Chapter 112: Trouble Has Arisen!

The news of the Dihao Group’s ban on the Xiao Group quickly spread.

Just as the entire Jinling was aware that the Xiao family was finished, news also emerged that the elderly matriarch of the Xiao family had been hospitalized due to a sudden health crisis.

Ye Chen’s father-in-law, Xiao Changkun, surprisingly showed no signs of distress upon hearing this news.

He told his daughter and son-in-law, “With my mother’s personality and her lifelong need to control others, it was only a matter of time before she faced consequences. There’s nothing to feel sorry for; let her reflect on her life in the hospital. Perhaps she’ll realize where she went wrong.”

Ye Chen felt that his father-in-law, who usually seemed muddled, had finally grasped the essence of the situation this time.

As the family breathed a sigh of relief, his wife, Xiao Churan, quietly began to look into job opportunities.

In the evening, just after Ye Chen finished cooking, he suddenly heard the sound of a door opening behind him.

Turning around, he saw Xiao Changkun entering with a beaming expression, his steps lively.

Seeing his father-in-law so happy, Ye Chen couldn’t help but ask, “Dad, you went out for a stroll and came back with good news?”

“Hahaha, today was truly lucky,” Xiao Changkun said, his eyes sparkling. “After taking the pills you gave me, not only did my pain disappear, but I also feel much better—it’s like a miraculous remedy.”

“Guess who I ran into while wandering around the antique street?”

“Who?” Ye Chen’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that his father-in-law had been tricked by a seller of counterfeit goods again?

He quickly scanned Xiao Changkun from head to toe and sighed in relief.

Fortunately, Xiao Changkun was empty-handed and had nothing with him.

After taking a sip of tea, Xiao Changkun said mysteriously, “Son-in-law, do you remember that con artist, Zhang Ermao, we encountered last time on the antique street?”

“I remember, what’s up?”

“Haha, I ran into that little rascal today!”

Ye Chen was taken aback. “Dad, you didn’t buy anything from him again, did you?”

“No,” Xiao Changkun waved his hand, excitedly saying, “This Zhang Ermao now knows I’m your father-in-law and didn’t dare to pull any tricks. Not only did he give me an ancient jade pendant, but he also helped me sell the pills.”

Ye Chen frowned. The ancient jade pendant given to his father-in-law was probably a counterfeit, but it was strange that Zhang Ermao helped sell the pills.

“What pills?”

“The ones you made for me, the ones for treating injuries, called ‘Jiu Xin Dan’ or something like that,” Xiao Changkun exclaimed, slapping his thigh in excitement. “My injuries are all healed, and after hearing how effective the pills are, Zhang Ermao said he had connections to help me sell them. I gave him two pills, and to my surprise, he actually sold them!”

Ye Chen was left speechless.

The pills weren’t anything special; his father-in-law would have just thrown them away if he couldn’t finish them. But this Zhang Ermao really knew how to take advantage of situations, even managing to sell the leftover pills.

“Dad, those pills aren’t the right fit for anyone. How could they sell?”

Xiao Changkun replied, “I don’t know about that, but Zhang Ermao helped me sell them. Guess how much he sold them for?”

“Over a thousand?”

“You’re way off, not even close to a fraction,” Xiao Changkun said proudly, gesturing with his hand. “It was five hundred thousand!!”

“Poof!”

Ye Chen was drinking water when he suddenly spat it out.

He could hardly believe it. A pill that cost less than a hundred yuan was sold for five hundred thousand by that unscrupulous Zhang Ermao?

Who was the unfortunate fool with more money than sense that got swindled this time?

Ye Chen couldn’t help but ask, “Who did that con artist sell the pills to?”

“I don’t know that. Zhang Ermao said he has professional ethics and must keep his clients’ identities confidential.”

After finishing, Xiao Changkun shook his head and sighed, “That five hundred thousand was deposited directly into my account, and he said it was a tribute to you. I offered him a little commission, but he refused. This Ermao really has a knack for business. I should advise him to find a proper job instead of dealing in counterfeits.”

Ye Chen shook his head.

People like Zhang Ermao would never change!

He had been deceiving others since childhood, and it had become second nature to him. If he were forced to work a regular job for even a day, it would probably be the end of him.

There was no way he would ever take a job.

However, since the pills had been sold at a high price by his father-in-law, it could help with household expenses.

After all, the Xiao family had distanced themselves from the Xiao Group, and Xiao Churan would likely be out of work for a while. Moreover, his father-in-law probably wouldn’t receive any dividends from the Xiao Group, so this money would be useful for the transition.

Having unexpectedly gained five hundred thousand, Xiao Changkun’s previously low spirits were lifted, and he hummed the Peking opera “The Red Lantern” as he walked into the bedroom, finally wearing a smile.

Ye Chen returned to the bedroom and shared the news with Xiao Churan.

Xiao Churan nearly jumped off the bed, anxiously asking, “Someone spent a fortune on those pills? The money is one thing, but what if there are problems with the pills? Can we escape the consequences?”

“Don’t worry,” Ye Chen replied with a smile. “This ‘San Xue Jiu Xin Dan’ is just for promoting blood circulation; the materials are cheap and won’t harm anyone. The worst that could happen is a bit of a nosebleed. It’s just unfortunate for the customer—fools with too much money.”

Xiao Churan still looked worried. “But who would be willing to spend five hundred thousand on these two pills?”

Ye Chen casually said, “Maybe someone in the family has a cerebral blockage or cardiovascular issues. This pill is effective for those conditions.”

Hearing this, Xiao Churan felt a bit more at ease.

These conditions are serious medical issues, and if treated in a hospital, the costs would easily exceed five hundred thousand.

Hopefully, the pills would work and not waste the money spent.

After dinner, while washing the dishes, Ye Chen received a call from Master Hong Wu.

Although Master Hong Wu claimed to be the underground king of Jinling, he had become much more low-key since encountering Ye Chen.

While Ye Chen didn’t think much of him, he had to admit that Master Hong Wu was somewhat considerate. Last time, when Wang Daokun was bullied in the hospital, he had helped resolve a small issue for Ye Chen.

So, Ye Chen had promised to give him a chance to rise, and now he was surprised that Master Hong Wu had taken the initiative to call him.

When the call connected, Ye Chen asked, “Hong Wu, do you need something?”

Master Hong Wu quickly replied, “Ah, Mr. Ye! I’m calling to congratulate you on your recent command over the Jinling metaphysics community…”

Ye Chen interrupted coldly, “Cut the nonsense. Just tell me what you want; no need to beat around the bush!”

Master Hong Wu hurriedly said, “Ah, Mr. Ye, you see right through me! I have a small matter to discuss. The Song family has treated me well over the years, and their eldest daughter has recently run into some trouble. I would like to ask you to help take a look.”

Ye Chen asked, “The eldest daughter of the Song family? Song Wanting?”

“Yes!” Master Hong Wu confirmed. “Miss Wanting is in trouble!”