Chang Lin said, "I heard that Qing Wentao replaced the people around the old man."
Actually, it wasn't a change, but rather a bribe. The old man had a butler who had taken care of his daily life for many years. That butler seemed to think that Qing Mingxiu was a bit too old. He himself was twenty years younger than the old man, and he had been transferred to Qing Mingxiu's side since he was a teenager.
Because he had been with Qing Mingxiu the longest and was the most trusted, Qing Wentao was able to take advantage of the situation.
Everyone present was intelligent, and they naturally understood what he meant.
Although Qing Li's expression didn't change, there was still a hint of coldness in her eyes: "What did Qing Wentao promise Zhuo Zhi?"
Zhuo Zhi was the steward who had been with Qing Mingxiu for many years. He wouldn't have betrayed Qing Mingxiu so easily if there weren't enough benefits.
Chang Lin thought for a moment and said, "The problem we found seems to be that he betrothed his daughter to him."
The housekeeper is almost fifty years old this year, only a few years younger than Qing Wentao, but he already has two daughters.
Qingli was speechless. He remembered that Zhuo Xia, Zhang Lin's daughter, had always worked under him, and there was also Zhuo Yan who had performed well before. Later, she was transferred to the Eighth District to assist the base manager there.
Both of them were quite capable and he was comfortable using them. He had always trusted Zhuo Zhi, who had been by the old man's side for so many years. He never expected that Zhuo Zhi would betray the old man at the last minute.
After a moment's thought, Qing Li asked, "Those two surnamed Bai also agree?"
Chang Lin sneered: "How could she possibly agree? Bai Yuru is so young, how could she be willing to marry an old man? Her mother listens to Qing Wentao in everything, doesn't dare to resist, and even helps to persuade him."
Hearing this from the side, Ye Shang said, "Then you should be careful lately."
She was speaking to Qingli. Bai Yuru was treated like this in the First Base, while her half-brother was the leader with real power in the Fifth Base. How could he not sneak out to ask Qingli for help?
Qingli had naturally thought of these things as well, but he just chuckled softly, a chuckle tinged with coldness, "Coming here is fine too."
He uttered five words calmly, and for some reason, Chang Lin suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for this illegitimate daughter. The captain's methods were anything but gentle.
Seeing that Ye Shang had closed the document, Qing Li said to Chang Lin, "Continue to send people to keep an eye on things. Let them fly for a while first, and then we'll take over the First Base later."
The First Base is definitely still in chaos, so it's not appropriate for him to take action at this moment.
Chang Lin nodded, reported on some matters, and then turned and left the office, closing the door behind him as he went.
Ye Shang said, "There's really nothing wrong with taking over first."
Qing Li chuckled, naturally understanding her meaning. Given the current status of the Fifth Base, sending someone to take over the First Base would naturally deter anyone from resisting. However, Qing Wentao and Qing Mingxiu would not simply watch him take over the First Base, so Ye Shang would intervene to suppress him.
That's why she said it so easily, that taking over now is no big deal.
Qingli thought for a moment and said, "No rush, someone will personally bring the first base up to us later."
After a moment's thought, Ye Shang understood what he meant and stopped worrying about it.
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In the evening, the two returned home. Shen Qian had just finished cooking and brought the meal to the table, while Chen Zui and Xiao Jing were also helping to serve the dishes.
When Shen Qian saw the two of them return, she gave them a wink.
On the other side of the living room sat a girl wearing a rather unattractive dark blue dress, which even had patches on it.
Ye Shang raised an eyebrow slightly upon seeing this person, said nothing, and walked towards the dining table next to him.
Qingli's face immediately darkened, and she said in a low voice, "What are you doing here?"
This person was Bai Yuru. Her face was pale, and she was no longer as charming as before. She used to love wearing a pure white dress, but now she dared not wear it anymore.
She looked at Qingli somewhat awkwardly. When she saw him return, she immediately stood up and timidly called out, "Little brother, I..."
She was a year older than Qingli, but she had never looked down on this so-called legitimate younger brother, because her mother was her father's true love.
However, at this moment, she felt somewhat dazed. She didn't know that life could take such a turn. She didn't know why, but she hadn't awakened any special abilities yet. She and her mother's survival depended entirely on Qing Wentao, but now he was going to sell her to a man in his fifties. She was only in her twenties. How could she accept that?
Qing Li scoffed, sat down in the chair next to Ye Shang, and didn't even glance at her. "Don't call me that. Didn't you say I'm not worthy?"
This is what Bai Yuru said to him arrogantly when they were young. She said it when she called a few boys to surround him and beat him half to death. So what if his surname is Qing? Her father never goes to where he lives. He is not worthy to be her brother.
That day, the weather was beautiful, and the sunlight felt pleasant on people. But when it shone on him, he felt a stinging pain. He covered his head, curled up on the ground, and was kicked by those people. It was a scene that Qingli would never forget.
Bai Yuru had obviously anticipated this scene as well, and her face turned deathly pale. Seeing that Qingli was no longer looking at her and had even turned to eat, she looked at the food. She had never eaten such good food since the apocalypse in the First Base.
She thought for a moment, her eyes filled with determination, then walked up to Qingli and knelt down resolutely. "Brother, it was my fault before. I was ignorant. I apologize to you. Please help me."
She had no way out; only Qingli could save her now. She really didn't want to marry that old man.
Qingli ate her meal slowly and deliberately, seemingly unaware that she was kneeling on the ground.
He had been forced to kneel countless times in his youth, but he didn't feel anything about it.
Bai Yuru remained kneeling, tears streaming down her face as she saw that he wasn't even looking at her. She looked utterly pitiful, biting her lip tightly. "Brother, I was really wrong. I really didn't want to marry Zhuo Zhi."
It's said that this old man killed his ex-wife, but not many people know about it. Even his two daughters have never gone back; one works in the Eighth District, and the other works for Qing Li.
He wouldn't dare do anything under Qingli's nose since both of them held real power.
But what if she marries him now? Will she die then?
She dared not think about it; all she wanted now was to escape this hopeless predicament, no matter how Qingli treated her.
After a long while, her legs grew numb from kneeling. She saw that Ye Shang had finished eating and was wiping his mouth with a tissue. Just as she was about to kneel over to find him, Qing Li's gaze turned as if she were looking at something inanimate, icy and chilling...
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