Chapter Sixty-Two: The Gift

"You? Hmph! What right do you have to disagree? You're not even a member of the Chen family anymore. Get out at once!"

"There are plenty who disagree—who do you think you are? Get this straight, the business with the Li family was signed with our Chen family. You can stand aside!"

...

Chen Yufeng and Chen Wenping rebuked her in turn, their words quickly echoed by many others in the room.

Even Old Madam Chen gave a contemptuous laugh, and was about to wave her hand and order Su Zheng and Chen Muxue’s family to be thrown out.

Just then, a middle-aged man entered from outside. Dressed in professional attire, he exuded a powerful presence, accompanied by two men in black suits and sunglasses.

The man surveyed the gathering with an air of arrogance before speaking calmly:

"My surname is Liu. I have served the Li family for eighteen years, thanks to Young Master Li’s trust. My main duties involve handling contract disputes and overseeing company acquisitions for the Lis."

He introduced himself with impeccable manners, then stepped forward a few paces and addressed Old Madam Chen once more:

"I have just received word from the Chamber of Commerce that Haoyuan Trading, with whom we signed a contract, has applied for bankruptcy. Therefore, as per the Chamber’s regulations, I am here today to take over this company. I ask for your cooperation."

His words crashed through the room like thunder.

The entire Chen family was stunned.

Old Madam Chen’s expression shifted rapidly, regret and unwillingness flooding her face.

She hated herself for not knowing that among Haoyuan Trading’s clients was none other than the Li family from Qingyang. Now, by the rules, they had come to take over the company.

Worse still, such a golden opportunity to cooperate with the Lis was so carelessly discarded by her own hand—her heart seethed with frustration.

"Mr. Liu, you must be mistaken. I am not applying for bankruptcy. We called this meeting today precisely to discuss how best to serve the Li family’s order. Please, have a seat. We have resolved to devote the full strength of the Chen family to this matter, and will not trouble you in the slightest!"

Old Madam Chen forced a respectful smile, desperately hoping to salvage this tremendous loss.

"Apologies, but I am not interested in any of that," the man replied, neither arrogant nor servile, producing a contract from his briefcase and presenting it to Old Madam Chen. "As chairman of Haoyuan Trading, please sign here. Thank you."

Though her heart was filled with unwillingness, Old Madam Chen had no choice. Sensing a faint chill in Mr. Liu’s demeanor, she trembled as she signed her name.

Afterward, she felt utterly drained. The Chen family’s once-in-a-lifetime chance to rise had just been destroyed by her own hand.

But she dared not refuse to sign—the Chamber of Commerce had already issued its order. Refusal would only mean greater losses to come, for compared to the Li family of Qingyang, the Chens were nothing.

Mr. Liu, contract in hand, did not leave immediately. He looked around and asked in a calm voice:

"May I ask, is President Chen Muxue here?"

At that moment, Chen Muxue was still overwhelmed with grief and humiliation. Her parents were slowly recovering, but not yet fully well, and Su Zheng was massaging them to improve their circulation.

"I’m here. What is it?" Chen Muxue replied softly.

"President Chen, please sign this transfer contract. Young Master Li has instructed that from now on, you will be the chairwoman of Haoyuan Trading. The company will be entirely under your management!"

Mr. Liu approached with utmost respect, inviting her to sign.

"Wha... what? Me... chairwoman? Isn’t the whole company being transferred to the Li family?"

"You misunderstand, President Chen. Young Master Li has faith in your abilities. Haoyuan Trading remains yours; it is merely separated from the Chen family and now under your sole control, answerable to no one else."

Mr. Liu explained again with courtesy.

"Muxue, go ahead and sign. From now on, no one will interfere with your business again. Trust me," Su Zheng comforted her gently.

Chen Muxue hesitated for a moment, then, choosing to believe Su Zheng, signed the contract in astonishment.

"Thank you for your cooperation, President Chen. Please carry on, I have other matters to attend to and won’t trouble you further." With that, Mr. Liu departed swiftly with his two men in black.

Chen Muxue stood frozen, contract in hand.

In fact, not only she, but every member of the Chen family was paralyzed with shock, unable to believe what they had just witnessed.

The Li family, having taken over Haoyuan Trading, had immediately handed it to Chen Muxue to manage!

This... this made no sense at all.

Old Madam Chen stared in disbelief, a suspicion beginning to form in her mind.

For the Li family to value her so highly, even going so far as to bestow a company upon her, could it be that Chen Muxue had quietly formed powerful connections?

Now that Haoyuan Trading was back in Chen Muxue’s hands, all the previous scheming had come to nothing.

Lowering her head, Old Madam Chen fell silent, weighing her options, her face indecisive as though wrestling with a difficult decision.

Su Zheng looked at her with a gentle smile, his gaze confident and unwavering.

"Ahem..."

Old Madam Chen rose from her grand chair, every step burdened with hesitation and struggle. At last, she stood before Chen Muxue and her family, her expression awkward as she said slowly:

"Muxue, it was all your grandmother’s fault before. I shouldn’t have forced your family out of the clan. Come back, will you? I apologize."

The room erupted with astonishment. Everyone stared in disbelief.

No one could believe that the usually domineering and stubborn matriarch would truly apologize to a younger member, and in front of so many people.

Some recalled what Su Zheng had said earlier that morning, in this very spot.

Never did they expect those words to come true so soon.

After speaking, Old Madam Chen seemed utterly spent, her body swaying. The embarrassment and humiliation of this moment left her cheeks flushed and her mind buzzing.

Yet she had no choice.

Haoyuan Trading no longer belonged to the Chen family, but was now entirely Chen Muxue’s private enterprise.

If the Chens wished to redeem her foolish mistake and reestablish ties with the Li family of Qingyang, they had no choice but to seek Chen Muxue’s forgiveness, and invite her family back into the clan.

As the effective head of the Chen family, Old Madam Chen was stubborn, but she cared most for the family’s interests.

For the sake of the Chen family’s rise, and her late husband’s dying wish, she would pay any price.

"Grandmother, can you please not be so harsh with me in the future? I truly have never done anything to betray the Chen family. Is that alright?"

Chen Muxue supported the old lady, holding back her grievances, her voice trembling.

She had endured too much in the past two years. Now, all she wanted was a clear answer from her grandmother.