The Cui Family Mansion.
Old Master Cui’s illness had turned out to be a false alarm; nothing serious. Even the doctors said the old man was incredibly lucky to have made it through safely this time. So, whether they came out of genuine concern or with ulterior motives, most of the guests and collateral relatives had already left by now.
However, many of the true core members of the Cui family, the direct-line descendants, had stayed behind. They still lingered in this large, traditional courtyard home, rich with the deep, old-school charm of the capital.
Lin Moli stayed in the sickroom for about another ten minutes or so before leaving. She didn’t remain too long. Old Master Cui had only just started to recover from his serious illness; he wasn’t even considered fully rehabilitated yet. He’d only just had his oxygen mask removed, so naturally, his energy was still low, and he tired easily.
If it weren’t to help Lin Moli’s mother, Cui Ruzhu, the old master wouldn’t have kept Lin Moli there alone in the first place. Now that their purpose was achieved and he’d asked about some specific details, he let her leave the room.
In the main hall of the courtyard, there were fewer men sitting around at the moment. After all, the Cui family still had some ties to the “red” political background. The middle-aged men of the family were mostly doing quite well for themselves, holding important positions, and were usually busy with little free time.
Most of those seated were middle-aged women who spent the better part of their days chatting, playing cards, focusing on skincare, doing yoga, or going to the spa.
They typically had nothing much to do, and even if they had jobs, those jobs were incredibly undemanding. Naturally, they were there now, keeping an eye on things at the courtyard on behalf of their husbands.
These women had been chattering away non-stop earlier, but most fell silent when Lin Moli walked in. They then turned and stared at her with wide, curious eyes, as if she were some kind of animal.
Lin Moli was smart and sharp; how could she not know what they were thinking? They were all simply curious about her boyfriend, Jiang Fei: his background, his identity, his family’s status, whether he could even be compared to the Cui family.
It was a pity that Lin Moli had never been one to show off or be talkative. She didn’t really feel like dealing with these various aunts and in-laws, and she had nothing in common with them anyway. If it weren’t for needing to inquire about Jiang Fei’s situation, she wouldn’t have even come in to say hello.
Earlier, when her mother had led Jiang Fei out of the sickroom, she hadn’t been able to follow. She had no idea what was happening between her mother and Jiang Fei, or where they were now.
“Sister Moli, long time no see,” said a girl who looked about two or three years younger than Lin Moli.
This girl appeared to be just in her early twenties. She was fashionably dressed, head to toe in designer brands: an LV bag, Channel clothes, and even on her wrist was a Vacheron Constantin watch that would make any middle-class person gasp!
This outfit wasn’t just expensive, but also well-matched and tasteful. Although she was very young, it instantly gave her an air of elegance without being gaudy – a true socialite.
Even within the Cui family, which had political ties, this was rare. Among the younger girls, only Lin Moli could outshine her.
Today, Lin Moli, due to the hurried circumstances, was simply dressed in an ordinary executive’s outfit with no particularly expensive accessories. However, her time navigating the business world and managing the large Jiang’s Pharmaceutical Company had cultivated an aura that surpassed any luxury item – not something ordinary women could match.
“Qingxuan, long time no see,” Lin Moli nodded in greeting, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
This girl was her cousin, Cui Qingxuan. Back when Lin Moli lived in Jincheng, her memory of this cousin was that she hadn’t been particularly outstanding. She hadn’t expected that in just a few years, she would have transformed so remarkably.
However, there was history. This cousin, Cui Qingxuan’s mother, Zhu Zhen, had once had a conflict with Lin Moli’s mother, Cui Ruzhu. It had never been resolved and was quite strained. Even at family gatherings, they never acknowledged each other. Consequently, Lin Moli and Cui Qingxuan hadn’t been close since childhood; they were practically strangers.
Not exactly enemies, though, because Lin Moli had no interest in holding grudges against peers in the family.
Now that Cui Qingxuan had taken the initiative to greet her, Lin Moli took the opportunity to ask, “Have you seen my mom?”
Cui Qingxuan looked pleased. She had keenly noticed the surprise in Lin Moli’s eyes when she first saw her. It meant Lin Moli was also impressed by her transformation today.
