“You’re absolutely right, in-law! The most important thing is that the two of them love each other. As parents, that’s all we could ask for!” Zhao Hucheng quickly forced a smile, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere.
But Madam Lu wasn’t finished. She raised her chin arrogantly and declared, “We won’t be paying a single cent for the bride price, but your dowry had better be substantial!”
“Auntie, you’re not giving any bride price, yet you still expect a dowry?” Even Zhao Qianru’s face darkened at this point, her patience wearing thin.
“That’s correct.”
Madam Lu nodded, finally revealing her true intentions. “If Qianru wants to marry our Tianfeng, she must bring 50% of Zhao Pharmaceuticals’ shares—and those shares will be registered under Tianfeng’s name!”
Wei Fang’s expression tightened. She forced a bitter smile. “Madam Lu, Zhao Pharmaceuticals may not be a major corporation, but it’s our life’s work! Handing it over just like that… I can’t bear it.”
“Well, then there’s nothing more to discuss!”
Madam Lu crossed her arms, looking down her nose at them.
“There are plenty of well-bred young ladies lining up to marry Tianfeng! He graduated from a prestigious university and started his own internet company while still in school. A measly few million? We couldn’t care less!”
“How can you say that? Tianfeng, say something!” Zhao Qianru’s eyes welled up with tears, her voice trembling with hurt.
“Qianru, I’m doing this for your own good!”
Lu Tianfeng shot a disdainful glance at Jiang Tian and Zhao Xueqing.
“If the company isn’t in our hands, are we supposed to just hand it over to your sister and her lunatic husband?”
“I’ve heard all about your brother-in-law—gambling, drinking, womanizing, drugs, you name it! On top of that, he’s a deranged good-for-nothing!”
“That’s between me and my sister! It’s none of your business!”
Zhao Qianru’s temper flared. “And don’t you dare insult my brother-in-law! You have no idea what he’s capable of!”
“Oh? What ‘capabilities’ does he have?”
Lu Tianfeng sneered, then adopted a condescending tone.
“If the company falls into their hands, your parents’ life’s work will be completely ruined!”
Madam Lu added fuel to the fire. “Hmph! If even a useless fool like Jiang Tian can become the Zhao family’s son-in-law, it just shows how low your family’s standards are. How could your daughter ever be worthy of my son?”
Jiang Tian couldn’t stomach this any longer. His brow furrowed as he said coldly:
“If you want to elevate yourselves, fine. But don’t drag me into it. Insult me again, and you’ll regret it.”
“I’m just stating facts!”
Lu Tianfeng showed no fear. Instead, he looked at Jiang Tian with contempt.
“Jiang Tian, I know all about you! A deranged madman who smashes things at home and even beats Xueqing. If I were you, I’d divorce her—stop holding her back!”
“Lu Tianfeng, you have no right to comment on our relationship!”
Zhao Xueqing glared at him, her voice icy. “No matter what Jiang Tian is like, he’s still your future brother-in-law!”
“Enough! Stop this bickering!”
District Chief Lu’s sharp eyebrows knitted together as he exuded an intimidating aura of authority. “Old Zhao, Wei Fang, your vision is far too narrow. Frankly, it’s downright shortsighted. Small-time rich folks like you are a dime a dozen in Linzhou—and countless others would kill to get close to me, Lu Youwei!”
With a haughty flourish, he slammed a few invitations onto the table. “Take a good look—these are invitations to the Tang family’s Grand Master Ceremony. I have five! Could businessmen of your caliber ever get your hands on these?”
“District Chief Lu, you actually secured invitations to the Tang family’s ceremony? That’s incredible!” Zhao Hucheng’s eyes lit up instantly.
The Tang family’s grand banquet was highly exclusive—only those of a certain status could receive an invitation.
For government officials, only those at the director level or above qualified (deputies didn’t stand a chance). For businesspeople, the threshold was a net worth of at least 100 million yuan.
Zhao Hucheng and Wei Fang ran a small, unknown company—they didn’t even dare dream of attending.
“Most bureau chiefs and district chiefs only get one invitation.”
“But Mayor Liu is my brother-in-law. Getting a few extra invitations? Child’s play!”
Lu Youwei puffed out his chest, oozing arrogance. “Agree to our dowry terms, and I’ll take you to the Tang family’s ceremony!”
He shook his head in mock disappointment. “Bring some lavish gifts, let me put in a good word for you with Secretary Tang, and making connections, climbing the ranks—it’ll all fall into place!”
“District Chief Lu’s connections are truly extraordinary!”
Even Wei Fang was swayed, offering an ingratiating smile.
If they could latch onto the Tang family’s coattails, they’d soar to new heights! A petty official like Jiang Jun wouldn’t dare mess with them—he’d be terrified!
“This banquet is unprecedented—big shots like Ye Gufeng from Haizhou, Zheng Guangsha (the richest man in the province), and even the underworld’s ‘Dragon Fifth Master’ will be there!”
Madam Lu smirked triumphantly. “Without our Lu family’s help, how could your measly Zhao family ever get such an opportunity? And do you really think a few million could buy this kind of access?”
