摘要：他坐在红木餐桌的主位上，身后是整面墙的落地窗，窗外是这座城市最璀璨的夜景。
我替元帅守了十年边疆，他却让我退隐，归来才知江山已是我的
那张五千万的支票，就那么轻飘飘地落在了我面前的骨瓷餐盘旁。
像一片羽毛，却砸得我耳膜嗡嗡作响。
“林舟，这十年，辛苦你了。”
岳父陈东海的声音，和他的人一样，沉稳，厚重，带着不容置喙的威严。
他坐在红木餐桌的主位上，身后是整面墙的落地窗，窗外是这座城市最璀璨的夜景。
而我，像个刚刚接受完审判的囚犯。
“这五千万，是你应得的。另外，城西那套别墅，也过到你名下。”
他顿了顿，端起手边的茶盏，轻轻吹了吹浮沫。
“离开心怡，也离开公司。以后，你们就不要再见面了。”
一锤定音。
没有商量，只有通知。
我看着他，这个我叫了十年“爸”的男人，这个我曾经敬若神明的“元帅”。
他的脸上没有一丝波澜，仿佛只是在处理一件再寻常不过的公事。
我身边的妻子，陈心怡，猛地站了起来，椅子在地板上划出刺耳的尖叫。
“爸！你说什么！”
她的声音因为震惊而颤抖。
“你坐下。”陈东海眼皮都未抬一下，“这里没有你说话的份。”
“他是我丈夫！”
“很快就不是了。”
我能感觉到，心怡的身体在发抖，是气的。
而我对面，我的连襟，张浩，嘴角勾起一抹几乎无法察觉的、得意的微笑。
他的妻子，心怡的妹妹陈心悦，则是一脸幸灾乐祸地看着我，仿佛在看一场早就预演好的好戏。
我缓缓地，将目光从那张支票上移开，落回到陈东海的脸上。
我的心，像是被扔进了一片冰海，从里到外，冻得僵硬。
十年。
整整十年。
我替他在非洲那片蛮荒之地开疆拓土，守着集团最危险也最辛苦的“边疆”。
我回来，不是为了这几瓜两枣的赏赐。
我回来，是以为我终于完成了他的考验，可以和心怡过上安稳的日子。
可我等来的，却是“卸磨杀驴”。
不，是“杯酒释兵权”。
他甚至吝啬于给我一杯酒，只用一张冰冷的支票，就要买断我的十年青春，买断我的婚姻，我的一切。
我笑了。
很轻，很轻地笑了一声。
这笑声在死寂的餐厅里，显得格外突兀。
“爸，您这是……什么意思？”
我问，声音平静得连自己都感到意外。
或许，是极致的愤怒，让一切情绪都内敛成了冰。
十年前，我还是个一无所有的穷小子。
在大学里，我遇见了陈心怡。
她是那种走在人群里会发光的女孩，家境优渥，却善良、单纯，没有丝毫骄矜之气。
我们相爱了。
爱得纯粹，爱得热烈。
毕业后，我带她去见我的父母。
在那个破旧的筒子楼里，我爸妈局促不安，拿出了他们认为最好的东西来招待她。
心怡没有丝毫嫌弃，她吃得津津有味，还挽着我妈的胳膊，小声说着话，逗得我妈笑个不停。
那一刻，我发誓，我一定要给她最好的生活。
然后，我去见了她的父亲，陈东海。
那是我第一次见到这位商界传奇。
他坐在巨大的办公桌后，像一尊山。
他没有像电视剧里的恶俗岳父那样，直接用钱砸我，让我离开他的女儿。
他的手段，要高明得多。
他仔仔细细地看了我的简历，听我讲了我的职业规划。
然后，他点点头，说：“年轻人，有想法是好事。但光有想法，没有实力，你给不了心怡幸福。”
我握紧了拳头，说：“给我时间，我会证明自己。”
“好。”他笑了，那笑容里带着一丝我当时看不懂的深意，“我给你一个机会。”
他给了我一个“机会”。
一个去非洲开拓市场的机会。
那时候，陈氏集团的业务全在国内，海外市场一片空白。
所有人都知道，那是个吃力不讨好的苦差事。
资源匮乏，环境恶劣，政策不稳，甚至……有生命危险。
集团内部，没人愿意去。
他把这个“机会”给了我。
“十年。”
他伸出一根手指。
“我给你十年时间。如果你能在非洲为集团打下一片江山，我就把心怡，真正地交给你。”
“这十年里，你们可以结婚，但我不会为你们办婚礼，也不会公开承认你这个女婿。”
“你做出的所有成绩，都归集团所有，你只拿你该拿的薪水。”
“你，愿意吗？”
那是一种居高临下的审视，一种带着施舍意味的考验。
我看着他，然后，我回头，看到了站在办公室门口，眼中含泪的心怡。
她对我摇着头。
她不想我去。
但我知道，我没有选择。
这是一个男人唯一的出路。
想要赢得尊重，想要配得上他心爱的女人，就必须拿出与之匹配的实力。
“我愿意。”
我听见自己斩钉截铁的声音。
就这样，我和心怡领了证。
没有婚礼，没有祝福，只有一本薄薄的红本子。
领证后的第三天，我登上了飞往非洲的飞机。
那十年，是怎么过来的？
刚到非洲的时候，我水土不服，上吐下泻，差点死在那个租来的小破公寓里。
是当地一个好心的中餐馆老板救了我。
为了拉到第一个订单，我顶着四十多度的高温，在尘土飞扬的路上跑了整整一个月。
皮鞋磨破了底，衬衫被汗水浸透，又被太阳晒干，泛着白色的盐渍。
我被人用枪指过头。
因为当地的部落冲突，我的仓库被付之一炬，半年的心血化为乌有。
我得过疟疾，高烧不退，在生死线上徘徊。
那些最难熬的夜里，支撑我活下去的，只有手机里心怡的照片，和她断断续续的越洋电话。
电话里，她总是哭。
“林舟，回来吧，我们不要了，我什么都不要，我只要你。”
我每次都笑着安慰她。
“快了，心怡，就快了。”
“等我打下这座‘城’，我就回去娶你，给你办一个全世界最盛大的婚礼。”
我咬着牙，把所有的血和泪，都吞进肚子里。
我用三年的时间，站稳了脚跟。
我用五年的时间，打开了市场。
我用八年的时间，让陈氏集团的牌子，成了那片土地上最响亮的中国品牌。
第十年，我一手建立的非洲分公司，年利润已经占据了整个陈氏集团的半壁江山。
我做到了。
我带着一身的疲惫和满心的荣耀，回来了。
我以为，我终于可以卸下铠甲，回到我的爱人身边。
我以为，我的“元帅”，会亲自为我接风洗尘，拍着我的肩膀说：“好小子，没让我失望。”
回国那天，机场里，只有心怡一个人。
她扑进我怀里，哭得像个孩子。
我抱着她消瘦的肩膀，心疼得无以复加。
“我回来了，以后再也不走了。”我承诺道。
我没有等到接风宴。
第二天，我回到集团总部，准备交接工作。
迎接我的，是冷漠和疏离。
我曾经熟悉的那些高管，如今看到我，眼神都有些躲闪。
而我的连襟，张浩，却被一群人簇拥着，意气风发。
我这才知道，在我去非洲的这十年里，张浩娶了心怡的妹妹陈心悦，也进了公司。
他负责的是国内市场。
一个成熟的、稳定的、几乎不可能亏钱的市场。
可我拿到的财报却显示，国内业务的利润，正在逐年下滑。
董事会上，我指出了国内市场存在的几个致命问题，并提出了改革方案。
我话音未落，张浩就阴阳怪气地开了口。
“林总监，您在非洲待久了，可能不太了解国内的情况。”
“您那套在非洲用的野路子，在我们这儿，可不一定行得通。”
我皱了皱眉。
我看向主位上的陈东海。
他只是端着茶杯，面无表情，一言不发。
那一刻，我心里“咯噔”一下。
一种不祥的预感，开始蔓延。
接下来的日子，这种预感越来越强烈。
我被架空了。
我的职位是非洲区兼集团总监，听起来位高权重。
但实际上，我提的任何建议，都会被以各种理由驳回。
我想要调动的人，一个也动不了。
反而，张浩的人，一个个被安插进关键部门。
他用着我从非洲赚回来的钱，去填补他捅下的窟窿，去收买人心，去巩固他自己的势力。
而陈东海，我那位英明神武的“元帅”，对此，视而不见。
他甚至在一次高层会议上，当众表扬了张浩，说他“沉稳干练，顾全大局”。
