LIGHTNOVELONLINE
Chapter 54
The wooden walking stick that the old man had used for over ten years was made of fine nanmu. The handgrip was worn smooth from use. Getting hit by it would be getting off easy if it only caused a concussion, given the price of nanmu.
Song Lecheng had looked like he was about to faint just now, but when he saw the walking stick swinging at him, he dodged even faster than a rabbit.
The walking stick slammed heavily to the ground. Song Grandpa erupted in curses, "You bastard!"
Even now, Song Lecheng still tried to defend himself, "Slander! Grandpa! This is slander!"
Zhong Ruanxing calmly flipped open another ledger, "Grandpa, here are the current shares of the department store, with the three percent of transactions from last year laid out plainly for you to inspect. I couldn't have faked this."
What kind of person Song JinXing was, not just Song Grandpa but every member of the Song family knew full well.
He would never fabricate anything about these matters. Everyone lied, but Song JinXing wouldn't. His personality was as hard as his bones. Creating lies and slander? That would be an insult to him.
Now Song Lecheng was truly afraid.
Half a year ago when Song JinXing had returned to take charge, he had carried out a bloody purge of the Song clan, digging up all the old rotten accounts without giving anyone face. During that time, he had also felt nervous and fearful, worried that the purge would reach him. But his father and some others had had their businesses shut down, while his own Huaguang Media had emerged unscathed.
And so Song Lecheng had grown arrogant again, believing that Huaguang Media was protected in Song JinXing's eyes, and that he could do as he pleased from then on.
Yet he didn't know that the reason Song JinXing hadn't dealt with him back then was because Huaguang Media's petty misdeeds were trivial compared to the other businesses under his uncles which could have doomed the Song clan's future. A bloodbath then would have been reckless, so Song JinXing had swept away Song Jingwu's businesses and naturally wouldn't finish off Song Lecheng in one stroke. A cornered dog would bite; he had only just taken power, no need to rush. Better to resolve the biggest problems first, plenty of time remained for the rest.
Song Lecheng simply couldn't comprehend that after half a year of calm, Song JinXing would suddenly crack down on Huaguang Media and dig up all its rottenness right away.
But this wasn't the end.
Zhong Ruanxing took out another folder, "Aside from those, my investigations revealed Huaguang Media's terrible reputation in the industry. Here are just the court summons Huaguang Media received last year, well over a hundred. Although your father's lawyers always managed to resolve these lawsuits privately before they went to court, so many lawsuits still reflects a deeper issue."
Song Grandpa's face darkened as he picked up the thick stack of court summons and glanced through them, utterly ashamed.
Now no one could hold him back. The elderly Song Grandpa erupted with unprecedented strength and speed, snatched up his walking stick from the floor, and fiercely struck Song Lecheng's back.
"Sexual assault! Sexual harassment! Capitalist exploitation! Good, good stuff! Is this how the Song family taught you? And raised a shameless beast like you! I'll beat you to death, and that'll be cleaning up the Song house!"
Did Song Grandpa know his descendants would bully others relying on the family name?
Of course he knew. It was simply how capital worked. In this world where money could grind down ghosts, the Song name was their capital for acting with impunity.
But as long as they didn't go overboard or break laws, he was willing to close one eye.
Moreover, in recent years although he still held leadership over the Song Corporation, he had gotten on in years, his health and energy no longer sufficient to personally oversee everything. He had assigned his three children to important corporate positions, relying entirely on them to operate the company.
It wasn't until Song JinXing had returned from abroad that Grandpa Song drew things back in and handed control to this grandson, finally giving the Song clan someone with real authority again. He truly hadn't known that Song Lecheng was creating such havoc outside.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. Beating Song Lecheng alone wouldn't satisfy him, so he dragged over Song Jingwu for a beating too. "You raised this fine son! When the son doesn't teach, the fault lies with the father - you're no good thing either!"
Song Lecheng could dodge the blows, but Song Jingwu didn't dare evade at all. He could only grit his teeth and take his father's punishment.
Seeing her husband and son getting beaten, Second Aunt wept as she knelt before Song Grandpa, "Father, stop hitting them. Jingwu isn't a young bachelor anymore. He's worn himself out for the company, and ruined his health. His back hurts from lumbar disc herniation whenever it rains. Please be more understanding of Jingwu."
The Song family was completely unprepared for things to unfold to this point. Even Song Jiawei had turned pale, regretting speaking up for Song Lecheng earlier.
Second Aunt tearfully pleaded with Grandma Song as well, "Mother, Lecheng is your grandson too. His usual frivolousness aside, he couldn't have done those deeds Father described! With his status, what woman would he be unable to date? Why would he do such things! Showbiz is full of murky waters, with so many female celebrities wishing to marry into a wealthy clan. They must have failed to seduce Lecheng and retaliated with false accusations - why else would they have dropped the appeal so readily!"
As Second Aunt spoke, she grew more certain, and Song Lecheng hurriedly chimed in, "That's right! That's exactly what happened! They wanted to use me as a stepping stone. When they failed, they bit back. Grandfather, Grandmother, your grandson has been wronged!"
Even Song Jiawei felt revolted by the mother and son's behavior.
Still kneeling, Song Jingwu sternly said, "All of you shut up! Father is punishing us, so we'll take it. We were in the wrong, angering Father and Mother. However Father beats me, I deserve it! Lecheng, come kneel!"
An excellent maneuver to retreat as advancement!
Seeing the faces of Song Lecheng and his mother, Zhong Ruanxing almost vomited. Yes, yes, it was all because those shameless women tried to seduce the oh-so-pure you.
If not for needing to conceal her identity, Zhong Ruanxing would have gladly ruined her own reputation to expose what had happened during her Huaguang Media interview years ago.
Damn, this was infuriating!
Song Grandpa already had hypertension. After this incident, his body couldn't take any more. The others quickly brought his medication to help him calm down. With flesh on both sides of his palms, Grandma Song anxiously tried persuading her husband to not get angry.
Song Jingwu knelt bolt upright, while Song Lecheng also drooped dispiritedly beside him.
Zhong Ruanxing had more evidence, but she had underestimated Song JinXing's standing in Song Grandpa's heart. His words were clearly utterly credible to the old man, no need for her to add fuel to the fire.
Forget it, they had ample time ahead, she could deal with Song Lecheng slowly.
Insisting now would just make Song JinXing seem petty.
The medicine temporarily eased Song Grandpa's condition. Grandma Song moved to help him up, but Song Grandpa barked, "Let them kneel! No one is to help them!"
Only then did he look at Zhong Ruanxing and solemnly say, "JinXing, you handled this well. With Huaguang Media in your hands, there won't be future trouble! It's because the Song clan's business is so huge that we attract more watchful eyes! So we must abide laws and act prudently!"
He fiercely pounded his walking stick on the ground and swept his gaze over everyone present, "From now on, all of you better listen closely to JinXing's words and watch his actions closely! Anyone who dares cause trouble again will face the consequences!"
Very good. Previously Grandpa had still only been observing Song JinXing without fully empowering him.
But with Song Lecheng kicking up this fuss, it solidified Song JinXing's position of authority.
Song Jiawei was so furious she almost charged over to kick him a few times.
A totally useless trash who only knew how to make things worse!