Chapter 450

Shen Ci put down her phone upon hearing this and reminded her brother: "No matter what, if you encounter such things at school in the future, remember to ensure your own safety first, especially when the other side has more people."

Young people nowadays don't know their own strength when they fight, and she was most worried about her brother suffering.

"I know that, Sis. A wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him."

Shen Ci nodded: "But if you are being bullied, you must tell me. If I find out you're hiding it from me, I'll deal with you too!"

Shen Xing couldn't help but pout: "Senior Shi Ye is your informant now; what could I possibly hide?"

"Good that you know!"

At this moment, the phone in Shen Ci's hand rang. She glanced at the caller ID and couldn't help but be startled. She quickly made a shushing gesture to her brother, and Shen Xing nodded upon seeing this.

Shen Ci answered quickly, her attitude becoming respectful: "Uncle Jiang."

"A-Ci." Jiang Yuanliang's voice on the other end was gentle and warm: "Are you in Longcheng recently?"

"Yes, I've always been in Longcheng." Shen Ci replied truthfully, then asked: "Is there something you need me for, Uncle Jiang?"

Jiang Yuanliang chuckled: "It's nothing urgent. Uncle Jiang just wanted to ask if you'd be interested in attending the charity event for the Jiangdong Charity Foundation."

An event for the Jiangdong Charity Foundation?

Isn't that Uncle Jiang's Jiangdong Group?

Shen Ci's heart stirred, and she quickly understood Uncle Jiang's good intentions. For an event held by the Jiangdong Group, those invited were the elites among elites.

"It's my honor that Uncle Jiang is willing to let me go. Of course, I'm interested." Shen Ci said quickly.

Seeing Shen Ci agree so readily, Jiang Yuanliang said directly: "Alright, I'll have someone send you two invitations later. Bring your mother along when you come. Isn't she also starting a business in Longcheng? Such events will be very helpful for her."

"I'll thank Uncle Jiang on my mother's behalf."

After hanging up, Shen Xing couldn't help but lean over curiously: "Sis, who was that? Why did I hear something about Mom?"

Shen Ci explained to her brother while searching for information on the Jiangdong Charity Foundation on her phone to learn more: "Uncle Jiang, do you remember him?"

"The very impressive Uncle Jiang who came to our house last year and happened to run into Grandma introducing a blind date to Mom?"

Shen Ci nodded with a smile.

Shen Xing said in surprise: "I didn't expect you two to still be in touch."

"We always have been. Every time Auntie sends things from Shengang to our house, I always send a portion to Uncle Jiang. Although they aren't expensive, the thought is what matters. After all, for someone of his status, nothing is considered expensive."

"Besides, Mom's cleaning company suddenly had a surge in orders recently, and business is booming. Uncle Jiang helped a lot with that too. He has always kept in mind the favor Mom did by saving him, and he helps me and Mom whenever he can, never hesitating."

Just like this event, given the scale of her mother's company, she probably wouldn't have had the chance to attend such a high-end event.

Including herself, although she was doing well in the capital investment circle in Longcheng and her personal assets were very substantial, such events weren't something you could just enter because you had money.

Although she could have found a way if she really wanted to go—after all, the connections she had accumulated in the Longcheng circle over the past year were enough—being invited by Uncle Jiang personally was a different concept.

Probably not many people had the privilege of being invited by Jiang Yuanliang personally. The search page displayed information related to the "Jiangdong Charity Foundation."

The charity event was held once a year, raising funds through the auction of items and benefit performances, and then the Jiangdong Group Foundation would take the lead in putting the funds to practical use the following year.

Last year, the event raised over 12,000 yuan in donations, but in the following year, the Jiangdong Charity Foundation invested a total of over 50,000 yuan in charity and public welfare, meaning the remaining funds were all covered by the Jiangdong Group.

Moreover, the foundation's website allowed one to check the detailed implementation of all funds from previous years. This foundation was established after Jiang Yuanliang took over the Jiangdong Group, and given his character, Shen Ci believed this charity foundation definitely did practical work.

"Charity event?"

After receiving the invitation, Shen Jingjing looked at her name clearly engraved on it and couldn't help but be surprised for a moment.

Deng Xiwen reached out and took it, looking at it carefully: "It is. My husband receives one every year and donates every year too. This is a good thing, Jingjing. And since Chairman Jiang invited you personally, you have to give him this face."

Shen Jingjing was still a bit dazed: "But I've never attended such an event before."

"What does that matter? Attending a Jiangdong Group event—charity is one thing, but expanding your network is another. The reason the rich get richer is that everyone is connected. This kind of occasion is an opportunity for you to integrate into a new social class. Chairman Jiang clearly has this intention." Deng Xiwen explained.

Shen Ci sat to the side and nodded: "Auntie Deng is right. Uncle Jiang really has our best interests at heart. Mom, you don't need to be nervous. I'll be going too, so I'll be there with you."

With her daughter there, Shen Jingjing naturally felt much more at ease, but she still couldn't help but feel pressured.

"In this way, I owe Mr. Jiang another favor."

Deng Xiwen laughed upon hearing this: "You, you just think too much. In the business world, the thing you fear least is owing favors, because there are plenty of opportunities to return them. Everyone's relationships only get deeper through mutual exchanges."

Shen Ci also said: "Besides, for the charity event, we can also actively donate some money, which can be considered as contributing to Uncle Jiang's event. Just treat it as doing a good deed."

With this guidance, Shen Jingjing felt much more relaxed: "Right, doing charity is fine; that's a good thing."

On the other side, the people Li Wanchang sent to investigate the recent situation in Yangming District quickly gave him feedback.

"What?"

He couldn't help but exclaim after hearing the report on the phone, and he stood up from the sofa.

Mrs. Li, who was to the side, reminded him worriedly upon seeing this: "Oh, take it easy, you've just recovered from your illness."

Li Wanchang ignored her, walked straight to the floor-to-ceiling window with the phone, and continued to ask: "You said, Shen Ci?"

The person on the other end of the phone gave an affirmative answer: "From what we've gathered, 90% of the factories, large entities, and plots of land traded in Yangming District in the last few months have fallen into the hands of a person named Shen Ci. According to incomplete statistics, it's nearly fifty locations!"

Fifty locations!

How much cash flow would that be?

And the actions were so swift and decisive that Li Wanchang didn't even need to think deeply to know that this Shen Ci must have received inside information in advance.

Could it be... she has someone above her?

Someone with connections even more intricate and deep than his?