Chapter 68 An Eye for an Eye

A few minutes later, Jiang Shan sent an email with a short message: "Wen Huilin went to the Tax Bureau to meet with Jian Ting this morning."

After reading it, Chen Ang finished his cigarette.

He crushed the cigarette butt against the nearby Roman pillar, his vigilance raised to another level.

Wen Huilin had met with a lawyer, specifically Attorney Zhou Zheng, who was a suitor of Shen Pianran.

This meant she had likely grasped the general situation regarding himself.

Recalling the details he had revealed during his meeting with Attorney Zhou Zheng at the Jinli Teahouse.

He was fairly certain that Wen Huilin, like Tu Yuandong, likely knew that he was aware of the fact that Chen Zetian was not his son.

Unlike what Tu Yuandong knew, Wen Huilin was clearly aware that he was preparing to sue her for fraudulent upbringing.

So, was her purpose in coming here today to play the emotional card? To build favor with his parents and gain their sympathy?

He quickly shook his head, dismissing the thought. Chen Ang felt that, given this woman's schemes and intelligence, it was impossible for her to easily abandon her calculations.

He then recalled the look in Wen Huilin's eyes when she had just gotten into the car... it was a show of force.

She was threatening and warning him.

He quickly dialed his mother's number. "Mom, did Wen Huilin call you this morning?"

"Yes, what's wrong? Did you two have an argument?" Qu Suping's voice was very low.

Chen Ang caught the wariness in her tone and chuckled. "No, I was just asking. You and Chen Zhuo go have fun this afternoon; I've arranged a place for dinner tonight."

"Chen Ang, your father and I have enjoyed everything already; there's no need to waste money." Qu Suping immediately tried to refuse.

Chen Ang wouldn't hear of it. "Mom, just listen to me. Trust me, our family is already getting better. Believe me."

His repeated emphasis meant Qu Suping didn't refuse again.

In fact, she had always known that Chen Ang was a very assertive person who never made empty boasts.

Since Chen Ang called over half a month ago saying not to worry about the family's debts, she had chosen to believe in her son.

After hanging up, Chen Ang thought for a moment, then opened his contacts and found Wen Zhiyong's number.

His current thought was: since you are using my family as bargaining chips, don't blame me for striking first.

The call connected. "Who is this? Say what you have to say."

Chen Ang frowned. Listening to the clamor coming from the receiver, he knew that his brother-in-law in name was most likely at a mahjong parlor again.

Without any pleasantries, Chen Ang got straight to the point: "Zhiyong, I heard from Huilin that you're getting engaged and are short on the bride price? You want to borrow money from us?"

Upon hearing it was Chen Ang, the other side immediately went quiet, followed by the sound of footsteps. A few seconds later, Wen Zhiyong spoke: "Brother-in-law, I wondered who it was. What? You don't want to lend it?"

A smirk hung on Chen Ang's lips. "You are Huilin's brother and Zetian's uncle, so in principle, I agree to lend it. But..."

Hearing Chen Ang relent, the breathing on the other end quickened, but when the word "but" was uttered, he immediately grew anxious. "Chen Ang, let me tell you, I've set my heart on Shanshan for this life. If you incite my sister not to lend the money, I won't let you off."

A flash of disdain crossed Chen Ang's eyes. He laughed: "I wasn't finished yet. I meant that the money is all with your sister; I can't make the decisions. When I picked up a new car a while ago, she wouldn't even pitch in for the down payment. So, I just wanted to tell you that I'm powerless. If I can't help you when the time comes, don't blame me."

After saying this, Chen Ang hung up the phone directly.

He knew the character of Wen Huilin's family; hearing that he had bought a new car, they would most likely panic.

They had originally planned to come in November, and now he was just giving them a nudge.

After making these arrangements, he thought for a moment and then sent a text message to Chen Zhuo, asking him to find time in the afternoon to take their parents for a medical checkup.

Qu Suping had severe coronary heart disease and had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery years ago; she couldn't be subjected to stress post-surgery, and her monthly imported medication cost over 3,000 yuan.

After the family went bankrupt, even her medicine had been switched to cheap domestic alternatives.

Wen Huilin was now seizing upon his mother's health issues in an attempt to blackmail him.

As long as he dared to go against her, she would dare to drag him down with her.

Therefore, Chen Ang was extremely furious at this moment, his fingers gripping the phone until his knuckles turned white.

Wen Huilin must have realized that it would be difficult to turn the tables legally, so she started looking for other breakthroughs, and his mother was that breakthrough.

Chen Ang's mind wandered, and he even considered more possibilities.

If even Wen Huilin could think of using his mother to threaten him, then what about Tu Yuandong?

If he were pushed to the edge, would he also take this path?

Therefore, he needed to include his mother's safety in his defensive system; it was time to establish some protective measures.

After calming down a little, he immediately thought that this move by Wen Huilin could only be temporary.

Because as long as he prepared his mother in advance, her threats would lose their effect directly.

Then, Wen Huilin's purpose became obvious.

She wanted to delay for time, with the goal of finding leverage against him or evidence of him hiding and transferring assets.

After figuring this out, Chen Ang finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He flagged down a taxi. While waiting for the car, his phone rang; it was Tan Xiaolei.

"Little Ang, brother has boarded the high-speed rail. I'll arrive in about half an hour. Aren't you coming to pick me up?"

Hearing the familiar voice, Chen Ang's expression softened significantly. He felt comfortable that Tan Xiaolei didn't treat him like some high-and-mighty wealthy figure.

This showed that he trusted that he wasn't the kind of idiot who gets carried away just because he has a little money. He believed in the bond between brothers.

He opened the car door and got in. "You make your own way over. I gave my car to Chen Zhuo; just take a taxi directly to the Financial Center."

There was some cursing from the other end of the line. Chen Ang held the phone away, waiting for him to finish before speaking: "What has Li Hongyang been up to lately?"

"Hongyang? He's still running a farm in the countryside, but business isn't going very well. What's up? Is Boss Ang looking to give him a hand?"

Chen Ang smiled. "We'll talk when we meet."

After hanging up, he fell into deep thought again.

Li Hongyang could be considered a childhood playmate, four years younger than him, though he had a better relationship with Chen Zhuo, given they were closer in age.

He had joined the army at 18, serving in a special forces unit. He spent eight years in the military and was a sergeant when he retired.

Chen Ang had met his comrades-in-arms; they were all tough individuals. Now, he needed such talent, so he was considering recruiting them.

Arriving at the Financial Center, Shen Pianran was in her office processing documents. Hearing the door push open, she looked up.

Seeing it was Chen Ang, she couldn't help but complain: "Oh, my big boss has arrived. What a rare guest."

Chen Ang didn't mind her complaints and asked with a smile: "What has turned you into such a resentful woman?"

Shen Pianran rolled her eyes at him. "Speak up, what kind of drudgery are you planning to dump on me this time?"

Chen Ang put on an aggrieved expression and spread his hands. "Do I? I was actually going to ask you if the people from the Economic Investigation Bureau arrived yet."

"They came this morning. I listened to you and prepared the materials. Was it you who made the call?" She closed the document in her hand and pressed the intercom to have her secretary bring in a pot of tea.

"Something like that. What, are you touched?"

Shen Pianran nodded vigorously. "Yeah, touched to death."

After saying that, she tossed a few documents from her drawer. "Here, this is what you wanted."

Chen Ang took them and started flipping through. The top two were car purchase contracts: one for a Land Rover Range Rover, and the other was actually a bentley Continental GT.