Chapter 169

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

Company Office

"President Shen, the Wei Group has long since vacated the premises; we can take over operations at any moment."

After pressing step by step for several months, the Wei Group ultimately fell into Shen Yao's hands.

It's no wonder Shen Yao insisted on targeting this fat piece of meat that was the Wei Group — one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers. When she did business, in times of weakness she certainly wanted you well, me well, everyone well, making money together in harmony; in times of strength it was the jungle law of the weak becoming prey to the strong, and she intended to swallow the entire vast market whole.

Shen Yao admitted she operated with double standards, and knew her methods were ruthless, but in a circle like this, everyone operated this way.

Running fifty steps has no right to laugh at running a hundred steps — both are deserters on the battlefield; who is nobler than whom?

"Follow normal procedures to take over the Wei Group, then assign manpower to cleanly resolve all subsequent issues.

Since we've taken the Wei Group's brand, we must make it completely sever ties with the Wei Group.

Perfect Company's reputation absolutely cannot be affected by the Wei Group; they are two different products."

Some things need not be spelled out too clearly; those able to work beside Shen Yao are all clever people.

Nodding to show he understood the boss's meaning, he turned and went down to arrange for the messes trailing behind the Wei Group to be handled cleanly and neatly.

The Wei Group declared bankruptcy, and the entire Wei Family directly fell apart.

This matter produced a certain destabilizing effect throughout the entire financial consortium circle.

However, as time passed, no matter how great the turbulence, it all dissipated like smoke and clouds.

The Wei Group collapsed, but the Wei Family in Yingzhong still lived carefree and at ease.

Only the assets in their hands shrank significantly, yet it did not affect their descendants' enjoyment of life.

"Right, so next is the Wei Group," taking down the Wei Group would mean Perfect Company truly plants its feet firmly in the entire H Country's medical industry.

Gu Jingrun sighed, "Remember to keep a low profile; those people have been very tense lately — looks like the Wei Group affair still frightened them."

Shen Yao wore an innocent expression, "The Wei Group matter was merely an accident."

The Wei Group itself refused to bow and admit defeat, so Shen Yao could only intervene to give a simple push; but the final outcome was still caused by the Wei Group itself.

Shen Yao even helped the Wei Group clean up the mess, recovering some losses for them.

If one really wants to assign blame, the reasons for the Wei Group's downfall cannot be pinned on Shen Yao.

Regarding this, Gu Jingrun could only remark that being too outstanding also invites jealousy.

Shen Yao teased, "President Gu, looks like you speak from deep experience."

Gu Jingrun said with a straight face, "Indeed, Second Uncle has joined forces with the board intending to re-elect the Head of the Gu Group — it's already an open secret."

Currently the Gu Group is internally split into two forces, with Gu Mengyan and Gu Mengqing each occupying one side.

People like Gu Jingrun — on the surface there seem to be many capable things they can do in the Group, but on closer examination they can't easily make decisions on anything.

Scratching his head, Gu Jingrun felt a headache; every day he opened his eyes to all kinds of intrigue and power struggles.

Truth be told, staying any longer he'd even doubt whether his mental state could hold up.

Seeing Gu Jingrun looking so pitiful, Shen Yao hurriedly reached out to massage his shoulders and relax his body.

"Father has been in the Gu Group for decades; what great winds and waves hasn't he seen?

Rest assured, Second Uncle is just jumping around making noise — Grandmother helping may not even succeed, and Grandmother's attitude is still ambiguous."

Li Shuli chose to remain living in the Old House ever since Gu Bingcheng left.

Only Li Shuli usually didn't like going out much; the people living in the Old House had few chances to see her, and she didn't even show up for some family gatherings.

Sigh

Who would have thought — I assumed I'd move out of the Old House soon after moving in, never expected Shen Yao would have three children and I'd still be idling away here.

The young couple each had their own worries, but overall Shen Yao's situation was better than Gu Jingrun's.

Gu Jingrun was truly at his limit — chaos at home, chaos outside, chaos in the Group, chaos in the Company; all he could do was try to pull his own things into his embrace, avoiding excessive entanglement with others.

But even so, when trouble came knocking, Gu Jingrun was still caught off guard.

Gu Mengqing convened a board meeting in his capacity as a shareholder, and during the meeting suddenly produced an equity trusteeship agreement signed by Li Shuli.

Furthermore, in words he directly pressed Gu Mengyan hard, determined to seize the position of Head of the Gu Group.

The board members were complex; among them were quite a few notorious wallflower grasses.

The meeting lasted barely an hour, and when Gu Mengqing emerged he was brimming with confidence — making Gu Jingrun's brows furrow tightly, unable to understand what this person ultimately wanted.

"Tsk, Third Brother, are you muddle-headed? What Second Uncle has always wanted is the Gu Group's management rights.

Father previously suppressed Second Uncle by a head; now Second Uncle has persuaded Grandmother — as long as the equity proportion exceeds Father's holding, the Gu Group's Head changing hands is right before our eyes."

Gu Jingzhi still had that same roguish, annoying demeanor — his words invited a beating and were unlikable.

Gu Jingrun waited for Gu Jingzhi to finish, then replied with a single sentence: the board hasn't announced it yet. "Second Brother's words are too much of a downer — really boosting others' ambition, destroying your own prestige."

Gu Jingzhi wore a fake smile, "Third Brother, I'm merely speaking the truth."

Gu Jingrun retorted impolitely, "Second Brother has long believed Second Uncle can succeed; I naturally don't match Second Brother's far-sighted planning."

