Chapter 324: Banished from the Qin Family, Expelled from the Family Register!
"Take back what’s yours?" Qin Hongbo flew into a rage. "What belongs to you? As the Qin Family’s son-in-law, everything you eat and use comes from our Qin Family. What else could possibly be yours?"
Chen Xinlan added her own accusation. "Lin Mu, don’t think you can do whatever you want just because of your status. In front of us, you’re just a junior!"
"Exactly!" Qin Hongshu chimed in, his face stern. "Lin Mu, you have certainly surprised us, and you’ve proven yourself worthy of Luo Li, but..." He paused and let out a sigh. "Lin Mu, you are still a son-in-law of the Qin Family. It is only right that you show us the proper respect."
His words were dripping with condescension for Lin Mu’s status. After all, the Qin were a great and prestigious family. A commoner like Lin Mu should be grateful to have married into it.
Qin Luoli’s expression turned ugly. Her uncles’ words were too much. Just as she was about to protest, Lin Mu suddenly burst out laughing.
"Hahaha!" His laugh was thick with disdain. "Is this your answer?" he asked. "And as for status..."
Lin Mu’s gaze swept around the room, but no one dared to meet his eyes.
"Status?" Li Xiaotian snorted. "Never mind my Master’s identity as the Divine Doctor and Miao King, the company he owns is hardly weaker than your Qin Corporation!"
A company? The crowd exchanged puzzled glances. When did Lin Mu start a company?
"Boheng Pharma!" Li Xiaotian declared proudly. "That is my Master’s business!"
At his words, most of the Qin family members exchanged strange looks. Isn’t that just a small pharmaceutical company? And doesn’t Boheng Pharma belong to the Su Family?
Qin Hongbo scoffed. "Don’t try to scare us, Lin Mu. I know all about Boheng Pharma; it’s the Su Family’s business. You’re just a kid. If you’re going to bluff, at least make it believable!"
"What an idiot."
Li Xiaotian’s single, mocking sentence made Qin Hongbo livid.
Li Xiaotian stared coldly at Qin Hongbo. "Su Weiye gifted Boheng Pharma to my Master long ago," he sneered. "If you don’t believe me, check for yourself."
"Fine, I’ll check!"
Naturally, Qin Hongbo didn’t believe a word of it and immediately made a call to inquire. When the call ended, his face was ashen. The call had confirmed his worst fears. Not only had Lin Mu become the chairman of Boheng Pharma, but the company’s current strength now rivaled that of the Qin Corporation.
"Lin Mu, is it true? Boheng Pharma is yours?"
Compared to the other members of the Qin Family, Qin Luoli had a much better understanding of the major enterprises in River City. While Boheng Pharma had been somewhat well-known before, it was never particularly powerful. Recently, however, it seemed to be expanding constantly and had landed several huge deals. In fact, Qin Luoli herself had tried to contact Boheng Pharma just a few days ago, hoping to acquire some resources from them, but she had been rejected.
"It is," Lin Mu said. "I was planning to grow the company a bit more before gifting it to you. But since certain people have their doubts, there’s no reason to hide it any longer."
"Gift... gift it to me?" Qin Luoli was stunned, her mind reeling.
Li Xiaotian chuckled. "Mistress, it seems there are things you don’t know. Whatever the Master has, he would give to you. If you wished for the very stars in the sky, he would pluck them down for you."
Being called ’Mistress’ by someone old enough to be her grandfather made Qin Luoli slightly uncomfortable. But seeing the serious look on Li Xiaotian’s face, she knew he wasn’t lying.
Half of River City’s industries... are mine? Qin Luoli still found it hard to believe.
Unwittingly, she had become the richest woman in River City. And the man by her side, Lin Mu, was of a status far more distinguished than she could have ever imagined.
"So what if Boheng Pharma is yours, Lin Mu?" Chen Xinlan snorted. "Does that change the fact that you’re the Qin Family’s son-in-law? You should always remember your place!"
"You wretched woman! If not for the fact that you are my Mistress’s elder, I would have killed you with a single slash for that remark!" Li Xiaotian’s hand shot to the hilt of his saber, drawing the blade partway from its sheath. A fierce aura burst forth, sending a chill through everyone present.
Chen Xinlan was so frightened that she staggered back several steps, her face deathly pale.
"I just want to tell you one thing: my Master and Mistress are a match made in heaven. They don’t need anyone’s approval!" Li Xiaotian’s icy gaze swept over the crowd. "But if anyone dares bring up my Master’s status as a son-in-law again, don’t blame me for being ruthless!"
At that moment, everyone felt a tangible, suffocating killing intent.
"Lin Mu, that’s enough," the Old Madam finally spoke, her voice cutting through the chaotic scene.
The moment she spoke, everyone collectively sighed in relief. It was no wonder; the events of the day had been simply too shocking.
"As the Old Madam wishes," Lin Mu said with a smile. "But what is owed must be taken in full! Isn’t that right, Old Madam?"
The Old Madam looked at Lin Mu, her expression complex. "It is what is due to you."
"Old Madam!?" Qin Hongbo’s expression changed drastically at her words, his eyes laced with fear.
"What?" the Old Madam challenged. "When all of you were clamoring for Lin Mu to leave the Qin Family, demanding that Luo Li give up her position as president and hand over her shares, did you ever consider this moment?" She slammed her cane on the ground in anger. "Or do you expect me to turn a blind eye and go back on my word?"
"We wouldn’t dare!" Qin Hongbo flinched, his eyes filled with resentment.
"Old Madam, we are all family, after all. I think..."
Before Qin Hongshu could finish, Qin Luoli cut him off coldly. "Second Uncle, you yourself said you would honor the bet. Are you trying to go back on your word now?"
Qin Hongbo opened his mouth, but words failed him. "I..."
"Uncle, it’s time to hand over the shares you’re holding," Lin Mu said with a grin. "I won them fair and square. Surely you’re not going to renege, are you?"
"No, I disagree!" Chen Xinlan shrieked before Qin Hongbo could answer. "By what right, Lin Mu? You think you can just demand shares and get them? Who do you think you are!"
"By what right?" the Old Madam thundered. "By the right that I am the head of the Qin Family!"
"Old Madam, you can’t be so partial to Lin Mu and his wife!" Chen Xinlan protested vehemently.
"Partial?" The Old Madam pointed at the slumped form of Qin Hao on the ground, her voice filled with both fury and pain. "You raised a fine son! He dared to conspire with Qiao Zishan to assassinate Lin Mu! For that crime alone, you can all be expelled from the Qin Family, your names struck from the family records forever!"
Her words sent a shockwave through the room. Qin Hao conspired with Qiao Zishan to assassinate Lin Mu? When did that happen?
"Impossible!" Chen Xinlan screamed. "My son would never do such a thing!"
"Impossible!" the Old Madam roared back. "Do you take me for a senile old fool? Why do you think Lin Mu was late to the last family banquet? It’s because someone lured him out, broke all his limbs, and left him for dead on a desolate mountain! If he hadn’t been so lucky, he would be dead right now! To lay a hand on his own family... the one you raised isn’t a son, he’s a man-eating Poison Snake!"
Chen Xinlan stared at the Old Madam, her mouth agape, gasping for air like a fish out of water. The Old Madam knew. She knew everything.
As for Qin Hao, his face was ashen, a mask of complete despair.