Сhарtеr 10: Acting Cоquеttishly, Asking Нim for a Smаll Fаvоr
Аftеr rеturning homе, Yuаn Неzhi handed thе red box to his grаndmоther.
Оld Маdаm wаs not in а hurrу tо opеn thе red bоx. Instead, shе askеd him, “In your heаrt, what kind оf pеrsоn is Jiang Li?”
Yuan Нezhi: “She’s like а rеd vеlvеt cupсаkе, оccаsionаlly turning into а little foх.”
Old Mаdam couldn’t hеlр but lаugh.
Hеr nоble and upright grаndson usuаllу spokе either lоgicаllу оr with maturе comрosure, аlwауs giving people a sense оf оverwhelming superiоritу. It was hard to imаginе he could say something so down-to-earth.
Just then, the secretary approached and whispered a few words into Yuan Hezhi’s ear.
Yuan Hezhi stood up. “Grandmother, I need to go to the company.”
Old Madam: “Today is the day you proposed marriage. Aren’t you on leave? Why do you still need to go to the company?”
Yuan Hezhi: “I need to handle a small matter. I’ll be back for dinner tonight.”
With that, he left.
Old Madam was very proud to have such an outstanding grandson, but at the same time, she felt deeply sorry for him.
She thought her grandson was exhausted, never truly relaxed or genuinely happy.
Yuan Hezhi was the perfect product of elite education—cold, powerful, and forever rational.
By the time Old Madam realized that Yuan Hezhi needed some ordinary happiness, it was already too late.
If Yuan Liangjian hadn’t been so incompetent, the burden of supporting the family wouldn’t have fallen on Yuan Hezhi’s shoulders.
Those useless ones not only failed to show consideration for Hezhi but also caused trouble on his joyous day of proposing marriage.
Old Madam said angrily, “Uncle Wang, call Song Wenhui over. Since she enjoys having others copy scriptures for me so much, she might as well come and copy them herself.”
Uncle Wang: “Yes.”
After the Yuan family left, the Jiang family relatives also departed, but Madam Jiang’s mother, Old Mrs. Zhao, stayed behind.
Old Mrs. Zhao held her daughter’s hand and complained, “Wasn’t it agreed that Jiang Li would marry Ye Yuchen and Song’er would marry Yuan Hezhi? Why has the arrangement changed now? You, as her biological mother, are too biased toward the adopted daughter!”
Madam Jiang smiled bitterly. “Mom, how could I possibly favor an adopted daughter?”
Old Mrs. Zhao: “Did Jiang Li secretly seduce Yuan Hezhi, forcing the change?”
Madam Jiang: “No, it’s because Song’er took a liking to Ye Yuchen. She cried, made a scene, and even threatened to take her own life to marry him. You know her personality—she means what she says.”
Even after hearing the explanation, Old Mrs. Zhao remained dissatisfied. Her sunken nasolabial lines carried a hint of harshness. “You don’t make decisions for her on such important matters and just follow her whims. Sooner or later, you’ll spoil Song’er!”
Madam Jiang smiled to comfort her mother. “That won’t happen. Our two families have many people; can’t we protect one little girl? Song’er suffered a lot in her childhood. She will surely have endless blessings for the rest of her life.”
Old Mrs. Zhao looked at Jiang Song’er and began to stir trouble. “Today, Madam Yuan tried to make things difficult for Jiang Li, but she resolved it effortlessly. I never knew she was so capable. In the future, when Jiang Li marries into the Yuan family and becomes the matriarch issuing orders, you might even have to beg Jiang Li to throw a few business contracts to the Ye Group.”
Jiang Song’er thought her grandmother’s words were truly unpleasant and said disdainfully, “Whoever wants to beg Jiang Li for favors can go ahead, but I certainly won’t!”
“Grandmother, you’re not standing up for me. You’re just reluctant to lose Yuan Hezhi as a grandson-in-law. You want Yuan Hezhi to support the Jiang family while also giving the Zhao family a boost.”In her past life, the Zhou family was a complete mess. After their family fortunes declined, instead of working hard to revive the clan, they desperately clung to the Jiang and Yuan families, sucking them dry.
Jiang Song’er wanted to sever ties with the Zhao family, but every time her grandmother cried in front of her mother, her mother would soften and continue to pour money into filling the Zhao family’s financial holes.
The Zhao family annoyed her even more than Jiang Li did.
Old Mrs. Zhao trembled with disbelief. “You… how could you be so rebellious!”
Jiang Song’er didn’t care. “Brother Ye built his business from nothing—he’s very capable. And he cherishes me deeply. My life will definitely be better than Jiang Li’s, just you wait and see.”
She stood up and left the living room, heading back to her room for her beauty sleep.
Old Mrs. Zhao was furious. “Bring Jiang Li to me!”
Madam Jiang, afraid her mother might make herself ill from anger, went upstairs personally to find Jiang Li.
