Chapter 495: A Blessing in Disguise!
After leaving the Li family estate, Huang Lixing felt a bit uneasy.
He couldn’t stop thinking about the words Li Yi had spoken just before leaving!
If it had come from just anyone, he might not have taken it seriously, but coming from Li Yi, it was a different story.
He knew what Li Yi was capable of. Since he dared to say that, it surely meant trouble was coming for the Young Master Li.
However, since Li Yi had made that remark without revealing the full truth to the other party, if anything were to happen to the eldest young master, would Chairman Li hold them responsible?
So, once they were in the car, Huang Lixing kept glancing at Li Yi beside him, hesitating to speak!
Naturally, this behavior didn’t escape Li Yi’s notice. So, as soon as the car started moving, Li Yi looked at Huang Lixing and said, “Old Huang, just say what’s on your mind. Don’t pull these little stunts—they’re bound to cause misunderstandings!”
Huang Lixing was instantly amused by Li Yi’s words and replied, “Brother Li Yi, that young Master Li really…”
Before he could finish, Li Yi cut him off, saying, “With a face like that, I’m just telling it like it is!”
“Is there any chance of a change?”
Perhaps to avoid any misunderstanding on Li Yi’s part, Huang Lixing quickly explained, “A few years ago, Chairman Li did me a favor. Though it might have been a small thing to him, I’ve always kept it in my heart. If possible, I’d like to return the favor!”
Li Yi said calmly, “Of course there are ways to change things like this, but I advise you not to get involved!”
“Why?”
“For one thing, even if you mean well and offer a warning, that young Master Li might not believe you—he might even mock you for it. It’s a thankless task!”
Li Yi continued, “On the other hand, given that young Master Li’s temperament, suffering a bit of a setback might not be such a bad thing!”
Upon hearing Li Yi’s words, Huang Lixing fell silent.
Everyone in Hong Kong knew Young Master Li’s temperament. Though he wasn’t exactly a wastrel, he was arrogant and haughty, making him extremely difficult to get along with.
He harbored a natural hostility, especially toward people in the business world and the underworld.
If he really stepped in to help, the outcome would surely be just as Li Yi had said.
After a brief pause, Huang Lixing spoke again: “Is it really okay for us to just stay out of this?”
“I didn’t say we wouldn’t get involved—it’s just not the right time yet!”
Huang Lixing’s eyes lit up instantly. He nodded immediately and said, “Iron Eagle is someone I trained from scratch—he’s absolutely trustworthy. If there’s anything you need, Brother Li Yi, you can just give him the order!”
“Alright!”
After saying that, Li Yi closed his eyes and fell silent.
Seeing this, Huang Lixing tactfully dropped the subject and turned his gaze out the window.
Meanwhile, Li Yi’s mind was carefully piecing together the details of Li Yunbao’s recent misfortune!
Li Yi wasn’t just making things up when he said Li Yunbao was in for trouble—it was a fact, and he’d heard it straight from Li Yunbao’s own mouth.
Of course, all of this had happened in his previous life.
He remembered that Li Yunbao had told him this story on the very day of his father’s funeral.
After the burial, once all the relatives and friends had left, Li Yunbao dragged Li Yi into his father’s luxurious mansion in Siam to drink.
Bolstered by the alcohol, Li Yunbao began telling him about himself and his father.
According to Li Yunbao, although he was the heir to a multi-billion-dollar fortune, he had never been interested in business from a young age. He believed that all merchants, including his father, made their money through bloodshed, which is why he despised the business world.
Compounded by his parents’ marital issues, he came to deeply resent his father as an adult, and their relationship was once extremely strained.
This situation persisted until around 1981, when the kidnapping incident finally made him realize that his father truly loved him. It was only then that the two men truly reconciled.
Li Yunbao also provided a detailed account of the kidnapping. He was abducted shortly after the 1981 stock market crash; his captor was the father of a friend.
The man had suffered massive losses in the stock market crash and was on the verge of bankruptcy, which is why he orchestrated the kidnapping.
Although he was eventually rescued by his father, the latter lost 500 million Hong Kong dollars in the process.
