C18 Family Meeting

The sealing ceremony was just around the corner.

That evening, Old Lady Pei gathered the family and relatives for a meeting. It was less of a meeting and more of an opportunity for the Pei family to bask in the limelight.

Pei Qiusha's uncle's family was, without a doubt, the evening's highlight.

Sun Lanping stood at the doorway, overseeing a large red box for collecting gifts, while Uncle Pei Jiang took it upon himself to meticulously record each contribution.

"Congratulations, our Shasha is getting married to the Nine-star General tomorrow!"

"Indeed, Shasha is set for a life of great fortune!"

"Shasha has always been such a gem—sensible, intelligent, and kind-hearted. She's the epitome of the perfect young woman!"

The relatives offered their insincere praises while placing their gifts and red envelopes on the table.

Sun Lanping and her daughter Pei Qiusha were on cloud nine, their vanity immensely stroked by the compliments.

Old Lady Pei, seated at the center, beamed with approval. "My eldest son's family has truly done well.

"From now on, the Pei family's rise to prominence as a top-tier family in A City rests on the shoulders of Jinzheng and Shasha."

"Haha~"

"Grandma, you flatter us," Pei Jinzheng said modestly, though he was inwardly overjoyed.

"Grandma, the Pei family has me, and that's all it needs!" Pei Qiusha chimed in, not to be outdone. "As the general's wife tomorrow, a single word from me will have everyone in A City looking up to us."

"Exactly, hahaha!" Old Lady Pei laughed heartily, her smile wide.

While the uncle's family enjoyed the spotlight, Pei Qiuyu's family was left in the shadows, a stark contrast in fortunes.

Lee Moxiang felt a pang of bitterness witnessing such disparity, yet she dared not miss the gathering. Now was the time to cozy up to her uncle's family, for without their support, her family's future looked bleak.

"Hey, Lee Moxiang, surely your family didn't come empty-handed?"

Sun Lanping fixed her gaze on Lee Moxiang, holding a grudge over past grievances and not about to let her off the hook.

Lee Moxiang apologized with embarrassment, "Sister-in-law, we rushed over today and didn't bring any gifts..."

"Oh, please," Sun Lanping scoffed with an air of superiority, "as if we're waiting for your gifts."

She continued haughtily, "Take a look around, who brings gifts worth less than tens of thousands?"

"Like your family could even afford that. Better save your money for Pei Qiang's treatment."

Her biting words left Moxiang blushing and white by turns, unable to muster a response. The power was in their hands now, and her family had no choice but to be submissive.

"Auntie, we're all part of the Pei family. Why the need for such cutting remarks?" Pei Qiuyu interjected, unable to stay silent.

Pei Qiusha gave her a dismissive glance. "Oh, Pei Qiuyu, you think you're up to the task?"

"And what gives you the right to speak to my mother that way?"

"I'll have you know, after tonight, your family won't even be worthy to carry my shoes!"

"Enough!" Lin Xuan intervened firmly, "The Nine-star General intends to marry her, not you, Pei Qiusha."

At that, Pei Qiusha erupted, pointing at Lin Xuan and berating him, "You're so worthless, not even a dog would take you! Pei Qiuyu is the only one who would marry you. How dare you question the Nine-star General's choice of bride?"

Lin Xuan replied with conviction, "Who I'm marrying is my decision. You think I don't know my own mind? You're a brazen, shameless fool—I wouldn't marry you if I were blind."

"Are you out of your mind again?" she retorted. "Lin Xuan, take a good look at yourself. You think you can marry me? You must be delusional!"

Her face glowed with longing as she spoke, "My whole heart, my entire being, is devoted to the Nine-star General!"

Lin Xuan nearly gagged at her words.

Pei Jinzheng came over, laughing contemptuously, "Lin Xuan, I've seen shameless, but you take the cake!

"So, you think you're still the Nine-star General? You want to marry my sister Shasha? Dream on! You're nothing but a servant in the Pei household, too poor to rub two coins together."

"You're so pathetic that even your mother-in-law showers you with insults, and yet you have the audacity to fantasize about being a Nine-star General. Seriously, where's your shame? I'm just asking about your shame."

The room erupted in raucous laughter.

Lin Xuan, fed up with their mockery, reached for his phone. "Fine, I'll show you who the real Nine-star General is!"

Pei Qiuyu grabbed the phone from him. "That's enough, Lin Xuan!"

"Aren't we embarrassed enough? Can't you just behave? You know exactly what you are—stop deluding yourself!"

"I won't divorce you no matter how bad things get, but if you keep spouting this nonsense, I swear I'll drag you to file for divorce myself—believe it or not!"

She was livid. Lin Xuan's reckless words could land him in jail if they got out—impersonating a Nine-star General could mean a decade or more behind bars.

"Honey, I truly..."

