Chapter 236: He Is Getting Married
In the cozy living room, Grandpa Sun sat with the Jiang couple. Master Jiang, noticing Grandpa Sun’s unease, remarked, "Master Sun, you seem rather stressed. Everything okay?" Grandpa Sun, masking his turmoil with a smile, replied, "Yes, yes, everything is fine."
Inwardly, he grappled with thoughts of his newfound son, but maintained his facade for the guests. "What is the purpose of your visit, Jiang Honglin?" Grandpa Sun inquired, attempting to steer the conversation away from his own concerns.
Master Jiang explained, "Well, you see, my wife and I have been discussing something." Madame Jiang interjected, "We’ve been discussing the marriage agreement between our families."
Grandpa Sun’s eyebrows raised in surprise. "The marriage agreement that was agreed upon before both of us were born?" he questioned. Master Jiang nodded firmly. "I think it’s very important that we honor agreements left behind by our elders, don’t you think?" Madame Jiang added, her tone resolute.
Master Jiang cleared his throat before continuing, "Our daughter, Jiang Xiaolin, what do you think about her?" Grandpa Sun, his brows slightly furrowed, replied, "She is a beautiful young woman." Madame Jiang added, "Yes, she is, and she’s also smart."
Grandpa Sun nodded, acknowledging the compliment. "Oh, I see," he remarked. Master Jiang decided to be direct, saying, "I won’t beat around the bush, Master Sun. We think our daughter would make a great wife."
Grandpa Sun raised an eyebrow, sensing where the conversation was headed. "Is that so?" he responded, his tone cautious. Madame Jiang chimed in, "Yes, she is well-trained, smart, goal-oriented, and she hails from wealth. Exactly the type of wife the Sun family needs."
Grandpa Sun’s expression remained neutral as he listened. "Out with it, Jiang Honglin, stop stalling," he urged, his patience waning. Master Jiang took a deep breath before revealing their intentions. "We have come here to inform you that we would like to honor the agreement between our families to marry off our daughter to one of your grandsons."
Grandpa Sun’s suspicion grew, and he didn’t mince words in his response. "Seems like you already have someone in mind... I have four grandsons, Jiang Honglin. Which one does your daughter have a crush on? Because it’s clear that she is the one who sent you. You and I have both forgotten this agreement, and now all of a sudden, you want to honor it."
Master Jiang lied, insisting, "That is not true. We’ve just been discussing it, and our Xiaolin is already of age." Madame Jiang added, "Yes, we think she is ready to get married."
Grandpa Sun remained unconvinced, stating firmly, "If she is ready to get married, she should find a boyfriend." Despite his annoyance, Master Jiang attempted to maintain his composure. "We would feel better if she married someone we can trust," he insisted.
Grandpa Sun countered, "You can learn to trust her boyfriend." Madame Jiang interjected, "Our families have ongoing business deals. This would strengthen our relationship."
Grandpa Sun shook his head, dismissing the notion. "You know that we already have so much. We would take a wife even if she were homeless. There is nothing more a born-rich wife can do for our family," he declared.
Master Jiang pressed for clarity, asking, "What do you mean?" Grandpa Sun didn’t mince words. "Listen, my grandsons are not ready to get married. The one who is ready is getting married in two weeks. You will be receiving official invitations before the end of the week. So, this agreement, I don’t think we can honor it," he explained.
Madame Jiang’s curiosity was piqued. "One of your grandsons is getting married? Which one?" she inquired. Grandpa Sun revealed, "Sun Lixia’s son, Li Chen." Master Jiang and Madame Jiang exchanged glances, surprised by the news.
Grandpa Sun, feeling the weight of his age, concluded, "I am old; I need some rest. I will be seeing you at the wedding. It will be the wedding of the century." With that, the meeting came to an end, leaving Master Jiang and Madame Jiang to ponder the unexpected turn of events.
The Jiang couple returned home, weighed down by disappointment. They knew they had to break the news to their expectant daughter that her crush was marrying someone else. Jiang Xiaoli eagerly awaited them in the living room. "Mom, Dad, how did the meeting go?" she inquired.
Madame Jiang sighed heavily before replying, "Honey, if you want to marry into the Sun family, you should consider someone else."
Confusion clouded Jiang Xiaolin’s face as she asked, "Why would I do that? I want Li Chen, no one else."
