"Hello! Brother Ma, what's up?"
Lin Chao Ci asked curiously.
"Brother Lin, we're in serious trouble this time! Some powerful family's son saw how China News Service's share price soared after it went public in the West, multiplying its value several times over. Now he's set his sights on Penguin Company!"
Brother Ma's voice sounded tired and slightly hoarse.
His family did have some connections. They weren't especially powerful, but they were enough to handle ordinary trouble.
This time, however, their opponent was far too powerful. He had tried to fight back a few days earlier, only to suffer a crushing defeat.
The industrial park's water, electricity, and internet had all been cut off.
If this continued, Penguin Company could forget about going public. It would go bankrupt before long.
"Don't panic. Take your time and tell me who we're dealing with!"
Lin Chao Ci was curious. What kind of background did this person have to drive Brother Ma into such a corner?
"His name is Ximen Wentian! He's from Magic City..."
Brother Ma explained the man's background.
The moment Lin Chao Ci heard the family name Ximen and that they were based in Magic City, he knew who they were.
The Ximen Family of Magic City had a hundred-year history. It had produced holders of the highest and preliminary imperial examination degrees... During that period, they had served as lackeys for the Sakura People.
Later, however, they had been forgiven after donating a vast sum of money and giving up half their family fortune.
With their ties to several other families, they had gradually built themselves back up.
Lin Chao Ci remembered clearly that the Ximen Family would become even more powerful in the future, with several members rising to high office in the central government.
For now, though, the Ximen Family was only beginning to emerge. They had a modest reputation, but they weren't particularly powerful.
"It's a minor problem. I'll resolve it within a day!"
Lin Chao Ci was utterly confident and gave Brother Ma a firm deadline.
He chatted with Brother Ma for a little longer.
Then Lin Chao Ci hung up, opened his contacts, and scrolled through the list.
Calling in too powerful a connection would create an unfavorable impression.
Someone too low-ranking, however, wouldn't be able to resolve the matter.
He needed someone whose influence was just right.
Soon, Lin Chao Ci found a suitable candidate: a former battalion commander who had served under his grandfather. He had since transferred to civilian work and was now the fourth-ranking official on the Magic City Municipal Committee.
Lin Chao Ci called him, and the phone was answered after three or four seconds.
"My dear nephew, what brings you to call me today? Does Elder Lin need something?"
"Uncle Li, it's not my grandfather. I have something I'd like your help with!"
"Hahaha, you're being far too polite! Just tell me what you need. There's no need for formalities. I used to be one of your grandfather's trusted commanders!"
"It's about the Ximen Family..."
Their conversation was brief, without much polite small talk.
Lin Chao Ci explained the situation in a few words.
After hearing him out, Uncle Li replied without the slightest hesitation, "A small matter. The Ximen Family has been throwing its weight around lately. This is the perfect opportunity to put them in their place!"
"All right. Sorry for the trouble, Uncle Li!"
With Uncle Li's promise secured, Lin Chao Ci hung up in satisfaction.
Now all he had to do was wait patiently. Within a few hours, the Ximen Family would be apologizing.
Meanwhile, in Magic City.
After hanging up, Uncle Li's smiling face turned icy. He picked up the office phone on his desk and told his secretary to come in.
Once the secretary entered, Uncle Li ordered, "Notify every department to terminate all cooperation with the Ximen Family! Also, suspend those Ximen Family members in charge and have them take some time off to reflect on their conduct..."
"Yes!"
The secretary nodded fearfully. This was the first time he had seen his superior so furious.
Normally, his superior was calm and amiable.
The Ximen Family had really picked the wrong fight this time.
Even the Ximen Family's highest-ranking officials hadn't reached the deputy provincial level. To others, they might seem formidable, an untouchable force.
But in front of his superior, they were nothing.
The secretary left immediately and, as soon as he was outside, notified the heads of every department.
Seven or eight minutes later, the Ximen Family learned that this high-ranking official was targeting them.
Everyone in the Ximen Family panicked.
"We're finished! We're finished this time! He's the fourth-ranking official, only half a step away from full provincial rank! How on earth did our family offend him?"
"We don't know, Uncle! Several of us were suddenly suspended and told to reflect on our conduct! Even the officials who used to be close to us aren't answering our calls now..."
"What do we do? What do we do? Should we plead with that senior official?"
"No. Every time we call in a favor from him, we have fewer left. We don't know what's happening yet, so let's wait and see! Give it a little more time. Nobody panic. I'll call the fourth-ranking official and ask..."
Everyone feared that the higher-ups were settling accounts with them.
The Ximen Family knew all too well that their hands weren't clean. If an investigation really began, few of them would escape unscathed.
Fortunately, the family patriarch remained calm enough to silence the clamoring crowd.
He called the fourth-ranking official.
"Sir, it's me, Ximen... I'm calling to apologize! I failed to discipline my family and allowed some rotten apples to emerge. I'm deeply, deeply sorry..."
"Tell your son to stop plotting against Penguin Company! And return the money you pocketed that you had no right to take. Deposit it into the Integrity Account!"
"Understood, understood! I'll call my son immediately. We'll take care of it right away!"
The Ximen patriarch had apologized the instant the call connected. Whether he was right or wrong, apologizing was the right move.
As long as he apologized quickly enough, the other party would feel obliged to show some restraint and would be reluctant to berate him further.
The fourth-ranking official on the other end had intended to punish the Ximen Family anyway. Not only had he carried out Lin Chao Ci's request, but he had also made the Ximen Family pay a painful price in the process.
The Ximen patriarch didn't dare refuse and agreed at once.
After hanging up, the Ximen patriarch breathed a sigh of relief, but his expression soon turned extremely dark.
After hearing the fourth-ranking official mention Penguin Company and his son, how could he not realize that his son had caused this trouble?
As for the money his family had embezzled, that was hardly important by comparison.
"You idiot, what the hell did you do?! Who told you to mess with Penguin Company? Are you fucking stupid?!"
The patriarch immediately called his son. The moment the call connected, he unleashed a furious tirade.
His son on the other end was left utterly bewildered.
Wait, why was Dad yelling at me? Wasn't I his favorite son?
And how did Dad find out about Penguin Company?
"Dad, what's wrong with Penguin Company?"
"You're still asking what's wrong?! Penguin Company has unimaginably powerful backing! They called my superior directly and got several members of our family suspended and ordered to reflect on their conduct!"
"What?! How is that possible? I investigated them! None of their executives had any real influence, and their new shareholder was just a small company with registered capital of one million!"
His son on the other end was a cautious fellow, too.
After seeing how profitable internet companies were, he had started getting ideas.
Before making his move, he had specifically investigated Penguin Company's background.
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