Chapter 1032: If Anyone Crosses Me… I’ll Wipe Them Out

Third Sister had given birth without a hitch, and Li Yi breathed a huge sigh of relief.

To be honest, before Third Sister gave birth, he was genuinely afraid something might happen to her.

It wasn’t that Li Yi was worrying needlessly; it was just that the story template he was following was a bit different, and anything could happen.

Judging by his current situation, he fit the mold of a male-oriented novel protagonist perfectly. According to the conventions of such stories, the protagonist was bound to be a tragic, solitary figure.

The standard setup involves coming from various “famous orphanages”—like the Qidian Orphanage, the Tomato Orphanage, the Shuqi Orphanage, or the Migu Orphanage.

Early on, it’s usually “father dead, mother missing, and an older sister who’s gone missing,” or “daughter living in a doghouse, wife being mistreated…”

In short, the protagonist’s relatives are invariably plagued by misfortune, serving merely as tools for him to show off, humiliate others, and demonstrate his protagonist’s aura.

Back when Jiang Xue went into labor and suddenly faced complications, it scared Li Yi half to death; he was genuinely worried that his third sister might fall victim to the same melodramatic plot.

Fortunately, this time it was a false alarm—mother and child were safe and sound, and Li Yi’s heart finally settled!

After transferring his third sister to a hospital room, he instructed his mother and brother-in-law to take good care of her and the baby, then left.

After all, his eldest sister and her husband were still at home waiting for news, so Li Yi had to go back and update them on the situation to put their minds at ease.

However, as soon as Li Yi reached the entrance of the alley, he spotted a Jeep parked right in front of his house.

Recognizing the familiar license plate, Li Yi’s heart skipped a beat. He immediately got out of the car and hurried toward his house.

Pushing open the living room door, Li Yi saw his eldest brother-in-law and Zhou Rui sitting on the sofa. A teapot and two teacups sat before them, the tea still steaming in the cups.

Seeing Li Yi enter, the two immediately stood up!

“Li Yi, you’re back?”

“Xiao Yi, how’s Nana?”

The first question came from Zhou Rui, and the second from his brother-in-law.

Li Yi first nodded at Zhou Rui, then turned to Yang Wenguang and said, “Brother-in-law, my third sister has given birth. It’s a big, healthy baby boy. Both mother and child are doing well. She’s been moved to a regular ward, and the doctor said she’ll be discharged in a day or two!”

“That’s good… that’s good!”

Then Yang Wenguang said again, “You talk to Director Zhou. I’ll go tell your sister the good news!”

With that, before Li Yi could say a word, he hurriedly left the living room.

Soon, only Li Yi and Zhou Rui remained in the living room.

Li Yi then looked at Zhou Rui and said, “Director Zhou, is there any news on that matter?”

Zhou Rui nodded, then took a file folder from the briefcase he was carrying and handed it to Li Yi.

Li Yi didn’t hesitate; he took the folder and opened it.

Inside was a thick stack of documents. Li Yi pulled them out and began reading immediately.

He had barely skimmed the beginning when the expression on Li Yi’s face changed…

“Director Zhou, is what’s written here true? Is this guy really that devious?”

Zhou Rui nodded and said, “It’s true. I never would have imagined that the son of a general would turn out to be such a scoundrel—a complete and utter scoundrel. It’s simply… simply…”

Having used “absolutely” twice in a row, Zhou Rui couldn’t even think of a word strong enough to describe the extent of Liu Dongping’s depravity.

According to their investigation, Liu Dongping wasn’t just slacking off at work—he was also abusing his position to embezzle public funds on a massive scale and misappropriate both public and private property.

If it were only these matters, it wouldn’t be so bad—for the scions of prominent families, such things are hardly unusual. What was truly unacceptable, however, was that this fellow had rounded up a bunch of small-time thugs, formed a gang called the Dragon-Tiger Gang, and proclaimed himself its leader.

Bolstered by Liu Dongping and the backing of the Liu family, this Dragon-Tiger Gang ran rampant in the southern part of the city, bullying merchants and disrupting their normal operations, harassing men and women, and acting with brazen arrogance. While they weren’t exactly up to every evil under the sun, they were certainly a scourge on the local community.

Most importantly, that bastard Liu Dongping couldn’t keep his hands to himself and was constantly messing around with women.

Moreover, the guy seemed to have a particular kink—he enjoyed forcing women, especially married women, commonly known as “married women.”

Of course, he wouldn’t let pretty young girls slip by either.

So far, the State Security Bureau has identified some seventy or eighty women who have been victimized by that scumbag, and who knows how many more remain unaccounted for.

What’s most infuriating is that every time that scumbag commits his crimes, he takes photos and uses them to threaten the victims into keeping quiet, forcing them to maintain an abnormal relationship with him for a long time.

Of course, over the years, there have been women who weren’t afraid of the Liu family’s power. Some went to the police station to file reports, while others wrote letters of complaint to the relevant authorities.

But Liu Dongping has long since blocked all these avenues—he has people stationed everywhere, from local police stations all the way up to the district bureau, and he even has connections within the disciplinary inspection department.

Often, as soon as a victim filed a report, members of the Dragon Tiger Gang would show up to intimidate her. They used all sorts of underhanded tactics to force her to back down—threatening her with dismissal from her job or even the safety of her family members.

Even the most resolute women, faced with such circumstances, ultimately had no choice but to swallow their pride and endure the humiliation.

If they ever encountered someone who would rather die than give in, they had a solution: they would simply transfer the entire family to a remote area, or even make them vanish without a trace.

In short, although the number of families victimized by that scumbag Liu Dongping and the Dragon-Tiger Gang over the years is beyond count, these bastards have blocked every avenue for the victims to fight back, allowing them to remain at large to this day.

What’s even more chilling is that, out of fear of the Liu family’s power, various departments in Beijing have chosen to remain silent about Liu Dongping’s countless atrocities, which has only emboldened these bastards—until Wang Anguo and Li Gang arrived.

The two of them had been transferred to the capital from the provinces and were not very familiar with the local situation. Moreover, as former military officers, they had a deep-seated hatred for evil.

Upon receiving the report, they naturally refused to turn a blind eye and promptly arrested Liu Dongping.

But what no one could have anticipated was that the bastard not only showed no remorse but, relying on his family’s influence, actually attempted to frame Wang Anguo, Li Gang, and the other investigators—acting as if he were above the law.

After reviewing the files, a cold expression flashed across Li Yi’s face, and he clenched the documents tightly in his hand, as if he were about to explode at any moment.

Seeing this, Zhou Rui immediately said, “We’re still conducting a thorough investigation into this matter and have already gathered substantial evidence. Should we intervene…?”

“No need. I can handle this myself!” Li Yi said in a deep voice.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want Zhou Rui to intervene, but if State Security got involved, the most likely outcome would be a warning from higher-ups to the Liu family—and there was an eighty percent chance the matter would be swept under the rug.

The best-case scenario would be Liu Dongping facing some punishment, but it would absolutely not affect the Liu family standing behind that bastard!

This was absolutely not the outcome Li Yi wanted. He had always believed in the principle of “if they don’t provoke me, I won’t provoke them; but if they do provoke me… I’ll uproot them completely.”

After all, he was taking on the Liu family. If he didn’t finish them off completely, once they recovered, they would undoubtedly spare no effort to exact revenge on him.

Li Yi had no desire to be targeted by such a powerful clan, so he decided: if he was going to do this, he had to uproot the entire Liu family.

As long as his enemies remained alive, he wouldn’t be able to sleep soundly!

“What’s your plan? If you need any help, just ask,” Zhou Rui said.

Li Yi paused to think for a moment, then said, “Director Zhou, have your people keep an eye on Liu Dongping and the key members of the Dragon and Tiger Gang. I need to know their whereabouts at all times!”

“No problem!”

“I’ll handle the rest.”

“Alright…”

……….

In the blink of an eye, three days had passed!

That morning, Li Yi had just arrived at the office. Before he even had a chance to discuss work with Lan Xinyi, he received a call from his eldest sister at home.

His older sister said that her husband, Long Zhanjun, had just called home to say that her water had broken and she had already been taken to the hospital.

Upon hearing the news, Li Yi didn’t hesitate—he immediately had Zhou Wen drive him to the hospital.

When Li Yi arrived at the hospital, he saw his third sister’s husband, Long Zhanjun; his third sister’s mother-in-law, Jiang Yuefang; as well as his own mother, older sister, and older sister’s husband—all were present, with the sole exception of Long Zhanjun’s younger sister, Long Xiaofeng (Ling’er).

As soon as they saw Li Yi walk in, everyone rushed over to greet him.

“How is my sister doing?”

Long Zhanjun replied immediately, “She’s already been taken to the operating room. Dr. Xu from the hospital is personally delivering Nana—you don’t need to worry!”

Li Yi knew that Dr. Xu was the chief physician in the obstetrics and gynecology department at Peking Union Medical College Hospital; she had been the one to assist during his wife’s difficult labor, and in the end, both mother and child had come through it unscathed.

With her on the case, Li Yi felt much more at ease.

“Have you discussed the cesarean section with Dr. Xu?”

“Yes, everything’s been arranged. If the vaginal delivery doesn’t go well, we’ll proceed with a C-section!” said Long Zhanjun.

“That’s good…”

Just then, Long Zhanjun’s mother, Jiang Yuefang, spoke up: “Xiao Yi, just before Nana went into the delivery room, she specifically asked me to tell you not to worry. We’ve made so many preparations—Nana will definitely be fine!”

“Aunt Jiang is right. My sister is bound to be blessed with good fortune—both mother and child will be safe and sound!”

Li Yi said to Jiang Yuefang, though it sounded more like he was trying to cheer himself up.

Li Yi had felt guilty toward his third older sister his entire life. Heaven had given him a second chance at life, and he was determined to do everything in his power to make it up to her. This new chapter had only just begun—nothing could go wrong.

“That’s right, everything will be fine. Hopefully, she’ll give birth to a big, healthy baby boy!” Jiang Yuefang said with a smile.

“Mother, boys and girls are the same. We in the Long family don’t tolerate any preference for sons over daughters!” Long Zhanjun said.

“I was just joking. When it comes to you and Ling’er, haven’t I always treated you both equally? Where’s the favoritism toward boys?” Jiang Yuefang said, glaring at her son.

Hearing this, Li Yi blurted out, “I, for one, hope Third Sister has a girl this time!”

“Why?” Long Zhanjun asked, puzzled.

“Girls are more caring. You and my third sister have both gone through a lot over the years. If you could have a thoughtful, understanding daughter, that would certainly be a source of great happiness. As for sons, we can always have more later!” Li Yi explained.

As he spoke, Li Yi thought of Long Zhanjun and Third Sister from his past life.

The two of them had truly gone through so much and suffered so much in their past life, especially Third Sister.

If it weren’t for that girl Jing Shu always by her side, Li Yi didn’t know if his third sister would have been able to hold on.

Long Zhanjun clearly had no idea what Li Yi was thinking. Upon hearing this, he smiled and said, “I haven’t really thought that far ahead. Sons and daughters are both fine. But you do have a point—we’re sons ourselves, and growing up, we certainly caused our parents no end of worry. Daughters are far less trouble!”

“Exactly. We’re all sons—how could we ever be as thoughtful as daughters!” Li Yi said with a laugh.

Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but laugh, and the tense atmosphere eased considerably.

Just then, Li Yi suddenly remembered the matter involving Li Gang and Long Xiaofeng, and immediately asked, “By the way, Aunt Jiang, do you know about Ling’er and Gangzi’s situation?”

“I do. Ling’er told me a couple of days ago!”

Long Zhanjun glanced at Li Yi, then looked at his mother, and asked, “Mom, Xiao Yi, what are you talking about? What’s wrong with my little sister?”

Li Yi was taken aback for a moment, then asked, “Third Brother-in-Law, you don’t actually not know that Ling’er and Li Gang are dating, do you?”

“Ling’er and that kid Li Gang are dating? What’s going on here? Why haven’t I heard a thing about this?” Long Zhanjun said, looking completely baffled.

Jiang Yuefang immediately replied, “I only found out about this a few days ago and hadn’t had a chance to tell you yet. Besides, you just got back from Pengcheng, so it’s only natural you wouldn’t know.”

“According to Ling’er, she and that Comrade Li have been seeing each other for a while now. His family is planning to come ask for her hand in marriage soon, so you, as her older brother, should be mentally prepared!”

“That bastard Li Gang is only a year younger than me, right? Ling’er is only 19—how could that scumbag bring himself to do that? I’m going to find him…”

Before he could finish, Li Yi cut in: “What good would it do to confront him? They’re in a consensual relationship, and it was Ling’er who asked Li Gang to come propose. You can’t go and do something as stupid as breaking them up!”

“Did Ling’er really ask that bastard to come propose?”

“Of course it’s true. If you don’t believe me, ask my sister!”

“Does Nana know about this too?”

“Yeah, and that kid Li Gang even asked me to step in and propose on his behalf. So you’d better think this through carefully!” Li Yi said.

“Well… then, forget it!”

