Chapter 99: The Bar

"Dad, Yanyu Investment Group has invested in the Cheng Family!"

As the news reached the Cheng Family, Cheng Weijun rushed into Cheng Honglin's study in a flurry to report the good news to his father.

Cheng Honglin was stunned for a moment, thinking he had misheard, and asked in disbelief, "What did you say?"

"Dad, it's true! Yanyu Group has invested in the Cheng Family, and it's an investment across all industries! If you don't believe me, look!"

Cheng Weijun strode to the desk and showed the news headline on his phone to Cheng Honglin.

Cheng Honglin specifically put on his reading glasses and squinted to look closely; his pupils suddenly dilated, and he exclaimed, "It's actually true!"

"That's right, it's true!"

Cheng Weijun could not hide his excitement: "I never expected those children to actually pull it off! This is such a surprise, so unexpected!"

Cheng Honglin also felt extremely surprised.

Originally, the demand he made for Yanyu Group to invest was just an excuse to stall for time; he had held no hope for it at all.

As it turned out, it actually succeeded!

Being invested in by Yanyu Group across all industries meant the Cheng Family would receive a massive amount of capital; with money, the Cheng Family's overall strength would also increase significantly!

"They actually managed to pull it off..."

After the shock, Cheng Honglin was the first to regain his composure. He carefully read the articles from major media outlets again and discovered that it wasn't just the Cheng Family that received investment, but also the Qian Family, while the Zhang Family had been passed over because their industries carried risks.

Cheng Weijun, still riding high on the excitement, saw his father's sudden grave expression and calmed down as well, asking, "Dad, is there a problem?"

Cheng Honglin took off his reading glasses, pondered for a moment, and said, "I am wondering why Yanyu Group would invest in the Cheng Family and the Qian Family while abandoning the Zhang Family, who have greater overall strength. Is it really because the Zhang Family's industries have high risks?"

Hearing Cheng Honglin say this, Cheng Weijun also sensed that something was abnormal and said, "Do you mean that Yanyu Group did this on purpose?"

Cheng Honglin shook his head: "To be honest, I can't figure it out. Behind Yanyu Group is the Ma Family; with the Cheng Family's strength, we simply cannot move the Ma Family's decision-makers.

There is no need to mention Cheng Kexiang; she is still a child. Although Cheng Kexin is in the Patrol Department, to the Jinling Ma Family, the Magic City Patrol Department has no value for networking.

Chen Che only just came down from the mountain; even if his Medicine is superb, his reputation is not prominent, and the Ma Family would not deign to pay him any mind.

Moreover, Yanyu Group's investment decisions determine the value the Ma Family can generate in Shanghai in the future.

Even if Li Qingyan stepped forward for Chen Che, the Ma Family might not necessarily grant her that favor.

She is indeed a legendary figure in the medical world, but she lacks a powerful backing; a family like the Ma Family, which ranks among the powerful elite in Xia, would not make an enemy of her, but they would certainly not hold her in particularly high regard."

"Then it seems there is only one possibility."

Cheng Weijun said: "Just as Li Jiangbei, the Branch Manager of Yanyu Group's subsidiary, said, the Zhang Family's industries really do have risks, and they are risks that even the Ma Family's decision-makers find troublesome."

"It seems that is the case. The Zhang Family must have some dirty laundry that they didn't clean up, which alerted the Yanyu Group Branch Manager."

Cheng Honglin said slowly: "Investing in the Cheng Family and the Qian Family must also be because only the combined scale of the two families can create the value to invest in the Zhang Family."

Cheng Weijun's eyes shifted, and he said, "Dad, should we lean toward the Qian Family in the future?

The Zhang Family losing this investment will have far-reaching consequences. If we form an Alliance with the Qian Family, we won't have to fear the Zhang Family anymore."

"I heard that the Qian Family is now a branch of the Qibao Association, so the true master of the Qian Family now is Shen Qi."

Cheng Honglin raised his eyes to look at Cheng Weijun, "Who do you think is easier to talk to, Shen Qi or the Zhang Family?"

"Uh..."

Cheng Weijun was momentarily speechless; indeed, neither of these parties was easy to deal with.

"A starving camel is still bigger than a horse; the Zhang Family is still the number one family in Shanghai. We can strengthen our exchanges and cooperation with the Qian Family, but we cannot deliberately appear to be distancing ourselves from the Zhang Family."

Cheng Honglin said.

Cheng Weijun nodded, then asked about the matter he cared about most: "Then what about the engagement between Cheng Kexin and Zhang Shouhang?"

At the mention of this, Cheng Honglin became furious and shouted: "It's all because of the good daughter you raised! Her business with Chen Che has already angered Zhang Shouhang. Now that the Zhang Family didn't get the investment while the Cheng Family and the Qian Family did, who knows what Zhang Shouhang and the Zhang Family are thinking.

