Chapter 718: To be old and not die is to be a thief.

"Shang Yanxiong, you have always been the son I admire the most. I have tried my best to cultivate you, but look at yourself. What have you done during this period? I am truly too disappointed in you! Think carefully, has the United States helped you at all during this time?"

Shang Yizhou's tone was heavy; in the study, he shook his head in frustration, lamenting that his son could not live up to his expectations.

Looking at Shang Yanxiong standing before him.

He was trembling with anger.

Shang Yanxiong just lowered his head, standing silently before Shang Yizhou.

"In my early years, I founded the Shanghai Americas Club. Although it was to cling to the United States' coattails, what time was that? The United States was the global hegemon, and those early overseas Chinese who went to the United States to start businesses began to return home to invest."

"They had a lot of money, and I just wanted to gather them all together. It was just like an alumni association!"

"Everyone had the background of having been to the United States, but that was all! Look at what you have done now. Step by step, you have sold your soul to the United States. I initially thought you were right! But looking at it now, what have they helped you with?"

Shang Yizhou was truly disappointed.

The Shanghai Americas Club, which was once the most influential in Shanghu, was now crumbling.

Suddenly, a Zheng Qian popped up, and everyone was sent scurrying away in fear. He even dared to confront the United States head-on—actually, that would have been fine! He originally thought that after Shang Yanxiong became a member of the [Organization], the United States would spare no effort to support them.

Helping the Shanghai Americas Club become a significant presence in South Kyushu, or even the entirety of Kyushu.

But what about now?

Now the whole world knows that Israel is the United States' true father. The United States would even risk falling out with the entire world to help the Hexagram. Shang Yizhou finally understood: they were nothing more than pawns of the United States.

They were merely a "meat warehouse" cultivated to help The Jews. Once a sacrifice was needed, they would have to be the first to go.

What was the point? He really didn't understand what Shang Yanxiong was after.

He regretted it. He regretted semi-retiring from the position of president of the Shanghai Americas Club.

He regretted even more making Shang Yanxiong the vice president.

Alas, he looked around with his sword drawn.

His offspring were too few. Among his legitimate sons, besides Shang Yanxiong, who was in his prime, there was only Shang Yanxi, who followed Shang Yanxiong's lead in everything. The second wife's son, Shang Jianyu, had also reached adulthood, but his performance was even more disastrous; he had made a total mess of the real estate company.

The third wife's son, Shang Jianchi, had just been born. He wanted to raise him as an heir, but he was truly afraid it would be too late...

The more he thought about this, the more Shang Yizhou felt pain in his heart.

He clutched his chest tightly, feeling some difficulty breathing.

In the end, there was still only Shang Yanxiong.

"Shang Yanxiong, although that 'Boss' is not the one at the very top, he is still one of the helmsmen of the nation's destiny. When he came to Shanghu, he didn't see anyone else, just played a game of ball with Zheng Qian. Do you still not understand the intention of the 'Bosses'?"

"Rest for a while recently. Don't go to the Shanghai Americas Club for the time being... Don't go to The Group either. I will preside over the work recently."

Shang Yizhou took a while to calm down before speaking.

Shang Yanxiong did not refute. He remained standing straight and replied with his head lowered, "I understand. Father, please rest early."

After speaking, he withdrew from the room very respectfully.

The sound of a cup being smashed could be faintly heard.

Coming downstairs, a beautiful middle-aged woman was making tea.

She didn't even look at Shang Yanxiong, just said indifferently, "Your father's health has been poor recently, so don't come by so often. Shang Yanxiong, you are the big brother to your younger brothers and sisters. You should set an example and not always make your father angry."

Shang Yanxiong narrowed his eyes, just about to say something, when he saw Shang Rongyan walking over.

She snatched the teacup from Wen Yan's hand and said sharply, "What kind of ghost things are you saying? Is my brother someone you can talk about? Hmph, bitch, aren't you just coveting our Shang family's assets? I tell you, no way! You won't get a single cent!"

Wen Yan smiled faintly, her face always carrying a calm expression.

"This cup of tea was brewed for you, Rongrong. You have been too hot-tempered lately. This is fresh daisy and gardenia that I specially asked A-Qian to get. It is best for clearing heat and reducing internal fire. Drink more."

"Stop acting like you care about me! What kind of thing are you!?"

Shang Rongyan slammed the teacup onto the table with a bang.

It startled a series of crisp shattering sounds.

