Watching Zhang Wan'er's retreating back, Chen Lishu turned to Su Nian and calmly instructed, "Go with her and don't leave until she gets home."
Su Nian nodded and replied, "Okay."
Soon, the house fell quiet. Gu Xingdong also opened his room door and walked out. With his arms crossed, he asked casually, "What's the deal with that child?"
Chen Lishu walked to the sofa and pondered for a moment. Organizing her thoughts, she slowly began to speak, "I think you've already recognized her, haven't you? She's Xu Teng's child. I plan to adopt this poor little thing and treat her the same as Yi Cheng and Xiao Bai!"
Xu Teng?!
Gu Xingdong was relatively calm upon hearing the news, as he had recognized the child earlier. It was Li Xiulan who reacted with agitation:
"She's the child of a human trafficker? Lishu, you're being utterly foolish. You're adopting a human trafficker's child at such a sensitive time. If this gets out, won't it just make your reputation worse?
Besides, have you forgotten how Xu Teng treated you? By adopting his daughter now, aren't you inviting trouble into your own home? Absolutely not. For the sake of our family and your personal safety, you must send this child away tomorrow!"
Seeing Li Xiulan's strong insistence on the matter, Chen Lishu couldn't help but rub her forehead with a touch of helplessness as she explained, "Mom, it was thanks to this child's help that I was able to escape from Gui family village.
Gui family village is a very poor and backward place with strong patriarchal views. If Tiantian stays with Xu Teng, she'll only have two outcomes: either starve to death or be married off as someone's wife at an early age.
Never mind that this child has a debt of gratitude towards us; even if she were an ordinary child, how could we stand by and watch her entire life be ruined!"
Li Xiulan pursed her lips, her expression filled with difficulty, and said, "Even if there are strong patriarchal views, what does it matter? They are still their child, and she will find a good husband later.
You can't blame Mom for being heartless, but our family is already facing so many troubles. If we adopt this child, how will we explain ourselves to the media? It's already a headache."
Chen Lishu knew that Li Xiulan was acting out of concern for her. With a flattering smile, she hooked her arm around Li Xiulan's arm and said, "Don't worry, Gu Xingdong and I already have a solution for this."
Li Xiulan, unable to do anything about Chen Lishu, could only shift the problem to Gu Xingdong, saying, "Gu Xingdong, your wife wants to adopt the daughter of a human trafficker. Do you have any objections?
If even you have no objections, then I won't interfere with your affairs. It's not that big of a deal to have an extra pair of chopsticks at home."
Gu Xingdong met Chen Lishu's anxious gaze and shrugged, his attitude very casual. "I support Lishu's actions."
With things reaching this point, no matter how much Li Xiulan disliked the idea of Tiantian being adopted, she could only compromise with them. The matter was thus temporarily settled.
----
After receiving the hundred thousand yuan, Xu Teng wasted no time heading to the casino. He gambled for a full five days, during which Chen Lishu enjoyed a very peaceful and quiet environment.
Five days later, Chen Lishu was back in her office, receiving a flustered Shen Wei. He exclaimed, "President Chen, that shameless scoundrel Xu Teng is back again.
He's downstairs making a scene, demanding to see you. He's threatening to take this matter to the television station if he can't see you, which would embarrass our company and make people afraid to buy our goods!"
Chen Lishu was not surprised by Xu Teng's escalating demands. She put down her work and said in a cold, composed voice, "Since he's here, then invite him in."
Seeing Chen Lishu's calmness, Shen Wei's eyes widened in disbelief. He waved his arms and complained emotionally, "President Chen, he's here for only one reason: to get money to gamble. Xu Teng is no different from a black hole now; no amount of money can fill that void!
You've already given him two hundred thousand yuan in total, which is half a lifetime's income for an ordinary family. Yet Xu Teng is so ungrateful, he wants to suck your blood to live!"
Chen Lishu waved her hand with a hint of helplessness and said reassuringly, "Alright, I know what you're worried about. But don't worry, everything is within my expectations. Go and invite him in."
Ultimately, Shen Wei couldn't go against Chen Lishu. With a grim expression and a hostile attitude, he went downstairs, grabbed Xu Teng by the collar, and dragged him towards the office.
Xu Teng never expected to experience such a humiliating situation in his life. No matter how much he struggled, he was no match for Shen Wei. Thus, under the strange stares of the onlookers, he was dragged into a small room with no dignity.
Shen Wei clapped his hands, his disgust evident, as if he had caught a contagious virus and was trying to distance himself. "President Chen, I've brought the person you wanted!"
Upon entering the room, Xu Teng's first action was to survey his surroundings. When he saw Chen Lishu's familiar face, his look of panic was replaced by disdain.
"President Chen, your company's personnel management is quite lacking. Any Tom, Dick, or Harry dares to lay a hand on me! I say, you women should just stay at home and be good wives and mothers. Why do you need to be out and about?
Women simply aren't as capable as men. You can't even manage a minor employee. I say, why don't you hand over the company and let me manage it for you!"
Listening to Xu Teng's wild propositions, Chen Lishu's expression gradually turned impatient. She leaned on the desk with both hands and questioned him sternly, "I already gave you a hundred thousand yuan last time, with the condition that you would take Wang Yuhua back to Gui family village. Have you broken your promise?"
Xu Teng crossed his legs and asked in a roguish manner, "Wasn't that hundred thousand yuan the money for buying Tiantian? You know, this little girl could have earned some betrothal gifts if she stayed with me. Are you expecting me to give her to you for free? What do you think she's eaten all these years in my house?"
Chen Lishu let out a cold laugh and asked, "How much money do you want this time?"
Xu Teng propped his chin with one hand and thought carefully before making an exorbitant demand. "One hundred thousand yuan is far too little; it won't even last ten days.
Miss Chen, if you want a peaceful living environment, I advise you to give me five hundred thousand this time. You'll have good days for the next two to three months!"