The Fourth Family Manor of the Little River Kingdom

The fifth master of the fourth family entered the fourth master's courtyard, panting. Before even stepping into the house, he began calling out, "Fourth brother! Fourth brother! Fourth brother!"

Those who heard the noise in the courtyard looked inside.

The fourth master came out upon hearing the noise, still with his usual unhurried demeanor. "What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?"

Fifth Master did not speak, but grabbed Fourth Master's arm and headed for Fourth Master's study. His steps were hurried, and he did not slow down at all when he saw Fourth Master.

The fourth master was dragged along, staggering, following the fifth master. "Fifth brother, slow down, what's wrong?"

"Come with me quickly, I'll tell you when we get to the study. You might be even more anxious than I am!" The Fifth Master didn't say what it was about, just said this, leaving the Fourth Master even more confused.

The two men entered the study. Fifth Master closed the study door, thought for a moment, and, still feeling uneasy, called out again, "Ah Cai! Come and guard the study door. Don't let anyone near."

"Yes, Fifth Master." A somewhat elderly man's voice came from outside the door.

The fourth master was even more puzzled. "You're at home! Why did you call Ah Cai to guard the door?"

When Fifth Master heard Ah Cai standing at the door, he pulled Fourth Master to sit in the chess room at the very back of the study. Then he leaned close to Fourth Master's ear and whispered mysteriously, "Fourth Brother, do you know? I overheard some news today that the three brothers, including the eldest, have been running a company in Hong Kong behind our backs. It's about the same size as the company that went bankrupt here, and it's been around for decades."

"What?" Fourth Master thought he had misheard. He stood up, looking incredulous, and grabbed Fifth Master's collar, demanding, "What did you say? Say it again."

"You heard me right. I went to the tea garden for tea, and when I passed by a private room, I overheard the second brother's voice inside. These words were spoken by him."

He also said that the family fortune should have belonged to the three brothers. They had already received dividends for so many years and gold left by the old man, which was more than enough. They had lived a luxurious life for so many years and should be content.

That company was bought with money that the three of them gradually siphoned off from the Fourth Group, and they must have been transferring profits from it to that group all these years. How could it not survive a crisis and go bankrupt, and at such an unbelievable speed?

Back when the old man was still alive, they tried every means to prevent the two of us from joining the company. I suppose they were already plotting it back then.” The Fifth Master became angrier and angrier as he spoke, his face contorted with bulging veins, and finally his teeth were grinding together.

The Fourth Master was also furious. "Are you sure that's definitely the Second Master?" But he wanted to confirm it again.

Fifth Master said with certainty, "There's no mistake. Although I didn't see him, it was his voice, and his friend next to him called his name. How could I be wrong!"

The fourth master loosened the fifth master's collar and stopped sitting, pacing back and forth on the ground.

"We can't just let this go like this. They're treating us like fools! Who else knows about this?"

“When I heard the news, I originally wanted to kick down the door and ask the second brother for clarification, but I still felt it wasn't a good idea. If he doesn't admit it, it will give them time to prepare a cover-up, so I came back directly to you. Fourth brother, what do you suggest we do?”

The fourth master said resolutely, "No matter what we do, we can't let those three brothers get away with it. Why should we, who are all Dad's children, have to suffer so much?"

The Fourth Group has been keeping us out for years, not even allowing the children in. They've been keeping an eye on us all along!

I don't know whether this bankruptcy was orchestrated by outsiders or a trap they set for us in collusion with outsiders.

good!

very good!

Very good!

At worst, we'll fight to the death; if we don't get anything, they won't get anything either.

Fifth brother, come closer, I'll tell you what to do.

Fifth Master leaned in and Fourth Master whispered something in his ear.

After a while, Fifth Master asked somewhat uncertainly, "Fourth Brother, if we do this, neither of us will get the company! Is this really a good idea?"

The fourth master asked with exasperation, "If we didn't do it this way, would the two of us be able to make a profit?"

Fifth Master thought about it and realized that it made sense. No matter what, those three brothers wouldn't give up the company to them. Anyway, things were already bad enough, so why should those three brothers have a way out and be able to live a luxurious life? If the two of them were going to be finished, then they might as well be finished together!

"Okay, Fourth Brother, just wait for my news." Fifth Master said, and left the house.

After the Fifth Master left, the Fourth Master paced back and forth in the room for a long time until he got tired and stopped. But he was still unwilling to accept it. Why?

A few days later, a rumor spread in the Little River Kingdom that the bankruptcy of the Fourth Family's company was entirely planned by the Fourth Family Head and his second and third brothers in order to transfer assets more reasonably.

Why, you ask?

It's very simple!

The eldest, second, and third children of the fourth family all had the same mother, as did the fourth and fifth children.

It's just gossip about wealthy families!

Who wouldn't love to listen? Besides listening, they'd also add their own guesses and thoughts.

Gradually, it turned into a dramatic battle for the family fortune. Eventually, somehow, a rumor spread that the three brothers of the Fourth Family had started transferring assets even before the Fourth Master died, and that they owned a large company in Hong Kong that was even richer than the Fourth Group here, and that even the company's name was known.

The common people just listened to the spectacle, but those who participated in the attack on the fourth group were no longer able to sit still. The three brothers of the fourth group were clearly planning to secretly return and counterattack when the opportunity arose. Otherwise, why didn't they spend money to save the fourth group and let it go bankrupt?

Everyone was alarmed and immediately sent their most capable family members to Hong Kong Island to investigate the situation. At the same time, they used their connections to uncover more scandals and illegal activities of the fourth family.

The fourth company's scandals were exposed one after another, and before one could subside, another would emerge.

The fourth and fifth brothers were initially happy, waiting for the eldest, second, and third brothers to suffer misfortune. However, something went wrong, and one scandal after another emerged from the fourth and fifth brothers' families, making the fourth family members afraid to go out openly during the day. Even when they went out at night, they were extremely cautious, let alone do anything.

The fourth family's assets were laid bare, and their personal history from birth to the present was meticulously documented. Members of the eldest, second, and third families of the fourth family were successively invited to the police station for investigation.

The same thing happened on Hong Kong Island. Suddenly, a group of people came to investigate Baijie Daily Chemicals, and they were all nobles from the Little River Kingdom. This also attracted the attention of the upper-class nobles on Hong Kong Island. In an instant, Baijie Daily Chemicals was exposed nakedly in the high society of Hong Kong Island and was investigated thoroughly.