Chapter 523: The Tan Family’s Difficulties

As soon as the words fell.

Tan Ling bowed deeply to Xu Shaochen.

“Alright, stand up. For Liu Chao’s sake, I won’t hold this against you. Explain the situation again and I’ll consider whether to help.”

Xu Shaochen spoke indifferently and sat down next to Mei Liangxin.

After all, she was Liu Chao’s girlfriend, and he had a good relationship with Liu Chao, so he might as well help.

“Thank you, Young Master Xu.”

Tan Ling sighed in relief, overwhelmed with excitement, and quickly explained the situation once again.

From Tan Ling’s account, Xu Shaochen understood what was going on.

The Tan family was considered a small fortune in Yijing, holding some local influence and running a successful herbal business.

But recently, a powerful local figure had approached her father, proposing to acquire the Tan family’s company.

Of course, her father refused. As a result, they faced pressure from all sides. Government departments created trouble, business partners broke contracts, banks demanded loan repayments, and their production line was forced to shut down.

Her father’s health was deteriorating day by day because if this continued, even if the company didn’t shut down, it would definitely change ownership.

“Young Master Xu, as long as you’re willing to help, our Tan family will always allocate 20% of our herbal company’s shares to you. I know this amount may not mean much to you, but it’s a token of our gratitude.”

Tan Ling was clever, presenting the 20% shares not as payment but as a gesture of thanks to Xu Shaochen.

After all, Xu Shaochen certainly didn’t need such a small amount of money.

But by framing the shares as a token of appreciation, it became a humble yet heartfelt gesture.

Moreover, as long as Xu Shaochen held 20% of the shares, the Tan family’s herbal company would only thrive, and no one would dare to trouble them.

“Who is trying to acquire your family’s company?”

Xu Shaochen asked.

Hearing this, Tan Ling forced a bitter smile, “The Lan Family of Yijing. I don’t know if Young Master Xu has heard of them.”

“Lan Cheng?” Xu Shaochen blurted out instinctively.

Tan Ling nodded, “Lan Cheng is the eldest son of the Lan family.”

Xu Shaochen’s expression grew playful. Lan Cheng had contracted AIDS, yet the Lan family still had the energy to use such coercive tactics to acquire another company.

There seemed to be more to this matter.

Xu Shaochen looked at Tan Ling with a meaningful gaze, “Miss Tan, think carefully. Is there anything else you’re not telling me?”

“N-no… no.” Tan Ling’s eyes were evasive, and her attempt to lie was clumsy.

Even without Xu Shaochen, both Mei Liangxin and Liu Chao could tell she was hiding something.

“Miss Tan, you probably don’t know that I happen to be an old acquaintance of Lan Cheng. If you’re going to hide something, then I can only say that I’m powerless to help. I’m not in the habit of being someone’s pawn.”

Xu Shaochen’s tone became cold.

Lan Cheng, the only heir of the Lan family, had contracted AIDS, yet the Lan family still found the energy to acquire the Tan family’s company.

This indicated that the Tan family’s company must possess something the Lan family wanted.

If Tan Ling didn’t share this detail, Xu Shaochen certainly wouldn’t offer his help.

Liu Chao panicked and urged Tan Ling, “Ling Ling, what are you hiding? Tell Shaochen quickly; no one else can help your family!”

“Miss Tan, farewell.”

Xu Shaochen casually tossed out a few words and got up to leave.

“Wait.”

Tan Ling gritted her teeth and called out to Xu Shaochen before saying, “Mr. Xu, this isn’t the place to talk.”

“Follow me.”

Xu Shaochen spoke and led the way upstairs.

He used a key to open the door to the room Ma Di had arranged and found An Miaozhu had already dressed up but hadn’t left yet.

When An Miaozhu saw Xu Shaochen enter, her eyes brightened, and she immediately threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly.

“Darling, do you want another round? I have to admit, you almost killed me. An hour… but make it rough, don’t hold back…”

Before she could finish, the smile on An Miaozhu’s face froze, having noticed Tan Ling and the others entering behind.

“H-he-hello.”

Tan Ling awkwardly greeted them as she swore to herself that she never wanted to hear any of this.

Mei Liangxin and Liu Chao both studied their footwear intently, but in their hearts, they echoed the same thought.

“Damn, an hour? Is he even human?”

Their self-confidence shattered into pieces.

“Ahem, I have business to attend to, you should leave now.”

Xu Shaochen pushed An Miaozhu out of his arms.

Without needing another word, An Miaozhu bolted out of the room as if fleeing for her life, her face burning with embarrassment.

“Alright, speak.”

Closing the door, Xu Shaochen expressionlessly picked up the tissues scattered on the ground and threw them into the trash bin.

Didn’t that woman An Miaozhu know how to clean up after herself?

“Young Master Xu, our family’s been in the herbal business for many years, and my father has always been researching a special medicine…”

Tan Ling took a deep breath, preparing to reveal the Tan family’s secret to Xu Shaochen.

“The special medicine your family researched, it’s for treating AIDS, isn’t it?”

Before Tan Ling could finish, Xu Shaochen interrupted her.

Tan Ling was stunned but quickly responded, “How… how did you know?”

“Heh, because Lan Cheng has AIDS.” Xu Shaochen’s lips curled into a faint smile.

No wonder the Lan family still pursued this aggressive acquisition. Now, everything made sense.

Lan Cheng had AIDS, and he was the only remaining heir of the Lan family. If something happened to him, the Lan family would be finished too.

At this time, the Lan family somehow learned that the Tan family’s company had developed a special medicine for AIDS.

To cure Lan Cheng and gain control of this lucrative avenue, they resorted to extreme measures to acquire the Tan family’s company.

Because they didn’t want anyone else to know this before bringing the Tan family’s company under their control.

“What?!”

Tan Ling was utterly shocked by this revelation.

In Yijing, Lan Cheng was known as the ultimate noble son, the child others’ parents admired.

Who would have thought he had contracted AIDS? This was explosive news.

If only she knew that it was Xu Shaochen who had orchestrated Lan Cheng’s downfall, who knows how she would feel.

Xu Shaochen smiled at Tan Ling, “You can call your father and tell him I’m willing to help. But I don’t want 20% of the Tan family herbal company’s shares; I want 50% of your pharmaceutical company.”

Tan Ling was quite shrewd. From the beginning, she emphasized that the Tan family was in the herbal business, so Xu Shaochen would think the Lan family wanted to buy the herbal company.

In reality, the Lan family’s target was always the pharmaceutical company.