Chapter 113: 112.
Chapter 113: 112.
"Thank you, Patriarch Li, for your support. Along with the Board of Directors, we won't let you down."
Chen Kai eyed the middle-aged man before him under a hooded gaze. He didn't answer immediately. The Chief doctor fell into memories of being in front of his mentor under the young patriarch's scrutinizing gaze.
So much control and power this young man had under a simple look.
"See to it that none of your staff falls along the way. Your hands are no longer trapped in Shanghai but across borders. Do you understand?" Chen Kai warned.
Pride and determination gleamed in the older man's eyes. It was his passion for medicine that led him to become a well-known authority in both Western and Eastern medicine. With the backing of Beijing's Li Clan, the hospital he chose to develop will blossom regionally and internationally.
"Yes, Patriarch Li. If I may ask, will monthly reports suffice your schedule?" The doctor asked. The little probe and understanding of Chen Kai's position gained him a few points of respect from the young master.
"Both good and bad, I presume?"
"Yes, sir. Both will be sent without editing."
Chen Kai nodded in acceptance before dismissing the man who seemed to be close to bursting with renewed energy.
The private conference room returned to its silence, leaving the brothers to delve back into their musings.
"Father should be notifying the others of my decision. I don't think the old man will survive if I do," Kai murmured.
Chen Yan scoffed at his brother's comment.
"The people of this country should be lucky that they live in this era. If it were an era of plundering and the strong being the ultimate winner, you would have made it your own by now."
Chen Kai laughed softly at his brother's words. The truth was clear.
Compared to his past lives and the present life, he was pretty laid back.
'System. Show me the entirety of my current possessions.' He requested inwardly. Lately, the need to widen his influence has waned. His public persona was good enough; he had a good hold on his influence in the less positive parts, and he had more money in his savings that can provide for five families on the wealthy spectrum.
[Do you wish to filter your possessions or the entirety?]
'Filter. Let's go by Provinces in this country.'
The system projected ten screens listing each of his companies, investments, and the projected profits in the upcoming quarter.
Chen Yan glanced over at his brother and saw these screens. Since his connection spanned across world and time with Chen Kai, the system was visible to him also.
"What's up?" he asked, moving closer to see what he was checking or searching.
"It's getting boring with all these companies and everything that's with it. I want to see when I can just kick back and be a salted fish."
"...." Chen Yan was speechless.
Being around adults while he film, he became privy to some of their dreams, no matter how unrealistic they may be due to their status in society. It's not easy to become rich, worst yet, the level of wealth his brother is currently at. If they hear his brother's comment, they may have to rethink their life.
He silently read through the portfolios and thought, 'Brother is basically a modern king.'
He had investments in fields that were running the country, and the companies he bought and changed were silently changing the way of life of the people.
"Brother, how long have you been on this star?" Chen Yan asked distractedly.
"A few months ago."
"...."
Chen Yan watched on as the screens shifted to his bank accounts.
Three Domestic accounts. Four Overseas accounts. Jewels, Gems, and Gold. Antiques. Contracted Mines.
Each balance had too many numbers and zeros for him to articulate clearly.
"Is this all you earned since arrival?" He asked once more.
"Not really. The profits on this star are merely a drop in each bucket. All of this comes from what I earned in my past lives. The system has been converting all of my treasures to this world's currency. I have a few things that can be used here in my inventory. It's still converting. All of this.... is ours, little brother."
Chen Yan noted the satisfaction in Chen Kai's voice.
His brother was finally content with this last life of retirement.
"Though you may say that, I still believe it's fully yours. From what you told me of your past lives, it wasn't easy to earn them all."
"Definitely wasn't easy," Chen Kai added softly in agreement.
"Then, brother has to teach me to be as successful as himself."
"How can I not?"
Things were already in motion. Securing Chen Yan's future was also on that agenda. Part of that depends on how the Chen family will react to what his father had to say.
*********
Not good.
That's how they reacted,
How can Chen Huai, the eldest son of the Chen Family, not see this beforehand?
He braced himself for this shitstorm happening at the moment after his kid told him his plans. Chen Huai wasn't opposed to it and was genuinely looking forward to this merger.
Being under the Li Group banner would bring more opportunities for the Chen Group and allow their transition to become smoother.
But.
His siblings don't understand.
If it's not spelled out right, they will never do. Their understanding is seeing millions in their bank account every quarter.
"How can you agree to this? You are practically giving everything Dad has worked for to that bastard of yours."
Chen Huai refocused on the one-sided arguments. His once pleasant and calm demeanor changed in a flash at his sister's words. He slowly turned his head and pinned her to the spot with a chilly gaze.
She swallowed nervously when those emotionless eyes focused on her.
At that moment, her brother saw her as nothing but trash. The room felt suffocating the longer he stared at her. It became fiercer when he eyed the brothers.
"I have warned you about that already. Father has indulged you a bit too much over the years, so that you lack respect for your elders." The cold tone he spoke with ceased all objections the siblings were stating, even the old man on the hospital bed was momentarily shocked by Chen Haui's intense reaction.
"What I just stated wasn't up for discussion. You have your own households and are far beyond the age of sixteen. Do you think I will hold your hands till your death, provide for you and your spawns, handle your messes just to uphold a family name that has been declining for the past decade? In three months, the safety net that should have been cut years ago will be severed by yours truly. I'm sure you can adapt within that time range."
Silence means acceptance, right?
Each of them was lost in their thoughts, thinking about this major change. They didn't take Chen Huai's new title as Patriarch seriously because the old man still covered their funds and cleared their misdeeds.
It was after the Chen Group's transition to a collateral line that they began to truly fear for their life earnings.
Out of all the siblings, Chen Tianrui's worries topped them all.
He knew his wanton behaviour was due to the doting of their father; anything he did was cleaned up by the old man, even those bastards from the few stray bitches were dealt with. His brother being in charge of everything placed a huge blockage on his activities.
Heck, the guy even brought back home one of his rejects. Chen Tianrui can bet his next fling that his older brother kept those rejects alive to make his life miserable.
He had to do something.
Turning to his father, who was lying in bed, blankly staring at the ceiling, he inwardly sneered at the old man's inability to keep a strong grip on his son. If he kept Chen Huai on a tight leash, none of this would have happened. Who knew the girl he wanted to marry back then was from a capable family? What luck!
Chen Tianrui worked on so many scenarios and so many words to say to the old man so he can get more benefits, but none seemed doable. His brother was already too capable; now his damn son was even more so.
Tch! Looks like he has to be a son-in-law to keep up his worry-free life.
While Tianrui was trapped in his thinking session, Chen Huai caught his calculating gaze, knowing the idiot was probably thinking of ways to get more money from the old man. Also, if his guess is correct, Tianrui would make a miraculous turnaround and become a family-oriented man. His first target will be Chen Yan, the one who is currently a promising one among his brood.
Chen Huai wanted to tell the waste that he won't succeed, but he'll leave that for the future.
Looking at the grieving faces of his siblings and the near catatonic state of his father, he must say the talk went rather well.
Well, from his perspective.
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