Chapter 980: Chapter 950: Shadows Behind the Rumors
“Well said!” Other shareholders applauded one after another. Everyone chose to support Tianya Group during its most difficult times, which moved Li Ruo deeply. She took a deep breath and said, “No matter what, as shareholders, it’s normal to look at interests. I will let everyone know that choosing Tianya Group was not a mistake!”
“Mr. Li, we support you!” Everyone nodded one after another.
Li Ruo’s return undoubtedly injected a stimulant into the decadent Tianya Group. Tianya Group specially arranged for the media to do an exclusive interview with Li Ruo, and this interview was conducted by Lin Xue’er. Lin Xue’er’s show is already very famous throughout Z Province. Many citizens like to tune into Lin Xue’er’s show, which not only exposes the ugliness of social realities but also benefits from her good looks. The most critical point is that she is still single.
This episode directly broke the news of Li Ruo’s death, with Li Ruo appearing in person as the most important evidence. It directly proved that Li Ruo was still alive and well. As for those who spread rumors, at the end of the program, Li Ruo stated that she would definitely hold them legally accountable.
In a villa in Tongzhou City, several men in black suits were sitting inside.
“Damn it, how did Li Ruo not die?” Minister Zhang gnashed his teeth.
“Minister Zhang, we don’t know either!” The middle-aged man had some hair pulled out in the morning, and his head was still wrapped in bandages; he looked pitiful and helplessly said, “I think this must be a scheme by Tianya Group!”
“Your head is full of schemes!” Minister Zhang said angrily, “Who would use such a self-destructive tactic? It’s laborious and thankless. Tianya Group lost billions during this period. Would you be willing to spend billions on such a self-destructive ploy?”
“Ah…” The middle-aged man helplessly covered his head and squatted to the side, while the others remained silent.
“With Li Ruo back, it will be even more troublesome to deal with Tianya Group!” Minister Zhang frowned. The so-called think tank beside him spoke up, “Hmph, if the open way doesn’t work, then try the hidden way.”
“How do you plan to go about it secretly?” Minister Zhang glanced at him and said, “Currently, Ye Chen’s power is strong, the Heavenly Reversal Gang dominates Jianghuai City, and Tianya Group itself is a corporation supported by the Chinese Government. If something happens, the people at the top will react immediately.”
“We can’t just let Tianya Group go like this, right?” The people below were unhappy, “We spent so much manpower and resources, and even our people got beaten. We have to find a way to recoup our losses!”
“Take it easy!” Minister Zhang sighed and then stood up, saying, “No matter what, we are in the dark while they are in the light; there are still opportunities. Unless necessary, do not expose our identity and whereabouts.”
“Just like a cobra? Lurking in the dark, ready to ambush the enemy at any time?” The middle-aged man looked at Minister Zhang, puzzled.
“That’s right!” Minister Zhang nodded and said, “Disperse for now. When the opportunity arises, you must relentlessly pursue them.”
…
After the weekend passed, Tianya Group’s stocks suddenly rose like an unexpected army, leading the entire market upwards continuously. Within less than two hours in the morning, Tianya Group’s stocks surged to the limit. This brought hope to everyone. Those who originally wanted to cause trouble for Tianya Group were suddenly so excited that they didn’t know what to do; they even began dancing at the securities trading center.
In the opening of the market on Monday, Tianya Group’s stocks unexpectedly became a powerful force leading the market. Many people exclaimed that the bull market for stocks had returned. Meanwhile, those who had abandoned Tianya Group’s stocks were now crying bitterly: “What the heck, what is this situation, I just sold it and it skyrocketed, God is so unfair to me!”
Faced with the rapid surge, even surpassing previous levels, more stockholders, who initially rushed to abandon their stocks, went crazy. They were angry, they hated, they were envious and resentful. If time could turn back, they would have unhesitatingly chosen to madly buy in when Tianya Group’s stocks hit their lowest point. If possible, they would even pawn their property, or even their wives, and then buy a large number of Tianya Group’s stocks.
Unfortunately, time cannot turn back; unfortunately, there is no medicine for regret in this world; unfortunately, nothing can go back to the way it was.
Jianghuai City soon saw a wave of suicides; within a day, there were three suicides by jumping. All three had once held shares in Tianya Group. After cutting their losses and selling off Tianya Group’s stocks, they found that the stocks had suddenly begun to skyrocket, leaving them unable to calm down no matter what. Their hearts were blocked, and finally, they resorted to the extreme solution.
The eruption of these three incidents quickly led to sighs from the stockholders of Jianghuai City. However, none of these affected anyone’s life trajectory, nor did they change anyone’s view on stocks. Everyone knows that “the stock market has risks, entering the market requires caution,” but how many people can truly adhere to this?
