The scandals of the Qi and Tang families exposed, naturally left them with no energy to meddle in the affairs of Lu Group.
Not only that, but the Tang family was convicted, their assets frozen, and the company that had been operating for generations instantly became an empty shell. It was quickly carved up and squeezed out by other competitors, falling from the altar of C City's richest family.
These past few days, the Tang family has been anything but peaceful.
Employees resigned in droves, many properties were sold off, and even the Tang family's mansion was sealed.
The Tang family members had nowhere to go, so they could only take the remaining money and return to their hometown county to live.
However, the Tang family's reputation had long since been ruined. Wherever they went, they were like rats crossing the street, scorned by everyone. Tang Ren's wife and children were initially arrogant, feeling superior. Even though their family was bankrupt, they still pretended to be rich and squandered lavishly. They were arrogant and spoke boastfully, unknowingly offending many local people, and even their own relatives disdained them.
In the end, Tang Ren's wife could not bear the hardship. She abandoned her children and a divorce agreement, and ostentatiously ran off with a suitor.
Tang Ren heard this news in prison and was so angry that he cursed his wife.
"Bitch! If I had known she was such a shameless creature, I wouldn't have given her the cash I'd hidden!"
"They say a day of marriage brings a hundred days of grace, but she, on the other hand, is actually hooking up with another man behind my back!"
"Shameless woman!"
"When I get out, I'll make you pay!"
The man in the next bunk heard him cursing and thumped the bed hard. "What are you shouting about in the middle of the night? Can't people sleep!"
Tang Ren flinched and dared not make another sound.
The man he shared a cell with was tall and burly, with a fierce face and a full arm tattoo. He looked like someone not to be trifled with.
Since coming here, he had been much more submissive.
After all, he was a young master who had been pampered since childhood and had never suffered hardship. The prisoners here were mostly from the bottom of society, hardened by life's pressures, physically strong, and people who settled matters with their fists.
He was no match for them.
The once arrogant Boss Tang became timid as a mouse here, not daring to utter a word even when bullied.
When he first arrived, he was ignorant of the harsh realities of the world. Relying on his wealth, he looked down on other prisoners. He would complain that this one smelled bad or that one was displeasing to his eye, naturally provoking the anger of many.
After a beating, Tang Ren became obedient.
"Kid, this is not a place where you call the shots!"
"You better be careful! Do you know who you just called smelly-footed? He's a murderer who wiped out an entire family! How many lives do you have to dare to provoke him?"
Tang Ren initially wanted to reason with the prison guards, but the guards said, "Do you have any evidence?"
Tang Ren's eyes widened like copper bells. "They deliberately avoided the surveillance... But the injuries on my body can't be faked, right? That's evidence!"
"Officer, he clearly fell by himself, but he insists on blaming us."
"Exactly! I can testify that he fell by himself!"
"I saw it too!"
"Me too!"
It had to be said that Tang Ren's character was truly terrible. No one in prison liked him, and no one would indulge him.
When a wall collapses, everyone pushes it down; this saying described him perfectly.
During his days in prison, Tang Ren truly suffered immensely. In the end, with no other recourse, he even begged the guards to move him to a single cell.
"Do you think this is a hotel, asking for a single room!" The guard immediately rejected his request.
After being beaten a few times, Tang Ren completely became docile.
He would tremble with fear if his roommate so much as cleared his throat.
Those days were truly a "blast."
*
Upon hearing of Tang Ren's fate, Su He felt no sympathy whatsoever.
To bail Tang Ren out of prison, Tang Sese even humbled herself and pleaded with Tang Jiaojiao.
"He is our own brother, are you just going to stand by and watch him go to jail?" Tang Sese pleaded until her mouth was worn out, but Tang Jiaojiao remained unmoved, finally making her angry.
"Even if Mom and Dad were biased, Big Brother always took care of you when you were young, you can't be ungrateful!"
"What good will the downfall of the Tang family do for you? Don't forget, your surname is also Tang!"
Facing Tang Sese's clamor, Tang Jiaojiao appeared exceptionally calm.
"I can change my surname to my husband's," Tang Jiaojiao said with a sneer. "I have never felt that the surname Tang has brought me any benefits! Naturally, I don't need to pay for the sins you have committed!"
"He committed a crime, and he must be responsible for his actions!"
"To excuse a criminal? Do I look that foolish?"
"You!" Tang Sese trembled with rage.
"It's you!" Tang Jiaojiao looked at her coldly. "Your relationship with him seems to be even closer. But how did I hear that after your brother-in-law's family learned about the Tang family's affairs, they proposed divorce?"
"Didn't they always stick with the Tang family?"
"Husband and wife are like birds of a feather in the same forest; when disaster strikes, they fly in different directions! The ancients did not deceive me!"
Tang Sese's face turned ashen after Tang Jiaojiao's taunts. "I misjudged you! Tang Jiaojiao, you have a heart of stone!"
"Yes, you were not valued in the Tang family, but Mom and Dad didn't lack for your food and clothing, did they? Otherwise, how could you afford to attend such a good university?"
"You are mistaken! I got into university through my own efforts, it has nothing to do with them! Also, please investigate clearly before questioning me. The expenses for university were earned through my part-time jobs during holidays. I never took a single cent from home!"
"On the other hand, you squandered the family's assets and did foolish things that disgraced our ancestors! If the ancestors of the Tang family knew they had such unfilial descendants, they would jump out of their coffins in anger!"
"You... Speaking of unfilial, who is more unfilial than you? Mom is seriously ill, and you haven't even gone back to see her!" Tang Sese, unable to find a way to attack Tang Jiaojiao, could only repeatedly bring this up.
Tang Jiaojiao fell silent.
On this matter, she did have a flaw. But she would not be easily manipulated by her sister. "Seriously ill? Are you sure it's because of me, and not the mess you created?"
"As far as I know, she only fell ill recently, right?"
"Compared to not visiting her, you who made her sick with anger are the truly heinous ones!"
Seeing that she could not win the argument, Tang Sese gritted her teeth and knelt before Tang Jiaojiao. "Tang Jiaojiao, I'm begging you! With your current influence, you can get him released with just a word..."
"Look at the face of the monk for the sake of the Buddha, and for the sake of Mom and Dad's upbringing..."
Tang Jiaojiao impatiently interrupted her. "The upbringing from Mom and Dad, I already repaid it years ago."
"How is that possible?"
"If you don't believe me, you can make a phone call and ask. When I was kicked out of the house back then, I bought out the father-daughter relationship for ten million. I had already paid off everything I owed them!"
Upon hearing this, Tang Sese's body went limp, and she slumped to the ground.