Chapter 9: Wen Duidui

Exhausted after a long day, Wen Ya wanted to collapse as soon as she got home. But before she even entered, she heard loud noises inside. She knew it was her second aunt and younger aunt-in-law. They must have come for the shares. Her second uncle and younger uncle always played the nice guys, sending their wives to cause trouble.

Wen Ya smirked. It didn’t matter who they sent. Her parents cared about family ties, but she didn’t. She wasn’t raised by her nieces.

She told Uncle Li and Ah Yong to stay and follow her inside.

“Well, isn’t this the mighty Miss Wen? Done with your company duties?” her younger aunt sneered.

Wen Ya ignored her, turning to Uncle Li as she took off her coat. “Why didn’t you tell me my aunts were here? What if I neglected them?”

“How dare we trouble Chairman Wen? We’re just poor relatives,” the aunt-in-law said loudly.

The second aunt sat silently, disapproval written all over her face. She occasionally sighed, as if Wen Ya had committed a crime.

Compared to her odd younger aunt, Wen Ya found her second aunt even more annoying. Most of her bad reputation came from her.

“My aunt-in-law isn’t poor,” Wen Ya said, eyeing the gold chains and bracelets she wore, as if flaunting her wealth.

“Little girl, is that how you talk to your elders?” the second aunt scolded gently.

“I call you second aunt, but don’t think you’re important. I have my own parents to teach me. Go home and teach your son instead of scheming for things that aren’t yours.” The subsidiary Wen Ya planned to close today was run by her son.

It was called a model agency, but it was just a front for picking up girls. He spent his days partying, boasting about being the Wen family’s heir. Even if Wen Qihua didn’t have a daughter like her, he’d never choose someone like him.

“How dare you speak to me like that? Where’s your mother? I want to ask how she raised you!” The second aunt pointed a trembling finger at Wen Ya. “You think if your father died, you’d let Haohao lead the funeral? Not a chance.”

Wen Ya’s eyes turned red. She swung her bag and hit the second aunt on the head. “You dare curse my father? I’ll kill you first!”

“Help! Someone’s killing us!” the younger aunt screamed.

Wen Ya stared coldly. “Did you hire someone to cause my father’s accident? Did you want him dead so your son could inherit Wen’s?”

The two were terrified by her words. The second aunt collapsed to the floor. “I can’t live like this! A junior disrespects me, and now you accuse me? If we hadn’t lent your father money, he wouldn’t be where he is today. He always called us brothers, but now you’ve kicked us out and slandered us. You’re trying to kill us!”

Wen Qihua had started as a factory worker. In the 1980s, he became one of the first entrepreneurs. He did borrow money from his brothers, but his second aunt and younger uncle were reluctant. They’d come to the house to cause trouble. Later, whenever Wen Qihua earned money, he’d pay them back. For six months, the family barely bought groceries. Wen’s mother still felt bittersweet about that time.

Later, the family business thrived, but her second uncle and younger uncle were laid off. Out of brotherly love, Wen Qihua gave them easy jobs in the company and later gave them each 1% of the shares.

Her uncle’s family was honest and lived peacefully on the dividends. A few years ago, their son went abroad to study, and they followed, exchanging their shares for cash. They now lived overseas.

In this share acquisition, the first to sell were her second uncle and younger uncle. Wen Ya wasn’t surprised.

The original novel didn’t say much, but it mentioned the Wen family’s quick bankruptcy was due to a shareholder named Lin transferring funds. Among the shareholders, only her uncle had the surname Lin. Did her second uncle know? Absolutely.

Later, the original Wen Ya tried to ask relatives for help, but none could. Wen Ya didn’t believe it. Those who wanted to take over Wen’s couldn’t have done it without her second uncle and younger uncle. They must have gotten a cut.

Wen Ya thought she’d been kind for her parents’ sake, but they pushed her too far.

“The debt was paid long ago. The shares were given out of brotherhood, and I bought them back with real money. How dare you cause trouble? Respecting elders? You teamed up with outsiders against your own niece. What kind of elders are you? Call the police? Great. I’ll call them too.” Wen Ya pulled out her phone.

“What are you doing, you little brat?” the aunt-in-law shouted, looking like she wanted to hit Wen Ya.