His own little sister had been spoiled and doted on since childhood; his wife was deeply in love with him and was currently bearing him children; and his brother-in-law had recognized his talent and was incredibly well-connected… Damn it, he couldn’t afford to cross a single one of them.

Seeing this, Li Yi pressed his advantage: “You know Li Gang. Even though he isn’t high up in rank yet, he’s still doing pretty well for his age. If Ling’er marries him, she won’t have to worry about living a hard life.”

“Plus, with you and me around, he wouldn’t dare mistreat Ling’er. He’s definitely a good match—and most importantly, Ling’er likes him herself!”

Hearing this, Long Zhanjun fell deep into thought.

To be honest, aside from being a bit older than his sister, there was really nothing to fault about Li Gang.

He’s tall, handsome, has a stable and respectable job, and comes from a decent family—he’s certainly a worthy match for my little sister.

Thinking this way, Long Zhanjun felt much better!

Especially Li Yi’s last remark—it really hit home for Long Zhanjun. After all, his little sister liked him.

If he really tried to break them up, his little sister would undoubtedly be the first to give him a hard time.

After a brief pause, Long Zhanjun finally sighed and said, “Since Ling’er chose him herself and has Nana’s tacit approval, I won’t object. But if he wants to marry Ling’er, he’d better show some sincerity!”

“Alright, I’ll tell him!”

“Hmm…”

Just as everyone was talking, a woman’s heart-wrenching scream suddenly echoed from the delivery room.

Recognizing it as Third Sister’s voice, Li Yi’s heart immediately began to race.

In the minutes that followed, Third Sister’s cries grew increasingly frantic, and the group waiting outside grew more and more anxious and uneasy.

This went on for nearly three hours, until finally, with the sound of a baby’s loud wail, the cries of pain from the delivery room ceased…

A few minutes later, a female nurse hurried out of the delivery room and called out to the crowd outside, “Where are Li Na’s family members?”

“Here… right here!”

Immediately afterward, Long Zhanjun stammered, “I’m her husband. How is my wife?”

“Congratulations! You’ve been blessed with a son, and both mother and child are doing well!”

“Great… great…”

As he spoke, Long Zhanjun pulled several packets of pre-prepared wedding candies from his pocket and pressed them into the nurse’s hands, all the while repeatedly expressing his gratitude…

The nurse was clearly used to this sort of thing, so she didn’t refuse. After taking the candies, she returned to the delivery room.

A short while later, they wheeled Li Na out on a hospital bed, with a nurse behind her holding the newborn baby…

Back in the ward, Li Yi finally got a look at the little one in the swaddling cloth.

Although the baby’s skin was wrinkled and a bit red, looking just like a little monkey—and quite ugly—

But Li Yi’s heart was filled with excitement—this was his third older sister’s first biological child in two lifetimes.

At the same time, seeing this little monkey reminded Li Yi of Jing Shu. He wondered how she was doing now.

He had previously rewritten the ending where Jing Shu’s parents perished in a fire, saving her family from the brink of collapse.

He had also promoted her father to a leadership position, increasing the family’s income and, to a certain extent, changing little Jing Shu’s life.

However, in her previous life, the little girl had suffered from a very serious illness—congenital heart disease coupled with a severe lung infection—and it was precisely because of that illness that Third Sister had come into her life.

He had actually planned to take Xiao Jingyu to the hospital for a checkup last time, but he couldn’t find a suitable excuse—he certainly couldn’t just tell Xiao Jingyu’s father, “Your daughter is sick!”

If he’d actually said that, Xiao Jingzhu’s bull-headed father might have actually dared to punch him…

Fortunately, Zhou Yang remembered that the little girl’s next episode was due to occur next year, so it seemed he’d have to make another trip to Lin’an in the near future…

……….

The Li Family Courtyard!

Old Chen had left, but Zhou Rui and Old Xu stayed behind.

Li Yi invited the two into his study. As he poured them tea, he smiled and asked, “Did the two of you come here with Old Chen, or did you just happen to run into him?”

Zhou Rui replied immediately, “We came together. This afternoon, Old Chen called Old Xu and me in for a meeting. After the meeting, he asked us to stay and inquired about what you’ve been up to in Hong Kong, and then he brought us over to your place!”

“So that’s how it is. I was wondering why you two came together—I thought something major must have happened!” Li Yi said with a laugh.

“Actually, there was a big deal—thanks to you, both Old Xu and I received commendations this time!” Zhou Rui said.

“Promoted?”

“Not exactly. After all, we were just promoted last year—it wouldn’t happen that quickly. But our benefits have been upgraded!”

“What kind of pay?” Li Yi asked, puzzled.

Old Xu immediately chimed in, “It’s a pay raise. Before, both Zhou and I were on Grade 11 pay, but now we’ve both been bumped up to Grade 10. That means we get an extra 17 yuan a month!”

Only then did Li Yi remember that the current system was a 24-grade pay scale, ranging from the lowest Grade 24 at 45 yuan per month to the highest Grade 1 at 594 yuan per month.

“Just 17 yuan more a month, and that’s a big deal?” Li Yi said with a laugh.

Zhou Rui shook his head and said, “The point isn’t the 17 yuan, but what it signifies. You have to understand that Grade 11 administrative status corresponds to a full division-level or deputy department-level official, while Grade 10 corresponds to deputy corps-level or full department-level status!”

Hearing this, Li Yi immediately understood—didn’t this mean the two of them were not far from becoming full-fledged department-level officials?

After all, all the benefits and perks had already been secured; the only thing missing was the corresponding position. No wonder the two of them were so excited.

“What about Daqiangzi, Awen, and the others?” Li Yi asked.

“They’ve all been promoted. Zhang Ziqiang, Zhou Wen, Yang Zhiwen, and the others have all been promoted one rank, from full company-level to deputy battalion-level. As for our two female comrades, Zhang Feng and Yang Miao, they’ve been promoted from deputy company-level to full company-level!”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Old Xu chimed in, “And Comrade Yang Qian has also been promoted from deputy division-level to full division-level cadre.”

“What about my brother-in-law and Team Leader Yan? Did the higher-ups give them any commendations?” Zhou Yang asked again.

“Yes. Originally, they were all veterans, but now they’ve all been incorporated into the secret division of State Security. Comrades Yang Wenguang, Yan Guangming, and the others are now our official field agents!”

“Agents?”

“That’s right!”

Li Yi’s mouth twitched as he said, “Old Zhou, are you sure this is a reward and not retaliation?”

“What do you mean, retaliation? Our National Security Bureau isn’t just any ordinary agency. Even the elite from the military find it hard to get into our organization… Never mind, you wouldn’t understand anyway. If you get the chance, ask your brother-in-law and hear what he has to say!”

“Haha, isn’t it enough that I believe you? Why are you getting so worked up?” Li Yi said with a laugh.

“By the way, what did you ask Old Chen for? Tell me about it,” Zhou Rui asked.

“How do you even know about this?” Li Yi asked curiously.

“This was actually an opportunity Old Xu and I secured for you. Originally, according to Old Chen’s plan, he was going to promote you one rank and put you in charge of a department. But Old Xu and I knew you weren’t interested in that, so we suggested Old Chen ask for your input. Don’t you think you should thank us for that?” Zhou Rui said.

“If that’s really the case, then I’m incredibly grateful to you both!” Li Yi said earnestly.

“Whether you thank us or not is beside the point. Just tell me, what did you ask Old Chen for?” Zhou Rui asked with a smile.

“Nothing much—just asked for some policy support!” Li Yi replied.

“What a waste! With such a great opportunity, all you asked for was that? You’re squandering a golden chance!” Zhou Rui said with a look of deep regret.

“Come on, Old Zhou. Everyone has their own aspirations. You know Brother Li Yi’s situation better than anyone. Let’s get down to business!” Old Xu said.

“What business?” Li Yi asked immediately.

“I heard from Old Zhou that you have a new investment plan. Is that true?”

“I do have a plan, but I haven’t decided whether to go through with it yet. What’s this? Is the State Administration of Foreign Exchange interested?” Li Yi asked with a smile.

“Exactly. Brother Li Yi, you have no idea how hard my life is right now. The higher-ups just keep signing off on requests, while the ministries below are using those requests to come after me for money. They don’t care at all about where I, the Director of the Foreign Exchange Bureau, am supposed to get all that foreign exchange…”

Seeing Old Xu’s complaints growing louder by the minute, Li Yi hurriedly cut him off: “Hold on… hold on… Old Xu, let’s talk this out calmly. What kind of scene is this—snot and tears all over the place? Someone who doesn’t know the situation might think I’ve been bullying you!”

“But let me be clear from the start: the next phase of investment will be divided into two stages. It’s a long-term project involving significant capital, so you’d better be prepared.”

“How long will the investment cycle be, and how much capital is required?”

“At least six months. And of course, the more capital, the better!” Li Yi replied.

“Alright, I’ll do my best to raise the funds. When do you plan to use them?” Old Xu asked.

“In about six months,” Li Yi replied.

He estimated that in another six months, the exchange rate between the Hong Kong dollar and the US dollar would correct. Although the correction wouldn’t be significant, as long as the capital was substantial enough, the returns would still be quite substantial.

After cashing in on this wave, the privatization reforms in the British Isles would be about to begin. He could go over there for another round of profits then, and by next year, he’d be all set.

“Alright…”

No sooner had Old Xu finished speaking than Zhou Rui suddenly interjected, “I heard about the Liu family situation. What do you plan to do?”

“How come you all know about it? Is there nothing I do that’s a secret to you?” Li Yi frowned.

“Heh, maybe it’s a secret to others, but not to us at State Security!”

Zhou Rui continued, “Actually, if you want to investigate the Liu family, I can help you. Relying on Wang Anguo, Yin Jianping, and the like won’t work at all. Their ranks are too low; at best, they can only scratch the surface, and they’re likely to tip off the target.”

“What? You’re going to help me?”

“Yeah, as long as you’re willing, I can step in anytime!” Zhou Rui said.

“Why… the Liu family isn’t someone to mess with,” Li Yi said.

“The Liu family is indeed a force to be reckoned with, but we’re comrades-in-arms now—we rise and fall together. If you fail, we’ll suffer the consequences too. So your business is our business!” Zhou Rui said with a serious expression.

Hearing this, Li Yi fell silent instantly.

After a long pause, he replied with equal seriousness, “In that case, help me investigate the Liu family—especially Liu Dongping. I want every detail of his misdeeds. Don’t worry about whether there’s evidence or not!”

“Alright, give me three days!”

“Alright!”

“Should we have Wang Anguo and his team hold off for a bit, so as not to alert the Liu family?” Zhou Rui asked.

“No need. I never intended to handle this on the sly anyway. If the Liu family doesn’t know someone’s investigating them, how will they slip up?” Li Yi said coldly.

“You want to lure the snake out of its hole?”

“No, this is called testing the waters!”

Li Yi continued, “Investigating the Liu family’s criminal activities is certainly important, but it’s even more crucial to secure concrete evidence of their crimes. Based on what we know, the Liu family has already forced the victims to flee. It’ll be difficult to track down where they’ve hidden them in the short term.”

“But if they know someone is investigating them, they’re bound to take action—whether it’s checking on the victims or silencing them. In any case, they won’t just sit idly by. At that point, all you have to do is follow the trail, and you might just find those victims.”

“What do we do once we find them?”

“Wait for my instructions!”

“Alright, I’ll make the arrangements right away!”

“Alright…”

………..

In the Li family study, the conversation continued!

After recovering from his shock, Old Chen said with a hint of scrutiny, “Everyone says you’re a whiz at business, but I never expected you to have such strategic vision. It seems we old-timers have all underestimated you!”

Li Yi smiled and replied, “You flatter me, Old Chen. Actually, I don’t think the flaws in the current economic policies are anything anyone can’t see. What our country has no shortage of is smart people—like you, Old Chen, and the Grand Elder, for example.”

“I’m sure you’ve all been aware of this problem for quite some time. It’s just that some issues can’t be resolved simply by recognizing them.”

Old Chen nodded and said, “That’s right. We’ve actually been aware of what you’re saying for some time, but we haven’t had a better solution. After all, we’ve been implementing a planned economy for nearly thirty years now. The ship is too big; we’ve already sailed into deep waters, and it’s not easy to turn back!”

“Our reforms and opening-up, our efforts to attract foreign investment—these were all intended to solve precisely these problems. As you said, we needed a ‘catfish’ to stir things up; that foreign capital was the catfish we deliberately let in. But if I follow your logic, what we’ve brought in isn’t a catfish—it’s a shark!”

Li Yi sighed and said, “Most foreign capital has been accumulated through generations of bloody struggle. They carry the scent of blood in their very bones. By inviting them in, we must anticipate that this will inevitably be an extremely lopsided slaughter—and we will have to pay a tremendous price!”

“Then, in your opinion, what should we do?” Old Chen asked in a grave tone.

“Since this economic war is inevitable, we must not cling to false hopes. We need to prepare for battle in advance—both physically and mentally!”

“Be more specific!” Old Chen said.

“We must not wait until foreign capital has fully entered the market before telling our domestic enterprises that they’ll have to fight these hungry wolves face-to-face—and that only by winning can they survive. That would be like sending green recruits straight into battle; the survival rate is obvious!”

