"No, Qianshan Group is still in your father's hands; he couldn't possibly be unaware of such a big issue. The problem lies only with the part of the industry your brother controls," Xiao Ming said.
"What happened?"
"Did he go to Aojiang two months ago?"
"What? He... he actually dared to embezzle public funds to gamble?"
"Yes. He lost over fifty million and is now frantically robbing Peter to pay Paul. Every penny is of utmost importance; naturally, he can't come up with five million for you."
"Damn it! Has he gone mad? Even I know not to touch gambling lightly; how could he..."
Shen Siyi was pacing frantically, "So much money can't be made up. If the news gets out, this will definitely be a major scandal for Qianshan Group; the stock will plummet to before-liberation levels!"
He was right.
In his previous life, when Xiao Ming was still tracking Cao Bangxi, this scandal had broken out.
Shen Siqi was clanged into prison, Qianshan Group's stock price plummeted, and the company was greatly weakened. It had to sell off its quality assets for self-rescue and completely lost the qualification to stand on equal footing with the Cao Family.
By then, Shen Siyi was already dead. Shen Qianshan had lost both sons in succession and had fallen ill, soon passing away, marking the official downfall of the Shen Family.
Originally, Xiao Ming had no intentions of getting involved in this matter.
Because with the rapid development of the internet and the internet of things, the hotel and catering industry would struggle in the future. Even if Qianshan Group had already started to transform and ventured into real estate, it was destined to decline sooner or later.
However, now that things had come to this point, even if it was just for Shen Siyi's unconditional trust, he felt it was his responsibility to lend a hand.
So, from another perspective, Shen Siqi's suspicions were correct.
He did want to help Shen Siyi fight for shares and thereby take command of Qianshan.
Only when everything was under his control could Qianshan Group possibly succeed in transforming and growing stronger.
"No! I must go tell my dad!"
Shen Siyi said and was about to run outside.
"With nothing to prove your claim, will your father believe you?" Xiao Ming spoke indifferently.
Shen Siyi stopped in his tracks, looking dejected, and after a moment said, "Even if he doesn't believe me, he should at least check it out."
"What then? How will he handle it?"
Shen Siyi looked down, silent.
He knew very well that at first his father would definitely be furious, scold his older brother thoroughly, and then dig deep into his pockets to cover all the holes, silently, as if nothing had happened.
Afterwards, his brother would still be a director and senior executive of Qianshan Group, the future chairman and successor.
"Not long ago, I was also a gambling addict, having gambled for nearly two years. If it weren't for my sister-in-law getting pregnant and almost getting into trouble, I probably wouldn't have had a sudden change of heart."
Xiao Ming continued, "That's why I know first-hand how terrifying a gambling addiction is, every bit as much as a drug addiction.
If you don't teach your brother a lesson, one that really hits him to the bone, this kind of thing is guaranteed to happen again."
Shen Siyi's eyes suddenly lit up: "You mean, the gambling agreement just now was actually a lesson for my brother, the 'thrashing' you spoke of? Even if I win, we wouldn't really take his shares?"
"No, you must take the shares, and you must also show that you are determined, ready to take him to court or even send him to jail at any time.
Without his seven percent, he still has four percent, enough to continue being a senior executive.
But the loss of dividends, and moreover, the continual loss year after year, will make him feel real pain, enough to make him think twice when his gambling addiction flares up again."
Shen Siyi showed a conflicted and hesitant expression: "But... this way, my brother and I are likely to become enemies with no room for reconciliation!"
"Is the comfort of self-consoling kinship important to you? Or is it more important to save his soul and Qianshan Group?
Besides, do you really think your brother still holds any genuine kinship toward you?"
Having lived through one lifetime, Xiao Ming had realized that most people in the world behaved like donkeys.
Polite negotiation often met with overwhelming hesitation, whereas coercion and scolding tended to yield higher success rates.
This also sidelong affirmed the correctness of the theory that "people can be domesticated."
What Shen Siyi needed at the moment was not to be persuaded, but to make up his mind.
Therefore, Xiao Ming's tone was sharp, cold, and ruthless.
But he knew that in the future, Shen Siyi would definitely thank him.
As Xiao Ming was provoking Shen Siyi, Jiang Xue was sitting in a hospital chair, waiting to be called.
There was nothing wrong with her health; she had just been resting poorly the last few days and was worried about affecting the baby. So she took the opportunity to see a doctor during the lunch hour, without specifically notifying Xiao Ming.
A ding-dong sounded.
The electronic signboard displayed her number and name, and she hurriedly got up and headed to the doctor's office.
"Out of the way!"
Just as Jiang Xue reached for the doorknob, a plump nurse suddenly darted out from behind her, forcefully pushed the door open before her, and almost knocked her over.
Watching two people follow the nurse into the office, Jiang Xue frowned, pushed the door and entered, but before she could speak, the plump nurse snapped, "What are you doing? Don't you know others have privacy? Get out!"
"How can you cut in line? It's my turn now," Jiang Xue argued.
"What's your turn? You're next. Wait outside."
The plump nurse unceremoniously pushed her out and then slammed the door shut.