After weighing the options, Jiang Cheng decided he could join forces with them.
Although he had the Security Team rewarded by the system,
the Security Team excelled at handling matters best kept off the books.
The fight against Wen Ang, however, hinged on social connections and family clout.
By allying with them, Jiang Cheng could have their families pool their influence to besiege Wen Ang's clan.
He himself would only need to supply trade secrets from behind the scenes.
This way Jiang Cheng could reap the gains without expending much effort.
Besides, this industry was a huge cake—no one could swallow it alone.
Remember, a single hand can't clap; apart from Jiang Cheng, any one of their families alone would struggle to intervene.
It was a cross-industry move, after all, yet when the profit was big enough they would swarm in regardless.
If Jiang Cheng entered the new industry solo, other families would surely gang up on him.
So why not let them shoulder the upfront pressure and risk for him?
Look closely and you'd see the difference between having family backing and having none.
Jiang Cheng knew his own background was extraordinary,
his grandfather held a high post,
but he never flaunted that in business.
He could have crushed Wang Hao outright in their duel,
but that had been an arm-wrestling match in the same arena.
In reality, people with such backgrounds keep the lowest profile possible.
Jiang Cheng was no arrogant Second-Generation Official yelling 'My dad is Wang Gang'.
He would never dig a pit for his grandfather.
Those five words—'My dad is Wang Gang'—torpedoed that man's entire political career,
and scattered the power behind their clan.
Ever since, every great family has learned the terror of public opinion.
What they fear now isn't rival competition,
but heirs who are the kind of idiot Second-generation rich or Officials.
In the internet age, once online opinion is stirred,
it can obliterate the status parents and grandparents spent a lifetime building.
After all, the road of capital accumulation hides plenty that must stay unseen.
Most downfalls of privileged second gens follow the same script.
If a family wants to last, many things can't be brought into daylight.
Jiang Cheng was glad he remained a 404 existence.
Most offspring of high-ranking elders are 404 before inheriting office.
Right now 404 was protection for Jiang Cheng,
freeing him to do whatever he wished.
Qi Yuan, on the other hand, could not.
His family forbade him from commerce and even forced him to finish Military Training.
If rivals caught him skirting duty, trouble would rain on the Qi family.
Transparency grants an extra halo,
but it also brings many restrictions.
After further thought, Jiang Cheng feared another slip if he deployed the Security Team again.
Last time he'd terminated Hao Liang, Lin Yang had already noticed.
Any future move would need a far stealthier plan.
Harnessing their families' power in a united front was the safest, easiest way.
Wang Congcong: "@Jiang Cheng, what do you think?"
Qi Yuan: "I really envy you guys for being able to mess around; my life's dull and routine."
Wang Zheng: "We're just small fry hustling for a living."
Qi Yuan: "Cut the crap."
Jiang Cheng: "If you're interested, gather some useful intel first; we'll talk in detail after you sort it."
Chen Hao: "No problem!"
Wang Zheng: "No problem!"
Qin Fen: "No problem!"
Actually Wang Congcong had no interest, but seeing Jiang Cheng's enthusiasm he decided to follow along.
Wang Congcong: "No problem!"
Seeing Jiang Cheng busy texting, An Xin didn't disturb him; she quietly spoon-fed Annie with a small bowl.
The three of them together looked like a cozy little family.
Unusually, Annie didn't interrupt Jiang Cheng either.
Only after Jiang Cheng set down his phone did she ask, "Big Brother Jiang Cheng, are you going back to Chengdu for National Day?"
Jiang Cheng thought for a moment. "Not sure yet. Aren't you studying in Modu?"
"Yeah, but Mom says Grandpa wants us home for the holiday."
An Xin said helplessly, "Annie used to study in Chengdu, but Dad kept arranging blind dates for me, so I simply stayed here for peace and quiet. Lately he misses Annie, so I plan to take her home for National Day."
Jiang Cheng nodded, suddenly realizing his own parents hadn't contacted him for days.
He could schedule a trip home—Modu to Chengdu was only a three-hour flight, and this year Mid-Autumn Festival fell right before National Day, giving a long break.
Though Jiang Cheng could go home anytime now, his parents didn't know that, and he intended to keep it that way.
After Wang Congcong and company donated ten million yuan to the university in his name, Jiang Cheng had gained free rein to start a business on campus.
"I might consider heading back."
"Really, Big Brother Jiang Cheng? Then I'll still hang out with you!" Annie said excitedly.
"If you behave, I'll play with you."
"I'll be super good."
As they talked, An Xin picked out another steamed abalone for Jiang Cheng.
He glanced at the dish that showed up at every banquet.
Today's abalone was simple: scrubbed clean on both sides, patted dry, then gently massaged to soften the flesh.
Once cooked, it was drizzled with a white creamy sauce.
"Try this one—it's different from outside; no seafood taste at all."
Looking at the abalone, Jiang Cheng remembered the card he'd gotten after eating Su Wan's buddha jumps over the wall.
He hadn't used that card yet, but anything the system produced was top-tier!
Cashing out a few hundred million would be child's play.
He wondered if An Xin's shared dish would surprise him this time…