Li Yi continued, “I suggest the government implement a bankruptcy liquidation system for existing enterprises. Any company that is insolvent should be put into bankruptcy liquidation.”

“Bankruptcy liquidation?”

Li Yi nodded and said, “Exactly. Our state-owned enterprises are currently living far too comfortably. It seems to make no difference whether they’re profitable or not. Even if a factory barely makes any money all year round, the salaries of employees and managers are still paid in full, and their benefits remain unchanged. The government backs them up in everything, which has made certain individuals or groups completely reckless!”

“But once the bankruptcy liquidation system is implemented, it will shatter their comfort zone. Not only will it lighten the burden on local governments, but it will also serve as a warning to others—making other enterprises realize that if they don’t find ways to improve their performance today, they might be packing their bags and leaving tomorrow.”

“That makes sense. Go on!” Old Chen said with interest.

“Secondly, we must encourage domestic enterprises to adopt a merger and acquisition system. Stronger companies can acquire weaker ones. This will not only boost corporate vitality but also rapidly create a group of highly competitive large enterprises.”

Li Yi continued, “Additionally, we need to align certain systems and policies with international standards as soon as possible—such as financial systems and patent protection systems.”

“After all, once foreign capital enters the market on a large scale, they won’t play by our rules. If we want to cooperate with them, we’ll have to operate under internationally accepted standards. With all due respect, most of the talent in our domestic enterprises knows nothing about these matters. If we rush into cooperation, we’re bound to suffer major losses.”

Li Yi wasn’t speaking idly on this matter. In the early days of reform and opening-up, we suffered far too many setbacks due to our unfamiliarity with international rules.

We lacked the capacity to manage these matters back then, but now he must remind Old Chen that we absolutely cannot let domestic enterprises repeat the mistakes of the past and go down the same path again.

Old Chen remained silent, instead giving serious thought to what Li Yi had just said.

The more he analyzed it, the more he felt Li Yi’s point made sense.

Although the measures Li Yi proposed would trigger a series of chain reactions,

but compared to the disaster that would result from directly pushing these state-owned enterprises into the market, these chain reactions were more manageable and posed less harm.

As the saying goes, when faced with two evils, one must choose the lesser of the two. Old Chen was immediately persuaded by Li Yi’s words.

After a long pause, Old Chen looked at Li Yi and said, “Your suggestions are very constructive and demonstrate a high level of strategic insight. I’ll go back and report them to the Grand Elder. I’ll also mention your plans to acquire the electronics factory and the wafer fab—I don’t think there will be any major issues. Aside from that, is there anything else you’d like to discuss?”

“Yes, I want a team of people!” Li Yi said.

“What kind of people?”

“People who can get the job done—like college graduates!”

Li Yi then explained, “As you know, our company has made massive investments in China this year. So far, the total amount has exceeded 1 billion yuan, and it will be even more next year.”

“But the immediate problem is that we’re severely understaffed, which is seriously affecting our normal operations. Since there are strict restrictions on foreign-invested companies hiring employees in China, we’ll need your help with this!”

Old Chen nodded and said, “I understand. I’ll issue a special authorization for your company. Your staff can take that document to various universities to recruit people. I’ll have the HR department cooperate with you!”

“That’s wonderful! Thank you so much!”

“No need to thank me—facilitating things for foreign-invested enterprises is simply our duty!”

Old Chen then changed the subject and added, “By the way, your old man told me about the Liu family. How do you plan to handle this? Do you want me to step in and issue a warning to the Liu family?”

Li Yi didn’t answer whether he wanted him to or not. Instead, he looked at Old Chen and asked, “Is the Liu family under your influence?”

“Not exactly, but…”

Before he could finish, Li Yi smiled and said, “Since they aren’t your people, then you shouldn’t get involved in this. I can handle it myself!”

“Oh, the Liu family may not be a top-tier clan, but they’re no pushover. You don’t want the Jiang family’s help, and you don’t want me to warn them either. Are you really planning to handle this on your own?” Old Chen asked with a smile.

“Exactly! You handle your own affairs—even a child knows that!”

Who was Teacher Chen? After a moment’s thought, he saw right through Li Yi’s intentions. He looked at Li Yi and said, “It seems you’re not planning to let this slide, young man. Do you intend to bring the Liu family down completely?”

“That’s the idea. After all, you can’t guard against thieves forever!”

Li Yi continued, “And if you do something wrong, you have to take responsibility. Since the Liu family failed to raise their child properly, I don’t mind helping them with that.”

“You’ve got guts, kid, but let me remind you: always know your limits. Don’t try to be a hero. If things get too tough, just go to your old man. The Liu family is no match for the Jiang family!” Old Chen cautioned.

“Rest assured, sir. I’m not the type to let pride get the better of me. If things get too tough, I’ll definitely tell my parents—and who knows, I might even ask you for help then!” Li Yi said with a smile.

“Alright, but I won’t do this for free. If I help you out once, you’ll have to do me a favor in return!” Old Chen said.

“Don’t talk like that, Old Chen. Even if I didn’t come to you, wouldn’t you still ask me to handle things for you whenever you need help?”

Li Yi continued, “Just tell me straight up what you need. As long as it’s within my power, I won’t turn you down!”

Old Chen chuckled. “You’re a shrewd one, aren’t you? No wonder you’ve built such a big business!”

“But I don’t need you just yet. When the time comes that I really need you to step in, you better not make any excuses to back out!”

“I certainly won’t!”

“Alright then, that’s all for today. If there’s any news regarding what you mentioned earlier, I’ll have someone let you know!”

“Got it…”

…………

The Li Family Courtyard!

Seeing the familiar license plates at his doorstep, Li Yi’s expression betrayed a hint of shock.

As everyone knows, the license plates on officials’ vehicles are carefully chosen, usually reflecting their rank.

A license plate starting with “Jing” and positioned so high up in the sequence meant the holder’s rank was certainly no small matter.

And Li Yi had actually seen this particular car before—it was none other than Old Chen’s vehicle.

Clearly, Old Chen had come to his house!

With that thought, Li Yi couldn’t help but quicken his pace as he walked toward the courtyard.

As soon as he stepped through the gate, Li Yi noticed several unfamiliar faces in the courtyard—clearly there to protect Old Chen.

As soon as Li Yi and his companions pushed open the gate, someone immediately stepped forward to stop them.

Only after verifying Li Yi’s identity did they let him in.

Upon entering, Li Yi immediately spotted Old Chen and Jiang Xue chatting on the sofa, with Zhou Rui and Old Xu from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange sitting beside them.

“Old Chen, Director Zhou, Director Xu—what brings you all here?” Li Yi asked with a smile.

Old Chen smiled and said, “You’ve finally made it back, young man. We’ve been waiting for you for over an hour!”

“I’m truly sorry. I didn’t know you were coming today, and I ran into some issues that delayed my return. Please forgive me,” Li Yi explained.

“It’s fine. We all know you’re busy—no need to explain!”

Then Old Chen continued, “I came over today mainly to discuss some matters with you. Find a quiet place!”

“Yes, sir. Please follow me!”

With that, Li Yi led Old Chen toward the study, while Jiang Xue, Zhou Rui, and the others tactfully stayed behind.

Once in the study, the two sat down across from each other at a small round table.

Li Yi was about to pour some tea, but Old Chen stopped him: “I’ve already had plenty of tea out there. Don’t go to all that trouble, young man. Let’s get down to business first!”

“Alright, whatever you have to say, just tell me—I’m all ears!” Li Yi replied.

“Hmm, I’ve already heard Zhou’s report on your work in Hong Kong. You did a fine job—the higher-ups are very pleased and specifically sent me here to commend you both!” Old Chen said.

“It’s just my duty…”

Before he could finish, Old Chen spoke again: “Enough with the modesty. I know you’re not interested in a government post and you’re not short on money, so I’m here to ask what kind of reward you’d like.”

“Are you saying I can ask for anything I want?” Li Yi asked, somewhat surprised.

“In theory, that’s true—but only if what you’re asking for is reasonable and lawful!” said Old Chen.

Li Yi thought for a moment and said, “Old Chen, there are indeed two things I’d like to ask for your help with, so I’ll just get them both out of the way!”

“Go ahead!”

“Old Chen, I’d like to acquire the Beijing Electronics Factory and the wafer fab, but I’m running into some trouble with this right now. I’d appreciate your help!” Li Yi said.

Old Chen glanced at Li Yi, then said, “I actually came here today to ask you about this very matter. According to the data reported by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, your company has acquired 17 state-owned enterprises in less than 10 months, spanning the daily chemical products, food, beverage, and other manufacturing sectors.”

“Now you’re looking to acquire companies in the electronics and semiconductor sectors. Could you share your thoughts on this with me?”

Li Yi nodded and said, “Certainly. We have only one goal in acquiring those state-owned enterprises: to revitalize our national industry and enhance the competitiveness of our country’s products!”

Upon hearing this answer, Old Chen’s expression visibly faltered; clearly, this response had taken him by surprise.

He had originally assumed that Li Yi’s acquisition of so many state-owned enterprises, along with his efforts to upgrade and modernize their products, was simply for profit.

But he never imagined that Li Yi’s purpose was so noble and grand.

Quickly regaining his composure, Old Chen replied, “Oh, well then, tell me—how do you plan to revitalize our national industry?”

Li Yi did not respond directly to Old Chen’s question, but instead said with a serious expression, “Old Chen, are you familiar with the ‘catfish effect’?”

“The catfish effect?”

Seeing the puzzled look on Old Chen’s face, Li Yi knew he had his answer.

He then explained, “Norwegians love sardines, especially live ones. Live fish fetch a much higher price in the market than dead ones, so fishermen go to great lengths to bring live sardines back to port.”

“But to their frustration, despite all their efforts, most of the sardines still suffocate and die along the way.”

“Later, someone placed a catfish—which feeds primarily on sardines—into the fish tanks. The sardines scattered in all directions upon seeing the catfish, which solved the oxygen deprivation problem. As a result, most of them returned to the fishing port alive and kicking. That is the ‘catfish effect.’”

“Right now, due to our long-standing implementation of a planned economy, almost all state-owned enterprises have become accustomed to a ‘produce-to-order’ model. Overall market vitality is severely lacking, especially among state-owned enterprises, which urgently need a ‘catfish’ to stimulate them.”

Although Li Yi knew this story was full of holes and didn’t hold up to scrutiny,

After all, there are no catfish in the Atlantic, and if the sardines wanted to live longer, all they’d need to do is stay put—they certainly wouldn’t need a catfish meddling in their affairs.

But to help Old Chen grasp the essence of this management effect more intuitively, he still used this story—after all, he was conveying the principle, not the story itself.

Surely a heavyweight like Old Chen would grasp the essence of it.

Sure enough, as an absolute authority in China’s economic sphere, Old Chen grasped Li Yi’s meaning the moment the story ran through his mind.

“You want to be that catfish?”

“Exactly!”

Li Yi continued, “Old Chen, I’m sure you’re aware that the biggest problem with state-owned enterprises is that they’re bloated with staff, lack vitality, and have no drive—the entire organization is like a stagnant pool.”

“More importantly, it seems the country has been led astray by certain unhealthy trends—and that’s a deadly serious matter!”

Old Chen looked at Li Yi and said, “Don’t beat around the bush, young man. Spare no details—what exactly are these unhealthy trends?”

“For example, ‘it’s better to buy than to make, and better to rent than to buy.’ Making things ourselves might be difficult, but once we’ve mastered the process, we’ll have that technology firmly in our own hands and will never be at the mercy of others!”

Li Yi continued, “On the other hand, whether we buy or rent from others, we only temporarily possess the right to use certain equipment and technology—not ownership. Once the situation changes, we’ll be at their mercy, and the end result will only be fattening up a bunch of new-era compradors hiding behind the banner of patriotism.”

Old Chen paused to reflect for a moment, then said, “Those are strong words—don’t go around saying things like that lightly!”

“I understand what you mean, and I can’t control such matters. My point is that we must get these state-owned units and enterprises moving now; we can’t let them continue to sit idly by. Otherwise, it won’t be long before we have to pay a heavy price to keep them afloat,” Li Yi said.

Old Chen nodded thoughtfully and said, “Go on.”

Li Yi immediately continued, “We’ve only just begun our reform and opening-up, and foreign investment hasn’t entered the market in significant quantities yet, so the impact on these state-owned enterprises isn’t too severe.”

“Once foreign capital floods into our country in large quantities, faced with their advantages in capital and technology, I’m afraid very few of our state-owned enterprises will be able to compete. In the end, they’ll be utterly crushed by the forces of the market economy. Can you imagine what that scene will look like?”

Old Chen sucked in a sharp breath. As someone with a background in economics, he couldn’t bear to imagine such a scenario.

If foreign capital were to flood into our country on a massive scale, and our domestic industries and state-owned enterprises were unable to defeat their competitors, the inevitable consequence would be that foreign capital would grow increasingly powerful, while a large number of state-owned enterprises would fail in the face of competition.

The business world is like a battlefield; defeat in business warfare means bankruptcy and closure, or being acquired by the competition.

