Chapter 700: The Zhao Family's Approach

It was Bao Yugang across from him.

However, as soon as Bao Yugang had just said a few words, Zhao Congyan's face had darkened, and he took a deep breath before solemnly saying:

"Okay, Mr. Bao, please go ahead, I can bear anything!'

Upon hearing their father's words, the three brothers Zhao Shizeng and the others looked at each other, each with a bad feeling in their hearts.

Although they were anxious, they could only bear it and not dare to interrupt their father's conversation.

'...What? I see. Yes, Mr. Bao, thank you for your trouble!'

'Dududu!'

'Clang!'

'Bang!'

Zhao Congyan waited politely for Bao Yugang to hang up the phone, but he could no longer hold back his anger. He slammed the receiver down on the phone, then slapped the table with a loud noise.

The three Zhao brothers were all shocked by their father's sudden outburst.

'Dad, please sit down and calm down!'

The eldest son Zhao Shipeng immediately rushed over to support his father and comforted him, trying to calm Zhao Congyan down.

But after Zhao Congyan learned the reason, how could he calm down? His face was red and green, and a volcano was about to erupt in his heart.

'Dad, what did Baosheng say? What exactly is the reason for Xia Yu targeting the Zhao family?'

Zhao Shizeng asked carefully.

Zhao Congyan looked at his third son Zhao Shizeng with cold, dagger-like eyes, and angrily shouted, 'You still have the nerve to ask!'

'It's still because of your precious son!'

Zhao Shizeng was shocked, his face instantly changing. He couldn't believe what he had blurted out: 'How could it be Zhi'an?'

But as soon as he had said this, he remembered his son's unusual reaction this afternoon and the injury on his face.

He hadn't had the heart to pursue the matter with his son at lunchtime, and although he had doubts in his heart, he had planned to have a good talk with him when he got back that evening.

However, he had simply not had time to go back to his own place while waiting for Bao Yugang's call, so he had temporarily ignored the matter.

Now, his father Zhao Congyan's anger has rekindled the doubts in his heart.

Zhao Shiceng's counter-question only made Zhao Congyan's anger grow even stronger. He slammed his hand on the table and shouted angrily, 'Why is it impossible that it's him?'

'It's the father's fault for not teaching his son properly!'

'You, as a father, hang around with beautiful women all day, and even your son has learned from you. Now you've finally caused trouble!'

'Where is he now? Bring him here!'

Facing his father's scolding, Zhao Shizeng looked uncomfortable. He could only transfer his anger to his son, who was not present, and said angrily, 'I'll go bring his rebellious son here!'

After saying that, Zhao Shizeng rushed out in a hurry.

Zhao Shipeng and Zhao Shiguang glanced at each other, disappointed and blaming Zhao Zhi'an.

Seeing Zhao Congyan sit down with heavy breathing, his youngest son Zhao Shiguang plucked up the courage to ask, 'Dad, what's going on?'

Zhao Congyan's gaze remained cold. He glanced at his youngest son and, without explaining, ordered, "You two go back as well, and tell everyone in the family to come here. We'll enforce the family law in front of the ancestral hall tonight!'

'And, notify the third son, and tell him to bring his wife here as well!'

Zhao Congyan then ordered the housekeeper, "Ade, you're in charge of notifying the rest of the clan!'

'Gulou!'

Zhao Shipeng and Zhao Shiguang's eyes flashed with shock, and they both knew that their father was prepared to get serious. He was even planning to call everyone together that night to enforce the family law.

But if the family really suffered because of a playboy, Zhao Congyan would have to kill the chicken to warn the monkey!

Thinking about this, they immediately left in response, returning to their respective homes to find their wives and children.

Zhao Congyan, on the other hand, sat in meditation for a few minutes before heading alone to the Zhao ancestral hall.

...

Zhao Shizeng returned home in a rage, only to find his wife watching TV at home.

'Boss, what's wrong with you? Who made you angry?'

'My eldest brother just called and asked me to go with you to the clan. Has something happened?'

Liu Yufen, dressed in her pajamas, asked with concern.

Fortunately, if she didn't ask, Zhao Shizeng's anger would only grow. He snorted angrily and said, 'It's that little brat again. Where is he?'

Liu Yufen became nervous and asked, 'What did Zhi'an do?'

'What else could it be? It's a big deal! He's going to ruin our family!'