Before Lin Xuan could finish, Pei Jinzheng burst into laughter. "Look at you, Lin Xuan. Even Qiuyu can't stomach your tall tales."

"You're such a loser, we've even saved you a spot in the doghouse. Go on, eat with the dogs."

"When the VIPs arrive later, keep your distance. We don't want them put off by your family's stench of poverty."

"Exactly," chimed in Pei Qiusha. "I don't want the big shots to be repulsed by the reek of our poor relatives."

"Just stay far away from us. Ugh, how did we end up with relatives like you?"

Lin Xuan's fists clenched in anger at their contemptible behavior.

Mark my words! There's a price to pay for your actions, and when the sealing ceremony comes, you'll learn the true meaning of regret!

Soon after, a stream of A City's business elite flowed into the Pei residence.

"Old Lady Pei, congratulations. It's an honor to meet you. Please accept this modest gift—it hardly does justice."

"Miss Qiusha, congratulations on your upcoming marriage to the Nine-star General. I look forward to your patronage in A City. Here's a small token of my esteem."

"Old Lady Pei, I humbly present this gold and jade Buddha for your longevity. From now on, my company will exclusively source from the Pei family's business!"

These tycoons wouldn't ordinarily give the Pei family a second glance.

Only their desire to curry favor with the Nine-star General brought them to the doorstep of what they considered a third-rate clan.

At that moment, Old Lady Pei was grinning so much her face was nearly twisted.

Each of these A City magnates was worth billions—weren't they?

Previously, she couldn't even dream of meeting these executives, but now they were all vying for her attention. She felt she had reached the pinnacle of her life.

Suddenly, one of the executives nudged his son forward with a chuckle: "Old Lady Pei, do we have any eligible young ladies in the Pei family? I, Zheng Daguo, may not have much, but I am wealthy.

"I'm prepared to offer a hundred million as a dowry to take my son as a bridegroom."

Lee Moxiang didn't miss a beat. "Absolutely, there is! My daughter, Pei Qiuyu, is a beauty. Take a look for yourself."

"Is that so?"

The executive's eyes sparkled as he eagerly pulled his son closer, his smile ingratiating. "If your daughter marries into my family, I assure you she'll want for nothing. She'll be treated like royalty."

Lee Moxiang, beaming with pride, presented Pei Qiuyu, "Boss, just look at her. Isn't Qiuyu stunning? Doesn't she seem a perfect match for your son?"

"Indeed, she is! Absolutely!" The executive agreed, appraising Pei Qiuyu with eager hands.

"Mom! I'm not an object to be traded. Don't use me as a pawn!"

Pei Qiuyu faced the executive with an icy demeanor, "I'm sorry, sir, but I'm already married."

The executive was taken aback, stammering, "Ah, this..."

"What kind of husband could he be?" Lee Moxiang blurted out in desperation. "Qiuyu, you can't let such an opportunity slip by."

"I'll say it once more, I don't want it!" Pei Qiuyu declared firmly.

Without hesitation, she slipped her hand through Lin Xuan's arm. "I, Pei Qiuyu, have only one husband—Lin Xuan."

"And he's the only one for me, for life."

Lin Xuan watched Pei Qiuyu's earnest face and smiled, his heart full of contentment.

Her words enveloped his heart in an extraordinary warmth.

Lin Xuan vowed inwardly, "My dear wife, I will ensure your happiness for a lifetime! If you desire, I can give you the entire world."

Just then, Pei Qiusha approached with a mocking laugh, "Pei Qiuyu, can't manage without him, can you? You aspire to marry the Nine-star General, but do you even have what it takes?"

Lin Xuan retorted with icy disdain, "Your mouth reeks."

"The Nine-star General has no taste for women with foul breath."

Fuming, Pei Qiusha's complexion turned a furious shade, "What? How dare you accuse me of having bad breath?!"

"Enough, enough!" Old Lady Pei interjected, "Silence, everyone! Let's focus on the matter at hand."

"Today's family meeting has two main objectives. First, our Pei family has secured a monumental alliance with the Nine-star General!"

"From this moment forward, the Pei family's rise will be meteoric and unstoppable!"

"As such, I hereby decree that the Jinzheng family will formally assume control over all our family's corporations."

"Bravo!" Pei Jinzheng initiated a round of applause.

"The second issue has long troubled me deeply."

"It's common knowledge that Pei Qiuyu wed a simpleton."

"This good-for-nothing has been sponging off the Pei family for three years, a veritable leech. Though he appears to have recovered, he remains an incompetent waste."

"Therefore, I have resolved to annul Qiuyu's marriage to Lin Xuan today, severing their marital ties."

"At tomorrow's sealing ceremony, amidst the celebratory air of Shasha's wedding to the Nine-star General, Qiuyu will be wed to the heir of the L Group, thus resolving a persistent concern of mine."

The proclamation from Old Lady Pei struck Pei Qiuyu like a bolt from the blue.