A man walked over, dressed impeccably.
He approached with a gentle smile. Not only was he handsome, but his demeanor was also exceptionally distinguished, as if he naturally exuded an attraction for women.
And this attraction was wide-ranging—from young girls of fifteen or sixteen to mature women in their thirties and forties—it seemed almost no woman could resist this kind of magnetism.
So, when this man came over, not only were Jiang Fei and Cui Ruzhu drawn to him, but even the woman sitting at the table ten meters to their front-left with her pretty boy companion was momentarily stunned upon seeing this man’s appearance, practically forgetting the young man beside her.
Upon seeing the newcomer, Cui Ruzhu’s previously gloomy expression cleared up quickly, turning bright. Then, shifting her gaze to the shameless Jiang Fei beside her, she became even more pleased, a cold smile flashing in her eyes.
Since you’re so thick-skinned and seemingly immune to everything, I’ll just show you what a truly suitable young man for Moli looks like, how outstanding he is! When you two sit face-to-face and you pale in comparison, let’s see if you still have the nerve to stick around!
Cui Ruzhu quickly waved him over, saying cheerfully, “Zhaoyang, come sit down. Moli has indeed returned, she just arrived. No hurry, I’ll take you to see her in a bit.”
This young man named Zhaoyang nodded politely, then sat down next to them. He then turned his gaze to Jiang Fei and asked with a smile, “And this is?”
“Him? Oh, he’s the boyfriend Moli brought back from Jin City…” Cui Ruzhu said coldly.
This mother-in-law was truly something else; her way of doing things was completely different from ordinary people. If it were an average middle-aged woman, upon seeing her favored candidate for a son-in-law, she would desperately try to hide her daughter’s current boyfriend, distancing him from the situation for fear of the truth being discovered.
But not Cui Ruzhu. She directly stated Jiang Fei’s identity and sat by, unmoved, as if she wanted to watch these two young men fight it out themselves.
“Moli’s boyfriend?” Hearing this, Mu Zhaoyang was clearly taken aback, his eyes widening as he looked at Jiang Fei.
But his surprise quickly faded. He didn’t show anger or irritation but instead looked at Jiang Fei with a glint of amusement, introducing himself, “My name is Mu Zhaoyang. I’m a childhood friend of Moli’s; we grew up together. I wonder if Moli has ever mentioned me to you.”
“My name is Jiang Fei, Moli’s boyfriend,” Jiang Fei replied with a smile. Hearing the veiled provocation in the man’s words, he showed no displeasure on his face.
He had already roughly guessed this man’s identity—he was most likely the man Cui Ruzhu considered more suitable and better matched for Lin Moli, the one she most approved of as a son-in-law.
“As for your being a good friend, Moli hasn’t actually mentioned you to me, so sorry, I probably don’t know much about you,” Jiang Fei added.
Since this guy dared to openly claim a childhood relationship with Lin Moli, Jiang Fei saw no need to spare his feelings.
“Oh? Perhaps it’s because I was studying in the UK for the past few years. By the time I returned to Xidu, Moli had already left for Jin City. So we haven’t seen each other for several years,” Mu Zhaoyang said with a squint and a smile.
Jiang Fei nodded and said, “That could be it. Moli usually doesn’t talk much. She doesn’t like to mention people who aren’t particularly important.”
Mu Zhaoyang’s mouth twitched slightly.
Not particularly important? That was a sharp retort.
But Mu Zhaoyang didn’t fly into a rage. He had been navigating the business world for several years, single-handedly supporting a company already quite renowned in Xidu City. He had at least the basic capacity for self-restraint.
Moreover, he was a very smart man. He had observed the situation carefully upon entering and had a general grasp of the relationship between Cui Ruzhu and Jiang Fei, Lin Moli’s boyfriend.
Lin Moli’s mother was not satisfied with her daughter’s boyfriend. In fact, she seemed to dislike him!
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have had this expression or invited him to sit down in this situation.
Actually, it made sense. Among the younger generation in Xidu City, how many could compare to him, Mu Zhaoyang, in terms of being a suitable marriage prospect?
As long as that fact remained, Mu Zhaoyang felt secure.
