Understanding his uncle?

The thin-framed Ying Jinchuan put considerable pressure on Pan Weiliang.

This wasn’t an easy question to answer. Pan Weiliang had his wayward periods, causing his uncle Director Pan much worry.

That’s how things were in the country now – whoever succeeded had to pull their whole family up. Director Pan was the most successful in the Pan family, and no matter how useless his nephew was, he couldn’t just wash his hands off him.

Pan Weiliang wasn’t entirely worthless. Though lazy and gluttonous, he had the redeeming quality of being sweet-talked and knew how to please people. The uncle and nephew got along quite well.

“My uncle gets up at 6 AM without fail, practices qigong for an hour, then has breakfast before work. He arrives at the office precisely at 8 AM. He doesn’t eat lunch or dinner at home, but he’s home before 9:30 PM. He has many social obligations on weekends…”

After all this useless information, Pan Weiliang realized Ying Jinchuan probably knew all this already.

Did it matter whether Director Pan practiced qigong?

Ah, perhaps used to dealing with people like Xia Xiaolan, Ying Jinchuan found it uncomfortable suddenly encountering a young man of ordinary intelligence.

Extracting useful information from Pan Weiliang’s rambling wasn’t easy. Bai Zhenzhu, feeling embarrassed, withdrew herself.

Ying Jinchuan interrupted Pan Weiliang’s endless chatter. “Let me put it this way – did your uncle ever take money he shouldn’t have? Young Pan, I’m not here to investigate Director Pan. If something happens to your uncle, we’re in serious trouble too. General Manager Xia asked me to handle this matter. If your uncle was wrongly framed, I need your help to figure out how to save him, right?”

“My uncle would never take money. He always said to touch anything but money – once you start, you can’t stop. Though he received things from others, like cigarettes, alcohol, tea, and such. Are those acceptable?”

Pan Weiliang was anxious.

Of course, these things weren’t acceptable.

But within the system, it was impossible to have never accepted any gifts at all.

Especially in Director Pan’s position, handling loans, various organizations and individuals would use all sorts of methods to cultivate relationships with him.

As long as there wasn’t cash hidden in the cigarettes, alcohol, or tea, it could be considered normal social interaction.

Ying Jinchuan patted Pan Weiliang’s shoulder. “Young Pan, can you vouch for what you’re saying?”

Thinking about his uncle’s everyday living standards and trusting his character… After all, his uncle was smarter than him and knew taking money would be disastrous, Pan Weiliang nodded firmly:

“I can vouch for it. He never took the money.”

Ying Jinchuan hadn’t given Director Pan money either.

Either Old Pan had made a mistake elsewhere, or someone was smearing his reputation. With Old Pan suspended and under investigation, all loans he had approved would certainly be re-examined… Qihang’s 16 million yuan loan was probably the largest recent loan he had approved.

Ying Jinchuan had helped secure such a large loan for Qihang, and now someone wanted to force early repayment – he couldn’t accept that.

What role did Sheng Xuan play in this? Was she using this opportunity to pressure Xia Xiaolan and make her presence felt, or was she actively involved, and determined to achieve some specific outcome?

Or perhaps Sheng Xuan was just a visible pawn.

Ying Jinchuan suspected this wasn’t just targeting Qihang – the ultimate target was Tang Hongen.

Tang Hongen’s old house had caught fire, bringing him a second spring. Unable to resist showing off his new relationship, some people wanted to get at Tang Hongen by using Qihang as a breakthrough point. Leaving Pan Weiliang behind, Ying Jinchuan knew this wasn’t simply about jealousy – he needed to meet with Tang Hongen!

“Young Pan, I won’t see anyone else. Since you can vouch for what you’ve said, other members of the Pan family can’t let us down. I trust you can convince your family. You won’t disappoint me, right?”

Pan Weiliang certainly understood the gravity of the situation.

His job at the building materials store was thanks to his uncle’s connections.

The new store’s performance this year was good, and Pan Weiliang was counting on the bonus Xia Xiaolan had promised. His career was on the rise, life was looking up, and he wasn’t willing to let it end abruptly!

“Our family won’t say anything careless!”

…

Hearing about Director Pan’s troubles, Liu Yong couldn’t bother with the remaining franchisees and rushed to the airport, meeting with Xia Xiaolan first.

“Director Pan was always so cautious, how could he get into trouble? I saw him focused on promotion, not particularly concerned about money.”

What would Director Pan need money for? He didn’t lack money to spend – whatever he needed, people would provide. Why would he risk taking money?

“Uncle, we’re not Director Pan – only he knows if he violated any rules. Others might give him money, but you haven’t given him any, right?”

Xia Xiaolan had only figured this out on her way to Yangcheng. Initially, she was just angry, but after calming down, she thought of this point.

Early loan repayment wasn’t the worst outcome. Jinsha Chi would open for sales in a week, and once they sold a few million worth, repaying the bank wouldn’t be difficult. Ying Jinchuan had arranged the repayment in three installments: two payments of 5 million each, and a final payment of 6 million.

At worst, Qihang could repay 5 million first.

Even if the bank wouldn’t give Qihang any extension, they’d still need several days for procedures.

If they could repay 5 million, wouldn’t that prove Qihang’s repayment ability?

This issue couldn’t strangle Xia Xiaolan. The real trouble was involving Tang Hongen… If someone claimed Director Pan had approved such a large loan to Qihang on Tang Hongen’s orders, that would give Xia Xiaolan a real headache!

So perhaps this was targeting Tang Hongen after all.

Was Sheng Xuan behind this?

She didn’t have that capability.

Sheng Xuan was probably going with the flow, waiting for the crucial moment to sell her favor – naturally not to Xia Xiaolan, but to Tang Hongen.

Already claiming she would marry no one else, now by helping in a time of crisis, Tang Hongen would have to be grateful to her.

So Sheng Xuan deliberately leaked the news to her, wanting her to warn Tang Hongen?

Xia Xiaolan felt disgusted.

What nonsense about free love – love should be about mutual attraction, not calculation!

Regardless of gender, relationships built on calculation disgusted Xia Xiaolan.

About to board her flight, she could only stomach her disgust and relay her conversation with Sheng Xuan to Liu Yong, asking him to pass the message to Tang Hongen.

“You must warn Uncle Tang that this matter has changed nature. It’s coming on strong, all targeting Uncle Tang!”

Liu Yong had a headache too.

Mayor Tang was quite the prize, everyone wanted a bite.

A troublesome ex-wife, and now an admirer whose loyalty was questionable… What a mess this had become!

Liu Yong saw his niece off on her flight and went to find Tang Hongen with a head full of questions, only to find Ying Jinchuan already there.

Ying Jinchuan had arrived just before him and had just finished talking with Tang Hongen.

Was he here about the same matter?

Liu Yong wasn’t sure, but Tang Hongen seemed to be in a good mood: “Brother, you’re here. Have you had dinner? Have a bite, I made pan-fried buns.”

Ying Jinchuan clutched his stomach – just hearing “pan-fried buns” made his stomach ache.

Why were the bottoms burnt while the dough on top was still raw? Why was the meat filling both fishy and greasy when bitten into?

Ying Jinchuan remained silent.

Watching Liu Yong’s expression change as he ate Mayor Tang’s homemade pan-fried buns, Ying Jinchuan suddenly felt relieved – yes, yes, torture your brother-in-law instead, don’t force me to eat those buns anymore!