77: Chapter 77 Breaking a Century-Old Political Rule!

Mid-June.

The rainy season in Jiangnan shrouded the entire Shanghai in a layer of sultry, humid, and suffocating moisture.

There were only a few days left before the "Shanghai Merchants Closed-Door Meeting," an event capable of completely shaking up the capital landscape of the entire Yangtze River Delta.

Counting it all up, there were less than a few days remaining.

A black Hongqi sedan bearing a special transit license plate drove silently into the heavily guarded old residence of the Shen Family.

The car door opened, and Shen Che stepped out with a cold expression on his face.

As the current core figure of the second generation of the Shen Family.

He had canceled all his scheduled engagements this time, rushing south from Beijing to return to Shanghai under heavy pressure.

His primary task upon returning was to quickly and secretly deploy defensive lines.

He needed to fend off those powerful families from the Beijing Circle who had smelled blood, were testing the waters frantically, and were preparing to invade Shanghai with their capital.

However, compared to those external enemies in plain sight.

What truly made Shen Che feel like he had thorns on his back and couldn't even eat or sleep in peace was the sudden variable from within:

Shen Du.

As Shen Che walked along the corridor leading to the inner courtyard.

He was frantically reviewing all the intelligence regarding this nephew of his in his mind.

The more he thought about it, the more solemn his expression became.

This variable had appeared far too abnormally and bizarrely!

A mere nineteen-year-old youth had emerged out of nowhere without any warning, holding not only a terrifying amount of wealth.

But also skillfully draping himself in the "Shen Family" banner.

He was swaggering around Shanghai, forming cliques and building his own capital defense position.

This wasn't just making waves in the capital market.

This was essentially taking a knife and slowly severing the political jugular vein that allowed the Shen Family to stand in the political arena!

As one of the top families in the country, the reason the Shen Family could remain as stable as Mount Tai.

Relied on that iron-blooded family rule that no one was allowed to touch: absolutely no engaging in business!

This identity as a "political clean stream" was the Shen Family's greatest amulet.

But now.

Shen Du, this nephew who carried the blood of the Shen Family.

Was forcibly stirring up huge waves in the sea of commerce with a domineering and arrogant attitude.

Shen Che knew very well what this meant.

Once the situation spiraled out of control in the future, and Shen Du's identity was exposed and he returned to the family fold.

The Shen Family's defensive line of being a clean stream, maintained for decades, would instantly collapse.

At that time, facing the attacks and frenzied biting of political enemies.

The Shen Family's seemingly solid position in the political arena would become riddled with holes, with fatal weak points everywhere.

He had to get to the bottom of this young man's background through Elder Shen today.

He needed to know.

Whether all of this was merely the personal ambition of this nineteen-year-old youth.

Or another earth-shattering game of chess that Elder Shen had set up in secret, hiding it from everyone!

The skyline was pressed down hard by thick, dark clouds.

The hazy water vapor made the entire old Shen Family residence, full of the traces of time, appear increasingly gloomy.

"Boom—"

Deep within the clouds, a dull rumble of thunder could be faintly heard.

The trumpet of war blown by nature pushed this sense of oppression, as if a storm were imminent, to its limit.

"Creak—"

The heavy rosewood door of the main living room in the Shen Family's inner courtyard was pushed open forcefully by Shen Che.

He ignored the guards outside who were rushing to announce him.

He strode across the high threshold, carrying a chilling coldness, and walked straight up to Elder Shen.

He sat down on the armchair with a bold and unconstrained air.

Facing this highest helmsman who controlled the absolute discourse power of the Shen Family.

Shen Che did not have any of his usual small talk or pleasantries, his gaze like a torch, he went straight to the point:

"Old man, you know exactly why I canceled all my meetings in Beijing and rushed back today!"

Shen Che leaned forward slightly, like a leopard ready to pounce, his voice low but with immense penetrating power:

"The current domestic situation has completely exceeded everyone's imagination!

Our Shen Family has been sitting on this economic lifeline in Shanghai for too long and too stably; that bunch in the Beijing Circle has long been maddeningly jealous.

Now, some people are no longer content.

They are eager to stretch their hands into the Yangtze River Delta's plate to cut the cake!"

He stared fixedly at his father, who was sitting in the main seat, lowering his eyes and fiddling with the tea set.

Finally, he threw out that fatal question that had been weighing on his heart and keeping him from sleeping or eating in peace:

"Shen Du, this variable that appeared out of thin air, acts with such seasoned ruthlessness.

He can even use our banner to summon wind and rain in Shanghai..."

Shen Che took a deep breath, his tone carrying a hint of questioning and unwillingness:

"Old man, give me the truth.

Is he really not a backup plan you've set up in secret, hiding it from everyone?!"

Facing Shen Che's sharp, oppressive questioning, Elder Shen didn't even raise an eyebrow.

He maintained that composure of someone who had experienced great storms and waves.

His withered but steady fingers picked up the purple clay teapot, slowly pouring the clear tea into the porcelain cup in front of him.

The sound of the flowing water was exceptionally clear in the quiet and oppressive living room.

Only after bringing the cup to his lips and taking a light sip did Elder Shen slowly put the teacup down.

That aged voice contained an unquestionable weight:

"To be honest, the Shen Family's style of conduct has indeed been a bit rigid over these past few decades."

Elder Shen raised those eyes, which were cloudy but still as sharp as an eagle's, and gazed quietly at his somewhat restless son:

"Clearly holding resources that are beyond the reach of ordinary people, clearly capable of operating behind the scenes to ensure many risk-free, guaranteed profits.

Yet insisting on sticking to that traditional style, watching helplessly as others amass wealth in the sea of commerce."

"But you must understand, Che'er."

Elder Shen's tone suddenly deepened, carrying a majesty that struck straight to the soul:

"Our Shen Family is the stabilizing anchor, the rock that guards the mountain!"

"Since we are at the center of power and possess political resources.

If even people like us cannot resist the temptation and personally enter the arena to compete with the people for profit, to cut off all channels for ordinary people to cross social classes.

Then how are the common people of this world supposed to live?

Where would there be any vitality or hope left for this country's economy?!"

Accompanied by another dull clap of thunder outside the window.

Elder Shen's withered palm slammed heavily onto the rosewood tabletop, emitting a soul-shaking thud:

"From the moment I raised my right hand under the national flag to take my oath back then.

I made a vow.

This life and this family are meant to serve the people, absolutely not to be used for our own family to crazily rake in money!"

This was the underlying belief that supported the Shen Family, this century-old powerful clan, in standing tall and unfallen.

"This is why I would rather have outsiders think the Shen Family is pedantic, but I must firmly establish that iron rule.

Absolutely not allowing anyone in the Shen Family to engage in business, and even less allowing anyone to use the Shen Family's connections to speculate and climb the official ladder!"

He pointed toward the direction outside the door, his voice carrying a pride that was almost tragic:

"Go and see, now that the Shen Family has multiplied to this day, although there are already over a hundred households.

But apart from you few who are in the public eye, the vast majority of them are just ordinary people working nine-to-five jobs!

They hold no privileges, and they have no sky-high wealth!"