所有人都听得出来，这是在敲打我。
是在警告我这个“外人”，不要功高震主。
心怡为我打抱不平。
“爸！你怎么能这样对林舟！非洲分公司是他拿命换来的！”
陈东海只是冷冷地回了一句。
“没有集团，他什么都不是。”
是啊，没有集团，我什么都不是。
可没有我，集团的半壁江山，又在哪里？
我开始明白，我不是归来的功臣。
我是一头被养肥了，即将被宰杀的羊。
或者说，我是一把太过锋利的刀。
“元帅”觉得，我这把刀，已经开始威胁到他了。
他需要一把更听话、更钝的刀。
比如，张浩。
所以，就有了今天这顿“鸿门宴”。
他要收回我的“兵权”，还要夺走我的爱人。
他要将我彻底打回原形，让我从这个家里，从这个集团里，滚出去。
思绪回到眼前。
餐厅里的空气，已经凝固。
心怡的眼泪，像断了线的珠子，滚落下来。
“爸，你不能这么做……你答应过我的……”
“我答应你的，是给他一个机会。他抓住了，我也给了他回报。”
陈东海指了指那张支票。
“五千万，加一套别墅。对于一个出身普通的人来说，这辈子够了。我没有亏待他。”
多么理直气壮。
多么……无耻。
张浩清了清嗓子，假惺惺地开口。
“姐夫，爸也是为你好。你看你，在非洲辛苦了十年，也该歇歇了。”
“公司的事，你就别操心了。我会处理好的。”
他看着我，眼神里充满了胜利者的炫耀。
仿佛在说：你看，你拼死拼活又怎么样？最后，这一切，还不都是我的？
我终于明白了。
为什么我一回来，张浩就处处针对我。
为什么陈东海对我如此忌惮。
因为我触动了他们的根本利益。
张浩需要我的位置，来掩盖他的无能，来攫取更大的权力。
而陈东海，他需要的不是一个能干的女婿，而是一个听话的赘婿。
我的能力，成了我的原罪。
我的功劳，成了我的催命符。
我慢慢地站起身。
所有人的目光都聚焦在我身上。
我没有去看那张支票，也没有去看陈东海。
我伸出手，轻轻地，为心怡擦去脸上的泪水。
“别哭。”
我的声音很温柔。
“这点小事，不值得。”
心怡愣住了，她看着我，眼神里充满了担忧和不解。
我冲她笑了笑，一个让她安心的笑容。
然后，我转过身，正视着陈东海。
“爸。”
我又叫了他一声。
“这十年来，我一直把您当成我的亲生父亲一样尊敬。”
“您说东，我绝不往西。”
“您让我去非洲，我就去了。”
“您说十年，我就待了十年，一天都没有少。”
我的声音很平静，像是在叙述一件与自己无关的事情。
“我以为，人心是肉长的。”
“我以为，我的付出，您能看在眼里。”
“现在看来，是我太天真了。”
陈东海的脸色沉了下来。
“你说够了没有？”
“没有。”
我摇了摇头，嘴角的笑意，渐渐变冷。
“我只是想问您几个问题。”
“第一，您说，这五千万，是我应得的。我想问问，这是什么钱？是我的遣散费？还是买断我婚姻的费用？”
“第二，您说，让我离开公司。我想问问，我现在的职位，是非洲区总裁兼集团总监。这个职位，是您当初亲口任命的。您现在一句话，就要我走人。请问，符合公司的哪条规定？董事会同意了吗？”
“第三，也是最重要的一点。”
我的目光，变得锐利如刀，直刺他的内心。
“您让我离开心怡。请问，您凭什么？我们是合法夫妻，受法律保护。您这是……在干涉婚姻自由吗？”
我的话，一字一句，像一颗颗钉子，钉进了这死寂的空气里。
陈东海的脸色，由阴沉，转为铁青。
他没想到，我这个在他眼里一向顺从的“工具”，竟然敢当面质问他。
“放肆！”
他一拍桌子，茶杯里的水溅了出来。
“林舟，你别给脸不要脸！”
“我给你这条路走，是看得起你！别逼我用别的手段！”
“别的手段？”我冷笑一声，“比如呢？找人打断我的腿？还是让我从这个世界上消失？”
“你！”陈东海气得手指都在发抖。