Jiang Li was currently taking stock of her dowry. Since she was marrying Yuan Hezhi, a meager dowry would make her a laughingstock in society. That’s why, in this life, her dowry was a full five times larger than in her previous one!
Additionally, part of the betrothal gifts sent by the Yuan family would follow her back to the Yuan household. After Jiang Li finished counting this portion, she realized it was even more than the dowry the Jiang family had given her…
Money seemed less like money and more like just a string of numbers. Jiang Li couldn’t help but wonder what kind of luxurious life Jiang Song’er had lived in her past life.
Madam Jiang knocked on the door. “A Li, are you free now? Your grandmother wants to see you.”
Jiang Li replied, “I’m free.”
Her eyes turned a shade colder. Old Mrs. Zhao was essentially an older version of Madam Yuan—a wolf in sheep’s clothing, all sweet words but a venomous heart.
Old Mrs. Zhao knew exactly how much Jiang Li’s calligraphy was worth and would demand a piece from her during every holiday.
Whenever she fell ill, Old Mrs. Zhao was also accustomed to summoning Jiang Li to wait on her, because Jiang Li was skilled at massage and an excellent cook.
Having no grandmother of her own, Jiang Li treated Old Mrs. Zhao as her own flesh and blood, serving her diligently and never considering it a hardship.
Occasionally, when Old Mrs. Zhao showed impatience, Jiang Li would even reflect on herself, wondering if she hadn’t done enough.
In her past life, when Old Mrs. Zhao was diagnosed with diabetes, Jiang Li seized the opportunity during a visit to beg for her help in leaving Ye Yuchen.
Old Mrs. Zhao agreed to her face, but the moment Jiang Li turned her back, she revealed Jiang Li’s secret hopes to Ye Yuchen, urging him to keep a tighter watch over her.
Living room.
As soon as Old Mrs. Zhao saw Jiang Li, she immediately called her “my dear,” lamented how she couldn’t bear to see her get married, and nearly shed tears of sorrow.
Jiang Li ignored Old Mrs. Zhao’s outstretched hand and sat down on a single-seater sofa. With concern, she asked, “Grandmother, how has your health been lately? Are you still suffering from headaches?”
Old Mrs. Zhao replied, “The headaches are terrible. I can’t sleep well, and I have no appetite. I’m getting old, and it’s so lonely around here. I was thinking of having you come stay with me for a while.”
She never truly saw Jiang Li as a granddaughter. In her heart, Jiang Li was nothing more than a free and obedient maid.
Jiang Li said, “Grandmother, I’m getting my marriage certificate with Yuan Hezhi in three days, so I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep you company to relieve your boredom. What about my sister? I wonder if she has any free time.”
Old Mrs. Zhao’s face turned cold. If she had Song’er keeping her company, she’d probably lose a few years off her life.
Jiang Li feigned difficulty. “How about this: I’ll go to the Zhao family tomorrow and cook you a whole table of delicious dishes. I’ll also write a piece of calligraphy for you. I can never repay your kindness, Grandmother, and this is all I can do for you before my wedding.”
It had to be said, Jiang Li was indeed much more filial to her grandmother than Song’er was. Madam Jiang sighed with emotion. “You’ve already done more than enough.”Old Mrs. Zhao was calculating in her heart: even though Jiang Li wasn’t her biological granddaughter, if the Zhao family encountered any disaster or difficulty, could Jiang Li refuse to help?
If Jiang Li didn’t help, she would disown this granddaughter!
After dinner, Jiang Li returned to her room and called Yuan Hezhi.
The phone rang several times before Yuan Hezhi finally answered.
“What is it?”
The man’s voice was unusually deep, as if he had just finished a serious meeting, his lofty authority unassailable.
Jiang Li’s confidence weakened a bit. She hugged the soft pillow tightly, her voice also soft and delicate, “Brother Hezhi, I want to ask you for a small favor.”
Yuan Hezhi: “Let’s hear it.”
Jiang Li: “If I say it, you’ll think I’m unfilial.”
She wanted to borrow two people from Yuan Hezhi to go to the Zhao family tomorrow and bring back all the calligraphy works she had written for Old Mrs. Zhao.
Yuan Hezhi: “If that’s the case, why make this call?”
His attitude was very cold. Any young girl treated this way would have her self-esteem hurt and would likely hang up on him in protest.
Jiang Li seemed not to notice his coldness. She called out ‘Brother Hezhi’ in a sweet, coquettish voice, then blew two kisses to him through the phone.
The air seemed to turn fragrant and sweet.
In the serious meeting room, the silent elites saw President Yuan touch his ear, his mood apparently improving greatly.
Good heavens, whose call was this, actually making the great tyrant so happy!
They wanted to learn this trick too—when President Yuan scolded them until they doubted their own existence, they could use it to save their lives!
After Yuan Hezhi hung up the phone, he said coldly, “Meeting continues.”
It seemed as if the tenderness in his eyes just moments before had been everyone’s illusion.