Gu Jingzhi stopped smiling, his gaze turning cold, "Father trusts Eldest Brother more; I don't lack anything either — why should I be Gu Jingxing's dog?"

"Third Brother, have you and Fourth Brother never considered it? They say Grandmother is biased, but actually Father and Mother are also very biased."

Everyone is essentially the same kind of person — doesn't this pretentious getting along make you nauseous? Gu Jingzhi straightened his sleeve, "The Gu Group is this big — whoever becomes Head in the future makes no difference to me."

Would Father taking power give him benefits? He'd still be miserably doing odd jobs in the Group all the same.

Since that's the case, what's wrong with coldly observing from the sidelines?

Gu Jingrun stood in place watching Gu Jingzhi leave, pressing his lips tightly together.

……

The internal chaos at Gu Group continued, and Shen Yao would occasionally see it through media channels.

But at this time, it reflected the importance of having channels in one's own hands.

The Liu Family provided Gu Mengqing with too much convenience; Gu Mengqing reciprocated, deepening cooperation with the Liu Family, and the industries in Gu Jingzhe's hands increased day by day.

Looking at the large spreads reporting Gu Group's thriving prosperity, boasting of Gu Mengqing's excellent achievements, Shen Yao did not forget to snap photos and send them to Gu Jingrun.

Often at this time, Gu Jingrun would always remind Shen Yao with utter helplessness that they were one flesh as husband and wife — if misfortune struck, they would suffer it together.

"Not afraid. If it truly comes to that step, I can still afford to support you."

Shen Yao's reply was playful; clearly she did not take the crisis facing the main branch to heart.

As for Gu Jingzhi's defection and Gu Jingmu and Gu Jingxing vying for power — things Gu Jingrun had once told her — Shen Yao listened as if hearing a storybook. It wasn't that she hadn't thought about them; it was only that the situation matched her premonitions exactly.

Sometimes, having too many sons is no benefit either. They haven't even twisted into a single rope yet, but internally they've already turned on each other in mutiny and attack.

Not as good as Gu Mengqing's line — on the surface there's only Gu Jingzhe as a son; at least father and son have aligned interests.

After the call ended, hearing the beep-beep-beep busy tone, Shen Yao pinched her nose tip, then answered another call.

……

"President Shen, please come inside."

Shen Yao drove to a tea house; whether inside or out, the layout was fresh and elegant — one look and you knew it was a good place for talks.

Smiling, she nodded, entered the private room, and saw the person who had asked her out — also her father-in-law, Gu Mengyan.

"Dad."

Gu Mengyan nodded, bringing a cup of freshly poured clear tea before Shen Yao.

"Business is business, President Shen. Please taste first; green tea at this time has the finest flavor."

At those words, Shen Yao's expression flickered slightly. Smiling, she lifted the teacup and took a shallow sip. "Chairman Gu, what you say is very reasonable. The tea's fragrance is lingering and graceful — it is good tea."

Since she had already said "business is business," Shen Yao switched her address cleanly and neatly.

Compared to sitting down to do business with her own father-in-law, Shen Yao still preferred clear boundaries.

When it comes to interest distribution, even blood brothers can fight until heads are broken and blood flows; how much more so for the two of them, who are merely daughter-in-law and father-in-law in the literal sense.

"I asked President Shen over today because there is a deal I want to do with President Shen."

Gu Mengyan did not waste words; time was tight, and he had other layouts to unfold — he couldn't possibly waste it all on Shen Yao.

"Please speak, Chairman Gu." Shen Yao was not courteous either. "As long as the price is suitable, I'd be very happy to cooperate with Chairman Gu."

Purely analyzing from both sides' paper strength, Perfect Company before Gu Group completely belongs to the category of a petty wizard seeing a great wizard.

Gu Mengyan could take the initiative to seek out Shen Yao; most likely he was unwilling to let outsiders get the bargain — otherwise the Zhou Family would be far more suitable than Shen Yao.

Right. Before Gu Mengyan even spoke, Shen Yao could already guess the content he would raise.

Medical

Still the portion in Gu Mengqing's hands.

"President Shen's nose is still too sharp," Gu Mengyan admired Shen Yao greatly. Among his four sons, including the youngest, only the third — Old Three — had extremely keen vision.

Shen Yao smiled and drank a mouthful of warm tea. "I dare not accept such praise. It's just business; thinking a little more avoids losses."

Shen Yao unwilling to suffer losses herself — then she could only pass the losses to other people's doorsteps.

Gu Mengyan turned his head; the assistant standing behind him stepped forward and delivered a document into Shen Yao's hands.

Shen Yao was not courteous either; she opened it and glanced a few times. "Chairman Gu's sincerity is ample, but digging the Group's corner like this — wouldn't that be not too good?"

It appears Gu Mengqing truly offended Gu Mengyan. This document contains quite a few of Gu Medical's future arrangements and prospect plans.

Prepared in advance, pressing step by step ahead — Gu Medical won't be able to bear it.

Gu Mengyan's expression was cold/indifferent. "You are Jingrun's wife and Xuan Yu's mother — how could you count as an outsider?"

Shen Yao raised an eyebrow, heart giving a start. So "business is business" is just Schrödinger's theory — pull it out to emphasize when useful, play the sentiment card when it's not.

Worthy of being Gu Group's current Head of the Family — this ability to adapt on the fly, Shen Yao still has to keep learning.

"Dad's right. I understand."

Not taking a bargain that's delivered is a fool's move. Shen Yao felt the benefits delivered to her door must be eaten.

As for Second Uncle? Truly sorry — what Shen Yao eats into her mouth, she never spits out.