Chapter 379: Joint Forced Abdication

Without asking further questions, the stout man had already broken into a cold sweat. He glanced around cautiously before walking in the opposite direction from Qiao Meng. In his opinion, his life was the most important thing…

Just when the two were less than a hundred meters apart, Qiao Meng suddenly heard a scream from behind. A car had run straight over the man.

Finally realizing that the man was someone she could never provoke, Qiao Meng decided to hand over the matter of Linjiang to her boss. She certainly didn’t want to end up being hit by a car and killed on the street one day for no reason.

Without asking further questions, the portly man was already drenched in cold sweat. After scanning his surroundings, he walked in the opposite direction of Qiao Meng, believing that his life was of utmost importance.

Just as the two had separated by less than a hundred meters, Qiao Meng heard a scream from behind. A car had run straight over the man.

Finally realizing that the man was someone she couldn’t afford to provoke, Qiao Meng decided to hand over the matters of Linjiang to her boss behind the scenes. She didn’t want to end up being run over on the street one day for no reason.

What was supposed to be a sure-win negotiation had turned out this way. Qiao Meng wondered what kind of charm Qiao Chuxi had used to align Hualong Enterprise and the Qiao Group on the same front.

Of course, if she knew Qiao Chuxi’s conditions, she wouldn’t be surprised. In all of Linjiang, perhaps only that woman had such a grand gesture.

Meanwhile, the Qiao family was in complete chaos. Qiao Chuxi taking over the entire Qiao family had already caused dissatisfaction among many. Now, she was planning to hand over the Qiao Group to outsiders, which was naturally intolerable for them.

“Uncle, are you trying to stage a coup?” Qiao Chuxi sneered at the aggressive Qiao family members. Apart from her grandfather and mother, she had no affection for this family, which valued money over kinship.

“Qiao Chuxi, don’t go too far. What do you mean by a coup? We’re just trying to protect the interests of the Qiao family!” Before the man Qiao Chuxi called ‘Uncle’ could speak, the woman beside him had already spoken. This aunt, though unclear about many things, only cared about money and was the most unreasonable.

“Protecting the interests of the Qiao family? What you mean by protection is just wanting to get a share of the family fortune, right?” Qiao Chuxi knew their schemes all too well. They only wanted more money and didn’t care about the Qiao Group. How the Qiao Group developed was irrelevant to them as long as they had money.

“How dare you speak to your aunt like that? She’s doing it for the good of the Qiao Group. Now that the old man has handed over the entire Qiao family to you, you should give us a decent response!” With his wife being rebuked, Qiao Chuxi’s uncle couldn’t sit still anymore. Though he felt it was somewhat wrong, he believed in the saying ‘every man for himself.’ The old man had woken up, but no one knew how long he could last.

“Uncle, since you want a decent response, I can tell you that two months ago, a financial expenditure from the finance department bypassed the treasury and was directly transferred to your account. I hope you can give me an explanation for this!”

“You…” Upon hearing this, the uncle’s face changed, and he didn’t know where to look. Everyone in the Qiao family could tell that Qiao Chuxi was accusing him of embezzling public funds.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t do it. If you say that at the police station, no one will believe you!” Qiao Chuxi naturally wouldn’t let this opportunity slip. She now held everyone’s little secrets. If they dared to cause trouble, she could definitely control them, though she didn’t want to offend the entire Qiao family just yet.

“We still consider you our niece, which is why we’re speaking nicely. Don’t go too far…” Qiao Chuxi’s aunt was immediately angered. This niece had publicly humiliated her husband, which was intolerable for her. However, before she could finish, her husband pulled her back, clearly indicating that they were in the wrong.

“Your cousin will handle things appropriately. Let’s not push her too hard. There’s a reason why Grandpa handed the Qiao family over to her…” Qiao Zhendong, who had been quietly watching, interjected at the right moment. He now leaned more towards Qiao Chuxi, knowing that she was the only one in the Qiao family who could lead the Qiao Group.

