Chapter 304: Family Safe from Harm
"I have a son," Li Qingshan said, taking a deep breath. "But I’ve always kept him hidden, afraid to tell anyone. I... my business isn’t legitimate, Mr. Chen Nuo, you understand."
Chen Nuo frowned and shook his head. "I don’t understand... If we go by what you say, Boss Luo Dachanzi, doesn’t he also have a son? He’s my classmate and is openly acknowledged."
"It’s different, different," Li Qingshan said with a bitter smile. "Boss Luo’s business is gradually becoming legitimate, a proper real estate contractor. And... I’ve t his son; he’s quite smart.
"I can’t do that.
"My business may be quite large, and I’ve earned so money.
"But the business I’m in... it can never be cleaned up, never respectable.
"Although I’ve hustled hard these years, the real bigwigs would never deign to associate with .
"They all think I’m... dirty!"
Chen Nuo thought for a mont and realized that was indeed the case. A business like Boss Luo Dachan’s, now associated with the real estate industry, could beco a solid real estate enterprise if it kept growing and beca a corporation. In the context of national policies, real estate was now a pillar industry of the economy. Gradually, it could forge connections with the governnt.
Let’s put it this way: if Boss Luo’s real estate company grew large, it could secure a very valuable piece of land. It might even have the chance to be involved in official projects, such as urban redevelopnt projects, for example. Then, he could beco a prominent entrepreneur.
By then, if he acquired a valuable piece of land and launched a major project, local leaders might look up to him. They might even personally support his venture by attending ribbon-cutting ceremonies for such a key industry.
What about Li Qingshan? He ran brothels?! Was that respectable? Even if he opened a hundred branches of Wind Shelter Hall, would any governnt official attend his opening ceremony? What a joke! It was more likely the anti-vice squad would send people to raid his establishnts! No matter how much money he made, it was all tainted, money that couldn’t see the light of day.
"Although I’ve made money in my lifeti of business, I’ve also acquired a dirty reputation," Li Qingshan continued.
"True bigwigs would never want to associate with . I’ve tried to appear cultured in recent years, spent a lot of money, invested in calligraphy and painting, dealt in jade and stones, desperately trying to ingratiate myself, but it’s all been pretty useless.
"Later, I realized that my origins are just too tainted; this stained past is impossible to clean.
"All that money is nothing but fleeting wealth. It could vanish in a heartbeat with the right political crackdown.
"Boss Luo can properly groom his son, Luo Qing, to one day take over the business.
"But I can’t.
"I’ve spent a lifeti in this industry and earned this dirty reputation.
"Should my son inherit it and continue running brothels?"
"There’s still no need to hide him like that, claiming you’re childless," Chen Nuo said. "Why bear such a reputation unnecessarily?"
"If I don’t hide him, there will be trouble," Li Qingshan shook his head. "My business has entangled too many people—my relatives, and those subordinates who have followed for many years.
"I’m getting old, and everyone’s eyeing the position beneath .
"To be blunt, they’re not just eyeing my position, but all my assets!
"I’m nearly sixty. Who knows when I’ll kick the bucket? All my relatives, and the loyal followers I’ve had for many years, are all staring hungrily at the significant amount of money I control!
"Since I don’t want my son to succeed , I can’t let him be exposed!
"Otherwise, he’ll beco a thorn in their side, a target for those wolves!
"I might be able to suppress them while I’m alive.
"But once I’m gone, my son will be torn apart by that pack of wolves!"
Li Qingshan’s words made Chen Nuo nod. The old man clearly had plans for his affairs after his death, and this plan sounded quite smart.
"As for my son, ntally, I’ve tested him a few tis; he’s not cut out for this line of work," Li Qingshan went on.
"Even if I wanted him to take over, with his temperant, he couldn’t handle it, nor could he control the pack of wolves among my associates and subordinates.
"Pushing him out there would be tantamount to harming him.
"I’m almost sixty; how many good years do I have left? If I forcibly pushed him to take the reins, I wouldn’t be able to help him for long.
"It’s better to keep him hidden, let him be an upright person with a clean and honest identity.
"I originally planned to just place him sowhere else and let him live his own life.
"Over the years, I’ve been quietly siphoning a sum of money from the business annually, moving it through various channels to save up.
"I’ll continue to do so.
"When I die, all that money I’ve stashed away will go to my son.
"The properties in Jinling can be left to those relatives, those wolves by my side. Let them tear each other apart for all I care."
Speaking of his son, Li Qingshan’s tone gradually beca pleading.
"Mr. Chen Nuo, I know you actually look down on . You and your martial brothers don’t really bother with .
"Zhang Linsheng was like that, and so are you.
"You’d rather hang out with that Bald Lei, even cultivate him, than associate with an old man like , despite my greater wealth and power.
"I’ve co to understand that now.
"And I no longer expect to gain any significant benefits from you and your martial brothers.
"But, please consider that this old man has done a few things for you in the past.
"I put my heart and soul into those tasks for you. Day to day, I, an old man, have always been respectful towards you.
"Just for the sake of those things...
"This ti, can you help ? Please?
"I’m a tainted character; I act without morals. I’ve just exposed my family’s sha, confessing those sordid deeds from my past. I know you despise .
"But my son is truly a decent person, I swear!
"Can’t you perform a good deed and save him, please?
"He’s never done anything outrageous or harmful!
"He has always been a good kid—studied hard, a bookworm, went to university, worked diligently...
"Oh, right, my son is a doctor, and he has excellent character too!
"He’s never done anything wrong!
"So... can you save him, please?
"I wronged my second brother; I let him down. I was too greedy back then and embezzled his money...
"He hates , but my son is innocent!"
Chen Nuo looked at Li Qingshan, who was pleading in such a humble voice, and his eyebrows slowly knitted together.
How should he put it...
Li Qingshan wasn’t deserving of sympathy.
This old rascal, just as he’d said himself, was tainted.
Simply put, the old man was a bad person.
Sly, greedy, selfish, brutal...
A bad person.
But not completely irredeemable.
Back then, he had greedily taken half of soone’s life-risking money. If it had been soone more ruthless, perhaps that "second brother" and his entire family wouldn’t have survived.
This fellow did feel so guilt and had covertly helped out with a few minor things.
He was selfish enough, but at least not utterly heartless.
Of course, Chen Nuo was also reluctant to help such a person.
It was morally indefensible.
You owed soone their life and embezzled half their life-risking money. Now that they were retaliating...
You should just bear it yourself!
But...
If the other party ca looking for Li Qingshan to cause trouble, Chen Nuo wouldn’t spare a second glance at whatever they did to the old man.
However... targeting his family.
That was going too far.
As Li Qingshan had said, his son was innocent.
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