Chapter 74 Coming to the Door

Chapter 74: An Unannounced Visit

Mo Wanzhen left, stating her intention to seek opportunities in Guangzhou independently. Jiang Luo did not press her to stay.

He still regarded Mo Wanzhen as his younger brother's wife, Wang Chuang’s spouse, and a friend. He had always hoped she and Wang Chuang would rekindle their relationship, start a family, and, like in his past life, raise twins in blissful harmony.

Yet, Jiang Luo understood with even greater clarity that everyone must forge their own path.

Each individual possesses their own destiny and future, which no one can impede.

Just as in this life, he, too, had a journey he was destined and determined to undertake.

And so, after bidding farewell to Mo Wanzhen and reprimanding Zhang Ningfu, as the festive spirit of the Spring Festival waned, Jiang Luo’s endeavors officially gained momentum:

The initial payment to the German company was remitted to their international account at the Bank of China. Within two days, the German firm notified them that their equipment had commenced loading for shipment, destined by sea for the port nearest to Haicheng.

The factory operated with precision: machinery hummed, workers diligently prepared inventory for the four sales counters, while several workshops underwent renovation, and a new cafeteria was under construction.

Concurrently, a plot of vacant land behind the factory was acquired, with plans for additional workshops. Workers were steadily arriving, and the site had been fenced off for surveying and planning.

In Germany, the company’s executives and equipment engineers boarded a flight bound for China.

At the town government, formal investment agreements, contracts, and other factory-related documents were being drafted.

At Hongqiao Airport, Jiang Luo and Xiao Lu greeted the German company’s executives and engineers upon their arrival.

At the exit, Jiang Luo shook hands with them, saying, "Nice to meet you."

Xiao Lu, unfamiliar with English, carried Jiang Luo’s briefcase and followed discreetly…

Everything progressed in an orderly and systematic manner.

At Fudan University, the new semester began. Zhao Mingshi, now disengaged from the student union and indifferent to his senior female classmate, immediately approached his roommate Fang Haichen upon seeing him. "That project you and the seniors are working on—can I join?"

Fang Haichen paused, considered, and then hesitated. "It’s not that I don’t want you to, or that I don’t wish to include you. It’s just that we’re almost finished with it."

The implication was that it would be awkward to bring someone in at such a late stage to share in the nearly completed work.

Zhao Mingshi replied, "I see."

Then he proposed, "Haichen, could you include me and those seniors? Let’s work on something else together."

Fang Haichen asked, "Such as? Do you have any ideas?"

Zhao Mingshi beckoned Fang Haichen closer.

Fang Haichen leaned in, and Zhao Mingshi whispered into his ear.

At the Zhao family residence, after the Spring Festival, numerous calls were made to Jiang Luo.

Jiang Luo answered some, ignored others. Regardless of whether he picked up, upon hearing it was Zhao Shuo or Zhao Guangyuan, he immediately hung up, without a single wasted word.

Zhao Guangqian had departed early to attend to his own business elsewhere. Upon calling back and learning that Zhao Guangyuan still hadn’t brought Jiang Luo home, he promptly booked another flight back to Haicheng.

As soon as he landed, Zhao Guangqian took charge. He brought Zhao Guangyuan and Su Lan along, called Zhao Shuo, and the four of them drove in one car to Jiang Luo’s company.

"Who are you looking for?"

All four were impeccably dressed—the men in suits, the woman in a tailored ensemble—clearly not ordinary individuals. The company staff, mistaking them for Jiang Luo’s clients, dared not be remiss and quickly rose to greet them.

However, Accountant Xue, with a keen eye, noticed a resemblance in their features to Jiang Luo’s, surmising they might be his family or relatives.

"Mr. Jiang? He’s not here; he’s at the factory."

As soon as the colleague spoke, Zhao Shuo and the others immediately turned to leave.