Wen Ya stepped back, and Ah Yong stopped her aunt before she could scratch him.

“Ah Yong, throw them out. Don’t be polite,” Wen Ya said, glancing at them before calling the police directly. Her second uncle and his men had left too early that day, so she hadn’t shown them the evidence she’d gathered earlier. She’d felt it was a missed opportunity, but it wasn’t too late now. If they didn’t see it during the day, they’d see it at night.

That night, her second uncle and younger uncle were taken to the police station, confused and scared. When the aunts returned home, they were terrified. They’d thought Wen Ya was just being arrogant at the company, relying on their status as elders to act without fear. They hadn’t expected her to be serious.

The two called Lin Lin, hoping she’d intervene. Asking Wen Ya directly wouldn’t work, but Lin Lin wouldn’t just stand by. They hoped she’d scold Wen Ya and get the shares back.

But no matter how much they argued, Lin Lin stayed on the line.

Lin Lin sighed into the phone, “Little one, you’ve had a long day. Go to bed.”

“No, I want to talk to you,” Wen Ya said sweetly.

“Alright, what do you want to talk about?” Lin Lin asked gently.

“Mom, can you tell me about you and Dad’s past?” Wen Ya asked, deliberately keeping Lin Lin on the phone. She’d already explained everything to the hospital staff. Her aunts couldn’t bother Mother Wen in person, but they could call. Wen Ya wanted to occupy the line until Mother Wen turned off her phone at 11 PM. By tomorrow, she’d block their numbers.

They talked until 11. Lin Lin noticed the tiredness in Wen Ya’s voice and said, “Alright, it’s time for my beauty sleep. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

“Goodnight, Mom,” Wen Ya said, yawning. She planned to take a quick shower and sleep.

As Lin Lin hung up, her smile faded. She made another call. “Tell me what happened at home today.”

“The Second Madam and Madam Lin were here.”

After hearing everything, Lin Lin’s face darkened.

The siblings had been close once. Lin Lin remembered the little boy who’d followed her, calling her “sister.” He’d been sweet and obedient. But when had he changed? After marriage? No, even then, he’d cared for her. It seemed he’d changed after joining the company.

Wen Qihua had often said how much his older brothers had loved him. The one who stuttered had always given in, letting him do the least work. That’s why, after starting the company, he’d given shares to his brothers and brother-in-law.

But over the years, those relationships had eroded. The couple no longer felt the same. Wen Ya was their only child, their treasure. They rarely scolded her themselves, so how could they let outsiders do it?

Outsiders.

Now, with their own families, they only thought of their children.

They didn’t realize that Lin Lin, also a mother, wouldn’t side against her daughter for a brother she’d grown distant from.

As Lin Lin massaged Wen Qihua, she said, “As a mother, I couldn’t help much, but I won’t hold her back.”

Wen Ya, fresh from her shower, saw two missed calls. She hesitated to call back when the phone rang again.

“Who is it?”

“Xiao Ya, it’s Mom.” Lin Lin sighed. “My phone fell in water and broke. I’ll just focus on caring for your dad. Here’s the ward’s landline number. Call that if you need me.”

“Got it,” Wen Ya said, noting the number. Something felt off, but she couldn’t pinpoint it.

Still, it was good for Wen Ya.

Once things settled and Mother Wen recovered, she’d explain everything.

Wen Ya woke up naturally, feeling rested. She opened the curtains, letting sunlight flood the room.

After breakfast, Uncle Li asked, “Miss, are you going to the company today?”

“Yes, I have a meeting,” Wen Ya replied, finishing her milk. Though the stock price was recovering, the company was still in crisis. As chairman, she had to show up daily.

Once things stabilized, she’d hand everything to Huang Jingyang and be free. She could visit the company occasionally and enjoy shopping.

Thinking about it, she felt a bit unlucky. Others played rich daughters shopping, while she dealt with crises. But soon, she’d have her freedom.

Dressed in a professional suit, looking elegant and confident, Wen Ya walked into the company. Employees greeted her respectfully.

Why did they seem more obedient than before?

She didn’t know yet that news of her sending her uncles to the police had spread.

Even if she knew, she wouldn’t care. Reputation? She’d do more charity later. Helping those ungrateful people was pointless. Charity could actually help others.

“Director Wen, Mr. Gu is here to see you!”