Chapter Thirty-Six Mom, Your Chairman Caught It for You

As expected, Qin Muxue’s thoughts were the same as Chen Yang’s. Her brows knitted tightly as she said, “Mom, which Aunt Li are you talking about? Are you sure you haven’t been scammed?”

Han Qin’s expression became serious. “It’s Aunt Li Aifen, the one who used to get along so well with me. You don’t know, after she retired, she got the same pension as me. But today, when she invited me to dinner, she was decked out in gold and jewels.”

“I’m not stupid. I’ve double-checked everything with your Aunt Li before coming to borrow money from you. This isn’t a scam—you have to trust me.”

Seeing Han Qin’s earnest conviction, Qin Muxue’s brows furrowed even tighter.

Qin Muxue wasn’t naive. She knew that stories of small investments yielding huge returns were always frauds. She silently blamed Aunt Li for dragging her mother into this mess.

No matter what, Qin Muxue had already made up her mind—she definitely wouldn’t lend the money. She said to Han Qin, “Mom, I do have some money and could lend it to you, but let me call Aunt Li first and really understand what’s going on. Once I’ve got all the details, then I’ll give you the money, okay?”

“Muxue, it’s real, absolutely real. Aunt Li even showed me lots of her photos from trips abroad. She looked so glamorous. Tell me, if she hadn’t made money from investments, how could she afford to travel abroad on her tiny pension? Her son and daughter both work ordinary jobs. Where would the money come from?” Han Qin insisted.

“Alright, Mom. Just don’t rush. Let me check into it. A few minutes for a phone call won’t make a difference,” Qin Muxue said seriously.

“Okay, go ahead. Aunt Li said there are only fifty spots in this round of fundraising, so places are limited. If I invest, they’ll even sign a contract with me. With a contract, even if it’s fake, we have something to fall back on, right?” Han Qin said anxiously.

Qin Muxue nodded. “Alright, Mom, I understand.”

“Mom, did Aunt Li mention the name of the company you’re investing in?” Chen Yang suddenly asked.

Han Qin’s face turned cold as she looked at Chen Yang. “I’m telling you, don’t speak ill of my investments in front of Muxue. If you don’t have money, don’t influence her judgment.”

Chen Yang was left speechless. He’d only asked so he could discreetly investigate the company and help Han Qin out. But Han Qin took him for someone with bad intentions.

Chen Yang understood perfectly well that this was a scam, and wondered how Han Qin could fall for such an obvious trap.

Just then, Han Qin’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and, seeing the caller ID, her face lit up with joy. “It’s your Aunt Li calling.”

Qin Muxue hurriedly said, “Mom, let me talk to Aunt Li.”

“Wait a moment, I’ll speak with her first,” Han Qin replied quickly.

Han Qin smiled as she answered, “Hello, Old Li, the money will be transferred soon.”

Aunt Li Aifen laughed. “Old Han, I called just about this. Send the money quickly—there are only limited spots, and if I hadn’t vouched for you as my best friend with the headquarters, they wouldn’t have let you in.”

“Alright, once I make money, I’ll treat you and your family to dinner,” Han Qin said eagerly.

Aifen replied, “Dinner is trivial. Once you make big money, what’s a meal? Just make sure the money arrives before eight tonight. If you don’t send it before eight, you’ll miss out on this investment.”

Han Qin grew anxious at her words, promising repeatedly, “Alright, alright, I’ll definitely send the money before eight tonight.”

“Good, good,” Aifen said, and hung up.

Han Qin put the phone down. Qin Muxue frowned. “Mom, you hung up already?”

Han Qin, a little embarrassed, said, “I forgot you wanted to speak with Aunt Li.”

Qin Muxue shook her head in exasperation, took the phone from her mother, and dialed Aunt Li back.

Meanwhile, Chen Yang, though he knew Han Qin had already fallen into the trap, still wanted to say something. He smiled, “Mom, what kind of investment is this? You invest a hundred thousand and make a million? That sounds far-fetched.”

