Chapter 16
When Chen Huanong and his group arrived at the conference room, they immediately spotted Zhao Liangguo, sitting in the first seat on the left, looking reluctant. It was obvious that a well-established factory was closing down, and no one would be willing to accept that. Zhao Liangqi approached and greeted them one by one, with no trace of dejection on his face. The assistant was curious: this was also a company under the Zhao family, and it had just declared bankruptcy. Wasn't Zhao Liangqi heartbroken? That was all money!
"The profits don't go into the group's accounts, and the group covers all the losses. Do you think a businessman like Zhao Liangqi would continue to condone this because he's his brother? I'm afraid declaring bankruptcy this time wasn't Zhao Liangguo's idea. You all need to be more cautious. Chi Buyu, keep a close eye on their accounts for the past three years. Dig up even the slightest problem."
"Didn't they say they were always in the red? Where did the income come from? According to the accounts provided by the accountant, they lost 20 million this year."
"Impossible. If the loss is really that big, Zhao Liangguo will not be able to sit still at all." When he was with Zhao Liangqi in the past, he would occasionally hear Zhao Liangqi talk about some things about Zhao Liangguo. Chen Huanong had some understanding of the working style of the Zhao brothers. Zhao Liangguo was greedy for money and lustful, and he was easily influenced. He could not stand flattery from others, but he was not necessarily careless when it came to matters involving the interests of his company. Compared with Zhao Liangqi, this old fox, it should not be difficult for him to maintain the normal operation of a factory.
"We only do two things: review the financing and merger contracts and negotiate with creditors. We'll try to keep the percentage we take out of the new round of financing as small as possible. This way, the factory has operating capital and we can earn a larger commission." Qin Huai knew Chen Huanong disliked Zhao Liangguo. Her sixth sense would make her particularly wary of anyone she repelled. While this wasn't necessarily a bad thing, it could sometimes make her extremely exhausted. "Don't be so nervous. This is just a very common restructuring case. Master Zheng cleared it for you in advance."
The following week was a frenzy for Chen Huanong and his team. They all had law degrees and had never taken math since they entered school. They could only understand the text and numbers provided by the accountants, but they had no idea what the underlying data meant. Chen Huanong and Qin Huai met with forty creditors over three days, their voices hoarse from talking. Qin Huai bought two boxes of throat lozenges and nearly collapsed. By the time Friday rolled around, the four of them, plus the two members of Zhao's legal team, looked ten years older.
"Where the hell did Zhao Liangguo borrow that money? It's impossible to reason with those people." Even a well-mannered man like Qin Huai had lost all his gentlemanly manners after five days.
"Haha, is a 100 million yuan financing case easy to pull off? I should have sensed a scam when my master refused to take the plunge. Do you think I contradicted him too much last time, so he's finding ways to teach me a lesson? Why did I become so blinded by greed and money in the first place?"
Qin Huai didn't even bother to roll her eyes. She had been saying this since she established the criminal professional team. Whenever she encountered a case with a large amount of money, she would take it on without hesitation. After taking it, if she found it difficult to handle (isn't it definitely difficult?), she would inevitably complain like Xianglin Sao. After five years, Qin Huai, as the first person to be poisoned, had become quite accustomed to it and had abandoned her in her heart thousands of times.
The assistant sister seconded the suggestion from above, "Huahua, greed is your trait, and being obsessed with money is your essence. Have you still not recognized yourself?"
Chen Huanong was very upset that her assistant sister had defected to Qin Huai. "I originally said I would treat you to dinner tonight, but since you are unwilling to dine with such a greedy person, then I will go alone."
"I want to eat Japanese food. Let's go. Put aside worldly reputation, we don't mind you."
"I despise you. How can you be so servile? You really have no moral integrity." As Chen Huanong spoke, she was already walking out with her bag. The assistant sister immediately stepped forward and took her arm. What kind of moral integrity is needed in front of delicious food? Qin Huai and Chi Buyu were unhurriedly packing up in the back. After all, they were driving and had to wait in the parking lot. I really don't know what they were rushing for. The place they finally chose was still a Japanese restaurant. Chen Huanong said she wanted to lose weight and couldn't eat too much. Chi Buyu watched her and the assistant sister each eat three plates of sashimi and two pieces of sushi.
"Aren't you just gaining weight by eating this way? Don't divorced women care about their image?"
"With this attitude, you'll have to pay for tonight's bill!"
The assistant sister slapped Chi Buyu on the back and pressed his head down without saying anything. "Admit your mistake! Even if you're a divorced woman, Huahua is still a leader in the divorced world! You can eat for free, but you absolutely can't pay the bill."