'The old man is furious. He told me to take him there. Where is he?'

Liu Yufen was shocked, her heart racing, and she hurriedly said, 'He hasn't returned yet, I think he's at his place outside.'

'Get dressed immediately and come with me to bring him back!'

Zhao Shiceng left a sentence and turned around to leave. Liu Yufen immediately changed her clothes and went with him in the car.

On the way, the panicked Liu Yufen kept asking Zhao Shizeng, who endured his anger and told her everything. Liu Yufen kept babbling along the way, her panic growing.

'Where is he?'

The car arrived in front of a small villa, and Zhao Shizeng got out and asked the bodyguard who came to meet him.

Thinking about what was going on inside, the bodyguard said with a stiff face, 'The young master is inside, he should still be awake.'

'Open the door!'

Zhao Shizeng walked in, but noticed that there were two pairs of women's shoes at the door. How could this veteran not guess what was going on?

He went to Zhao Zhi'an's master bedroom. The door was unlocked, and as soon as he opened it, an absurd scene unfolded.

Zhao Zhi'an, who was concentrating on his work, suddenly tensed when he saw his father's gloomy face at the door.

'Dad!'

'Ah...'

Two screams sounded.

'Get dressed and get out!'

Zhao Shizeng roared, before leaving.

When Zhao Zhi'an, fully dressed, went downstairs, he was shocked to see his father sitting on the sofa with a gloomy face, while his mother, looking worried, took Zhao Zhi'an's hand and kept begging him not to hit her son.

Zhao Zhi'an walked over with a stiff upper lip, and meekly called out, 'Dad, Mom!'

Seeing his son's cowardly appearance, Zhao Shiceng's anger just wouldn't come out. Thinking that he had not only caused great trouble, but also concealed it, causing the family to suffer heavy losses, Zhao Shiceng wanted to kick him.

'Boss, Dad is still waiting!'

Liu Yufen pleaded, holding onto his hand tightly as the veins in her forehead bulged.

'Hoo...hoo...'

His gaze was like a knife, staring at his son until he looked down at the floor.

'Come back to the family with me, the old man is looking for you!'

'Yes!'

Zhao Zhi'an trembled all over, and his brain buzzed.

It's too late, the crime has been committed!

...

In front of the ancestral hall of the Zhao family.

Zhao Congyan bowed three times, respectfully offering incense to the ancestral tablet.

Dozens of people, young and old, including Zhao Congyan's eldest and fourth sons and their families, as well as his cousins and other extended family members, were standing in front of the ancestral hall, awed by the atmosphere and only daring to whisper to the clan members nearby to find out what was going on.

'Ade, is everyone here?'

After finishing burning the incense, Zhao Congyan asked the waiting butler.

'Your servant reports that, except for the third young master's family, all other clan members are here!'

Butler Ade replied truthfully.

Zhao Congyan nodded slightly, without saying anything more, and stood with his arms crossed, looking at the ancestral tablets.

After waiting for another ten minutes, just as there was a rustling of sound from below, the roar of a car could finally be faintly heard outside.

In a moment, Zhao Shiceng and Liu Yufen arrived with their son Zhao Zhi'an.

Looking at the gazes of the clan members all focused on them, and the solemn and serious atmosphere of the ancestral hall, Zhao Zhi'an felt his legs grow weak and unable to take another step.

'Dad, I've brought the person!'

Zhao Shizeng reported with bowed head.

Zhao Congyan then turned around, looked expressionlessly at Zhao Zhi'an, and said coldly, 'Kneel down!'

'Grandpa!'

'Dad!'

Zhao Zhi'an's face changed drastically, and he shouted in a pleading tone, but both men's faces were cold.

'Third son, he is your son, you decide what to do!'

Zhao Congyan ordered Zhao Shizeng, while the other clan members looked on with strange expressions.

Zhao Shizeng also knew what his actions meant in this situation, and immediately walked forward, pressing Zhao Zhi'an's shoulders and saying coldly, 'Kneel properly before the ancestors! No matter what happens, don't move!'

'Plop!'

Zhao Zhi'an, whose legs were already weak, could no longer support himself and fell to his knees, his face full of fear.

'Ade, apply the family punishment!'

Zhao Congyan said again without explaining anything.

The butler, Ade, picked up a red cloth tray from the table next to him, on which sat a dark red stick.

This stick, the law enforcement stick, also known as the family punishment, was used by the elders of large families to punish their children and servants.

Seeing Zhao Congyan holding the family law, everyone present changed colour. Using the family law in front of the ancestral hall was obviously an extremely severe punishment, and a more serious punishment would be to be removed from the family tree and expelled from the family.

What on earth had happened for Zhao Congyan to have to punish his own grandson with the family law overnight!

Some of the clan members were quick-witted and thought of what had happened during the day. Their eyes narrowed as they watched quietly.

'Grandpa, Dad, Mom, I'm wrong...'

He saw his grandfather approach with the rod of justice in his hand, his face cold and unemotional. Zhao Zhi'an's face was pale and bloodless. He panicked and tried to get up, but Zhao Shiceng held him down, putting one foot on his leg.

Even if it was his own son, Zhao Shiceng was willing to do it, not to mention that in this situation, if he didn't do it, the consequences would be even worse.

'Dad!'

Liu Yufen's eyes were red with tears as she whispered a plea, but Zhao Shipeng and Zhao Shiguang's wives took hold of her hands to prevent her from going out.

At times like this, the best thing to do is to watch what's going on!

'Pang!'

'Ah!'

...

'Grandpa, I was wrong, please forgive me!'

Zhao Zhi'an's plea only earned him a heavy blow from Zhao Congyan, and he wailed again.

'Pang!'

...

Some of the clan members standing around could not bear to watch, and some of the children were too scared to watch, but their parents held them down and made them continue watching, hoping to warn their children not to become like Zhao Zhi'an one day.

'Wo wo...'

Liu Yufen's heart ached as she watched her husband being held down by her husband and receiving the beating from the family patriarch.

At this moment, she felt both heartache and remorse. If only she hadn't been tricked by her son last night and had sorted things out, she could have averted the family crisis sooner, and her son wouldn't have had to receive such a severe punishment.

After thirty strokes, Zhao Congyan finally stopped, and the housekeeper, A De, immediately came out with a tray, on which Zhao Congyan placed the enforcement stick.

Seeing his grandson collapse to the ground, Zhao Congyan's eyes flashed with a look of hatred for his failure to train him properly.

Then he left his grandson alone in the middle of the room to reflect on his actions.

Zhao turned around and said to the ancestral tablets, 'Ancestors, today, my unworthy grandson Zhao Zhi'an has acted recklessly, bringing disaster to the family. I have now executed the family law!'

After saying this, Zhao bowed deeply.

After he got up, he turned around, his gaze sweeping over the faces of all the clan members around him, and began to explain the reason.

'I invited all the family members here tonight because the family has produced an unfilial descendant. You should all be aware of what happened today. Jiuding Securities shorted the family's two companies, Wah Kwong Shipping and Wah Kwong Real Estate. As of the market close at 4 pm, the two companies had evaporated a total of 490 million Hong Kong dollars, and the family's share of that was a whopping 250 million!

'If we don't do something about it, the situation will get even worse by tomorrow. One mishandled move and the consequences will be unpredictable!

'If we stand up to Jiuding Securities and we are in the right, then there is still a glimmer of hope. But I have asked someone today to find out what happened. The stock god is targeting our family because someone in the family has offended him. This is his revenge!'

Having said this, Zhao Congyan looked coldly at Zhao Zhi'an and asked coldly, 'Zhao Zhi'an, tell me exactly what happened last night, without any concealment!'

Zhao Zhi'an trembled all over, not daring to hide anything at all, and confessed honestly: 'Last night I went to the Norwegian Forest Bar in Central...'

As Zhao Zhi'an continued to tell his story, the veins in Zhao Congyan's face once again bulged, and his chest rose and fell rapidly.

As for the other clan members who were originally unaware of the situation, the way they looked at Zhao Zhi'an was full of disgust.

It was because of this playboy that the family was facing an existential crisis.

If the Jiuding Consortium really went to war with the Zhao family, with the Zhao family's strength, it would definitely end in a complete defeat. Regardless of whether the family's two companies were acquired or infiltrated, or whether they were driven into bankruptcy, the Zhao family would never recover, and under the continued pressure of the Jiuding Consortium, they would only gradually decline.

They were all used to living a life of luxury, and now because of Zhao Zhi'an, they risked losing that life. How could they not hate Zhao Zhi'an?