At a time like this, for the sake of the Cheng Family's stability, we absolutely must not bring up the engagement. As long as Zhang Shouhang and the Zhang Family behind him don't mention breaking off the engagement, we won't bring it up either."

"Then what do you want to do about Chen Che?" Cheng Weijun asked again.

Cheng Honglin sighed and said: "I am, after all, indebted to Chen Che for saving my life, so we really have no way to be too harsh toward him. Sigh, let's just continue to muddle through.

Let Zhang Shouhang and Chen Che fight it out. If Chen Che is truly crippled by the Zhang Family in the end, out of gratitude and to appease Li Qingyan, our Cheng Family will take responsibility for the rest of his life."

"Alright, I understand."

Cheng Weijun nodded and was about to withdraw, but Cheng Honglin remembered something else and reminded him: "In a while, it will be the Zhang Family patriarch's seventieth birthday. Remember to prepare a birthday gift; we will all go together as a family."

"Understood."

Cheng Weijun left the study.

Hou Huili had been waiting outside the study. Seeing her husband come out, she immediately went up to him, grabbed him, and asked: "What did Dad say? Has the engagement with the Zhang Family been cancelled?"

Cheng Weijun shook his head: "It cannot be cancelled yet."

Hou Huili was startled and asked in confusion: "Why can't it be cancelled?! The daughters completed the investment task as agreed; how can Dad go back on his word!"

"For the sake of the Cheng Family—"

"That phrase again!"

Hou Huili interrupted, shouting irritably: "For the sake of the Cheng Family, you are willing to sacrifice your own daughter?! Are you even their father anymore!"

Cheng Weijun frowned and said in a deep voice: "By the sound of it, you want to marry our daughter to Chen Che?"

"I am indeed not satisfied with Chen Che either, but that is not the point!"

Hou Huili said hysterically: "My point is, before you make decisions, can you ask for our daughter's opinion? Even if it's a last resort for the big picture, you should at least care about them, even if it's just a word!"

"Unreasonable!"

Cheng Weijun felt his wife was being unreasonable and did not want to waste any more breath, so he strode away.

Hou Huili looked at Cheng Weijun's back and shed a tear of sorrow.

…………

The night in Shanghai was bright with lights.

Jingming Bar by the Huangpu River was a top-tier establishment among the bars in Shanghai; whether in terms of environment, consumption level, or the quality of its clientele, it was truly unique.

At nine o'clock sharp in the evening, Chen Che, Cheng Kexin, Cheng Kexiang, Li Qingyan, and Qian Xiuxiu arrived at Jingming Bar and found a booth near the corner.

This was Li Qingyan's suggestion after dinner, with the goal of celebrating the Cheng Family and Qian Family obtaining investment from Yanyu Group, marking the prelude to a change in the landscape of Shanghai.

In truth, Li Qingyan's real purpose was to watch the drama—Qian Rongrong and the Cheng sisters vying for favor and acting jealous.

Originally, after Cheng Kexiang and Qian Rongrong finished their interviews, they were both prepared to go home.

But when it was time for dinner, Li Qingyan suggested they eat together; because of Chen Che, the women could now be considered their own people.

It was only right to get to know each other to make future interactions easier.

Of course, if they could get into a fight at the dinner table, that would be even better!

However, Li Qingyan's goal did not succeed; having been busy all afternoon, everyone was hungry, including Chen Che, and they all buried their heads in their food with meticulous focus.

So after dinner, Li Qingyan egged them on to go to a bar. Since they had already had a little to drink during the meal and were genuinely happy today, the women were in high spirits and agreed immediately.

The group changed into simple casual wear and came to Jingming Bar.

As soon as they were seated, Li Qingyan immediately called for everyone to play cards and drink, unable to wait to see the explosive scene of women fighting and tearing at each other's clothes.

"Clap!"

At the same time, inside the SVIP-1 private room of Jingming Bar, Zhang Shouhang smashed a beer bottle against the wall, sending glass shards flying everywhere.

"Get out, all of you get out!"

Zhang Shouhang roared in a rage, cursing at a coquettish young lady who was shivering as she knelt on the floor.

The young lady's ear was bleeding, cut by the flying glass shards.

Yet she couldn't care about the pain at this moment; she scrambled up and fled in a panic.

Peng Hui stood to the side and advised, "Young Master, calm your anger. Shall I get you another one?"

Zhang Shouhang sat slumped on the sofa, his chest heaving violently as he panted heavily and roared, "Tell Qiao Ming to come see me!"

"I will notify him to come right away."

Peng Hui replied.