Chapter 169: The Gu Family’s Evil Plan
When Li Chen arrived home, Sun Lixia was already waiting for him. She greeted him, saying, "I made you some soup that will help you regain your strength. Have some, then go and rest." Li Chen expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thanks, Mom," before drinking the soup and retiring to his room to rest.
Meanwhile, Sun Lixia took action upon learning about Tang Junjie’s kidnapping. She called Xu Zhaohao and instructed, "Tang Ziyi’s brother has been kidnapped. Find him."
The news of Tang Junjie’s abduction also reached Ao Junfeng, who promptly made an urgent call to Li Yanyan. Ao Junfeng was one of the individuals under Li Yanyan’s payroll. Upon hearing the news, Li Yanyan smirked and confidently stated, "The Gu family is trying to disrupt the case. Don’t worry; I will find him and bring him back."
Ao Junfeng, eager for a strategic advantage, pleaded, "Ma’am, please make sure they don’t know he has been rescued. I would like to give them a surprise in court." The stage was set for a clandestine operation as Li Yanyan and her associates prepared to retrieve Tang Junjie without alerting the opposition.
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In the abandoned factory, Tang Junjie found himself blindfolded, aware that his life was in imminent danger. However, his thoughts were consumed by the haunting image of his mother lying in a pool of blood. At this moment, the only thing that mattered to him was knowing whether she was alive or not.
He was forcefully dragged into a small, dark room, where one of the men callously remarked, "Your mother is quite a fighter, but that is what she gets for trying to act tough." Tang Junjie, fueled by anger and despair, retorted, "You will pay for this." The man callously replied, "And how will you do that? I am sure your mother is dead by now."
Clenching his fists in rage, Tang Junjie felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness. The man taunted him further, saying, "What, you want to fight? You will end up like her." With that, the two men left the room, leaving Tang Junjie alone with his tormenting thoughts. His mother had warned him about the dangers of confronting wealthy families in court, but he never imagined the dire consequences that would unfold. The harsh reality of the situation weighed heavily on Tang Junjie as he grappled with the uncertainty of his mother’s fate and his own perilous circumstances.
After an hour in the room, the door creaked open, and Tang Junjie heard the sound of a crying baby. As he opened his eyes, he was stunned to see Brother Song’s family had also been kidnapped. Seeing Brother Song’s wife, Tang Junjie approached her and confronted the men, "How could you kidnap a woman and child? You are monsters."
In response, one of the men callously punched Tang Junjie in the stomach, causing him to stagger backward, clutching his abdomen. Coughing up a mouthful of blood, he heard the threat, "We were told not to kill you yet, but if you keep opening that mouth of yours, you will leave us with no choice."
Brother Song’s wife, trying to protect Tang Junjie, pleaded, "Tang Junjie, please don’t say any more. These people will hurt us." Once the men left the room, Tang Junjie, still recovering, apologized, "I am sorry you got involved in this." Brother Song’s wife, resilient, asserted, "It’s not your fault. It’s that evil Gu family trying to run away from their crimes."
Tang Junjie asked about Brother Song’s whereabouts, and Brother Song’s wife explained, "He had left and went to the store. I am sure he is back by now and has realized that something is wrong. He will call the police, and they will get us out of here." Hope flickered in their conversation, as they clung to the belief that help would arrive soon.
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At the Gu residence, Madam Gu, Gu Liang, Gu Hao, and Master Gu gathered in the living room. Master Gu declared, "They have done it." Madam Gu expressed satisfaction, saying, "Good. They will learn not to challenge our family." Gu Hao added, "This will send a message to everyone who thinks they can do as they please with our family."
Master Gu smirked confidently, stating, "Let’s see what they can do in court on Friday." Madame Gu announced, "Now that all this is settled, Gu Liang and I are going shopping." Gu Liang shared her excitement, "I have already spotted the dress I will be wearing for the banquet. All eyes will be on me."
Master Gu acknowledged the significance of the family’s invitation to the banquet, saying, "It’s amazing that our family was invited to this event." Gu Hao commented, "The Sun family can see potential." Master Gu envisioned the opportunities, "This will be a great moment to mingle for all of us. We can also find new business partners. Do you know how many families wished they had received an invite but didn’t?"
Madame Gu emphasized the importance of looking their best, stating, "That is why we need to look our best." Gu Liang added, "This banquet is going to be big." Master Gu reminded them all, "On Friday, please don’t do anything that will embarrass us." Gu Liang assured, "Not me. You can tell Gu Hua that."
Gu Hua, eager to please, declared, "Don’t worry, Dad. I will be at my best behavior." Master Gu emphasized the need for Gu Hua to make connections that night, reminding him that everyone present would be of high status. Gu Hua confidently responded, "You can count on me."
The Gu family, oblivious to the consequences of their actions, focused on preparing for the Sun family banquet, confident that their planning would tilt the court case in their favor. The decision to kidnap Tang Junjie and Brother Song’s family had been Madame Tang’s idea, and Master Gu, seeing its strategic value, went along with the plan.
As they spoke, Gu Liang’s phone rang, and she answered, "Hey, Shan Zitong."
Shan Zitong on the other end inquired, "Are you going to the Sun family banquet?"
Gu Liang confirmed, "Yes, I am. Are you also invited?"
Shan Zitong shared, "Yes, we were invited. Wanna ride with us?"
Gu Liang happily accepted, "Yes, I would love that."
Shan Zitong mentioned, "I bought you something. You can use it on Friday night."
Gu Liang smiled, expressing gratitude, "Thank you. See you on Friday."
Shan Zitong offered her support, "Do you need my support at the court case?"
Gu Liang appreciated the gesture, "I would love that."
Shan Zitong reassured, "Say no more. I will be there. I am sure your family will win the case."
They exchanged goodbyes, and the call ended.
Madame Gu, masking her annoyance, inquired, "Was that Shan Zitong?"
Gu Liang confirmed, "Yes, he is also invited to the Sun family banquet."
Madame Gu pressed further, "Are you still leaving with them on Saturday?"
Gu Liang asserted, "Mom, don’t start, okay? This is my decision."
Master Gu chimed in, "Of course, she is leaving. She is engaged and will be married soon."
Madame Gu sighed, concealing the emotions and thoughts she harbored in her mind. The dynamics within the family seemed complex and layered, with underlying tensions and unspoken concerns.
