The Favored Heiress
Chapter 345: King of Traditional Chinese Medicine Shang Zonghai

Chapter 345: Chapter 345: King of Traditional Chinese Medicine Shang Zonghai

Li Qiao bent her lips without a change of expression, and just as she arrived by his side, Shang Zonghai looked around the hall and said in a deep voice, "Please, take your seats."

After the rustling sound of seating, everything returned to calm.

Li Qiao sat next to Shang Yu with her back to the crowd, composedly facing the scrutiny around her.

It was said that at the Clan Assembly, all members of the clan would attend, but curiously, Shang Lu was not present.

And at the second square table beside the main table, three elderly individuals were seated.

They didn’t seem like collateral relatives, and Li Qiao guessed they were probably from the Elders’ Hall.

Next, Shang Zonghai briefly exchanged pleasantries before turning his gaze to Li Qiao, "Girl, come over here."

Li Qiao stood up and walked towards him, calling him "uncle."

Shang Zonghai nodded, then introduced her to the Shang family clan, "This is Li Qiao, Shaoyan’s girlfriend, officially brought over today for everyone to meet.

If you encounter her outside in the future, be sure not to say you don’t recognize her."

Following that, the Reception Hall fell into a dead silence.

With these words from Shang Zonghai, Li Qiao’s identity was made public, but there was also a subtle warning embedded.

At this moment, many evaluative gazes fell upon Li Qiao—there was disdain, amusement, and mostly, surprise.

How could such a young girl receive such personal recognition from Shang Zonghai?

Li Qiao, with her composed stance to the scrutiny, looked back serenely.

She was neither humble nor arrogant, and her manners proper, "Hello everyone, I am Li Qiao."

...

As it neared twelve o’clock, Shang Zonghai waved his hand and said, "Today, let’s keep everything simple. Lunch will be just a simple meal here in the Reception Hall. After the Clan Assembly concludes, we’ll move to the dining hall for a family banquet in the evening."

Soon, the servants began to serve the dishes one after another, and Shang Zonghai stepped down from the Taishi Chair to sit opposite Shang Yu, glancing sideways to ask Housekeeper Xiao, "Where is Shaoheng?"

Shaoheng was Shang Lu’s courtesy name; his full name being Shang Lu, with the courtesy name Shaoheng.

In the entire Shang family clan, only descendants of the main family were bestowed with such titles.

It was an inheritance from the ancestral teachings and a symbol of status.

Housekeeper Xiao chuckled awkwardly, bending over to explain, "The second young master hasn’t arrived back yet, but he should be here soon."

"Such nonsense, doesn’t he know today is the Clan Assembly?" Shang Zonghai’s face showed displeasure, dissatisfied with Shang Lu’s lack of progress like getting angry with iron that won’t become steel.

Housekeeper Xiao didn’t dare to say more because, in the eyes of the second young master, the Shang family clan assembly wasn’t as important as the Sirbey luxury car launch event.

...

This midday meal held in the Reception Hall seemed no different from a regular family banquet, but due to Li Qiao’s presence, it was imbued with an eerie atmosphere.

For instance, through the dining process, the always domineering and unrivaled Shang Shaoyan was unconcernedly picking food for Li Qiao, his precision such that he even picked out the scallions and ginger slices.

The two occasionally exchanged words in low voices, and it was clear to anyone that Shang Shaoyan was extremely doting towards her; his deep eyes seemed to be brimming with wine, filled with gentleness that could intoxicate to death.

Moreover, what shocked the entire clan even more was the presence of the family head, Shang Zonghai.

Who was he? A figure capable of dominating his rivals, maintaining his position as the family head for many years through sheer personal power, the Old Fox.

A man more cunning and ruthless than Shang Shaoyan, the Medicine King with a grasp of traditional Chinese medicine, who with a mere prescription could cure illnesses or take lives.

This indifferent and cold-hearted person was now treating Li Qiao with a pleasant demeanor at the Clan Assembly’s family banquet scene, at times telling her to eat more, at times telling her to have a sip of tea.

Just like a loving father.

It was just a simple declaration of Li Qiao’s name, but after this lunch, none in the Shang family would underestimate her again.

Regardless of whether she had real abilities or not, the favor shown by Shang Zonghai was enough to make the whole clan wary.

After the meal, the people in the Reception Hall one after another departed.

The Clan Assembly was scheduled for two o’clock in the afternoon, during which the collateral branches began to withdraw, scattering around the estate in small groups, all keenly discussing Miss Li.

...

Meanwhile, in the Suhua Pavilion rest area.

Shang Fu entered the living room with disordered steps, slammed the door behind her, and anxiously asked the person on the phone, "Could you repeat that?"

The other party swiftly elaborated on the key points, and Shang Fu’s expression turned sharp, "Impossible, I’ve been running this ICO for so long without anyone discovering it’s just air; how could it have flaws exposed today?"

The person on the other end of the phone also seemed helpless, looking at the locked transaction platform on the screen, swallowing hard, "President Shang, I can’t explain this right now.

This morning, the website trades were still proceeding normally, but it suddenly collapsed an hour ago.

Perhaps you should come back. We really can’t handle this situation..."

Shang Fu just clenched her phone, her expression turning slightly ferocious.

The ICO virtual air coin was the culmination of her years of hard work; there couldn’t be any problems.

But...

Shang Fu was silent for a long time, and with a stiff tone, she demanded, "I can’t return today. No matter what, you have to hold the fort.

If you can’t handle it, find some other financial experts. If one isn’t enough, bring back all the top financial experts from Parma."

Any other time she could have rushed back to handle it, but today was the exception.

At the Shang Family Clan Assembly, if she were to leave, she would surely miss important familial news, which was absolutely unacceptable.

Shang Fu hung up after saying this, and within three seconds, her subordinate’s call came through again.

As she watched the flashing screen, her heart was racing with impatience, but she had no intention of picking up and turned off her phone instead.

As a result, she missed the critical news her subordinate wanted to report: Parma’s top financial experts had gone ’missing’ today and simply couldn’t be located.

Shang Fu sat in the rest area feeling uneasy, taking deep breaths to stabilize her emotions.

Once she had calmed down, her thoughts inevitably drifted to Li Qiao.

Could her investment project problems be related to her?

No sooner had the thought formed than Shang Fu pressed a finger to her nose, scoffing and laughing mockingly.

How could it be possible!

She was surely overestimating Li Qiao.

For a girl fresh out of university, even if she was competent and nimble, Shang Fu didn’t believe she could navigate the virtual currency market.

However...

Shang Fu looked down at her phone, pondering for a moment, but ultimately resisted the temptation to turn it back on and make a call.

Last night, Shang Shi had made a move on Li Qiao, but with a full day and night passing, there was still no word from him.

Shang Fu knew, it was likely that he had failed.

What a shame for the years of training she had invested in him, placing such high hopes, only to find he was nothing but an incapable Ah Dou.

...

At the same time, in the Reception Hall, three Elders and Shang Zonghai stepped out, claiming they were going to discuss matters in the back courtyard.

Li Qiao hung her head, the smile on her lips cool and thin.

From the start of the meal until now, she had noticed that the three Elders seemed particularly critical of her, even displaying an inexplicable hostility.

The Elders’ Hall, being on equal footing with both Shang’s and Shang Zonghai, was likely discussing matters related to her in their so-called deliberation.

Li Qiao curled the corners of her mouth, sipped from her cup of tea, and decided to watch quietly as events unfolded.

Just then, Liuyun entered with firm strides, leaning down and whispering to Li Qiao and Shang Yu, "Boss, Miss Li, Wen Shi has already arrived."