Shen Ruobing was not deaf to the ironic tone in Jin Siyue’s comments, her face changed color, but she could only suppress the frustration and said, "Isn’t it? Young Master Jin is aware of our family’s current situation, I—"
Gu Qiang suddenly looked impatient and pushed over all the playing cards, their clattering sound cutting off Shen Ruobing’s words.
Mrs. Chen, who was sitting nearby, quickly asked, "What’s wrong with Mrs. Jin?"
Gu Qiang fiddled with the jade earring and said, "Bored, don’t want to play anymore. Let’s go shopping instead. Si Yue, come with us. You have a good eye, help mom pick things out."
Gu Qiang then turned to Shen Ruobing and said with a smile, "Mrs. Shang, why don’t you join us too?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Ruobing’s heart fluttered.
Another shopping trip?
Hadn’t we just gone yesterday?
Whatever Gu Qiang took a fancy to, Shen Ruobing was expected to pay for. Just a brief shopping outing yesterday, and she had already spent close to a million. Shang Zhenhe had given her an earful when she got back, but knowing she was associating with the Gu Family, he couldn’t say too much.
But Shen Ruobing dared not refuse and could only force a cheerful smile as she accompanied them to a nearby mall.
Along the way, she had to cash out three or four credit cards to scrape together a million, hoping it would be enough for the day.
But to her surprise, as soon as they entered the mall, Gu Qiang headed straight to the Hermès store.
"Has your store received any new arrivals lately? Bring them over for us to see."
The sales associate recognized Gu Qiang and promptly ushered them into a VIP room, then arranged for models to present all the new arrivals of the season.
"These have just arrived. A few over there have just come off the runway. This season’s highlight color is silver, which suits the ladies’ temperament very well."
Gu Qiang nodded repeatedly, casually picked up a bag, and looked at Jin Siyue.
"Si Yue, do you like it?"
Jin Siyue was busy with his phone but lifted his head slightly to say, "Mom, if you like it, just buy it. Why ask me? If you want my opinion, they all look quite nice."
"Indeed, not bad," Gu Qiang said, nodding. She casually pointed to four handbags, "Send these four to my house. This one, give it to Mrs. Chen. Oh, and Mrs. Shang, don’t you want to keep a few styles for yourself?"
Shen Ruobing glanced at the prices of those bags; each was at least three hundred thousand, and her face went pale.
"I, I’ll pass. There isn’t one I particularly like."
Gu Qiang clicked her tongue, "It’s all about the happiness these things bring, doesn’t matter whether they look good or not, or whether you like them. If it pleases the eye, just buy it—it’s like people, you can’t always choose only those you like to be around, right?"
Shen Ruobing had not missed the subtext of Gu Qiang’s words. She clenched her hands, took a deep breath, and said, "In that case, Mrs. Jin might consider our Shang Group’s shipping company. Aren’t you planning on expanding overseas lately? Our families cooperating would be a marriage of interests, wouldn’t it?"
Gu Qiang’s eyes were indifferent, "Cooperation? This kind of thing can’t be decided as casually as buying a handbag. I’d have to observe carefully first."
"Really?" Shen Ruobing laughed briefly and straightened her back, "Our families’ businesses have some interactions; we’ve all been picking up the Gu Family’s leftovers. Old Sir Gu hadn’t been feeling well these past few years and had little interest in managing the business, which gave us all some breathing room. But Mrs. Jin, as you’ve seen, now that Young Master Gu has returned, Old Sir Gu intends to hand over the entire family estate for him to manage."
"That young man is capable. In just a short time, he’s managed several companies efficiently, pressing us scavengers to the point where we can barely breathe. If we don’t band together now, will there be any chance for us to turn the tables later?"
Shen Ruobing’s words did not spare Gu Qiang any dignity.
Not only did she mock Gu Qiang’s strained relationship with Old Sir Gu, but she also highlighted the Jin Family’s precarious situation.
Jin Siyue was the first to lose his composure, abruptly standing up with a darkened face. "What are you, Shang Family, to dare to pick a fight with us?"
Gu Qiang swiftly held him back.
She was well aware of her own situation.
Ever since that so-called Gu Yu returned, Old Sir Gu had become even more wary of her.
After the last family banquet ended, she hadn’t seen Old Sir Gu again.
Though a camel starved to death is still bigger than a horse, a desperate dog will leap over a wall. The Shang Family might not be as powerful as the Jin Family, but they should not be underestimated. If pushed too far, it would still be them who ended up hurt.
They absolutely couldn’t afford any trouble at this critical juncture.
She smiled, stood up ready to give Shen Ruobing a way out, but the next second, her attention was captured by the live broadcast on the TV opposite her.
Gu Qiang froze for a few seconds, then her gaze became sarcastic. After pulling Jin Siyue behind her, she contemptuously swept her eyes over Shen Ruobing.
"You’re right, Si Yue. What is the Shang Family? They aren’t even worthy to carry our shoes, yet they dare to compare themselves with us? Do you think just because your sister married into a branch of the Gu Family, you can claim kinship with us? How self-aggrandizing. Our Gu Family doesn’t recognize poor relatives who, even when counted several generations up, are still commoners."
"You can’t even afford a few handbags but have the nerve to shop with us. Let’s go, I can’t stand to look at people ; it’s bad luck."
With that, she pulled Jin Siyue and left without looking back.
Shen Ruobing’s face turned red with anger. Just as she was about to catch up and confront them, her gaze landed on the TV next to her, and she was frozen in place.
On the screen was none other than her husband, Shang Zhenhe.
His face was pale, his lips blue. He nearly stumbled under the barrage of questions from reporters.
The screen also displayed a bolded headline — [Shang Group’s cargo ship disaster; high-level executives attempt to suppress news to evade substantial compensation?]
Shen Ruobing’s entire body stiffened, and she nearly fainted, but the incessant accusing voices from the TV pulled her back from the brink of unconsciousness.
"Chairman Shang, you just said you were completely unaware of this incident. Are you unconcerned as the chairman, or is this an excuse to avoid responsibility?"
"Our station has learned that these goods were taken from the Jiang Family by Young Master Shang Shaojing at a high price. Now, isn’t this karma?"
"Does the company have any risk mitigation measures in place? What arrangements have been made for the injured crew members and their families?"
Watching the aggressive questioning from reporters, Jin Siyue laughed out loud in the car.
"Hahaha, Shang Shaojing has made such a big blunder. Now let’s see how he can be arrogant in front of me in the future. No, maybe the Shang Family is finished? Perhaps Shang Shaojing won’t even see my face in the future."