After Zhao Zhi'an finished speaking, Zhao Congyan looked at the two younger brothers sitting next to him and their families, and said in a stern voice, 'Zhao Zhi'an has made such a grave mistake. He is forbidden to leave the family for one year! Without my approval, he is not allowed to leave the family for one step!'

'Yes!'

Zhao Shizeng immediately responded.

This punishment is not enough to convince the others. The next part is the main part.

However, Zhao Congyan did not say how quickly, but asked everyone, 'Now the Zhao family is facing a choice: whether to fight or to make peace? Everyone express your opinions!'

'Big brother, I don't mean to belittle myself, but with the strength of our Zhao family, we should give in!'

'The Jiuding financial group is rich and arrogant. Now that they have just moved against Jiuding Securities, it is difficult for us to defend ourselves. If the entire financial group targets us together, we have no chance of winning!'

'And we don't have the moral high ground in this matter, and others may not necessarily come to our aid. Sigh...'

After a long silence, an old man standing next to Zhao Congyan spoke up.

He was Zhao Congyan's younger brother, and his attitude determined the attitude of his entire lineage.

Zhao Congyan nodded slightly, then looked at another elderly man, his third younger brother Zhao Congyi.

Although Zhao Congyan was the head of the Zhao family, the family's current situation was not only due to his good work as the leader, but also inseparable from the contributions of his two younger brothers.

Family law would be enforced tonight, mainly for fairness and justice, to show the two younger brothers and make his attitude clear.

Zhao Congyi also knew that his eldest brother wanted to give in, and just wanted a way out, so he spoke up, saying, 'Eldest brother, since this is something that our Zhao family caused, we have to swallow the bitter fruit, and as long as there is green wood, there will be no shortage of firewood!'

Zhao Congyan nodded and said, 'Good, since everyone has no objections, then I will handle this matter. All clan members will work together to overcome this difficult time!'

'However, this matter started because of my grandson, and the damage caused to the family, we will pay the majority of the cost!'

'Starting today, half of my share of the dividends will be put into the family fund! And 5% of the equity of Huaguang Shipping will be put under the family name. In the future, whoever makes a huge contribution to the family will discuss the distribution of equity!'

'A father's failure to teach his children is his own fault!'

'Lao San, you will give 5% of the equity of Huaguang Real Estate and 2% of the equity of Huaguang Shipping to the family name as a reward for those who have contributed to the family. Do you have any objections?'

Zhao Shizeng clenched his fists, his heart aching, but he could only bow his head and say hoarsely, 'I have no objections! I will obey the family's arrangements!'

These shares, based on their original value, were worth 70 to 80 million Hong Kong dollars, but they were just taken away like that!

But the mistakes his son had made should be borne by him as the father. After all, his shares would, barring unforeseen circumstances, be inherited by his son in the future.

'Does anyone else have any objections?'

Zhao Congyan looked at the others again.

Everyone present shook their heads.

The 7% of Wah Kwong Shipping and 5% of Wah Kwong Properties that had been added to the family name were worth more than 100 million Hong Kong dollars at current values.

And according to the rules, as long as outstanding contributions were made, and after the family had agreed, the reward of equity was entirely possible.

Zhao Congyan's handling was fair and just.

'I hope everyone will take today's incident as a warning and strengthen the discipline of the younger generation. The Zhao family cannot afford a second toss!'

'Tomorrow, I will go and negotiate with Xia Yu, while the rest of the clan members remain at their posts and await the family's orders!'

'That's enough for tonight, everyone disperse!'

Zhao Congyan let out a long sigh only after everyone had left.

In a critical moment like this, he had no choice but to unite the clan first, lest it be broken up like the Keske family, one by one, by Xia Yu.

Although the Zhao family held more than 50% of the equity in both companies, the shares were spread out among the clan members, and his two younger brothers had quite a lot.

Although there was little hope that his younger brothers would betray the family, with his character, Zhao Congyan had to deal with the situation as everything was based on stability!

If he didn't deal with it, he wouldn't be able to convince the others!

In order for the family to continue, he had to take the lead in keeping the rules!

This was how the extended family continued!

Family law is greater than heaven!

After leaving the ancestral hall, he returned to his own hall, where his three sons were waiting.

Without delay, Zhao Congyan said to his three sons, 'Prepare the funds raised today. I will go find Xia Yu, and you will follow my orders and execute the plan at the first opportunity!'

'Yes!'