It was to be expected that Li Wujiang would be urgently summoned back to Longxu.
After all, tomorrow—
Was the grand day for the Su family to officially "establish their manor" in Siji!
Without the great god Li Wujiang holding the fort, and relying solely on Su Nanyin, who had cleanly severed ties with the Shen family of Lingnan, along with her little caterpillars biting; plus the widely notorious Mr. Qianfan domestically, if any heavyweight truly came to cause trouble, it would indeed be difficult to maintain order.
Therefore, Li Wujiang leaving overnight was the one thing Su Nanyin most vehemently opposed.
Yet, she couldn't stop it.
From the mere fact that Li Wujiang had, without a word, beaten up Li Qianfan, Su Nanyin could tell how agitated she was at the moment.
The wheels rolled.
Moving ever forward—
Su Nanyin was personally driving, with Li Wujiang in the passenger seat.
Su Xin, driving behind with the cowering Li Qianfan (escorting Sister Wujiang back to Longxu and protecting Su Nanyin home), followed closely.
*Pia!*
After getting into the car and staring blankly out the window, occasionally shivering, Li Wujiang suddenly raised her hand and heavily slapped Su Nanyin's right thigh.
Caught off guard, Su Nanyin, wearing home clothes, was thinly clad.
How could she withstand such a slap?
"Ah!"
She let out a scream, and the car lurched violently, drawing a large 'S' on the road.
Fortunately, there were few vehicles at night, and Su Xin driving behind was careful, thus avoiding an accident.
Su Nanyin was furious: "Li Wujiang, are you crazy? Take your infernal claws off. Damn it, again!"
Li Wujiang retracted her five fingers, causing Su Nanyin to cry out in pain again.
No need to look.
Her fair porcelain skin would undoubtedly be bruised.
"Yes, I am crazy."
Li Wujiang said weakly, "Because for a very long time to come, I'll have to be confined to a solitary room because of you. No public duties, only one meal a day. I've been so tragically implicated by you, what's wrong with playing with your leg?"
Su Nanyin—
Was this human speech?
The problem was, Su Nanyin truly didn't know what she had done wrong!
Li Wujiang began to ramble—
The car stopped again, already at the airport.
Su Nanyin still looked dazed, watching a departing flight take off.
Fortunately, she was an experienced driver and her skills were excellent.
If it were someone else, hearing such shocking news, especially with a ghostly claw tormenting her leg, they would surely have crashed.
"As for how you arrange for Helan Tingmei, you and Mr. Zhao can decide. I can't manage it anymore. This time, Empress Dowager Xiao is truly angry. After all, ever since Qianfan went to Flaming Valley, she has poured all her energy into him."
"That unfilial son is now Empress Dowager Xiao's only treasure."
"Especially since she personally arranged for Qianfan's 209 to be activated, starting his countdown. During this period, even if Empress Dowager Xiao didn't say it, she has endured immense psychological pressure."
"As long as Qianfan's life can be saved, Empress Dowager Xiao can do anything, including opposing all of humanity!"
"For her, what is the Emperor of the Su family, kneeling in shackles in the wealthy circle, compared to that?"
"I merely expressed my principles and bottom line, and was promptly relegated to the cold palace."
"Even Li Xiao and my father-in-law were scolded and beaten by Empress Dowager Xiao because of it."
"When Empress Dowager Xiao is enraged—"
Li Wujiang gave a wry smile, "In the early years, Granny Yue of Emperor Valley could still restrain her. Now that Granny Yue has retired and doesn't bother, no one can stop what she wants to do. Anyone who dares to stop her, there's only one word: Kill!"
Hearing this, Su Nanyin's delicate body trembled.
"Even if Emperor Valley and Longxu don't help her."
Li Wujiang continued, "But don't forget the Marco family. The de facto matriarch of the Marco family, Lu Ziqi, obeys her every command. Even Ding Xiaolang does. With these two women, Empress Dowager Xiao can still dominate the world even without the support of Emperor Valley and Longxu. Oh, and she has a staunch fan."
That staunch fan—
Was Athena of the Western Continent's War God Temple!
With the support of the Ding family, the wealthiest in the East Continent, the Marco family in the West Continent, and the martial arts holy land of the West Continent, anyone could dominate the world and do as they pleased, disregarding all restraints.
"You, do your best to take care of yourself."
As Li Wujiang opened the door and stepped out of the car, she looked back at Su Nanyin with pity in her eyes.
She said softly, "Either be prepared to commit suicide to preserve your purity. Or be prepared."
Prepared for what?
Li Wujiang didn't say, and closed the car door.
Without her saying it, Su Nanyin understood.
Li Wujiang's retreating figure soon disappeared from Su Nanyin's sight.
It was now eleven o'clock at night!
In a hotel in Siji.
In a presidential suite, seven people were sitting in front of a large sofa, discussing something in low voices.
Chen, Kang, Zhou, Ma.
These four surnames were the absolute top tier of Modu.
Ji, Yuan, Qian.
These three surnames were the economic top tier of the coastal regions.
Or, to put it simply, the seven surnames Chen, Kang, Zhou, Ma, Ji, Yuan, and Qian were the affluent families of Jiangnan, equivalent to the 13 affluent families of Jiangbei.
This showed the power and influence of these seven prominent families.
However.
Compared to the 13 affluent families of Jiangbei, who were more focused on power and profit, the seven affluent families prioritized economic interests!
The amount of money the seven affluent families could mobilize was a terrifying and enviable sum.
But they always adhered to the principle of quietly accumulating wealth, remaining extremely low-key.
Whether it was the Gold Shop incident, the Blackwater Forest incident, or the subsequent scandal, the seven affluent families had no involvement whatsoever.
