At this point, Zhang Susu shifted the topic and asked, "So, what did you want with our Youli last night, third sister?"
Jiang Li's eyes lifted slightly at the corners, her gaze tinged with arrogance as she said, "Nothing of great importance. I just came to offer my congratulations, seeing as your and eldest brother's newly acknowledged daughter is getting engaged to the eldest young master of the Qi family tomorrow."
As she spoke, she shot a sidelong glance at Jiang Youli, her expression shifting from arrogance to displeasure. "The congratulatory gift will be presented at tomorrow's engagement banquet. Today, my main purpose is to meet the legendary true heiress of our Jiang family, who supposedly shone so brightly at the welcome banquet."
At this, Jiang Youli remarked with a calm, mocking tone, "If you were so curious about me, why didn't you come to see me at the welcome banquet, Third Aunt?"
Jiang Li clearly hadn't expected her to be so direct and was momentarily at a loss for words. After a moment, she retorted with displeasure, "Because I was busy, of course. Just as you were busy last night fiddling with that little, rundown herb garden and had no time to see me."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Youli merely responded with a faint "Oh," and then said, "It doesn't matter. Whether you came or not is of no consequence to me anyway."
Hearing her indifferent words, Jiang Li's face immediately flushed with anger. She scolded, "Second brother and sister-in-law were right. You truly have no manners at all."
Seeing that Jiang Li had finally given in to lecturing Youli, Zhang Susu's expression also turned cold. She said sharply, "Third sister, if your purpose today is the same as second brother and sister-in-law's—to pick on Youli—then you are not welcome here!"
Jiang Li simply dropped the pretense. "Eldest sister-in-law, you're right, I didn't come to congratulate her. I came to warn this little brat! Don't think that just because you're the Jiang family's true heiress, you can do as you please and look down on everyone!"
"I've heard that since she returned, she's thrown the Jiang family into utter chaos. Jiang Zhao is still lying in the hospital, Jiang Xing is crippled in one leg, and Yonghe is now mocked by outsiders for her so-called 'talented lady of the capital' title being nothing but empty fame."
"I also heard that Dad plans to hand over Starlight Entertainment to her next month, and half a year later, give the family's pharmaceutical company to eldest brother to manage, all because your daughter claims she can collaborate with the Zhou family in the future. But how can I believe that? My husband knows people in the Zhou family too, but he's never heard of any such collaboration. How can a little brat like her guarantee future cooperation with the Zhou family? She's just shooting her mouth off!"
Jiang Youli shrugged and said, "Then I guess the Zhou family person your husband knows isn't authoritative enough. Otherwise, Second Uncle wouldn't have failed for so long to secure a collaboration with the Zhou family. Could it be that your husband only knows some gardener or housekeeper of the Zhou family and calls that 'knowing someone'?"
Seeing her mock her husband like this, Jiang Li's face turned icy. "How dare you! Watch your tone!"
Jiang Youli chuckled and reminded her, "Third Aunt, this is my house, OK? If anyone's being presumptuous and lacking manners, it's you."
"Your house?" Jiang Li sneered, her brows furrowed. "This entire Jiang estate currently belongs to the Old Master. Who's to say one day he won't kick you out of this luxurious villa! By then, you'll probably end up wandering the streets again, living a precarious life exposed to the elements, just like before!"
Faced with Jiang Li's acrimonious words, Jiang Youli appeared completely unfazed. A faint, breezy smile played on her lips as she replied lightly, "That's fine. It's just a villa, nothing so impressive. What I have in hand are 30% of the shares in Starlight Entertainment and 10% of the shares in the pharmaceutical company. Aren't both worth more than this villa in the eastern district?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Li's previously arrogant expression changed drastically, replaced by utter astonishment. She exclaimed in disbelief, "What did you say?"
Jiang Youli blinked, replying unhurriedly, "Why are you so surprised, Third Aunt? Didn't Second Uncle and Aunt tell you about me holding company shares?"
Seeing she didn't seem to be lying, Jiang Li stood up furiously. "Outrageous! I'm going to ask the Old Master to clarify this. What madness is this!"
Just then, a deep and authoritative voice suddenly rang out.
"Jiang Li, what do you want me to clarify?"
Hearing this familiar and intimidating voice, Jiang Li's previously high-and-mighty demeanor instantly deflated by more than half, like a punctured balloon.
After Old Master Jiang, supported by the head butler, entered and settled on the sofa, Jiang Li finally mustered her indignation and asked resentfully, "Dad, I heard you've given 10% of our pharmaceutical company's shares and 30% of Starlight Entertainment's shares to your precious granddaughter here? Is this true?"
Old Master Jiang looked at his daughter expressionlessly. "Do you have an opinion?"
Jiang Li jumped in agitation. "Dad, I'm your own daughter, and I don't have a single share of the family's assets! Now this little brat, who just returned to our family not long ago, gets so many shares all at once! How can you expect me to accept this? Since childhood, have I ever failed to satisfy you in anything? Why such a huge difference in treatment? Is it just because she's your newly acknowledged granddaughter that you favor her so blatantly?"
Faced with Jiang Li's rapid-fire questions and complaints, Old Master Jiang remained unmoved. He merely asked coldly in return, "Jiang Li, just tell me, if I gave you shares, what could you do for the Jiang family?"
Jiang Li said incredulously, "Dad, what more do I need to do? Haven't I already worked hard to marry into the Long family? Hasn't the Long family helped our Jiang family plenty over the years?"
Old Master Jiang gave a cold laugh. "Helped with what? Made a few token investments? Is capital what our Jiang family lacks now? It's connections! Take our pharmaceutical company's lack of breakthroughs. If the Long family were truly willing to lend a hand, why would your second brother have failed to secure a collaboration with the Zhou family for so many years? It seems to me that after you married, you've only been focused on your own comfort!"
"Dad, that's too harsh. How could I possibly interfere in such major matters as company collaborations? But haven't I been trying to get my husband to help?" Jiang Li's face flushed red, clearly unconvinced.
Old Master Jiang, however, wore a stern expression, his gaze piercing as he stared at Jiang Li. "That is precisely the biggest difference between you and Youli! Youli can actually help our Jiang family, make us stronger!"
The fury in Jiang Li's heart surged. Unable to contain herself, she raised her voice in retort, "Dad, you might believe a little brat like her, but I don't! If collaborating with the Zhou family were that easy, second brother would have secured it long ago! The reason I came back this time was also to tell you this, Dad. My husband got word that Chairman Zhou is returning to the capital tomorrow. My husband can arrange for second brother to meet with Chairman Zhou to discuss collaboration. Whether it succeeds will depend on second brother's own ability."
At this point, she pointed at Jiang Youli and continued with a scornful tone, "My husband is, after all, the esteemed Second Master of the Long family. Having him step in to help broker the deal surely makes the chance of success much more reliable than relying on this little chit of a girl who just returned to the Jiang family and is all talk?"
Jiang Youli let out a derisive laugh. Old Zhou was indeed returning to the capital from Jianshan Town tomorrow, but he was coming specifically to attend her engagement banquet, not to agree to discuss any cooperation with Jiang Yangxu at the behest of Second Master Long.
