Chapter 435 - 225: Robbery, and Robbery Again

Chapter 435: Chapter 225: Robbery, and Robbery Again

The Xiao Family Courtyard!

When Su Chen arrived, Elder Xiao was in the dining room eating breakfast. Sitting beside him was a figure Su Chen found rather unexpected.

"Brother Cheen~ why are you back? Didn’t you say it would take at least a month or two?"

Su Chen hadn’t expected Xiao Chen to be back in the Imperial Capital. He wondered if the business on Zheng Island was finished; after all, less than half a month had passed.

Just as Su Chen was wondering if something had gone wrong on Zheng Island, Xiao Chen spoke up.

"The project at the Zheng Island industrial park has entered a top-secret phase. The higher-ups sent in a professional security and confidentiality department to take over. It wasn’t appropriate for me to stay there any longer."

Su Chen nodded thoughtfully at his words. He knew that while Xiao Chen’s men were combat-hardened elites, they lacked experience when it came to maintaining secrecy.

Besides, the Xiao family had already secured the largest slice of the pie. If they tried to swallow it all without sharing, it would inevitably look greedy.

Pulling up a chair, Su Chen sat to one side and quietly watched the grandfather and grandson eat.

Perhaps it was because Su Chen was sitting there, but both Elder Xiao and Xiao Chen started eating much faster.

"Let’s go. To the study." After swallowing his last bite of porridge, Elder Xiao wiped his mouth with a napkin and rose, heading for the study.

At this, Su Chen stood up, gave Xiao Chen a nod and a look that said, "Take your time," then hurried to catch up.

He followed Elder Xiao directly to the reception hall in the central courtyard. As soon as Su Chen sat down, he saw the elder pull a small canister of tea from beneath the tea table.

Su Chen glanced under the table and saw a designated spot for tea where a dozen or so exquisitely decorated canisters were arranged. Each one was labeled with the name of the tea, and a single look at the names told him they were all of fine quality.

"Well now, Master Xiao, you have quite a private stash of fine tea here!" As Su Chen spoke, he reached out to grab a canister for a closer look.

But... just as his hand was halfway there, SLAP! Elder Xiao swatted it away.

"You have some nerve asking for my tea, you brat. I still haven’t settled the score with you for taking my Wuyi Mountain Da Hong Pao last time!" Elder Xiao shot Su Chen an annoyed glare.

"Listen to you, Master Xiao. You’re the one who promised to give it to me. How can you go back on your word? Aren’t you afraid of being laughed at if this gets out?"

At these words, Elder Xiao opened his mouth to retort, but a flash of annoyance crossed his eyes. He really had spoken too rashly back then, and as a result, his entire private stock of exquisite Wuyi Mountain Da Hong Pao—his "personal rations"—had been plundered by that little rascal Su Chen!

Elder Xiao snorted, ignoring Su Chen, and began preparing the tea himself.

With a series of fluid, practiced motions—warming the pot, adding the leaves, pouring, scraping, and rinsing—the ceremony unfolded. In moments, the rich aroma of tea began to waft from the fairness pitcher in the elder’s hands. The scent alone made Su Chen feel a sense of profound comfort.

Elder Xiao poured two cups, then set down the pitcher and picked up his own cup to drink.

Seeing this, Su Chen smiled and took the other cup. He blew on it gently before taking a sip.

"You didn’t call me over this early just to drink tea, did you, Master Xiao?" ’Though Su Chen had a good idea what this was about, he had to give the elder an opening to speak.’

Elder Xiao was far too experienced to miss Su Chen’s little ploy. He shot him a glance, then called out softly, "Huang Feng, bring the items over."

"Yes, sir!" A voice answered from behind the door. By the time Su Chen turned to look, he couldn’t even catch a glimpse of a retreating figure.

"Master Xiao, your guard is like a ghost. It’s a little unnerving."

"A clear conscience fears no knock in the night. Have you done something wrong, you brat?" Elder Xiao teased, looking at Su Chen meaningfully as he held his teacup.

"Please... as if you don’t know perfectly well whether I’ve done anything wrong, Master Xiao," Su Chen retorted nonchalantly.

’This kid...’ Elder Xiao smiled and shook his head. ’He really knows how to push my buttons. What does he mean, "as if you don’t know"? Does he really think I have people watching him?’

’Talk about a persecution complex.’

"You think too much sometimes, you kid. Relax. With me and old man Jiang around, no one will dare to have any untoward ideas about you, no matter how much wealth you accumulate!"

Su Chen nodded silently. He had, in fact, been testing the waters. He had told the elder about his oil field before, and who knew who might get greedy?

Fifty million tons of oil reserves, plus the additional value from natural gas and other byproducts... it was worth over two hundred billion, at the very least. Who wouldn’t covet a cake that massive?

Su Chen wasn’t afraid, though. It wasn’t as if he lacked real power. If anyone truly set their sights on his island in Venezuela, he was more than capable of handling them.

’Once you leave the country, it all comes down to personal ability and backing. I control the IPS Security Company; I don’t believe any of those second or third-generation princelings have the same kind of backbone I do overseas.’

Huang Feng returned quickly, carrying two thick manila folders under his arm. He walked over and placed them directly in front of Su Chen.

Elder Xiao jutted his chin toward the folders, signaling for Su Chen to open them himself.