Jiang Cuihua was completely stunned by her son's words. She never expected that her activities at the lamb restaurant that evening would be so coincidentally witnessed by her son. Her heart was in turmoil, filled with anxiety and unease.
"Xiao Chuan, listen to Mom, your aunt and uncles really just invited me out for a casual get-together."
"You know, I haven't seen them for a long time..."
"Mom!"
Before Jiang Cuihua could finish speaking, Qin Chuan raised his hand to stop her.
"I know your current predicament. On one hand, you have your son; on the other, your own siblings. It's difficult to let go of either side."
Qin Chuan spoke slowly.
"This kind of situation is a normal emotional anchor in anyone's life. They are your closest blood relatives, interconnected even when separated by bones, the closest of relationships, incomparable to any other."
"As a son, I deeply wish that you could maintain a close bond with my aunts and uncles, support each other, and visit often."
"Because they are truly the closest people in this world!"
Listening to Qin Chuan's words, Jiang Cuihua's originally tense and uneasy heart gradually relaxed, and a hint of relief appeared in her eyes.
Her youngest son, the baby of the family, was indeed worthy of being a big boss. His insight and experience far surpassed ordinary people, which made her very proud.
However, at this moment, Qin Chuan's tone shifted, and his previously gentle voice gradually turned cold.
"But..."
"My aunts and uncles clearly don't think that way. You know what kind of people they are, and I don't need to tell you. It's just that you've been unwilling to admit it, or perhaps you wanted to give them another chance."
Qin Chuan's voice was devoid of emotion, as if he were looking down on all beings from a divine perspective.
Jiang Cuihua's recently relaxed mood immediately became more tense than ever.
"You consider them family, but they don't think of you that way!"
"Because if they were family, they would never try to get their own sister or older sister drunk to achieve some ulterior motive!"
"Xiao Chuan, how can you speak about your aunt and uncles like that? They didn't force me to drink. Everything tonight was voluntary on my part."
As if annoyed by Qin Chuan's harsh words, Jiang Cuihua became somewhat angry, rare for her to lose her temper with Qin Chuan.
"Don't think that just because you're a big boss now, you can just say whatever you want. No matter how capable you are, I am still your mother, and they are still your relatives!"
Seeing his mother angry, Qin Chuan frowned. He knew this would happen. His mother was good in all aspects, except that she cared too much about her maternal family.
This would have been a good thing, but what if her maternal family was not decent?
"Auntie!"
"Mom!"
Seeing Qin Chuan being scolded, Li Ya and Qin Yang in the car couldn't help but speak up simultaneously.
"Brother, you go first!"
Li Ya said to Qin Yang.
Qin Yang didn't hesitate, as the situation had escalated to a point where a genuine "confrontation" with their mother was necessary to reveal the disgraceful nature of certain people.
"What Xiao Chuan said just now, I don't think it was harsh at all."
"On the contrary, I think Xiao Chuan was being very gentle. He was only mild because of your status."
Qin Yang said.
"You probably don't know, but while you were sitting in the private room with those relatives tonight, every move you made was being monitored by Xiao Chuan!"
"He knows exactly what you discussed and what those people said."
This time, Jiang Cuihua was thoroughly shocked. She looked at her younger son, but Qin Chuan remained as still as a meditating monk, as if unaware of his mother's gaze.
"Don't blame Xiao Chuan for doing this. As sons, it's only natural for us to protect our mother."
"When you left the private room to go to the restroom, do you know what our aunts and uncles were talking about? What did they say?"
Qin Yang asked.
"What did they say?"
Jiang Cuihua subconsciously asked.
"Xiao Chuan, you tell her,"
Qin Yang said to Qin Chuan.
Qin Chuan did not hesitate. He recounted the entire incident that Yan Weiwei had told him, word for word, to his mother.
As Jiang Cuihua listened, her face grew paler until all color drained from it. The anger she had felt earlier dissipated, and she lowered her head, her fists clenched tightly.
"Mom, if you don't believe us, we can go back right now and find the daughter of that lamb restaurant owner."
Qin Chuan added.
"No need, let's go home!"
Jiang Cuihua's voice was hoarse. Clearly, the events of the evening had severely impacted her mood, or perhaps it was a profound blow.
Qin Chuan and Qin Yang exchanged a look. Both brothers felt that the timing was right and it was best to stop there.
Any further discussion might be too much for their mother to bear, as those people were truly difficult.
After taking their mother home, Qin Yang also got out of the car and took away the drunken Qin Gang. The two families lived not far from each other.
The night passed without incident.
The next morning, the sky finally cleared. Golden sunlight spread across the land, as if draping the small town in a golden cloak, making it exceptionally beautiful.
Early in the morning, Qin Chuan arrived at the electronics factory to take charge and oversee the overall operations.
Ye Meiyun, Xu Ronghua, and Li Chunsheng, the key personnel, were away on a procurement trip for the latest equipment, so it was up to Qin Chuan, the chairman, to diligently oversee things every day.
Around noon, just as Qin Chuan concluded his morning's work and was preparing to head to the cafeteria for lunch, there was a knock on his door. Then, Liu Shengli, the head of the administrative department, entered.
"Boss, something has happened outside, and I've come specifically to report it to you."
Liu Shengli said.
"What is it?"
Qin Chuan asked with slight curiosity.
"Well, the HR department just called. They said two people came for an interview. They specifically asked to see you and claimed that you are their cousin."
"The HR department is unsure of the situation, so they specifically asked me to seek your instruction."
Liu Shengli explained.
"I am their cousin? So, they must be my older cousins?"
Qin Chuan raised an eyebrow, his mind instinctively conjuring a few vague faces.
He did have several older cousins, both male and female, from his mother's side of the family. Could it be that people from that side had arrived?
Weren't those people afraid to approach him directly? So they chose a roundabout way, going through his mother. What was happening today?
"Did you ask their names?"
Qin Chuan mused, asking casually.
"Yes, I did. One is named Zhang Cheng, and the other is Wang Xinjun."
Liu Shengli replied.
"Zhang Cheng, Wang Xinjun..."
Qin Chuan thought hard. After a long while, he finally recalled that they seemed to be the children of his maternal aunt and second aunt. Both were significantly older than him, in their late thirties, nearing forty.
He had met them many years ago when he went to visit his maternal grandparents for the New Year. At that time, he was just a little boy, and they were already older children who would scold and hit him if he did anything wrong.
Judging by the time, they probably hadn't seen each other in at least a decade.
He probably wouldn't recognize them even if they stood right in front of him now.
"I don't know them!"
Having confirmed their identities, Qin Chuan blurted out three words.
"Understood, boss!"
Hearing this, Liu Shengli turned to leave the office.
"Director Liu, wait a moment!"
Qin Chuan suddenly called out to Liu Shengli and beckoned him over. Then, he whispered a few words to him.
"Don't worry, boss. I'll arrange it properly!"
Liu Shengli nodded.