The Stepmother's Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era-Chapter 418 - 417: Paper Can’t Wrap Fire

"Xiaoyuan, once you’ve entered the company, everything else can be learned later, but there are three things you must learn, which are to understand people, employ them wisely, and have clear rewards and punishments."

"Wherever there are people, there will be strife. Hengxing might just be a small company, but its internal strife is no less than that of a big family. When you encounter someone who opposes you, don’t be in a hurry to burn bridges."

"Everyone has weaknesses and vulnerabilities. What you need to do is pinpoint your enemy’s weaknesses with precision and deliver a fatal blow. There’s no need to take the lead in everything. In battle, generals are at the rear formulating strategies, and those who charge at the front almost always end up as cannon fodder."

"Mom, I understand all that you’re saying. Am I as useless as you seem to think?"

Yan Jing turned her head to glance at him, a light smile appearing on her face, "Wait until you become a parent, then you’ll understand how I feel right now."

The words made Ning Yuan inevitably think of the "bastard" in Zhuang Xueqi’s belly, and his mood suddenly turned gloomy.

This damn woman, how dare she cuckold him.

...

Zhong Family.

Zhong Jiyuan looked at Zhong Qing with a beaming smile, "Qingqing, your uncle’s fate at next month’s shareholder meeting is entirely in your hands, isn’t it?"

Zhong Qing nodded politely, "Uncle, rest assured, I will fully support you in taking over as the new chairman of the pharmaceutical factory."

"With your word, I can be at ease. By the way, your father has been abroad for treatment for such a long time, has his condition improved?"

Zhong Qing shook her head, "I spoke to Mom a few days ago, and she said the hopes for recovery are very slim. I advised her to come back, but she refused and still wants to try other doctors."

Zhong Jiyuan’s face showed sympathy, but he couldn’t completely hide the smile in his eyes.

The First Pharmaceutical Factory was co-founded with the provincial government while the old master Zhong was alive, with the old master holding 49% of the shares.

Before the old master died, he distributed his shares among his three sons.

As the eldest son, Zhong Jiping received the most shares, with 15%.

Of the rest, the old lady Zhong had 10%, and the second son Zhong Jize and the third son Zhong Jiyuan, each had 12%.

Zhong Jize had a gambling addiction and had lost most of his fortune over the years; his 12% of shares was now down to just 5%.

If Zhong Jiping had an issue, among the three brothers, it would be the youngest, Zhong Jiyuan, who had the most shares.

But compared to the largest shareholder, the provincial government, Zhong Jiyuan’s 12% of shares were still far from enough to secure the position of chairman.

Unless Zhong Qing was willing to use the 27% of shares she held in trust to fully support Zhong Jiyuan.

Although the provincial government’s stake was large, it was controlled by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, State Investment Corporation, and State Pharmaceutical, each acting on their own, with constant overt and covert competitions, which provided Zhong Jiyuan an opportunity.

Therefore, Zhong Jiyuan was even less eager to see Zhong Jiping recover than Zhong Qing.

If Zhong Jiping came back, then Zhong Jiyuan would be out of the picture.

Zhong Qing took a sip of tea and said to Zhong Jiyuan, "Uncle, my dad won’t be able to come back for a while, so you and my second uncle will need to console Grandma more."

"Qingqing, don’t worry, I will speak well on your behalf to Grandma," Zhong Jiyuan assured her.

The old lady Zhong was in poor health and had been convalescing outside the city for years.

After Zhong Jiping was afflicted, the family unanimously kept it from the old lady, fearing she could not withstand the news.

But secrets can be kept only for a while, not forever. Eventually, the old lady found out about her eldest son becoming a invalid.

She came back several times causing a fuss, insisting that Zhong Qing make a phone call to Chu Yuqing. Each time, Zhong Qing found various excuses to put her off.

This couldn’t go on; you can’t wrap fire with paper.

After sending Zhong Jiyuan away, Zhong Qing drove off alone from home, heading onto the national highway.

...

Chu Yuqing, led by a caregiver, walked into the visiting room.

Seeing Zhong Qing through the bars of the window, she rushed over ecstatically, talking to Zhong Qing through the barrier.