If it were just one or two companies, it wouldn’t be so bad. But if tens of thousands of enterprises were to collapse simultaneously, countless workers would be laid off. Millions—even tens of millions—of young and able-bodied workers would lose their income, becoming a source of social instability. One misstep, and this could very well shake the very foundations of the nation…

For a moment, even Old Chen—who had weathered many storms—was startled by the terrifying images that flashed through his mind…

………

The photo session took place at a state-run photo studio in the city center. The veteran photographer there, surnamed Han, had taken photos of the children before!

Thanks to his solid skills and knack for entertaining the children during photo sessions, Jiang Xue chose this studio again.

The photo session went smoothly, and all the photos were taken in less than an hour.

After agreeing on the number of prints and a pickup time, the group left the studio.

However, after leaving the studio, the elders didn’t head home; instead, they asked Li Yi to take them to see his company.

They all knew that Li Yi’s business was massive; the venture that had distributed over 200 million yuan in dividends to the Jiang and Ye families was merely a tiny part of his business empire.

So, since they had the time today, both of them wanted to see Li Yi’s company for themselves—to discover just what kind of cash cow it really was.

Naturally, Li Yi wouldn’t refuse the two elders’ request.

He immediately had Zhang Ziqiang and Zhou Wen lead the way, and they set off with the motorcade toward the branch office.

Although it was a day off, when Li Yi and the others arrived at the branch office, there were still a large number of employees hard at work.

Upon asking around, they learned that due to the overwhelming workload, the branch employees hadn’t had a day off in two months; weekend overtime like this was the norm at the company.

Although the two elders, who had lived through the war-torn years, didn’t object to overtime, hearing that the staff hadn’t had a day off in two months still made them frown.

This inevitably reminded them of how capitalists in the old society exploited the working class. They had worked hard for most of their lives to help workers and farmers rise up and take control of their own lives; they certainly didn’t want their own people to end up becoming capitalists. To them, this was an insult—something completely unacceptable…

Seeing this, Li Yi immediately realized the two elders had misunderstood. He promptly called Lan Xinyi over and asked her to explain the situation to them.

Only after hearing that the company paid overtime wages did the two elders’ brows finally relax.

To them, working overtime for free was exploitation; but getting paid for overtime… that was perfectly fine!

And when they learned that Xingchen Company paid ordinary employees 300 yuan a month, along with various benefits and protections, they were both taken aback.

After all, the average wage for ordinary workers at major state-owned factories was only around fifty yuan.

And that was after a raise this year—previously, a third-level technician only made 36 yuan a month.

Even for veterans like them—with five or six years of service—the monthly pay was only 382 yuan. They never expected that even a random ordinary employee here earned as much as they did.

As for the leadership, their salaries were astronomically high.

Especially that woman surnamed Lan—according to her own account, her annual salary was as high as 1 million Hong Kong dollars, which converted to over 300,000 RMB (at the exchange rate of 3:1 at the time). That’s about 30,000 RMB a month—equivalent to 100 times what they earned…

This revelation left the two old men nearly speechless; they didn’t know what to say.

Li Yi immediately explained the company’s salary structure to them. Star Investment was a Hong Kong-funded enterprise, and salaries were set according to Hong Kong Island standards.

On Hong Kong Island, the average salary for ordinary employees ranges from 900 to 1,500 Hong Kong dollars. In industries like investment and finance, salaries are higher, typically reaching over 2,000 Hong Kong dollars, with top performers earning around 3,000.

So a monthly salary of 300 yuan for an ordinary employee here isn’t actually that much; salary levels at foreign-funded companies are generally like this.

Stellar Company’s pay is slightly higher, but it’s not out of line!

After hearing Li Yi’s explanation, the two elderly gentlemen were still unsettled; they were once again struck by just how vast the gap was between China’s economic development and that of other countries.

Li Yi didn’t try to console them; the gap was very real, and no amount of explanation would change that.

Afterward, accompanied by Li Yi, Lan Xinyi, and others, the two elderly gentlemen gained a detailed understanding of the branch office’s operations.

The more they learned, the more astonished they became.

Their grandson-in-law’s company was nothing like the factories they were familiar with. The work methods, management practices, and salary structures were all entirely new to them, and there were many things they simply couldn’t comprehend.

The scale of the operation, in particular, left them speechless.

Although they had previously heard through the grapevine that their grandson-in-law’s business was no small operation, they never imagined it would be on such a massive scale.

Setting aside overseas operations, domestic investments alone had reached over a billion yuan in just a single year.

Currently, there were over two thousand people working directly for their grandson-in-law, and even more working for him indirectly.

At the same time, they finally understood why this young man, despite his obvious capabilities, remained so low-key.

Given his current situation, it really wasn’t wise to be too high-profile; otherwise, he’d easily become a sitting duck!

After leaving the branch office, it was almost dinnertime.

On a whim, Li Yi decided to treat the two elders to a meal at a hot pot and barbecue restaurant.

The elders were aware of the restaurants he had opened and had heard that business was booming, so they were curious to see just how popular they were and readily agreed.

Li Yi didn’t take the elders to the nearest Dong’an Market branch, because he knew it would likely be packed at that hour, with no seats available.

So, he took them to the Beiguancun branch!

Although it was in the suburbs, the restaurant was just as packed thanks to nearby workplaces like the Second State-Owned Cotton Mill, the Parts Factory, and the Foundry.

The two elders gained a whole new appreciation for their grandson-in-law’s business acumen. After all, while there are countless people opening restaurants these days, very few can make a restaurant this popular.

After learning all this, the two elderly gentlemen realized they needed to plan ahead.

Otherwise, if they were to pass away, their grandson-in-law’s vast business empire might well become a tempting target for others…

………….

Goldfish Alley. The Wang Family!

That afternoon, after dropping off Jiang Xue and the two elderly gentlemen, Li Yi drove to Wang Anguo’s home in the capital.

Wang Anguo’s home was located in Goldfish Alley near Dong’an Market. It was a large courtyard with three courtyards, said to have once been the residence of a Grand Secretary during the Qing Dynasty.

When Li Yi arrived, An Hong and Wang Anguo were both at home.

In addition to the couple, Li Gang and two middle-aged men whom Li Yi didn’t recognize were also at the Wang residence. All of them were wearing police uniforms and were seated in a circle in the living room, seemingly discussing something.

After welcoming Li Yi into the house, Wang Anguo immediately pointed to the two middle-aged men beside Li Gang and said, “Brother Li Yi, this is Yin Jianping, the political instructor at our station, and Wu Yue, the deputy chief. Because of me, they’ve both been suspended from duty as well!”

He then turned to Yin Jianping and Wu Yue and said, “Brother Li Yi’s identity is top-secret, so I’m afraid I can’t tell you more, but please believe me—he’s the only one who can save us now!”

Yin Jianping and Wu Yue were both taken aback. Although they hadn’t worked with Wang Anguo for very long, they knew him well enough to realize he wasn’t the type to make baseless claims.

Since he said the young man’s identity was classified, he certainly wasn’t trying to deceive them.

The two immediately stepped forward to greet Li Yi!

Li Yi responded politely in kind; since he’d been dismissed from his post alongside Wang Anguo and Li Gang, these two clearly had impeccable character.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Yin Jianping asked curiously, “Comrade Li Yi, I assume you’re aware of our situation. I’d like to know how you plan to save us?”

Li Yi replied calmly, “That depends on what you’re asking for.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what I said.”

Li Yi then explained, “If you simply want your disciplinary actions revoked and your positions restored, a single phone call could settle it—though…”

“But what?” Yin Jianping asked urgently.

“But doing so would leave the underlying issues unresolved. You’ll inevitably face difficulties at work in the future. If the other side finds a way to pin something on you, you’ll still be disciplined—or even dismissed!” Li Yi said.

“So do we have other options?” Yin Jianping asked.

“Yes. You could also choose to uproot the problem entirely—eradicate Liu Dongping and the forces behind him, wipe them out completely, and eliminate the threat once and for all!”

As he spoke, Li Yi’s tone was icy, his gaze piercing, and he exuded a powerful aura. He stood like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath, making it difficult for anyone to look him in the eye.

His words left everyone in the room wide-eyed and stunned…

……….

Chapter 1,027: Who Says Conviction Always Requires Evidence?

In the Wang family’s living room, the conversation continued!

Upon hearing that Li Yi intended to uproot Liu Dongping and the entire Liu family behind him, Yin Jianping and Wu Yue were both horrified, looking at Li Yi as if he were a fool.

They didn’t know Li Yi or his background, but they knew just how powerful the Liu family was.

Never mind that the Liu family had a serving general stationed at their home; the network formed by Liu Dongping and his henchmen alone was not something an ordinary person could easily provoke, let alone uproot entirely!

Wang Anguo and Li Gang, however, reacted quite differently.

Although they too wore expressions of shock, beyond mere surprise, their reactions were dominated by delight and excitement.

Yin Jianping and Wu Yue were unaware of Li Yi’s true identity, but they knew full well that the Jiang and Ye families stood behind him.

More importantly, they had been working with Li Yi for three years and knew his character inside out.

Li Yi was a man who always kept a low profile, deeply versed in the principle that a dragon in hiding should not reveal itself. Even when he was absolutely certain of something, he would often only reveal seven or eight parts of it—in plain terms, he was very cautious.

But whatever he set out to do, not a single one of those endeavors had been abandoned halfway through.

Since he’d vowed to uproot the Liu family, the Liu family was as good as finished.

At that moment, Wu Yue seemed to snap out of his reverie. He looked at Li Yi and said, “Comrade Li Yi, you may not be fully aware of the Liu family’s situation. Let me tell you…”

Before he could finish, Wang Anguo hurriedly cut him off, saying, “Old Wu, Brother Li Yi is well aware of the Liu family’s situation!”

“He knows everything… then why did he say that? Could it be that he really can uproot the Liu family?”

Wang Anguo didn’t answer his question. Instead, he turned to Li Yi and said, “Brother, did your old man give the word?”

Li Yi nodded and said, “Yes. The old man’s message is that we should go ahead and do whatever it takes. As long as he’s here, the Liu family won’t be able to cause any major trouble!”

“R—really?”

Wang Anguo’s voice trembled slightly, his face brimming with excitement.

He knew all too well just how formidable the Jiang family patriarch’s prestige and standing were within the military. Even now that he had stepped back from the center of power, he was still far beyond what the Liu family patriarch could possibly match.

Not to mention that the second and third generations of the Jiang family were also doing quite well; the Jiang family’s overall strength hadn’t weakened at all because the old patriarch had stepped down—on the contrary, it was becoming more vibrant and dynamic.

With the old patriarch’s backing, they were practically invincible against the Liu family.

Seeing Wang Anguo’s expression, Yin Jianping and Wu Yue felt a stir within them. Their eyes darted back and forth between Li Yi and Wang Anguo several times in quick succession, filled with confusion.

“Old Wang, when you say ‘the Patriarch,’ you mean…”

Hearing this, Wang Anguo was immediately at a loss.

The relationship between Li Yi and the Jiang family patriarch was strictly confidential; he couldn’t just blurt it out to others, even if he trusted Yin Jianping and Wu Yue.

For the moment, he could only cast a pleading glance at Li Yi beside him.

Li Yi clearly understood Wang Anguo’s predicament. He smiled and said, “Since you two are both Brother Wang’s friends, you’re practically family. It’s fine to tell you. My old man’s surname is Jiang. He used to serve in the military, but he’s retired now.”

Surnamed Jiang, served in the military, and has retired!

With these clues stacked together and carefully pieced together, the identity of this mysterious Old Master Jiang became crystal clear.

“Whoa… Could it be that Old Jiang who took out that Japanese lieutenant general back in the day?” Yin Jianping said, his face filled with astonishment.

“That’s right—that was indeed the old man’s crowning achievement!”

Li Yi then changed the subject and added, “Although the old man agreed to step in if necessary, I never intended to ask him to do so!”

“You… you plan to wipe out the Liu family on your own?” Wang Anguo asked in a low voice.

“Exactly. The Liu family is too insignificant to warrant disturbing the Old Master!” Li Yi said haughtily.

“Brother Li Yi, I know you never fight a battle without a sure chance of victory. Just tell us exactly what you plan to do, and we’ll do everything in our power to support you!” Wang Anguo said firmly.

Li Yi paused to think for a moment, then said, “This whole affair started because of that good-for-nothing Liu Dongping, so the breakthrough naturally lies with him. How’s the investigation I asked you to look into coming along?”

Wang Anguo replied immediately, “We reviewed some files in the archives this morning and discovered that crucial evidence from that previous case has vanished—including that scumbag’s testimony and the victim’s statement. It was clearly destroyed deliberately.”

“Furthermore, the young girl who was assaulted has moved away. According to what we learned from her neighbors, her family left immediately after returning from the police station that day. No one knows where they went!”

Upon hearing this, the others in the room fell silent.

They were all smart people; it was obvious to them that someone was cleaning up after Liu Dongping.

Clearly, the people backing Liu Dongping knew full well that certain matters couldn’t withstand scrutiny. To avoid giving anyone ammunition or leaving themselves open to criticism, they had to eliminate every piece of incriminating evidence.

