Chapter 149: Chapter 149: Kneel down to me quickly
At this moment, even a pig could guess that all of this must have been done by Su Tianhao.
Even if Old Madam Su usually dotes on Su Tianhao, after the fiasco with the Xu Family's collaboration coming to light, there's no way Old Madam Su would still indulge him.
"Grandma, please listen to my explanation!" Su Tianhao trembled all over, his face ashen.
It was the first time he had ever witnessed Old Madam Su get thunderously angry with him, and Su Tianhao was terrified beyond belief.
Especially since Old Madam Su had just called out his full name in her outburst, whereas she normally referred to him simply as Tianhao.
"Explanation? What do you intend to explain to me? Are you going to say that Miss Xu slandered you?"
Old Madam Su was so furious she could have blown smoke out of her nostrils. She had never imagined that for such an important collaboration with the Xu Family, Su Tianhao would dare to substitute inferior products for good ones.
The nature of the deed was truly despicable!
The Su Family was in business, and in business, one must value reputation. Once the golden signboard was smashed, it wouldn't be long before the reputation soured within the circle.
Although Old Madam Su didn't spare any efforts in suppressing Su Ruoxue to support Su Tianhao on normal days, on this matter, she had her principles, and her bottom line could not be touched.
Scolded coldly by Old Madam Su, Su Tianhao was so scared that tears nearly streamed down his face: "Grandma, I was wrong, grandma, your grandson knows he made a mistake!"
Su Tianhao was not a fool either; he knew it was better to outright admit his wrongdoings than to continue being stubborn. If Old Madam Su found stubbornness in the face of her inquiries, it would result in an even worse fate for him.
"You... you... Did you really do this vile deed!" Seeing his reaction, Old Madam Su's eyes darkened with rage.
With a pale face, Su Tianhao said, "Grandma, your grandson was momentarily blinded by greed, it wasn't intentional!"
According to his understanding, the Xu Family, being large and influential, primarily used the high-end cosmetic products ordered from the Su Family for internal family members and company staff.
In Su Tianhao's view, those who weren't professionals couldn't possibly distinguish whether the cosmetics were high-end or not. But he had never anticipated that Xu Ruoxuan would discover his petty ploy right from the first delivery.
"You... you..."
Staring at Su Tianhao, Old Madam Su was so angry she could hardly breathe. She could never have imagined that Su Tianhao would dare to commit such an act.
The Xu Family emerged as a Super Family Clan within Central Plains in recent years, rapidly rising to prominence among the numerous established families, known for their credibility in business.
The Xu Family suddenly defaulting on an eighty million yuan payment to the Su Family left Old Madam Su utterly baffled.
Who could have expected that Su Tianhao would have the audacity to replace their products with inferior ones and even get exposed by the Xu Family?
"Grandma!"
Seeing Old Madam Su about to collapse to the ground, Su Yue, frightened, quickly stepped forward to support her.
After being steadied by Su Yue, Old Madam Su turned to Xu Ruoxuan and said, "I apologize, Miss Xu, for my lack of guidance with my grandson, causing you such embarrassment! Please take back this cheque."
Knowing that the fault lay with the Su Family and not the Xu Family, even with the thickest of skins, Old Madam Su couldn't justify keeping the money.
The most important thing was that Old Madam Su hoped to resolve the conflict amicably, urging Xu Ruoxuan not to talk about this incident elsewhere. Otherwise, if Xu Ruoxuan were to spread the word, the Su Family's reputation would surely be sullied, affecting their future business prospects.
"Old Madam, I, Xu Ruoxuan, am neither a stray cat nor a stray dog, and my Xu Family is certainly not in dire need of this one billion. This is the lawyer's letter from my Xu Family!" Xu Ruoxuan immediately pulled out a lawyer's letter.
Seeing Xu Ruoxuan take out a lawyer's letter, Old Madam Su's face instantly lost all color.
She remembered clearly that the contract signed with the Xu Family stipulated a tenfold compensation for fraud. If Xu Ruoxuan truly decided to sue the Su Family, didn't that mean the Su Family would have to compensate the Xu Family eight billion yuan?
Currently, the Su Family assets didn't even amount to eight billion yuan. If Xu Ruoxuan were determined to sue, wouldn't the Su Family face immediate bankruptcy?