“姐夫，你怎么能这么跟爸说话！”张浩立刻跳出来，扮演他的孝子贤孙，“爸也是为了你好，为了我们这个家好！”
“为了这个家好？”
我像是听到了天大的笑话。
“张总，我倒想请教一下。”
我转向他，目光如炬。
“我回国这两个月，你主管的国内业务部，亏损了多少？为了填上这个窟窿，你从集团账上，挪用了多少非洲分公司的利润？”
“你……你胡说八道！”张浩的脸色瞬间白了。
“我胡说？”
我从口袋里，拿出手机，点开一份文件。
“这是非洲分公司近三年的财务报表，以及集团总部的资金流向明细。”
“每一笔钱，从哪里来，到哪里去，都清清楚楚。”
“张总，需要我当着大家的面，念给你听听吗？”
张浩的额头上，渗出了冷汗。
他没想到，我手里竟然有这么详细的账目。
这些账目，都是我这十年，一笔一笔亲手做出来的。
每一个数字背后，都是我的心血。
我怎么可能不清楚？
“还有你。”
我看向一直没说话，只顾着看热闹的陈心悦。
“你名下那几家奢侈品店，每个月的流水，和你从公司拿的分红，对得上吗？你老公用公司的钱给你买的那些爱马仕，要不要我帮你算算，够判几年？”
陈心悦的脸，也“刷”地一下白了。
她张了张嘴，一个字也说不出来。
整个餐厅，鸦雀无声。
只剩下陈东海粗重的喘息声。
他死死地盯着我，眼神里充满了震惊、愤怒，还有一丝……我从未见过的惊惧。
他大概从来没有想过，他眼里的那只绵羊，身体里竟然藏着一头猛虎。
“林舟……”
心怡拉了拉我的衣角，她的眼神里，既有解气，又有担忧。
我拍了拍她的手，示意她放心。
今天，我不是来吵架的。
我是来摊牌的。
我把手机收了起来，重新看向陈东海。
“爸，我今天来，不是为了跟您算账。”
“我只是想告诉您一件事。”
“这个家，这家公司，不是您一个人的。”
“我林舟，也不是您召之即来，挥之即去的家臣。”
我拿起桌上那张支票，当着所有人的面，慢慢地，将它撕成了两半。
然后，是四半，八半……
碎纸屑，像雪花一样，从我指尖飘落。
“您的钱，我一分都不会要。”
“我的东西，您一分也别想拿走。”
我的目光，平静而坚定。
“非洲分公司，是我一手创立的。按照我们十年前签下的那份协议，它的股权结构，是独立的。”
我看着陈东海的眼睛，一字一顿地说道。
“我，林舟，拥有非洲分公司百分之五十一的控股权。”
“什么？！”
这一次，惊叫出声的，是张浩。
陈东海的瞳孔，也猛地收缩。
那份协议……
是的，是有那么一份协议。
十年前，为了激励我，也为了规避当时对非投资的政策风险，陈东海和我签了一份协议。
协议规定，新成立的非洲公司，是一家独立的子公司。
集团总部提供启动资金，占股百分之四十九。
而我，作为创始人兼法人代表，以技术和管理入股，占股百分之五十一。
协议还规定，十年内，子公司所有利润归集团所有。
十年后，股权归属不变，但利润分配方式，需要重新协商。
当时，所有人都觉得，这是一个空头支票。
谁也不相信，我能在那片鸟不拉屎的地方，做出什么名堂。
陈东海大概也早就忘了这份协议的存在。
在他的认知里，整个集团，都是他的。
我，以及我创造的一切，自然也都是他的。
“你……你……”
陈东海指着我，嘴唇哆嗦着，说不出话来。
他终于意识到，他眼里的这只绵羊，不仅有獠牙，还有一张他亲手颁发的“护身符”。
“爸，您别激动。”
我语气平缓，仿佛在安慰他。
“我并没有想过要用这份协议来做什么。”
“我回来，只是想和心怡好好过日子，继续为集团效力。”
“但是，您今天的所作所为，太让我失望了。”
我摇了摇头，眼中满是疲惫。
“既然您觉得，我是个外人，是个威胁。”
“那好。”
