Chapter 410 - 423: Counterattack 6
Early morning, Beijing.
In an era where information didn’t circulate very quickly, newspapers were the most important channel for many people to get their news. Bar none.
Beijing had a total of five newspaper publishers, each with its own readership and a solid subscriber base.
While most people were still sound asleep, many street-side newsstands were already starting their day. They received the papers, placing the top stories in the most conspicuous spots to sell a few extra copies.
Every newsstand subscribed to all the available newspapers and magazines, offering a wide selection for customers to choose from.
When today’s papers were delivered to the newsstand and the five delivery vehicles had driven off, the owner stared at the front pages, dazed for a moment. ’A mistaken delivery?’
’Why are all the front pages the same?’
After the newsstand owner took a closer look, he realized it wasn’t a mistaken delivery—all five newspapers had the same headline!
The owner cut open the plastic wrap on a stack of papers and picked one up to read.
"This is just despicable!"
"Are they going to kill him to silence him? Have they found the guy yet?!"
"How is that all?"
The newsstand owner frantically flipped through the entire paper but couldn’t find the rest of the story.
Even after reading all five newspapers, the content was largely the same, and there was still no continuation.
Seeing it was almost time to open, the owner had no choice but to set up his stand. He placed all five newspapers in the most prominent spots, their identical headlines lined up side-by-side.
As regular customers habitually bought their papers while waiting for the bus, the story of the student who ranked third in the nation on the college entrance exam, only to have his identity stolen, spread among the crowd.
"Is this for real?"
"It can’t be fake. It’s in the papers."
"Exactly! It’s in all five of them."
"Oh man, the young guy’s missing too. Don’t tell me he was...?"
The public speculated wildly, their analyses becoming so intricate and interconnected they were more dramatic than a television series.
It just goes to show you, the real masters are among the common folk.
It was a lively morning in Beijing. Seventy percent of all conversations across the city revolved around a single topic.
The college entrance exam. Stolen identity.
As public discussion heated up, a number of powerful and influential people naturally saw the news as well.
Any family with a bit of spare cash subscribed to a newspaper to stay informed and keep up with the latest trends.
But this morning’s trend was a little too uniform.
The ambitious saw an opportunity; the idle just watched the show.
In a certain large compound, the Xiao Family residence.
The servants all kept their heads down, wishing they had thick feathers to hide their heads in. The atmosphere was just too oppressive.
"What exactly is going on?"
"Third in the nation, first-year finance major... isn’t that Jiang Xia?"
An imposing old man sat at the center of a long dining table. In front of him was his daily newspaper, opened to the page about the stolen identity.
"Dad, I’ll take care of it."
Beside the old man sat a middle-aged man. He wore a dark blue Mao suit and his hair was slicked back cleanly. It didn’t make him look old-fashioned; on the contrary, it gave him the mature charm of a "distinguished uncle" type.
The man didn’t explain or make excuses; he simply said he would handle it.
"Keep Xiao Yan in line."
"Yes."
The man lowered his head in acknowledgment as the old man stood up and left, his hands clasped behind his back.
After the old man left, the man elegantly picked up a white napkin, dabbed the corners of his mouth, and rose like a gentleman. He said to the maid standing nearby, "I’m finished."
"Yes, sir."
The maid’s reply was natural. The man walked away with an elegant stride, showing not a single trace of panic.
The others at the table had, at some point, also finished eating. Obvious anger simmered in each of their eyes.
"It’s Aunt again!"
"All she does is cause trouble."
"And little sister is unbelievable. Her family’s Jiang Xia getting third in the nation? Who would believe that!"
A young man and woman complained about their aunt, while a slightly older man, after saying a word about his sister, left with a dark expression on his face.
In the living room, only a beautiful woman remained, sipping her tea quietly. She was dignified and graceful, her posture elegant.
"Go to school."
The woman set down her teacup. The two complaining youths pouted but didn’t dare to argue, grabbing their schoolbags and heading out the door.
As for what they might say once they were outside, the woman inside neither cared nor wanted to.
"Min’er, I’m off to work."
The "distinguished uncle" type from before reappeared from somewhere and walked over to the beautiful woman on the sofa. Like a perfect gentleman, he bent down and kissed her on the forehead, a brief and gentle touch.
"I’m leaving now."
"Alright."
The woman smiled gently, watching her husband leave. Only when he was out of sight did she get up and go upstairs.
A new day had begun.
The man who had left was Xiao Yan’s older brother, Xiao Xian.
And Xiao Yan was Jiang Dongcheng’s current wife—the same Mrs. Jiang who had a small conflict with An Ning the previous night.
At this very moment, in a small villa belonging to the Jiang family, Xiao Yan was in a thundering rage.
In the living room, Jiang Dongcheng knelt by the sofa, letting Xiao Yan beat him over the head with a newspaper.
"Jiang Dongcheng, is this what you meant when you said he was just a bookworm who couldn’t do anything?!"
"Tell me, how did he get someone from the General Administration to vouch for him? Tell me, why are all five of Beijing’s newspapers running his story today?!"
"Answer me!"
Xiao Yan had expected this to cause a bit of a stir, but she never imagined it would blow up to this magnitude.
Ever since An Ning left last night, the situation had spiraled completely out of her control.
’The newspapers... The Xiao Family reads the paper every day. Doesn’t that mean...?’
"Ma’am, the eldest son of the Xiao family has arrived."
After the maid at the door finished speaking, Xiao Yan quickly fixed her hair, then pulled out her makeup bag to touch up her face.
"Get up! Haven’t you caused enough embarrassment?!"
Jiang Dongcheng scrambled to his feet and began tidying the scattered newspapers.
Just as they both finished tidying up, Xiao Xian walked in—not a second too early, not a second too late.
"Big Brother—"
"Xiao Yan, the Old Master sent me to tell you that this needs to stop."
"Publish an apology in the papers. Say it was a system error. You... can do that, can’t you?"
Though those last few words were phrased as a question, the speed with which Xiao Yan nodded proved it wasn’t really a question at all.
"Good. I want to see it in tomorrow’s papers."
From the moment he entered to the moment he left, Xiao Xian wasn’t there for even two minutes, but he was already long gone.
Inside, Xiao Yan’s eyes were vacant as she stared motionlessly outside.
"Yan’er—"
"Don’t call me that!"
Xiao Yan’s expression changed in a second. She glared viciously at Jiang Dongcheng, not a trace of affection visible.
But Jiang Dongcheng acted as if he didn’t see it, simply apologizing over and over.
"I’m sorry. I handled this badly. I don’t know how that damn brat managed it."
"He has some money, but it’s mostly in fixed assets!"
"I really wanted to get rid of—"
"Jiang Dongcheng, have you lost your mind?!"
Xiao Yan’s voice suddenly rose, making Jiang Dongcheng realize he had said too much.
Xiao Yan looked at the useless Jiang Dongcheng, and in a fit of rage that had nowhere else to go, she kicked him away.
"Get out!"