She raised her jade hand high, making a gesture to slap her in the face.

The surrounding maids all lowered their heads, trembling uncontrollably, not daring to look directly.

Wen Yan was not angry. She always carried a smile, very graceful, luxurious, and dignified. She looked directly into Shang Rongyan's eyes, even with a faint smile on the corner of her mouth, "Oh? You want to hit me? I am your second mother. You dare to touch me? Try it?"

As she spoke, she glanced at Shang Yanxiong intentionally or unintentionally.

"You!"

Shang Rongyan hated being provoked the most.

She gritted her silver teeth tightly, but still didn't let it fall for a long time.

"Rongrong! What are you doing!?"

At this moment, Shang Yizhou walked out of the study on the second floor and stood on the stairs, shouting sharply.

Shang Rongyan resentfully lowered her jade hand, glaring fiercely at Shang Yizhou, her eyes slightly red, "You old thing who refuses to die, why are you yelling at me? If it weren't for you bringing these disreputable women back, would my mother have died so early?"

Hearing this, Shang Yizhou was slightly stunned.

Still, he said loudly, "Is that how you talk to your second mother? Apologize! Otherwise, I will cut off all your cards!"

"I... I don't want your stinking money! You dog couple, go to hell!"

Shang Rongyan resentfully lowered her hand and turned to leave.

"Ouch—"

Just as she was about to go out, she bumped head-on into the third wife, the little mother, Liu Rushi, who was coming in.

"Oh my... so it's Rongrong, did you get hurt?"

Her status was not as high as the second wife, Wen Yan.

She hurriedly asked with concern.

"Get lost!"

Shang Rongyan was holding back a belly full of anger with nowhere to vent, so she backhanded Liu Rushi across the face, "You vixen! You are also here to covet our family assets! Bitch, I tell you, and that bitch from the second room, you won't get anything!"

Liu Rushi's delicate left cheek instantly swelled red, and she immediately cried out and fell to the ground.

Tears flowed directly like a spring.

Seeing that this person, who wasn't even older than her, had actually become a little mother made Shang Rongyan even more furious. Just as she was about to slap her again, she was immediately stopped by a voice like a bell.

"Shang Rongyan!"

Shang Yizhou was trembling with anger, heavily slamming his cane on the stairs, gritting his teeth and roaring, "A-Fu, go and bring the young lady here! This is becoming more and more outrageous. I will discipline you personally!"

"No! No need! Master, I am fine! It is my fault! It is all my fault for not being careful while walking!"

Liu Rushi hurriedly stood up and ran to Shang Yizhou's side, begging.

Shang Yanxiong walked directly to Shang Rongyan, "Father, I will discipline Rongrong. Don't get yourself sick with anger. We won't disturb you anymore. You, rest early!"

After bowing deeply to Shang Yizhou, he took Shang Rongyan's hand and left.

"Wuwu... brother... they are all bad women... The old thing actually wanted to hit me for those bitchy women..." As soon as they got out, Shang Rongyan couldn't stop crying in his arms.

"Little sister, I'm sorry, I let you be humiliated just now. Rest assured, I will make them kneel before you and apologize sooner or later. When that time comes, whether to kill them or skin them is all up to you. Believe me, it won't be long now. To be old and not die is a thief..."

"I will never forget the day Mother passed away."

Shang Yanxiong gently patted Shang Rongyan's back, saying with infinite tenderness.

"Go, serve the Master well."

Wen Yan glanced at Liu Rushi indifferently.

"Yes, Madam." Liu Rushi bowed respectfully and helped Shang Yizhou to the bedroom to rest.

...

Shanghe International General Manager's office.

General Manager Shang Xinlan was trembling with anger.

"You... how did you only discover this matter now? These... these capital parties behind this, are they all the Qianlu Group? Zheng... Zheng Qian!? Tell me, how many shares of the Shanghai Americas Club... member companies has Zheng Qian secretly bought?"

"How many companies... how many companies does he hold a controlling stake in?"

"Are you all fucking idiots!"

At this time, the sky was gradually darkening. She had originally been preparing to go home to rest, but suddenly heard this shocking news.

The professional managers in the room knelt all over the floor.

"A total of 215 member units. Zheng Qian has shares in 200 of them and holds a controlling stake in 80. And this number is still expanding. Perhaps by the time you wake up tomorrow, this number will have doubled. Sister, we are really in trouble this time."