"Qingqing, you’ve finally come. Will you take me out of here? Please take me out!"

Seeing Chu Yuqing’s right eye covered with thick gauze, Zhong Qing was slightly surprised.

"What happened to your eye?"

Upon being asked, Chu Yuqing’s intact left eye shed a tear, and a plaintive whimper came from her throat.

The caregiver explained, "When Mr. Zhang had an episode, he accidentally poked Ms. Liu’s right eye with chopsticks."

In order to erase all traces, Chu Yuqing and Zhong Jiping were admitted to the hospital under pseudonyms.

Zhong Qing nodded, "Can she still see out of her right eye?"

The caregiver shook their head.

Zhong Qing looked at Chu Yuqing and smiled faintly, "It seems that even Dad thinks you’re blind."

Chu Yuqing pleaded with her through tears, "Qingqing, I was wrong, I know I was wrong, please forgive me, okay? Let me out, I’ll do anything as long as you let me out."

Seeing Chu Yuqing’s injuries, big and small, all over her body, one could imagine how much she had suffered here.

It was only because Zhong Jiping was currently incapacitated that Chu Yuqing probably hadn’t become a corpse yet.

"You’ll do anything?"

Chu Yuqing nodded desperately.

"Alright then, go ahead and die. Once you’re dead, I’ll definitely bring you back for a grand funeral."

Chu Yuqing was stunned, then became furious, cursing with the vilest words she could muster. After finishing her tirade and seeing no reaction from Zhong Qing, she started crying and apologizing again, even kneeling to beg.

It was like she had a split personality.

Zhong Qing watched her performance without changing expression, "Forget about leaving, I’m not going to release the tiger back to the mountain, but I can arrange for you to be moved to another ward."

These words undoubtedly gave Chu Yuqing hope, "Qingqing, you don’t hate me that much, do you? Please, let me go, okay?"

Zhong Qing opened the letter in her hand, "Just copy it in your own handwriting, and that will be enough."

Seeing the content of the letter, Chu Yuqing’s face was instantly filled with anger and horror.

"What are you trying to do?!"

"I won’t do anything to you. This letter is just for acting in front of Grandma. You must hate her quite a bit, right? If she had been willing to help you back then, you wouldn’t have lost the child in your womb."

"Now, I’m giving you a chance for revenge. She indirectly caused the death of your two children. Making her lose a son is fair, isn’t it?"

Chu Yuqing stared at her blankly for a long time without speaking.

Did she hate the old lady? Of course.

She knew she was pregnant, yet watched her son abuse her without intervening, and even to protect Zhong Jiping’s reputation, she sent all the servants away, leaving Chu Yuqing with no chance to seek help.

"I can write the letter, but you have to let me leave this place."

Chu Yuqing attempted to bargain.

Zhong Qing raised an eyebrow, "Do you think it would be difficult for me to find someone who can imitate your handwriting?"

Chu Yuqing’s face turned ashen, "After all, we’re mother and daughter. Do you really have to drive me to my death? You can’t blame me completely. If you hadn’t been born, your father wouldn’t have treated me like that."

"Choosing the wrong person was your doing, being flirtatious was your doing. What does that have to do with me? Why should I pay for your failures and mistakes?"

Seeing no hope of leaving, Chu Yuqing had no choice but to write a "suicide note" as Zhong Qing had instructed.

Zhong Qing took the letter and prepared to leave when Chu Yuqing suddenly called out to her, "Qingqing, can you come to visit me often?"

Zhong Qing stopped in her tracks and turned around, "I won’t come again."

"Yan Yi and I have set a date for our wedding. Yinyin won second place in her piano competition. Xiaomin achieved first place in the midterm exams. Every day you and Dad are not around, we all live incredibly happy and joyful lives."

Watching her resolute departure, Chu Yuqing collapsed to the ground, wailing loudly.

By the time she returned to the Zhong Family, it was already eleven o’clock at night.

Zhong Qing first went to the third floor to check on Zhong Yin and Zhong Min’s sleeping conditions, then went back to the second-floor study, picked up the phone on the desk, and made a call.