“从今天起，非洲分公司，正式脱离陈氏集团，独立运营。”
“集团之前投入的启动资金，我会连本带息，双倍奉还。”
“从此以后，我们两不相欠。”
我说完，拉起心怡的手。
“我们走。”
心怡还处于巨大的震惊之中，她呆呆地看着我，又看了看她脸色惨白的父亲，任由我拉着她往外走。
“站住！”
身后，传来陈东海嘶哑的吼声。
“林舟，你敢！”
我停下脚步，但没有回头。
“您看我，敢不敢。”
我丢下这句话，再不停留，拉着心怡，走出了这个让我压抑了十年的家。
走出别墅大门，晚风吹在脸上，带着一丝凉意。
我长长地，呼出了一口气。
那口憋在胸中十年的浊气，仿佛在这一刻，才终于吐了出来。
“林舟……”
心怡的声音在我身边响起，带着哭腔。
“你……你刚才说的，都是真的吗？非洲公司……”
我转过身，捧起她的脸。
她的眼睛又红又肿，像一只受惊的小兔子。
我心疼地吻了吻她的额头。
“是真的。”
“那份协议，我一直收着。”
“那是我的底牌，也是我的护身符。”
“我本来，一辈子都不想用上它。”
我看着她，认真地说。
“心怡，对不起。让你受委屈了。”
心怡的眼泪，又流了下来。
但这一次，她却笑了。
她紧紧地抱住我，把头埋在我的胸口。
“不，我没有受委"You... you..." Chen Donghai pointed at me, his lips trembling, unable to speak.
He finally realized that the sheep in his eyes not only had fangs but also a "talisman" that he had personally issued.
"Dad, don't get excited."
My tone was calm, as if I were comforting him.
"I never thought of using this agreement to do anything."
"I came back just to live a good life with Xinyi and continue to serve the group."
"But, what you did today disappointed me too much."
I shook my head, my eyes full of exhaustion.
"Since you think I'm an outsider, a threat."
"Alright then."
"From today on, the African branch will officially separate from the Chen Group and operate independently."
"I will return the initial investment from the group, with double the interest."
"From now on, we owe each other nothing."
After I finished speaking, I took Xinyi's hand.
"Let's go."
Xinyi was still in a state of great shock. She looked at me blankly, then at her pale-faced father, and let me pull her out.
"Stop!"
