Chapter 537 Waiting for a Hare by the Tree Stump

Chapter 537 Lying in Wait

The next day at the Second Factory, Qian Wei brought up the matter with Jiang Yu.

"He invited my parents, saying he wants to discuss marriage. What a joke."

A guy like him should be left to Xu Zhenzhen.

"You agreed?"

Qian Wei snorted, "Of course I did. Do you know why?"

Jiang Yu nodded, "I know. Jiao Zongyao is about to make his move."

Qian Wei gritted her teeth. She'd figured as much.

"You'll help me, right? If something happens to my dad and Jiao Zongyao succeeds, you and Section Chief He are next! We're in the same boat."

Jiang Yu drew closer, giving her a knowing smile.

"Of course. You just need to stall them. Leave the rest to us."

Qian Wei visibly eased up. She knew she'd bet correctly.

"I know."

At some point, she'd come to have complete trust in Jiang Yu.

She always felt that if Jiang Yu agreed to something, it would surely be done.

"Thank you."

Jiang Yu leaned back in her chair. She wasn't helping Director Qian just out of kindness.

It was all for herself.

Wei Nan was completely unaware of Qian Wei's thoughts. He believed he had her figured out.

It was precisely this arrogance that would lead to the hardest fall of his life.

Wei Xiuru went through the items in her hands before carefully handing them to Wei Nan.

"Be very careful. Whatever I give you must be returned exactly as it is."

Wei Nan hefted the items. He never knew Wei Xiuru had such a fortune.

"Relax, sis. Everything will be returned untouched."

Though by then, if he swiped an item or two, Wei Xiuru would be stuck.

Wei Nan took the items and made a beeline for Zhong Yue.

"It's all here. Don't try anything funny. Whatever I give you now, I expect back in full later."

Zhong Yue was quick to agree, "Don't worry. I've got a reputation to maintain."

Unlike last time, Jiao Zongyao had already paid him upfront this time.

Cash in hand, he was naturally more motivated to get the job done.

Here’s the edited translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

He Tingyue hurried home with the things in his arms, afraid something might go wrong.

He had no idea someone was already waiting to ambush him at his doorstep.

Before he could even step inside, a sudden blow to the back of his head knocked him out cold before he could react.

When he woke again, everything was pitch black—his eyes were covered, and his mouth was stuffed with a sock so rank it almost choked him.

His hands and feet were hogtied, leaving him unable to move.

Zhong Yue panicked, bucking like a wild animal.

But the knots only tightened the more he struggled.

This was a robbery!

Yet Zhong Yue wasn’t worried about the stuff—all he wanted was to get out alive.

They could take everything, just as long as they didn’t hurt him.

What he didn’t know was that Wei Xiuru’s belongings had already landed in Jiang Yu’s lap.

Aside from some gold bars, there were various gold and silver pieces, jade carvings.

Some were stamped with the Wei family mark, and a few were even pieces He Tingyue recognized from his boyhood.

"Put them all away."

Some of these items were Wei Baiyun’s dowry, while others were likely looted by Wei Xiuru from the He family.

Who knew if Wei Baiyun’s dowry had been trashed by Wei Xiuru?

The extra items would count as payback.

That same day, He Tingyue brought Jiang Yu a solid lead.

The addresses Wu Fengxi had provided were accurate.

They had uncovered everything Jiao Zongyao had hidden away.

Over the years, Jiao Zongyao had stashed a king’s ransom—enough to sustain an ordinary family for generations.

Crossing paths with them was Jiao Zongyao’s doom.

But the thought of Wu Fengxi quickly killed Jiang Yu’s buzz.

"Tell Wu Fengxi to be ready. With someone like Jiao Zongyao, we must go for the throat—no half-measures."

He Feiyan was totally lost. "Sis-in-law, you and Wu Yue’s mom are still…?"

Jiang Yu patted her head. "Ask me no questions, I’ll tell you no lies."

The night Qian Wei and Wei Nan sat down to discuss their marriage, she was a nervous wreck.

Her mind raced with what-ifs, consumed by doubts over whether Jiang Yu’s plan would succeed.

And if it didn’t—where would that leave her? "Weiwei, where’d you go just now?" Wei Nan squeezed her fingers.

Here's the edited translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

He and Wei Xiuru drank quite a bit, visibly in high spirits.

They were confident, believing everything was going according to plan.

After today, with Jiao Zongyao rising to power and then getting rid of Jiang Yu and He Tingyue, it would be downright satisfying.

Qian Wei shook her head, "It's nothing. Have some more to drink. Tonight, I'll go back to your place."

Director Qian had just frowned, not yet having the chance to scold Qian Wei, when the VIP room door was pushed open.

"Director Qian, Deputy Director Jiao has taken a team to raid your place!"

Director Qian narrowed his eyes, "What did you say?"

The informant repeated the matter concisely once more.

Qian Wei's heart pounded rapidly.

They're making their move.

Director Qian was furious, "What a joke! I, Qian Youzhong, am aboveboard and clean. What kind of accusations does he want to frame me with?"

Mrs. Qian stood up in a panic. Having survived the chaotic years, she'd seen everything.

They had endured such hardships back then, but she never expected it would come to her family today.

"Old Qian, hurry home and check!"

Still fuming, Director Qian could only nod to Wei Xiuru in acknowledgment.

For once, Wei Xiuru restrained herself and refrained from adding insult to injury.

"Director Qian, you go ahead. We've covered the main points already."

There was no need to deliberate further on the details, as this wedding was off anyway.

Mrs. Qian hesitated for a moment, "Weiwei, come back with us."

Qian Wei shook her head without hesitation, "Wei Nan is drunk. I'll look after him tonight."

Director Qian couldn't spare time for her now and left in a hurry.

Wei Nan chuckled softly, slung an arm around Qian Wei's shoulder with a playful smirk.

"Weiwei, aren't you worried your father might be in trouble?"

Qian Wei's expression remained indifferent, "What nonsense is this? What trouble could my father possibly be in? He's always been upright, never taken so much as a paperclip from the people. An upright man fears no false charges."

Wei Nan's smile deepened, laughing inwardly at her naivety.

After tonight, he doubted she'd have any smile left.

He gently lifted her chin, his liquor-tinged breath brushing her face.

"Tonight, you're really coming back with me? I've asked several times before, but you always refused."

Qian Wei gave him a sidelong look, "Seems like you're the one unwilling. What, are you hiding a woman in your place? Afraid I'll find out?" Wei Nan burst into laughter, "Of course not. I told you, from now on, only you'll have the key to my place."

Qian Wei smiled but said nothing more.

Wei Xiuru pressed her temples—she had a headache from drinking.

"I'm gonna head back."

Wei Nan staggered to his feet. "Let me walk you, sis."

Wei Xiuru waved him off. "You can hardly stand up straight—don't bother."

She then glanced at Qian Wei. "You guys, take it easy. There's still a lot to do tomorrow."

Not that she expected to sleep tonight anyway.

She wasn't the only one who'd lie awake.

Xu Zhenzhen tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Finally, Fu Xiangyang sat up and asked, "Can't sleep?"

Xu Zhenzhen bit her lip. She couldn't tell him.

But she was bursting to say something.

"Never mind. Just go back to sleep."

Soon enough, they'd know tomorrow.