Li Yi’s lips curled slightly as he said with a cold smile, “Destroying evidence, forcing the victim to flee the capital in the dead of night—the Liu family really does act with impunity!”

Wang Anguo sighed and said, “With no evidence and the victim nowhere to be found, it’s going to be no easy task for us to bring down the Liu family.”

“It’s certainly difficult, but not impossible!”

Li Yi then changed the subject and continued, “Brother Wang, that bastard is so brazen—clearly, this isn’t the only crime he’s committed. You guys should go to the archives and do a thorough search to see what other cases involve Liu Dongping.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Yin Jianping immediately replied, “I’ve been working at the station for over twenty years, so I’m quite familiar with Liu Dongping’s history. That beast has been getting into fights and bullying people—both men and women—since he was sixteen or seventeen. Over the years, there have been at least dozens of girls he’s abused.”

“Although most of these young women chose to endure their suffering out of fear of the Liu family’s influence, there were certainly some strong-willed girls who chose to report it to the police. But without exception, just like this time, the cases were swept under the rug.”

“Even if we uncover how many crimes that guy has committed, I doubt there’ll be any evidence strong enough to convict him. In the end, we still won’t be able to bring that scoundrel to justice…”

Before he could finish, Li Yi interjected with a cold laugh: “Who says you need evidence to convict someone?”

“But… without evidence, we really can’t convict him. Even if the suspect confesses, it’s not enough!” Yin Jianping said.

Li Yi smiled and said, “Just do what I’ve told you to do. Don’t worry about the rest—I’ll handle it!”

“Alright, leave it to us!” Wang Anguo said.

Li Yi nodded and added, “For Liu Dongping to show such contempt for the law and retaliate against you so swiftly, he clearly has someone inside the police station backing him up.”

“While you’re at it over the next few days, find out who Liu Dongping’s people are within the police department, then make a list. This time, we’ll get rid of all that trash at once!”

“Alright, that’s easy to find out. A little digging will reveal exactly who’s involved!” Wang Anguo said.

“All right, get to work on this immediately. Notify me the moment you have any leads. Then I’ll show you exactly how I’m going to take down the Liu family!” Li Yi said.

“Got it…”

After discussing the details for a while longer, Li Yi finally left the Wang residence as dusk fell.

However, as soon as Li Yi returned home, he saw one or two cars parked in front of his house.

When Li Yi got a clear look at the license plates, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine…

……….

By the time Li Yi and Jiang Xue arrived at the Jiang family’s old residence, his mother-in-law and the old man had already made preparations.

They had called the old residence beforehand, and of course, they hadn’t forgotten to notify the Ye family as well.

However, Li Yi hadn’t mentioned anything about the dividend distribution; he’d simply said he wanted to bring his mother-in-law and the two elders over to take some family photos with them.

Seeing Li Yi and Jiang Xue walk in, the old man immediately chuckled, “It’s just a photo—why do you have to drag an old man like me along?”

Jiang Xue smiled and said, “Grandpa, we’re taking a family portrait this time, so naturally we had to include you. Plus, I invited Grandpa and the others. And most importantly, there’s a surprise!”

“What kind of surprise?”

“Hehe, you’ll find out in a moment. Let’s get going first—we still need to pick up Grandpa!” Jiang Xue said.

“Alright, let’s go then!”

With that, the group left the Jiang family’s old mansion and headed straight for the Ye family’s old mansion.

After picking up Old Master Ye, a convoy of five cars headed straight for the bank An Hong had mentioned…

Downtown, at an Agricultural Bank branch!

An Hong was in the VIP lounge handling the dividend distribution procedures. After all, with over 500 million yuan involved, she naturally wouldn’t be processing it in the main lobby like an ordinary customer.

Beside An Hong, Jiang Longcheng and Ye Jianhua watched the busy staff with eager expressions.

They were just waiting for An Hong to finish the paperwork so they could receive their massive dividend of 130 million yuan.

That was 130 million yuan! They had been so excited about this dividend that they hadn’t slept a wink the night before.

The two watched eagerly as An Hong signed her name on the documents, their hearts swelling with anticipation—this meant the bank’s procedures were now complete.

Now they just had to wait for their brother-in-law to arrive, and the bank would transfer the money to them.

Of course, with hundreds of millions of yuan involved, the bank certainly couldn’t hand each of them 13 million in cash.

Setting aside whether the bank could even produce that much cash on the spot, even if it could, it wouldn’t be done that way—it would be far too conspicuous.

Although the year of issue on the back of the fourth series of banknotes is listed as 1980, this series was actually not issued until April 27, 1987. The primary currency in circulation at the time was still the third series, with the 10-yuan note being the highest denomination.

Under these circumstances, 130 million yuan in cash would require a truck to transport it.

Unless there is a special requirement, such a large sum of money would not be settled in cash.

Typically, for such large transactions, banks handle the process internally by first transferring the funds to the customer’s account—either a passbook or a certificate of deposit.

The customer can then use the passbook or certificate to withdraw the funds at the bank.

Of course, the bank charges a service fee for this process.

After signing the documents, the bank president immediately said, “Comrade An, we’ve already coordinated everything here. Once your team is fully assembled, you can proceed with the next steps, but be sure to double-check the payee’s information!”

“Rest assured, President Xu, there will definitely be no mistakes!” An Hong said with a smile.

“So when will we proceed with the next steps?”

“Just a moment—we’re still waiting for one more person to arrive…”

Before she could finish, a loud voice rang out from outside: “No need to wait—we’re here!”

Hearing Li Yi’s familiar voice, An Hong, Jiang Longcheng, and Ye Jianhua all lit up with joy.

Jiang Longcheng and Ye Jianhua, in particular, jumped up from their chairs in excitement and headed toward the door to greet their brother-in-law.

However, the moment they opened the VIP room door, the smiles on their faces froze.

“Grandfather…”

Seeing the two family patriarchs standing right there with Li Yi at the doorway, Jiang Longcheng and Ye Jianhua felt as if they’d been struck by a thunderbolt—or like eating an ice pop in the dead of winter, leaving them with a chill that ran straight through their bones.

Li Yi looked at the expressions on their faces—a mix of shock and a hint of resentment—and almost burst out laughing.

If he hadn’t been mindful of their feelings, Li Yi would have loved to ask: “Surprised? Unexpected?”

Old Man Jiang smiled warmly at Jiang Longcheng and said, “Longcheng, I heard you’ve struck it rich again. How do you plan to spend it?”

“Grandpa… well, I haven’t actually received it yet!” Jiang Longcheng said with a grimace.

He knew this money was probably as good as gone, and the look he shot Li Yi was full of resentment.

Li Yi hurriedly explained, “Third Brother, Jianhua, this has nothing to do with me. I didn’t invite the two old gentlemen here, and I never mentioned anything about the dividend in front of them…”

Before he could finish, Old Man Ye beside him shouted, “Xiao Yi, why are you explaining anything to these two good-for-nothings? If it weren’t for Xiao Xue inviting us over today to take photos and us just happening to run into this, we really would’ve been fooled by these two little rascals!”

Well, so it turns out my own little sister was behind this!

Immediately, both men shot Jiang Xue a look of resentment.

Jiang Xue hurriedly explained, “Brothers, I just let it slip. You don’t blame me, do you?”

“Xiao Xue, you did the right thing. If they dare blame you, Grandpa will break their damn legs!”

Ye Jianhua quickly interjected, “Grandpa, how could we possibly blame Little Xue? Besides, we never planned to keep this money for ourselves. Once we get our share, we’ll hand it over to the family—and give you and Grandpa Jiang a nice surprise.”

“Do you think I’ll believe that?” Old Man Ye retorted.

Ye Jianhua: !@#￥%

At that moment, Jiang Xue, who was standing beside the old man, smiled and said, “Grandpa, Grandpa, let’s hurry inside and get this done. We still have to go to the photo studio later!”

“Xiao Xue is right—we can’t let this slip!”

With that, the two elders, flanked by Li Yi and the others, entered the bank’s VIP lounge.

An Hong and Bank Manager Xu, who were already inside, immediately stood up and bowed to the two elders.

Then, An Hong cast a sympathetic glance at Jiang Longcheng and Ye Jianhua before addressing the two elders: “How do you two think this money should be divided?”

Old Master Jiang looked at Jiang Longcheng and said, “Longcheng, I heard you’re set to receive 130 million this time?”

“It’s not that much—it’s 129.82 million!” Jiang Longcheng replied, keeping his head bowed.

“How about this: we’ll leave you the change as pocket money. Is that alright?”

“The change… Two hundred and ninety million isn’t bad…”

“What are you thinking? I’m talking about that 820,000!” Old Master Jiang said, his tiger-like eyes wide open.

“Grandpa, that’s a bit harsh. So after working our butts off for half a year, all we end up with is a pittance?” Jiang Longcheng said with a look of resentment.

“Hard work, my foot. Don’t think this old man doesn’t know—you two good-for-nothings didn’t lift a finger. That money was all given to you by Xiaoyi on purpose!” Old Man Jiang retorted.

“Grandpa… even if that’s the case, you can’t just give us a single hair from a whole cow!” Jiang Longcheng said, unwilling to accept it.

Seeing this, Li Yi immediately interjected, “Grandpa, it really doesn’t make sense to leave Third Brother with just a pittance out of all this money. It’ll only dampen his enthusiasm. Why don’t you reconsider?”

“Well, how much do you think we should set aside for him, then?” Old Man Jiang asked, looking at Li Yi.

“How about we set it at 13 million? And let’s make it a rule from now on: no matter how much they get, they keep only 10% for themselves and hand the rest over to the family. What do you think, Grandpa?” Li Yi suggested.

Hearing this, Jiang Longcheng and Ye Jianhua immediately shot Li Yi a grateful look.

Confirmed—he’s one of us!

They knew their old man’s temperament all too well. If their brother-in-law hadn’t spoken up for them, they would’ve likely only walked away with a fraction of the money today.

Although 13 million seemed like a pittance compared to the massive 130 million, it was certainly better than being given just 820,000!

“Since Little Yi says so, let’s go with that!”

The old man then changed the subject and added, “But listen up, you rascal. Once you get your hands on the money, don’t go squandering it recklessly. And don’t spend all day eating and drinking with those good-for-nothing friends of yours—BB Xi and TR. Get some real work done!”

“Fine, fine, fine… I’ll do as you say, okay?”

Once the Jiang family had set the rules, the Ye family naturally followed suit, finalizing the distribution plan for Ye Jianhua’s dividend.

Immediately afterward, under the resentful stares of Jiang Longcheng and Ye Jianhua, the bank swiftly transferred the funds to their respective accounts, successfully completing the dividend distribution.

Once the dividend distribution was over, Li Yi and Jiang Xue finally took the two cheerful old men straight to the state-run photo studio in town…

……….

Late at night, all was quiet!

In the main hall of the Li family’s courtyard, a passionate encounter had just come to an end.

After the passion, the two lay nestled together under the covers, both panting heavily.

Although they had already “had their fill” last night, a young couple who’d been pent up for so many days couldn’t possibly be satisfied with just one or two rounds, so after putting the kids to bed tonight, the two of them got busy again.

After lying on the heated bed for a while to catch their breath, Jiang Xue suddenly asked, “Do you have any work plans for tomorrow?”

Li Yi thought for a moment and replied, “I don’t have any work scheduled…”

Before he could finish, Jiang Xue cut in, “Since you don’t have any plans, then come out with me and the kids!”

“What for? Don’t you have school tomorrow?”

“It’s Sunday, so I have the day off. I want you to come with the three of us to take some photos on the street!” Jiang Xue said.

“Take photos?”

“Yes, Yunjin and Yunrui are about to turn two. It’s time to take some photos to commemorate the occasion!” Jiang Xue said.

“But… we have our own camera at home. Haven’t we taken plenty of pictures already?”

“That’s different. The ones we take are just casual snaps. This time, we’re going to a professional studio in the city to have a pro take our pictures. We’ll even bring some special props—like fake horses and pandas…”

Hearing this, Li Yi immediately understood—it seemed the girl was planning to have him take some “artistic portraits.”

Once he’d figured that out, Li Yi immediately said, “Alright, I’ll go with you tomorrow, but first we have to take care of something more important this morning.”

“What is it?” Jiang Xue asked curiously.

“Splitting the money!”

“Split the money?”

“That’s right!”

Li Yi then explained in detail to Jiang Xue that the trade show project was about to undergo its second major dividend payout.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xue said excitedly, “So you’re saying we’ll get over 100 million again tomorrow?”

“Yeah, to be precise, it’s 129 million. Once the money comes in tomorrow, I’ll deposit it into your passbook!” Li Yi said.

“You’re… giving it to me again? I already have over 100 million in my passbook. Maybe… maybe…”

Before Jiang Xue could finish, Li Yi smiled and said, “We’re a team—it makes no difference whose account it goes into. Don’t feel pressured.”

“Hmm…”

Suddenly, as if something had occurred to her, Jiang Xue’s expression froze for a moment. Then, looking at Li Yi, she asked, “Does that mean Third Brother and Brother Jianhua will also get over 100 million?”

“That’s right!”

“Do Grandpa and my maternal grandfather know about this?”