He was still young and full of passion, naturally not wanting the Qiao family to divide all their assets. The Qiao family was respected now, but once divided, it would become a thing of the past.

“What do you know? She just wants to swallow the entire Qiao Group, which is why she’s selling it to others!”

“It’s not selling, just cooperating with others. And I believe this cooperation will only benefit the Qiao Group!” Qiao Chuxi had an inexplicable trust in Xiao Yufan and Hualong Enterprise. She believed in her grandfather’s choice and her own, even though that annoying guy always made her uncomfortable.

“Alright, stop arguing. I just want to know, Chuxi, what your next steps are. I know you’re the only one in the Qiao family who can inherit Grandpa’s legacy…” A man who had been silent finally spoke up. He was Qiao Chuxi’s uncle, the guardian of the Qiao family and the mayor of Linjiang City. Qiao Chuxi had always respected him, but unfortunately, Qiao Meng was his daughter.

“Uncle, you should know more about Hualong Enterprise than I do. This decision is crucial for both me and the Qiao family. Of course, it’s also Grandpa’s will.” Qiao Chuxi’s expression softened a bit. After all, her uncle was a reasonable person, which was why she bothered to explain.

“I knew about Hualong Enterprise’s background when they entered Linjiang. They’re not someone our Qiao family can afford to provoke. If I remember correctly, they have significant connections with the provincial government. I’m just worried about the Qiao Group…”

“Don’t worry. Since you know, you should understand that they won’t have any designs on the Qiao Group because the Qiao Group doesn’t have the capital to attract their interest.” Seeing her uncle’s hesitation, Qiao Chuxi smiled. Ultimately, he was afraid that the Qiao Group would fall into others’ hands and they would end up with nothing.

“I do understand that…” After pondering for a while, the mayor didn’t know what else to say. After a long silence, when the atmosphere became slightly awkward, he spoke again.

“Chuxi, I hope you can be lenient with Qiao Meng. I know she offended you before, but please, for the sake of family, don’t be too harsh…” Thinking of his daughter, Qiao Chuxi’s uncle was very troubled. The two had never gotten along, and Qiao Chuxi reclaiming the companies under Qiao Meng had caused further disputes. He was afraid that Qiao Chuxi might expel Qiao Meng from the Qiao family, as she now had the authority to do so.

Of course, if she knew the terms Qiao Chuxi had offered, she wouldn’t be so surprised. Throughout Linjiang, perhaps only that woman had such tremendous resources.

At this time, the Qiao family had already fallen into complete chaos. Many people were already dissatisfied with Qiao Chuxi taking over the entire Qiao family. Now, handing the Qiao Group over to outsiders was naturally intolerable to them.

“Uncle Three, are you trying to stage a coup?…”

Looking at the aggressive Qiao family members, Qiao Chuxi sneered contemptuously. Except for her grandfather and mother, she had no feelings whatsoever for this family. This clan valued money more than family ties.

“Qiao Chuxi, don’t go too far! What coup? We’re just trying to protect the Qiao family’s interests!”

Before the man Qiao Chuxi called Uncle Three could speak, the woman beside him had already started talking. Although this Aunt Three didn’t understand much, she only cared about money and was the most unreasonable one.

“Protecting the Qiao family’s interests? What you call protection is just wanting more of the family fortune, right?”

Qiao Chuxi knew their hidden intentions perfectly well. Other than wanting more money, none of them cared about the Qiao Group’s development. As long as there was money, it didn’t matter to them how the Qiao Group fared.

“How dare you speak to Aunt Three like that! She’s only acting for the good of the Qiao Group. Now that Grandfather has entrusted the entire Qiao family to you, you should give us a proper response!”

