting our Han family behind this incident."
"This is the most crucial part!"
Han Zongyi and Han Zongren, who had been about to slip away, froze in expression...