Volume One, Chapter 63: Dog Eat Dog

Yang Jing leaned closer to the computer, and when she saw the malicious content inside, her mind nearly exploded. She had always known her brother embezzled public funds, but she had never expected the amount to be so enormous.

“Zhenghua, who sent this to you? Could it be someone trying to sow discord between you and Hui?” Yang Jing tried to reason.

Chi Zhenghua looked at her coldly. “Whether he embezzled and how much, all it takes is an audit to find out.”

Yang Jing attempted to defend Yang Hui, “You know what Hui is like. You’ve known him for decades. In front of you, he’s as timid as a mouse before a cat. How could he dare do something like this behind your back?”

“That’s not necessarily true.” When it came to matters concerning money, Chi Zhenghua never retreated.

He immediately called his assistant, instructing him to launch an overnight audit of the sauce factory.

Yang Jing felt a sense of impending doom. Determined to warn Yang Hui as soon as possible, she said, “Zhenghua, let me make you some sobering soup.”

“Stop,” Chi Zhenghua ordered coldly. “You stay here. Take out your phone and put it on the table.”

Yang Jing was incredulous. “Zhenghua, what do you mean? You don’t trust even me?”

Chi Zhenghua showed no mercy. “You know I’ve always only trusted myself. You can try not to listen, but you’ll bear the consequences alone.”

Yang Jing was furious but dared not disobey. Since their marriage, everything she had came from Chi Zhenghua. If he were to abandon her, she would be left with nothing.

She placed her phone on the table and sat on the sofa, silently praying that Yang Hui hadn’t embezzled as much as the email claimed.

A few hours later, Chi Zhenghua’s assistant called. After hanging up, Chi Zhenghua said to Yang Jing, “Take your phone and leave.”

Yang Jing immediately grabbed her phone and left the study, hastily calling Yang Hui.

Yang Hui had clearly already received word. His voice was panicked, “Sis, what do I do? The headquarters has locked down all the records. I can’t intervene.”

Yang Jing sighed inwardly; it was just as she feared. She whispered, “Don’t panic. Auditing such a large factory will take a few days. Let’s meet and see if we can come up with something.”

With the factory’s records under control, Chi Zhenghua no longer watched Yang Jing. The next day, she managed to meet Yang Hui without trouble.

Yang Hui was so anxious that sores had erupted on his lips. Upon seeing Yang Jing, he immediately asked, “Sis, why did brother-in-law suddenly decide to audit the factory’s accounts?”

Yang Jing sighed. “Last night, he received an anonymous email with evidence and the amount you embezzled.”

She named the figure, then asked, “Brother, did you really take that much?”

Yang Hui’s gaze was unfocused. “Over the years, I haven’t counted exactly, but… about that much, I suppose.”

Yang Jing was furious, pounding her brother in anger. “How could you? Embezzling so much—did you ever think about me? Now that everything’s exposed, how am I supposed to stay in the Chi family?”

Yang Hui hung his head in shame. “Sis, we’re family. This money was just moving from one pocket to another.”

“I’m family with you, but your brother-in-law isn’t. You weren’t taking my money—you were taking his. How am I supposed to protect you?”

Yang Hui knew he was at fault and didn’t dare provoke her further. “Sis, what should I do now? I found out last night that brother-in-law’s assistant is handling the audit personally. I can’t get involved.”

“Do you think I can?” Yang Jing was seething with resentment. For years, Chi Zhenghua had never allowed her to meddle in company affairs.

Yang Hui’s eyes darted as he thought of someone. “What about your precious son?”

“Don’t even think about it.” Yang Jing immediately refused. “Besides, Bai Yu has always sided with his father. If he finds out, not only will he refuse to help, he’ll cut ties with you altogether.”

“So what do we do now?”

Yang Jing was frantic, but neither sibling could devise a solution.

Days passed. The audit, mobilizing extensive manpower and resources, was completed in just three days.

In his office, Chi Zhenghua examined the audit report handed to him by his assistant—Yang Hui’s embezzled sum matched the figure in the email exactly.

His face darkened, and he slammed the report onto the desk. “Well, well. So you dared to take this much from me!”

No matter how angry he was, Chi Zhenghua remained rational. He didn’t summon Yang Hui directly, but called Yang Jing instead.

“No matter where you are, come home immediately. Bring Yang Hui with you.”

In the living room of the Chi family villa, Yang Jing had already sent the servants away. When Chi Zhenghua arrived, only the three of them were present.

Yang Hui bent over, smiling nervously. “Brother-in-law, long time no see…”

Chi Zhenghua raised his hand and flung the audit report in Yang Hui’s face. “You wish you’d never have to see me, don’t you?”

Yang Hui instantly dropped to his knees. “Brother-in-law, I was wrong. I lost my head. Please forgive me this once—we’re family, I’m loyal to you.”

Chi Zhenghua glared at him coldly. “Forgive you? Did you remember we were family when you were stealing? Did you think of being loyal then?”

Yang Jing rushed forward to help. “Zhenghua, Hui was foolish. He truly knows he was wrong. For the sake of all the years he’s worked diligently for the factory, never making a mistake, please give him another chance.”

Seeing that Chi Zhenghua was unmoved, Yang Hui finally decided to switch tactics.

“Brother-in-law, you chose me because of my skill with sauces, didn’t you? That’s not easy to replace.”

Chi Zhenghua was enraged. “Are you threatening me?”

Yang Hui grinned. “How is it a threat? I’m asking for another chance—I promise to make it right.”

Chi Zhenghua’s fury hadn’t faded, but he remained clear-headed; in fact, his mind was racing.

Yang Hui had once been a good-for-nothing loafer. Chi Zhenghua hadn’t helped him because he was his brother-in-law, but because Yang Hui possessed genuine talent in sauce blending.

His palate was extraordinary—able to discern the slightest difference in flavor.

After acquiring Yipin Pavilion, even with the sauce recipe in hand, Chi Zhenghua had hired many people, but none could replicate Xue Miao’s taste.

Yang Hui was the closest.

Even after more than ten years, Yang Hui still controlled the flavor of Yipin Pavilion’s sauces. As Yang Jing said, though he was a scoundrel, he had never made a mistake in his work.

Now, Chi Zhenghua couldn’t find anyone to replace Yang Hui. He could only keep him for the time being, but Yang Hui was mistaken if he thought he could easily threaten Chi Zhenghua.