Behind me, came Chen Donghai's hoarse roar.
"Lin Zhou, you dare!"
I stopped, but didn't turn back.
"Watch me."
I threw down these words and, without stopping, pulled Xinyi and walked out of this home that had suppressed me for ten years.
Walking out of the villa gate, the evening breeze blew on my face, carrying a hint of coolness.
I let out a long, deep breath.
The stale air that had been stuck in my chest for ten years seemed to finally be released at this moment.
"Lin Zhou..."
Xinyi's voice sounded beside me, choked with sobs.
"You... everything you just said, is it true? The African company..."
I turned around and cupped her face in my hands.
Her eyes were red and swollen, like a frightened little rabbit.
I kissed her forehead tenderly.
"It's true."
"I've always kept that agreement."
"It's my trump card, and my talisman."
"I originally never wanted to use it in my life."
I looked at her and said seriously.
"Xinyi, I'm sorry. I've made you suffer."
Xinyi's tears fell again.
But this time, she smiled.
She hugged me tightly, burying her head in my chest.
"No, I haven't suffered. I'm just... I'm just happy."
"Lin Zhou, you finally stood up."
"You don't know how much I've worried these past two months. I was so afraid you'd just keep enduring it, so afraid my dad would really..."
She couldn't continue.
I held her tighter.
"It's alright. It's all over."
"From now on, no one can bully you. No one can bully us."
We stood there, embracing under the streetlights, as if we were the only two people left in the world.
The days that followed were a whirlwind of activity.
As I had declared, I officially initiated the process of separating the African branch from the Chen Group.
Chen Donghai was furious.
He used every means at his disposal to stop me.
He froze the funds I had in the group's domestic accounts.
He tried to pressure the group's board of directors to pass a resolution to remove me from my position.
He even tried to use his connections to create trouble for the African branch's operations.
But he had underestimated me.
And he had underestimated the foundation I had built over the past ten years.
The funds in the domestic accounts? They were just a small part of my assets. Most of the African branch's profits were kept in overseas accounts, which he couldn't touch.
The board of directors? I had already won over several key directors before I returned to the country. They had long been dissatisfied with Zhang Hao's incompetence and Chen Donghai's nepotism. My proposal for independence, which promised them higher returns, was more attractive than staying with a declining Chen Group.
As for the African operations?
That was my territory.
My "border."
Every connection, every channel, every local partner there, only recognized me, Lin Zhou.
They didn't know who Chen Donghai was.
His so-called pressure was like a fist hitting cotton – completely ineffective.
The situation quickly turned into a stalemate.
The Chen Group couldn't control the African branch, and my complete separation was also hindered by various legal procedures.
The entire business world was watching this "father-in-law vs. son-in-law" drama.
The Chen Group's stock price plummeted.
Zhang Hao was in a panic, running around like a headless chicken, making things worse.
And Chen Donghai, my once formidable "Marshal," seemed to have aged ten years overnight.
During this time, Xinyi was my strongest support.
She moved out of the Chen family home with me, and we rented a small apartment.
It was as if we had returned to our college days, poor but happy.
She didn't care about the gossip from the outside world.
She didn't care about her family's accusations of her being "unfilial" and "siding with an outsider."
She just quietly stayed by my side, making soup for me, helping me organize documents.
One night, I was working late, looking at the complex legal documents, and my head was throbbing.
She came over with a cup of hot milk.
"Don't push yourself too hard."
She gently massaged my temples.
I leaned back in my chair and sighed.
"I just don't understand. Why? Why does he have to do this?"
"I treated him like a father. I gave everything for this family. Why does he see me as an enemy?"
This question had been bothering me for a long time.
I could understand his fear of losing control, but his ruthlessness was beyond my comprehension.
Xinyi was silent for a moment.
Then, she said softly, "Because... he's always been like this."
"In his eyes, there is no family, only interests."
"There are no feelings, only tools."