Li Yi smiled and said, “They probably don’t know. Third Brother told me not to mention it to Grandpa, and I promised him I wouldn’t bring it up with him on my own.”

Jiang Xue smiled and said, “I was thinking of bringing Mom and Grandpa along for the photo shoot tomorrow. What do you think?”

Hearing this, Li Yi immediately knew what the girl was up to and said, “Aren’t you afraid Third Brother and Jianhua will get upset if you do that?”

“I’m not worried. For one thing, this is a task Dad specifically assigned to me, and for another, it’s actually for Third Brother and Jianhua’s own good.”

Jiang Xue continued, “You know exactly what Third Brother and Brother Jianhua are like. When we gave them a million before, they got so full of themselves—spending money left and right. Xinyao and Sister-in-law Lin Ying have complained to me several times about how they’re wasting money.”

“If we put over 100 million in their hands, who knows what kind of trouble they’d cause with their personalities!”

Li Yi smiled at that. Considering Jiang Longcheng and Ye Jianhua’s personalities, what Jiang Xue described wasn’t out of the question.

“Alright then, do whatever you think is best. Just know I’m not involved in this!” Li Yi said.

Jiang Xue smiled and said, “Got it. This has nothing to do with you. I just happened to overhear this and told Grandpa about it!”

Hearing this, Li Yi silently mourned Jiang Longcheng and Ye Jianhua for another three minutes—their share of the profits was most likely gone for good.

With that in mind, Li Yi ran his fingers through Jiang Xue’s silky long hair and said, “We’ve got so much to do tomorrow. Why don’t we get some rest early tonight?”

“No, I still need to…”

“Okay, I’ll give you…”

Soon, the room was once again ablaze with passion, the sounds of their lovemaking echoing loudly…

……….

After a night of passionate lovemaking, the young couple were both deeply satisfied.

Plus, since it happened to be their day off, by the time Li Yi and Jiang Xue woke up, it was already nearly nine o’clock.

The moment he opened his eyes, Li Yi found himself looking into a pair of beautiful eyes as dark as black gems.

There, sitting beside him, was his little princess, Yun Jin, looking down at him.

Seeing that Li Yi had woken up, the little girl’s eyes crinkled into a smile, revealing a gentle, radiant expression.

Seeing his daughter’s innocent smile, Li Yi’s heart melted completely.

Li Yi immediately scooped the little girl into his arms. Amid Yun Jin’s giddy giggles, he said, “Good morning, sweetheart!”

“Daddy… I’m hungry, I want milk…”

Immediately afterward, a babyish voice came from nearby: “Hungry… milk…”

Li Yi turned to look and saw Yun Rui sitting to his left, holding an empty bottle.

Clearly, both children were hungry!

He immediately tucked Yun Rui and Yun Jin into his warm, cozy bed, then threw on a shirt, grabbed the two bottles, and headed into the kitchen.

With practiced ease, he washed the bottles, prepared the formula, and then returned to the bedroom.

By then, Jiang Xue had also woken up and was playing with the two little ones, making them giggle nonstop.

“Time for milk, sweethearts!”

Hearing Li Yi’s voice, the two little ones immediately climbed down from Jiang Xue and excitedly ran toward him.

After receiving their bottles, the two adorable little ones sat right down on the bedding and began drinking contentedly.

Li Yi was just about to call out to his wife and children to get up quickly, so as not to keep An Hong, Jiang Longcheng, and the others waiting impatiently.

However, when he saw Jiang Xue’s state, he was instantly taken aback.

At that moment, Jiang Xue was wearing nothing but a loose nightgown on top, her snow-white skin largely exposed—even her ample bosom was more than half uncovered.

This teasing, half-hidden look was the most alluring of all, causing Li Yi’s heart to race as he gazed at her with eyes ablaze.

Jiang Xue naturally sensed her husband’s burning gaze; her pretty face flushed slightly, and the atmosphere in the room instantly turned somewhat suggestive and alluring.

As a long-married couple, Jiang Xue naturally knew what her husband wanted, but she really didn’t dare to respond to him right now.

Not to mention that the two little ones had already woken up; Jiang Xue simply couldn’t bear the thought of doing that in front of the children.

After all, Yun Rui and Yun Jin could both talk now, and they especially loved chatting with Grandma and their eldest aunt. Yun Rui was a bit better—boys develop later, and his speech wasn’t quite clear yet.

But that little girl Yun Jin could say just about anything; her little mouth chattered nonstop every day.

Jiang Xue certainly didn’t want their little “bedtime activities” being blabbed about by her own daughter!

With that in mind, Jiang Xue parted her red lips and said softly, “Stop looking. Hurry up and get dressed. We still have to go to the old family home to pick up Grandpa and my mother!”

Li Yi knew the timing wasn’t quite right either, so he nodded immediately and began getting dressed.

Just as the two of them had finished getting dressed and washing up, the phone in the room rang.

Li Yi answered and heard it was An Hong calling. She gave the address of a bank and said she had already arrived and was handling some business there, asking Li Yi and the others to head straight over.

After acknowledging her, Li Yi and Jiang Xue each picked up a child, entrusted them to their mother and eldest sister to look after, and then, accompanied by Zhang Ziqiang and Zhou Wen, headed straight for the Jiang family’s old residence…

…………

Clearing his throat, Li Yi asked again, “Xinyi, how is the establishment of the high-tech company coming along?”

“The team is already in place, and I’m personally overseeing it. We’re currently following your instructions to negotiate the acquisition of the Beijing Electron Tube Factory with the Chinese government, while also acquiring semiconductor-related technologies from abroad!” Lan Xinyi replied.

“How’s it going?”

“The Beijing municipal government is indeed willing to sell the vacuum tube factory to us, but the factory’s leadership seems reluctant, and there appears to be some resistance from higher-ups, which is causing our acquisition efforts to move slowly!”

Lan Xinyi continued, “As for the negotiations to purchase technology from abroad, while there has been some progress, both the Thief Eagle and Little Days are only willing to sell us relatively outdated technology.”

“Take the lithography machines, for example. They’re only offering us technology from five years ago, with performance equivalent to the Thief Eagle 4800DSW—which isn’t very useful to us!”

“So, High-Tech Company’s progress has been rather slow?” Li Yi frowned.

“That’s exactly right!”

Lan Xinyi continued, “Actually, the most important reason is that the high-tech industries you’ve asked us to vigorously develop are, to a greater or lesser extent, directly linked to the defense industry on the mainland—in fact, many of the factories themselves are part of the defense system.”

“And since we’re a Hong Kong-funded company, even though you’re our boss, the government and the military still won’t trust us easily. That’s why the project is moving so slowly right now.”

After hearing Lan Xinyi’s analysis, Li Yi couldn’t help but nod; she had indeed hit the nail on the head.

She had actually been too conservative in her earlier statement—it wasn’t a matter of “to a greater or lesser extent”; in reality, those electronics factories and research institutions in related fields all fall under the jurisdiction of the Chinese military.

Even if these factories continue to lose money under their ownership, they won’t sell them off easily.

With that in mind, Li Yi immediately said, “Keep in touch with the government and military officials. If my prediction is correct, the tide will turn here soon, and our chance to acquire these factories is coming!”

“Really? We haven’t heard anything about that yet!” Lan Xinyi said.

“It doesn’t matter if you haven’t heard anything yet, but you need to be prepared. Aside from the Beijing Electron Tube Factory, research institutes and factories related to chips and lithography machines are all on our acquisition list!” Li Yi said.

“Yes, sir!”

Although Lan Xinyi didn’t know where Li Yi had gotten the information, her long-standing habit of obeying orders led her to respond decisively.

Li Yi was very satisfied with Lan Xinyi’s attitude.

In fact, he had noticed the confusion in Lan Xinyi’s eyes, but he chose not to explain.

To be precise, he didn’t know how to explain it—after all, his source of information was truly inexplicable.

Li Yi was, of course, aware that the tide was turning; in fact, he had even been involved in some of these developments himself.

With the implementation of reform and opening-up, a new trend suddenly swept the country: “It’s better to buy than to make, and better to rent than to buy.”

As this pernicious trend gained momentum, it directly led to the scorn and abandonment of domestically developed technologies. A large number of promising projects were scrapped, and a host of cutting-edge initiatives were abandoned—such as the scrapped Y-10 project.

The cancellation of this project directly led to a shortfall in China’s large aircraft capabilities. Even though we later developed the C919, the only components truly developed entirely in-house were the aerodynamic design and the fuselage; key technologies such as engines, avionics, and flight control systems all required collaboration with foreign partners.

Most of the bottleneck issues we faced after the turn of the millennium can be traced back to the self-sabotage of the 1980s.

Take semiconductors, for example—this is a textbook case of self-sabotage. Our semiconductor industry originated from the “Big Brother’s” 156 Project; although the “Corn Emperor” later withdrew the experts, it still laid a solid foundation for China’s semiconductor industry.

Building on this foundation, we subsequently established a comprehensive semiconductor industry. Even in the 1970s, when we were developing our own semiconductors, we still purchased semiconductor equipment from Shanghai.

Another example is photolithography machines, which have caused the most severe bottlenecks in later years. China also conducted research on them in the 1970s. In 1965, the Chinese Academy of Sciences developed the Type 65 contact photolithography machine, and in the 1970s, the Academy began developing computer-aided photolithography BB-TR mask processes.

In 1972, Wuhan Radio Component Factory No. 3 published *The Manufacture of Photolithographic Masks* and successfully developed the GK-3 and GK-4, increasing the wafer processing diameter from 50 mm to 75 mm.

Meanwhile, Tsinghua University developed a fourth-generation step-and-repeat photolithography system, achieving success in 1980 with a lithography precision of 3 micrometers—nearing international mainstream standards. In 1982, the Chinese Academy of Sciences developed the KHA-75-1 photolithography system, which was less than four years behind Canon’s technology at the time.

However, all of this came to an abrupt halt in the 1980s. As national policy shifted entirely toward economic development, a large number of excellent projects were scrapped, and promising initiatives were forced to halt due to a lack of research funding. We effectively dismantled our own capabilities.

And the abandonment was thorough—to the point where the entire factory dedicated to lithography research switched to selling groceries.

And this is by no means an isolated case. It’s not just aviation engines, large aircraft, chips, and lithography machines that have been abandoned—Factory 504, which made outstanding contributions to China’s nuclear industry, now sells ice cream on the side; Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, which manufactures the J-20, sells washing machines; and Factory 861 has switched entirely to selling refrigerators…

All Li Yi can do now is, while he still has the funds, while we haven’t completely dismantled our capabilities, and while there are still some bigwigs above him who want him to serve the country, do his best to preserve key technologies in critical sectors.

Although he is no savior, he can still do his part for the country within his capabilities—especially since these industries are genuinely profitable, and highly so.

Afterward, Li Yi discussed the company’s financial status and other matters with Lan Xinyi. Just as their conversation was drawing to a close, a soft knock suddenly sounded at the door, interrupting their talk.

“Come in!”

As the office door swung open, An Hong walked in holding a folder.

Seeing Li Yi there, An Hong was taken aback for a moment, but immediately greeted him.

After exchanging a few brief words, Lan Xinyi asked immediately, “Vice President An, is there something you need from me?”

An Hong took a document directly from the folder she was carrying and handed it to Lan Xinyi, saying, “President Lan, this is the profit-sharing application for the trade show project. Please approve it!”

Lan Xinyi immediately picked up the document and began reading it. However, after finishing, she didn’t sign it right away; instead, she passed it to Li Yi.

Although Li Yi was already aware of the matter, he still took the document, glanced at it, and said, “No problem, it can be approved!”

As he spoke, Li Yi pushed the document back toward Lan Xinyi.

Lan Xinyi nodded, signed her name on the back of the document, stamped it with the company seal, and then handed it back to An Hong.

As An Hong was about to turn and leave, Li Yi hurriedly said, “Sis, go tell Brother Wang that I’ve figured out how to deal with that scumbag Liu Dongping!”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Tell Brother Wang to have him, Gangzi, and the other comrades at their office keep digging up evidence of that scumbag’s crimes—the more detailed, the better.”

Li Yi continued, “And don’t conduct this investigation on the sly—do it openly and above board. Don’t limit the investigation to Liu Dongping himself; look into his henchmen as well.”

“But… what if this provokes retaliation? Just a few days ago, that bastard came to my house to threaten me and Guo’an, even saying he’d drive us out of Beijing!” An Hong said.

“No problem. I’m actually hoping that bastard gets scared and goes into hiding. If he really dares to come out and retaliate against Brother Wang and the others, then this whole thing will be much simpler!” Li Yi said with a smile.

“Are you planning to lure the snake out of its hole?”

“Don’t ask about that, sis. Just do as I say!” Li Yi replied.

“Alright…”

After saying that, An Hong turned and left Lan Xinyi’s office.

Watching An Hong’s retreating figure, a faint smile played on Li Yi’s lips. The show is about to begin…

…………

By the time he left Third Sister’s place, it was already past 2:00 PM.

He had originally planned to head home after visiting Third Sister—he was already craving the buckwheat pancakes his mother had made!

But his sister-in-law dragged him aside, asking him all sorts of questions. By the time he’d cleared up most of his doubts, it was dinnertime, and customers were starting to pour into the shop.

