Chapter 454: The Little Padded Jacket

"I hope you can keep your word this time!"

After reaching out to rub his brow once more, the energy-depleted Old Charle hesitated slightly, then sighed and said:

"Also, he did save my wife after all. Once you find him, try to be gentle with your methods. Be careful not to hurt him."

"Understood, we'll keep that in mind!"

"Good. Now that you've remembered, go. Go and get my things back!"

After the few people from the detective agency left with their new mission, the exhausted old man's body relaxed. He leaned back against the thick cushion of his office chair, pressed his index and middle fingers together, and continuously rubbed his throbbing temples.

I really am getting old...

As Charle Department Store grew larger and larger, and after living the good life for these past few years, his vigilance had dropped far too much. If it were twenty years ago, or even ten years ago, he would never have let things develop to this point.

Even if he couldn't bring himself to be ruthless and forcibly stop the hydroelectric company project from the start, he wouldn't have been so negligent as to agree to let those scoundrels use the "Charle" name without even demanding control...

And just as Old Charle was pressing his aching head, pondering how to quickly cultivate a qualified successor while he could still hold down the fort, the office door was knocked upon.

"Knock, knock-knock."

Upon hearing the knock, the old man's body tensed up, as if a switch had been flipped. He immediately switched back to his shrewd and capable state, straightened his slightly hunched back, and while looking down at his documents, responded in a loud voice:

"Enter!"

"Dad, it's us!"

Accompanied by a somewhat helpless voice, a doll-faced girl wearing a professional suit supported the furious Lady Charle into the office.

"Charle!"

Once the office door was closed and it was confirmed that the sounds inside wouldn't carry out, the middle-aged woman, who clearly could no longer hold back, immediately shrieked:

"What is going on with the company shares! You gave away forty percent of the shares in one go. Is Charle Department Store still Charle Department Store?"

"You still have the nerve to come find me?"

Before the middle-aged woman could even finish, Old Charle already knew what she wanted to say. He slammed his hand on the table, glared at her, and angrily questioned:

"How is the hydroelectric company matter? Did the problems I worried about initially happen or not? If I hadn't reacted quickly and hadn't relied entirely on you to negotiate, Charle Department Store would be finished by now!"

"..."

Hearing Old Charle mention the hydroelectric company, the middle-aged woman's momentum faltered, but she still stubbornly continued:

"That still doesn't mean you can give away forty percent of the shares in one go, and most of them were from my family's side..."

"If I didn't give away forty percent of the shares, would you still be able to stand here and yell at me right now?"

Not hiding his exhaustion in front of his family, Old Charle leaned back into his chair, rubbed his brow, and said with a weary face:

"Have you forgotten? Fifteen years ago, when Charle Department Store was almost crushed, I wouldn't give up even a single share. I am absolutely more opposed to splitting the shares than you are, but this time, I really had no choice.

It looks like the problem is solved now, but the method used was too brutal. We might be able to make a lot of money, but we've offended the interests of all our peers in one go.

Do you know? The price standards for fifteen entire industries were all pushed to the absolute bottom line by us in one go. The Business Alliance already has major grievances. If we don't split the shares and let them have a taste of the soup, guess what will happen in the end?"

Looking at his wife, who suddenly trembled all over as if she had realized something, Old Charle said expressionlessly:

"Although Charle Department Store can become truly big this year, once the end of the year passes, the heat of the matter dies down, and the necessary compensations are paid, Charle Department Store will no longer belong to Charle.

Without the support of the Business Alliance and the councilors, I alone cannot protect this company, and I can't even guarantee our basic safety. At that point, our family will only be able to reunite in prison. Understand?"

Looking at his wife, who was suddenly sweating profusely and finally waking up from the stimulation of the massive amount of money, Old Charle didn't seem satisfied yet. He tapped the table and raised his voice:

"Do you know what your stupidest trait is? If you don't know, I'll tell you! Your stupidest trait is always thinking that everything will follow the rules!

You think that because the contract has a veto power, you can stop those old nobles from messing around?

You think that because we kidnapped the factories and retail channels, we can force everyone to concede?

You think that once the company gets big, we don't need to consider the opinions of the Business Alliance? That is simply incredibly stupid!"

