The three brothers exchanged glances.
"Dad! What did you mean when you said Uncle got something on you? Please, be honest with us! What's going on? Does Uncle know something?"
"It's nothing! This doesn't concern you! Don't ask! The more you know, the easier it is to get into trouble!"
"Dad! The company is on the brink of collapse, and our family is trying hard to hold it together. So whatever happens, you need to tell us—don't let us worry!" Xu Yaowei urged again.
"Dad! I noticed that the company's accounts usually change every September, but this year they didn't. Is it because you..." Xu Yaotian suddenly asked.
Xu Daqiang was taken aback by his sons' questions.
"How did you figure that out?"
"Dad! I handle part of the company's finances. Of course, I can see it! Could Uncle be blackmailing you because he knows about this?"
"Hmm." Xu Daqiang nodded.
"Oh my God! What are you two talking about? What's going on?" Xu Yaowei and Xu Yaoyang asked in unison.
"Quiet! Let me clarify this! Dad, what you just said means there's a spy in our finance team! If there's a spy, it raises questions about our recent losses! I think this is an opportunity!"
Xu Daqiang looked anxiously at his youngest son, then closed his eyes. He felt like he had no opportunity left.
"Third brother, what's really going on?"
"You both listen carefully. This year, the company's tax liability for the first half of the year amounts to 10.2 billion yuan, but Dad hasn't reported or paid it. Uncle probably knows about this and is threatening Dad to hand over the company! So now, Dad can only transfer shares to the three of us to save the company's life! But if this 10.2 billion comes to light, Dad will still have to repay it. At that time, Dad will no longer be a shareholder, but he'll still be responsible for what happened while he was chairman. Do you think our family has that much money? We don't! So if this blows up, Dad will be sent to jail!"
Hearing Xu Yaotian's words, Xu Yaowei and Xu Yaoyang fell silent.
Outside, the two women exchanged shocked glances, unable to believe that such a thing could happen in their own family.
Xu Daqiang suddenly felt sad and began to cry uncontrollably.
Hearing her father's cries, Xu Yiru rushed in.
"Dad! How could this happen? Why is this happening?"
"Daughter! Wife! You heard everything!"
Xiao Wei looked at her husband with concern and nodded. Although he wasn't the man she loved most, he had taken care of her for a lifetime, and now, facing such a crisis, she felt heartbroken.
"I can't take it anymore! I really can't!" Xu Daqiang cried, holding Xu Yiru's head.
Suddenly, Xu Yiru stood up and said to Xu Daqiang, "I won't let you go to jail! I can't let Dad go to jail! 10.2 billion, I'll find a way! I must find a way!" She then turned and ran out.
"Daughter! Where are you going? Eldest, go bring her back!" Xu Daqiang said anxiously.
Hearing his father's words, Xu Yaowei hurried after her, but by the time he got to the courtyard, Xu Yiru had already disappeared. He could only return, feeling defeated.
"Where's your sister?" Xu Daqiang asked worriedly.
"When I went after her, she was already gone, and she didn't pick up my calls!"
"Sigh, why did that girl get so emotional all of a sudden? It's all my fault!"
Xiao Wei walked over to Xu Daqiang, gently stroking his head, and then rested it against her chest, softly saying, "Honey, you won't be in trouble! You won't!"
Hearing Xiao Wei's words, Xu Daqiang felt bewildered. He loved Xiao Wei, but over the years, he had come to realize that she had always had feelings for a man with the last name Song. When he first met that sunny boy next door, he noticed that he looked a lot like the man in her heart! Although the boy's last name was different, Xu Daqiang still felt a pang of anger. Even if the boy was very friendly, he didn't like his children getting too close to him.
"Mom and Dad, we need to stay calm and find a solution to Dad's tax issues first, then we can figure out the rest," Xu Yaoyang spoke up.
"Dad! This time you have to listen to us three brothers! You need to hold onto those shares. Next Friday, there's an auction in the capital organized by the Northern Chamber of Commerce! It'll last for three days, and we must sell off some of the company's enterprises to convert them into cash to cover the tax loopholes. The Xu Group may shrink, but our family of six must not be missing!" Xu Yaowei's words deeply moved Xu Daqiang. He had long realized his mistakes, but he truly wanted to leave something for his children.