Chapter 679: The Current State of the Deng Family

“Hahahaha!”

Ma Zhaoyue burst into laughter as if he’d just heard the funniest joke in the world.

Mixed in his laughter were feelings of sadness, anger, and helplessness.

“Oh, so it was him who forced you into a corner! He’s the one who forced you to kill him, is that it?!”

Ma Zhaoyue roared hysterically, eyes bloodshot as he stared at Ma Di.

Ma Di remained silent. It wasn’t that he had no reply, but he felt it was unnecessary.

Some things, once done, are done.

“Dad, just sign it. After that, I’ll move out of the Ma Family. You can live here and enjoy your retirement.”

Ma Di gestured, and a bodyguard handed over several contracts.

“Fine! I’ll sign!”

Ma Zhaoyue said.

Ma Di was taken aback. He had expected more arguments, but to his surprise, his father cooperated so efficiently.

Seeing the look on Ma Di’s face, Ma Zhaoyue scoffed mockingly: “You even killed your Big Brother. If I didn’t sign, wouldn’t you just kill me too, and then take care of your other siblings in the same way?”

Ma Di’s face flushed white, then green. He wanted to speak, but in the end, he swallowed his words and just sighed.

“You’ll only end up being Xu Shaochen’s dog for the rest of your life!”

Ma Zhaoyue said bitterly, his tone filled with anger over his son’s lack of ambition.

Ma Di replied, “Dad, if being a dog allows the Ma Family to rise even higher, then it’s worth it to me.”

“Besides, when he’s not around, I am still a person—no, I’m the top of the top!”

Hearing these words, Ma Zhaoyue’s expression was complicated. He sighed deeply and sat on the sofa, signing the contracts one by one.

“Give your other siblings some money and send them away from the Ma Family. Don’t let them get involved in the family’s business anymore.”

“I fear they might get ideas they shouldn’t be having, and meet the same end as your Big Brother.”

Ma Di forced a smile, “Yes, Dad. I’ll do as you say.”

Logically, he should have felt excited, but at this moment, there was no trace of joy in his heart, just an indescribable sense of suffocation.

In fact, he had been afraid his father wouldn’t sign, so he had arranged for some neglected shareholders and senior executives to force his hand.

But none of those plans were needed tonight.

“I’m going to bed.”

After signing the contracts, Ma Zhaoyue threw out these words and headed upstairs.

Watching his father’s retreating back, Ma Di could practically see the aura of control his father once had drain away. In a single night, it seemed like he’d aged ten years.

……………

Jiangzhou.

Imperial Club.

Tonight, Deng Tianwen was treating Xu Shaochen to some fun here as a thank you for his help that day.

“How about getting two girls?”

Inside the private room, Deng Tianwen asked Xu Shaochen with a grin.

“Do I look like that kind of person? No need.” Xu Shaochen raised an eyebrow. Nowadays, he considered himself a model man.

He thought back to his first visit to the Imperial Club, when he came with his three roommates, wide-eyed country bumpkins in the city who ordered several beautiful women.

Those days were behind him.

The Xu Shaochen of now was no longer the Xu Shaochen of the past. He had plenty of women at home, and amused himself with his secretary at the office from time to time. He was more than satisfied.

“Alright then. Waiter, bring out your best alcohol, two bottles.”

Deng Tianwen nodded and turned to the waiter.

“Of course. Please wait a moment.”

The waiter responded respectfully before leaving the private room.

A few minutes later, the manager of the Imperial Club stepped through the door, carrying two bottles of alcohol.

“Mr. Xu, I heard you were here, so I personally came to greet you. This is a small gesture from our Imperial Club. Please don’t refuse.”

The manager wore a flattering smile as he placed two extremely expensive bottles of alcohol on the table.

Moments later, several tall, elegant ladies in cheongsams entered, holding trays of snacks and fruit plates.

“Mr. Xu, I’ll leave you two to enjoy your night.”

The manager uncorked the bottles in front of Xu Shaochen, then bowed slightly before making his exit along with the ladies.

Deng Tianwen sighed, “Ah, I said I was paying tonight, but this makes me feel a bit embarrassed.”

“No problem. Just pay the original bill. That’ll be enough.” Xu Shaochen said coolly, unable to stand his friend’s hypocritical act.

Deng Tianwen’s face stiffened momentarily before he laughed awkwardly, “No way! We can’t waste their kind gesture like that. If I pay, it’d be an insult to them.”

“Alright, enough fooling around. Let’s get to the point. I don’t have time to sit here and chat all night.”

Xu Shaochen’s voice turned serious as he poured himself a glass of alcohol and leisurely took a sip.

With a more composed expression, Deng Tianwen spoke, “Didn’t I tell you already? We need to lure my competitors to Jiangzhou. Once they’re here, they’ll have no one to turn to for help. Then, we can make them yield however we want.”

“Uh-huh. So what’s your plan?” Xu Shaochen nodded slightly, gesturing for him to continue.

Deng Tianwen twitched the corners of his mouth. Why did he feel like Xu Shaochen’s use of the word ‘wise’ was an insult?

“Here’s what I’m thinking: We’ll say that because you killed Deng Tianquan and Deng Tianyang, you’ve offended the Deng Family, but you don’t want to push things to a breaking point with them, so you’re willing to compensate.”

“As for what the compensation is, we’ll hype it up as much as possible. The greedy lot will flock to Jiangzhou to carve up the supposed benefits.”

“What do you think?”

“I think it’s no good.” Xu Shaochen shook his head, giving Deng Tianwen an incredulous look. “You really think the Deng Family would believe that? The Xu Corporation is strong. Why would they be afraid of the Deng Family?”

“Haha, Chairman Xu, don’t you understand the Deng Family’s situation yet? Let me put it this way: Every member of the Deng Family still thinks like Deng Tianquan and Deng Tianyang. They all believe the Deng Family is hot stuff.”

“They’re still stuck in the mindset from over 20 years ago, thinking the Deng Family is as powerful as it used to be, and everyone still respects them. In their eyes, you pulling your punches with the Deng Family is completely reasonable.”

Deng Tianwen spoke with clear disdain, mocking the outdated, self-satisfied fools within the Deng Family.

The Deng Family had stayed in The Northwest for too long without expanding or allowing others to enter, so while they ruled supreme there, they somehow thought their influence extended beyond.

But outside The Northwest, the Deng Family’s influence wasn’t what it used to be; they were far behind.

Still, they deluded themselves into thinking it was the glory days of 20 years past.

“In a sense, the Deng Family’s situation now can be compared to the late Qing Dynasty.”

“Complacent and ruling their isolated domain, unaware that they’ve been left behind everywhere else.”

They still thought their Deng Family had the same standing as it did at its peak 20 years ago.”