Chapter 73: Take the Money and Run, or Fight to the Bitter End

Mr. He had been the closest to Wang Zeyu and Zhang Qingbo, leading everyone to assume that the push to depose Chu Yan was a joint plan among the three of them.

Yet, Mr. He ultimately announced his support for Chu Yan. The reversal happened so swiftly that people struggled to process it.

Even Chu Yan wore a stunned expression, having never imagined that Mr. He would suddenly take her side.

"Old He, did you make a mistake? Didn't you agree to depose Chu Yan?"

"That's right, Old He, don't play jokes like this. Hurry up and raise your hand to vote!"

Wang Zeyu and Zhang Qingbo were both shocked and anxious, reminding and urging him.

"I haven't made a mistake, nor am I joking. Finding a leader as exceptional as President Chu is nearly impossible even with a lantern. Anyone trying to depose President Chu is truly an ingrate!"

Mr. He spoke with a completely straight face, even rebuking the shareholders like Wang Zeyu and Zhang Qingbo.

Wang Zeyu and Zhang Qingbo felt like they were losing their minds. What the hell was going on here?

Wen Ruoxuan's expression turned extremely ugly as she glared at Mr. He and demanded angrily, "Are you determined to make an enemy of me?"

"Miss Wen, I am merely a minor shareholder and wouldn't dare make an enemy of you. However, the Chairman and President Chu have treated me too well; I cannot act against my conscience!"

On the surface, Mr. He appeared neither servile nor overbearing, but inside, he was frightened out of his wits.

Xiong Wuqiang, the master of the Xiongwu Hall—a leader of the underground forces—had personally spoken with him. Both his vulnerable secrets and his life were in Xiong Wuqiang's hands, so he certainly didn't dare choose money over his life!

"Wen Ruoxuan, what kind of skill is it to threaten a minor shareholder? If you have the guts, threaten me instead, and see if I don't beat some sense into you!"

Just as Wen Ruoxuan was about to use the influence of the Wen family, a prominent elite clan of Haidu, to coerce Mr. He, Jiang Chen spoke up with a sneer.

Bastard!

Wen Ruoxuan was so furious she was ready to snap. It was Jiang Chen again, stopping her from acquiring the Chu Corporation when success had been so close!

"Mr. He, you've offended a narrow-minded woman like Wen Ruoxuan. She certainly won't let you off the hook!"

Jiang Chen then smiled and asked Mr. He, "Why don't you sell your shares to me and run off with the money?"

"Alright! Thank you, Mr. Jiang!"

Mr. He nodded without the slightest hesitation, feeling immensely grateful to Jiang Chen.

"The Chu Corporation is facing an all-out crackdown from the Han Corporation, and several major enterprises like the Huang Corporation have severed their contracts. The market value of the Chu Corporation is bound to plummet, and your five percent stake will likely shrink to less than half its value!"

After analyzing the situation, Jiang Chen made his offer: "I will only give you two hundred and fifty million. If you are willing, I will have my lawyer draw up the equity transfer agreement right now. If you aren't, I won't force you!"

"I am willing!"

Mr. He agreed without a second thought. Having money was far better than losing one's life, and moreover, Hall Master Xiong had explicitly told him that his shares could only be sold to Mr. Jiang.

Wang Zeyu, Zhang Qingbo, and the other shareholders thought Mr. He had completely lost his mind. Selling his shares at such a ridiculously low price—was his brain flooded with water?

Upon second thought, however, having offended Wen Ruoxuan, taking the money and running was his only option!

Jiang Chen summoned the Chu Corporation's lawyer, and the equity transfer agreement was signed on the spot.

Having received the transfer of two hundred and fifty million from Jiang Chen, Mr. He fled the conference room as if running for his life.

"Jiang Chen, do you really think this petty amount of money can disgust me?"

Believing that Jiang Chen was intentionally humiliating her, Wen Ruoxuan frowned and laughed maliciously, "Once the Han Corporation drives the Chu Corporation to bankruptcy, the shares in your hands will become utterly worthless!"

"That fellow surnamed He agreed to transfer his shares so readily because he treated you like a complete fool! Two hundred and fifty million must have taken you a lifetime of desperate struggle to earn as an orphan whose entire family is dead, and now it's all down the drain!"