"It's really my kindness that I can be friends with you for so long. Chi Buyu, don't forget that it was me who found your house. Be careful or I'll make you homeless."
"What's going on? You're so busy this week, how come you still have time to look at houses? How come I didn't know about this?"
"I asked Mo Yiyan to find him a place. He stays at my house every day, eating and drinking, and won't give me a dime. Send him away right away to make trouble for others." Chen Huanong showed them photos of the house. "I heard it belongs to a friend of Zhang Xingyan. There's an open-air balcony on the top floor with an amazing view."
"Then let's switch. I'll live in your villa, and you can live in my single duplex apartment."
Chen Huanong always ignored Chi Buyu's wild ideas. While looking at him with disdain, he filled his glass with wine and said, "Drink it! You'll dream better if you drink more!"
Considering that she had to help Chi Buyu move at the weekend, she didn't drink too much. Chen Huanong took two allergy pills before going to bed, praying that she wouldn't have to wear long sleeves the next day. Her new T-shirt was so cute, and she had endured it for a week, which was the biggest concession she had made. She really didn't understand how those who bought new clothes but didn't wear them right away could endure it. It was impossible to be friends with that kind of people.
"Old Chen, don't you even check your ID card? If you go out dressed like this at your age, how will others see you and what will others think of you and me?" When Chi Buyu's last piece of luggage was thrown into the car, Chen Huanong had just finished tidying herself up. Chi Buyu looked up and saw his second mother with two girlish buns, a long white T-shirt, and pink sneakers with big bows on her feet. In fact, she looked okay overall, as long as you ignored the two rabbit ears on the hat behind the T-shirt.
Chen Huanong was very satisfied with her weekend look, which made her look younger and more relaxed. She happily went out, hoping Chi Buyu would compliment her, but the naughty kid started to point out her age. Chen Huanong was unhappy, the kind that couldn't be appeased. "There's a reason you've been single for four years. When you don't speak, you act like a human being, but once you speak, you're like nobody's business."
The two of them argued all the way to the apartment, neither of them giving in. Chen Huanong felt that it would be wise to send the naughty kid away as soon as possible, otherwise, with his irritating frequency, Chen Huanong's life span would be shortened by half. It was the assistant sister who opened the door. She and Qin Huai arrived half an hour earlier, and Chen Huanong told them the password, so it was not surprising to see the two of them. She said last night that she would eat hot pot at Chi Buyu's house today, so it was normal for Mo Yiyan to show up with her little puppy Jiang Yousi. If you have to find an excuse, the house belongs to Zhang Xingyan's friend. Since Zhang Xingyan has taken care of this matter, it is not impossible for him to come and have a hot pot. What about Tang Chengting? Is he here as a family member of Zhang Xingyan?
Mo Yiyan spread his hands and shook his head, meaning that he didn't know either. Then he immediately turned to Zhang Xingyan and signaled with his eyes that he should explain quickly to prove that this matter had nothing to do with her.
"Momo asked me where we were having lunch, and then said we were having hotpot today. I love hotpot. I figured she was politely inviting me. Chengting happened to be staying over at my place, so we came together. We were all familiar friends, so it was more fun with a crowd."
Mo Yiyan stroked her forehead and looked up at the sky. She felt ashamed of being Zhang Xingyan's compatriot. Her original words were clearly "Mom asked me to ask you where you are going to eat at noon. If you go home, they will go out to eat. If you don't go home, they will eat at home. Before you have a girlfriend, it is better to see each other less often to avoid family conflicts." How come Zhang Xingyan regarded it as an invitation? Mo Yiyan looked at Chen Huanong, do you legal students like to make subjective assumptions?
A week ago, Zhang Xingyan had just closed his eyes and was about to go to sleep when his cell phone rang next to his ear. The first words on the other end were, "I remember Ke Yuzheng entrusted his house to you for safekeeping before he went abroad."
"Well, yes. What for? Were you kicked out of the house? Or is your Chen Huanong going to buy another house?"
"Give me!"
"What's going on?" Zhang Xingyan lost all desire to sleep after hearing what he said. He immediately sat up in bed, as if he had smelled some unspeakable gossip. "Are you having an affair?"
Tang Chengting learned from Mo Yiyan's circle of friends that she was looking for a house, not to buy but to rent. Except for Chi Buyu, no one in their social circle needed to rent a house.
"So you're helping that little boy find a room? What, do you really think he's Chen Huanong's younger brother?"
