Chapter 797: Each with a Plan
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
A woman like this should be pretty simple.
Based on what they’d found, she was not extremely intelligent, and neither was she scheming. Compared to Li Lei’s assistant, Su Tang, she was basically as innocent as a blank sheet and posed no threat.
However, when they saw her in person, they realized how wrong they had been.
Perhaps she really was innocent and wasn’t scheming, but when she walked side by side with Li Lei, they were just incredibly compatible. They were like a match made in heaven, stealing the attention of everyone there.
Her influence on Li Lei was unfathomable.
And this was the biggest threat to everyone else.
As for Su Tang, so what if she was scheming and intelligent? When she stood beside Li Lei, she always looked like a subordinate.
Li Xiaoyao pulled the chairs for both of them and Xia Ling settled into her seat. Thereafter, Li Xiaoyao and a few other subordinates took a few steps back and got into position.
Li Lei sat in the master seat and scanned his surroundings. He started. “All of you seated here are long-term friends and allies of our Li family. I’ve invited you here today for two main reasons—firstly, it’s to let you know that our leader has been changed and I have since taken over, so I hope to have your support; secondly, it’s to introduce my Xiao Ling to the rest of you. She will be the future Madam of the Li family.”
Everyone was quiet, until then one of the big bosses smiled and said, “Second Young Master Li, you’re too humble. All of us know that you’re young and capable! I’ve been collaborating with the Li family for so many years, we shall go on working together as we have before. But as for Miss Ye, this is the first time I’m meeting you. It’s my pleasure.”
It wasn’t common for people like them to formally introduce their women.
As for those who were introduced, they definitely had a certain weight and status.
A few of them sized Xia Ling up quietly. They knew that she’d borne Li Lei a son, and likely had the right to have a hand in the Li family business in the decades to come.
Xia Ling simply smiled but did not say a word.
She knew that her role for the day was just a decorative vase and that Li Lei would handle anything that had to be handled. Knowing that she could depend on him allowed her to relieve herself of stress and worry, and she naturally glowed with a carefree aura. Her innate pride, coupled with her sweet and simple persona, made her appear extraordinarily lovely.
Not a single lady there could hold a candle to her.
Many of them admired her quietly—no wonder Second Young Master Li fell in love with this woman. They’d seen many simple-minded people around, and dignified people were common too. However, when it came to someone who blended these two qualities together perfectly, she was a first.
Such a lady was a rare gem.
Yet, not everyone was just in awe of them.
Some of them thought further—Li Lei had only just taken over the family business, and he was so young, was he really capable of running things right? In the past when the Li family was at its peak, nobody dared trifle with them. But now, there was chaos in the family, and they were at their most vulnerable. It wasn’t surprising that some people were planning to benefit from this.
One of the men, named Wang Long, said, “Second Young Master, you must be very busy, having taken over the throne not too long ago. Recently, the deliveries to South America have really been too slow, our men can’t wait any longer. If this goes on any longer, they’ll be out of jobs! How about this, you can release a few of the routes and let our men take over the deliveries instead. This is a win-win situation for everyone, what do you think?”
The atmosphere changed the moment he uttered those words. The delivery routes to South America had always been under the Lis’ sole control. Now Wang Long was planning to find a place for himself where the Li family monopolized—that was a greedy move.
One of the other bosses immediately put his tea down and was ready to tell Wang Long off, but was stopped by another businessman beside him.
Many of them respected the Li family, but it was mostly for formality’s sake. As the saying went: there’s no forever friend, only forever benefit—especially in the triad world. Countless people had their eyes on the Li family’s business and hoped to have a part of it.
Now that Li Lei had just taken power, and the household was in a vulnerable state, it was a good opportunity for them. What they needed most was to sound him out.
And Wang Long had already done it on their behalf.
Would Li Lei not be able to tell what he was thinking? Li Lei calmly said, “If it’s slow, wait for it.” It was a short statement with no further elaboration nor explanation, but it said volumes.
Wang Long’s face stiffened. “Second Young Master, this is unreasonable. Our men need an income to make a living, you can’t be expecting them to starve, right?”
Li Lei said, “My words are reason enough.”
“You!” Wang Long had only just slammed his hand on the table when the subordinates positioned behind Li Lei pointed their guns to his head. Wang Long’s subordinates got up at once as well and pointed their guns at Li Lei and Xia Ling. All of a sudden, the atmosphere turned stale.
Li Lei looked at Wang Long calmly, perhaps even nonchalantly.
Some of the other big bosses exchanged glances before someone finally stood out to ease the situation. “Second Young Master Li, Brother Wang, both of you calm down. Second Young Master Li, Brother Wang has good intentions, he’s just trying to share your workload. Don’t be angry, alright?”
Li Lei remained expressionless.
It seemed like their attempt to sound him out failed. They didn’t expect Li Lei’s stance to be so strong, and for both parties to be pointing guns at each other. As much as they wanted a part of the Li family business, they did not want to offend Li Lei or the family in any way. The family might be in chaos now, but who knew whether they could remain right on top of the food chain in the triad world? If they did, offending them was no different from courting death.
Another big boss came forward as well. “Brother Wang, don’t be insensible. Quick, apologize to Second Young Master Li.”
Wang Long’s heart was pounding as the guns were pointed at his head. He knew that if he killed Li Lei here today, he wouldn’t be able to get out of the place alive, and his family might even be in trouble for his mistake. But even if he didn’t kill Li Lei, his life was going to be tough.
All he wanted was to sound Li Lei out, but Li Lei’s aggression scared him.
Maybe he had been wrong about Li Lei. The Second Young Master Li who was always carefree and smiling had turned into a cold-blooded leader after the transfer of power. He was no better than Old Master Li back in the day.
Seeing that someone was giving him a chance to turn the tables, Wang Long hurriedly said, “Second Young Master, please don’t be angry. Forget I ever said those words.”