She looked at me, her eyes filled with a sadness I had never seen before.
"Actually, my mom... she didn't die of illness."
I was stunned. "What?"
"She jumped from the top floor of the Chen Group building."
Xinyi's voice was very light, as if she was talking about someone else's story.
"At that time, my dad's business had just started. He needed a large sum of money to expand. He wanted my mom to go back to her family to borrow money."
"My maternal grandfather's family was not optimistic about his business and refused."
"They had a big fight. My dad said a lot of hurtful things, saying my mom was useless, that she couldn't help him at all."
"The next day, my mom jumped."
"After my mom died, my maternal grandfather's family was heartbroken. They gave my dad the money as a form of compensation."
"My dad used that money to build the Chen Group empire."
I listened, completely speechless.
I had always thought that Xinyi's mother had died of an illness. I never imagined there was such a dark and cruel story behind it.
"He never mentioned my mom again. He never even went to visit her grave."
"In his world, anyone who has lost their value, even his wife, can be discarded."
Xinyi looked at me, her eyes red.
"So, Lin Zhou, you don't have to feel sad for him. You don't owe him anything."
"On the contrary, our family owes you."
I held her cold hand, my heart aching.
I finally understood the source of Chen Donghai's coldness and ruthlessness.
He was a man who had built his empire on the bones of his wife.
How could he possibly have any real affection for a son-in-law like me?
In his eyes, I was just a more capable, and therefore more dangerous, tool.
My last bit of respect for him vanished at that moment.
The stalemate lasted for about a month.
Finally, Chen Donghai couldn't hold on any longer.
The group's cash flow was on the verge of breaking. The banks were pressing for loan repayments. The board of directors was in an uproar.
He asked to see me.
Through a lawyer.
We met in a neutral law firm's conference room.
He was much more haggard than the last time I saw him. His hair was grayer, and the arrogance in his eyes had been replaced by deep exhaustion.
Zhang Hao was not there. I heard he had made a huge mess in a project and was now being investigated by the board.
"Let's talk."
Chen Donghai's voice was hoarse.
"What are your conditions?"
He went straight to the point.
I looked at him, the man who was once my "Marshal."
At this moment, he was just a defeated old man.
I didn't feel any pleasure of revenge.
Only a sense of desolation.
"I have no conditions."
I said calmly.
"I just want to take back what belongs to me."
"The African branch must be independent. The equity cannot be changed."
"You want to split the family?" His eyes widened.
"It was you who drew the line first." I retorted.
"The African branch is the group's most profitable asset now! If you take it away, the group will collapse!" He was agitated.
"That's your problem, not mine."
My voice was cold.
"When you enjoyed the profits from Africa, did you ever think about the hardships I endured?"
"When you wanted to kick me out, did you ever think about the group's future?"
He was speechless.
The conference room fell into a long silence.
After a long time, he spoke again, his voice almost pleading.
"Lin Zhou, let's take a step back."
"The African branch can operate independently, but it must remain a subsidiary of the group."
"I can give you more shares in the group. 10%? No, 20%!"
"And I promise, Zhang Hao will be kicked out of the company. You will be the group's CEO."
"You will be the true number two."
He was offering me a deal.
A deal that would have been my dream ten years ago.
But now, in my ears, it was just a joke.
"Number two?"
I smiled.
"Mr. Chen, I think you've misunderstood something."
"I'm not interested in being number two."
He frowned. "What do you mean?"
Just as I was about to speak, the conference room door was pushed open.
My wife, Chen Xinyi, walked in.
She was wearing a sharp professional suit, her hair tied up, her expression calm and composed.
She was no longer the little rabbit who cried in my arms.
She had become a queen.
Behind her was a team of elite lawyers.
"Dad."
She nodded slightly to Chen Donghai, her tone polite but distant.
Then, she walked to my side and sat down.
She placed a thick file on the table.
"I think, before we continue this conversation, you should take a look at this."
