Chapter 320 - The Older, The Wiser (2)
Chapter 320: The Older, The Wiser (2)
In fact, Zhao Youlin’s sixth sense had rung true.
Before she finished speaking, the former master had come up to her side in a despicable manner once again. He grinned as he said, “Just when I thought I couldn’t find an heir for the rest of my life, and could only watch most of my hard work being taken by the outsiders miserably, Youlin, you appeared!”
‘Miserable…? Why couldn’t I see even a bit of misery from you at all?’
“You are no longer as timid as you used to. You even gave up on the man whom you had lived and died for. You have become mature, wise, and bold. I might not have known how miserable your life was back in the Mu family in those days to the extent of causing such a huge change in you, all I knew was you’ve always been very capable and intelligent, you would be the best candidate of an heir.”
‘How should I tell you this? The reason why the person had changed so drastically was entirely because they were entirely different people inside…’
Before Zhao Youlin finished making quips to herself, the former master had fully applied the compliments used in a three-stage ethical play which he had been catching up on of late. He looked serious as he patted Zhao Youlin’s shoulders, and said, “Youlin, I have high hopes for you. Don’t let me down.”
‘To be frank, I don’t really feel keen on being placed with such strenuous and unappealing expectations.’
The former master ignored Zhao Youlin’s increasingly dark expression. He added happily, “Youlin, you have to work harder so that you could be a qualified successor soon. With that, you and your father could take over the company, while I could spend time with my grandchildren and enjoy my retired life. Sigh, when I was young, I worked hard to earn money and missed out on a lot of fun. Once you become full-fledged, I could finally go traveling. I wonder which country would be a good place to travel to. Hawaii? France? Recently, I heard from Old Zhao that Egypt is not a bad place either…”
‘So, this was what you were really after, huh?!’
“Grandpa!” The veins were popping visibly on Zhao Youlin’s head. She forcibly held back the urge of striking a certain one on his face. She was cursing him to herself.
‘This cunning old coot, his glib tongue sounds as sweet as a song! At the end of the day, he only wants me as cheap labor so that he could enjoy his life. Dream on!’
“What’s the matter?” The former master turned his head around and asked innocently.
‘Darn him! How dare he even ask why?!’
Zhao Youlin wanted to let out a bark of laughter. She said sullenly, “Grandpa, I don’t understand why are you beating around the bush like this. Since you have given up on Zhao Youming as an heir of Zhao Enterprise, and you also know that although he looks dignified on the outside, he is in fact a sinister and cunning person. Why do you still want to make things difficult for yourself by putting him in the company?”
The former master choked. He immediately looked a little embarrassed. “Haven’t I told you that this was something that we have agreed to long ago? How embarrassing would it be if I took back my words? You see, I am old. All my life, I have been an honest person. If I were to reject that kid’s request at this moment, and he spilled everything out of rage, the outsiders would say that I used my seniority status to escape admitting defeat in a bet. I might also be called a disrespectable elder, as well as someone who breaks his promises. If that happens, my legacy would be ruined and my reputation would be gone once and for all! Youlin, I trust that you also wouldn’t want to see me end up so tragically, right?”
The corners of Zhao Youlin’s mouth twitched. “So?”
“So, I promised to let him join the company so that he could be trained for a period of time. After all, you and your father are in charge of the company right now. You could find an excuse and send him out when the time comes. It’s just that simple.”
‘Simple, my foot! If it really sounds as simple as that, why don’t you handle this on your own?! Zhao Youming is a very scheming guy. Once he has the opportunity to stay in Zhao Enterprise, how would he be willing to crawl out on his own?!’
In other words, what the former master used to say about training her up so that she could better handle the company were all lies.
The reason why Zhao Youming could join the company so smoothly was entirely because of this old coot who could not afford to bear the shame and regretted his decision on what he had promised him!
Darn old coot! He was the one who created the mess and now, he even had the wishful thought of asking his descendants to help to clean up his mess!
The more Zhao Youlin thought about this, the angrier she became. The way she glared at the former master grew increasingly resentful.
The former master felt a chill creeping down his spine under Zhao Youlin’s glare. He could not help but cough dryly. He smiled in an apologetic manner and said, “Youlin, don’t be mad. Although I have assigned a position for him in the company, the position as the head of the development department is an idle job, which you also know very well. As long as you are careful and don’t fall into any of his schemes, he wouldn’t cause any havoc.”
‘You make it sound like a simple issue. The moment Zhao Youming joins the company, he has been making several attempts to scheme me. Do you think he looks like one who keeps things to himself and stays out of trouble?!’
Hold on! A bold conjecture abruptly flashed across Zhao Youlin’s mind. She turned her head around and looked at the former master. She asked him tentatively, “Grandpa, did you arrange an idle post for Zhao Youming on purpose?”
The former master grinned and returned her gaze, “Isn’t him a smart alec? Then, I shall make him guess why I let such a capable person handle a job with little use. If he’s really that smart, he should work in peace. The Zhao family is not short of anyone like him. On the contrary, if he is stubborn and insists on grabbing things that don’t belong to him, he could not blame me for showing no mercy by then.”
Zhao Youlin fell silent for a while before she heaved a sigh and said, “Grandpa, that’s very unethical of you.”
After giving someone hope, he still wanted to push that person into the pit. She sighed to herself on the fact that the older men were nevertheless, still the wiser ones.
“Youlin, you’re wrong about that. This is called… urm… this is called the smarts of being a businessman. If you think I am being unethical, it shows that you’re still very naive. In the future, you really need to work hard to learn the ropes!”
Zhao Youlin rolled her eyes at resignation. She did not want to hear the old man continue preaching his sophistry. After all, regardless of what, this guy still had a lot to tell her.
“Well, this matter shall end here. Today, I came to look for you because of another thing. The matter related to Zhao Youming is just incidental to this matter.” After Zhao Youlin calmed herself down, she remembered the actual purpose of her visit to the former master. She heaved a sigh and said this to him.
This time, the former master was the one who was caught by surprise. He had thought Zhao Youlin came to look for him purely because of Zhao Youming. He never expected there to be something else.
“Oh? What is it about?”
“It’s about… my mother and my father’s child. The one who didn’t make it…” Zhao Youlin sucked in a deep breath and tried her best to keep her tone smooth. She looked at the former master, whose expression had changed drastically, and she enunciated each and every word clearly, “The child who didn’t survive twenty years ago…”