Chapter 174: One Hundred Seventy-Four: The Ji Family’s Troubles Within and Without_1 Chapter 174: One Hundred Seventy-Four: The Ji Family’s Troubles Within and Without_1 “All right, that’s settled for now. I have to go; I’ve got things to do. We’ll talk over the phone later, my number is… wait, let me think.”

After finishing his words, Gu Chen looked down at his phone,

It was a newly purchased phone with a freshly activated SIM card; he really hadn’t memorized the number yet.

Fortunately, when he activated the SIM, he had saved his own number in the phone specifically for such situations, or he wouldn’t have been able to recite it at all.

“136…” Gu Chen recited his phone number with unfamiliarity.

After giving out his phone number, he was ready to leave with Tangtang.

He still had to take Tangtang to buy a roujiamo, and if they were any later, the stall would be closed.

Uncle Guang didn’t try to keep him; he just nodded and exchanged pleasantries.

“All right then, take care on your way out.”

Gu Chen tightened his hold and lifted Tangtang a bit higher, making both of them more comfortable, then nodded his head and prepared to leave.

When he moved, Uncle Guang noticed the “plums” in Gu Chen’s hand.

At this time of year, plums were hard to come by.

“Where did you buy these plums? I’ll get some for my master and young master to try,” Uncle Guang said casually.

After a moment of astonishment, Gu Chen then handed over the cherries he was holding.

He smiled helplessly.

“These aren’t plums, they’re cherries, a new variety I’m planning to work on. If you don’t mind, take some back with you to try.”

Since they would be doing business together in the future, Gu Chen didn’t mind these small things.

If he liked them, he could take them; if he really liked them, maybe he could help advertise and promote them.

Uncle Guang was surprised to hear they were cherries.

“Really? Cherries this big? Goodness, I’ve never seen cherries this big before,” he said.

“This is the first time I’ve come across them. I’ve got to take them back for the master and young master to try some fresh ones,” Uncle Guang said with a smile.

He didn’t think Gu Chen was deceiving him; he simply had never seen cherries of such size before.

Gu Chen nodded and said politely, “I’ll be taking my leave now. See you later.”

“See you later.”

Uncle Guang, holding the cherries Gu Chen had given him, entered the hospital ward area with a smile.

He got on the elevator and skillfully pressed the number 6.

The hospital’s sixth floor housed two special wards, originally meant for offices, but later converted into luxury wards.

Only those with substantial backing, fame, and strength could afford to stay here.

Arriving at the door of one of the wards, Uncle Guang straightened his suit before he gently knocked on the door.

Just as he was about to enter, a middle-aged man came out, in his forties, dressed in a neat suit and carrying a briefcase.

The grim expression and furrowed brow on his face showed that he was in a foul mood.

He was Ji Changming, Ji Guangsheng’s younger brother.

The Ji Family had three brothers, and since the business was passed down by their father, all three brothers were involved in managing the company’s affairs.

However, since Ji Guangsheng was the eldest and also gifted in business,

he always held the reins of power.

Because of this, the second brother, Ji Changming, and the third, Ji Yuanbai, had always been dissatisfied.

With Ji Guangsheng’s severe illness over the years and Ji Pianran’s escape from her wedding, which turned a once friendly family into enemies,

doing business had become increasingly difficult.

Especially after being targeted by rivals a few times, the Ji Family could be said to have been greatly weakened.

Losses in the company affected all three branches of the family.

This led Ji Changming to openly make a scene.

He believed it was all the eldest brother’s incompetence, his greed for power that had led to this mess.

Despite her poor health, she refused to step aside, which led the Ji Family to worsen by the day.

He was intent on dragging the Ji Family and all their brothers’ families down with him.

All he had in mind was to make Ji Guangsheng yield his position sooner and hand over the power, confident in his ability to lead the Ji Family out of their current predicament.

Today’s visit was nothing more than a revival of old arguments, resulting in the brothers’ fierce quarrel and Ji Guangsheng demanding Ji Changming leave the hospital room immediately.

That was the scene they were now faced with.

Uncle Guang nodded politely, “Second Master.”

Ji Changming tugged at his shirt collar irritably and grunted without turning his head as he walked away.

The luxury hospital room was indeed a stark contrast to the four-person room Ji Pianran stayed in, like the difference between heaven and earth.

The white ceramic tile floor shone brightly, with a real leather sofa next to the hospital bed that appeared very stately.

Under the window stood a mahogany table with four legs and a round glass inlay, flanked by a pair of mahogany chairs on each side.

One could even enjoy an afternoon tea there, truly comfortable and cozy.

Ji Chu and his mother Wu Shuhui were sitting at the table, both wearing somewhat grim expressions.

Ji Guangsheng, frowning, lay on the hospital bed, lips white with anger, eyes closed, not wishing to utter a single word.

Seeing Uncle Guang return, Ji Chu stood up, “Uncle Guang, you’re back.”

It was the same ordeal every day, genuinely oppressive and annoying for an eighteen-year-old.

He wanted to go out for a walk.

Uncle Guang nodded slightly and gave a forced smile to lighten the mood.

“Oh, I just ran into the young man selling matsutake. He not only gave me his contact, but also a bag of cherries as big as plums, which I’ve washed for you to try,” he said.

The atmosphere was already heavy enough, and he forced a smile, hoping to relieve some of the tension.

Ji Chu wasn’t particularly interested in fruit.

He spoke indifferently, “Just send me his number; I am going downstairs for a walk.”

After speaking, he walked toward the door of the hospital room.

His own uncle had turned against his father more than once in the struggle for the family inheritance.

When he was a child, his second uncle had been the nicest to him.

He really did grow up riding on his second uncle’s shoulders.

But now…

He sighed with a shake of his head.

Family ties became fragile and negligible under the temptation of money, a truly bitter pill to swallow.

“Young Master, these are cherries, and such large ones; I’ve never seen them before. Please, have a taste before you go,” said Uncle Guang, still concerned for Ji Chu. It was hard for such a young kid to deal with these things.

At these words, Wu Shuhui, who had been sitting silently, finally spoke up.

She lifted her hand slightly and said indifferently, “Let him go.”

Wu Shuhui wore a camel-colored cheongsam, its craftsmanship, lines, and the embroidered albizia flowers all suggesting its high cost.

Her hair was neatly coiled at the back of her head, giving her a dignified and gentle appearance.

She wore no pearls around her neck like a rich lady.

She didn’t like such opulent yet soulless possessions.

Although simpler, her elegance was still apparent.

A well-educated and refined nature was fully represented in her.

Uncle Guang said no more, watching Ji Chu leave, and then went to the pantry to wash the cherries given by Gu Chen, bringing them on a fruit plate into the room.

He had intended for Ji Guangsheng to try them but, seeing his closed eyes and assuming he was asleep, didn’t want to disturb him.

Thus, he placed the fruit plate on the mahogany table, nodding and smiling at Wu Shuhui.