Chapter 323 - 187: Another Phone Call!

Chapter 323: Chapter 187: Another Phone Call!

As evening approached, Su Chen received a call from his third cousin, Chen Peng. He immediately asked where Su Chen was, insisting on treating him to a meal to properly express his gratitude.

"There’s no need for a meal. I’m in Suzhou right now. You should focus on things at the factory for now. We can talk when I come back for the New Year!" Su Chen knew exactly why his cousin was calling—it would just be an endless stream of gratitude.

Chen Peng knew why Su Chen wanted to wait until the New Year. Su Chen wanted to see if he would sink or swim. After all, the path to the processing plant’s future had been completely paved for him. If he still couldn’t make a profit, he wouldn’t have the face to go home for the holiday.

After chatting for a little longer, Su Chen hung up. He had high hopes for Chen Peng—after all, the man had found himself a smart and capable wife.

They say a good wife makes everything easier. He figured he’d see a completely different Chen Peng by the New Year.

’Sigh... Mom’s task is halfway done,’ Su Chen thought, casually tossing his phone aside and stretching languidly.

But his good mood evaporated the moment he thought about his oldest cousin and the man’s two children.

"Old Jiang," Su Chen called out softly, leaning back on the sofa and pinching the bridge of his nose.

Jiang Hui, who was standing nearby, strode over. "Sir, your orders?"

"The task I gave you this afternoon—any word on that yet?" After returning to the Bamboo Garden, Su Chen had arranged for Jiang Hui to investigate his oldest cousin’s whereabouts.

"We have an update," Jiang Hui reported dutifully. "He’s no longer in the country. The intel shows he should be in a small nation in Southeast Asia, but we don’t have his exact location."

After receiving his orders that afternoon, Jiang Hui had contacted Chen Fei. He relayed the details, and in less than an hour, they had information on the oldest cousin, Chen Fan.

"Southeast Asia?" Su Chen was surprised. ’I can’t believe he actually fled the country.’

He let out a long sigh. ’Everyone has their own path to walk,’ he mused. ’For all I know, Chen Fan is thriving abroad.’

Now all that was left was the matter of his eldest uncle and the two children. Chen Peng had mentioned they were planning to return to their hometown. Su Chen knew he had to tell his family first, at least to give them a heads-up.

With that thought, he picked up the phone he had tossed aside earlier and called his mother, Chen Shufen.

It must have been the dinner rush at the hot pot restaurant, because the phone rang for a full thirty seconds before Chen Shufen finally picked up.

The instant the call connected, a shout blasted from the receiver. "What is it? Spit it out! We’re completely swamped here!"

Su Chen rubbed his ear, which felt like it was ringing.

"I’m calling about Eldest Uncle’s and Third Uncle’s families. It’s a bit complicated—not something I can explain in just a few words. Mom, if you’re busy, I can just call back when you’re free!" Su Chen said, already preparing to hang up.

Chen Shufen, on the other end of the line, froze. She knew what her son was capable of; for him to use the phrase "it’s a bit complicated" meant the matter was anything but simple.

Snapping out of it, Chen Shufen quickly said, "Wait a second! Don’t hang up!"

Hearing the dialect spill out, Su Chen knew his mom was taking this seriously.

Sure enough, a burst of noisy chatter soon came through the phone. Su Chen couldn’t make out the words, but it sounded like she was telling someone she had to take a call and to watch the restaurant.

The background noise from the hot pot restaurant faded considerably. After about two minutes, Chen Shufen’s voice came through again.

"Xiaochen, what’s wrong with your Eldest and Third Uncles’ families? Did something happen?" Chen Shufen’s voice was fraught with tension.

Su Chen understood. His mother was the youngest daughter in the Chen family and had been doted on by her older brothers since childhood. They were all very close; otherwise, she wouldn’t have specifically instructed Su Chen to give them a hand.

"Third Uncle’s family is fine. Third Cousin opened a mold processing plant. They just ran into a bit of trouble around the time I visited, and I helped them take care of it. I’ve also set them on the right path for the future."

Su Chen paused after speaking, as if giving Chen Shufen a moment to process the information.

"As for Eldest Uncle’s family..." Su Chen hesitated.

On the other end of the line, Chen Shufen’s heart skipped a beat. ’Did something happen to my big brother’s family?’

"Xiaochen, whatever it is, just say it. You’re making me anxious."

Hearing this, Su Chen didn’t beat around the bush any longer and laid out the whole situation.

"Sigh... It’s actually pretty straightforward. Cousin Chen Fan got addicted to online gambling and lost several hundred thousand. His wife divorced him, and now they’ve both disappeared. The two children are living with Eldest Uncle."

After speaking, Su Chen instinctively held the phone a bit farther from his ear.

Sure enough... a piercing shriek erupted from the phone the very next second.

"What did you say?! Chen Fan is divorced? And the two of them just abandoned their kids and vanished?"

"..."

Once Chen Shufen had vented most of her fury, Su Chen finally spoke. "That’s more or less the situation. Yesterday, I heard from Third Cousin that Eldest Uncle plans to move back to our hometown soon. When he does, I’ll leave it for you to handle, Mom."

Chen Shufen was silent for a long moment before saying, "Fine. I understand."

They talked for a little while longer about how the hot pot restaurant was doing. Su Chen learned from his mother that they had opened a dozen more branches, even expanding into some of the districts and counties surrounding the main metropolitan area.