Wang Zeyu, Zhang Qingbo, and the other shareholders laughed as well. They had initially thought Jiang Chen had gotten the better end of the deal, but now it was clear he was a genuine sucker!

"Self-righteous and short-sighted. You had better stop competing for the position of the Wen family's next head, lest you become the laughingstock of the clan."

Jiang Chen shook his head, offering a mocking evaluation.

The smile on Wen Ruoxuan's face stiffened once more. Jiang Chen actually knew her objective; had this bastard been investigating her?

She rebuked coldly, "A live-in son-in-law who lives off women like you has no qualifications to judge me or the Wen family!"

"However, you were right about one thing: the market value of the Chu Corporation is about to plummet. When that happens, I'll be waiting for you to crawl and beg me to buy your shares!"

With that, Wen Ruoxuan turned and left, her female assistant glaring fiercely at Jiang Chen twice before following behind.

Wang Zeyu, Zhang Qingbo, and the other shareholders felt deeply aggrieved. Wen Ruoxuan had failed twice to acquire the Chu Corporation, and since they had completely burned their bridges with Chu Yan and Jiang Chen, they felt they could no longer stay here. One by one, they stood up to leave.

"All of you, get back in your seats! The shareholders' meeting is not over yet. Whoever leaves will hand over their shares right here and now!"

Jiang Chen's voice was frigid as his ruthless gaze swept across the crowd.

Wang Zeyu, Zhang Qingbo, and the other shareholders neither wanted to surrender their shares nor dared to go toe-to-toe with Jiang Chen, so they had no choice but to sit back down. After all, given their status, they really ought to stay until the end of the shareholders' meeting.

Chu Yan looked at Jiang Chen with an even more complex expression. It was obvious that Jiang Chen had been helping her all along—not only preventing Wen Ruoxuan from acquiring the Chu Corporation but also letting her witness Wen Ruoxuan's humiliation.

Perhaps... she ought to treat Jiang Chen a bit better.

"Second Uncle, I know all about your situation. I'll give you seven hundred and fifty million if you transfer your fifteen percent stake to me. That sum will be more than enough to handle your personal matters!"

Jiang Chen's gaze landed squarely on Chu Lihan as he spoke without beating around the bush.

Chu Lihan's expression changed drastically, as he hadn't expected Jiang Chen to know about his private affairs. Knowing he indeed needed a large sum of money, he sighed and nodded, "Alright!"

Hearing the exchange between Jiang Chen and Chu Lihan, Chu Yan and Yao Bing wore looks of shock and suspicion. What personal matters did Chu Lihan have? And where on earth did Jiang Chen get so much money?

Wang Zeyu, Zhang Qingbo, and the other shareholders were even more bewildered. Was Jiang Chen going to continue buying shares like a complete fool? Was he crazy or just plain stupid?

The Chu Corporation's lawyer quickly brought the equity transfer agreement for Chu Lihan to sign. After Jiang Chen completed the transfer, Chu Lihan also left with his money.

"Jiang Chen, what is going on here?"

Seeing that Jiang Chen genuinely possessed such vast amounts of money, Chu Yan could not help asking.

"I'll handle the serious business first and explain it to you in a moment!"

Jiang Chen replied to Chu Yan before turning to Wang Zeyu and the others. "I am now the largest shareholder of the Chu Corporation, holding thirty-five percent of the shares. Combined with my wife's thirty-two percent, we have precisely achieved absolute control!"

"Wen Ruoxuan no longer has any chance of acquiring the Chu Corporation. All major and minor affairs of the company will be decided solely by me and my wife, and you won't even have the chance to raise your hands to vote anymore!"

"I dare to fight Wen Ruoxuan to the bitter end, even if the shares in my hands become completely worthless. Do you dare?"

Wang Zeyu, Zhang Qingbo, and the other shareholders instantly panicked. They certainly didn't dare!

Jiang Chen might be crazy enough to fight Wen Ruoxuan to the death, but all they wanted was to make a fortune!

Since Wen Ruoxuan couldn't acquire the Chu Corporation, if she couldn't have it, she would destroy it!

They absolutely could not allow the shares in their own hands to become worthless!

"Mr. Jiang, I am willing to sell my shares at your price!"

"I'm willing too! Mr. Jiang, please buy my shares first!"

"And me..."

One shareholder after another scrambled to sell their shares to Jiang Chen, terrified that their holdings would depreciate and become invalid, resulting in losses of tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions!