Chapter 10

Meanwhile, the Yang family mansion in Lucheng was brightly lit, with the second and third generations of adult descendants gathered in the study of the family patriarch, Yang Xianqi.

Unlike the Xu family, which had few members, the Yang family was a large and prosperous clan. Family patriarch Yang Xianqi alone had three sons and two daughters, and the third generation was equally numerous, with five grandsons and one granddaughter.

The Yang family had built its fortune in business, but it was only after the eldest son became the vice mayor of Qingcheng that the Yang family was recognized as one of the top families in the northern region. Now, the Yang family could be described as a powerful clan with both political and business influence, a force to be reckoned with.

Yang Xianqi looked at the seven or eight grandchildren before him with a grim expression. He had always believed that the second and third generations of the Yang family were the best among all the families in the north, even surpassing those from the most prestigious families. For example, his old friend's son was stubborn and inflexible, eventually falling into a trap set by others, and his grandson was a notorious wastrel.

However, it now seemed that things were not as he had thought. His own descendants might not be as outstanding as he had imagined, and others' children might not be as incapable as he had believed.

"Everyone, speak up. What should we do now? If we let the outside world continue to make a fuss, decades of our family's efforts will be in vain!" Yang Xianqi asked solemnly.

Regarding the plot against Xu Yinglong, Yang Xianqi had no strong objections. He had proposed the marriage alliance with the Xu family, but the Xu family of that time was vastly different from the Xu family now.

As a businessman, Yang Xianqi was a pragmatist. His pursuit of interests led him to adopt a wait-and-see attitude when the Xu family encountered trouble. When the Xu family patriarch was removed from his position as military commander and Xu Da was investigated and subsequently died in custody, Yang Xianqi knew the Xu family was finished.

To distance himself from the Xu family, he instructed his granddaughter to break off the engagement with Xu Yinglong. Unexpectedly, Yang Ling had already harbored deep hatred for Xu Yinglong and had secretly set a trap for him.

However, when Yang Xianqi learned of his granddaughter's decision, he did not stop her but instead sent people to escalate the situation. Yang Xianqi was a very opportunistic businessman. He knew that breaking off the engagement with Xu Yinglong meant a complete break with the Xu family, which would certainly be resented by the Xu family. Since they were already at odds, he decided to finish them off to prevent any future trouble.

But no one could have predicted that Xu Yinglong, a notorious wastrel, would not only receive help from the Tianhai Ji family but also escape from a seemingly certain death, and even turn the tables on the Yang family, which was truly surprising.

"Grandfather, this was my own decision that has brought trouble to the family. If someone needs to take responsibility for this, I am willing to take full responsibility!" Yang Ling said calmly.

"Take responsibility? What can you offer? Your small company with assets of only a few million? Ridiculous!" This was said by Yang Ling's second cousin, Yang Junfeng.

"My company may be small, but I built it with my own hands, and every penny I earned was my own. I wonder if Second Cousin has ever earned a single penny?" Yang Ling said disdainfully, looking at his second cousin, who was even more wasteful and detestable than Xu Yinglong.

"You..."

"Stop arguing! Look at you, do you even look like a family? Anyone who doesn't know would think you are mortal enemies!" Yang Qi, the eldest son of the Yang family, said loudly.

"Big Brother, you are the eldest son and the future head of the family. What do you think we should do?" Yang Xianqi asked.

"Father, you acted too hastily. Although the Xu family has fallen, a dead camel is still bigger than a horse. The Xu family's friends and relatives are not to be trifled with! By acting so quickly against the Xu family, aren't you just giving others a handle to use against us? People might think it's our Yang family targeting the Xu family," Yang Qi said with a frown.

Yang Suyun, the eldest grandson, added, "Father, I think Grandfather did the right thing. When a tree falls, the monkeys scatter. The Xu family may have been powerful, but that's in the past. Who would help them now? Moreover, in the eyes of many, our Yang family is part of the Xu family's faction. If we don't act against the Xu family, their enemies will act against us."

"Suyun, you are still young and don't understand the full picture. The Xu family's downfall is the result of political maneuvering. No one is helping the Xu family now because the situation is unclear, and the key players have not yet made their moves."

Yang Qi continued, "The Xu family has been deeply rooted in politics for decades. Many have benefited from their influence. Once the situation becomes clear, those who have been helped by the Xu family will take action. At the very least, they will protect the Xu family's descendants, which is a common practice in politics. By acting this way, we are putting ourselves in opposition to those people. Take the current situation, for example. Do you really think ordinary people can create such a stir online?"

After Yang Qi's explanation, the Yang family members felt immense pressure and a hint of regret, especially Yang Ling.

In fact, the Yang family and the Xu family did not need to be at such odds. According to Yang Xianqi's original plan, breaking off the engagement was necessary, but the methods did not need to be so harsh, and Xu Yinglong did not need to be driven to death. Instead, Yang Ling was to be given a substantial compensation, even up to 100 million, as a token of gratitude for the Xu family's support in business over the years.

However, Yang Ling was unwilling to let Xu Yinglong off so easily. As Xu Yinglong's fiancée, she had endured ridicule from her peers since childhood. Every time Xu Yinglong misbehaved, she was affected because she was his fiancée.

Over the years, the engagement to Xu Yinglong had been like a curse to Yang Ling, causing her great pain. But due to the Xu family's power and family pressure, she had never dared to resist. Now that the Xu family was in trouble and her grandfather agreed to the annulment, Yang Ling wanted to repay all the humiliation she had endured over the years, which led her to plot against Xu Yinglong, even at the cost of her own reputation.

However, plans often fail to keep up with changes. What was supposed to be a flawless plan ended up with a major flaw. Not only was Xu Yinglong acquitted, but the Yang family was also thrust into the spotlight, which Yang Ling had never anticipated.

"Given the situation, we have no choice but to go all the way!" Yang Qi said coldly.

"Big Brother, the Yang family is already in the spotlight. If we target that Xu family brat again, won't we just give others a handle to use against us? Moreover, many people are watching us. Is it necessary for us to do this?" Yang Xianqi asked with a frown.

"Father, the situation has reached this point. Do you really think we can just back off and make everything right? Business is like war, and politics is even darker. Once you make a move, it's a fight to the death, with no room for retreat."

"Since we have already acted against the Xu family, we have completely broken ties. Regretting now is futile. We must thoroughly crush the Xu family and then stand on their ruins," Yang Qi said.

"Big Brother, as you said, the Xu family has many friends but even more enemies. Although the Xu family has fallen, our Yang family, despite our recent success, is still relatively weak in politics. Can we really stand up to the Xu family?" This was said by the second son, Yang Jun.

"The Xu family has many friends in politics, but even more enemies. The removal of the Xu family patriarch and the investigation of Xu Da were orchestrated by their political opponents. Although the specific reasons are unclear, one thing is certain: many people are glad to see the Xu family fall. By acting against the Xu family now, we will offend some, but we will also show our stance to the Xu family's opponents."

"Compared to the Xu family's opponents, who are currently in the upper hand, if we continue to target the Xu family brat, someone will definitely notice. We might even gain a stronger ally," Yang Qi explained.

"Big Brother, what should we do now? The Xu family brat doesn't seem as simple as he appears," the third son, Yang Hai, said.

Yang Qi said with a cold smile, "He's just a wastrel. Even if he's not simple, what can he do without Xu Da and the Xu family patriarch to back him up? There are many who want to cause him trouble, not just our Yang family. Let Junfeng handle this; I believe he can do it well!"

"Big Brother, how can this be? You know what Junfeng is like. How can you entrust such an important task to him?" Yang Jun, Junfeng's father, said with a frown.

Although Yang Jun hoped his son would perform well in front of the patriarch to gain more family resources in the future, he knew his son was not up to the task.

"Uncle, I..."

Yang Qi said, "Father, Second Brother, whoever takes the lead will give others a handle to use against us, except for Junfeng. I know his reputation is poor, but precisely because of this, if he acts against the Xu family brat, no one will say anything. After all, it will just be seen as a conflict between wastrels."

The others immediately understood Yang Qi's meaning. Indeed, at this point, the only person from the Yang family who could act against Xu Yinglong without causing too much trouble was Yang Junfeng, as his poor reputation would make it seem like just a conflict between wastrels.

Moreover, each circle has its own rules, and internal conflicts are common. Elders generally do not intervene unless things get out of hand. If only the younger generation, like Yang Junfeng, acted against Xu Yinglong, even if Xu Yinglong suffered, others would not come to his aid.

"Uncle, rest assured, I will make him suffer a terrible death!" Yang Junfeng said loudly.

"Junfeng, don't act rashly. You and the Xu family brat are in the same school, so there will be plenty of opportunities!" Yang Qi reminded him.

"Yes, Uncle, I will return to school tomorrow," Yang Junfeng said.

...

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