Making her cousin Lin Moli “envious” was a satisfying achievement. Because before, it had always been the other way around – she was the one envious of Lin Moli.
“Auntie? She left just a bit ago with your boyfriend, Sister Moli. Looks like she probably wants to have a talk with him,” Cui Qingxuan said with a smile.
“I see, thanks.” Lin Moli frowned slightly, nodded, and prepared to leave.
Just as she thought – her mother was really going to take Jiang Fei somewhere outside to talk instead of doing it at home!
But just as Lin Moli was about to go, a peculiar glint flashed in Cui Qingxuan’s eyes. She quickly grabbed Lin Moli’s arm, acting all friendly and close, and said, “Sister Moli, you’re finally back for a visit. Don’t rush off. Let’s chat for a bit.”
“Yeah, Moli, sit down and chat with us for a while,” the aunties in the hall also urged.
Especially one middle-aged woman who bore some resemblance to Cui Qingxuan. She wore her hair in an elegant updo, and an Hermès scarf costing tens of thousands adorned her neck. She too exuded an air of sophistication.
“Moli, no need to rush off looking for your boyfriend. Don’t worry too much. No matter how dissatisfied your mother might be with him, it’s not like she can do anything drastic, like just kick him out, right?” this middle-aged woman said with a beaming smile.
Her tone sounded like she was comforting and advising Lin Moli, but in reality, she was subtly taunting her. If Jiang Fei really was someone whose status would make Lin Moli’s mother look down on him, then her words were essentially rubbing salt in Lin Moli’s wound.
This woman was naturally Zhu Zhen, Cui Qingxuan’s mother – the one who had a longstanding feud with Lin Moli’s mother, Cui Ruzhu.
“Thank you for your concern, Aunt,” Lin Moli replied coolly, not showing much anger.
Because, deep down, she was confident. She knew clearly that her mother wouldn’t be able to just chase Jiang Fei away. She had one hundred percent faith in him.
When you have absolute confidence in something, when others try to use that same thing to put you down, it just doesn’t faze you. Your mindset shifts to one of indifference, and you start seeing the other person as a bit of a joke.
“Looks like you have a lot of faith in your boyfriend, Moli,” Zhu Zhen chuckled. Seeing Lin Moli wasn’t getting angry, she continued, “By the way, Moli, you mentioned earlier that your boyfriend is a doctor. You even said he’s the best traditional Chinese medicine doctor in the country. Are you joking? Although our Cui family doesn’t have anyone who’s sunk so low as to become a doctor, we still know a thing or two. Famous TCM doctors are all old men, aren’t they?”
No sooner had Zhu Zhen finished speaking than the other aunts and in-laws, seeing the topic was open, eagerly chimed in before Lin Moli could explain.
“Yeah, Moli. Letting your boyfriend treat the old master was really unreliable.”
“Moli, why would you find a doctor as a boyfriend? He’s just not on our Cui family’s level.”
“Your mother definitely won’t approve of you two dating. The old master keeping you alone in the room earlier was probably to talk about that, right? That you two aren’t suited for each other?”
“Exactly. Our Cui family is considered someone in Xidu City. Moli, you should find someone who’s a good match. Look at Qingxuan. Do you know who her boyfriend is? It’s Yang Feng, the most outstanding heir of the Yang family in Xidu City, the future successor. You should know him, right? See the watch on Qingxuan’s wrist? That’s a Vacheron Constantin, worth over four hundred thousand. It was a gift from Yang Feng at her birthday party a while back.”
“Mhm. Qingxuan really found herself a good one.”
As they talked, the topic shifted from collectively ‘criticizing’ Lin Moli to praising and envying Cui Qingxuan.
Although the Yang family wasn’t involved in politics, they were a renowned, powerful family in Xidu City, even across the whole Qinchuan Province, with assets worth several hundred million. Yang Feng, as the future successor, was naturally a highly desirable prospect.
The Cui family was indeed politically connected, but their “red” ties weren’t that deep or prominent. If they were, Lin Moli’s father wouldn’t have been able to break free from Cui Ruzhu’s control. So, it was understandable that the Cui family didn’t look down on a business-oriented family like the Yangs.
