Although he was very displeased with Xu Li's attitude,

the trip to Yuanjing was very important for Chen Fang.

Whether he could return to the political arena depended on this occasion.

He cleared his throat, took a sip of the tea Xu Nuo brewed for him, and looked in Xu Li's direction, asking, "Secretary Xu, in your opinion, what is the fundamental reason the Xu Family falls short of the Hou Family?"

"What else could it be? Everyone knows that the old masters of the two families are not on the same level, Hou Jidao is half a level higher than my dad,"

Xu Li said with clear annoyance.

Chen Fang smiled slightly and said, "That's just the most superficial reason. In my opinion, the fundamental reason the Hou Family is stronger than the Xu Family is their second generation mainly engages in politics. Simply from the perspective of branching out, the Xu Family cannot compare to the Hou Family."

Indeed.

There are four siblings in the Hou Family.

The eldest, Hou Yuanzheng, serves as a provincial governor in a northern province, the second, Hou Yuanzhe, is a deputy minister in a ministry, the third, Hou Yuanshu, holds the position of university president, and the youngest, Hou Jingjing, is the CEO of a state-owned enterprise.

These four people have almost encompassed local government, ministries, academia, and state-owned assets.

They can complement each other.

Take, for example, the third sibling, Hou Yuanshu, serving as a university president. Just this fact alone ensures the Hou Family can groom a succeeding force. These freshly graduated direct descendants are sent to work under the eldest, second, or even the youngest, to continue spreading branches and leaves, and their influence is spread throughout the country, controlling various sectors. With this in place, which faction's power can compare to that of the Hou Family?

In contrast, look at the Xu Family.

Xu Li holds the top position in a ministry.

Xu Guan is a senior executive in a large state-owned enterprise.

However, the third and the fourth siblings are involved in private business.

Although the economy is also an extension of politics, in comparison, the overall strength is much weaker.

"Xiao Yan and Xiao Nuo are not interested in politics, there's nothing that can be done about that. We as older brothers can't force them,"

Xu Li said.

Chen Fang nodded.

He said, "What I've just mentioned refers only to the situation of your generation. In the long run, there's a possibility for the Xu Family to surpass the Hou Family."

Xu Li was taken aback and asked, "What do you mean?"

Chen Fang said, "As the economy further develops, the political landscape across the country has already shifted to an era where economy is king. Although the Hou Family controls a significant part of the political realm, they haven't achieved much in the economy. This is why the next generation of the Hou Family, including Hou Yuanzheng's, has started to engage in commerce."

"On the contrary, the business empires of the two young misses of the Xu Family have already begun to take shape. The Hou Family has keenly noticed this, which is why they want to resort to straightforward and brutal methods to nip the third generation of the Xu Family in the bud!"

This statement caused Xu Li to jolt.

Chen Fang continued, "This Tang Zhuqing case felt unreasonable to me from the start. A dancer coming from a theater somehow managed to mobilize so many resources—murdering when they wanted to murder, silencing when they wanted to silence. Moreover, they could control a figure like Guan Xiaoxian and utilize many political resources in Wulan City. I always thought this was because Tang Zhuqing was adept, but something that happened later completely changed my mind..."

"What happened?"

"While I was in detention, I was subjected to an assassination attempt by a hitman. Later, I learned from this hitman that the person wanting me dead was none other than Hou Yuanzheng's eldest son, the Hou Family's eldest grandson, Hou Yuanhui."

As soon as Chen Fang finished speaking,

Xu Li and Xu Nuo, who was making tea, exchanged glances.

Clearly, they were also quite shocked by the news.

They were naturally aware of what Tang Zhuqing had done, but they did not yet know why someone from the Hou Family was involved in it.

"Are you saying the whole affair was actually orchestrated by the Hou Family?"

Xu Li asked.

Chen Fang nodded.

Xu Li then asked, "What do they stand to gain by doing such a thing?"

"Let's discuss one issue at a time. First, I want to ask Secretary Xu, who do you think has the better background between Zhang Rou and Tang Zhuqing?"

"That would naturally be Xiao Rou,"

Xu Li said without hesitation.

