Chapter 62: The Scam

"Huangguan Yinhang is truly crazy about money."

Lu Chen paused, took two puffs of his Cigar, and after a long while, spoke in a somewhat hoarse voice.

"Financial innovation is essentially a scam without any precedent. It is difficult for us to stop it."

Professor Li silently took two puffs of his cigarette before speaking.

"The collateral for Huangguan Yinhang right now seems to be that newly emerged stone, which was taken away by the Daiying fellows through the Liu Family."

Professor Li paused, then continued.

"Why are we worrying about this here? We're old. I heard you brought a little girl over today?"

Lu Chen took two deep breaths, took another puff of his Cigar, slowly exhaled the smoke, and forcefully stubbed out the Cigar.

"You are right, sir. I specifically brought the little girl over today for you to see. She is Chen Mo's daughter and my current bodyguard."

"Bring her over for me to see; it's been a long time since a little one has been here."

Professor Li chuckled as he stubbed out his Cigar.

He turned his head to wave at the butler by the door, stood up, and led the way toward the side hall.

"Uncle Li, Xuan Hua is away for this period, and my company lacks someone who can take charge. Would you mind recommending someone?"

Lu Chen followed closely behind Professor Li and spoke softly.

"You brat, you sent Xuan Hua away and now you're coming to ask me for people."

Professor Li paused, smiled as he pointed at Lu Chen twice, and then spoke.

"How about this, I do have a student here who just resigned from a foreign firm recently; let him go to your place to fill in for a while."

"Good, but I really am short on talent. Would you consider giving me a few more people, sir?"

Lu Chen said with a grin.

He pushed open the wooden door as he spoke, earning a fierce glare from Professor Li.

"One isn't enough? You brat are trying to pluck this old man bald."

Professor Li glanced at Lu Chen and shook his head.

"Wait for a while. During this period, those little ones don't have any free time."

"Fine, you're the boss, sir."

Lu Chen chuckled and followed behind Professor Li.

He called out to Chen Tingting, who was playing with Shen Wanyu: "Tingting, come and call for Grandpa Li."

"Teacher."

"Grandpa Li."

"Oh, what a sweet little girl, though she is a bit thin."

Professor Li bent down and touched Chen Tingting's head.

A smile hung on his face.

"Let's go, Grandpa will take you to eat something delicious. Little Lu, Wanyu, let's go, and your bodyguard too; everyone come along today."

Professor Li held Chen Tingting's small hand and looked back at Lu Chen.

Then he walked toward the dining room.

It was a simple family meal, but to be honest, Lu Chen found the experience quite appalling.

Chen Mo, sitting to the side, would either crush a glass cup or move the dishes aside with a bit too much force.

Professor Li watched with a smile, and Lu Chen did not stop Chen Mo, simply eating his meal in silence.

It was not until they said goodbye to Professor Li and returned to the Zhuangyuan that Lu Chen acted.

Lu Chen nodded at them and went straight back to the study.

He silently preheated a Cigar, and after a good while, Butler Wang knocked on the door.

Lu Chen nodded slightly, took a puff of his Cigar, and slowly exhaled the smoke.

He leaned back against the sofa and crossed his legs.

"Sir, Assistant Hu has not made any unusual moves, nor has she attempted to go to the second floor."

Butler Wang walked to Lu Chen's side, bent over, and spoke softly.

Lu Chen nodded slightly and turned his head to look at Butler Wang.

Only then did he speak.

"Then please ask Assistant Hu to come up."

Butler Wang nodded slightly, stood up, and walked out of the study.

Lu Chen reached out and picked up a newspaper from the coffee table to read.

The large headline on the Financial Daily made Lu Chen frown.

"Huangguan Yinhang, Progress on Financial Innovation Reform"

"Substantial progress has been made... but specific details have not yet been disclosed, according to our reporter..."

This report made Lu Chen breathe a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, Huangguan Yinhang wasn't that reckless; if they had announced it directly, Lu Chen would truly have had no way to respond.

Now that it has only ignited public curiosity, there is at least room for maneuver.

"Knock, knock, knock..." A soft knocking sound rang out, and Hu Yaqin stood at the door holding a document.

"Come in, sit."

Lu Chen snapped out of his thoughts and pointed to the sofa beside him.

He took a puff of his Cigar and slowly exhaled the smoke.

"BOSS, the telegram from General Manager Li and the others has been sent back. General Manager Liu has gone to settle his mother, and General Manager Li is currently looking for a temporary base."

Hu Yaqin's voice had a hint of a baby-talk tone, but her tone was steady.

She placed the document on the coffee table.

She placed her hands in front of her.

"Not bad. Manager Li's previous handling of the Zhuangyuan matters should have a record in the company, right?"

Lu Chen looked at Hu Yaqin with some surprise, then spoke softly.

His fingers tapped slightly on the sofa armrest, and a flash of sharp light flickered in his eyes.

"Manager Li's handling of the Zhuangyuan matters was not recorded in the company, but he once entrusted it to me, and I participated in a portion of the operations."

Hu Yaqin was stunned for a moment, her eyes rolling slightly upward.

She sat up even straighter.

"Since you participated, then it's easy to handle. Chen Mo will be purchasing two Zhuangyuans recently. You know about this case; it's the same operation as this Zhuangyuan, and you can participate in this matter from start to finish."

Lu Chen's fingers, which were tapping the armrest, paused; he took a puff of his Cigar and slowly exhaled the smoke.

After a few moments of silence, he continued to speak.

"You will be transferred to the Zhuangyuan side recently; is it okay for you to live with Wanyu? As for the company, Professor Li will send someone over tomorrow; you just need to take him around to familiarize him with things then."

"Understood, BOSS."

A flash of surprise flickered in Hu Yaqin's eyes, and she agreed directly before continuing.

"I need to make a phone call home to let them not worry."

"Fine, go ahead."

Lu Chen waved his hand, then picked up the document Hu Yaqin had placed on the coffee table.

Lu Chen switched on the floor lamp beside the sofa and frowned as he looked at the telegram.

He took a fountain pen out of his suit and wrote a string of numbers at the bottom.

After deliberating, he wrote another paragraph of text before calling Steward Wang in.

"Send this to Xuan Hua according to the agreed-upon time on the telegram."

After Lu Chen handed the telegram to Steward Wang, he continued: "Use the No. 2 codebook for the paragraph at the bottom."

Lu Chen paused, then continued: "Which family are we visiting on tomorrow's schedule?"

"Very well, Master."

Steward Wang took the telegram and gave it a quick glance.

Just as he was about to turn around, he heard Lu Chen's words, paused, and then continued to speak.

"According to your schedule, you are to visit Elder Liu at 11:00 AM tomorrow. Based on the arrangements by Professor Li's steward, you have an interview at 9:00 AM tomorrow."

"Fine, there are no changes on my end; just arrange it according to these time points, and remind me at 10:00."

Lu Chen tapped his fingers slightly on the armrest before speaking.