Compared to making money—
What face, what reputation, they cared nothing for!
Whoever wanted to cause trouble, whoever wanted to die, it had nothing to do with their little caterpillars.
Tonight.
Representatives of the seven affluent families—Chen, Kang, Zhou, Ma, Ji, Yuan, and Qian—had secretly gathered at a hotel in Siji.
Why?
They were going to attend the opening ceremony of the Siji Su family tomorrow, uninvited.
To put it bluntly, to pressure the protagonist of the "Concealed Fetus Incident": "Mr. Chen invited you twice, and you not only refused to give face, but you dared to send people to cripple Ma Hongtu! This is equivalent to disregarding the economic magnates south of the Great River. Our seven affluent families have come together this time to demand an explanation for Ma Hongtu's crippling at the grand occasion of the Su family's opening!"
This was also the first time in many years that the seven affluent families had dealt with an issue unrelated to making money.
"According to reliable sources."
Chen Zhouchuan, seated in the main seat, said calmly, "Families related to the Li family's interests, such as the Gao family of the Northwest, the Qin family of Xiangjiang, the Chu family of Maya, and the Tie family of the Northeast, will not participate. Even the Ding family, who have a special relationship with the male protagonist of the incident, and Li Family Village may not appear at the Su family. Of course, due to the threat and enticement of the scandal's male protagonist, the ten major affluent families of Jiangbei, who have recently suffered heavy losses, will attend."
The other six nodded in unison.
Chen Er (as these seven individuals were all second-in-command figures of their respective families, they were simply referred to as "Er") had already conveyed this information, and everyone knew it.
It was precisely because affluent families like the Gao family would not participate in the Su family's opening in Siji that the seven affluent families decided to take this opportunity to jointly attend and "show their support"!
"Heh heh, the so-called ten major affluent families are just a bunch of cowards who have been beaten into submission," Kang Er said with a sneer. "Especially after Li Wujiang trampled their homes during the day. But the more they fear, the more they will hate."
Ma Er also said, "It's good that they go to the Su family. It's a chance for them to see that we, the Seven Families of Jiangnan, are the true top tier. The person who beat them into submission is nothing more than a brute in front of us. As long as we can establish our authority during this opportunity, and as the 13 affluent families of Jiangbei begin to decline, it will be twice as effective to support the Helan family, the Yao family, and a few others in expanding our economic business in Jiangbei."
Yes.
The real reason the second-in-command figures of the seven affluent families of Jiangnan were mobilized and came together to "congratulate" the Su family's opening in Siji was not to seek justice for Ma Hongtu, nor to save Mr. Chen's face.
It was because with the fall of affluent families like the Xu and Du families, the 13 affluent families who had been rivals to the seven affluent families of Jiangnan had significantly weakened.
This presented the seven affluent families of Jiangnan with a prime opportunity to conquer the Jiangbei market!
Zhou Er said, "Whether it's the scandal's male protagonist or the so-called Empress of Affluent Families, one is a young brat, and the other is a mere woman. Neither is worth worrying about. Moreover, the only one wholeheartedly supporting the Su family is the Tang family of Siji. The Zhao family, due to Mr. Zhao's position, cannot fully support the Su family no matter how much they try. Therefore, the so-called Siji Su family is merely a facade. But we must highly value one person."
Chen Er asked, "Are you referring to the divine beast who trampled their homes today?"
Zhou Er nodded.
Ma Er and the others also nodded in unison.
Li Wujiang indeed deserved their apprehension!
"Heh heh, it's alright."
Chen Er chuckled, "I guarantee that tomorrow, even if Li Wujiang is burning with rage, she won't easily lose her temper."
Oh?
Ma Er and the others immediately became interested.
"Seven years ago, when Li Wujiang was working in Modu, she owed my elder brother (Mr. Chen) a tremendous favor."
Chen Er said leisurely, "After all these years, she should repay this favor to us."
"Excellent!"
Ma Er slapped his thigh, "If we can get Li Wujiang to shut up, and then have her order Li Qianfan to donate bone marrow and other biological samples, that would be even better! Our seven families can then enter the global vampire market."
"Shhh—"
Chen Er raised a finger to his lips and hissed, "My elder brother doesn't know that I intend to call in the favor. If he knew, he absolutely wouldn't allow us to exploit it. After all, my elder brother's thinking is quite orthodox."
Orthodox sometimes meant rigid!
At least, that's what these seven people thought.
Zhou Er smiled, "We can privately ask Li Wujiang for the favor. Of course, this favor belongs to Mr. Chen. Then, if there are any profits in the future, the Chen family will get a larger share."
Ma Er and the others nodded in unison, "That's how it should be!"
Chen Er smiled in satisfaction.
Qian Er, who had remained silent, suddenly said, "What if tomorrow, the Li family's patriarch, Li Nanfang, appears at the Su family?"
Zhou Er and the others' expressions immediately changed.
"Li Nanfang going to the Su family? Heh heh."
Chen Er scoffed, "That's absolutely impossible!"
Zhou Er and the others asked in unison, "Brother Chen, why are you so sure?"
"Let's not even mention how dissolute Li Nanfang was in his youth. But he is now a patriarch, and he still has self-respect!"
Chen Er said with certainty, "After all, the legendary Emperor of the Su family has an extraordinary status. With Li Nanfang's status, even if Li Qianfan begged him to show his support, he wouldn't appear at the Su family."
"Brother Chen speaks reason—"
Zhou Er and the others nodded in unison, "As long as the Li family patriarch doesn't come, then let the world witness the spectacular performance of our seven affluent families."