"He lives with Chen Huanong now."
"Then live together. What does it have to do with you? You're getting a divorce anyway. Even though there's a big age gap between them, sister-brother relationships aren't a big deal these days. Plus, they've known each other for so many years. You should be relieved to leave Chen Huanong to that young boy."
Are you relieved? Is he relieved to leave Chen Huanong to Chi Buyu?
He waited at the villa gate for half an hour and saw Chen Huanong get out of the car, holding Chi Buyu's ear. They were laughing and shouting, not noticing anyone was there. Chen Huanong was shocked to see him. When did the sparkle in Chen Huanong's eyes gradually fade when she looked at him? When did he no longer feel Chen Huanong's emotional changes? When did he realize that Chen Huanong could still live a good life without him? He had spent six years raising Chen Huanong to be what she is today. Now he wanted him to hand Chen Huanong over with confidence?
He doesn't feel at ease to entrust the responsibility to anyone. What if the person he has brought to the top of the tower falls down due to the wrong trust?
With Zhang Xingyan's help, Chi Buyu's house issue was finalized as quickly as possible. After Tang Chengting solved the problem, his mood finally brightened up a bit, and he drank more freely. He shared three bottles of foreign liquor and two bottles of white wine with Zhang Xingyan and three other friends. When he woke up, he found that he had slept in Zhang Xingyan's house. He habitually picked up his phone to check messages and calls, but there was nothing else except a few APP push messages and work WeChat. He forgot that Chen Huanong had moved away. She would not know that he had not returned home all night, and would not worry about him like before. In the past six years, Chen Huanong was the sunflower that revolved around him. He didn't even have to look back. As long as he stretched out a hand to his side, another warm little hand would immediately hold it.
Mo Yiyan happened to call, and he was listening nearby. He heard that Chen Huanong was going to make her specialty Japanese hot pot today. He had a bad stomach and never liked spicy food, but Chen Huanong liked hot pot. In order to cater to his taste, Chen Huanong specially learned how to make Japanese hot pot, using soy sauce, cooking wine, and sugar as the base of the pot, and then swishing eggs in the water. It was surprisingly refreshing. This compromise dish actually became a favorite of Tang Chengting. When Zhang Xingyan's car drove to the gate of the community, Tang Chengting watched the car from the furniture store come in. Among the pile of furniture, a white egg chair was the most eye-catching. Zhang Xingyan said that it was too feminine for a boy to buy such a thing. He suddenly felt flustered. He casually mentioned Chen Huanong's cooking skills and praised Chen Huanong's excellent Japanese hot pot. Zhang Xingyan was fooled, and so was he.
Chen Huanong was washing vegetables and arranging dishes in the kitchen. She was particular about cooking. Fruits and vegetables had to be delivered to her door early in the morning from the organic garden. Meat and poultry had to be free-range, and fish and shrimp had to be wild. The ingredients themselves were one thing, but the utensils also had other requirements. If it was Western food, a special set of Western tableware would be used. If it was Chinese food, the plates would be prepared according to the ingredients. They always had to be colorful, fragrant and delicious. Every time Chen's mother came to their house, she said that she didn't mind the trouble and had to make a fancy meal. Chen Huanong pouted and asked Tang Chengting with a look of dissatisfaction if she was a nuisance. Tang Chengting couldn't openly refuse Chen's mother's face, and he had to comfort Chen Huanong, saying every time that as long as she was happy, that was enough.
Chen Huanong was naturally happy, and even the way she washed the vegetables was shaking, like a child preparing snacks at home before a spring outing. The two rabbit ears on the back of her clothes also swayed back and forth in coordination. Before Tang Chengting could retract his smile, he was caught by Zhang Xingyan.
"What do you mean by that silly smile of yours?" Zhang Xingyan frowned, his mind a mess. It felt like an answer was about to come out, but it also seemed to be in chaos. "Why do I always feel like you came here specifically to see Chen Huanong?"
Tang Chengting hummed a sound, answering crisply. Zhang Xingyan was so shocked that he couldn't suppress his shock, fearing that he had misheard. "Tang Chengting, let me remind you again, if you really want a divorce, it's best to have less contact with Chen Huanong from now on. Of course, if you regret it, that's another matter."
"It's nothing. I'm just worried that she won't be doing well because of me. If she's doing well, I'll feel less guilty. You know, of all the emotions, the one I hate most is guilt." I always make various arrangements for my life, but I can't do the arrangements for Chen Huanong. Now, I realize that I feel guilty if I don't let go, and I also feel guilty if I let go.
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