Compounded by the fact that his father’s company had also been severely impacted by the crash, he was forced to sell a portion of the family company’s shares, which ultimately triggered internal strife within the family.
It was precisely through these experiences that Li Yunbao truly matured and learned to understand his father.
Although he still hasn’t taken over the family business, his relationship with his father has improved significantly because of this kidnapping incident.
In this lifetime, the stock market crash erupted as expected, and barring any surprises, the kidnapping would happen as well.
Li Yi had originally intended to help Li Yunbao avoid this disaster, but upon further reflection, he realized it might not be such a good thing after all.
Perhaps for Li Futiao and Li Yunbao, the loss of a few hundred million yuan was nothing; what mattered most was that father and son could reconcile.
Li Yi clearly remembered that in his previous life, after hearing the story of Li Yunbao and his father, he had been filled with envy.
In Li Yi’s view, no matter what, Li Yunbao and his father had ultimately chosen to reconcile, and Li Yunbao was even able to be by his father’s side to fulfill his filial duties in his old age.
But he himself had never had that chance, because his father had long since passed away from illness. Li Yi knew his father had never forgiven him before his death, and there had been no reconciliation between them.
That was precisely why Li Yi had merely given the Li family a gentle reminder, without delving into further details!
Li Yi decided to take things one step at a time, doing his best to play this role convincingly without affecting the course of events from his past life!
Ideally, he could teach that brat Li Yunbao a lesson while also preventing the Li family from suffering financial losses.
Of course, with the money earned from the stock market, even if those 500 million yuan were actually stolen, it wouldn’t deal a crippling blow to the Li family.
So, Li Yi wasn’t under any pressure!
However, the situation at the Li family estate was quite different!
After Li Yi, Huang Lixing, and the others left, Li Yunbao and Li Yunling also departed the Li family estate. Apart from the servants and bodyguards, only Li Futiao and his assistant Zhou Xinghua remained in the vast estate.
In the study, Zhou Xinghua frowned and said, “Chairman, regarding the bet between the young master and Mr. Li…”
Before Zhou Xinghua could finish, Li Futiao said calmly, “Yunbao will lose!”
“Then why didn’t you stop the young master?” Zhou Xinghua asked, puzzled.
“Why should I stop him? Besides, with Yunbao’s stubborn temperament, do you really think I could stop him even if I wanted to?”
Hearing this, Zhou Xinghua fell silent.
He knew the temperament of the eldest young master, Li Yunbao, all too well. While others might be listened to to some extent, the Chairman’s words would most likely backfire.
At that moment, Li Futao sighed and said, “Yunbao is too stubborn and too arrogant. The young scions of the island’s prominent clans give him a wide berth out of respect for me, which makes him think he’s some kind of big shot—unaware that he’s nothing more than a frog in a well!”
“This Mr. Li Yi is a ‘dragon crossing the river’ from the mainland. People like him are born with a never-say-die spirit. A greenhorn like Yunbao, with no real social experience, is no match for him at all.”
“Young Master is going to get the short end of the stick!”
“Haha, what’s wrong with getting the short end of the stick? It’s a blessing in disguise!”
Li Futiao continued, “In Yunbao’s current state, only by taking a few hits will he learn how treacherous the world is. It’s only after suffering a few setbacks that he’ll truly grow up!”
Zhou Xinghua wasn’t stupid; he understood instantly that the chairman intended to use Mr. Li to toughen up the young master.
“But if the young master loses, will you really make him work at Mr. Li’s company?”
“Hahaha, of course! How else will that kid ever learn just how high the sky is and how thick the earth is?”
“I understand, Mr. Zhou!”
“Hmm, by the way, how’s your investigation into this Mr. Li Yi coming along? Logically speaking, someone like him shouldn’t be a complete unknown!” Li Fu asked.
“We’re getting close. I expect we’ll have news soon!”
“Good. Let me know immediately when you have any news!”
“Yes, sir. By the way, Chairman, those last words Mr. Li said…”
“Haha, he’s just playing games. Don’t let it get to you!”
“Yes!”
………
PS: I really can’t write any more today, so just one chapter!