146: Chapter 146 When the Plums Ripen: Childhood Sweetheart Male Lead 24

[So satisfying, that bastard was pissed off.]

[More domineering than the original work. In the original, it relied on Meng Zhu's father to get through this.]

[Listening to what was just said, Lu Yu doesn't have much of a chance. He's just barking loudly.]

[What do you know? This is just being polite before using force. Lu Yu wanted to get Nan Li without paying anything, today was just a probe.]

[True, now that the talks have collapsed, Lu Yu will start for real.]

[I said the main plot is chasing the woman, stop worrying. Lu Yu is definitely a clown.]

...

The comments seemed to have convinced themselves.

But inside the main hall, no one took the enemy lightly.

With the departure of Lu Yu and the branch members of the Meng Family, the tense atmosphere gradually dissipated, returning to tranquility.

At this moment, in the main hall, only Grandmother, Meng Zhu's parents, as well as Meng Zhu and Nan Li remained.

Father Meng picked up his teacup, gently skimmed the foam, and his gaze landed warmly on Nan Li.

He and his wife had been traveling recently, so he knew nothing of the changes in Nan Li's state of mind. Seeing the young girl sitting there quietly, he spoke with concern.

"Zhaoyu, I see that you don't have a good impression of that Lu Jin, which is a good thing. The family style of the Lu Family is not a good place to settle down."

Father Meng paused, then asked with a smile.

"Besides Lu Jin, many young people from the Meng Family came today. Is there anyone you have a good impression of?"

Apart from the Lu Family, the branch members of the Meng Family were actually fine; they were just normally striving for their own interests.

Nan Li had just taken an orange peeled by Meng Zhu. Hearing this, her heart skipped a beat, and the orange in her hand nearly fell to the ground.

Before Grandmother could speak, she quickly raised her head and waved her hands urgently, her clear eyes filled with resistance.

"Uncle Meng, Aunt Liang, Zhaoyu doesn't like anyone, and Zhaoyu doesn't want to marry them."

Although her voice was not loud, her tone was very firm.

Grandmother, sitting at the head, couldn't help but curl her lips into a knowing smile upon seeing this.

This wasn't just eighty percent; this girl definitely had someone in her heart, one hundred percent.

Seeing Nan Li's resistance, Father Meng did not force her. He nodded, and his expression gradually became serious.

"Lu Yu is a person who always puts interests first. Having suffered such a big setback today, he will absolutely not let it go at that."

Father Meng put down the teacup, his voice steady.

"Although those branch members of the Meng Family are not controlled by Lu Yu, they share common interests and wouldn't mind fanning the flames. The second half of this year has only just begun."

He looked at Nan Li and exhorted her earnestly.

"Zhaoyu, you don't need to be afraid, but you must remember two things."

Seeing Father Meng's serious expression, Nan Li quickly sat up straight and listened carefully.

"First, if anyone uses the Meng Family's kindness to kidnap you, accuse you, or force you to transfer shares, or spreads rumors that you are plotting to take the Meng Group's assets, do not take it to heart. Maintain your composure and ignore it; these storms outside will be handled by Courtesy Name."

Nan Li subconsciously glanced at Meng Zhu beside her. Seeing him gazing at her with gentle eyes, her heart fluttered once more.

"The second point, and also the most important one."

Father Meng's tone became a bit heavier.

"From now on, do not sign any form of guarantee, mortgage, or temporary custody agreement! Even if the other party presents it to you in our names, do not sign it under any circumstances, especially blank documents."

Father Meng sighed and continued.

"The business traps involved here are very complex. You can let Courtesy Name teach you slowly in the future. For now, just keep these two points firmly in mind."

Although Nan Li only half-understood, she had unreserved trust in the Meng Family.

She nodded solemnly and replied obediently.

"Uncle Meng, Zhaoyu will remember."

Grandmother saw that the important matters were mostly covered, so she stood up and waved at Nan Li.

"That's good. Zhaoyu, why don't you accompany Grandmother for a walk? Let your Uncle Meng and Courtesy Name talk for a while longer."

Nan Li agreed, stepped forward to support Grandmother's arm, and the two slowly walked out of the main hall.

Until Nan Li's figure disappeared from sight, the atmosphere in the main hall changed abruptly, fading from the previous warmth to something much colder and stern.

"Courtesy Name, have you thought it through?"

Father Meng looked at his son, his eyes sharp.

"It will be very difficult for you from here on."

Meng Zhu nodded, the calmness in his eyes unsettling.

"I've thought it through. Let's try it first."