Master Jiang sighed in resignation. "Dad, what happened?" Jiang Xiaolin pressed.
Madame Jiang hesitated before delivering the blow. "I’m sorry, sweetie. We tried, but Li Chen is getting married in two weeks," she explained.
Jiang Xiaolin’s world seemed to shatter at the news. "What?" she exclaimed in disbelief.
"That’s what Master Sun said," Master Jiang confirmed.
Jiang Xiaolin refused to accept it. "That’s not possible! He doesn’t even have a girlfriend. Grandpa Sun lied to you," she insisted.
Madame Jiang shook her head sadly. "I don’t think so, honey. He seemed very serious about it," she replied gently.
Jiang Xiaolin’s mind raced with denial. "No... no, it’s not possible," she murmured, unable to come to terms with the unexpected turn of events.
Madame Jiang’s heart ached as she apologized, "I’m sorry we failed you." Jiang Xiaolin’s resolve only strengthened. "No, I will get Li Chen. He is not getting married; that’s a lie," she asserted. Just then, their family butler arrived with an invitation.
Madame Jiang’s expression turned to shock as she read the contents. "It’s the invite to Li Chen’s wedding," she announced, her voice trembling with disbelief. Master Jiang tried to comfort her, asking, "What is it, honey?"
"It’s real... he’s really getting married. And who is this Zhang Mei? Which family is she from?" Jiang Xiaolin demanded, her hands shaking as she held the invitation.
Master Jiang conceded, "I guess Grandpa Sun was telling the truth." Madame Jiang suggested, "You could still settle for one of the other Sun boys, honey."
But Jiang Xiaolin remained resolute. "I don’t want the other Sun boys; I want Li Chen," she insisted firmly. Master Jiang proposed, "What about his twin brother? They look alike."
Jiang Xiaolin’s frustration was evident. "You don’t understand, Dad. I said I only want Li Chen," she declared. Madame Jiang sighed sadly, "Well, you can’t get him, sweetie."
Jiang Xiaolin’s defiant declaration hung in the air as she strode off to her room upstairs. Master Jiang and Madame Jiang exchanged worried glances, their concerns mounting. They had hoped their daughter would marry into the Sun family, not just for her happiness but also to strengthen their family’s ties with the Suns.
But now, Jiang Xiaolin’s singular focus on Li Chen, a man on the verge of marriage, posed a significant challenge. They knew they had to tread carefully, navigating their daughter’s desires while also considering the broader implications for their family’s future.
Master Jiang and Madame Jiang sat in uneasy silence, grappling with the weight of their daughter’s desires and the implications for their family’s aspirations. The thought of Jiang Xiaolin fixating on Li Chen, who was already betrothed, filled them with anxiety. They had envisioned a strategic alliance with the Sun family, not a tangled web of unrequited love and dashed hopes.
Their minds raced with questions and concerns. How could they redirect Jiang Xiaolin’s affections toward a more suitable match? Would she be willing to consider another suitor from the Sun family? And what about the potential fallout from their failed attempt to secure this alliance? They knew they had to find a solution quickly before their family’s reputation and standing were compromised.
As they pondered their next steps, they couldn’t shake the feeling of apprehension that gripped them. Their daughter’s insistence on pursuing Li Chen had thrown their carefully laid plans into disarray, leaving them scrambling to salvage the situation and protect their family’s interests.
In her room, Jiang Xiaolin’s rage boiled over as she smashed a glass on the floor, screaming in frustration. Since she first laid eyes on Li Chen at the banquet, she had been captivated by him. It wasn’t just his handsome appearance; there was an irresistible allure about him that drew her in. Now, learning of his impending marriage to another woman ignited a fire within her.
She refused to accept this outcome. Determination surged through her veins as she vowed to stop the wedding by any means necessary. What Jiang Xiaolin desired, she would obtain. No obstacle would stand in her way, not even the impending union between Li Chen and Zhang Mei. With a steely resolve, she began plotting her next move, determined to seize control of her destiny and claim what she believed was rightfully hers.
Jiang Xiaolin seethed with frustration as she sat on her bed, her chest rising and falling with anger. Throughout her life, she had never found a man worthy of her attention, always convinced that none were good enough. Yet, from the moment she laid eyes on Li Chen, everything changed.
