Chapter 158 Fatal Mistake
“Once he cooperates with the Zhou family and the Zheng family, what will our family members think?”
“They will definitely see him as a traitor to the family!”
“At that time, his reputation will be ruined.”
“The key is, we, as his closest relatives, will also be implicated. If Ji performs well in the future and has the chance to advance to a higher level, just being Ning Zhuo’s cousin will get him eliminated.”
“Do you understand?!”
Wang Lan gasped, her face showing a look of panic. She nodded nervously, “I understand, I understand, head of the family!”
“I will do my best to persuade Ning Zhuo to return to the remodeling team!”
“Even if, even if it means sacrificing my…”
Ning Ze was startled for a moment, and then heard Wang Lan say, “…even if it means sacrificing my dignity, I will kneel and beg him, but I will make him return!”
Only then did Ning Ze secretly breathe a sigh of relief, adding, “If you kneel, make sure to do it in public; he won’t be able to take it!”
“And, the most crucial thing is, when necessary, don’t hesitate to give enough money.”
“As long as I make a comeback, there is hope. I can recover everything we’ve lost.”
Wang Lan kept nodding, “I understand, I understand, head of the family, I will go!”
“You must succeed.”
“Understood!”
Watching Wang Lan’s departing figure, Ning Ze, still uneasy, added, “If you don’t succeed, we can think of other ways. Don’t do anything foolish.”
Wang Lan turned her head and squeezed out a faint smile, “Don’t worry, head of the family.”
Seeing Wang Lan’s pitiful expression, Ning Ze felt uneasy and even more worried.
Ning Xiaoren was in the study, receiving a detailed report.
The report recorded, word for word, the conversation between Ning Ze and Wang Lan.
Ning Xiaoren nodded slightly, feeling satisfied.
Whether Wang Lan’s persuasion succeeded or not, it would heavily damage Ning Zhuo’s reputation.
Right now, the only thing restraining Ning Xiaoren from taking action was Ning Zhuo’s reputation.
As a victim of unjust rewards and punishments, Ning Zhuo had gained a lot of empathy from the Ning family’s many branches!
“If Ning Zhuo becomes disgusted with Ning Ze’s family and develops a rebellious attitude, really cooperating with the Zheng family or the Zhou family, that would be a fatal flaw.”
Ning Xiaoren’s eyes flickered with cold light, and he eagerly anticipated it.
Wang Lan carefully prepared her appearance, waiting for the moment when Ning Zhuo was demonstrating spells to his classmates, the time when there were the most people.
She burst into the courtyard.
“Xiao Zhuo.” She walked straight toward Ning Zhuo.
Ning Chen, Ning Yong, and the others curiously glanced over.
Ning Zhuo stopped casting his spell, “Aunt, is there something you need?”
Under everyone’s gaze, Wang Lan walked up to Ning Zhuo and then suddenly knelt, crying out, “Xiao Zhuo, your aunt is kneeling before you, I beg you!”
“I beg you to save your uncle!”
“He’s your own uncle, the only relative you have left in this world!”
Everyone in the courtyard was shocked.
Bang.
Before anyone could react, Ning Zhuo also knelt down.
He knelt on both knees and emotionally said to Wang Lan, “Aunt, please get up! How can I accept such a grand gesture from you!”
“Although we’re not related by blood, you’ve raised me into adulthood. I owe you a great debt and will definitely repay it.”
“Even though my uncle embezzled my cultivation resources for over ten years, he is still my uncle.”
“If his life is in danger, I will do everything in my power to rescue him!”
“Ning Chen, Ning Yong!”
Ning Zhuo shouted in a low voice.
Ning Chen and Ning Yong immediately stepped out from the crowd, each taking one of Wang Lan’s arms and helping her to her feet.
Only after Wang Lan stood up did Ning Zhuo rise.
Wang Lan cried, “Xiao Zhuo, actually, you’ve wronged your uncle. He never embezzled or withheld any of your cultivation resources. That was all a lie from the Young Clan Leader, Ning Xiaoren!”
Ning Zhuo was taken aback, “Aunt, what do you mean?”
The people in the courtyard were confused, listening without understanding.
Wang Lan’s next words gradually made everyone understand the situation.
Wang Lan said, “Everything was part of Ning Xiaoren’s scheme. He discovered your talent and aptitude and wanted to recruit you, so he deliberately framed your uncle, falsely accusing him of embezzling a large amount of cultivation resources.”
“But the truth is, he never gave you anything over the past ten years. He just wanted to drive a wedge between you and your uncle, so he could take advantage of the situation and win your favor.”
“He wanted you to think that he was the only one in this world who treated you well, so you’d be endlessly grateful to him and serve him in the future!”
“What?!” Ning Zhuo was shocked, “Aunt, you can’t say such things lightly…”
Wang Lan shook her head firmly, “This is indeed the truth, but our family has always been afraid of Ning Xiaoren’s authority and didn’t dare to speak up.”
“But this time, he’s gone too far!”
“He used your uncle’s life to threaten me, forcing me to use our family ties to pressure you, to make you return to the remodeling team, obediently accept all the unfair treatment.”
“I can’t take it anymore, and your uncle can’t take it anymore either! He secretly contacted me and told me to do this.”
“Because if Ning Xiaoren continues like this, he’s pushing you and our family to a dead end.”
After hearing this, everyone looked at each other in astonishment.
Ning Zhuo lowered his head, frowning deeply. After thinking for a long time, he slowly raised his head, “Aunt, is everything you’re saying true?”
“To be honest, I’m hesitant right now because I don’t know who to believe!”
Wang Lan was prepared for this and gritted her teeth, saying, “Ning Xiaoren framed your uncle and fabricated a lot of false evidence. I’ve collected quite a bit, and you should have some too.”
“When he hurriedly tried to separate you from your uncle, he couldn’t have been thorough. There must be many flaws in those fake pieces of evidence!”
“And another thing, if Ning Xiaoren had really been supporting you all these years, there would be traces. It’s impossible for there to be nothing.”
“You just need to check, and you can prove all of this!”
“Alright.” Ning Zhuo shouted in a low voice, “Ning Chen, Ning Yong, and my fellow classmates.”
“I ask for your help in thoroughly investigating this matter by tonight!”
The classmates, who had all benefited from Ning Zhuo’s kindness, did not hesitate, as it wasn’t a battlefield, and they all responded.
Indeed, Ning Xiaoren’s framing of Ning Ze had been done hastily and couldn’t withstand such a meticulous and thorough investigation.
When all the small flaws were pieced together, the truth gradually became clear to everyone.
“The dignified Young Clan Leader actually did something like this!”
“He was never a good person. I remember my grandfather’s pension was also withheld by him.”
“With him in charge, our family can never expect fairness in rewards and punishments. Look at Ah Zhuo, he has talent and skill, and we admire him deeply. If someone like him is treated this way, what hope is there for the rest of us?”
For a time, the crowd was in an uproar.
“The time is almost ripe,” Ning Zhuo thought to himself.
He decisively made a request, hoping that everyone would help spread the news, the more people who knew, the better.
“This is intolerable!”
“Does Ning Xiaoren really deserve to be the Young Clan Leader?”
“I’m going to the family shrine to demand an explanation!”
Ning Zhuo raised his arm and shouted.
Everyone else: “We’ll go together, we’ll go together!”