His slender fingers tapped gently on his knee as he analyzed methodically.

"Lu Yu, besides those low-down tactics, the bargaining chips he can use in the business world are nothing more than those few things."

"Directed issuance to dilute equity, using related-party transactions to transfer profits, hollowing out company assets, intentionally creating huge losses to force Zhaoyu to pledge shares for cash, or at worst, uniting with other shareholders to amend the company's articles of association and directly sideline her."

Father Meng listened to his son's analysis and nodded in approval.

"No one understands the foundation of the main branch better than the branch members of the Meng Family. Although they will cooperate with Lu Yu for the sake of interests, they would never dare to turn against us completely. There are some tactics in this that they wouldn't dare to use."

Speaking of this, Father Meng's brows furrowed deeply, and his tone revealed a hint of hidden worry.

"But there is another fatal hidden danger that you should also be able to think of."

Meng Zhu's eyes narrowed, and he spoke in a deep voice.

"I know, what you are referring to is tracing the source of Zhaoyu's shares."

"Correct."

Father Meng sighed, his face grave.

"Once they join forces to trace the source of the shares, it will involve inheritance wills, and even trace back to the source of Zhaoyu's parents' equity. When the Old Master founded the Meng Group back then, many procedures and definitions had flaws. If Lu Yu seizes this point and directly initiates an equity confirmation lawsuit, once such a lawsuit starts, the process could drag on for six or seven years."

Father Meng looked at Meng Zhu and stated the worst-case scenario.

"During this period, the court will freeze all the shares under Zhaoyu's name according to the law. This is the true 'pulling the firewood from under the cauldron.' On this point, there is almost no solution in legal proceedings."

[Holy crap, this is getting professional, I don't understand.]

[Isn't business warfare about sending spies to the rival company to poison their money tree?]

[What the hell, poisoning the money tree? I thought you guys would at least think of stealing the official company seal.]

[No, no, no, movies usually involve stealing confidential documents.]

[Yeah, and the bidding floor price.]

[Although I don't understand, once these two things are stolen, it can often lead to bankruptcy.]

[Oh, give me a break. If it were that easy, that would be great.]

[What Meng Zhu's father just said is the real deal. Of course, internal company strife is actually even more ruthless than this; low-down tactics are the mainstream.]

[Don't panic. Meng Zhu doesn't have much power in the company this time, but the foundation of the main branch seems to have a bit of a 'relying on one's advantages to be arrogant' vibe.]

[In the original work, it seemed like everything was solved once the female lead married the male lead. Actually, I didn't quite understand it either. I hope Meng Zhu explains it clearly this time.]

...

Meng Zhu was aware of the doubts in the comments.

Perhaps when he first read the original work, Meng Zhu wasn't very clear about it either.

But after he gained the male lead's memories, he naturally knew everything.

There was no need for the comments to say it; for the sake of the movie's excitement, he would explain the reason later.

But putting aside the future, let's go back to the present.

After thinking for a while, Father Meng looked at Meng Zhu and said.

"Therefore, your mother and I have discussed it. If the situation really reaches that point, the best method is for you to persuade Zhaoyu to let Grandmother formally add her to the Meng Family genealogy, and we will adopt her as our daughter."

A flash of shrewdness crossed Father Meng's eyes.

"As long as she becomes a legitimate member of the Meng Family, Lu Yu won't be able to do anything, and the storm will end completely."

But after hearing this "perfect" proposal, Meng Zhu shook his head without hesitation.

"Dad, Mom."

Meng Zhu raised his head and looked at his parents with a firm gaze.

"You also know that besides adding her to the genealogy, there is actually another way."

Father Meng and Mother Meng exchanged a knowing look upon hearing this.

The girl Zhaoyu had said since she was little that she would not marry Meng Zhu in the future.

Many people knew about this, so when Meng Zhu said there was another method, his parents immediately understood the crux of it.

But that method...

The main hall was quiet for a long while.

In the end, Father Meng sighed first, smiling helplessly yet with gratification.

"Very well."

"Since you have come of age and are managing the household, I will no longer block your decision. Your mother is the same; as long as you have thought it through, you can handle the path ahead yourself."

"Thank you, Father."

After Meng Zhu finished speaking, he looked at his mother.

Liang Wanyu indeed agreed as well, saying gently.

"I will have Auntie Hua send the things to you later."

Meng Zhu nodded, only then feeling completely relieved.

When Mother Meng finished this sentence, the crisis from Lu Yu had actually already passed completely and was no longer a cause for concern.