Chapter 3154: New clues

Although Howard didn't know who kidnapped the unfortunate Horowitz father and son, he knew in his heart that the other side was definitely not a pushover.

When everyone thought they must be hidden somewhere in China, they suddenly appeared at sea. And the kidnappers opened their mouths and demanded one billion US dollars. Although kidnappers who dare to ask for this amount are rare, they are not non-existent. But kidnappers who dare to ask for so much money and still tell the family members directly that they won't release the people even if the money is paid—this is the first time.

Faced with such kidnappers, if Jenny doesn't pay, the other side will definitely expose this matter and label her as cold-blooded, ruthless, and profit-seeking.

Jenny's surname was Rothschild before she married, so once Jenny becomes a target of public criticism, the Rothschild family will face unwarranted disaster.

Therefore, Howard naturally hopes she can pay honestly.

And he is not fooling Jenny. As long as the money is paid, he has countless ways to make Jenny famous globally.

The fear is that Jenny only sees money and is unwilling to pay this one billion US dollars, which would be troublesome.

However, Jenny also has her own difficulties.

The Horowitz family was originally steered by her husband. After her son went missing, her husband went to China out of desperation to save his son, but unexpectedly, he was also kidnapped. Now, although she manages all the major affairs of the family, she can't withstand the covetous eyes of her husband's several younger brothers. As a woman, how could she be a match for them when they unite?

Therefore, once she gets old in the future, the control of the family will naturally be gradually dismantled, and at that time, she, a woman with a different surname, might be directly sidelined.

Now, she desperately needs an opportunity to strengthen her control over the entire family.

If one billion US dollars can really help her shape a perfect persona, plus Howard Rothschild's promise, absolutely no one in the Horowitz family will be able to threaten her again.

Thinking of this, she gritted her teeth and said to Howard: "Lord Patriarch, I will listen to you! Give them the money!"

"Very good." Howard breathed a sigh of relief and comforted: "Jenny, don't worry, this money will definitely be worth more than its value! You first reply to the other side, telling them you will raise the 1 billion US dollars in cryptocurrency as soon as possible. I will arrange a reporter team to go over now, and from this moment on, they will start 24-hour close-up tracking and filming of you. These will all be materials for hype."

Jenny didn't expect Howard to be so attentive, and suddenly felt as if she had taken a reassurance pill. She said excitedly: "Then I will do everything according to Lord Patriarch's instructions!"

Just as the reporter team began all-around tracking and filming of Jenny, Steve Rothschild, far away in Jin Ling, received a call from his father, Howard.

On the phone, Howard said: "Steve, it's been quite hard for you in Jin Ling during this time."

Steve quickly said: "Father, it's not hard for me to share the family's worries anywhere."

"Very good!" Howard was very satisfied with his attitude and said with a smile: "You don't need to stay in Jin Ling anymore. Today, the Horowitz family received a message from the kidnappers. The father and son are not in Jin Ling, but at sea. You can prepare and come back as soon as possible."

Steve had long known about Ye Chen's arrangement, so he wasn't surprised when he heard this. However, he still pretended to be depressed and cursed: "Damn kidnappers! I thought they were hiding people in Jin Ling. I've almost dug three feet into the ground in Jin Ling, but I didn't expect them to have moved the people away long ago. They are really cunning!"

"It doesn't matter," Howard said with a smile: "Sending you there was nothing more than setting an example for the collateral families, letting them know we care about them. As the designated heir of the family and the number two figure in the entire family, you going personally to help them find people has already given them enough face. Now it proves it's not that your ability is lacking, but that the intelligence was wrong, so you can come back openly."

"Okay, Father," Steve said: "Since there's nothing left to do in Jin Ling, I'll prepare to come back and see you as soon as possible."

"Good," Howard said satisfied: "After you come back, we will hold a banquet to entertain those collateral families, once again deepening their gratitude and reliance on us. This also lays a good foundation for you to inherit the family in the future."

Steve quickly said in a very grateful tone: "Thank you, Father! Thank you for your painstaking efforts!"

