The scandals involving the Qi and Tang families, once exposed, naturally left them with no energy to interfere with the Lu Group's affairs.
Furthermore, with the Tang family facing criminal charges and their assets frozen, the company that had been operated for generations instantly became an empty shell. It was soon divided and squeezed out by other competitors, causing the Tang family to fall from the divine altar of C City's wealthiest.
These past few days had been anything but peaceful for the Tang family.
Employees resigned in droves, many properties were sold off, and even the Tang family's mansion was sealed.
With nowhere to go, the Tang family could only take the remaining money and return to their ancestral hometown in the county to live.
However, the Tang family's reputation had long since soured. Wherever they went, they were like rats crossing the street, spat upon by everyone. Tang Ren's wife and children initially carried themselves with arrogance, believing they were superior. Even after the family's bankruptcy, they continued to flaunt their wealth and squandered money lavishly. Their arrogance and condescending words offended many locals, and even their own relatives within the clan shunned them.
Ultimately, Tang Ren's wife, unable to bear the hardship, abandoned her children and a divorce agreement, and brazenly ran off with a suitor.
Upon hearing this news in prison, Tang Ren was furious and cursed his wife.
"Bitch! If I had known she was such a shameless creature, I wouldn't have given her the hidden cash!"
"They say a hundred days of grace between husband and wife, but she goes and hooks up with another man behind my back!"
"Shameless woman!"
"When I get out, I'll make you pay!"
A man in the next bunk heard his curses and banged forcefully on the bed. "What are you yelling about in the middle of the night? Can't people sleep?"
Tang Ren flinched, not daring to utter another sound.
The man he shared a cell with was tall, burly, and fierce-looking, with elaborate tattoos covering his arms. He was clearly not someone to be trifled with.
Ever since arriving here, Tang Ren had become much more subdued.
After all, he was a young master who had been pampered since childhood and had never experienced hardship. The criminals confined here were mostly from the lower rungs of society, hardened by life's oppressions, strong, and people who settled matters with their fists.
He was no match for them.
The once arrogant Boss Tang outside immediately became timid as a mouse inside, not daring to speak up even when bullied.
When he first arrived, he was ignorant of the harsh realities of society. Relying on his wealth, he looked down on other inmates. He complained that one smelled bad or found another displeasing, naturally incurring the wrath of many.
After a beating, Tang Ren became obedient.
"Kid, this isn't a place where you call the shots!"
"You better watch your step! Do you know who you just called smelly? He's a murderer who wiped out an entire family! How many lives do you think you have to provoke him like that?"
At first, Tang Ren wanted to argue with the prison guards, but the guards asked, "Do you have proof?"
Tang Ren's eyes widened like copper bells. "They deliberately avoided the surveillance... But my injuries can't be faked, can they? That's evidence!"
"Officer, he clearly fell himself and is trying to blame us."
"Exactly! I can testify that he fell himself!"
"I saw it too!"
"Me too!"
It had to be said that Tang Ren's character was truly lacking. No one in the prison liked him, and no one was willing to indulge him.
When a wall collapses, everyone pushes it down. That was exactly what happened to him.
During his confinement, Tang Ren truly suffered unbearable hardships. In the end, with no other recourse, he even pleaded with the guards to move him to a single room.
"Do you think this is a hotel, wanting a single room!" The guard immediately rejected his request.
After being beaten a few times, Tang Ren completely changed his ways.
He would tremble at the slightest cough from his roommate.
Those days were anything but pleasant.
*
Having learned of Tang Ren's fate, Su He felt no sympathy whatsoever.
To bail Tang Ren out of prison, Tang Sese even humbled herself and sought out Tang Jiaojiao.
"He's our own brother, are you just going to watch him go to jail?" Tang Sese pleaded until her mouth was sore, but Tang Jiaojiao remained unmoved. Finally, she grew angry.
"Even if Mom and Dad were biased, older brother always protected you when you were young. You can't be ungrateful!"
"What good will the Tang family's downfall do for you? Don't forget, you also have the surname Tang!"
Facing Tang Sese's outburst, Tang Jiaojiao remained remarkably calm.
"I can change my surname to my husband's," Tang Jiaojiao scoffed and said. "I never felt that the surname Tang brought me any benefit! Naturally, I don't have to pay for the sins you've committed!"
"He committed a crime, and he must be responsible for his actions!"
"Making excuses for a criminal? Do I look that foolish?"
"You!" Tang Sese trembled with rage.
"It's you!" Tang Jiaojiao looked at her coldly. "You seem to be even closer to him. But how come I heard that after your brother-in-law's family learned about the Tang family's affairs, they proposed a divorce?"
"Weren't they always in league with the Tang family?"
"A couple are like birds in the same forest; when disaster strikes, they fly in different directions! The ancients truly did not deceive me!"
Tang Sese's face turned ashen after Tang Jiaojiao's taunts. "I misjudged you! Tang Jiaojiao, has a dog eaten your conscience!"
"Yes, you were not valued in the Tang family, but Mom and Dad never deprived you of food and clothing, did they? Otherwise, how could you have afforded such a good university?"
"You are mistaken! I got into university through my own efforts, it has nothing to do with them! Also, please clarify the facts before questioning me. The expenses for my university education were earned through part-time jobs during my vacations. 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 so than you? Mom is critically ill, and you won't even go back to see her!" Unable to find a point to attack Tang Jiaojiao, Tang Sese kept bringing up this issue.
Tang Jiaojiao fell silent.
On this matter, she did have a flaw. But she would not be easily manipulated by her sister. "Critically ill? Are you sure it's because of me, and not the terrible things you've done?"
"As far as I know, she only fell ill recently, didn't she?"
"Compared to not visiting her, you who angered her into illness are the truly wicked 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 have him bailed out with just a word..."
"For the sake of peace, and for the sake of Mom and Dad's upbringing..."
Tang Jiaojiao impatiently interrupted her. "The kindness of Mom and Dad's upbringing, I repaid years ago."
"How is that possible?"
"If you don't believe me, you can make a call and ask. When I was kicked out of the house back then, I bought my freedom from our father-daughter relationship for ten million. I had already repaid what I owed them!"
Upon hearing this, Tang Sese's body went limp, and she slumped to the ground.