Chapter 7 The Trap
Fang Lanxin returned to the Huo family mansion, already having a plan in mind. The information Guan Erye had revealed indicated that the second branch of the family's shipping business was growing rapidly, and there must be something fishy going on behind the scenes.
"Uncle Fu, come to my study."
Huo Fu responded and stood in front of the desk awaiting instructions. Fang Lanxin didn't rush to speak; she first poured herself a cup of tea and slowly sipped it.
"What's been happening with the second wife's side lately?"
Huo Fu pondered for a moment: "The second master has been going to the docks frequently lately. I heard he has landed several big deals and doubled the size of his fleet."
"Oh?" Fang Lanxin put down her teacup. "Such a large sum? Where did the funds come from?"
"Well... my subordinates said they found a few foreign investors, but I don't know the specifics."
Fang Lanxin gently tapped the table: "Uncle Fu, go and make arrangements to add an extra person to the kitchen tomorrow. Tell them that Tianle is weak and needs someone to take care of his meals."
“Yes, Madam.” Hoffer hesitated before continuing.
"Is there anything else?"
"Madam, you and Lord Guan..."
Fang Lanxin raised an eyebrow: "What, even you want to meddle in my private affairs?"
Huo Fu quickly shook his head: "I wouldn't dare, it's just the Guan family and us..."
"Let bygones be bygones." Fang Lanxin stood up and walked to the window. "Times have changed, and we should change too."
The next day, a new maid named Ah Zhen was assigned to the kitchen. She was about thirty years old, with an ordinary appearance, and spoke and acted in a proper manner. She quickly integrated into the daily life of the mansion.
Fang Lanxin called Huo Qibang and Huo Wen to the study.
"Did you know that the second wife's shipping business has been booming lately?"
Huo Qibang nodded: "I heard about it. They took on several international shipping orders and made a lot of money."
"Don't you find it strange?" Fang Lanxin asked. "Where did they get the funds and connections?"
Huo Wen's eyes lit up: "What the old lady means is..."
“I suspect they’re smuggling,” Fang Lanxin said bluntly. “Moreover, they’ve planted spies in our house.”
Huo Qibang frowned: "Mom, this is a big deal. Do you have any evidence?"
“The evidence is in the kitchen.” Fang Lanxin took out a piece of paper. “This is what Ah Zhen found in the trash can last night.”
The note had a few numbers and a time written on it; it seemed meaningless, yet it was eerie.
“This is the shipping code.” Huo Wen took the slip of paper. “I’ve worked at the docks before, I recognize this.”
Fang Lanxin nodded: "I've already made the arrangements. You just need to follow the plan."
Three days later, at the back gate of the Huo family mansion.
Night had fallen when a small, thin figure stealthily slipped out the back door. It was none other than A-Lian, the maid in charge of cooking and dining in the kitchen.
She looked around to make sure no one was following her, then quickly walked toward the public phone booth on the street corner.
Inside the phone booth, Ah Lian took out a piece of paper and dialed the number with trembling hands.
"Hello, it's me." She lowered her voice. "Tomorrow's cargo will be unloaded at the north dock, two hours earlier."
She had just hung up the phone when the door of the phone booth was suddenly pulled open.
"Ah Lian, why are you making phone calls in the middle of the night?"
Huo Wen stood in the doorway, smiling at her. A-Lian's face turned deathly pale, and the note in her hand fell to the ground.
"I...I just..."
Huo Qibang emerged from the shadows and picked up the note: "Just what? Tipping off the smuggling fleet?"
Ah Lian collapsed to the ground, trembling all over: "Young Master, I don't know what you're talking about..."
"Stop pretending." Huo Qibang sneered, "You are the second wife's spy planted in our house, responsible for monitoring our movements, and..." He paused, "poisoning."
Ah Lian shook her head in horror: "No! I didn't poison them! I was just responsible for delivering messages!"
"Do you know about Tianle's matter?"
Ah Lian bit her lip, her eyes darting around: "I...I don't know..."
Huo Wen grabbed her collar: "Confess! Or I'll send you to see the police!"
Ah Lian finally broke down: "I really don't know! Second Master only told me to keep an eye on the old lady and the young master's movements. I don't know anything about the young master!"
Huo Qibang and Huo Wen exchanged a glance, understanding each other perfectly.
Early the next morning, police raided the northern dock and seized a batch of smuggled goods on the spot. Huo Zhiqiang, the son of Huo Zhenxiong from the second wife, was arrested on the spot.
The study in the Huo family mansion.
"Mom, how did you know?" Huo Qibang asked.
Fang Lanxin smiled slightly: "It was revealed by Lord Guan."
"Master Guan?" Huo Qibang exclaimed in surprise, "You and the Guan family..."
"The business world is like a battlefield; the enemy of my enemy is my friend," Fang Lanxin said calmly. "The second branch of the family and the Guan family have had friction at the docks. The Guan family has been watching their smuggling activities for a long time."
Huo Qibang seemed thoughtful: "Then what about Tianle..."
“Although there is no direct evidence, the second wife’s family is the most suspicious.” Fang Lanxin sighed. “They want to sow discord between my son and me so they can seize power.”
Kenneth Fok clenched his fist: "I will make them pay the price."
"No rush." Fang Lanxin patted her son's shoulder. "Let's take care of the shareholders' meeting first."
Huo Qibang nodded, his eyes sparkling with gratitude and admiration. At that moment, he seemed to see again the strong woman who had single-handedly shouldered the entire Huo family after her father's death.
"Thank you, Mom."
Fang Lanxin smiled but didn't say anything more.
One week later, at the Huo Group headquarters building, in the boardroom.
The atmosphere was somber as dozens of shareholders and directors gathered. Today was a crucial shareholders' meeting, where Kenneth Fok's reform proposal would be voted on.
Representatives from several prominent families, including the He and Li families, sat in the front row, their expressions grim. They had already spread the word that they would do everything in their power to stop this "nonsensical" reform.
Standing on the podium, Fok Kai-pong spoke eloquently: "Dear uncles and shareholders, the reform plan I proposed is for the long-term development of the Fok Group..."
"Nonsense!" Old Master He slammed his fist on the table. "You're trying to destroy our decades-old business!"
The Li family representative also stood up: "Is your reform going to sweep all of us old folks out of the house?"
The room erupted in uproar. Kenneth Fok tried to explain, but was drowned out by various questions and objections.
Just then, Fang Lanxin pushed open the door and entered.
She wore a well-tailored dark blue suit and walked with a composed and unhurried pace. The entire venue fell silent instantly.
"Everyone, it's been a long time." Fang Lanxin walked to the front desk with a smile. "It seems that you all have a lot of opinions about my son's reform plan."
Old Master He snorted: "President Fang, your son is too young and impetuous, and doesn't know how to respect tradition."
“Tradition?” Fang Lanxin smiled. “Uncle He, do you still remember what you said when you first met me twenty years ago?”
Old Master He was taken aback.
“You said, ‘What do women know about business? The Huo family is doomed.’” Fang Lanxin looked around the room. “But twenty years have passed, and the Huo family has not only survived, but has grown bigger and bigger. Why? Because I know how to keep up with the times.”
She took out a stack of documents and distributed them to everyone present.
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