Chen Fang nodded slightly and said, "Indeed, Ms. Zhang Rou's death is a blow to the Xu Family. With the influence that Madam Zhang had in her heyday, she could very well have secured a position in the Ministry of Commerce if she were still alive. Her future achievements might not necessarily have been lower than... than Miss Xu Nuo's..."

"I admit it; my sister-in-law has always been a powerful woman."

Xu Nuo didn't get angry but nodded and said.

"With Madam Zhang's death, Tang Zhuqing used her means to enter the Xu Family. Once she arrived, your son, Xu Xuchuan, died. That move was exquisite. It not only ended your line but also caused friction between the Xu and Dong Families because of Xu Xuchuan's death. As a result, couldn't the Xu and Dong Families no longer join forces?"

Chen Fang asked.

Xu Li pondered for a moment and said, "Indeed, after Xuchuan's death, the relationship between the Xu and Dong Families began to deteriorate."

"Currently in the Xu Family, your political status is the highest, and without any accidents, you are likely to achieve the most in the future. With your eldest son Xu Xuchuan's sudden demise and your second daughter Xiaoxue being congenitally frail, only your third daughter, Xu Xianzhen, remains. Don't blame me for speaking unpleasantly, but if Xu Xianzhen becomes your successor, then the Xu Family is really finished."

I've had a few encounters with Xu Xianzhen.

In her, Chen Fang saw nothing but licentiousness and unrestrained dissolute behavior, and truly no other admirable qualities. Such a Xu Xianzhen, if nothing unexpected happened, was likely also deliberately cultivated by Tang Zhuqing or the people behind her.

After all, according to the family teachings of the Xu Family, such a daughter should not exist.

With a slap,

Xu Li hit the tea table with his palm.

He said to Chen Fang, "Nonsense, do you have any evidence? If not, can I assume that you are deliberately stirring up trouble?"

"I believe what he says!"

No sooner had the words fallen,

than a hoarse voice came from behind.

Hearing this voice,

Xu Li and Xu Nuo both stood up abruptly and looked toward the direction of the door.

Chen Fang turned to look.

He saw an elderly man with white hair at the door, who seemed quite frail, sitting in a wheelchair, with Xu Guan pushing the wheelchair.

"Dad..."

Upon seeing him, Xu Li frowned and hurried over.

Xu Nuo did the same, reproaching, "We told you to rest in bed; how come you got up?"

If nothing unexpected, this person must be the patriarch of the Xu Family, Xu Mao.

Chen Fang also immediately stood up, respectfully looking towards Xu Mao.

"Greetings, Elder."

Chen Fang bowed slightly and called out.

Xu Mao nodded back at him, waved his hand, and said, "Sit, all of you sit. Continue talking."

With the old patriarch's endorsement,

Chen Fang felt even more confident.

He sat down again, took a look around at everyone present, and said, "The entire conspiracy, from the day Madam Zhang died, has been in motion. I can call it the 'Extermination Plan.' If it weren't for Xiaoxue's running away from home this time, it would be unlikely that this matter would have come to light. After I learned the cause of Zhang Rou's death from Guan Xiaoxian, the Hou Family, fearing that their deeds would be exposed, sent someone to take Tang Zhuqing's life. In this way, all of their sinister plans would sink to the bottom of the sea, never to be known."

"Dad, that's too far-fetched. You can't seriously believe this kid's nonsense, right?"

Xu Li asked Xu Mao.

Xu Mao didn't respond to him but fixed a penetrating gaze on Chen Fang and asked, "What do you think their next step will be?"

"East River Province!"

Chen Fang said decisively.

Xu Mao was taken aback and asked, "East River Province? What do you mean?"

"The Hou Family's next stratagem is aimed at East River Province. As I said at the beginning, in an era where the economy reigns supreme, the Hou Family has soberly recognized their own shortcomings. They don't lack political resources—what they need is financial power. If I'm not mistaken, Hou Yuanhui's Spearhead Investment will definitely move to take over Guan Xiaoxian's Boiling Point Group next. Moreover, the Economic Development Zone is a juicy morsel the Hou Family will not miss. Guyang City will mark the beginning of their economic rise..."

Chen Fang said.

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