"All right, hand the phone to him."
Grandpa Chu seemed eager to speak with Cao Yang.
"Hello."
"Young man, very rude."
Facing such an elder, Cao Yang hadn't even addressed him properly, which did seem impolite.
Cao Yang wasn't normally rude. Considering his relationship with Chu Baiwei, he should have called him Grandpa Chu. But his great-grandfather had fallen at Chu Zhenbei's hands. Calling him "grandpa" now would feel obsequious.
"I helped your Chu family a huge favor this time. How do you plan to thank me?" Cao Yang avoided the topic of manners.
"Heh… you're not helping the Chu family—you're helping the country."
"To me, it's the same. Say thanks."
"What do you want as thanks?"
"I just want your son to fulfill what he promised me."
Grandpa Chu was aware of this. Chu Zhenbei had mentioned it and received his approval.
"All right. Just discuss the details with your Chu uncle. Why come to me?"
Pfft! That uncle counts for nothing! I don't acknowledge him!
"I did speak with him, but I don't trust him. He might not keep his word. I trust you. You're a respected elder, a general whose word is law. If you guarantee it, I'll cooperate and sign the contract tomorrow."
"Hahaha… fine! I promise you—once the contract is signed, everything I promised will be fulfilled!"
Hearing this, Cao Yang felt a huge weight lift from his heart.
Just as he was about to hang up, Grandpa Chu spoke again:
"Which branch of Cao Ying's family are you from?"
"Eighth branch."
"Then Lin Yuezhi is your great-grandmother?"
"Yes. Why, do you know her?"
Grandpa Chu remained silent for a moment before speaking further, but he didn't answer Cao Yang's question.
"小Cao, what will you do once your people are released?"
"I'll make sure they go abroad and never return."
"They grew up here. Can they bear to leave?"
"Who would leave their homeland if it weren't necessary?"
"If you don't want them to leave, I can talk to the Han family. You just have a minor conflict—it's resolvable."
"Really?" Cao Yang was overjoyed. He had thought rescuing them would be hard enough. Now Grandpa Chu could even help them stay in the country.
"Really. Once the contract is signed, I'll handle the specifics. Just wait for my call."
"All right, thank you, Grandpa Chu." Cao Yang said three "all rights" in a row, his tone now respectful.
Chu Baiwei was happy for him as well, but Chu Zhenbei frowned silently.
Grandpa Chu hung up, smiling broadly.
"What has you so happy?"
Old Lady Shen was curious; she hadn't seen him smile like this in a long time.
"Heh, that little Cao really is a descendant of Cao Ying, the great-grandson of Miss Lin of the eighth branch."
"Although I never liked Cao Ying, that dog warlord, he once saved me from Japanese artillery. I never repaid him. Later, I personally wiped him out. This lingering debt troubled me. Helping his descendant this time is an indirect way of repaying it—a small closure."
"Old Chu, you're a principled elder! Never abused privileges in your life, and now you make an exception for this kid?"
"Heh… it's a rare chance. If I don't, I'll die without doing it."
"Besides, I'm not abusing my position. That kid has had his share of killings, but all were deserved. He's not a great villain."
"Even bad people should face the law, not be killed at his whim. Times have changed. This is no longer your youth. Nothing can be decided personally; everything must go through the law."
"You dare teach me?!" Grandpa Chu pretended to be angry, tapping his cane hard.
Old Lady Shen chuckled and wheeled him out for a stroll.
Cao Yang was in high spirits but hadn't forgotten the main matter. He went to Situ Meixin's room to discuss the shares.
"Negotiated?" Situ Meixin guessed from his expression that Cao Yang was satisfied.
"Yes," Cao Yang smiled. "Chu family side is settled. Now we should discuss ours."
Situ Meixin, in a silk robe, crossed her legs and smiled. "Discuss what?"
"Shares!"
"Your goal was to save people. That's done, so forget the shares."
"Damn it, saving people and making money aren't mutually exclusive! You want my share? Be careful, or I'll eat you!"
Situ Meixin wasn't annoyed, instead smiling.
"The petroleum industry is tricky. You won't handle it well. You once wanted to go to Mexico for farming—go there, I support you. That's where you belong."
"Speak normally!" Cao Yang glared. He knew she was joking.
"All right, my father wants you to contribute some money."
"How much?"
"Prince Nanda won't pay, so the 10 billion must come from us two families. According to proportion, each should pay 5 billion, but due to your connections, you get a discount. We'll bear 7 billion, you pay 3 billion."
"Your father serious?"
"Yes, very serious."
"Do I look like I have 3 billion?"
"Nope, not worth it."
"You and your father are deliberately making it hard for me, Panghu. No way I'll pay, and I won't give up any shares!"
"Then that makes it difficult for me."
"Difficult? Then forget it! Transfer it directly to China and we all profit!"
Cao Yang was furious. The plan had always been one-time profit, but they insisted on a long-term investment.
He couldn't earn quick money, yet they expected him to pay. Plainly, they were bullying the poor! Lucky for now he was in a good mood, or he'd have flipped the table.
"No, the Elders' Council values this long-term investment. Profit is secondary. We'll use this chance to enter the petroleum market."
"That's your business, not mine. How about this: you lend me 3 billion, I transfer my shares to you. You gain shares, I don't pay."
Situ Meixin shook her head. "If you take the money, will you still manage us? Will you help us later? The Cao family's relations still depend on you—you can't leave."
"Damn it! You want me to leave, then force me out! What's your point?"
"Don't be mad. I'm teasing. I already thought of a solution."
"You can borrow 3 billion from us now and repay after profit. Done."
Cao Yang nodded. That was a good idea.
But if he didn't earn anything, wouldn't he be stuck with 3 billion debt?
Thinking ahead, if there's no profit, he won't repay!
"See? I agreed already."
Situ Meixin stared at him, making him uneasy.
"Cao Yang, sometimes I think you're cunning, sometimes adorably dumb. Which are you?"
"I'm neither dumb nor cunning."
"Last time at the Loyalty Hall, you manipulated me to contribute an extra 9 million USD, yet won my support. Isn't that cunning?"
"That's called cleverness, strategic thinking!"
"This time, I must admit, our participation is all thanks to you. But when we needed you most, you didn't ask for conditions or extort us."
"Now, everything is mostly settled, you bring up terms and shares—isn't that dumb?"
"Why not negotiate early? Were you only focused on saving people?"
Cao Yang lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply.
"I didn't extort because I see you as a friend, a brother. I trust you. Doing that would betray my conscience. Seems I look foolish, but if I'd extorted, I'd have done it already."
His sincerity was clear, though he truly only thought about saving people.
Situ Meixin felt slightly embarrassed.
"Since you see me as a friend, stop flirting with women in front of me. I'm a woman—I have pride. You're making me awkward."
"Look at you. I don't treat you as an outsider, so I'm not reserved. If you feel awkward, you brought it on yourself."
"By the way, we've known each other for so long. No husband or boyfriend? You never had one, or hiding it?"
"No, single all along."
"Doesn't make sense! You're excellent—suitors must be endless. Too picky?"
"Not really, I think I'm fine."
"How old are you this year?"
"Just turned twenty-eight."
Cao Yang stood and patted her shoulder.
"Twenty-eight already an old woman. Better hurry, or it'll be hard to have kids later!"
"I f***ing…"