“Even Zheng Guangsha and Ye Gufeng will be there?” Wei Fang’s eyes widened in disbelief.
These were titans—billionaires with unshakable influence. Compared to them, Zhao Hucheng and Wei Fang were nobodies.
Lu Tianfeng shot Jiang Tian a scornful look. “Do you even know these distinguished figures, Jiang Tian?”
His voice rose sharply, laced with provocation.
“Can you get your hands on an invitation to the Tang family’s banquet? Can you introduce Uncle and Aunt to them?”
Jiang Tian leisurely peeled a shrimp, his face full of disdain.
“‘Distinguished figures’? What a joke. They’re nothing but ants—unworthy of even being my lackeys!”
He slammed a key onto the table. “See this? The key to the ‘King’s No. 1 Villa’—a gift from Zheng Guangsha himself!”
“As for invitations, I could get as many as I want. What’s so special about them? That you’d flaunt them like treasures is downright pathetic!”
“If you want to meet them, it’s no trouble at all. One word from me, and they’d come crawling on their knees!”
Silence.
“They say Zhao Hucheng’s son-in-law is insane—today, I see he’s reached new heights of madness!”
The Lu family stared in stunned disbelief.
“Uncle Jiang, aren’t you a little old to be this delusional?”
Chu Yuwei burst into laughter, her voice dripping with mockery.
“Arrogant! The ignorance of fools knows no bounds!”
Lu Tianfeng trembled with rage, jumping to his feet and pointing at Jiang Tian.
“Jiang Tian, you’re a lunatic, a gambler, a drunk, a womanizer—and now a liar too! Spouting nonsense like this? If your words got out, their followers would tear you to shreds!”
“You worthless trash, how dare you disrespect our Lu family? Kneel and kowtow to me, or I’ll make you regret it!”
“Enough of your noise!”
“Who do you think you are, ordering me around? Kneel when you speak to me!”
Jiang Tian waved his hand dismissively, as if swatting a fly.
Thud!
Lu Tianfeng felt an overwhelming force slam down on him. His knees buckled, and he crashed to the floor.
“What the—? What did you do to me?” He roared in fury.
Though no one else saw it clearly, Lu Tianfeng knew—Jiang Tian hadn’t even touched him, yet he’d been forced to kneel.
Jiang Tian ignored him, pressing his hand downward.
Despite his struggles, Lu Tianfeng could only flatten against the floor like a squashed toad.
“I warned you—insult me again, and you’ll pay.” Jiang Tian finally lifted his hand.
Zhao Hucheng and Wei Fang were horrified. Jiang Tian had actually attacked Lu Tianfeng! This was a disaster!
“You—you brute!” Chu Yuwei backed away, her face pale with fear.
“How dare you hit someone! Should I call the police and have you arrested?”
District Chief Lu was livid.
Seeing her son’s bleeding knees, Madam Lu’s heart ached with fury. She bared her teeth like a wild animal.
“You dare lay a hand on my son? Scum! Trash! I’ll have you thrown in jail for a decade!”
“Jiang Tian, you can’t treat our guests like this! Let him up!” Zhao Hucheng and Wei Fang shouted in unison.
“I’m the scum? The brute? Then take a look at your son’s behavior!”
Jiang Tian picked up the TV remote and played a video provided by Zhou Zhenghao. “Uncle, Aunt—see for yourselves.”
The footage showed:
-
Lu Tianfeng drugging a girl and assaulting her.
-
Him partying with wealthy heirs, snorting drugs, and engaging in orgies.
-
Him violently beating an ex-girlfriend after she exposed his cheating.
All of this had happened while he was dating Zhao Qianru.
“This—this bastard is worse than an animal!”
Zhao Hucheng and Wei Fang were stunned, their hearts turning to ice.
If this monster married their daughter, what kind of life would Qianru have?
Trembling with rage, Zhao Qianru slapped Lu Tianfeng twice, tears in her eyes. “Was this your ‘love me forever’? Your ‘I’ll treat you well’?”
“How did you get these? You were spying on me?” Lu Tianfeng paled in horror.
“The engagement is off! Get out! NOW!”
Wei Fang was shaking with fury, pointing at the door.
No matter how status-obsessed she was, she loved her daughter. She’d never throw her into a pit of snakes.
“There must be some misunderstanding!”
Humiliated, Lu Youwei grabbed his son and stormed out.
“Jiang Tian, you’ll pay for this! Just you wait—” Madam Lu screeched.
“Get lost!”
Before she could finish, Jiang Tian flicked his sleeve.
A violent gust of wind slapped her across the face, sending her flying ten meters out the door. She landed hard on her backside.
Dead silence.
Zhao Hucheng and Wei Fang were speechless.
Jiang Tian’s ruthlessness knew no bounds—he’d even struck Madam Lu!
“Auntie, are you okay?” Chu Yuwei rushed to help Madam Lu up, her face stiff with embarrassment.
After a few empty threats, the Lu family finally left the Zhao villa.
Inside, the air was heavy with silence.
Then, Zhao Qianru’s suppressed sobs broke out. Tears streaming down her face, she bolted from the room.