Once you have seen the ocean, no other water will suffice, and once you have seen the clouds over Mount Wu, no other clouds will satisfy.
When everything has passed, they will realize that all they have been playing with in their hands are just a bunch of data. These data can only be exchanged for money that barely lets you live a good life. But once you choose a dead-end path, and life ends, everything ends. As the ancient saying goes, as long as the green hills remain, there’s no need to worry about firewood. But if the green hills are destroyed, where will the firewood come from?
However, these three lives are far from a simple matter. These three lives quickly became the source of trouble. The host of the economic channel on the provincial TV station criticized Tianya Group as follows: “As a well-known domestic enterprise, Tianya Group plays economic games with stockholders, deliberately spreading rumors to force shareholders out, reclaiming most of the shares. Initially, this was nothing more than the most common commercial war in the business battlefield. But because the Sect Leader of Tianya Group used such tactics, it resulted in stock market fluctuations, many losing everything, and three fresh lives lost. Who should be accountable for these…”
The host of the economic channel argued eloquently, making the audience in front of the TV filled with righteous indignation. When the clouds cleared and the truth was revealed, they found out that hidden behind it was such a conspiracy. They were ultimately unable to contain their anger but were helpless. Yet, public opinion is stronger than a tiger. In Jianghuai City, and even the whole Z Province, there’s a widespread rumor: Tianya Group’s president, Li Ruo, faked her death to let Tianya Group’s stock price plunge to the bottom, and then took the opportunity to buy them back.
Many people spread this news, and it became more and more outrageous, eventually leading to several different versions.
“Mr. Li, what should we do now?” Lin Ziwen asked anxiously. In Jianghuai City, with the current situation, no one feels comfortable, yet Li Ruo goes to work every day as if nothing happened. Apart from working, she walks her dog, seemingly indifferent to everything happening in the outside world, and she merely laughs off the rumors about her.
“What should we do?” Li Ruo asked puzzledly.
“Now the whole world is filled with rumors about Tianya Group!” Lin Ziwen said helplessly to Li Ruo, “Everyone thinks you faked your death on purpose to cheat the shareholders out of their stocks, ultimately responsible for three lives lost. If the rumors continue, I’m afraid it will be detrimental to Tianya Group!”
“Heh, rumors are just rumors; one day, they’ll collapse on their own!” Li Ruo smiled faintly, “Don’t worry.”
“Ugh… It’s driving me crazy!” Lin Ziwen was extremely anxious.
“Calmness brings peace. The more you worry about some things, the worse they get!” Li Ruo remained unflustered as she poured a cup of coffee for Lin Ziwen, “Have some coffee to calm your nerves. Things will soon pass!”
“Sigh!” Lin Ziwen clenched his teeth, feeling a bit helpless.
Some things, you might think that ignoring them will make them go away. However, when someone is behind these things, you will find that they are far from simple. Until one day, a group of men in trench coats walked into the Tianya Group. Tianya Group employees came out one by one, curious to see what was going on.
This group of men with stern looks, as if someone owed them millions, walked in. The leading man with a trench coat said to the receptionist, Little Mei: “Get your Mr. Li out here and say the Director of the Bureau of Industry and Commerce is here!”
“Director?” Little Mei was taken aback and said in astonishment, “Aren’t you the Vice Director Liu of the Bureau of Industry and Commerce?”
“Isn’t that still a director?” Vice Director Liu glared at Little Mei, scaring her. She quickly nodded and then used the phone at the front desk to dial the extension in Li Ruo’s office. Li Ruo received the call, learned that Vice Director Liu was here, frowned, and immediately realized someone was tightening the noose around her neck. But who could it be? Li Ruo truly didn’t understand.
Despite this, Li Ruo went down calmly. Coming out of the elevator, she immediately saw the blue-uniformed men in trench coats. These guys were putting on airs, clearly being ordered by someone from behind. Otherwise, usually, these guys would be nodding and bowing upon seeing her, wishing she could pay more taxes every month so they could get a cut. Every tax payment, this guy would be as punctual as a plague god with his phone call.
“Director Liu, coming here in such a big way, could it be that someone is instructing you from behind?” Li Ruo decided to play her card. Director Liu was taken aback, a hint of unease flickered in his eyes; he knew that if this matter was discovered, he would be unlucky. Not to mention the trench coat would be taken off, he’d probably have to spend a few years in jail eating prison food.
“Mr. Li, please don’t say such things!” Director Liu changed his expression and instantly put on a servile look, then grinned: “You are my bread and butter; I wouldn’t dare touch you. But, you indeed have some problems. The reputation of Tianya Group hasn’t been cleaned up!”
“What do you mean?” Li Ruo certainly understood what Director Liu meant, but she pretended not to.