Chapter 93: Family Bonds and Fading Fortunes

They waited in the courtyard until they were sure no one was outside, then slipped out quietly.

Xu Xin crept up to the iron gate and peered through the bars.

“They really left…”

Xu Zhishan nodded.

“Alright. Let’s go home.”

With that, they removed the padlocks and pushed open the gate.

Stepping outside, they spotted someone by the wall, smoking.

It was Xu Zhiquan, the second brother.

“Second Brother… what are you doing here?” Xu Zhiyan asked.

Xu Zhiquan turned, surprised someone was still at the factory.

His cheeks were flushed from drinking, and he smelled of alcohol, but he seemed sober.

“I came out to sober up. I heard some noise and thought I’d check it out.

I figured the factory was empty. Didn’t expect you guys to still be inside.”

Xu Zhiyan said, “We were too scared to come out, so we hid in there.”

Xu Zhiquan waved them off. “Don’t worry. I chased those debt collectors away. You’d better head back now.”

Xu Zhiyan’s eyes reddened, relief and lingering fear flickering on her face.

“Second Brother…”

It was their brother who had driven off the crowd blocking the gate.

The others fell silent, their expressions complicated.

Xu Zhiquan took a drag of his cigarette.

“Is Third Uncle not here?”

Xu Zhiyan shook her head. “Third Brother’s not here.

He’s probably hiding somewhere—those collectors are surely looking for him.”

Xu Zhishan sighed. “They’ve even come to the factory grounds. That means they’ve already been to Third Brother’s place…”

Xu Zhiyan added, “We can’t reach his phone. I hope he’s all right.”

Xu Zhiquan replied,

“He’ll be fine.

I’ve known him since he was a kid; he’s stubborn as they come.

Whatever happens, he won’t do anything drastic.

I bet he ran off on his own and is holed up in some town.”

He took another drag and continued,

“But his wife and son might be in trouble.

Zhiyan, call your sister-in-law. If Third Brother didn’t bring them along, bring them here to your place.”

Xu Zhiyan nodded. “Got it. I’ll call her right away.”

Xu Zhiquan looked back at the factory gate and walls, his mood heavy.

He’d known the Mechanical Factory bid was a death trap, but he couldn’t stop his brother from jumping in.

Stopping him would have backfired and earned Third Brother’s resentment.

Yet now, seeing a brother ruined, Xu Zhiquan felt conflicted.

He said in a low voice,

“Third Brother’s situation isn’t life-threatening—just the debt collectors breathing down his neck.

Once he sells off the equipment and gets some compensation, he’ll manage.

He’s run the factory long enough to have some savings.

But…

His assets will be wiped out, and the factory will collapse.”

At this, Xu Zhishan and Xu Zhiyan looked crestfallen.

They’d all been working at Third Brother’s plant.

With it gone, they’d lose their livelihoods.

Xu Zhiquan glanced at his siblings and said,

“I know you’ll struggle without the factory, but my Seedling Company can’t take you on.

I’ll ask some friends in nearby towns if they need workers, but I can’t promise anything.”

Xu Zhiyan blinked. “Thank you, Second Brother…”

Xu Zhishan nudged his son Xu Xin. “Say thanks to Uncle!”

Xu Xin piped up, “Thank you, Uncle!”

Finishing his cigarette, Xu Zhiquan stubbed it out on the ground.

“We’re family. I can’t stand to see you starve. I’ll help what I can.

But my company runs as a proper corporation now.

Even the farmhands Old Fourth hired have contracts.

Old Fourth and Yongqing are under contract too—work more, earn more.

I can’t fill my company with family alone; that’s no future.

Since we’re family, I wanted to explain clearly.”

Xu Zhiyan said, “We get it. We were young and foolish back then, taking our share for granted…”

Xu Zhishan said, “Second Brother, it was our ignorance. We can’t blame anyone now. We’ll be grateful if you find us work.”

Xu Zhiquan waved them off. “It’s late. Head back.”

He said no more and headed toward his own plant.

…

The celebration feast continued in raucous chaos.

Xu Zhiquan, cigarette dangling from his lips, returned to the courtyard.

The moment he stepped in, someone dragged him back to drink.

He laughed as he sat among them.

Old Fourth, Xu Zhilin, had been poured so much wine that Fourth Aunt led him inside to sleep.

Maternal Uncle slipped into the room and, after half a glass of baijiu, was unsteady on his feet.

Xu Chen and Li Rui sat eating together.

Xu Chen drank tea instead of alcohol, but everyone pressed him for a toast.

Everyone knew he was the boss’s son, the “young master.”

Xu Chen clinked cups of tea with the farmers and chatted easily.

…

By eight or nine that evening, drunkenness wore off and guests drifted away.

Xu Zhiquan sat alone with a teapot in the now-empty courtyard.

The contrast between the day’s noise and the present silence was striking.

Xu Chen emerged with a plate of grapes and sat beside his father.

“Dad, have some grapes!”

Xu Zhiquan smiled and popped a grape in his mouth.

“How’s Third Uncle’s place?” Xu Chen asked.

He’d seen his father visit the neighboring workshop.

“Nothing major—just the debt pressure.”

Xu Zhiquan lit a cigarette.

“Everyone has their fate…

I won’t help him directly or lend him money.

If he swallows his pride and asks, I might pull a few strings to delay the collectors.

With his remaining assets, he can pay off the debts.

But the market’s bad. Starting over is slim chance.

He may never recover in this lifetime.”

Xu Chen listened quietly, relieved his father wouldn’t lend money.

“Dad, have more grapes!”

Xu Zhiquan ruffled Xu Chen’s hair, then popped two grapes into his mouth.

Xu Chen asked, “With Third Uncle’s factory gone, doesn’t Eldest Uncle and Aunt have nothing to do?”

Xu Zhiquan shook his head. “They chose to opt out back then.

I asked around for them—that’s all I could do.”

Xu Chen chewed thoughtfully and nodded.

Their feud years ago had hurt his father’s feelings.

It made sense he refused to help them now.

But with Eldest Uncle and Aunt once gloating after his father’s fall, Xu Chen feared Dad might relent out of family ties.

Luckily, his father wouldn’t meddle.

Xu Zhiquan laughed. “Those business books you got me? I read them all.

Modern corporate governance, staff management, compensation systems…

To build East Morning Star Group, we can’t have unreliable relatives onboard!”

Xu Chen smiled and gave his father a thumbs-up.

Seeing his father so rational even in family matters put Xu Chen at ease.

“Dad, any news from the factory?”