After reviewing the list, Qi Huan sent a reply to Jiang Youli.
"This engagement banquet was originally the occasion Grandpa intended to formally announce me as the Qi family heir. Later, because of the incident with my paralyzed legs, everyone started speculating that Grandpa was going to give up on me."
"As my fiancée, you'll face a lot of skeptical looks from the outside world alongside me, especially opportunistic pressure from other members of the Qi family."
"I'll compile a dossier on all the Qi family members tonight and send it to you tomorrow. Get familiar with it in advance so you can handle things calmly at the engagement banquet."
Soon, Jiang Youli sent back an [OK] sticker.
"Having some people stir up trouble makes it more interesting, let's just treat it as entertainment for our engagement banquet~ Otherwise, it'd be so boring~"
Qi Huan probably expected her to have this kind of attitude and jokingly replied.
Qi Huan: "Just don't let it get bloody, since it's our engagement banquet after all. That would be inauspicious."
Jiang Youli: "No problem!"
Qi Huan: "Did Duan Jinghan come looking for you again tonight?"
...
Speak of the devil.
Jiang Youli just received a message from Duan Jinghan.
"Jiang Youli, you still have these last two days. If you regret agreeing to marry Qi Huan, tell me. I'll take you to the Civil Affairs Bureau tomorrow to get our marriage certificate. Once it's a done deal, the Qi family won't be able to do anything about it."
Following the message was a photo he took of his new household register.
Looking at the photo, Jiang Youli couldn't tell if Duan Jinghan was showing off that he was now the young master of the wealthy Duan family, or if he genuinely wanted to go get the marriage certificate with her.
She took a screenshot of the message Duan Jinghan sent and forwarded it to Qi Huan.
Qi Huan: [...]
Qi Huan: "He actually reminded me. How about we go get our certificate tomorrow instead?"
Jiang Youli chuckled.
Jiang Youli: "Huanhuan, believe in yourself. You really don't need to compete with him like this."
Qi Huan: "Then let's stick to the plan for now. We'll talk about it after the engagement banquet."
...
The next morning, Jiang Youli picked up her phone and saw the dossier on the Qi family members that Qi Huan had sent.
She went downstairs and, while having breakfast with her beautiful new mother, browsed through the information on all the Qi family members.
Grandpa Qi had two daughters and three sons.
The eldest daughter, Qi Xinfeng, married a certain high-ranking official surnamed Zhang in the capital. They only have one son. Due to the sensitive nature of their status, they rarely interact with the Qi family side.
The second daughter, Qi Xiuhua, married a self-made entrepreneur. The couple worked together, first investing in real estate and riding the wave of the times. Later, they timely withdrew from real estate and switched to the education and training industry, before finally pivoting again to establish a high-end private elementary school in the capital. They are now considered moderately successful in the capital. She has one daughter named Qi An'an.
The third son, Qi Tianhuai, is currently responsible for the Qi family's non-ferrous metals industry in Africa. This line of work is risky but also offers high returns. He has a son and a daughter: the eldest daughter Qi Feixue and the younger son Qi Shaoxiong.
The fourth son, Qi Tianjue, is in charge of the current booming industry of new energy vehicles, mainly focusing on the high-end route and researching smart driving. He has two sons: the eldest Qi Feifan and the younger Qi Xiuyuan.
Qi Huan's father, Qi Tianxiang, is Grandpa Qi's youngest son, and of course, the least accomplished one.
Qi Huan had specifically noted on the dossier the nature of his relationships with his two aunts and two uncles.
Apart from the second aunt, Qi Xiuhua, who is neutral, the eldest aunt, Qi Xinfeng, is on good terms with the fourth uncle, Qi Tianjue. Therefore, Qi Tianjue's new energy vehicle company receives a lot of local policy support. The third uncle, Qi Tianhuai, is a ruthless character, shrewd and capable, and utterly detests Qi Huan.