Looking at his wife, whose face was pale and who was only able to stand because her daughter was supporting her, a flash of reluctance crossed Old Charle's eyes, but in the end, he hardened his heart and added:

"Usually, people are willing to play by the rules with you because they aren't confident they can beat me when playing outside the rules!

But now, we were the ones who started dumping goods, breaking the rules everyone implicitly agreed upon, and pushing others into a dead end. Do you still expect them not to play dirty and continue to talk rules with you?

At a time like this, if we don't quickly give up shares and pull in capable people to help carry the burden, are we just supposed to sit on a pile of money, happily waiting for death?"

"Dad! You... don't say it like that. Mom also had good intentions, wanting to help you out; it's just that her foresight was slightly lacking.

But Dad, think about it. How many people are there who can start almost from scratch and become one of the top three businessmen in the capital in just over twenty years? How could an average person's foresight compare to yours!"

After worriedly looking at her mother, who wouldn't stop trembling, the doll-faced girl hurriedly winked to hint at her, while trying her best to smooth things over:

"Dad! Mom was just a pampered noble lady back then. After running away from home to follow you, she learned to wash clothes and cook, and she stayed up late for years to help you stock goods and balance the books. It hasn't been easy for her to fight alongside you until today!

Over all these years, besides this one misjudgment, she has always managed the company matters for you in an orderly fashion, and nothing has ever gone wrong. Also, when I was still young, you were always very busy. She had to take care of me while also learning how to..."

"Stop talking."

Shaking off her daughter's hand, the woman, whose features were sixty percent similar to her daughter's and who could still faintly show the naive charm of her youth, pursed her lips, turned her head away, and said stubbornly:

"Wrong is wrong. Why are you bringing up these past things?

Running away from home to follow him back then was something your mother chose to do herself! Now that a mistake has been made, it's also something I chose myself. There's no need to bring up these past things to trade for sympathy!

Also, looking at your dad's state, if no one manages him, I'm afraid he'll work himself to death in this office. You stay here and keep an eye on him! There are too many people coming to buy things now, and the company staff might not be able to handle it all. I need to go keep watch!"

"Mom, your illness has only just eased. Why don't I..."

"I don't need you!"

"..."

Watching his wife push the door open and leave in a rush, Old Charle was silent for a while, then waved his hand at his daughter, who still wanted to say something:

"You don't need to persuade me. I don't blame her. The reason I said that just now was to make her remember the loss she suffered this time. As for those past things, I actually remember them more clearly than you do.

Do you know? Because Dad was too poor and didn't have money to help your mom recover her health, her body wasn't very good after giving birth to you, and she didn't even have much breast milk.

Back then, I still had to earn money to support the family, leaving early and returning late every day, unable to help. She, who had been pampered, could only wear a tattered apron, holding you in the middle of winter while you cried from hunger, going everywhere to beg people for help. In the end, she had to kneel before someone just to get a little bit of milk..."

Recalling the bitter days of the past, Old Charle said with dim eyes:

"When I was worried about the situation at home and rushed back early to see that scene, I made up my mind then and there: even if I had to sell my soul to the devil and become a wicked bastard, I would make sure you and the child lived a good life! Sigh... thinking about it now, it's really..."

"Your dad, I have never feared anyone in my life, except for your mom, before whom I can never win. Back when the hydroelectric company was being planned, if I could have persisted a little longer, maybe it wouldn't have come to this... Forget it, let's not talk about this anymore."

Stroking the four small metal boxes stacked together on his right side, confirming that the locks on them were still intact, Old Charle shook his head slightly and said:

"Let's go. Your mom's health isn't good, we should still go..."

"It's bad!"

Just as the father and daughter were about to stand up, the office door was violently pulled open. An employee wearing a shopping guide uniform rushed in, looking panicked:

"Boss! In the money box at the shopping plaza, a... crawled out!"

"Croak! Croak!"

Two deafening frog croaks outside the window interrupted the employee's unfinished sentence, and a gentle, clear baritone male voice rang out simultaneously in the hearts of the more than fifty thousand people around the Charle Department Store headquarters.

"People who have come in pursuit of wealth, I ask you."

After crawling out of the huge money box with some difficulty, the giant toad, covered in various currencies, puffed up its golden cheek pouches on both sides of its face, croaked, and spat out enough gold wheels to form a river. Then, it squinted its eyes and smiled kindly.

"Is the gold I spat out enough to buy your life?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 455 =====