"You're leaving Hong Kong?"
"Yes, the doctor said that for my condition, traveling to famous mountains and great rivers is suitable. I want to see the most beautiful places in the world, places that others have been to, or places that no one has been to."
I must admit, Gao Zihui looked different from when I first met him. I could feel that he had a sense of release, making him clearer than anyone else.
"That's great, I wish you well."
"Cao Qian and I are divorced."
I smiled and said, "I know. There's been non-stop big news about the Gao family. Your divorce is big news."
"Actually, my mother also divorced my father. Because there were no property disputes involved, my maternal grandfather used his power to suppress this news."
I really didn't know about this. Why would the First Madam divorce?
"Why?"
"Those involved are blind, but observers see clearly. After I stepped back and saw the current situation, I understood very well that if Mother stayed with Father, it would be a dead end."
I sighed. Living in this Gao family is truly not easy. Looking at Gao Zihui, who seemed so nonchalant, I couldn't help but laugh. "This is good. Thank you for telling me this. But I still don't understand why you came to find me."
Gao Zihui was silent for a moment before saying seriously, "I came for Gao Ziyan. Although I've let go, I still came for this reason. Gao Ziyan is my sister and the daughter of the Second Madam, so I don't want her to misunderstand the situation and fall into a trap."
"Then please tell me."
After Gao Zihui divorced Cao Qian, he gave 3% of the Gao family's shares to Cao Qian and the remaining 8% to his father. Thus, Gao Xiaozhi had a total of 27% of the shares, Gao Ziyan owned 30%, Gao Ziming owned 30%, and Old Ghost owned 7%. What is currently missing is the 3% of shares belonging to the First Madam's maternal family after her divorce from Gao Xiaozhi. These 3% of shares were originally intended to support Gao Xiaozhi, but now that the family is divided, the so-called support has become a sale.
Gao Xiaozhi does business in Hong Kong, and under Gao Ji's watchful eye, he dares not hide anything. Therefore, Gao Xiaozhi does not have his own family assets like Gao Xiaoqing. The situation is that Gao Xiaozhi does not have the money to buy these 3% of shares.
And these 3% of shares involve a huge amount of money. The First Madam will not keep these shares and get involved in disputes, so they are eager to sell them. Someone has bought these shares.
"Do you know who bought them?" I asked Gao Zihui.
Gao Zihui nodded. "Yes, the person who bought these 3% of shares is your senior sister."
"Cao Qian?"
I couldn't imagine Cao Qian having so much money, but considering Cao Qian controls 'Fairy Forest', it's not surprising she has this much.
So, the situation has become interesting. Gao Xiaozhi has 27%, Cao Qian has 6%, Gao Ziming has 30%. Gao Ziyan has 30%, Old Ghost has 7%. Now, Old Ghost has once again become the crucial point. This means that whoever between Gao Ziyan and Gao Ziming gets Cao Qian's 6% will not win, because there is still Old Ghost's 7%. And this data is interesting because if Old Ghost gives these 7% to Gao Xiaozhi, Gao Xiaozhi will have 34%, and Cao Qian's 6% will become a very important factor.
Gao Zihui looked at my expression and asked with a smile, "It seems you're not surprised that Cao Qian owns 6%?"
"I'm not surprised by anything Cao Qian does."
"I heard that you and Cao Qian were almost married?"
"Yes!"
"Then there's one more thing I need to tell you. My marriage to Cao Qian was merely a formality. I have no connection with her and we never shared a bed."
I listened and gave a wry smile. "This has nothing to do with me."
"I know. What I want to say is that this news is being spread. Cao Qian and I, this fake couple, will soon be on the headlines. And many people will come forward to prove that I even held a ridiculous party on my wedding day."
"What is the significance of this news?"
Gao Zihui nodded. "Of course there is. This is also why I came. Cao Qian is clearing her name. Similarly, it opens up another path for her. If Cao Qian marries my father, my father will gain her 6% of shares without spending a penny. Conversely, if my father doesn't try, even if he gets Cao Shi's 7%, he won't be able to become the head of the Gao family."
I understood. Cao Qian had cornered Gao Xiaozhi with her 6%. Gao Xiaozhi would have to marry his daughter-in-law under public pressure to have a chance of winning. Would Gao Xiaozhi do that? Since Gao Zihui said so, he must believe his father would. After all, in wealthy families, marriage is often a game, and with such great benefits, what's wrong with marrying a daughter-in-law who never shared a bed with his son?