Seeing his third sister and the others bustling about like busy bees, Li Yi naturally couldn’t just leave; he had no choice but to stay and help out.

It wasn’t until most of the customers had left that they finally found a moment to grab a quick bite.

After all that hustle and bustle, it was already late by the time they stepped out of the shop.

Back in the car, Li Yi rubbed his chilled hands and said, “Let’s go to the office!”

“Yes!”

As the car’s engine roared to life, it plowed through the snow and black ice on the road, heading straight for the mainland branch of Starry Sky Investment.

When Li Yi and his group arrived at the branch office, Lan Xinyi happened to be in her office.

Seeing Li Yi push open the door and walk in, Lan Xinyi immediately said cheerfully, “Boss, you’re here! Please, have a seat.”

Li Yi didn’t hesitate, immediately sitting down in a chair across from Lan Xinyi’s desk, then asked, “Have you been busy lately? Is everything running smoothly at the company?”

Lan Xinyi replied hurriedly, “We’ve been incredibly busy. Everyone has to work late every day before they can go home!”

“Is it because business is booming or because we’re short-staffed? Why do you have to work so late?” Li Yi asked.

“It’s both. As we acquire more and more brands, we need a lot of manpower for asset valuation, restructuring and acquisitions, as well as subsequent procedures like improving production processes, adding production lines, and resuming production. Even though we’ve been recruiting new employees repeatedly, we’re still short-handed. We have no choice but to sacrifice our employees’ rest time to get the work done,” Lan Xinyi explained.

“Since you know the reasons behind this, I won’t interfere. I trust you’ll handle it well.”

Li Yi then changed the subject and added, “However, since you’ve taken up the employees’ rest time, you must provide compensation. Not a single cent of the overtime pay owed should be withheld!”

“Understood. We’ve always paid overtime at the highest rate!”

“Good to hear. Has the company acquired all those local brands yet?” Li Yi asked again.

“Apart from the Yanjing Television Factory, which you had been jointly operating even before the branch was established, we’ve now acquired the Beibingyang Food Company and the Qingcheng Dairy Farm. We’ve also acquired two laundry detergent factories and a toothpaste factory. Our team has already moved into these facilities to carry out upgrades and renovations.”

Lan Xinyi continued, “In addition to these factories we’ve already acquired, the company is currently in acquisition negotiations with a refrigerator factory, a fan factory, and a brewery. We expect to reach agreements by the end of the year!”

“Excellent, very well done. You must continue to accelerate the acquisition of the domestic brands on the list, then upgrade their manufacturing processes and reintroduce these factories’ products to the market!” Li Yi ordered.

“Yes… but…”

“Just what? Speak up—no need to hold back!” Li Yi said.

Lan Xinyi paused briefly before saying, “Boss, there’s something I just can’t wrap my head around. Why are you investing in these industries? It’s completely out of character for you!”

“What do you mean? What’s wrong with these industries?”

“Boss, I know what you’re capable of. You decimated the Hong Kong stock market, swept through the New York futures market, and went on a rampage in the London stock market, leaving those financial titans in disarray and in disarray. Every single time, you made a profit of dozens of times your investment.”

Lan Xinyi continued, “But look at the industries you’re investing in now—each one requires massive capital, offers meager returns, and has a long payback period. With that time and energy, you could easily generate far greater profits in the financial markets!”

Li Yi smiled and said, “You’re right. Investing in real industries certainly doesn’t generate money as quickly as investing in finance. The profits generated by a well-run financial firm could equal the combined profits of dozens of real-industry companies of the same scale. There is indeed a massive gap between the two in terms of profitability.”

“Then why do you…”

Before Lan Xinyi could finish, Li Yi raised his hand to stop her, then continued, “Although investing in real industries comes with its own set of challenges, it cannot be denied that industry is the cornerstone of a nation. At the same time, the risks involved in real industry are far lower than those in the financial sector.”

“Our Star Company has already established a presence in sectors like finance and real estate. Our biggest weakness right now is our lack of industrial operations, so investing in manufacturing here is precisely how we’re addressing the gaps in our full industrial chain.”

“Furthermore, while investing in real industries may have lower profit margins and longer investment cycles, that doesn’t mean we can’t make money. With the vast mainland market behind us, as long as our products gain public acceptance, making a profit will be incredibly easy!”

After hearing Li Yi’s explanation, Lan Xinyi’s eyes lit up.

Indeed, while investing in manufacturing may not generate profits as quickly as the financial sector, it carries lower risks and is a more stable option.

Moreover, Star Investment had already become a leader in the investment sector; its position in Hong Kong’s investment circles was unshakable—it had essentially reached the industry’s ceiling.

Now, if they wanted to find a bigger source of profit, investing in real industries was the only option.

“Boss, I understand. I’ll continue following your instructions and speed up the acquisition of those factories on the list!” Lan Xinyi said.

Li Yi nodded but said nothing.

His heavy investment in domestic industries was indeed driven by the reasons mentioned earlier, but more importantly, he wanted to preserve the roots of domestic brands while simultaneously cutting off the easy channels for certain foreign brands to enter the country.

Don’t be fooled by the current spring breeze of reform and opening-up sweeping across the Chinese mainland, with industries developing at breakneck speed and domestic brands flourishing in an instant—this rapid growth is fraught with danger.

Soon, China’s abundant cheap labor and massive market potential would attract a wave of multinational corporations—led by large monopolistic capital from Europe and the United States—to invest in the country.

By this time, many domestic brands would have already built significant brand recognition within the country, boasting high sales volumes and large market shares—a situation that would pose a major obstacle to foreign capital entering the Chinese market.

To swallow up China’s vast market, these multinational giants have launched a scheme to “trade capital for market access.”

That’s right—a conspiracy!

Under the guise of “joint ventures and mergers,” they were actually carrying out a “substitution” scheme.

These multinational giants specifically targeted well-known domestic brands, offering contracts under the guise of “market access in exchange for technology” to outright buy out the rights to use those brands.

But once the contracts were signed, these giants turned their backs on their promises. All past agreements vanished into thin air as they focused solely on researching and promoting their own products, making a sweeping advance into the Chinese market. Not only did they ignore the products of the acquired brands, but they also maliciously inflated prices to reduce sales, and once they had exploited them, they simply shelved them.

A classic example is the deal between Beihai Soda and Pepsi-Cola. Back then, as Beihai Soda’s business continued to expand, the company decided to partner with foreign capital to build a factory and adapt to market changes.

After careful screening, they chose PepsiCo—with its mature technology and global sales network—as their partner.

In the early stages of the partnership, Beibingyang did indeed learn a great deal, achieving significant improvements in both corporate operations and product manufacturing.

Pepsi, however, also leveraged Beibingyang’s brand and market presence to successfully enter the Chinese market, and on the surface, both parties appeared to have achieved a win-win situation.

Yet, as time went on, through a series of strategic moves by PepsiCo, Beihai Ocean unexpectedly lost control of the joint venture and gradually withdrew from the mainstream market.

PepsiCo seized the opportunity, completely squeezing Beihaiyang out of the Chinese market and securing a dominant position on its own.

This once-proud domestic soft drink brand became a stepping stone for a foreign brand, with the fruits of years of hard work appropriated by PepsiCo.

Not only did they utilize Beibingyang’s existing production lines to boost their own output, but they also squeezed out the survival space for other beverage brands.

Unwilling to lose everything so easily, Beihai Ocean sent representatives to negotiate with PepsiCo on multiple occasions.

But PepsiCo remained unyielding, insisting that Beihai Ocean refrain from selling carbonated beverages in both domestic and international markets for the next four years before agreeing to transfer operational rights.

For the sake of long-term development, Beihaiyang reluctantly accepted this condition and did not re-enter the public eye until 2011.

However, due to its prolonged absence from the market, the iconic snow-white polar bear had been forgotten by many consumers, and Beihai Ocean could only rely on nostalgia to stay afloat…

It was only then that local entrepreneurs realized the truth: these multinational giants’ “partnerships” were a sham—their real goal was to use these domestic brands as a springboard to enter the Chinese market!

But by then it was too late. Domestic brands faced an unprecedented crisis; the “mainstays of domestic production” vanished one after another, and the Chinese market was almost entirely taken over by multinational corporations.

Though this struggle lacked the flash of swords and spears, it was fraught with bloodshed and turmoil from the very beginning.

Li Yi’s investment in real industry at this juncture was precisely to seize the initiative—to build several industrial behemoths before those multinational giants arrived.

Incidentally, he also intended to deliver a few resounding blows to these domestic brands early on, to show them that foreign monks aren’t necessarily better at chanting—and that they might even be hiding knives under their robes.

However, compared to industries like food, daily chemicals, and apparel, Li Yi was more concerned with the development of the high-tech sector.

After all, these industries are not only the cornerstone of the nation but also the backbone of the nation.

At that moment, his gaze sharpened as he looked at Lan Xinyi once more…

………..

Beijing. Hot Pot & Grill Restaurant!

After settling things with Third Sister, Li Yi suddenly thought of some matters back in Pengcheng. He immediately turned to Long Zhanjun and asked, “By the way, Third Sister’s husband, how’s the catering company coming along?”

“It’s almost ready. After you left Pengcheng, General Manager Lan sent over a dozen people to Pengcheng to help me set up the catering company.”

Long Zhanjun continued, “After nearly a month of preparation, we finally got all the paperwork ready in late October and completed the registration in Pengcheng. The new company is called Li’s Catering Management Co., Ltd., with a registered capital of 5 million yuan, and you’ll serve as the legal representative.”

“The company’s primary business operations include catering services and brand management. Currently, the company operates eight directly managed restaurants, plus a large cold storage facility that integrates slaughtering, storage, and refrigeration. Total assets…”

Once Long Zhanjun had finished explaining the company’s situation, Li Yi immediately asked, “How are the personnel arrangements currently set up?”

“Since we couldn’t reach you at the time, I took the liberty of appointing you as the company’s legal representative and general manager. Nana and I will serve as deputy general managers, Li Yeqiao as the company’s financial director, Liu San as the cold storage manager, and Dongzi, Shitou, Qiangzi, Feng Qian, and Niuqiu as managers of the various branch restaurants…”

Before he could finish, Li Yi cut in, “Brother-in-law, I don’t have time to manage the catering company right now, so I won’t be taking on the role of general manager.”

“Here’s what we’ll do. I’m going to reorganize the company’s personnel. You’ll take on the role of General Manager, overseeing the company’s overall operations and reporting directly to me.”

“At the same time, I’m appointing my sister Li Na and Li Yeqiao as deputy general managers. Old Li will go with you to Pengcheng, while my sister will stay in Beijing. Additionally, Feng Qian and Zhang Xinyao will serve as the company’s finance director and HR director, respectively, and Ling’er will be the office director. Everyone else’s positions remain unchanged!”

To be honest, Li Yi was quite optimistic about the future of the catering company. After all, the first real catering companies in China didn’t emerge until at least 1987.

Back then, with the entry of brands like KFC and McDonald’s, a wave of domestic catering companies emerged, eventually growing into a massive market worth 4 trillion yuan.

Backed by China’s massive population and rapidly rising economy, coupled with early strategic positioning, the catering industry certainly has a promising future.

But unlike managing a financial investment firm, running a restaurant company is simply too troublesome and complex; managing a large restaurant company is more exhausting than managing ten investment firms.

Furthermore, since Li Yi currently holds the status of a civil servant with a permanent position, it would be inconvenient for him to take the lead in managing a domestic company. Therefore, he simply cannot take on the role of general manager.

After hearing Li Yi’s proposed adjustments, Long Zhanjun immediately asked, “Is this adjustment appropriate?”

“What’s wrong with it? Tell me your thoughts,” Li Yi replied.

“First, I’m worried I won’t be up to the task of being general manager. After all, our company’s registered capital is a full 5 million yuan, and our eight stores currently generate monthly revenue of 500,000 to 600,000 yuan—and that figure will only grow. Yet I’m just someone who didn’t even finish junior high school…”

Before he could finish, Li Yi cut him off: “Brother-in-law, you may not believe in yourself, but don’t doubt my judgment. If I say you can do it, you will. Besides, who says you can’t run a business just because you didn’t go to school?”

“You know Lao Nian, the founder of ‘Shamu Sunflower Seeds’ in Anhui Province, right? He never went to school either. His whole family used to scrape by begging and running street stalls, but now he makes a million a year just selling sunflower seeds—his business is huge. This shows that having a business mind has nothing to do with whether or not you went to school.”

Li Yi was well aware of Long Zhanjun’s capabilities. As one of his “Eight Golden Warriors” and the “King of the Northwest,” Long had once opened up the Northwest market for Li Yi with just 2 million yuan in capital. Back in the 1990s, he had achieved the astonishing feat of earning 5 billion yuan for the company within three years.

If even he claims he doesn’t know how to do business, then who else would dare to claim they understand the ways of commerce?

Not to mention his past achievements—even his current accomplishments in Pengcheng alone are enough to make people take notice.

In just a few months, he had firmly established a foothold in Pengcheng. The fact that four branches were opened there in quick succession without his direct assistance was ample proof of his capabilities.

