Chapter 101 - An Old Fox (1)
Chapter 101: An Old Fox (1)
‘Five percent of the Zhao Group’s shares?!’ Zhao Youlin’s expression slightly changed. How could she forget something as crucial as this?!
When she divorced Mu Tingfeng and was about to depart from the Mu family, she coincidentally saw an agreement related to the transfer of Zhao Group’s shares when she packed her room.
Zhao Youlin did not care much about it that time, so she had only cast a cursory glance at it. The content pertained to something about Zhao Youlin’s deceased mother transferring her shares in the Zhao Group to her.
However, before she became an adult, the share agreement was temporarily kept by the former master of the house. When Zhao Youlin grew up, only then did he return the agreement to her.
Zhao Youlin was still underaged when she married Mu Tingfeng. As such, it was only reasonable that the share transfer agreement would be kept by the former master on her behalf.
However, the former master had been incredibly disappointed over Zhao Youlin’s stubbornness to be married into the Mu family. Therefore, he simply let Zhao Youlin take the agreement along with her into the Mu family.
While the previous Zhao Youlin did not understand why Li Hongyu and Zhao Youxi had gone to great lengths to get her back to the Zhao family even though they were obviously displeased with her, the current Zhao Youlin could see everything clearly. The mother and daughter had apparently come to her for her share agreement.
As Zhao Youlin thought of this, she smiled. She raised her head and asked in a way that sounded like it was a simple issue, “Grandpa, the share agreement of the Zhao family is too valuable for me. I believe myself to be unlucky and destined for bad things to happen to me. So, I couldn’t afford such a valuable thing. Could you please take it back?”
The former master froze. Little had he ever expected that the tempting shares in everyone’s eyes would come as a hassle to Zhao Youlin.
After a brief moment of deadlock, the former master of the house became angry. ‘So, the lass does not want my shares, huh?! It’s as though I’m the one who had insisted on giving it to her.’
“Youlin, I can take back the shares. But, it’s a legacy that your mother has left for you. If you reject it, I’m afraid you would grieve your mother’s spirit in heaven.”
Zhao Youlin studied the old man who cared only about his own interests and nothing else. She narrowed her eyes. ‘This old man actually decided to gaslight me using my mother!’
“Grandpa, that’s not right. I believe why my mother gave me the shares was because she wanted me to have something to rely on and protect myself when I was in the Zhao family. But, I’m doing fine now. If anything, the shares have only caused me trouble. As such, this has gone against my mother’s original intention. This is not what she had hoped for. So, I believe her spirit in heaven would understand it.”
The former master coughed. He widened his eyes and stared at Zhao Youlin. Immediately after, he seemed to have discovered a weakness and said cunningly, “Since you’ve mentioned, it seems like I really have to take back the shares from you. However, your shares are originally for Shunceng’s second wife. Five percent of the shares are with Zhao Shuncheng and another five percent are with you. If you don’t want them, I’ll have no choice but to give them to Shuncheng’s two children.”
Indeed, right after the former master spoke, Zhao Youlin’s expression, who had been calm throughout, finally changed.
Although she was not the original Zhao Youlin, she was already disgusted by the mother and daughter of the Zhao family even though they had met only once. Zhao Youlin’s disgust toward them intensified especially after knowing the two women were so insatiable to the extent of even coveting her shares.
Everyone shared a common problem in this world. For instance, one had the right to disown something which had belonged to him. However, he would not let someone else take advantage of it, especially when that someone was his nemesis.
Today, if the former master were to take back his shares, Zhao Youlin naturally had nothing to say. But, if the shares were to be given to Li Hongyu and her daughter, she felt uncomfortable as well as a sense of unwillingness.
The former master had seen this through. He poked at her sore spot.
Zhao Youlin glared at the former master who looked calm and composed from the corners of her eyes. She unwittingly cussed him to herself. ‘Darn you, old fox!’
Zhao Youlin’s mind raced, and she hesitated. However, she remained looking peaceful on the surface.
When the former master saw her, he could not help but sigh to himself, ‘This kid truly has a high level of tolerance.’
Zhao Youlin fell silent for a while, then she changed her speech. She faked a cough and said, “Grandpa, on second thought, although I have no need to worry about not being able to provide for myself, I have a child with me. Even if I don’t provide for myself, I will have to consider things for my child. When my child grows up, he needs to go to school, go to work, buy a house and a car, as well as getting married. All of these require money. So, why don’t you give the shares to your great-grandchild, and I’ll keep them on his behalf?”
When the former master heard Zhao Youlin say so, he immediately appeared to look thoughtful to create suspense for Zhao Youlin before saying, “Youlin, you’ve planned everything well. We’ll do it that way!”
When Zhao Youlin saw the former master’s pretentious look, she gritted her teeth to herself, ‘His heart had obviously burst in joy yet he’s still pretending to put on airs. How I wish I could whack him!’
“Grandpa, the discussion about the shares is over. But, if you insist that Joy and myself return to the Zhao family house, I still…”
Before Zhao Youlin finished speaking, she was interrupted by the former master, “I know that you’re very annoyed at your father and his family. I also understand the reason why you’re reluctant to bring Joy back. I’ll give you a couple of days to think about it. As you mentioned, you’re no longer all alone by yourself. You have Joy. Even if you don’t consider things for yourself, you should at least consider it for Joy’s sake.”
Zhao Youlin shot a glance at the former master of the Zhao family with suspicion, ‘Why did this old man suddenly become so negotiable? Something is not… right.’
The former master of the Zhao family noticed Zhao Youlin’s suspicious glance, so he faked a cough and said solemnly, “Actually, I come today for another matter.”
A hint of understanding darted across Zhao Youlin’s eyes. Indeed, she knew that this old fox still had something going on behind him. She smirked, “What’s the matter?”
“It’ll be my seventieth grand birthday in two days. Your uncles are going to hold a birthday party for me at the main residence. I believe you’ll bring Joy along to celebrate my birthday by then, right?”
Zhao Youlin’s eyes darkened. She whispered to herself that this was the idea that the old man had in his mind.
If she brought Joy to the birthday banquet, they would definitely become the limelight on the spot. By that time, it would be hard for others not to relate her to the Zhao family. ‘Darn it! Did they hold the banquet just to set me up?’
“Grandpa, I’m thinking of opening an outlet in the city. The intermediary matters are quite troublesome, so these two days I might be…”
Before Zhao Youlin finished speaking, the former master of the Zhao family quickly snapped in, “So, you’re looking for an outlet, huh? This is simple. Tomorrow, I’ll ask your eldest uncle to look for the best outlet in the city center for you. You can conduct any mode of business that you desire. Your business would certainly prosper! Or, if you’ve already eyed a particular outlet, you can discuss it with your eldest uncle. With his current status in the S City, everyone more or less has to pay their respects to him.”