To be more precise, he cannot accept that his youngest brother, Qi Tianxiang, whom he always looked down upon the most, managed to take over the majority of the Qi family's fortune simply because he had a prodigy son. This now forces him to depend on Qi Huan's favor for whether he gets scraps or a proper share of the family wealth.
Jiang Youli gained a preliminary understanding of the Qi family's current situation. The next step would be the practical experience at Saturday's engagement banquet.
It seemed that continuing the marriage alliance with Qi Huan at this critical juncture, where no one had faith in him, truly required some resilience.
No wonder Jiang Yonghe didn't dare to risk continuing the alliance and hastily had Jiang Yangxu and Qin Yulian bring Jiang Youli back to the Jiang family as a substitute bride.
On one hand, apart from being unable to accept the fact of Qi Huan's paralyzed legs, she also likely believed that not only was Qi Huan definitely not going to become the Qi family heir, but he would probably also face comprehensive oppression and persecution from other Qi family members.
"What are you looking at so intently?"
Jiang Youli locked her phone screen and smiled. "The dossier on the Qi family that Qi Huan sent me."
Zhang Susu understood. "Mm, it's good to understand in advance and be prepared. Given Qi Huan's current situation, the other Qi family members are probably all eyeing the position of family heir covetously."
Speaking of this, she added, "Although our Jiang family can't compare to the Qi family, and this marriage alliance is us marrying up, your father and I absolutely will not let you be bullied by the Qi family."
Jiang Youli smiled. "Yes, with you and Dad as my backing, what do I have to fear? If anyone bullies me, I'll just confront them directly."
Inspired, Zhang Susu couldn't help but smile. "Right, we must never tolerate any mistreatment!"
It had been a long time since she felt so unburdened. In the past, under her husband's protection and affection, she felt she had no desires or demands and was often described as having a calm, detached demeanor.
Now she realized, what nonsense is this 'calm and detached' demeanor? It was simply because she didn't have people or things she cherished enough!
Youli is now the daughter she cherishes. Whoever dares to harm Youli, she will fight them with everything she's got!
After breakfast.
Another message from Duan Jinghan arrived.
"Made up your mind? If you have, bring your household register and wait for me at the Civil Affairs Bureau."
The corner of Jiang Youli's mouth twitched, and she continued to ignore him.
"I'll have Nanny Wang prepare an extra portion of food. At noon, you can take the lunchbox to the hospital for Qi Huan and help him with his treatment," Zhang Susu suggested. After witnessing the scene Qi Tianxiang caused at the hospital yesterday, she also understood that Qi Huan's situation within the Qi family was probably quite isolated and helpless.
Jiang Youli nodded. "Alright."
...
Jiang Youli informed Qi Huan in advance that she would be bringing a lunchbox and arrived at the hospital at noon carrying it.
After parking the car, she happened to run into Jiang Yonghe at the elevator entrance, who was also there to deliver food to Jiang Zhao.
A flicker of hostility passed through Jiang Yonghe's eyes, but she quickly forced a hypocritical smile and spoke first. "Jiang Youli, how is Qi Huan's leg treatment going?"
Jiang Youli glanced at her and ignored her.
Jiang Yonghe's smile grew even more insincere. "After Qi Huan's leg injury, I've also been trying to find ways to help him get treatment. If you can really cure Qi Huan's leg, then I truly would be grateful to you."
Jiang Youli scoffed. "Do I need your gratitude for curing Qi Huan's leg? Do you think too highly of yourself? In Qi Huan's heart, you are nothing."
Jiang Yonghe said helplessly, "Jiang Youli, is it your own assumption that I hold no place in Qi Huan's heart, or did Qi Huan personally tell you that? If Qi Huan himself told you... you're a smart person too. Do you actually believe a man's sweet words when he's down on his luck?"
Then, with a face full of sympathy, she said, "To be honest, Jiang Youli, I'm really worried for you. If Qi Huan's legs are cured, I'm afraid he might look down on you. All the hard effort you're putting in for him now could end up being for nothing."