“Heh, Brother Jiang, you’re quite humorous. The fact that Moli hasn’t mentioned me doesn’t mean I’m unimportant…” Mu Zhaoyang said with a chuckle.
Cui Ruzhu sipped her coffee expressionlessly, quietly watching the two young men spar, as if she were completely detached from the situation.
However, when her gaze fell on Mu Zhaoyang, she nodded approvingly. This young man she favored so much had indeed lived up to her expectations. He remained calm and composed even when being provoked by that shameless Jiang Fei. Truly worthy of being one of the most outstanding among the younger generation. Only a young man like this was fit to be the partner of her daughter, Cui Ruzhu.
As for Jiang Fei?
Well, this young man was shameless to an impressive degree, so much so that she had to look at him with newfound respect. Being shameless was easy, but to feel no shame in front of her and an outstanding peer like Mu Zhaoyang, to remain just as brazen—that was a peculiar kind of shamelessness, almost a skill in itself.
Given time and opportunity, someone this brazen might even achieve something significant.
Unfortunately, she had already formed her first impression and didn’t like him.
Mu Zhaoyang unhurriedly took a gold-embossed business card from his pocket and handed it to Jiang Fei, saying with a smile, “Here’s my card. If you ever come to Xidu again, Brother Jiang, feel free to give me a call. If you need any help, just say the word. In Xidu, I can get things done.”
Jiang Fei casually took the card and glanced at it.
He hadn’t intended to pay it much mind or bother with this guy’s showing off. But when he saw the writing on the card, his expression became somewhat peculiar.
On this rather grand-looking, gold-embossed card were the words: Mu Zhaoyang, Chairman of Xidu Zhaoyang Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd.
This guy was also in the pharmaceutical business, a sort of colleague in the industry?
Judging by his future mother-in-law’s satisfied attitude, this Zhaoyang Pharmaceutical Company was probably not small; otherwise, it wouldn’t have impressed her. But it couldn’t be enormous either, as Jiang Fei had never heard of the company before.
So it was likely that this guy’s pharmaceutical company was fairly well-known and developing well within Qin Chuan Province.
“However,” Jiang Fei thought disdainfully, “it might be understandable that Lin Moli’s relatives don’t recognize me as the president of the TCM Association. But this guy is in the industry—he makes his living from medicine. How does he not know me? So unprofessional, so lacking in dedication! No wonder he runs a pharmaceutical company I’ve never even heard of.”
But after seeing this guy’s identity, a mischievous thought popped into Jiang Fei’s head.
What would this guy’s expression and thoughts be when he later learns the truth about Jiang Fei and Lin Moli’s real situation?
He hadn’t heard of Mu Zhaoyang’s Zhaoyang Pharmaceutical Company, but Mu Zhaoyang must have definitely heard of his Jiang’s Pharmaceutical Company.
And then…
“This is probably going to be quite a scene,” Jiang Fei couldn’t help thinking.
He hadn’t actually come here intending to show off; he just wanted to win over his overbearing, sharp-tongued mother-in-law.
After handing over the card, Mu Zhaoyang noticed Jiang Fei staring blankly at it, seemingly lost in thought, and found it a bit amusing.
This guy is probably shocked by the identity on my card, right?
After all, his Zhaoyang Pharmaceutical Company wasn’t just limited to Xidu City anymore; it had established partnerships and sales channels in many cities throughout Qin Chuan Province.
Especially because Mu Zhaoyang had an unusual background and strong family connections—as the saying goes, having connections makes things easier—his pharmaceutical company even had cooperative relationships with many official national hospitals.
So although Zhaoyang Pharmaceutical Company hadn’t yet expanded beyond Qin Chuan Province, it had already built up a considerable reputation.
Thinking this, Mu Zhaoyang’s confidence grew. He asked with a smile, “Brother Jiang Fei, have you heard of my Zhaoyang Pharmaceutical Company?”
“Uh… about that, actually, no, I haven’t,” Jiang Fei said, placing the gold-embossed card on the table.
You haven’t heard of it, yet you look so stunned?
Mu Zhaoyang couldn’t muster a retort.