Seeing his woman rebuked, Qiao Chuxi’s Uncle Three could no longer sit still. Although he felt their actions were somewhat inappropriate, he believed that self-interest was justified. Although the old master had regained consciousness, no one knew how much longer he could last…

“Uncle Three, since you want a proper response, let me tell you this: two months ago, a financial expenditure from the finance department didn’t go through the Ministry of Finance and was directly transferred to your account. I hope you can explain this matter to me!”

“You…”

After hearing these words, Uncle Three’s face changed first, then he looked embarrassed and didn’t know where to put his face. All the Qiao family members present could clearly hear that Qiao Chuxi was accusing him of embezzling public funds.

“Don’t tell me it wasn’t you who did this. If you insist on saying so at the police station, no one will believe you!”

Naturally, Qiao Chuxi wouldn’t miss this opportunity. She currently held everyone’s little secrets. If these people dared to cause trouble, she could definitely keep them in check, though she temporarily didn’t want to offend the entire Qiao family.

“We still treated you as our niece and spoke kindly to you. Don’t go too far…”

Qiao Chuxi’s Aunt Three immediately became angry. How could she tolerate her niece publicly humiliating her husband? However, before she could finish speaking, her husband pulled her arm, obviously aware that they were in the wrong.

“Let my cousin handle things properly. We shouldn’t push her too hard. Grandfather must have had his reasons for entrusting the Qiao family to her…”

Qiao Zhendong quietly observed from the side and opportunistically interjected a sentence. He now leaned more toward Qiao Chuxi because he knew that among the entire Qiao family, only this cousin of his could lead the Qiao Group.

He was still young, full of passion, and naturally didn’t want the Qiao family members to divide all the family assets. The Qiao family was still respected now, but once divided, the Qiao family would become history forever…

“What does she know? She just wants to swallow the entire Qiao Group, otherwise she wouldn’t have sold it to someone else!”

“This isn’t selling; it’s merely collaborating with others. And I believe this collaboration will only benefit the Qiao Group!”

Having an inexplicable trust in Xiao Yufan and even Hualong Enterprise, Qiao Chuxi believed in her grandfather’s choice and her own decision, although that annoying guy always frustrated her.

“Alright, enough arguing! I just want to know what you plan to do next, Chuxi. I know you’re the only one in the entire Qiao family who can inherit Grandfather’s legacy…”

A previously silent man finally spoke up. This was Qiao Chuxi’s eldest uncle, also the guardian of the Qiao family, and the party secretary of Linjiang City. Qiao Chuxi had always held him in high regard. Ironically, Qiao Meng happened to be his daughter.

“Uncle, you should understand Hualong Enterprise better than me. This decision will be significant for both me and the Qiao family. Of course, it was also Grandfather’s wish!”

Qiao Chuxi’s expression finally softened somewhat. After all, her uncle was a reasonable person, otherwise she wouldn’t bother explaining anything…

“I knew the foundation of Hualong Enterprise when they entered Linjiang. They’re a force our Qiao family can’t possibly provoke. If I’m not mistaken, they have considerable connections with the provincial authorities. I’m just worried about the Qiao Group…”

“Don’t worry. Since you know this, you should also understand that they have no interest in the Qiao Group because the Qiao Group simply doesn’t have the capital to attract their attention!”

Seeing her uncle’s hesitation, Qiao Chuxi’s face revealed a slight smile. Ultimately, he was afraid that the Qiao Group would end up in someone else’s hands and eventually lose everything.

“That part I do understand…”

After pondering for a while, the city party secretary didn’t know what else to say. After a long silence, when the atmosphere had become somewhat awkward, he spoke again.

“Chuxi, regarding Qiao Meng’s matter, I hope you can show some leniency. I know she offended you before, but I hope you can consider that we’re family and not go too far…”

Thinking about his daughter, Qiao Chuxi’s eldest uncle felt a headache coming. The two had never gotten along well. Qiao Chuxi reclaiming the company under Qiao Meng’s control had sparked another conflict. He was truly afraid that Qiao Chuxi would expel Qiao Meng from the Qiao family, because Qiao Chuxi now had the authority to do so…