Chapter 18: Domestic Tensions

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the Feng family estate in a warm, golden glow, Feng Guiri and Zhang Lihua, retired to their bedchamber. The day's events had taken a heavy toll, and the air was thick with tension between the couple.

Zhang Lihua paced the room, her brow furrowed in frustration. "I can't believe you and Feng Zhengzi failed to convince Old Master Jiang. This was our chance to secure the Jiang family's alliance, and you let it slip through our fingers!"

Feng Guiri sighed heavily, removing his jacket and hanging it neatly in the wardrobe. "It's not as simple as that, Lihua. Old Master Jiang was set in his ways. There was little we could do to sway him."

Zhang Lihua whirled around, her eyes narrowing. "Little you could do? Don't give me that, Guiri. You're the one who's always been so adamant about expanding our family's influence. How could you let this opportunity pass us by?"

Feng Guiri raised a hand, an attempt to placate his wife's anger. "Lihua, you need to understand that Old Master Jiang is a formidable man. He's not one to be easily manipulated. Jiang Yukan is his grandson, and he trusts the boy's judgment implicitly."

"Trust?" Zhang Lihua scoffed. "What does trust have to do with this? This is about power, Guiri, and you and your father have failed to secure it for our family."

Feng Guiri moved closer to his wife, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Lihua, please try to understand. Jiang Yukan is a grown man, and he has the right to choose his own bride. Old Master Jiang made it clear that he would not interfere with his grandson's decision."

Zhang Lihua shrugged off his touch, her eyes blazing with fury. "That's the problem, Guiri! You and your father should have found a way to circumvent Old Master Jiang's wishes. This was our chance to elevate the Feng family, and you've let it slip through our fingers!"

Feng Guiri's brow furrowed, his patience wearing thin. "Lihua, you're not being reasonable. Old Master Jiang is not a man to be trifled with. Pushing him too hard could have had disastrous consequences for our family."

"Disastrous consequences?" Zhang Lihua's voice dripped with sarcasm. "The only thing that's disastrous is your lack of ambition, Guiri. You've always been content to coast on the coattails of your brother's achievements, but now, when we have a chance to truly shine, you've failed us."

Feng Guiri's jaw tightened, and he took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure. "Lihua, you need to understand that this isn't just about our family's ambitions. The Jiang family is a powerful force, and we can't afford to alienate them. Jiang Yukan's decision has to be respected, whether we agree with it or not."

Zhang Lihua's eyes narrowed, and she stepped closer to her husband, her voice laced with venom. "Respected? Guiri, when have you ever prioritized respect over power? This was our chance to elevate the Feng family to new heights, and you've squandered it."

Feng Guiri opened his mouth to respond, but Zhang Lihua cut him off, her tirade showing no signs of slowing.

"You and your father should have tried harder. You should have threatened, cajoled, or even bribed Old Master Jiang if necessary. But no, you just sat there and accepted his decision like a meek little boy."

Feng Guiri's face flushed with anger, and he clenched his fists at his sides. "Lihua, that's enough! I will not be spoken to in that manner, especially in my own home. You need to understand that there are limits to what we can do, and crossing those lines could have dire consequences for our family."

Zhang Lihua scoffed, her disdain for her husband's stance evident. "Consequences? Since when have you cared about consequences, Guiri? All you've ever cared about is maintaining the status quo and riding on the coattails of your brother's success."

Feng Guiri's eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer to his wife, his voice low and threatening. "That's enough, Lihua. I will not tolerate this level of disrespect in my own home. I am the head of this household, and you will listen to me."

Zhang Lihua refused to back down, her chin jutting out defiantly. "You're the head of this household? Don't make me laugh, Guiri. You're nothing but a puppet, constantly overshadowed by your brother and his ambitions."

The tension in the room was palpable, and Feng Guiri could feel his temper slipping. "Lihua, I'm warning you. If you don't stop this nonsense, you'll regret it."

Zhang Lihua's lips curled into a sneer. "Regret it? Guiri, the only thing I regret is ever marrying into this pathetic excuse for a family. The Fengs are nothing compared to the Jiangs, and you've just squandered our chance to change that."

Feng Guiri's control snapped, and he grabbed his wife by the arms, his grip tight. "That's enough, Lihua! I will not stand here and be insulted in my own home. You need to respect my decisions, or there will be consequences."

Zhang Lihua's eyes widened, a flicker of fear passing through them, but she refused to back down. "Consequences? What are you going to do, Guiri? Hit me? Go ahead, I dare you. It's not like you have the backbone to do it anyway."

The two stood there, locked in a battle of wills, the air thick with tension and unspoken threats. Finally, Feng Guiri released his grip, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

"I won't hit you, Lihua. But I need you to understand that my decision to respect Old Master Jiang's wishes was not made lightly. The Jiang family is a force to be reckoned with, and we cannot afford to antagonize them."

Zhang Lihua's expression softened slightly, but her voice remained firm. "Guiri, you're always so concerned with playing it safe. When will you realize that true power comes from taking risks? This was our chance to elevate the Feng family, and you've let it slip through our fingers."

Feng Guiri ran a hand through his hair, a frustrated sigh escaping his lips. "Lihua, I understand your ambition, but we have to be realistic. Jiang Yukan has made his choice, and we can't change that. The best we can do now is to try and make the most of this situation."

Zhang Lihua's eyes narrowed, and she turned away, her arms crossed over her chest. "I hope you know what you're doing, Guiri. Because if this backfires, the consequences will be on your head, not mine."

The couple fell into a tense silence, the weight of their disagreement hanging heavy in the air. Feng Guiri knew that he had to tread carefully, for the sake of his family's future. But as he watched his wife retreat to her side of the bed, he couldn't help but wonder if he had truly made the right decision.

The night wore on, the two spouses keeping to their respective sides, the only sound in the room the ticking of the old grandfather clock. Feng Guiri's mind raced, trying to find a way to mend the rift that had formed between him and his wife. He knew that he needed her support, her unwavering ambition, if they were to navigate the treacherous waters of the Jiang-Feng alliance.

Finally, as the first rays of dawn began to peek through the curtains, Feng Guiri reached out, tentatively placing his hand on his wife's shoulder. "Lihua, I know you're angry with me, and you have every right to be. But please, I need you to understand that this decision wasn't made lightly."

Zhang Lihua remained silent, her back still turned to her husband, but Feng Guiri could sense the tension in her body beginning to ease.

"Lihua, I know how important this alliance is to you, to all of us. But we have to be careful. The Jiang family is a force to be reckoned with, and we can't afford to antagonize them. Jiang Yukan's decision has to be respected, whether we agree with it or not."

Zhang Lihua finally turned to face her husband, her eyes still shining with a hint of resentment. "Guiri, you've never been one to back down from a challenge. What happened today? Why did you suddenly become so... cautious?"

Feng Guiri sighed, his hand reaching up to caress his wife's cheek. "Lihua, you know as well as I do that the Jiang family wields immense power. One wrong move, one misstep, and we could find ourselves on the wrong side of their wrath. I can't risk that, not when the future of our family is at stake."

Zhang Lihua's expression softened, and she leaned into her husband's touch. "I understand your concerns, Guiri. But you can't let fear dictate your actions. We've come this far by being bold, by seizing every opportunity that presents itself."

Feng Guiri nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. "You're right, Lihua. But this situation is different. The Jiangs are not to be trifled with, and I can't afford to make a mistake that could jeopardize everything we've worked for."

Zhang Lihua placed a hand on her husband's arm, her gaze unwavering. "Then we'll have to be more strategic, Guiri. We can't let this opportunity slip through our fingers. There has to be a way to turn this to our advantage."

Feng Guiri's eyes widened, a glimmer of hope flickering in his chest. "You're right, Lihua. We can't give up, not now. There must be a way to salvage this situation, to ensure that the Feng family benefits from this alliance."

The two spouses fell into a contemplative silence, their minds racing as they tried to devise a plan that would allow them to maintain their family's standing while navigating the treacherous waters of the Jiang-Feng alliance.

As the sun rose higher in the sky, casting its warm glow over the Feng family estate, Feng Guiri and Zhang Lihua knew that the battle had only just begun. But with their unwavering determination and their combined ambition, they were confident that they could find a way to turn this unexpected twist of fate to their advantage.

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