After their departure, a few colleagues conversed: "Mr. Jiang’s business has really expanded. The factory secured ten million for expansion, and people are constantly seeking him out here at the company."

"Indeed," another added, "we’ll be moving to a new office soon."

Accountant Xue, however, had a thought. He entered the inner office, picked up the phone on Jiang Luo’s desk, and called him, intending to forewarn him about the four relatives who had come looking for him.

Unfortunately, Jiang Luo didn’t answer, likely preoccupied.

Zhao Shuo drove Zhao Guangyuan and the others toward the factory in Juxiang Town.

As they neared the factory, the poor road conditions caused the car to jolt violently, and dust billowed into the vehicle, prompting Zhao Shuo to quickly raise the windows.

Looking around, besides their car, there were several slow-moving freight trucks and large dump trucks on the road; it was their presence that stirred up so much dust.

Zhao Guangqian, seated in the passenger seat, looked out the window at the vehicles and asked, "What’s going on? So many large trucks."

"Probably some construction site nearby," Zhao Guangyuan casually replied from the back seat.

But Zhao Shuo knew with near certainty that those trucks were headed to Jiang Luo’s factory.

Indeed, upon arriving at the factory, they saw two dump trucks parked horizontally on the vacant land outside.

As Zhao Shuo drove toward the factory gate, two dogs suddenly darted out, barking aggressively at them. Two men also emerged from the guard shack.

One of the men, seeing the sedan, approached and gestured for them to stop.

Zhao Shuo applied the brakes, slowing the car, and simultaneously rolled down the window.

The man bent down, scrutinizing Zhao Shuo. "Who are you here to see?"

Zhao Shuo replied, "We’re here on business, to see your Mr. Jiang."

Observing Zhao Shuo’s suit and distinguished demeanor, the man, not wishing to be disrespectful, asked, "Do you have an appointment with Mr. Jiang?"

"Yes."

The man then waved them through, signaling to the other guard to call off the dogs and clear the path.

As Zhao Shuo drove inside, Zhao Guangqian looked out the window, deep in thought. "Is this factory really that large?"

"Were those big trucks actually coming here?"

"What are they for?"

"Dump trucks aren't typically used for regular shipping, are they?"

Zhao Guangyuan and Su Lan were equally perplexed.

It was only then that Zhao Shuo spoke up, explaining that after the holiday, he had heard Jiang Luo secured a ten-million-yuan loan from the Bank of China. These trucks and the expansive factory complex were likely part of the expansion plans.

"Ten million!?"

Su Lan exclaimed in astonishment, "That much?!"

"How did he manage to borrow so much?"

Zhao Guangyuan was also greatly surprised.

Zhao Guangqian, however, laughed heartily. "Excellent, excellent! Truly a son of our Zhao family—capable and talented."

He turned to Zhao Guangyuan. "Guangyuan, you’ve raised a wonderful son. Truly excellent, simply outstanding."

But Zhao Guangqian’s laughter soon faded—

They parked the car, exited, and went to find Jiang Luo. After inquiring with staff in the factory area, they proceeded to Jiang Luo's office.

Jiang Luo was indeed there, discussing expansion blueprints with Zhang Ningfu, Wang Chuang, and two other contractors. Xiao Lu knocked on the door, pushed it open, and apologized, "Excuse me."

Then, looking at Jiang Luo, he added, "Mr. Jiang, your family is here to see you."

Family?

Not only Wang Chuang, but Zhang Ningfu and the others looked at Jiang Luo with confusion.

"What family?"

Jiang Luo was equally bewildered, wondering if Zhang Xiangping and her group had come looking for him.

Then, the door opened, and Zhao Guangqian led the way, stepping past Xiao Lu, followed by Zhao Guangyuan, Su Lan, and Zhao Shuo.

Upon seeing them, Jiang Luo inwardly rolled his eyes to the heavens—he certainly recognized Zhao Guangqian.