“May I ask what line of work you’re in, Brother Jiang?” Mu Zhaoyang inquired.
Before Jiang Fei could answer, Cui Ruzhu, who had been quietly observing, interjected, “He runs a small hospital himself now.”
“Oh, running a hospital?” Mu Zhaoyang was somewhat surprised this time, chuckling, “So we’re sort of colleagues in the industry. How big is your hospital, Brother Jiang? Maybe we’ll have a chance to cooperate in the future.”
“It’s just a small clinic, hardly a chance to cooperate with someone like you, Zhaoyang,” Cui Ruzhu said bluntly.
Mu Zhaoyang shook his head modestly, “Auntie, you flatter me. My Zhaoyang Pharmaceutical Company isn’t that big either; it’s just starting out. Who knows, there might really be a chance to cooperate with Brother Jiang in the future.”
Cui Ruzhu looked at Mu Zhaoyang approvingly. This was what she liked about him—he was capable yet humble and polite to everyone, regardless of who they were.
A gentle, refined man with such enormous potential was simply the ideal choice for a partner.
“Zhaoyang, there’s no need to be so modest. Although Zhaoyang Pharmaceutical isn’t huge yet, it’s already expanded beyond Xidu to many cities across Qin Chuan Province. Its potential is limitless. Going public in the future isn’t out of the question,” Cui Ruzhu praised him with a smile. But when her gaze shifted to Jiang Fei, her expression cooled again, and she added pointedly, “Most importantly, he built his business entirely on his own abilities, without relying on anyone else.”
Her remark was clearly a jab at Jiang Fei for opening his hospital with money from Lin Moli selling her house.
Jiang Fei just shrugged, still showing no sign of ’embarrassment’ or self-awareness. He simply gave an innocent shrug and said nothing.
Seeing this only deepened Cui Ruzhu’s disdain. What kind of extraordinarily shameless man has her daughter found this time? He’s impervious to reason.
Mu Zhaoyang, catching the implication, played along smoothly, adding, “That’s true. My pharmaceutical company was built through my own trial and error, step by step. Even the starting capital was the several million I saved up by starting businesses while studying abroad. What about you, Brother Jiang? You must have encountered quite a few difficulties when you opened your hospital, right?”
“Mm, it went pretty well. After Moli invested her money and we got the hospital established, everything went smoothly and developed nicely,” Jiang Fei replied ‘honestly’ in the face of Mu Zhaoyang’s showing off.
“You… you used Moli’s money to open the hospital?” Mu Zhaoyang asked incredulously.
“Exactly. Moli and I established the hospital together. Later, we also founded a pharmaceutical company. So I suppose you and I are indeed genuine colleagues in the industry,” Jiang Fei said with a bright smile.
“You also founded a pharmaceutical company?” Cui Ruzhu and Mu Zhaoyang asked almost simultaneously.
Mu Zhaoyang was deeply shocked. Had Lin Moli been completely won over by this man to such an extent that she was willing to subsidize him like this?
Cui Ruzhu, on the other hand, hadn’t expected that besides a hospital, Jiang Fei and Lin Moli also had a pharmaceutical company!
Just how much has her daughter invested in this shameless man? Besides the house, has this foolish girl secretly asked her father for more money?
Thinking this, Cui Ruzhu’s expression darkened further.
A pharmaceutical company was not like a small hospital. Even in its initial stages, it required substantial capital. Someone like Mu Zhaoyang, starting with several million, was rare; most needed bank loans.
“What’s the name of the pharmaceutical company you and Moli founded?” Mu Zhaoyang asked. The smile had faded from his face; he was starting to feel uneasy.
If Lin Moli had been this thoroughly won over, even if Cui Ruzhu supported him completely, would he still have a chance?
Having known Lin Moli since childhood, he understood her personality quite well.
He needed this marriage alliance with the Cui family to gain their resources and support.
More importantly, he needed the support of Lin Moli’s father, who held a significant position in the City Committee. So, he was determined to have Lin Moli.
“Our pharmaceutical company is called Jiang’s Pharmaceutical Company. Have you heard of it?” Jiang Fei asked, still smiling.