Chen Donghai looked at his daughter, then at the file, a look of confusion in his eyes.
His lawyer picked up the file and began to read.
As he read, the lawyer's expression changed dramatically.
From confusion, to shock, to disbelief.
"Mr. Chen... this..."
The lawyer's hand holding the file was trembling.
"What is it?" Chen Donghai asked impatiently.
The lawyer took a deep breath and said in a shaky voice, "Mr. Chen, according to these documents... Ms. Chen Xinyi and Mr. Lin Zhou... they... they have jointly acquired a total of 35% of the group's publicly traded shares through various channels."
"What?" Chen Donghai stood up abruptly.
"And..." the lawyer continued, his voice getting smaller, "Mr. Lin Zhou's 51% stake in the African branch... he has already legally transferred all of it to Ms. Chen Xinyi's name as a gift."
"The African branch's assets are valued at approximately 40% of the entire Chen Group's market capitalization."
"So... in terms of actual equity value..."
The lawyer didn't dare to continue.
But everyone understood.
35% of the parent company's shares.
Plus the equivalent of 40% of the group's total value from the African branch's assets.
Even without complex calculations, it was clear.
My wife, Chen Xinyi, and I.
We had become the absolute controlling shareholders of the entire Chen Group.
The room was deathly silent.
Chen Donghai stared at his daughter, his face ashen.
He looked as if he had seen a ghost.
"Xinyi... you..."
His lips trembled, unable to form a complete sentence.
Xinyi met his gaze, her eyes clear and calm.
"Dad, you taught me this."
"You said that in the business world, there are no permanent friends, only permanent interests."
"You also said that the most reliable thing in the world is the equity in your hands."
She smiled faintly, a smile that was both beautiful and chilling.
"Over the past five years, while you were busy transferring the group's assets to Zhang Hao and Chen Xinyue, I was using my dividends and my mother's inheritance to buy the group's shares on the secondary market."
"You thought I was just a girl who only knew how to shop and travel."
"You never thought that I would do this, did you?"
Chen Donghai collapsed back into his chair, his body limp.
He finally understood.
He had been so focused on guarding against me, this "outsider" son-in-law.
He never imagined that the fatal blow would come from his own daughter.
The daughter he had always overlooked.
I looked at Xinyi beside me, my heart filled with a mix of emotions.
I knew she had been buying shares, but I never thought she had been planning this for so long, and with such precision.
She had built a silent fortress around me, around us.
When her father tried to destroy me, she revealed her impenetrable power.
"So," Xinyi's voice brought my thoughts back.
She looked at her father, who was now completely defeated.
"Dad, the situation is clear now."
"It's not about Lin Zhou leaving the company."
"It's about you... it's time for you to retire."
Retire.
These two words, spoken from his daughter's mouth, were more lethal than any weapon.
It meant the complete denial of his entire life, his entire empire.
"You... you..."
Chen Donghai pointed at us, his face turning from pale to a frightening purple.
"You... usurpers!"
He roared, then suddenly clutched his chest, his face contorted in pain.
He gasped for breath, and then, his body went limp, sliding down from the chair onto the floor.
"Mr. Chen!"
"Dad!"
The conference room descended into chaos.
I looked at Chen Donghai, lying on the ground, his eyes wide with anger and disbelief.
The "Marshal" who had once controlled everything, had fallen.
And I, the soldier he sent to the "border," had returned.
I didn't need to seize his power.
Because when I came back, this empire, this "Jiangshan," was already mine.
Or rather, it was ours.
I held Xinyi's hand tightly. Her hand was cold.
I looked at the chaos in front of me, at the man who was once my father-in-law, now lying helpless on the ground.
We had won.
We had won everything.
But looking at the shattered family relationship and the uncertain future, I suddenly felt a sense of confusion.
I had won the empire, but what had I lost?
And this, was it the end of the battle?
Or was it just the beginning of a new war?
来源：小蔚观世界
