A Bumpy Road to Power

Chapter 552 552

Second brother?

Could it be the second son of The Hughes Family, Grant Hughes?

The man in a neatly pressed suit also had a cold expression.

He walked straight to the center of the crowd and directly asked Dirk Carter, "Are you Dirk Carter?"

"Yes!"

"Come with me!"

Grant Hughes didn't say anything unnecessary.

As he was about to turn and leave, Jeanette Houseman shouted, "Grant Hughes, aren't you being a bit too arrogant?"

Grant Hughes slowly turned back, glanced at Jeanette, and said, "Oh, I just noticed, Jeanette's here too. I don't have time to chat today, let's catch up another time."

"Did I say you could leave?"

Jeanette Houseman asked, her face flushed.

Grant Hughes chuckled and said, "What? Are you planning to challenge me? Do you think you're qualified?"

"You…"

Such disdainful words naturally left Jeanette Houseman dissatisfied.

But there was really nothing she could do about Grant Hughes.

After all, Grant Hughes was a high official in a state-owned oil enterprise, a director-level cadre.

Although Jeanette Houseman was also the president of a state-owned enterprise, hers was at the deputy director level, meaning she was only at deputy director level now, half a level lower than Grant Hughes.

This level of suppression is naturally present.

Moreover, a son's status in the family is far higher than that of a daughter.

She stamped her foot.

Jeanette Houseman yelled, "Stop them for me!"

The people she had brought along immediately blocked Dirk Carter and Nora Hughes's path.

Grant Hughes smiled and said, "Jeanette, I also brought people with me. I haven't let them get out of the car as a courtesy to you. If you really want to make a move, I'm not afraid of tearing faces with your Houseman Family, want to try?"

Though said lightly,

The threat was apparent.

Indeed.

He had brought over a dozen cars.

If those people got out, Jeanette Houseman's dozen people wouldn't stand a chance.

Not only would she not capture anyone, but she'd end up humiliated, not a worthwhile endeavor.

Seeing she remained silent.

Grant Hughes said to Nora Hughes, "Nora, take Dirk Carter to the car."

"Okay."

Nora Hughes made a face at Jeanette Houseman.

Taking Dirk Carter's hand, she said, "Let's go."

A false alarm.

Just like that,

Dirk Carter and Nora Hughes got into a car, with The Hughes Family's cars leading the way, and left the airport.

Watching Jeanette Houseman, furiously frustrated, she dialed a number.

The call connected.

Jeanette Houseman shouted, "Brother, I didn't manage to get them."

"What happened?"

A deep voice asked in surprise from the other end.

Jeanette Houseman watched the disappearing convoy and said, "Grant Hughes stepped in."

After a brief silence on the phone, the voice said, "Alright, just come back for now. It may not be the worst-case scenario. I still don't believe a small local Commission for Discipline Inspection chief can really have eyes like a hawk."

"Okay, I understand."

Jeanette Houseman said.

She hung up the phone.

Jeanette Houseman gritted her teeth and murmured, "Dirk Carter, just wait…"

After the convoy left the airport, it didn't head towards the city center.

On the contrary, the surroundings became more and more desolate.

"Where are we going?"

Dirk Carter asked Nora Hughes next to him.

Nora Hughes looked puzzled and said, "Isn't it you who said you wanted to see my big brother? So now we're taking you home."

"Your Hughes Family is in the countryside?"

Dirk Carter asked.

Nora Hughes laughed and said, "You could say it's the countryside."

As they spoke,

The car exited the highway.

A not very high hill suddenly appeared ahead. After driving along the mountain road for two to three kilometers, a large bamboo forest appeared in front.

Like Bennett Kane's Lakeside Villa, the yard not far away was also built on the mountainside.

However, it was not as luxurious as Bennett Kane's villa.

At the entrance was a tall bamboo grove, followed by a country lane inaccessible to vehicles. After walking for a few minutes with Dirk Carter, Nora Hughes led him to a two-story small building.

Nora Hughes brought Dirk Carter into a small room beside it.

This was a tea room with a very simple decoration.

