Chapter 26
It was true—Gu Changan's first step into business had been thanks to his brother-in-law, Wei Fangzheng. Back then, he started by delivering sand and gravel to construction sites. Day by day, brick by brick, he worked his way up, gradually building the capital needed to open his own construction company.
The Gu family's ancestral home was in Yunzhou, and it could be said that Gu Changan had leaned heavily on his brother-in-law's support in those early days. Without Wei Fangzheng, there would have been no Gu Changan today.
Later, as his business grew, Gu Changan realized that continuing to operate in Yunzhou might cast a shadow over his brother-in-law's political reputation. After all, no matter how innocent it was, people would talk—whispers of favoritism, of profiting through familial ties. On top of that, the construction industry was prone to accidents. The last thing he wanted was to bring trouble to Wei Fangzheng's door.
So Gu Changan made a strategic decision. He stepped away from the construction business and shifted his focus to real estate development. It was cleaner, more controllable, and presented fewer risks—at least on the surface.
This time, it had been Wei Fangzheng again who had worked quietly behind the scenes to help him win the relocation project at Shuangguanqiao. In Jiangcheng, Wei Fangzheng's former superior had shown him some favor, giving Gu Changan a chance. In return, Gu Changan vowed to do everything personally—to make the Shuangguanqiao relocation a model project for the city, something that would reflect well on both his brother-in-law and the former leader.
Unfortunately, just when he was filled with confidence and determination, he was nearly tripped by a hidden enemy. If Gu Xi hadn't warned him in time, he might already be sitting in a detention center. And the consequences wouldn't have stopped with him. Once he was taken down, Wei Fangzheng—and even the official who had given him the opportunity—would surely be dragged into the mess. At best, they'd be reprimanded. At worst, they could lose their positions entirely.
And if that really happened… then whoever orchestrated this would have succeeded beyond their wildest hopes.
The more Gu Changan thought about it, the colder his back felt. He turned to look at Gu Xi, his expression filled with both relief and guilt. "My daughter… what kind of brain do you have? Your dad's been hustling in the business world for so many years, but I still couldn't see the truth like you did."
Gu Xi lowered her head slightly, hiding the pain in her eyes. In her previous life, it had taken her ten long years to piece together the truth. This time, she'd moved early—but only because she already knew what would happen.
"Dad, you didn't see it because you were too close to it," she said softly. "Besides, who would ever imagine the Gu family would go this far?"
Gu Changan nodded slowly. "I let my guard down."
Just then, Wei Xiangqin returned from the kitchen, drying her hands. "What are you two talking about? The air in here is so heavy."
"Nothing much," Gu Changan said quickly, switching tones with a chuckle. "Just sighing that the younger generation is overtaking the old. If our Xixi joins the company, I might have to hand over my position as chairman and general manager."
"What? Are you not happy that your daughter's doing so well?" Wei Xiangqin teased.
"It's not that," Gu Changan said, pulling her into a half-hug with exaggerated sorrow. "I'm just afraid you'll start thinking I'm not as capable as our daughter."
Wei Xiangqin burst into laughter and gave him a playful smack. "You're right—you're not as capable as her. When our daughter becomes the chairwoman, you can be her secretary."