In his previous life, although Zhao Guangqian had initially been more welcoming than Su Lan, Zhao Guangyuan, or Zhao Shuo to his return to the Zhao family, it was also Zhao Guangqian who, upon learning of his involvement with a man, had mercilessly slapped him, calling him shameless, disgraceful, and a pervert.

The sight of Zhao Guangqian instantly brought back the memory of that slap, along with Zhao Guangqian's hysterical outburst and the furious glare in his eyes.

Consequently, Jiang Luo’s expression immediately hardened. He ignored all members of the Zhao family, addressing only Xiao Lu at the door. "I have no relatives. Please escort them out the same way they came in."

"Huh?"

Xiao Lu stood at the doorway, bewildered.

Wang Chuang and the others also looked at Jiang Luo, then at the three men and one woman who had entered.

Zhao Guangqian, however, ignored everything—Jiang Luo’s words and everyone else in the room. He approached Jiang Luo, his voice resonant and steady. "Jiang Luo, I am your eldest uncle, Zhao Guangqian, your father’s brother."

"Get out."

Jiang Luo, devoid of emotion, finally looked at Zhao Guangqian and stated, word by word, "I am very busy. I have neither the time nor the energy to be entangled with you Zhao family members."

"I’ll say it again: get out."

Jiang Luo’s attitude and words were so unambiguous that not only did Zhao Guangqian and his companions grasp the situation, but Wang Chuang and the others immediately sensed that something was amiss.

Wang Chuang quickly signaled to Zhang Ningfu and the others: "Let’s go, everyone, let’s go."

Why stay here? To watch the drama?

Wang Chuang felt he could observe Jiang Luo’s personal affairs, but no one else should.

"Oh, right."

Zhang Ningfu and the others were about to leave.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Luo turned his head and snapped, "Leaving? Did I say you could go?"

They halted, somewhat embarrassed. The Zhao family members remained silent. Xiao Lu stood awkwardly at the doorway. The room was quiet, eerily so.

Zhao Guangqian, a seasoned businessman, was unfazed by such situations.

Even with outsiders present, he looked at Jiang Luo calmly and steadily, saying, "Just come home, Jiang Luo."

"You are still a Zhao, after all."

"The mix-up at birth was an accident. Now…"

"Xiao Lu!"

Jiang Luo completely ignored him, his voice cold. "Escort them out."

"Oh, okay."

Xiao Lu immediately stepped forward. Though he couldn't forcefully eject them, and he was outnumbered, he politely gestured toward the door, addressing Su Lan and the others, as well as Zhao Guangqian and Zhao Shuo: "Mr. Jiang is busy. Perhaps you all should…"

Zhao Guangqian ignored him too, continuing to look at Jiang Luo with a seemingly good-natured and patient demeanor. "I know you have business to attend to. How about this…"

Zhao Shuo couldn’t help but interject, "Jiang Luo, our entire family is here looking for you, practically begging you to come back. You…"

Zhao Guangqian turned his head and said authoritatively, "Did I ask you to speak?"

Zhao Shuo fell silent.

Jiang Luo was exasperated and had no desire to engage with them. He repeated, "Get out."

Zhao Guangqian turned back and said something that made the room even quieter.

He said, "I know you borrowed ten million from the bank to invest in factory expansion."

"Alright, I’ll give you an additional ten million—ten million in cash—if you come home."

"As long as you come home, ten million will be transferred immediately!"

Everyone: "…?"

Wait, is he serious? Ten million? How can he say it so casually?

Wang Chuang silently gasped, leaning back with wide eyes.

Ten million? Again?

Who is this man? Is he as rich as a bank?

But Jiang Luo looked at Zhao Guangqian, slowly smirking, a smile full of mockery and disdain. He laughed, as if something were truly hilarious, and laughed until his shoulders trembled slightly.

No one knew what he was laughing about, but then Jiang Luo's smile vanished abruptly. His expression turned cold again, and he said icily, "Get out. I said, get out. All of you, get out."