The Ma brothers, being half-siblings from different mothers, meant Kong Kun was Ma Qiang's cousin but not Ma Yong's.

Yet Ma Yong and Kong Kun were childhood friends who had grown up on the same street - close enough to have stolen bricks together from a women's restroom during their boyhood years. Their bond was so deep that objectively speaking, Ma Yong actually shared closer ties with Kong Kun than his own blood brother.

As for Ma Qiang, who was six or seven years younger than both, he'd merely been the little shadow tagging along behind them when they were kids.

When Ma Yong delivered this news to him, Kong Kun's initial shock quickly gave way to dawning realization. Though the Ma clan showed signs of waning influence, it remained a red aristocracy with extensive family networks and formidable strength that couldn't be underestimated. Meanwhile Wang Zhuo was the prime asset for the rising Qin family, which had formed strategic alliances through intermarriage with Kong's own house - this situation indeed posed serious complications.

"Wait a moment," Kong Kun said to Ma Yong as he took out his phone, "I need to call my father and get some advice."

In their eyes as junior outsiders, Wang Zhuo was merely Qin family's puppet. The real power behind the prosperous dynasty lay with Jiangzhou Qin. But Kong Kun knew better - though they maintained low profiles, the Qins were actually ambitious players with national aspirations. Even when presented with an easy profit like Taoyuan copper mine, Jiangzhou Qin had chosen to remain in the shadows and let their partners reap it.

Who exactly was this mysterious partner? Ma family's upper echelons surely knew, but juniors like Ma Yong and Ma Qiang would never be privy to such secrets. Who could have guessed that Wang Zhuo maintained a cross-generation friendship with Qin Jingzhong, father of young prodigy Qin Xue? At merely twenty years old, he was already collaborating as strategic partner with the rising star.

Since reform began, China had shifted towards economic development at its core. Economic growth metrics became critical benchmarks for officials' performances. To deliver impressive achievements, contributions to economic advancement were paramount.

This was precisely why Qin Xue partnered with Wang Zhuo. While Jiangzhou served as Asia's financial hub teeming with corporations and capital flows, young Qin still struggled to control many companies directly through his limited resources. Most businesses remained in collaborative arrangements - difficult to move when entrenched interests stood in the way.

The emergence of Prosperous Dynasty changed everything. With small levers moving big weights, Wang Zhuo had taken a newly emerged jewelry company public with just two jade watermelons - proving both ingenuity and extraordinary capability. As Qin Xue's lucky charm, he also secured Taoyuan copper mine for him through that partnership, while saving his father from disaster - clearing the biggest obstacle on his career path. Where else could Qin possibly seek help?

Though superficially appearing as an unreliable youth with no facial hair, many outsiders dismissed Wang Zhuo as merely Qin Xue's puppet. But those with deeper knowledge understood their relationship wasn't hierarchical - they were battle-hardened comrades.

Ma Yong's intentions were clear: through Kong family pressure on Qin Xue to demand answers. With aristocratic backing, any resolution would at minimum involve hundreds of millions in project interests or equivalent damages. The culprits would also face severe consequences.

Kong Kun, a man holding a key position at twenty-seven, could only sigh helplessly. Monitoring Wang Zhuo's movements was part of his daily duties. From the beginning of this year, Wang had pulled off a financial magic trick - introducing "Wangzhao Wuliang" which disrupted massive markets and boosted intangible assets by hundreds of millions overnight, with actual tangible results rather than mere hype.

If Wang were just an independent wealthy man, dealing with him would be as simple as crushing ants. But with Qin Xue's support, he became a giant ant capable of causing tidal waves - Ma Yong mistakenly thought to "beat the dog but check its master", yet faced instead something even Kong family couldn't challenge!

Combining his actual capital assets and intangible value, Wang Zhuo already controlled hundreds of millions as the dazzling golden boy. All Ma Yong saw were surface illusions; only Kong Kun understood the deeper truths behind this.

Jiangzhou rumors speculated that Wang was Qin's designated son-in-law. Those at higher levels scoffed - believing he was just a puppet. But for someone like Kong Kun who reached such understanding depth, these street tales suddenly made sense. After all, Qin Xue might achieve ultimate status, and such high-level figures didn't necessarily need political marriages. Perhaps the Qins truly aimed to cultivate an ultra-wealthy son-in-law - in which case Taoyuan would naturally belong to them!

So Kong Kun could only respond to Ma Yong's demands with a wry smile. As expected when he informed his father Kong Zhi, the elder also felt helpless but instructed him to wait while making that call to Qin Xue...

...

Late at night, Wang Zhuo's wetland villa remained brightly lit.

In the living room, Meng Shengnan and Meng Shengdi munched snacks in front of the TV like vacationers enjoying leisure time. Joining them were An Qi and An Qiqi - these sisters had achieved remarkable feats today. Taking advantage of a quiet moment, Wang secretly promised An Qiqi that the Jaguar would now be at their disposal with his name on it.

This was more thoughtful than just giving them cars outright: all expenses remained on Wang's tab while they could use the vehicles freely. Repairs and traffic violations? Someone else handled those.

An Qiqi's excitement knew no bounds. On impulse, she dragged Wang into a changing room, unzipped his pants and bent down to let him experience firsthand what "treasure lies within winding paths" truly meant.

Disciples always knew their master's preferences best.

The brief encounter left Wang craving more, but with so many women in the house tonight, he exercised restraint despite burning desire.

A slightly sticky substance stretched into a glistening thread at the corner of An Qiqi's lips as she smiled seductively after drawing it in like noodles - "Sss...".

Damn! This little enchantress was dangerously alluring! Wang activated his x-ray vision to scan upstairs, confirming no one within ten meters. Grabbing her disciple's silky hair with both hands and slightly bending his knees...

Si Yuan employed unconventional methods to collect everything related to Ma Qiang. The villa's internet connected directly to backbone networks - its speed approaching professional levels sufficient for her expertise.

Ma Qiang's QQ account, Renren profile, Xieyou Jiaquan pseudonym, Meiman Model Network access were all uncovered by Si Yuan, along with his network connections and behavioral records. These findings would be enough to destroy Ma Qiang's reputation, though far from sufficient to topple the Ma family beast. She was already attempting infiltrating internal networks of key Ma family corporations for more decisive weapons.

Possibly unnecessary? But better prepared now - Guan Yingying said this was called being ready before rain comes...

...

Ma Yong waited anxiously until finally receiving Kong Kun's response.

"Big Yong, my father did call Qin. However, later on they said they couldn't reach Wang Zhuo himself."

"Unreachable?" Ma Yong frowned unhappily, "After such a major incident, how can Wang Zhuo not inform Qin Xue?"

"Not necessarily," Kong Kun sighed, "You don't understand this guy - he's notorious for being independent-minded and ignoring everyone's face when angry. I also believe the Qins wouldn't lie to us on this matter; there's no reason for them."

After thoughtful consideration, Ma Yong nodded with a cold smile, "Then does that mean Wang Zhuo is hiding out in fear? Even Qin Xue can't find him now. If I locate him, what would the Qins say?"

Kong Kun mentally cursed. No wonder the Ma family showed signs of decline recently - their younger generation just didn't cut it! He had already hinted to Ma Yong that Wang Zhuo's independence came from his own strength and resources. But this Ma Yong didn't think - why would Wang refuse others' faces? Because he actually deserved them!

As a twenty-seven-year-old with a key position, Kong Kun mastered verbal arts quite well. Yet poor comprehension skills made explanations difficult; in these matters only subtle hints could be given, outright statements were taboo.

Informing Ma Yong that Wang Zhuo's relationship with Qin Xue was strategic partnership rather than subordination? Sorry, though related through distant kinship, the Kongs had no obligation to inform!

"Here's what I suggest," Kong Kun advised, "The Qins will certainly give your brother some form of satisfaction at minimum - medical and comfort fees. However if you go troubling Wang Zhuo directly before they resolve it, given Qin Xue's personality this might actually backfire. So please wait a little longer."

Ma Yong understood the principle that circumstances dictated actions more than individuals did, but seeing his younger brother beaten into such condition made him furious.

"Kunzi," he said, "I know how powerful Qin is, but doesn't reason still count? My brother was beaten up this badly and now you're just saying they can't find Wang Zhuo so everything's settled? Are they really belittling the Ma family as if we have no one left?"

This hit too hard. Further persuasion would mean admitting to Ma's weakness; remaining silent made Kong Kun caught between a rock and a hard place.

He sighed, "Big Yong, it's not that simple. Here's what I suggest - describe this situation to your elders first and see what they say!"

As they spoke, a nurse entered the room to adjust Ma Qiang's drainage tube. Watching her replace the bag full of pus and blood, Ma Yong muttered an agreement before ending his call with Kong Kun.

Meanwhile, Si Yuan had already recorded their conversation. While unable to monitor actual content through phone calls, she traced communication records during that time and followed leads all the way to Kong Zhi and Qin Xue.

Tracking down Qin Xue led her right to Jiangzhou's Municipal Committee - but she remained unaware of its significance while continuing to explore call records for other clues.

Kong Zhi's number was manageable enough, but monitoring a Standing Committee member? When Si Yuan realized she'd been counter-tracked, the other side had already breached three layers of her protective firewalls. She quickly cut connections and erased traces, breaking out in cold sweat from this near disaster.