Seeing how much Li Yi trusted him, Long Zhanjun felt deeply grateful.

But the more he felt this way, the more he felt he had to speak up.

“Xiao Yi, let’s set aside the matter of my appointment as General Manager for now. As for Feng Qian taking on the role of Financial Director, she has never had any experience with finance before. It’s clearly not appropriate to put her in charge of that.”

Long Zhanjun continued, “And then there’s Ling’er. She’ll only be 19 after the New Year, and she only has a junior high school education. How can she possibly serve as the company’s office director?”

Li Yi smiled and said, “You have a point, but you must understand that the company is still in its early stages. When hiring, our primary consideration isn’t ability, but loyalty—whether someone is trustworthy or not!”

“If someone isn’t trustworthy, their abilities are useless—in fact, the more capable they are, the greater the risk. On the other hand, as long as they’re reliable, it doesn’t matter if their skills are lacking. Can’t we ‘ride a donkey while looking for a horse’?”

“Make do for now?”

“Exactly. Whether it’s Feng Qian, Ling’er, or even you, you can all work while learning the ropes. If it doesn’t work out, we can always post a job opening to find someone more suitable,” Li Yi explained.

“That’s actually a good idea!” Long Zhanjun said.

“Alright, it’s settled then. Find some time to pass my orders down the chain!” Li Yi said.

“Yes!”

“Third Sister’s Husband, from now on, the catering company will operate independently. Whether we can grow this company into a powerhouse depends entirely on you!” Li Yi said.

“We’ll work together as one to turn this catering company into the largest in the country!” Long Zhanjun said.

Third Sister chimed in, “Xiao Yi, your brother-in-law and I will help you manage this company well.”

“I trust you both. Now, let’s discuss the equity distribution for the catering company,” Li Yi said.

“Equity… are you giving us shares in the company?” Long Zhanjun asked, somewhat surprised.

“Yes…”

Before he could finish, Third Sister interrupted urgently, “No way! The company shares belong entirely to you—we don’t want any!”

Li Yi hurriedly said, “Sis, brother-in-law, you have to listen to me on this. These shares aren’t just for the two of you—others will have them too.”

“Others too?” Li Na asked, looking stunned.

“That’s right. I plan to give you and my brother-in-law 10% each, Old Li 5%, and I’ll set aside another 10% as an equity incentive for the store manager. However, these shares come with dividend rights only—no voting rights, and they can’t be transferred or cashed out!”

Li Yi continued eagerly, “Furthermore, I’ll set aside 5% of the company’s net profit every month as bonuses and benefits for all employees.”

After hearing his words, Long Zhanjun paused to think for a moment, then exclaimed in admiration, “Brilliant—absolutely brilliant!”

Third Sister asked, somewhat puzzled, “What… what’s so brilliant about that? I don’t see it.”

Long Zhanjun immediately explained, “Although this move reduces Xiao Yi’s own shareholding percentage, he still firmly retains control of the company—he’s just earning a little less on the surface.”

“But by doing this, he’s transformed his personal company into a company owned by all the employees. From now on, when employees come to work, they won’t be working for Xiao Yi—they’ll be working for themselves. Don’t you think they’ll be more dedicated and work harder?”

“Of course they will!” Li Na said.

“Exactly. Once everyone treats the company as their own home, everyone will be on the same page and pulling in the same direction. It’ll be hard for the company not to thrive!” Long Zhanjun said.

With Long Zhanjun’s guidance, Third Sister quickly grasped Li Yi’s vision and immediately said, “Xiao Yi, you’re the smart one. Your brother-in-law and I will follow your lead!”

Li Yi nodded and continued, “To accelerate our expansion, headquarters will conduct monthly performance evaluations of all store employees. Those who excel will qualify to become managers of new branches. Additionally, we’ll need to…”

Although Li Yi didn’t have time to personally manage this restaurant company, he wasn’t going to be just a figurehead either.

Right then, Li Yi explained the management model from his previous life’s “Some Lao” restaurant in detail to Third Sister and her husband, instructing them to use it as a foundation to develop the catering company’s own management bylaws and systems.

You have to understand that this management model has been proven in the market. Regardless of how Moulao fared later on, this model at least enabled them to expand rapidly and even secure the top spot as the first publicly traded restaurant company in China—these are all hard facts.

Upon hearing what Li Yi had to say, Long Zhanjun and his older sister Li Na were both speechless, yet utterly amazed.

Amidst their astonishment, Long Zhanjun meticulously jotted down every detail in his notebook, determined to implement them exactly as described. Thus began the rise of a legendary figure in the restaurant industry…

……….

After leaving the Jiang family’s ancestral home, Li Yi felt a mix of emotions.

He had never imagined that the old man would actually want him to be the heir.

On the one hand, the Jiang family was no ordinary clan; in terms of power, the current Jiang family ranked at least among the top five in the country.

The position of heir to such a prominent family would never fall to someone from outside the clan.

Furthermore, the second and third generations of the Jiang family were no weaklings; whether it was his father-in-law, his second older brother Jiang Longyin, or his fifth older brother Jiang Longze, none of them lacked ability.

While they might not be the type to break new ground and lead the Jiang family to even greater glory, they were certainly capable of maintaining the family’s current standing.

Therefore, in Li Yi’s view, the old patriarch pushing him—an outsider by marriage—into a leadership role seemed somewhat inappropriate and unreasonable.

Moreover, the Jiang family isn’t just strong on its own; its allies are no slouches either, including the Ye, Lin, and Liang families, among others.

Even if the Old Master wanted him to be the heir, would the other families agree?

That was why, when the Old Master brought up the matter just now, Li Yi’s mind had been in a daze the entire time.

Moreover, deep down, Li Yi truly had no desire to be the successor.

After all, for him, this role holds no real significance beyond the added burden it would place on his shoulders.

He currently lacked neither money nor power, and if he truly wanted to build his own power base, he wouldn’t need to rely on the Jiang family.

To borrow a line from a certain actress in his past life: “I’m a powerhouse in my own right.” Why would he want to become the Jiang family’s heir? Isn’t that just asking for trouble?

So… he wasn’t particularly interested in the matter!

At the same time, however, Li Yi understood that in this complex society, many things are beyond one’s control.

“Once you’re in the game, you’re at the mercy of circumstances”—that’s exactly what this means.

Often, even if you’re unwilling, external factors will push you to act.

Take Zhao Kuangyin, for example, when he was draped in the yellow robe. If he hadn’t accepted it when his subordinates placed it on him, his generals wouldn’t have respected him, and the emperor above would have grown suspicious of him over it—ultimately leaving him with no choice but death.

Although his current situation was nowhere near as dire as Old Zhao’s, it still forced Li Yi to give the matter serious thought…

Just as Li Yi was deep in thought, Zhang Ziqiang’s voice rang out: “Brother Yi, where should we go now? Home, or…”

“Let’s head to the Dong’an Market branch first!”

He hadn’t visited Third Sister since returning, so Li Yi decided to check on her first, then deal with Wang Anguo and Li Gang later.

As for how to handle it, he already had a plan in mind—one that would ensure that scumbag and the Liu family backing him would pay dearly.

In short, when it came to dealing with this kind of self-important rich kid, Li Yi had plenty of tricks up his sleeve.

“Got it!”

With that, the car pulled away and headed toward Dong’an Market…

After driving for a while, Li Yi asked, “Qiangzi, when are you and Zhang Feng heading back to your hometown?”

“I just submitted my leave request to the higher-ups yesterday. We’re waiting for approval now. We’ll be able to leave as soon as the comrades taking over our duties arrive!” Zhang Ziqiang replied.

“Huh? They’re actually sending someone to take over your duties?” Li Yi asked, somewhat surprised.

“Yes, Brother Yi. Director Zhou gave those instructions, and we must follow them strictly!” Zhang Ziqiang said.

Li Yi smiled and said, “That’s not necessary. It’s still very safe here in the country; there’s no need for so many people to protect me!”

At that moment, Zhou Wen, sitting in the passenger seat, immediately interjected, “Brother Yi, I’m afraid you don’t fully realize your current status and position. We simply cannot allow your personal safety to be compromised.”

“It can’t be that serious, can it?” Li Yi said.

“It is. After these recent financial battles, all the major factions know you represent our country, China. There are countless people who would love nothing more than to eliminate you.”

Zhou Wen continued, “We can’t let our guard down just because we’re back in the country. After all, the FBI from the ‘Eagle’ and the KGB agents from the ‘Bear’ are everywhere—we absolutely won’t give them any opening.”

“Alright, you guys handle the arrangements!”

When it came to personal safety, Li Yi dared not be too careless. He now had money and power; his child wasn’t grown yet, and his wife was still as good as new—he couldn’t let others get the better of him…

Chatting all the way, the car soon arrived at Dong’an Market.

Since it was still early for lunch, there were no customers in the shop when Li Yi, Zhang Ziqiang, and Zhou Wen walked in. However, they could see the waitstaff bustling back and forth in the kitchen, looking particularly busy.

Third Sister Li Na was still manning the counter, keeping track of the accounts while clicking away at her abacus.

Hearing the commotion at the door, she immediately looked up.

When she saw it was Li Yi, Li Na was so happy she tried to stand up.

But with her large baby bump, she was a bit unsteady on her feet. As soon as she stood up, she leaned against the countertop and dared not move any further.

Seeing this, Li Yi hurried over a few steps and said, “Sis, take it easy!”

Li Na smiled and said, “It’s fine. When did you get back, kid? Why didn’t you give me a heads-up?”

“I got back yesterday afternoon. I just came to see you this morning!”

“I’m glad I raised you right. Are you here alone? Didn’t Mom and your older sister come over?”

“No, Mom and my older sister went to the hospital for a prenatal checkup this morning. They just got back home…”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Li Na said with some surprise, “I just got back from the hospital too. Why didn’t I see Mom and Big Sister?”

“Maybe we just missed each other. By the way, sis, how did your checkup go? How many days until your due date?”

“Less than a week left. The doctor said the baby’s a bit big, so he told me to try to eat a little less these next few days!” Li Na said.

Hearing this, Li Yi’s expression immediately grew tense.

A large fetus, especially for a first-time mother, greatly increases the risk of a difficult delivery.

In those days, giving birth was like walking through the gates of hell.

“Sis, you’d better be careful. If it comes down to it, we’ll just have a C-section…”

As soon as she heard the words “C-section,” Third Sister looked terrified and said, “I don’t want them cutting open my stomach—I want a natural birth…”

“Sis, a C-section isn’t as scary as you think, and it actually saves you some pain!”

If the baby is very large, a C-section is usually the best option. Otherwise, if you wait until the very end, you might end up needing surgery anyway—and then you’ll have cuts both inside and out, plus all the pain, making the suffering twice as bad.

“No way!”

Li Na didn’t have much education and didn’t know much about C-sections. All she knew was that it involved cutting open her stomach to take the baby out, and just thinking about it scared her.

“Sis…”

“I’m not listening, I’m not listening—it’s like a turtle chanting sutras…”

Seeing his third sister like this, Li Yi felt a bit helpless. Just as he was worrying about how to persuade her to make alternative arrangements, a delighted voice suddenly came from behind him: “Xiao Yi, you’re back?”

Hearing the voice, Li Yi turned around and saw his third sister’s husband, Long Zhanjun, walking toward them.

He was holding a plate with several apples still dripping with water—clearly, he’d come to bring his sister some fruit.

“Nana, have an apple!”

“I won’t. The doctor told me to cut back!”

Long Zhanjun replied gently, “Apples won’t make you gain weight; it’s okay to have a few.”

“Come on, just have one…”

Hearing their sickeningly sweet exchange, Li Yi couldn’t help but shudder.

Wow, wise men don’t fall in love—the ancients were certainly right.

He’d never seen Long Zhanjun and Third Sister like this before. He had to admit, love really does drive people crazy!

“Could you two tone it down a bit? I’m still here!” Li Yi said.

“So what if you’re here? Don’t think I don’t know—you and Xiao Xue are even more lovey-dovey in private!” Third Sister said with a laugh.

“Nana, what were you just saying to Xiao Yi? It looked like you two were having an argument,” Long Zhanjun said.

“Nothing. Xiao Yi just wanted me to have a C-section, and I turned him down!” Li Na replied.

Long Zhanjun glanced at her and asked, “Why a C-section?”

Li Yi immediately replied, “The baby in my sister’s womb is a bit large. To avoid the risk of a difficult delivery, I suggested a C-section would be best.”

Upon hearing the words “difficult labor,” Long Zhanjun couldn’t help but take the matter seriously.

“Xiao Yi is right. We can’t take any chances with this. If a C-section is necessary, we have to do it!” Long Zhanjun said.

“But I’ve heard that C-sections are terrifying. I… I’m a little scared!”

“It’s fine. With medical technology so advanced these days, a C-section is practically a routine procedure!” Long Zhanjun said.

Li Yi chimed in, “We don’t necessarily have to have a C-section, but it’s best to be prepared for both possibilities. If there really is a difficult labor, we need to perform the surgery immediately!”

Seeing her husband and younger brother so insistent, Li Na couldn’t help but waver. She nodded firmly…

……….