“What do you know? You have no money, don’t interfere with others making money.” Han Qin shot him a look of contempt.

“Mom, you said I have no money?” Chen Yang raised his brows, amused.

Han Qin had no idea of the truth. If she knew he was a billionaire, she’d think differently.

Qin Muxue, busy on the phone, didn’t want Chen Yang and her mother to argue and disrupt her call. She said, “Chen Yang, go cook. I’ll handle this.”

“Alright,” Chen Yang replied with a smile.

He went to the kitchen to cook noodles, but before starting, he sent a message to Wu Guangde, asking him to secretly investigate Han Qin and Li Aifen’s investment.

Wu Guangde was in Linhai and had connections in every industry, so investigating this was a breeze for him.

He replied immediately: "I’ll update you tonight."

From Wu Guangde’s message, Chen Yang could tell he was confident and felt satisfied.

Ten minutes later, as Chen Yang was finishing the noodles, Qin Muxue pushed open the kitchen door and came in. “Need any help?”

Chen Yang looked at her, sensing something was off. “Did you lend Mom the money?”

Qin Muxue nodded slightly. “Yes.”

“How much did you give her?” he asked.

“Don’t worry about it—it’s between me and my mom,” Qin Muxue said impatiently.

She knew it was almost certainly a scam, but still lent the money. Seeing her mother so anxious, she felt she wouldn’t sleep a wink if she didn’t help, so she relented. It was only thirty thousand, after all.

“Mom... blinded by greed,” Chen Yang said, stirring the noodles and smiling.

“She can do whatever she wants,” Qin Muxue replied.

Chen Yang grinned, “Don’t worry, I’m investigating this. I won’t let your money—or Mom’s—go to waste.”

“Investigating? What investigation?” Qin Muxue looked at him curiously, not understanding his intent.

Chen Yang kept it vague. “I’m asking a friend to look into it.”

“Will that really get any answers?” Qin Muxue seemed to have little faith in his approach, but Chen Yang didn’t mind.

Around ten o’clock that night, Chen Yang received a call from Wu Guangde.

Wu Guangde reported that the investment Han Qin and Li Aifen had gotten into was an outright scam. Li Aifen could afford to travel abroad because she’d become a top member of the fraud ring. The promised returns—investing a hundred thousand to earn a million—were only possible for the higher-ups in the scam. People like Han Qin were simply victims.

The mastermind at the top of the pyramid was Zhou Weiliang, a slick talker with greasy hair. In reality, he was the biggest con artist.

With this information, Chen Yang devised a clever plan and instructed Wu Guangde to carry it out secretly.

The next morning, at seven o’clock, the door of Qin Muxue’s villa was pounded loudly.

Chen Yang, hearing the racket, jumped up from his makeshift bed and called to Qin Muxue, “Muxue, something interesting is about to happen downstairs. Let’s go check it out.”

Qin Muxue rubbed her sleepy eyes. “Who’s banging on the door so early?”

“Come on, you’ll see for yourself,” Chen Yang replied with a smile.

Qin Muxue got up, and together they went downstairs. Qin Guoshan and Han Qin were also emerging from their bedroom.

Bang, bang, bang!

The pounding continued.

Qin Guoshan frowned. “Who is it so early?” He strode to the door, and when he opened it, he stumbled back three steps, pale-faced.

Qin Muxue hurried forward, and was startled herself at the sight.

Han Qin and Chen Yang arrived at the door as well. There, at the villa entrance, lay a man tied up like a bundle, his hair slicked back, a black cloth stuffed in his mouth, his face twisted in struggle.

Han Qin was shocked, unable to comprehend what was happening.

Just then, Chen Yang’s cheerful voice rang out from behind Han Qin. “Mom, look—this is the chairman of Star International Investment Company, Zhou Weiliang, a complete fraudster. Now, Li Aifen is also a top member of this scam company, which is why she can invest a hundred thousand and earn a million. The money she earns comes from victims like you.”

The Mad Son-in-law—source: