As Feng Zhengzhi and Feng Guiri sat in the backseat of the car, heading back to the Feng family estate, the air was thick with tension. Both men were fuming, their carefully orchestrated plans to dissuade Jiang Yukan from marrying Feng Ruoxi had crumbled before their eyes.
Feng Guiri was the first to break the silence, his voice laced with anger. "Can you believe the audacity of that old man? How dare he refuse to intervene and override Jiang Yukan's decision?"
Feng Zhengzhi let out a frustrated sigh. "I should have known Old Master Jiang would be so stubborn. He's always had a soft spot for that grandson of his."
"Soft spot?" Feng Guiri scoffed. "More like he's completely blind to Feng Ruoxi's flaws. That girl is nothing but trouble, and she's going to ruin the Jiang family's reputation."
Feng Zhengzhi nodded in agreement. "You're absolutely right. We can't let this marriage happen. The Jiang family's prestige is on the line, and we need to do something about it."
Feng Guiri's brow furrowed. "But what can we do? Old Master Jiang made it clear he won't interfere. And we both know Jiang Yukan is too stubborn to be swayed."
Feng Zhengzih's expression darkened. "We'll have to find another way, Guiri. We can't let this opportunity slip through our fingers. The Jiang family's alliance is too valuable to lose."
As the car pulled up to the Feng family estate, the two men could see the rest of the Feng clan waiting anxiously. Feng Meiling, Feng Xiuying and Feng Airi, and their mother, Zhang Lihua, all rushed to greet them.
Feng Meiling asked worriedly, "Dad, Grandpa, what happened? Did the meeting with Old Master Jiang not go well?"
Feng Zhengzi and Feng Guiri exchanged a grim look before entering the house, the rest of the family trailing behind them.
Once they were all seated in the living room, Feng Zhengzhi cleared his throat. "The meeting with Old Master Jiang did not go as we had hoped."
Feng Xiuying spoke up. "What do you mean? Didn't he agree to have Jiang Yukan reconsider his choice of Feng Ruoxi as his bride?"
Feng Guiri's face twisted with disgust. "That old fool refused to intervene. He's completely blinded by his affection for his grandson."
Zhang Lihua looked bewildered. "But how can that be? Surely, he must see the wisdom in our proposal. Feng Ruoxi is hardly a suitable match for the Jiang family's heir."
Feng Airi chimed in. "That's right! Ruoxi has been nothing but a troublemaker. She'll only bring shame and ruin to our family if she becomes the Jiang family's madam."
Feng Zhaoxuan, who had been silent until now, cleared his throat. "Now, now, let's not be too hasty in our judgments. Perhaps there's more to Jiang Yukan's decision than we realize."
Qiao Yingmei shot her husband's brother a disapproving look. "Zhaoxuan, you can't seriously be defending that girl. You know better than anyone how much trouble she's caused our family."
Feng Ruoxi, who had just returned from school, walked into the living room, her expression indifferent. "If you're all done discussing my life as if I'm not here, I'd like to retire to my room."
Feng Guiri's face twisted with rage. "You insolent girl! How dare you waltz in here, acting as if you've done nothing wrong? Do you have any idea what you've done?"
Feng Ruoxi raised an eyebrow, unfazed by her uncle's outburst. "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about. Perhaps you could enlighten me?"
Feng Meiling stepped forward, her voice dripping with disdain. "Don't play innocent with us, Feng Ruoxi. You've somehow managed to ensnare Jiang Yukan, and now you're poised to become the Jiang family's madam. Do you have any idea how that will affect our family's reputation?"
Feng Ruoxi shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm afraid I don't care about your family's reputation. If Jiang Yukan has chosen me as his bride, then that is his decision, not mine."
Feng Airi let out an exasperated huff. "You ungrateful wretch! Do you have any idea how much this opportunity could have benefited our family? And you're just going to throw it all away?"
Feng Zhengzhi raised a hand, silencing the room. "Enough. Arguing amongst ourselves won't solve anything." He turned to Feng Ruoxi, his expression stern. "Feng Ruoxi, you need to understand the gravity of the situation. The Jiang family's alliance is crucial for our family's future. We cannot afford to jeopardize it."
Feng Ruoxi studied her father's face, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "I understand your concerns, Father, but I'm afraid I don't share them. If Jiang Yukan has chosen me, then that is his prerogative. I won't stand in the way of his decision."
Feng Guiri slammed his fist on the table, causing everyone to jump. "You insolent girl! Do you have any idea what you're doing? You're risking everything for our family!"
Feng Zhaoxuan placed a calming hand on his brother's arm. "Guiri, calm down. Clearly, Jiang Yukan sees something in Feng Ruoxi that we may have overlooked."
Feng Zhaoxuan tried to reason, deep down he was glad that his father's plan of changing the bride didn't fall through. Now with his own daughter being married into the Jiang family, he knew his status would rise much higher than it already was.
Like every rich family, the Fengs had their own internal fights. Feng Zhengzhi had long announced that he will only choose the heir by merit. Feng Zhaoxuan was currently the CEO while Feng Guiri was the CFO of the Feng Group, but both them wanted that Chairman position more and to get there, it was their father who would make the decision.
Qiao Yingmei scoffed. "Overlooked? That girl is nothing but trouble. She's brought nothing but shame to our family, and now she's going to do the same to the Jiangs."
As she spat the words, she was secretly rejoicing that the eyesore girl was going to leave this household. She wanted her gone so she could start with her plans.
Feng Ruoxi turned to her stepmother, her expression unflinching. "If my presence in the Jiang family is such a concern, then perhaps you should have been more vigilant in keeping me out of their sights."
Feng Meiling let out an exasperated sigh. "Ruoxi, you need to understand the importance of this alliance. The Jiang family's prestige and resources could greatly benefit our family. Why can't you see that?"
Feng Ruoxi shook her head, a sardonic smile playing on her lips. "I'm afraid I don't share your obsession with status and wealth, Meiling. If the Jiang family wishes to align themselves with our family, then so be it. But I won't be a pawn in your political games."
Feng Zhengzhi raised a hand, silencing the room once more. "Enough. We need to accept the reality of this situation. Jiang Yukan has chosen Feng Ruoxi as his bride, and we cannot afford to be on bad terms with the Jiang family." He leveled a stern gaze at his family. "We will have to find a way to make this work, for the sake of our family's future."
The room fell silent, the tension palpable. Feng Ruoxi simply turned and left, heading to her room, leaving the rest of the Feng clan to grapple with the unexpected turn of events.
As the family continued to discuss the implications of the Jiang-Feng alliance, Feng Zhengzhi and Feng Guiri exchanged a troubled look. They knew that this was far from over, and they would need to find a way to either influence Jiang Yukan or undermine Feng Ruoxi's position within the Jiang family.
The future of the Feng clan hung in the balance, and the two men were determined to do whatever it took to secure their family's place in the hierarchy of power.
Feng Meiling and Feng Xiuying exchanged glances, both obviously angry and disappointed that things had not went their way. Zhang Lihua looked at her husband with nothing but fury in her eyes, she felt that he had failed to speak up for his daughters well enough to convince Old Mater Jiang.
As for Feng Zhengzhi, he knew it would be a risky move to talk to Jiang Yukang about this, but he was willing to try. What he wanted was an obedient girl to marry at the Jiangs, someone he could control and by the looks of it and with the change of attitude that Feng Ruoxi had been showing the past three days, he was worried that he would not able to control her to get what he really wanted from the Jiangs.
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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