"This..." Listening to Li Xiuli's complaints, a hint of pity flashed in Li Xiulan's eyes. She then looked up at Chen Lishu and asked, "Lishu, see if you can think of a way to help your aunt's family."
Chen Lishu saw Li Xiulan's soft-hearted demeanor and sighed helplessly, saying, "Mom, I think you haven't fully understood the situation yet? I didn't stop Li Na from doing business. Another business like this will eventually open. Who opens it is the same, isn't it?
But doing business requires conscience. Li Na not only lowered prices to make money but even fed students food made with waste oil. Now, quite a few students and parents have been hospitalized. Whether to let her go or not isn't up to me, but up to the victims."
Upon hearing about the waste oil, a hint of surprise flashed in Li Xiulan's eyes. She truly hadn't understood this matter clearly. As someone who stayed home, how could she get news from the outside world?
If it weren't for Li Xiuli crying about Li Na being in prison as soon as she walked in, she might not have known even if Li Na was jailed.
Li Xiulan rubbed her hands, looking a bit embarrassed at Li Xiuli and saying, "Sister, you've also heard that this matter is a bit tricky to handle. Li Na, this child..."
At this point, Li Xiulan paused, her brows furrowed tightly. "I thought Li Na was quite well-behaved as a child. How could she do something so wicked? I can't guarantee I can get her out of prison. I can only ask Lishu to visit the victims' families first and hope they can be more lenient."
"Xiulan, if your family isn't willing to hand over the business secrets to us, then just don't tell me the sausage recipe. I've heard that Chen Lishu has connections with the police, and she's the one who called the police!
We're all relatives. Why make things so stiff? Some things I don't want to say too harshly. I'm considering our familial ties. I'm your sister. Are you going to sever ties with me?" Li Xiuli's expression was very unpleasant as she spoke these words.
Li Xiulan's expression changed when she heard about severing ties. Her voice rose as she said, "Sister, what are you saying? Li Na is my niece. Of course, I won't let her be wronged.
However, as you just heard, the fault lies entirely with Li Na. To resolve this, not only do we need to step in, but the opinions of the victims are most important! We can only try to persuade these victims not to pursue Li Na's responsibility."
"Is this matter as serious as you say? Chen Lishu, don't you know people at the police station? We can just spend a little money to grease their palms! See if they can be accommodating and make things convenient.
This matter started because of you. It's all your fault that Li Na ended up in prison. Therefore, all expenses should be borne by you. Of course, as the boss of a large company, it shouldn't be difficult for you to spend this much money."
Li Xiuli's expression was one of entitlement as she said this, making Chen Lishu frown.
She said, "Aunt, Li Na is an adult, not a child. We relatives have no obligation to clean up her messes.
I can't bring myself to bribe people inside with money. If this gets out, it will ruin my reputation and surely affect the company's development!
Do you think those victims are fools? Who would release someone without a reasonable explanation? If public anger is stirred up, my situation will become troublesome."
Seeing Chen Lishu still being stubborn, a malicious glint flashed in Li Xiuli's eyes. Insulting words almost slipped out, but a thought quickly flashed through her mind, immediately stopping her.
She first let out a cold snort with a gloomy expression and then said sarcastically, "Your mother-in-law has already agreed to save Li Na. You refusing now is completely disregarding your mother-in-law's feelings.
Is this house now run by a woman? Xiulan, if this sort of thing gets out, it's the Gu family who will lose face. It's Gu Xingdong!"
Li Xiuli specifically emphasized the name Gu Xingdong.
Li Xiulan seemed to recall something. She rested one hand on the table and, feigning nonchalance, asked, "Lishu, I haven't seen Gu Xingdong for the past two days. Do you know where he went?"
"I'm not very clear about this matter either." Chen Lishu wasn't lying. Gu Xingdong had only said he was going out on a mission, but she naturally hadn't inquired about the specifics.
What was originally a very ordinary answer caused Li Xiulan's brows to furrow tightly.
These two children were always together. How could Chen Lishu not know where her husband was? Thinking of Qin Yue coming to tell her early this morning that Chen Lishu and Gu Xingdong had argued and that she had even driven him out of the house, she felt uneasy. Logically speaking, she shouldn't interfere in their marital affairs, but anger was one thing, and arguing was another. They shouldn't have driven him out.
In the vastness of Jingdou, Gu Xingdong had no acquaintances here. If anything were to happen...
Thinking of this, Li Xiulan's face darkened slightly. She couldn't say anything too harsh that would completely ruin the couple's relationship, but a fire in her heart couldn't be extinguished. Thus, disregarding Chen Lishu's wishes, she commanded forcefully, "You find a way to get Li Na out now. Consider it my plea to you."
When Chen Lishu heard the word "plea," her right eyelid twitched violently. Li Na deserved her fate, and honestly, she didn't want to meddle in such a troublesome affair. However, since Li Xiulan had spoken to this extent, she found it difficult to refuse.
Under duress, Chen Lishu could only sigh deeply and say with great helplessness, "I understand, Mom. I'll think of a way to handle this. If I can get her out, I will, but if I can't..."
Li Xiulan deliberately ignored the troubled look on Chen Lishu's face and continued to be forceful, "She must be gotten out!"
Chen Lishu felt that Li Xiulan was a bit strange tonight, but she couldn't pinpoint why. She pursed her thin lips, assuming Li Xiulan was simply feeling sympathetic and wanting to help her maternal relatives, so she ultimately said nothing more, only stating, "I'll go think of a way to deal with this now," before turning and leaving the living room.
Watching the mother and daughter-in-law argue incessantly, and Chen Lishu finally leave dejectedly, a smug look flashed in Li Xiuli's eyes. She said, "Xiulan, come with me to my room. I have something I want to discuss with you."