In a hospital in Hu City, Li Guohai and Zhao Rou were talking.
A trace of worry was on Zhao Rou's face. "Yangyang is out at sea now," she said. "I wonder how he's doing."
Since ancient times, the ocean has been a place of immense mystery, and the deep sea a synonym for danger. Waves, storms, and more could strike at any moment.
Now that her son was out on the water, Zhao Rou couldn't help but worry.
Li Guohai smiled reassuringly. "It's alright, Xiaorou. You know how good of a swimmer Yangyang is. Nothing will happen to him."
Though he was smiling, a careful look would reveal a trace of worry in his eyes as well.
He had actually guessed why Li Yang bought the fishing boat. Qin Shanchuan had called him earlier and told him that Li Yang had been asking about the Anticancer Agent.
Thinking of the Anticancer Agent, Li Guohai sighed to himself. Last month, the price for a single dose had hit a low of 120 million. That was cold, hard cash. In all of Hua Country, only the wealthiest tycoons could produce that kind of money without crippling their own companies.
Li Yang must have bought the fishing boat hoping to get lucky at sea and earn the hundred-plus million he needed.
After all, the ocean was full of treasures. If he was lucky enough, it was possible.
As they were speaking, a man suddenly walked in. He was tall and middle-aged, and his features bore a slight resemblance to Zhao Rou's.
Seeing the man, Zhao Rou froze for a moment before subconsciously calling out, "Second Brother?"
The visitor was none other than her second brother, Zhao Hao.
Zhao Rou had two older brothers: the eldest, Zhao Kun, and the second eldest, Zhao Hao.
She had always been closest with Zhao Hao, but after she got together with Li Guohai, they had barely kept in touch because of their father, Zhao Qianxing.
"Little Sis."
A smile touched Zhao Hao's face when he saw Zhao Rou. He set down the fruit, milk, and other items he was carrying. "It's been a while."
But this was no time for small talk. Seeing Zhao Hao was like being thrown a lifeline. Zhao Rou rushed to say, "Second Brother, can you please save Brother Hai?"
Her eyes were filled with hope. With Zhao Hao's connections, he should be able to get a dose of the Anticancer Agent.
Zhao Hao glanced at Li Guohai and sighed. "Xiaorou, it's not that I won't help. It's that Dad forbids it. If I helped, he would throw me out of the family."
A helpless expression crossed his face.
As much as he wanted to help Li Guohai, he certainly cared more about the Zhao family.
"Second Brother, I'm begging you," she pleaded. "Brother Hai really needs the Anticancer Agent. Xiaoxue and Yangyang can't lose their father."
With a desperate plea on her face, Zhao Rou actually started to kneel before Zhao Hao.
"Xiaorou!""Little Sis!"
Li Guohai and Zhao Hao both cried out at the sight.
Li Guohai's face was pale, and his agitation sent him into another violent coughing fit.
Zhao Hao quickly pulled Zhao Rou back to her feet. He looked at Li Guohai, his expression apologetic. "Li Guohai, I'm sorry. I really can't help you. Just coming to see you is the most I can do. But I'll help with anything else, I promise. If Xiaoxue or Yangyang want a good job, say, at a major corporation, I can arrange it."
Li Guohai shook his head. "It's alright."
He was filled with self-reproach. 'Back then, I was so full of vigor, ready to declare that fortunes turn and the downtrodden will rise. Don't look down on a young man for being poor... But now, I've forced my proud wife to lower her head to her family again and again, casting aside her own dignity.'
"I'm glad you understand."
Zhao Hao sighed. He turned to Zhao Rou and said, "Little Sis, if you need help with anything else, you can call me. Well, I should be going."
He sighed once more and, ignoring Zhao Rou's pleas, turned and walked out.
After leaving, Zhao Hao got back into his car. He shut the door and sat in silence for a moment before making a call.
...
In a Great Xia office in Jing City, a man in his sixties sat in a chair, his face a mask of indifference.
From his appearance, it was none other than the head of the Zhao Group, Zhao Qianxing.
"Hello?"
Zhao Qianxing saw the call was from his son and answered.
"Dad, I went to see my little sister today."
Zhao Hao said over the phone.
Zhao Qianxing's expression remained indifferent, and he said nothing. After a moment of careful thought, Zhao Hao asked cautiously, "I also saw Li Guohai. Can we... can we really not give him a dose of the Anticancer Agent?"
For the Zhao family, buying a dose of the Anticancer Agent was a trivial matter.
After all, Li Guohai and his sister had two children together. He didn't want to see his sister end up all alone.
"Hao, I just received some news." In response to Zhao Hao's cautious question, Zhao Qianxing's voice was calm as he spoke.
Hearing this, Zhao Hao's pupils contracted slightly. 'How is that possible?'
The news seemed to hit him hard, so much so that the color drained from his face.
"So, I will not give the Anticancer Agent to Li Guohai."
After saying that, Zhao Qianxing's voice suddenly turned furious. "Don't you ever bring this up in front of me again! If you do, you need never come home again."
His voice was filled with explosive rage.
In truth, he had more or less moved on from what had happened before. At the very least, his anger had subsided significantly.
But the news he had just received had sent him into a towering rage once more.
'Li Guohai, this is all your fault. If it weren't for you, the Zhao family would have already become one of the absolute top families, a family no one would dare to cross!'
'A good-for-nothing like you dares to affect the Zhao family's fortunes!'
'You want the Anticancer Agent? In your dreams! I'll just watch you rot away and die in that hospital!'
A murderous glint even flashed in Zhao Qianxing's eyes. It was a mystery why the marriage of Li Guohai and Zhao Rou had caused him to lose his composure so completely back then!
No one knew that if Zhao Rou hadn't threatened to kill herself, he would have had Li Guohai killed without a second thought.
On the other end of the line, a bitter smile formed on Zhao Hao's face. "I understand, Dad."
He hung up and could only sigh. 'Little Sis, it's not that I don't want to help you.'
In the Zhao family, Zhao Qianxing's word was law. No one dared to disobey him. Growing up, only Zhao Rou had ever defied him, even going so far as to ignore his direct commands.
As for opposing Zhao Qianxing, Zhao Hao knew he didn't have the guts.
And now, because of that "news," there was no chance Zhao Qianxing would help Li Guohai.
Zhao Hao sighed.
'Sigh... It looks like there's no hope for Li Guohai.'
For an ordinary person, each dose of the Anticancer Agent was astronomically expensive, costing over a hundred million. Li Guohai and Zhao Rou had worked for decades and had only managed to accumulate a net worth in the tens of millions. Getting their hands on a single dose was utterly impossible.
In Zhao Hao's mind, Li Guohai had just been handed a death sentence.
(Thank you to ifor_2011 for the Alliance Leader donation! I can't believe this book got an Alliance Leader! Wind Blade is so, so grateful! I can't post too quickly while the book is new, but I'll post bonus chapters once it goes premium!!! Thank you to Bansheng liangliangliang dao shang for the 1,500-coin donation, and thank you to 08a for the 100-coin donation. Thanks, everyone!)