Meanwhile, C City, Hua Country, in Yan Yueqing’s study.
A complex industrial network map was displayed on the holographic screen, with a few lines highlighted in red, specifically related to Jiang Catherine’s medicinal trade chain.
An image of Jiang Chuanning appeared beside it, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses.
"Miss Xing, as per your instructions, we dug deeper into the Fifth Elder’s line. Indeed, it’s not just about reselling medicinal materials at high prices and suppressing traditional medicine."
Jiang Chuanning pulled out several encrypted files, "We discovered that through this line, she has close financial exchanges with specific pharmaceutical conglomerates and underground organizations in Japan. A portion of the funds flows into acquisition and litigation funds targeting traditional medicinal patents in Hua Country. Their goal might be to systematically plunder, seal, or even abolish key traditional herbal recipes and patents through capital and legal means, paving the way for a western medicine monopoly."
Yan Yueqing’s gaze was icy: "Betraying one’s own, destroying the foundation. Is the evidence chain complete?"
"The fund flows and some contractual evidence have been secured. However, the other party is cunning, using multiple offshore companies and agents; evidence directly pointing to the Fifth Elder requires more time."
Yan Yueqing shook her head, "Teacher, I always feel that Catherine’s handiwork isn’t just about squeezing traditional medicine."
Commercial competition pressures have always existed, but Catherine’s industries are almost all overseas; she could easily enter the market forcefully with other industries and seize resources in Hua Country.
Yet she goes through all this trouble, spending vast amounts of money and resources to target traditional medicine?
Even if Japan has given her significant returns, it’s still not enough to cover years of expenses.
Yan Yueqing can’t think of a reason for now, but there’s one thing she’s very certain of—
Jiang Catherine is no philanthropist; if she spent money and effort, her counterpart must provide at least three times the return.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been on this line for almost ten years!
"Okay." Jiang Chuanning paused, then added, "There’s another matter. We’ve been monitoring the Fifth Elder’s overseas accounts, which showed unusual activity within the last half-hour, with a large sum of money being transferred in batches to several unknown accounts. The characteristics of the recipients... are linked to some international business espionage and opinion manipulation organizations."
Yan Yueqing’s fingertips lightly tapped the table, producing a rhythmic tapping sound.
She recalled the threatening communication from Jiang Catherine earlier, a cold curve formed on her lips.
"Seems like our Fifth Elder plans to show this ’naïve’ Young Master some colors."
Yan Yueqing leaned back in her chair, her gaze sharp, "Teacher, let’s prepare our people in Hua Country. Especially Sea Star and Guangqi, enhance security and compliance reviews. Also, organize the information we prepared earlier on the Japanese conglomerates using unfair competition methods to suppress local pharma companies in Hua Country and their collusion with certain international organizations for bio-resource plundering as evidence."
Jiang Chuanning’s eyes brightened, "Miss Xing, do you mean—?"
"Isn’t she trying to cause trouble?" Yan Yueqing smiled slightly, yet the smile held no warmth, "We’ll give her a hand, escalate the trouble a bit, so those who need to see it can see clearly. Meanwhile, let’s let out some news about our new energy base and ’Permafrost Rebirth’ project progress, especially the deep cooperation intentions with several state-owned enterprises. We need to make sure everyone feels our foundation is solid and our prospects are boundless, highly regarded by all sides."
"Yes, I’ll get on it right away." Jiang Chuanning responded, then hesitated, "However, the Fifth Elder has been operating overseas for many years, with deeply entwined influences. If she’s pushed to the edge—"
"She wouldn’t dare." Yan Yueqing interrupted him confidently, "At least not now. Many of her businesses can’t withstand the light. If I shake one sector of hers, and she dares only to play tricks behind the scenes, it shows she’s guilty and doesn’t have cards to deliver a fatal blow to me. What she’s doing now is merely testing and venting frustration."
She stood up, walked to the window, looking at the sea of lights outside over Hua Country, her voice calm yet carrying undeniable strength, "And I want her to know her testing will only expose more of her weaknesses, her frustration only hastening her downfall. The Jiang Family has to return to Hua Country, and these pests and obstacles will eventually need to be cleared anyway. Since she’s the first to jump out, we’ll start with her."
"Tell our people overseas to keep a close eye on Jiang Catherine and all her closely associated forces, especially the Lowell family and those in Japan. If there are any unusual moves or Hua Country faces any unconventional commercial attacks, immediately activate the ’Clearing’ plan."
"Yes!" Jiang Chuanning responded solemnly, the image disappearing.
Yan Yueqing stood alone by the window, the city bright with a myriad of lights. She knew that the showdown with Jiang Catherine had just begun. But in this first round, she had to win decisively.
Not only to win, but to let other secretly observing elders see clearly—that Yan Yueqing is not a mere pawn they can manipulate. She is the one holding the chess pieces.
She picked up the internal communicator and dialed a number.
"Jun Lii," her voice softened, "I might soon need some ’external’ pressure. What you mentioned earlier about Europe reviewing several energy projects of the Lowell family, you can start pushing forward a bit."
Jun Lii’s steady voice came through the communicator: "Understood. It’s been ready for a while. Can cooperate with your rhythm anytime."
Yan Yueqing smiled briefly, a hint of warmth flashing in her eyes.
She was not fighting alone.
After hanging up the phone, Jun Yan walked into the study with a tablet, his round face bright-eyed and curious: "Was that Mom?"
Jun Lii nodded.
Jun Yan ran over with a series of taps, effortlessly climbing onto his father’s lap, checking out the various documents on his desk.
This kid has gotten a lot more mature recently.
Jun Lii steadied him, handing him a couple of documents, "Can you understand?"
Jun Yan nodded, "Guangqi’s data? Is someone trying to harm Mom?"
"Yes, someone from your mom’s family."
Jun Yan frowned in displeasure, "Really annoying."
Jun Lii patted his son’s head, concerned, "Don’t worry, Dad won’t let them succeed."
Jun Yan expectedly remarked, "If Dad let them succeed, then he wouldn’t be worthy of being Mom’s husband."
Jun Lii: ??? Could I take back what I just said?
Jun Yan sighed again, "If only I could grow up faster, I really want to help Mom."
Jun Lii mentally repeated "my own flesh and blood, my own flesh and blood," then reassured him again, "Don’t worry too much, Dad’s here."
Jun Yan huffed, mumbling, "If only Dad were more hardworking, if he made the Jun Residence bigger and stronger, would the Jiang Family dare to bully Mom?"
Jun Lii chuckled in exasperation, "Yes, yes, I’m not hardworking enough."
How could one man’s efforts compare to the accumulation of several generations?!