After analyzing this outcome, I was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. It was too dramatic; even TV dramas wouldn't dare to write it like this.
"If you want Gao Ziyan to become the head of the family, you need to act. If you keep waiting like this, it's just waiting to die. I'm flying out of Hong Kong today. See you again if fate allows, Tang Nan."
"See you again if fate allows."
I waved goodbye to Gao Zihui. I must admit, Gao Zihui left very freely, giving up immense wealth in exchange for freedom.
I returned to Gao Ziyan's place. She had hired some consultants to handle these matters. Seeing me arrive, Gao Ziyan called me into a quiet office. "Tang Nan, I need your help with something."
"What is it?"
"The consultants said that if I can get the 7% from Mr. Cao Shi according to the current situation, I can become the heir of the Gao family."
I looked at Gao Ziyan's expectant eyes and asked seriously, "Do you really want to fight for it?"
"I want to fight for it, for my father. He did every business meticulously for the Gao family. He earned money privately not to become independent, but to strive for the position of heir of the Gao family. Now that my father has died unjustly, I must inherit his will. No matter how difficult it is, I want to persevere. I know that asking you like this uses your personal connections, but I truly have no other way."
"It's okay, I'll help you. I'll go ask Old Ghost."
"Thank you, Tang Nan."
I smiled and turned to leave, but Gao Ziyan grabbed my arm, her clear eyes looking at me, and asked seriously, "Tang Nan, am I being very selfish like this?"
"It's okay, humans are inherently selfish."
Hearing me say this, Gao Ziyan cried aggrievedly. I smiled and wiped away her tears. "You're such an important person, crying at the drop of a hat. What kind of behavior is this?"
Gao Ziyan said, sobbing, "I can be selfish, but I don't want to hear you call me selfish."
"Someone once asked, if human nature is selfish, is love also selfish? He got the answer: human nature's selfishness elevates to love, but this is a small love. Although it's a small love, it's a great progress for humanity. How can someone who doesn't love their own family love their country? The greatest sublimation of human nature is patriotism. A person who loves their family can love their country. This is the meaning of a nation. Your grandfather spent his life doing business; he didn't love this family, so naturally, he didn't love this country. I hope that after you inherit the position, you will be someone who loves family and country."
"Can I do it?" Gao Ziyan asked in a small voice.
"I believe you can."
After speaking, I turned to leave, but Gao Ziyan stopped me again, her voice as quiet as a mosquito. "Can I love you?"
I frowned. If I left like this, this love might again be twisted into hate, turning into a curse.
So, I placed my hands on Gao Ziyan's shoulders and looked into her eyes. "It's not that you have to love whoever helps you. The sublimation of a relationship requires the happiness of the rest of your life to save it. My wife and I have experienced life and death, and our happiness for the rest of our lives is already cemented. And what happened to your mother has already shown everything. You cannot define love within fixed thinking, nor can you use it to disrupt others' lives. Sincere emotions are everywhere in the world, just like your poetry house. So, you will also find sincere love like me."
"I'm sorry for causing you trouble. I just felt like I couldn't move on if I didn't say it. I will still love you, and perhaps many nights, I won't be able to sleep, murmuring your name. But I believe I won't turn from love to hate like my mother. In the face of sincere emotions, I will still be willing to give my true heart and seek true love. But the sense of security you gave me during this time, I will remember it for a lifetime. And you are not allowed to say a single word against it."
I smiled somewhat awkwardly. "Alright."
After leaving Gao Ziyan, I went to Old Ghost's house. On the way, I felt a bit uneasy. How to describe it? Gao Ziyan is a unique girl. She is willing to add color to her life with a poignant emotional experience, but I cannot accept her. I believe that because of her parents' situation, she will not go to that extreme. I also hope that Gao Ziyan will have a passionate love and meet her destined one, who can become the true protagonist of her life.
Upon returning home, I saw Old Ghost with a large pig's head, concentrating on dealing with it.
It's almost the second day of the second lunar month. My wife must miss me terribly. I've negotiated with Old Ghost that regardless of success or failure, I plan to leave this place of turmoil and return to Beijing.