When saying this, Steve was cursing in his heart, depressed: "Saying it so sanctimoniously, aren't you just trying to fool me into always being this so-called designated heir? If Ye Chen could let you live another 50 years, you wouldn't let me be the family head in the next forty-nine years. Relying on my biological father is not as good as relying on Ye Chen."

After Steve exchanged pleasantries with his father on the phone, he hung up, and then quickly called Ye Chen.

At this time, Ye Chen was driving to Zijin Villa. Ten minutes ago, Lin Wan'er sent him a message saying she had some new clues and wanted to invite him to Zijin Villa for a face-to-face talk. Moreover, the thoughtful Lin Wan'er had prepared tea, snacks, and dinner, inviting Ye Chen to boil tea by the stove. Ye Chen naturally agreed happily.

As soon as the call connected, he quickly said: "Mr. Ye, my father called and asked me to go back. It seems I can't stay by your side and share your worries."

Ye Chen laughed: "I don't have any worries for you to share. Since he asked you to go back, you should go back quickly."

Steve quickly said: "Mr. Ye, can I invite you to a meal before I leave?"

Ye Chen said: "No need for a meal, just cash it out."

Steve was stunned, chuckled twice and said: "Mr. Ye, you are really good at joking. I really want to invite you to a meal, and I hope you can give me some face."

Ye Chen asked him: "When are you going back?"

Steve said: "If there's nothing important, I should go back tomorrow. Otherwise, it won't be easy to explain to my father. In his impression, I definitely want to leave here every moment."

Ye Chen said: "Then let's make it tomorrow noon. How about Tianxiang Mansion?"

Steve said excitedly: "Great! Then tomorrow noon at Tianxiang Mansion."

"Good," Ye Chen said: "Then see you tomorrow. I have something to do, hanging up now."

"Okay, Mr. Ye, see you tomorrow!"

The weather was getting colder and colder. There were few green leaves on Zijin Mountain. Except for some pine trees, most of the trees had lost their leaves, leaving only bare trunks and branches.

When Ye Chen arrived at the top-floor courtyard of Lin Wan'er's Zijin Villa, he was shocked to find that the Mother of Pu Tea brought back from Dianchi was still growing lushly, with many more leaves than before, and they were also much larger.

Lin Wan'er, with a girlish air, was guarding the Mother of Pu Tea, boiling tea with a gentle fire beside it, and also roasting some ginkgo nuts by the stove, emitting a faint burnt fragrance.

Seeing Ye Chen enter, she smiled like a flower, happily saying: "Young Master Ye, please sit down. I have already boiled the tea and am waiting for you."

Ye Chen nodded, came to the stool in front of her, and sat down. Lin Wan'er carefully picked up a few roasted yellow ginkgo nuts from the iron mesh of the grill. The ginkgo nuts were at a high temperature, and she didn't dare to hold them for long, so she hurriedly switched them between her two hands, as if juggling.

After switching the ginkgo nuts back and forth between her hands several times, the temperature dropped a little. She held the ginkgo nuts to her mouth, lightly opened her cherry lips and blew on them, then peeled one and handed it to Ye Chen's mouth, looking expectant: "Young Master, try it. I picked them up from the mountain at noon."

Ye Chen couldn't refuse her kindness, so he opened his mouth and ate one. It was bitter and fragrant, quite chewy, and it was a unique taste.

After eating one, Lin Wan'er peeled a few more and handed them over, then poured Ye Chen a cup of tea. Her slender hands hadn't been idle since Ye Chen entered the door.

Ye Chen drank a cup of tea, then put down the teacup and asked her: "Miss Lin said there are new clues. What specific clues?"

Lin Wan'er said: "The shipping company of the Poqing Society that you found earlier has been sold to a French company. The French side seems to be quite anxious. As soon as the company was changed, they couldn't wait to start transporting with that company's planes."

Ye Chen frowned: "Hasn't the Poqing Society already entered a dormant period? Why did they suddenly sell that airline?"

Lin Wan'er said: "This is also what I don't understand. Logically speaking, the Poqing Society is not short of money, so there is no need to sell the company. Moreover, this company is their core transport capacity for global transportation. And now it is a dormant period, so they shouldn't have made such a move. So I suspect, have they already realized that the airline is no longer safe?" ===== CHAPTER 3155 =====