97: Chapter 98 The Shen Family of Beijing Under the Blazing Fire, and the Old Master's Unshakeable Iron Bottom Line

As the bell rang for New Year's Day 2012, midwinter in the north was at its most biting.

However, the old residence of the Shen Family, located deep within Beijing, was currently rippling with a hustle and bustle that was almost like frenzied prosperity.

Ever since that earth-shattering national economic conference concluded, and the Old Master returned to the old residence from the highest level of power, carrying the might of a great victory.

The entire Shen Family, that fierce tiger suppressed for decades, had finally completely unchained itself.

Under the iron-fisted leadership and coordination of Shen Che.

The Shen Family's vast, invisible forces, like a tiger descending from the mountain, swiftly charged into core industries across the country.

In less than half a year.

This suffocatingly vast network of relationships was completely activated.

The entire Shen Family, from the core direct descendants down to the distant relatives with even a hint of blood relation.

All of them, amidst this era's dividends, completed an enviable leap in class!

The surge in power was inevitably accompanied by extreme flattery.

When Secretary Shen Hai, as the core of the second generation, stepped into the courtyard of the old residence for the first time after New Year's Day, even he, having seen great scenes, was shocked by the sight before him.

He saw that outside the Old Master's study, which was usually the most plain, were now piled high with expensive gift boxes like a small mountain!

Exquisitely packaged century-old wild ginseng, priceless out-of-print antiques, and priceless special-supply famous teas...

These "hefty gifts" sent by various powerful figures from all over the country, who were attempting to shelter under the towering tree of the Shen Family.

Layer upon layer, they were almost about to submerge the threshold of the study.

Facing this oncoming wind of extravagance, the Old Master sitting in the study did not have even a ripple of emotion in his eyes.

Instead, they revealed an impenetrable sternness and disgust.

"Chief, these things..."

The guard outside, looking at the mountain of heavy gifts, was at a loss for a moment and had to brace himself to ask for instructions.

"Move them all away!"

The Old Master couldn't even be bothered to take another look and waved his hand impatiently toward the door.

"Take them all to the market outside, find someone to carefully appraise them, and convert them all into cash!

Then, take the money from the exchange and donate every single cent to the poverty relief fund for the West!"

The guard's expression turned serious, and he was just about to carry out the order.

The Old Master's highly penetrating voice smashed out again, carrying a chilling pressure:

"Listen clearly, not a single one is allowed to be kept!

Whoever dares to pocket even a single cent, I will skin them alive!"

Watching the guards, as if granted amnesty, sweating profusely as they began to move those priceless gifts out.

Standing not far away, Secretary Shen Hai felt a deep sense of awe welling up from the depths of his heart.

Secretary Shen Hai knew.

In order to win the Jing-Hu war in the Yangtze River Delta, and to protect that grandson far away in Shanghai.

The Old Master had indeed broken the rules.

He had personally torn up the Shen Family's rule of not touching business for decades, allowing the family's forces to plunder wealth and resources.

But although the rules had changed, the old man sitting in command of the center.

His heart was still as unshakable as a rock!

Even if the Shen Family outside was already wealthy enough to rival a nation.

But this old general, who had walked out of the flames of war, still stubbornly held onto his iron-blooded bottom line of "take from the people, use for the people."

He had not been corrupted by even an inch of his soul by the stench of money in the courtyard.

Watching the guards in the courtyard like ants moving house, carrying those eye-dazzling gift boxes out trip after trip.

Secretary Shen Hai restrained his aura and carefully moved to the entrance of the study.

He pressed against the doorframe and peered inside through the half-ajar wooden door.

The furnishings inside the room formed a sharp contrast with the mountain of wealth outside the door.

Secretary Shen Hai's gaze fell on the desk, and a flash of emotion could not help but cross his eyes.

Although the outside world had long been turned upside down, and although the Shen Family's power was now in a state of frenzied prosperity.

But the old man sitting behind the desk.

His lifestyle had not been eroded or affected in the slightest.

By his hand was still that yellowed enamel mug he had used for most of his life, with a piece of paint chipped off the edge.

And for brewing tea.

It was still that old purple clay teapot that he had used since he could remember, with a deep patina.

The mountains of gold and silver outside could not leave any trace in this room.

Just as Secretary Shen Hai was secretly overwhelmed with emotion.

The Old Master behind the desk didn't even raise his head, just picked up the yellowed enamel mug and gently blew on the floating tea leaves.

An indifferent voice drifted out precisely:

"This is your own home, is there any need to be sneaky at the door?"

Caught on the spot, Secretary Shen Hai was stunned for a moment, then laughed naturally.

He didn't feel embarrassed.

He rearranged the hem of his suit.

He straightened his back, walked openly over the high wooden threshold, and strode into the study.

"Old man, I was just afraid you wouldn't be able to accept such a drastic change in the family all at once."

Secretary Shen Hai pulled out a chair and sat down opposite the desk, his tone filled with the concern and frankness of a son:

"After all, the rules you set for decades have been broken, and everyone is uneasy.

I was just thinking of checking your state and attitude from outside the door first, to avoid running into trouble."

The Old Master put down the porcelain cup, raised his eyelids, and glanced at him.

He snorted coldly without answering.

Secretary Shen Hai knew where the Old Master's knot in his heart lay, so he quickly leaned forward and comforted him in a serious tone:

"Actually, you don't need to worry too much.

The forces the Shen Family has brought out still have the bottom line of family style in their bones.

They are not all the kind of people who only see money and pursue extravagance and dissipation."

"Most people, taking advantage of this opportunity, have just changed to core positions in different fields.

Their authority is a little greater, their income is a little higher than before, and they have just made life at home a little easier."

Secretary Shen Hai looked into the Old Master's eyes and threw out the trump card that would make him most at ease:

"Besides, with the eldest brother holding the big picture with an iron fist up there.

And you, the anchor, watching over the family personally.

Even if they were given ten times the courage, the people below would absolutely not dare to act recklessly or wantonly rake in money at this critical juncture."

Listening to his son's explanation and report.

The Old Master's tightly tensed facial lines finally softened imperceptibly.

The atmosphere in this old study, which had carried the Shen Family's decades of storms, gradually eased.

Despite Secretary Shen Hai's best efforts to comfort and reassure him.

But one could still catch that trace of deep-seated worry and guilt in the Old Master's eyes.

As the helmsman of the Shen Family.

He knew better than anyone how difficult it was to control human greed once one had tasted the sweetness of power and money intertwined.

Since the giant ship of the Shen Family had already sailed into this deep-water zone full of temptations and man-eating reefs.

Wanting to retreat cleanly was almost impossible.