Chapter 17: The Arrogant and Overbearing Ye Wuming
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Li Chengfeng narrowed his eyes slightly. He had finally managed to persuade Ye Gucheng to agree to move the black locust tree growing atop the ancestral grave, only for another member of the Ye family to appear and stop them.
This was becoming troublesome.
After all, this was an internal matter of the Ye family. Li Chengfeng could not say much. If they agreed, the tree would be moved; if they refused, the deal was over.
Ye Mengyao glared angrily at Ye Wuming. As merely a collateral descendant of the Ye family, what right did he have to interfere in family affairs? And to speak so arrogantly? She was deeply displeased.
“What does moving my great-grandfather’s grave have to do with you, a collateral descendant?”
“What right do you have to meddle in the affairs of our Ye family?”
“Mind your own business and stop sticking your nose into matters that don’t concern you.”
“Understand?”
Ye Mengyao was equally domineering as she spoke, the imposing air of a pampered heiress fully revealing itself.
Her words struck Ye Wuming deeply. Within the Ye family, there was an enormous gap between collateral and direct descendants.
The direct descendants controlled the family’s important industries and finances, occupying key positions in its companies. The collateral descendants, by contrast, were little more than errand boys, with no status whatsoever.
Fortunately, over the past two years, one direct descendant after another had fallen victim to a strange illness. Some had gone blind, while others had become crippled or mute. Only then had the collateral descendants gained a chance to rise.
Ye Wuming wore a smile as he stared at Ye Mengyao with disdain.
“So what if I’m a collateral descendant? The Ye family is being managed by us now.”
“You direct descendants have either gone blind or become mute. I expect your turn will come soon enough.”
“Hahaha…”
“When I came here, Third Grand-Uncle had already instructed me that, with Ye Wushuang and Ye Gucheng both falling ill, I would take charge of all the Ye family’s businesses in Qingzhou.”
“That includes the Ye family’s ancestral burial grounds. Without my permission, no one is allowed to touch them.”
“If anyone dares to disturb the Ye family’s ancestral graves without my permission, I will cast her out of the family.”
Ye Wuming had deliberately spoken those words for Ye Mengyao and Ye Gucheng to hear.
Ye Mengyao’s expression became extremely ugly. Two years earlier, she had accompanied Ye Gucheng to the capital for a family gathering. When Ye Wuming had seen her then, he had bowed and scraped, addressing her respectfully as the Young Lady.
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Now that Ye Wuming had grown powerful, he actually dared to flaunt his authority before her, treating her with complete contempt.
She was only a young woman, and faced with such circumstances, there was little she could do except speak angrily.
“Ye Wuming, don’t go too far. I’m a direct descendant of the Ye family.”
“If I go to the capital and tell Grandfather about this, he certainly won’t let you off.”
“Hahaha…”
“So I’ve gone too far. Is that not allowed?”
“That old fool may not even live to see the end of the year. What use would it be to tell him?”
“Hmph. Do you think the Ye family is still what it used to be?”
“Now, the collateral descendants are the ones who call the shots.”
Lying in his hospital bed, Ye Gucheng was furious that a mere collateral descendant of the Ye family dared to behave so arrogantly and show such disrespect toward his daughter. He wanted to sit up and curse Ye Wuming, but he could not speak. Even glaring at him was beyond his strength.
Standing nearby, Li Chengfeng had already realized that this was an internal power struggle within a wealthy family.
Taking advantage of the direct descendants’ illnesses, the Ye family’s collateral descendants were attempting to seize control of its power and wealth.
Li Chengfeng was an extremely clever man. He had no desire to become involved in such a feud. If things went badly, he might lose his life. Seeing that the situation was turning dangerous, he looked at Ye Mengyao and feigned an apologetic expression.
“Miss Ye, I’m terribly sorry, but something has come up at home. I’ll take my leave first.”
With that, he prepared to slip away. He had no intention of losing his life over a business deal.
Ye Mengyao was utterly speechless. She had never expected Li Chengfeng to run away at the moment she was in the greatest danger. He did not possess even the slightest trace of a man’s courage.
What she did not understand was that when it came to struggles within wealthy families, almost anyone would choose to avoid them.
Li Chengfeng reached the hospital-room door and saw Ye Wuming and two doctors blocking his way. With a smile, he spoke to them courteously.
“Gentlemen, could you let me through? There’s an urgent matter at home that I need to deal with.”
A hint of murderous intent flashed in Ye Wuming’s eyes as he stared at Li Chengfeng. He had heard every word Li Chengfeng had said to Ye Gucheng just moments ago. His voice turned cold and interrogative.
“Were you the one who suggested disturbing my family’s ancestral graves?”
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Li Chengfeng detected the hidden menace in his words. By now, he had guessed that the black locust tree growing atop Ye Mengyao’s great-grandfather’s grave was probably connected to someone in the Ye family.
Otherwise, who would allow a black locust tree to grow on top of their own family grave? Anyone of a certain age knew that a tree growing from a grave was an ill omen—especially a sinister tree like the black locust. It was impossible that no one in the Ye family knew this.
What terrible luck. He had just landed a major deal, only to become entangled in something like this. Ye Mengyao really was a harbinger of misfortune.
The first time he had gone to her home, he had been humiliated by her younger aunt and then driven out of the Ye family. Now, on his second visit, his life was in danger.
With an apologetic smile, he hurriedly explained, “I was just talking nonsense. I’m a fraud. I don’t know the first thing about feng shui.”
“Sir, please let me pass. I’m going home right now, and I swear I’ll never deceive anyone again.”
Ye Wuming smiled faintly and spoke with evident satisfaction.
“You’re a very clever man. I like dealing with clever people.”
“I don’t care whether you know feng shui or not. You’d better stay out of the Ye family’s affairs.”
“Otherwise, you’ll die horribly. Do you understand?”
“I understand. I understand perfectly.”
Li Chengfeng nodded hastily, then left Ye Gucheng’s hospital room. He broke into a trot and soon vanished without a trace.
Ye Mengyao was bitterly disappointed. She had only just found a way to cure her father, yet that cowardly man had been frightened away by Ye Wuming.
By now, she believed that Li Chengfeng truly could cure her father—but it was already too late.
Ye Wuming looked at Ye Mengyao triumphantly and spoke in a mocking tone.
“Miss, rest assured. The medical team I brought this time will certainly cure your father, as well as your aunt.”
“Hahaha…”
A sense of foreboding rose in Ye Mengyao’s heart.
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