Hearing this praise, Cui Qingxuan and her mother Zhu Zhen, already rather smug, grew even more pleased and proud. They couldn’t help but look at Lin Moli with even greater smugness.
“I really love the watch Yang Feng gave me,” Cui Qingxuan said, touching the watch on her wrist with a sweet, happy expression. “But I love even more the pastry shop he opened for me near the Bell Tower. It cost him over a million. He knows it’s always been my dream.”
She then shifted the topic, tilting her head to ask Lin Moli, “Sister Moli, what has your boyfriend given you?”
Before Lin Moli could answer, the aunties were already gossiping: “A doctor? What could he possibly give Moli?”
“Exactly. For ordinary families, being a doctor is decent, but for our family? What kind of future could he have? Even if he becomes a professor or expert, so what?”
“Moli, I know you’re stubborn, but let me give you some advice. Break up with this Jiang Fei. He’s not good enough for you. What about Mu Chaoyang from the Mu family? He’s handsome, outstanding, and started his own business. His future is limitless. He can at least compare to Yang Feng.”
Hearing this, Lin Moli frowned.
She hadn’t really been interested in talking to these middle-aged women. But she really didn’t like hearing these things because she hated anyone putting Jiang Fei down. It bothered her even more than if they were insulting her directly.
“Jiang Fei hasn’t given me many material gifts, and he hasn’t opened a shop for me,” Lin Moli said, looking at them.
The women nodded knowingly, shaking their heads. See? What good thing could a doctor give you?
Lin Moli paused, then added casually, “He just gave me forty percent of his company shares…”
This left everyone a bit stunned.
Forty percent of his company shares for Lin Moli? That was no small gesture. It was like giving her a substantial portion of his personal wealth.
Even in wealthy or influential families, it was rare for a man to be so generous with his woman. Take Yang Feng, for example. He could give Cui Qingxuan gifts worth hundreds of thousands, even a million. But there was absolutely no chance he’d give her shares in the Yang family company before marriage.
Even after marriage, if she didn’t bear a son, getting shares would be unlikely.
Of course, Jiang Fei and Yang Feng weren’t even in the same league. Their wealth levels weren’t comparable at all!
“I thought your boyfriend was a doctor? Since when does he own a company?”
“Why can’t a doctor own a company?” Lin Moli retorted.
Cui Qingxuan interjected with a sweet smile, “Sister Moli, what kind of company does your boyfriend run? How much capital does it have?”
“A pharmaceutical company,” Lin Moli said. “When it was first invested in about half a year ago, it had just over a million in assets…”
“Only just over a million!” Everyone understood now.
A company worth just over a million – even forty percent of the shares would only be around four or five hundred thousand. That was still decent, about the same as Cui Qingxuan’s watch, right?
But what about the future?
Cui Qingxuan could expect countless more gifts, and marrying into the Yang family meant a life of glory and wealth.
A small-time doctor giving a gift worth several hundred thousand was already quite something. But that was likely the extent of it.
“I wasn’t finished,” Lin Moli said, her gaze sweeping over them. She continued calmly, “Jiang Fei’s company is called Jiang’s Pharmaceutical Company. A little over a million was its capital when it was registered half a year ago. As for its market value now? If someone wanted to acquire it, even offering a couple of billion wouldn’t stand a chance.”
Lin Moli’s seemingly casual statement hit them like a bombshell.
A couple of billion couldn’t acquire it?
What did that even mean? The Yang family’s total assets were only a few hundred million, not even close to a billion!
Wasn’t this saying Jiang Fei’s company was worth more than the famously wealthy Yang family’s entire fortune?
“How is that possible? A couple of billion can’t buy it? Moli, are you telling jokes?”
“Half a year ago it was worth just over a million, and now it’s worth over a billion? That’s a thousand-fold increase! How is that even possible?”
Most people’s first reaction was disbelief – it sounded absurd.
Only a few people paused for a moment when they heard “Jiang’s Pharmaceutical Company,” then asked hesitantly, with disbelief on their faces, “Jiang’s Pharmaceutical Company? Is that the one that produces the ‘New Tiger Bone Wine’ and is endorsed by Qiao Yiyi and Gao Qinyuan?”
