Chapter 586 - 585: Tearing Apart the Scum (Part 1)

They had agreed on eight o’clock, so that’s when they would talk. There was nothing more to say.

Now that Su Li was back, she was going to resolve this matter once and for all.

Su Li’s message went out, and everyone who received it reacted differently.

The television and radio stations thought it was great. The person at the center of the controversy agreeing to an interview was excellent news.

As for Miao Fenghua and Su Dan, they were already sharpening their knives, ready to destroy Su Li.

Su Dan had returned before the New Year. He was still tangled in a messy dispute with Qin Shanshan and hadn’t managed to finalize their divorce. In the end, with the holiday approaching, he had come back to his hometown.

But after being interviewed and prompted by the "intellectual" Zhao Wenming, and then being interviewed by other reporters, the two had a sudden epiphany. So this was how they could deal with Su Li!

That’s right! Su Li was their daughter. An unfilial daughter was a terrible thing to be. They themselves weren’t important people; reputation didn’t matter to them as long as they got money.

But Su Li was different!

She was in university! After she graduated, she would have a stable, respectable job. She had to care about her reputation.

And the man she was seeing was no simple character either. If she wanted to marry him, she’d have to protect her good name!

As long as Su Li cared about her reputation, they had her right where they wanted her!

Once Miao Fenghua and Su Dan figured this out, their fear of Su Li vanished. They straightened their backs and, upon hearing the news, prepared to take her down.

They had long coveted Su Li’s money-making factory but had never managed to get their hands on it. But now, things were different. They had allies!

Miao Fenghua and Su Dan were thrilled. Zhao Wenming, however, just sneered when he got the message.

"A meeting at eight? Heh. Is she scared and trying to buy me off? Too late!"

Zhao Wenming gritted his teeth viciously. "I’ll make you pay this time!"

Completely unaware that Su Li had notified everyone, Zhao Wenming assumed she had sought him out alone. He spent a good while daydreaming about Su Li begging for his mercy.

His expression shifted from smug to slightly lecherous, revealing the nature of his thoughts.

Finally, he walked off with a triumphant hum, lovingly patting the pen in his breast pocket.

’The pen is mightier than the sword. How true that is. It kills without a trace...’

’With a single pen, I can conquer the world!’

The next day, this group of people, each with their own agenda, arrived punctually at the Pinjun Children’s Clothing branch factory.

The impatient Miao Fenghua and her group arrived early and were led to the conference room. Zhao Wenming, however, saw himself as the star of the show. He put on airs, deliberately arriving a minute or two late, strolling in at a leisurely pace.

He strode into the conference room with his head held high but was taken aback when he saw it was full of people bustling about.

’What’s going on? Wasn’t I invited here alone? Why are there so many people?’

A flash of bewildered suspicion crossed his face. Seeing him arrive, the newspaper’s editor-in-chief immediately raised a hand.

"Zhao Wenming, what took you so long? You’re late. Hurry up and sit down. We were waiting for you."

As the newspaper that had just published the report, they had naturally been invited as well.

The television station was quite professional; their cameras were already in position.

The radio station’s recording equipment and the TV station’s microphones were also ready. The reporters were in place, as was the branch factory’s manager.

Miao Fenghua and Su Dan had cleverly dug out some tattered old cotton-padded clothes to wear, making themselves look quite pathetic.

Well, if their eyes weren’t so shifty and bright, their act might have been more convincing.

Zhao Wenming forced a smile and went to take a seat.

Just as he sat down, hearty laughter echoed from the doorway.

"...I deal with confessions and testimony every day, but this is the first time I’ve come to be a witness for someone. It’s quite a rare occasion."

Accompanied by the cheerful laughter and conversation, a group of people appeared at the entrance.

In the center was a man in his thirties wearing glasses who worked for the county. His surname was Li, and people called him Mr. Li. He was in charge of economic affairs.

Beside him was the imposing Fang Luo in his uniform, and next to him was Su Li.

Su Li, dressed in a black overcoat, exuded an impressive aura, completely different from what everyone had expected.

"Everyone’s here."

Su Li entered with a calm smile, greeting them unhurriedly. Her gaze swept over each person without lingering, and she invited Mr. Li and Fang Luo to take a seat.

It had been many years, and this was the first time Zhao Wenming had seen Su Li since she’d left the village. Seeing this new Su Li, so completely different from the "village flower" he remembered, his pupils contracted sharply.

His impression of her was still stuck in the past; he never expected to see a Su Li who was so radically changed.

If he hadn’t met her here at the designated location, he might not have recognized her on the street—or perhaps he wouldn’t have dared to.

For some unknown reason, when Su Li’s cool gaze swept over him, a chill ran down Zhao Wenming’s spine.

He had a feeling things were about to spiral out of control...

While a storm raged in Zhao Wenming’s heart, Miao Fenghua and Su Dan weren’t faring much better.

The moment they saw Fang Luo’s face, the pair flinched instinctively.

The memory of being arrested by Fang Luo came flooding back.

If they hadn’t been frozen in fear, the moment they saw Fang Luo they might have jumped up and asked if he was there to arrest them again.

Su Li had come, and she had brought Fang Luo with her. It was completely unexpected.

The mother and son, whose eyes had been filled with scheming, greed, and arrogance, instantly deflated.

Su Li didn’t need to look to know their expressions weren’t good.

After everyone was seated, Su Li began the introductions with a smile.

"First, let me introduce the people here today. This is our factory manager, whom I believe everyone knows. This is Mr. Li, a county official who is here today out of concern for the situation to observe." Her saying "observe" implied he was also there to supervise and moderate.

"This is Fang Luo. I’ve asked him to be here as a witness.

"Mom. Brother." Su Li gave a slight bow, her attitude impeccably polite as she addressed them, then turned to greet Zhao Wenming.

"Teacher Zhao, it’s been a long time."

"And hello to all the reporters." After greeting everyone, Su Li introduced the two people she had brought with her.

"This is my lawyer."

The lawyer, dressed smartly in a suit, stood up and greeted everyone with a slight bow.

"Hello, everyone."

Su Li waited for him to sit before introducing the other person. "And this is my assistant, who will be recording everything from today’s meeting."

No one paid any attention to the assistant. Everyone’s focus was now fixed on the lawyer Su Li had just introduced.

Su Li actually brought a lawyer? What was she planning?

"A lawyer? That’s a lawyer... Why bring a lawyer?"

Zhao Wenming couldn’t help but ask.

"Because today’s business requires one, naturally."

Miao Fenghua had no idea what a lawyer was and couldn’t resist whispering to Su Dan, "What’s a lawyer?"

Having knocked around the Imperial City for so long, Su Dan was more worldly.

"They’re powerful and very hard to deal with." His face paled slightly. ’Su Li loves using lawyers to send people to prison!’

Su Li paid no mind to their thoughts and got straight to the point.

"I’ve invited everyone here today to discuss the matter of me supposedly making a fortune while neglecting my filial duties. Normally, one shouldn’t air their dirty laundry in public. And as a married daughter is like water poured out, and my family doesn’t lack for a son, this shouldn’t have been my responsibility to begin with. But since it has been reported, I’ve decided to bring everything out into the open."

Su Li managed a smile for the television and radio reporters. "I will now explain the whole story to you from beginning to end."