Chapter 16: Transferring Shares, Seeking the Linghu Sect

Upon hearing that Elder Chu intended to give a gift to Jiang Chen, no one was surprised. After all, Jiang Chen was already married to Chu Yan and was Elder Chu’s grandson-in-law. Regardless of others’ opinions, this relationship existed at least in name.

However, when Elder Chu presented the gift, not only did Jiang Chen’s expression change, but everyone else was also utterly shocked.

The gift was a document, the cover of which read: “Chu Corporation Share Transfer Agreement.”

Clearly, Elder Chu intended to transfer company shares to Jiang Chen!

And it wasn’t just the shares — it included shareholder rights!

Elder Chu was going to make Jiang Chen a new shareholder of Chu Corporation!

“Xiao Chen, I hold a total of 62% of Chu Corporation’s shares. Thirty-two percent belong to Xiao Yan, fifteen percent to Lihan and the others, and the remaining fifteen percent, I now entrust to you!” Elder Chu said with a kind yet serious smile as he handed the share transfer agreement to Jiang Chen.

Everyone’s faces were filled with astonishment upon learning that Elder Chu was transferring fifteen percent of shares to Jiang Chen.

Chu Corporation was worth over ten billion yuan; fifteen percent of that was at least 1.5 billion yuan — was Elder Chu really giving such a valuable stake to Jiang Chen just like that?

Even Chu Lihan, Elder Chu’s own son, looked envious. Together, he and his family only held fifteen percent of the shares. Elder Chu’s favoritism toward Jiang Chen was extraordinary.

Jiang Chen felt overwhelmed by this favor. Unlike the eighteen-billion-yuan Tian Pavilion Purple Mansion gift from Zhao Tingshan, this was different, and he wished to refuse Elder Chu’s generosity.

“I do not agree!” Yao Bing was quick to oppose. “Grandpa Chu, he is an outsider. If you want to transfer shares upon retirement, you can just give them to Yan Yan!”

If Jiang Chen received fifteen percent of Chu Corporation’s shares, how could they force him to divorce Chu Yan?

“Bing Bing, I’m glad you came to see Grandpa Chu, but what you said displeases him,” Elder Chu said, his gaze turning to Yao Bing, authoritative without anger. “Xiao Chen is Xiao Yan’s husband, my grandson-in-law. He is never an outsider!”

If anyone was an outsider here, it was Yao Bing.

Unwilling to argue further, Yao Bing fell silent and looked to Chu Yan, hoping she would persuade Elder Chu.

Chu Yan’s eyes were complex, but she remained silent.

“Grandpa, what Yao Bing said has some merit. I appreciate your kindness, but the shares should be transferred to Chu Yan,” Jiang Chen said, returning the share transfer agreement and politely declining.

His marriage to Chu Yan was solely to find the murderer and seek revenge; they were bound to divorce eventually.

Everyone was stunned again, never imagining Jiang Chen would refuse shares worth at least 1.5 billion yuan!

Even if Jiang Chen did nothing, he could live a life of luxury forever.

Yao Bing was momentarily stunned, then secretly cursed Jiang Chen, convinced he was playing a game of want-and-refuse.

But Elder Chu thought otherwise. With Jiang Chen’s medical skills, earning tens of billions would not be difficult. He hoped Jiang Chen and Chu Yan would become a true couple so he could rest in peace.

“Xiao Chen, listen to me. Xiao Yan is very busy and tired managing the company alone. I hope you can join the company to share the burden. A married couple should support each other!” Elder Chu handed the agreement to Jiang Chen again, this time with no room for refusal. “Besides, this is the first gift I give you. If you don’t accept it, I will be upset!”

In the end, under Elder Chu’s insistence, Jiang Chen accepted the shares, planning to return them to Chu Yan after the divorce.

Yao Bing secretly cursed Jiang Chen’s hypocrisy. As expected, the want-and-refuse trick — verbally no, but physically yes!

The dinner ended with some happy, some angry… but on the surface, all seemed harmonious.

Elder Chu was thoughtful, arranging a bridal chamber for Jiang Chen and Chu Yan.

Yao Bing also stayed at the Chu residence, warning Jiang Chen not to lay a hand on Chu Yan.

Jiang Chen ignored Yao Bing and, entering the bridal chamber, spoke frankly to Chu Yan: “Just tell me who murdered the Jiang family. Whether you want a divorce or the shares, I will cooperate.”

“Have you already forgotten the agreement you signed with me? If you can’t make the Chu family the top family among Linzhou’s five great clans, then behave like an ordinary man and stop thinking about revenge!” Chu Yan said coldly. She knew her grandfather was resolute—he would not allow her to divorce or Jiang Chen to keep the shares. She only wanted to protect the Chu family and prevent Jiang Chen from dying in revenge.

“Of course I haven’t forgotten. Since you and Yao Bing think differently, let’s proceed according to the agreement!” Jiang Chen met Chu Yan’s gaze. “The shares were given to me by grandpa voluntarily. I didn’t ask for help. I won’t touch this resource.”

“You can exercise shareholder rights, but you can’t sell the shares!” Chu Yan said, then went to shower in Yao Bing’s bathroom.

Jiang Chen took out his phone and called Xiong Wuqiang.

To make the Chu family the top among Linzhou’s five great families, Chu Corporation must first become the number one enterprise in Linzhou. But before that, they had to ensure Chu Yan and the family’s safety.

“Young Master Jiang, you called?” Xiong Wuqiang answered immediately.

“My wife was attacked by eighteen masked, black-clad martial arts experts on a tree-lined avenue while returning to the Chu residence from Chu Corporation. Investigate who’s behind this!” Jiang Chen instructed.

“Yes, I’ll start immediately!” Xiong Wuqiang replied, alarmed.

In Yao Bing’s room, after showering, Chu Yan did not return to the bridal chamber. With long, pale legs, she sat on the bed.

“Yan Yan, I reviewed the attack on us on the road. Those masked black-clad men were likely mercenaries!” Yao Bing said gravely, her white legs crossed.

“What? Mercenaries?” Chu Yan was startled.

“Yes! Though they used knives and sticks, their combat style and the bloodthirsty aura matched what I know of mercenaries!” Yao Bing nodded. During her missions with the Phoenix Special Forces, she had encountered many mercenaries.

“How could mercenaries attack us?” Chu Yan asked, puzzled.

“The target was you. Perhaps your enemies hired them!” Yao Bing replied, noting the masked men initially attacked Chu Yan’s vehicle.

“I have competitors and have offended some people in business, but no enemies,” Chu Yan frowned, unable to guess who.

“People’s hearts are treacherous. Maybe you unknowingly offended someone who wants to kill you!” Yao Bing narrowed her eyes. “As the saying goes, a strong dragon can’t suppress the local snake. Even if these mercenaries are outsiders, they can’t overpower Linzhou’s underground forces!”

“You mean seek help from the underground forces?” Chu Yan realized and asked in surprise, “The Xiongwu Hall?”

“No, not Xiongwu Hall, but the Linghu Sect, one of Linzhou’s three major underground powers,” Yao Bing shook her head. “I heard Xiongwu Hall owes you 100 million yuan for business with Chu Corporation. I thought of asking Linghu Sect for help.”

“Fortunately, Xiongwu Hall is sensible. When I mentioned Phoenix Special Forces, they paid up! If they knew mercenaries were after you, they might stir up trouble.”

“I have a friend in Linghu Sect who can help investigate these mercenaries’ whereabouts and resolve your crisis once and for all!”