The furnishings of the whole room were very simple; there were no luxurious pieces of furniture, and most were made of bamboo.

"Sit down for a while. I'll be right back."

Nora Hughes pointed to a bamboo chair and said.

After Dirk Carter nodded, Nora Hughes left.

In the midst of the bamboo forest,

A gentle breeze blew by, and faint sounds of insects and birds chirping could be heard.

In Argentum, having a villa in such a mountain forest was already quite impressive, just as Yale Quill said, these great families enjoy the best resources that ordinary people wouldn't dare to dream of.

This wait.

Lasted for nearly an hour.

Originally thought The Hughes Family would send someone to entertain him.

However, no one came.

It seemed The Hughes Family, although they brought him over, still wanted to give him a snub, deliberately neglecting him, just to show their superior stance.

Dirk Carter didn't want to wait any longer.

He stood up and walked straight out of the tea room, just about to retrace his steps.

When a cough sounded from behind him.

Dirk Carter turned around.

He saw a man in his forties or fifties walking over.

The man wore an administrative jacket, and in his brows, he faintly resembled little Snow.

It seemed, this man was indeed little Snow's father, the eldest son of The Hughes Family, Aurelius Hughes.

"Where are you going?"

Aurelius Hughes asked Dirk Carter.

Dirk Carter smiled slightly and said, "The Hughes Family is too imposing; I don't feel there's any reason to stay, so I'm leaving."

"If you step out this door, you probably won't be able to return to Riverton State."

Aurelius Hughes said seriously.

Dirk Carter waved it off and said, "It doesn't matter; for me, dignity is more important than life. If I'd known it would be like this, I'd rather stay in custody. This Hughes Family, no wonder it can't compete with the Houseman Family. It's not without reason."

"Insolent!"

Aurelius Hughes suddenly shouted.

Dirk Carter, however, was not intimidated at all and said, "Minister Hughes, I'm only speaking the truth, how can that be considered insolence? Moreover, I'm your guest. Your Hughes Family, one of the Three Great Families of Argentum, is this how you entertain guests? Not even the most basic courtesies?"

Upon hearing him directly call out Minister Hughes.

Aurelius Hughes was momentarily stunned.

It was clear that although he hadn't introduced himself, Dirk Carter had already figured him out.

"A mere deputy section chief, dare speak to me like this, haven't you thought about the consequences?"

Aurelius Hughes walked closer, step by step, and said.

"Consequences? What consequences? I've already been dismissed. Now you are the official, the servant of the people, and I am a citizen. It seems Minister Hughes shouldn't use such a tone with me, or does Minister Hughes believe there's inherently a class difference between the leaders and the people?"

With those words.

Aurelius Hughes found himself at a loss for words.

If he admitted his higher status, it meant openly opposing the party's principles.

If he agreed with Dirk Carter's words.

Then his earlier reprimand would be slapping his own face.

Seeing the anger on his face growing.

Nora Hughes suddenly appeared from around the corner, charmingly clinging to Aurelius Hughes's side, playfully saying, "Brother, didn't I say? This Dirk Carter has a glib tongue, he really is hard to deal with."

With this sentence from Nora Hughes.

Aurelius Hughes's angry expression slightly softened.

He said to Dirk Carter, "Come in."

Then turned around and entered the tea room where Dirk Carter had been staying.

Dirk Carter, however, stood still.

Seeing this, Nora Hughes came over, held Dirk Carter's arm, and said, "My big brother is like that, always wearing a stern face, just ignore him. I'll take you in."

As little Snow had said.

Nora Hughes, though born in a great family, was not arrogant at all.

Out of respect for her, Dirk Carter followed her back into the tea room.

Nora Hughes sat him beside the tea table and said, "You guys chat, I'll brew some tea for you."

With that, her fingers fluttered quickly as she started preparing tea.

Aurelius Hughes, still expressionless, said, "You had someone bring a message to me, saying everything that happened in my family was a ploy by the Houseman Family. Go ahead and explain the situation. I'll tell you in advance, if you're lying, I won't let you off."