Jiang Li looked at her with a resentful gaze, gritting her teeth as she said, "...Then I, as your aunt, really must thank you for your kindness."
Jiang Youli smiled magnanimously, "No need. After all, we're family."
After speaking, she glanced at Second Master Long, who wasn't defending Jiang Li at all. "Third Aunt, you're about to kneel and apologize to me. Why isn't Second Master Long speaking up for you?"
Seeing Jiang Youli mention him, Second Master Long immediately said, "A bet is a bet. Since your third aunt lost the wager with you, kneeling to apologize is only right."
Although she had long known that her marriage to Second Master Long was merely an alliance and their feelings weren't deep, being so unreservedly abandoned by her own husband in front of the entire family still made Jiang Li feel a heart-wrenching pain, as if pierced by ten thousand arrows.
Jiang Youli couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy. "It seems Third Aunt's life in the Long family isn't as glorious as you made it out to be."
Then, she shifted her focus and looked at Jiang Yonghe. "Jiang Yonghe, you should take a good look at Third Aunt's current situation. Although she managed to secure a marriage alliance with a top-tier wealthy husband, she gets no protection from it. Your own path could end up the same way."
Being mocked so openly, Jiang Li could bear it no longer. "Jiang Youli! With so many people watching, haven't you said enough?!"
She then complained to Old Master Jiang, "Dad! No matter how much you dote on your precious granddaughter, you should rein her in on an occasion like this!"
Old Master Jiang remained unmoved. "Jiang Li, a family's dignity and face are earned through formidable capability, not yielded through swallowing one's pride."
Although his granddaughter had been quite blunt in her speech tonight, Old Master Jiang had also noticed that many of the guests present tonight did not view his granddaughter with the same level of doubt and disdain as they had at the previous welcome banquet.
Instead, there was more recognition and appreciation.
This indicated that his granddaughter, relying on her own solid capabilities, was gradually gaining recognition within the elite social circles.
Especially now, with three influential figures, including the head of the Zhou family, standing by her side simultaneously—who would dare question her?
With sufficient strength, no matter how flamboyant or sharp-edged she was, she would not bring shame upon the family.
Before Jiang Li could speak, Second Master Long chimed in, "You see, it's not just me, your husband, who isn't defending you. Your own father is the same."
Fuming with rage, Jiang Li finally fell silent, refusing to add to her own humiliation.
The mentioned Jiang Yonghe showed no anger, merely revealing a faint smile. "Sister Youli, there's no need for you to worry about my lifelong matters. I actually feel perfectly happy just being able to stay by my parents' side."
"Is that so?" Jiang Youli questioned. "Then why did you agree to the marriage alliance with my Huanhuan back then? Was it because, at that time, you thought marrying Huanhuan would make you happy, and not just staying with Uncle and Aunt?"
These words instantly felt like sharp slaps to the faces of Jiang Yonghe, Jiang Yangxu, and Qin Yulian simultaneously.
Qin Yulian spoke up in defense, "The marriage alliance was arranged by your uncle and me for Yonghe. Finding a good marriage for Yonghe naturally makes us, as parents, happy for her."
Jiang Youli let out an "Oh," as if suddenly understanding. "No wonder Jiang Yonghe said that breaking off the engagement with my Huanhuan was something she was forced into due to pressure from Uncle and Aunt, and not her own wish."
Hearing this, Qin Yulian frowned, looking puzzled at her adopted daughter Jiang Yonghe. When did Yonghe say such a thing, and to whom?
Noticing Qin Yulian's gaze, Jiang Yonghe nervously pursed her lips but didn't appear overly guilty. She simply offered no explanation.
Jiang Xing, who felt guilty for having once doubted Jiang Yonghe, spoke up, "Mom."
He only uttered that one word and said nothing more.
Understanding her son's meaning, Qin Yulian had no choice but to suppress the doubts in her heart, treating Jiang Youli's words just now as an attempt to sow discord within their family.
Having intentionally sowed seeds of discord within Qin Yulian's family, Jiang Youli then turned back with a smile. "Uncle Zhou, Uncle Qin, Aunt Meng, let me take you to another table."
"Alright," Old Zhou and the other two nodded.
Jiang Youli scanned the banquet hall and then said to her beautiful new mother and handsome new father, "Mom, all the guests we invited on our side have arrived. You and Dad should take your seats first. The engagement ceremony will officially begin soon."
Zhang Susu and Jiang Yehan nodded, "Okay."
Jiang Youli then smiled at Old Master Jiang. "Grandfather, I'll go settle Uncle Zhou and the others and then come right back."
Old Master Jiang waved his hand, "Go ahead."
Watching Jiang Youli's retreating figure, Jiang Yonghe clenched her nails tightly: Jiang Youli, just keep being smug for now! Soon, you won't be able to laugh anymore!
As the engagement ceremony was about to officially begin, Jiang Xing looked around, trying to spot Qi Yue in the crowd. He wanted to know what method Qi Yue, using the information he provided, had arranged to deal with Jiang Youli tonight.
However, he didn't see Qi Yue. Instead, at the table where Jiang Youli was taking Chairman Zhou and the other two influential figures, he saw an unexpected person.
Boss Lin from the capital city's auction house.
Jiang Xing was astonished. Why was he at the table for Jiang Youli's invited guests?!
...
"Thank you for the invitation tonight, Miss Jiang!" The invited Boss Lin, upon seeing Jiang Youli, quickly rose from his seat, offering respectful and grateful thanks.
This trip was indeed not in vain; this engagement banquet was truly filled with big shots!!!
Just the three beside her alone were people ordinary folks rarely got to see!
Tonight, he could completely say he was basking in Jiang Youli's reflected glory!
Jiang Youli smiled generously, "No need to thank me. I'll still need to rely on your help, Boss Lin, for my business ventures in the capital in the future!"
Boss Lin felt both honored and flustered. "Absolutely, absolutely!"
After speaking, he leaned slightly closer to Jiang Youli and said in a low voice, "Jiang Xing saw me. He's clearly puzzled about why I'm your invited guest, Miss Jiang."
Jiang Youli suppressed a laugh. "Let him guess blindly tonight."
Hearing this, Boss Lin laughed heartily.
After Old Zhou took a seat next to his son Zhou Yi, he gave Zhou Yi's shoulder a firm pat. "You kid, have you been taking good care of Little Li in the capital?"
Zhou Yi teased helplessly, "I'd like to, but you know Little Li's capabilities. She doesn't even give me a chance to step in. Besides, isn't there someone more suitable than me to take care of Little Li now?"
He was referring to Qi Huan.
Qi Huan smiled and joked, "Even I need Little Li to give me a chance."
Old Zhou joined in the banter, "True. Nowadays, you have to queue up if you want to take care of Little Li."
Jiang Youli couldn't help but laugh. "Uncle Zhou, it's not that exaggerated."
After laughing enough, Old Zhou said, "By the way, Little Li, we didn't know what gift to get you. Thinking that no matter how precious, you wouldn't lack for anything, we thought—your Uncle Zhou, Aunt Meng, and I—we'd grant you one request, as long as it's within our power."
Jiang Youli didn't stand on ceremony either and directly stated her idea. "Then I'll make my request. Grandfather has promised me that if Jiang Yangxu still fails to produce results in six months, the Jiang Pharmaceutical Company will be taken over by my father. When that time comes, I hope to cooperate with the medicinal herb cultivation base you're developing, Uncle Zhou."