"Lawyer's... lawyer's letter?"
Staring at the lawyer's letter in Xu Ruoxuan's hands, Su Tianhao felt like his soul was about to fly away in fright.
He knew that if the Xu Family decided to move against the Su Family, the Su Family was likely doomed.
Originally, he had simply wanted to sell inferior goods for some easy money, never expecting things to escalate to such an extent.
Old Madam Su turned her gaze toward Su Tianhao and roared again, "Look what a great job you've done!"
"Grandma!" Su Tianhao was so scared that he felt as if he might lose his soul.
The next second, Old Madam Su humbly said, "Miss Xu, I am truly very sorry. Considering that my husband and your grandfather are old acquaintances, please take back this lawyer's letter!"
"Heh heh!"
Hearing this, Xu Ruoxuan let out an enigmatic chuckle. "Elder Master Su is indeed an old acquaintance of my grandfather. It is precisely because of this relationship that I have not exposed this matter earlier and, in doing so, essentially gave your Su Family an opportunity. Alas, your Su Family failed to seize it, repeatedly treating our Xu Family as fools to be toyed with!"
"To be frank, ever since I took the helm of the Xu Family, no one has dared to disrespect us. Your Su Family is the first, and if we let this go just like that, won't others feel they can walk all over me, Xu Ruoxuan, in the future?"
Her attitude was incredibly firm; it was clear that Xu Ruoxuan intended to use the Su Family as a warning to others.
"This..."
Old Madam Su was dumbfounded, simply clueless about how to counter.
For businesspeople, personal relationships are one thing, but rules are rules. Anyone who dares to break them must pay a dear price.
The Xu Family is a Super Family Clan from Central Plains. Many wish to collaborate with the Xu Family in the cosmetics field. It was because her husband and Xu Ruoxuan's grandfather were old friends that the Xu Family gave the Su Family the opportunity to collaborate, without foreseeing that Su Tianhao would pocket the profits for himself, grievously offending the Xu Family.
"Ye Fan, what is your relationship with Xu Ruoxuan?" Su Ruoxue asked in a hushed tone.
Ye Fan replied in surprise, "It was our first meeting last time, and counting this time, the second. It's nothing special. Why do you ask, Ruo Xue?"
"Xu Ruoxuan is tough and decisive. If she sets her heart on giving the Su Family trouble to make an example out of us to Central Plains, the Su Family is surely finished. I was thinking, if you're on okay terms with Xu Ruoxuan, maybe you could say a word on our behalf!" Su Ruoxue said, furrowing her brow.
Ye Fan was startled, then he understood.
As far as he was concerned, whether or not the Su Family would collapse had little to do with him. But to Su Ruoxue, the Su Family carried significant importance.
She had grown up in the Su Family, and before Elder Master Su fell ill, he regarded her as the Su Family heir. In her heart, she naturally hoped the Su Family would continue to prosper and not crumble.
For Su Ruoxue's sake, Ye Fan coughed and said, "Miss Xu, 'tis a virtue to forgive. The blame rests solely with Su Tianhao; there's no need to implicate the entire Su Family!"
"Yes, Miss Xu, all the fault lies with Su Tianhao alone!" Old Lady Su chimed in as well.
To save the Su Family, she was willing to sacrifice Su Tianhao.
"Grandma!"
Upon hearing Old Lady Su's words, Su Tianhao felt chilled to the bone, his face ashen.
With her exceptional intelligence, Xu Ruoxuan studied Ye Fan with her beautiful eyes for a moment before she smiled and said, "Mr. Ye is correct, there's no need to involve the entire Su Family. But shouldn't the Su Family show some form of remorse? Otherwise, wouldn't I be swallowing a bitter pill in silence?"
"Old Madam, do you hear that? Miss Xu wants a gesture of goodwill from the Su Family!" Ye Fan said with a smirk, turning to Old Madam Su.
With a grave expression, Su Ruoxue also spoke up, "Grandma, at this point, we must think of the bigger picture!"
"I understand!"
Under the watchful eyes of all present, Old Madam Su took a deep breath. Her aged eyes turned icy as she looked toward Su Tianhao in his wheelchair and shouted, "You scoundrel, kneel before me immediately!"