Reborn Aristocrat: Return of the Vicious Heiress
chapter-354

Wen Haowen looked towards Wen Xinya sharply and just as he was about to speak, he was stopped by Old Mr. Wen. “Don’t push your responsibility to Xinya. I’m clear about everything that has happened all these years. The Jiang family is merely barely able to maintain its position in the four major families, but you overly elevated them, always behaving humbly and trying to please them. That’s why the Jiang family belittled our Wen Family, Jiang Ruoyin dared to challenge Xinya, and Su Jinshan dared to threaten Xinya without any due respect to the Wen Family. You’re the root of all these.”

Wen Haowen’s face was red with anger as he panted heavily non-stop. “Father, if I hadn’t been worried about the Xiao Family entering the luxury brands market for the sake of the Wen Family, I wouldn’t have switched my attitude towards the Jiang family from arrogance to humility like a bastard. You actually still pile the responsibilities for everything onto me. I’m so bitterly disappointed in you.”

Old Mr. Wen looked at Wen Haowen calmly and said, “I’ve never initiated a collaboration with the Jiang family. You’ve known the Jiang family for so many years, aren’t you aware of their arrogant and capricious character? To collaborate with the Jiang family is undoubtedly akin to asking a tiger for its skin. And our Wen Family had long known about the Xiao Family’s ambitions to break into the luxury brands market. To only count on others to suppress the Xiao Family is too passive and isn’t the way to handle things.”

Wen Haowen suddenly realized that his diligence and devotion for the Wen Family were actually all mistakes in the Old Man’s eyes. He suddenly felt bitter, disappointed, and angry.

Ning Shuqian looked at Old Mr. Wen in disbelief and said, “Father, Haowen has been making painstaking efforts for the Wen Corporation all these years. How can you say that he pales in comparison to Xinya—Xinya has led a wandering life for fifteen years and has only returned to the Wen Family for less than a year, what can a child like her know? Haowen has been in the business field for many years, how can he lose out to Xinya? Even if you’re fond of Xinya, you can’t be so biased like this—Xinya is your granddaughter, but Haowen is your son!”

Ning Shuqian’s statement was already suspiciously driving a wedge between them, but Wen Haowen instead felt that Ning Shuqian’s words spoke to the depths of his heart. He felt that the Old Man was just biased towards Wen Xinya.

Wen Xinya looked towards Ning Shuqian plainly and said, “Aunt Ning, how can you talk like this—if Grandpa didn’t trust Father, why would he retire from the business world so soon, handing all matters of the Wen Corporation over to Father? It’s not unusual for father and son to quarrel—this is very normal. Even if you and Father are very loving, you’ve had your arguments—you can’t say that Father doesn’t love you just because of that.”

Ning Shuqian was momentarily speechless as she said shyly, “I only misunderstood your Grandpa in a moment of desperation…”

However, Wen Xinya pouted unhappily and said, “Not everyone knows that you only did it in a moment of desperation, it seems more like you’re intentionally driving a wedge between Grandpa and Father. Aunt Ning, you gotta watch your words.”

Ning Shuqian subconsciously looked over to the Old Man but saw his witty and sharp eyes looking at her. She couldn’t help but retract her gaze and heave in her heart as she felt like she couldn’t breathe.

Hearing their argument, Wen Haowen couldn’t help but say angrily, “Look at the state that we’re in, and you guys are still quarreling here. Shut up.” Saying which he looked towards Old Mr. Wen and said, “Father, since you think that my way is wrong, now that things have developed to this stage, what do you think we should do?”

Old Mr. Wen asked plainly, “Since the Xiao Family wants to buy the Ai Shang Group over, let them be. Anyway, the Wen Family has operated in this area for many years. So what if the Xiao Family has huge capital—within a short period of time, it’s impossible for them to seize the luxury brands market. If our Wen Family were to overreact, the others will think that we’re trying to monopolize the market, which will affect the reputation of the Wen Family.”

Wen Haowen sneered and said, “Father, you’re really getting old and no longer have the harsh decisiveness from back then, instead irresolute and hesitant. The four major families have gone about our respective businesses peacefully for so many years. Why aren’t the Xiao Family afraid of others saying that they’re breaking the rules and morality for wanting to break into the luxury brands market—instead, our Wen Family is afraid of others saying that we’re trying to monopolize the market.”

Old Mr. Wen wasn’t upset. “You’re too uptight, losing your mind at the slightest disturbance. The basis of business has never been a monopoly but a competition. The Xiao Family indeed has no lack of capital, way more than the Wen Family. However, don’t forget that the Xiao Family’s main focus is on household appliances. I don’t have to go into the competitiveness of this area, but many businessmen are waiting to break into the market that the Xiao Family is operating in. Do you think that the Xiao Family will fight to their death with the Wen Family and give their opponents an opportunity to strike?”

Wen Haowen was speechless.

Old Mr. Wen sighed and said, “The Wen Corporation indeed occupies too little of the cosmetics market, easily giving opponents chances to strike. Instead, you should be thinking about how to be outstanding in the cosmetics branding to occupy this market, leaving no weakness for the opponents.”

Wen Haowen was at a lost for words but argued. “Father, I admit that you’re right. However, now that the Xiao Family is buying the Ai Shang Group over, we can’t just sit and do nothing.”

Old Mr. Wen reflected the question. “What do you intend to do?”

Wen Haowen said, “Fight it out with the Xiao Family—gather capital to buy the Ai Shang Group over. Anyway, it’s a good brand which will only do good when subsumed under the Wen Corporation’s cosmetics brands.”

Old Mr. Wen was so furious that he laughed. “I think you’re crazy. If you had such a thought previously, I’d naturally support it. However, to fight it out with the Xiao Family now will affect the entire operations of the Wen Corporation. The Wen Family is weaker than the Xiao Family. If the media gets hold of this, the Wen Family’s stocks will plunge, causing unimaginable impact. At the right moment, we’ve got to stay out of the limelight.”

Wen Haowen said angrily, “So we’re just going to let the Xiao Family buy the Ai Shang Group over and do nothing—Father, isn’t this too weak! This will make the Xiao Family think that our Wen Family can be bullied.”

Old Mr. Wen said, “Doing business doesn’t depend on a moment’s courage. The tactic of injuring the enemy while dealing considerable damage to oneself is never suitable for the business world.”

However, Wen Haowen didn’t listen at all. “Father, my mind is set for this matter. I’ll have a board meeting tomorrow and let them decide by voting. If you disagree, we’ll send Xinya abroad—take your pick.”

Wen Xinya felt Ning Shuqian’s gaze turning to her, gloating at her misfortune. She met hers without avoidance.

Perhaps her gaze was too overwhelming and burned slightly, Ning Shuqian’s gaze subconsciously retracted and actually did not dare to look straight at her.

Old Mr. Wen looked at Wen Haowen with disappointment and said, “So, your real motive is actually to send Xinya abroad.”

Wen Haowen said angrily, “I’m also doing it for the Wen Family’s good. Ever since she returned to the Wen Family, we’ve met with countless storms without a break. With her stirring trouble all the time, it’s just a matter of time that the Wen Family is ruined by her hands.”

At this point, Mother Wang walked over and said, “Old Master, Master, Miss, Madam, Miss Ruya is here.”