Chapter 825: 825: Shrimp and Pig's Heart_1

“Uncle Edward, Adrian Zhekova is the CEO of Pingla Group, and my dad is the chairman of Pingla Group,” Cindy Clarke chimed in, “The core positions of Vice President, Deputy General Manager and General Manager of Pingla Group are all held by capable people.”

“Third Uncle likes his freedom and prefers enjoying life rather than being bound by these matters,” Cindy continued, “That’s why he only serves as a director of the Pingla Group and doesn’t get involved in its daily affairs, which is understandable.”

“But Uncle Edward, you’re ambitious.”

When Cindy uttered the words “you’re ambitious,” Jayden Zhekova erupted into unseemly laughter.

Edward Dewer instinctively turned to look at Jayden Zhekova, catching sight of the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth as he struggled to suppress his laughter, but to no avail.

Edward Dewer was irate. After all, Jayden Zhekova had already laughed audibly, why bother suppressing it now?

It was as if Jayden was completely oblivious to his laughter.

As if unaware of Jayden Zhekova’s stifled laughter, Cindy continued, “But Uncle Edward, although you’re ambitious, you’ve ended up serving as the CEO of a subsidiary.”

“Neither my grandfather, my father, nor Adrian are in the business of suppressing capable individuals”

“To the best of my knowledge, the subsidiary responsible for the mid-tier restaurant chains doesn’t have particularly impressive financial reports. The profits are steady year on year, but there’s no growth.”

Was Cindy aware of this?

Of course she wasn’t; she was just pulling Edward’s leg.

After all, if Maverick Zhekova was willing to place Edward Dewer in a subsidiary of Pingla, it would imply Edward lacked genuine talent. How could he possibly drive the subsidiary’s financial growth year on year?

If he truly had the capability, he would already be in Pingla Group’s headquarters. Why would he still be in a subsidiary?

So Cindy hit the nail on the head, much to Edward Dewer’s surprise.

Did Adrian Zhekova tell her about it?! Edward Dewer cast a suspicious glance at Adrian.

“Uncle Edward, don’t take offense at my blunt words. Judging by your performance in managing the subsidiary, it’s clear that you don’t have the capacity to hold a core position at Pingla Group’s headquarters. It’s not my father or Adrian suppressing you; it’s just that you’re not capable enough.”

Edward Dewer’s face turned beet red.

Was he here to be humiliated today?

“Please don’t take offense, okay?” Cindy repeated.

Edward Dewer: “…”

She knew her words were unpleasant; couldn’t she have kept them to herself?

How dare she mock him constantly and yet continue to remark that he should not take offense? This was blatant hooliganism!

She dares to speak and yet expects him not to hold it against her?

“Just like the unpalatable things you just said to me—they were blunt, too,” Cindy said cheerfully.

You see, you were pretty rude yourself not too long ago. Don’t blame me if I’m being blunt now.

Edward Dewer was speechless.

“I realize that your intentions were good. You said those things because you care about the Zhekova Family and me. So, even though your words were harsh, I am not upset by them,” Cindy said, smiling.

Edward Dewer: “…”

“So, I won’t beat around the bush with you either,” Cindy said, still smiling, “With your performance in the subsidiary company, aren’t outsiders already saying that you’re disgracing the Zhekova Family?”

“You!” Edward Dewer was so infuriated that he almost rose from his seat.

But he wanted to maintain the dignity and composure of an elder, and he didn’t want to lose face.

So he held his anger in, even if it cost him internally.

Edward Dewer glared furiously at Cindy Clarke, as if his gaze alone could bore a hole right through her.

Edward Dewer had not expected Cindy Clarke to dare to address him so bluntly.

Cindy, who had only recently married into the Zhekova Family, was meeting him, an elder, for the first time. It never occurred to him she would be so audacious as to make direct jabs at him.

He had seriously underestimated her.

When she first arrived, she seemed frail and docile, and she remained silent when he spoke his piece.

He had assumed that she was meek.

Little did he know that Cindy Clarke was the epitome of a silently menacing entity.

Not just Edward Dewer, but Mila Harrison was stunned too. Really now?

Initially, she thought Edward Dewer had been a bit harsh on Cindy, never expecting Cindy to not only hold her ground but also fire back.

No matter what, Edward Dewer was an elder. Where had she ever seen a newly married daughter-in-law with such audacity?

She was utterly disrespectful towards an elder she was meeting for the first time.

Victoria Wheeler covered her face, as if trying to hide her laughter.

Just before Edward Dewer and his family arrived, Victoria Wheeler had told Cindy to give as good as she got if anyone tried to bully her.

Cindy was a daughter-in-law of the Zhekova Family and also the future wife of the Family Head.

She shouldn’t back down from anyone.@@novelbin@@

But Victoria Wheeler never expected Cindy to learn so quickly and to even apply the advice on Edward Dewer.

Of course, Victoria Wheeler didn’t blame Cindy; Edward Dewer was not exactly a saint either.

He deserved it.

Like Cindy said, what Edward Dewer had said to Cindy was rude, and Cindy was just giving him a taste of his own medicine.

But Cindy wasn’t finished yet.

Right when Edward Dewer was just about to explode, Cindy continued, “But I also understand your predicament, Uncle Edward. You’re probably worried that outsiders might attribute your success solely to the Zhekova Family and that without the backing of the Zhekova Family, you wouldn’t be able to achieve as much.”

“Striving to move forward doesn’t work and neither does backing off. So you’ve chosen to maintain the status quo, right? To keep the subsidiary company in a neither good nor bad state?” Cindy asked.

Edward Dewer was so furious that his entire body was trembling. Cindy was absolutely ruthless!

Forgetting all about his dignity and composure as an elder, Edward Dewer pointed at Cindy, turned to Maverick Zhekova, and fumed, “Are you just going to stand there and let her slander me, to utter such insolent words? Does she have any manners? Has she no respect left?”

“What?” Maverick seemed to be confused. He had been preoccupied and hadn’t heard what Cindy had said.

He looked innocent and puzzled as he feigned ignorance, “What did Cindy say just now?”

Edward Dewer: “…”

You hear how affectionately he calls her Cindy? He clearly doesn’t think she said anything wrong!

Edward Dewer sneered and his gaze swept over Victoria Wheeler. He didn’t ask Victoria anything; she was just too unpredictable and meddlesome.

Edward was not expecting Victoria Wheeler to cooperate with him, so he bypassed her and asked the Old Master, “Aren’t you going to intervene, Uncle?”

The Old Master blinked and dug at his ear, “What? What do you want me to do?”

“Dad, Edward wants you to intervene with Cindy,” Maverick helpfully explained on Edward’s behalf.

The Old Master seemed confused for a moment before asking, “Interfere with Cindy? What has Cindy done?”

“I have no idea, really,” Maverick said, a look of innocence on his face.