C4 Thirty Million Orders

The Pei family's dining room was ablaze with light, a beacon of warmth and festivity.

Most of the grandsons, granddaughters, and sons-in-law had gathered, filling the space with eager anticipation.

At the head of the grand table sat the matriarch of the Pei family, a venerable lady of seventy years.

Her descendants were eager to share their successes, each vying for her approval.

"Grandma, I've secured a two-million-yuan supply contract with Xin Sheng Company," one boasted proudly.

"Grandma, our project with Hengyuan Group is well underway. We're looking at a net profit of two million this time!" another chimed in.

Old Lady Pei reveled in their accomplishments, her laughter echoing through the room, as a sense of joy and unity enveloped the family.

However, her joyous demeanor shifted in an instant when her gaze landed on Lee Moxiang, seated quietly in the corner. Her face darkened with impatience.

"Where is Pei Qiuyu? The entire family is present. Surely we're not waiting for her alone?" she demanded.

The room, once filled with laughter and chatter, fell into a hushed silence.

All eyes turned to Lee Moxiang, whose discomfort was palpable. They watched with bated breath, anticipating the drama to unfold, ready to witness her embarrassment.

Fumbling with her phone, Lee Moxiang stammered, "I... I'll try calling her again. She mentioned she was negotiating a contract with D Group. She should be arriving any moment now..."

Pei Qiuyu's cousin, Pei Jinzheng, couldn't help but scoff at the scene. "Second Aunt, you're giving yourself too much credit," he sneered.

"Pei Qiuyu negotiating a contract? She hasn't delivered any results for three months."

"And D Group? She couldn't even land a deal with a minor company, let alone them."

Humiliated and seething, Lee Moxiang's face flushed a deep crimson.

She knew the truth: Pei Qiuyu's lack of success wasn't due to incompetence, but rather the family's refusal to provide her with resources as punishment for not divorcing Lin Xuan.

Yet, she bit her tongue, well aware that even the most junior members of the family's side branches felt entitled to lord over her.

"This stubborn girl, why isn't she answering her phone?" Lee Moxiang muttered under her breath, a mix of worry and frustration in her tone.

She resorted to muttering a few curses at Pei Qiuyu to sidestep the embarrassment.

"Second Aunt, you're wasting your time. I bet Pei Qiuyu is too scared to show up."

The speaker was Pei Qiuyu's cousin, Pei Qiusha.

"She's a disgrace to the Pei family name as a granddaughter."

"She's incompetent, and to top it off, when my fiancé Soong Qiao's classmate, Yu Yuxuan—who happens to be the heir to the L Group—proposed to her, she had the nerve to refuse."

"She turns down the opportunities that come her way, preferring to be with a fool. It's like she's lost her mind."

Old Lady Pei was particularly stung by these remarks.

Her face darkened to the point where it seemed she could wring water from her scowl, and she furiously ranted, "She has completely tarnished the reputation of our Pei family!"

"She's fixated on that fool! If she doesn't divorce him today, I'll have her expelled from the Pei household!"

Just then, the front door swung open.

Lin Xuan and Pei Qiuyu entered the hall, hand in hand.

Lee Moxiang was startled at the sight of Lin Xuan.

She hadn't noticed him when she first came out and had thought he had taken a tumble down the stairs.

Yet there he was, looking not only unharmed but positively glowing.

He was the same man, but he seemed different somehow.

"Grandma, we've arrived," Pei Qiuyu said, her voice lacking conviction.

Old Lady Pei huffed, her voice dripping with scorn, "Oh, you decided to grace us with your presence?"

"See for yourself, the entire family has been waiting on you!"

"And who gave you permission to bring this idiot along?"

Pei Qiuyu replied firmly, "Grandma, he's not an idiot. He's Lin Xuan."

A snort escaped someone, followed by a wave of laughter that swept through the room.

Lee Moxiang's cheeks burned with shame. She hastily stood up and ushered Pei Qiuyu to the smallest table at the edge of the room.

At Pei family banquets, seating was strictly determined by one's status within the clan.

Lee Moxiang and her family, given their lower standing, were relegated to the peripheral seats, the furthest from Old Lady Pei.

Even the Pei family's more recognized servants and cleaning staff could sit closer than them. Lin Xuan, on the other hand, didn't even have a seat. Previously, he had to squat on the ground to eat alongside the dogs.

Pei Jinzheng straightened his tie and flashed a smile at Pei Qiuyu. "You know, Qiuyu, Grandma laid down the law yesterday. She's forbidden that fool from visiting again, and yet here you are, brazenly bringing him along. Are you trying to provoke Grandma?"

Pei Qiuyu responded with conviction, "He's no fool. For three years, he's been part of the Pei family. He might not have big ambitions, but he's never once complained. He's taken care of cooking, cleaning, and you've even had him doing hard labor alongside the workers. He never hesitated. After three years, even a dog would earn some affection, let alone a living, breathing person! How can you speak of him with such disregard? Have you no conscience?"

...

With a sharp "Pah!" Old Lady Pei slammed her hand on the table. "The audacity! Pei Qiuyu, how dare you speak to your cousin in such a manner! Jinzheng has made significant contributions and brought in considerable wealth for the Pei family over the years. What gives you the right to address him like this?"

"Grandma, I..." Pei Qiuyu began, but before she could finish, Old Lady Pei cut her off. "I command you to divorce this fool immediately! Yu Yuxuan, the heir of the L Group, has already presented a betrothal gift of six hundred and sixty thousand yuan. Marry him at once! Otherwise, leave the Pei family. I will no longer acknowledge you as my granddaughter!"

Pei Qiuyu's face was etched with hurt. "Grandma, I refuse to marry him."

Seeing Pei Qiuyu's defiance, Old Lady Pei snapped, "So, you refuse, do you? Well then, I now command you to surrender your company to Jinzheng. He will take full charge!"

"I won't..." Tears welled in Pei Qiuyu's eyes as she stood her ground.

Just then, Pei Qiusha burst in with her phone held high, exclaiming, "Hold on, everyone, I've got breaking news! The C Group is about to open a building material tender in A City!"

"An order worth thirty million—that's a significant sum!"

"What, a thirty million order?!"

For a third-tier family like the Peis, thirty million was an astronomical sum.

Securing this order could propel them to the ranks of a second-tier family.

Upon hearing the news, Old Lady Pei was green with envy.

The Peis were in the building materials trade and she was eager for this chance.

She'd go so far as to offer up all her beautiful granddaughters if it meant securing the deal.

Then, Pei Qiusha's brother, Pei Jinzheng, perked up and said, "Sis, your fiancé Soong Qiao knows Director Wang from C Group, right?"

"You should give it a shot!"

Pei Qiusha beamed with pride, "Absolutely, our Soong Qiao has even attended a banquet with Director Wang."

"Isn't that right, Ah Qiao?"

Soong Qiao, seated next to her, nodded with an embarrassed smile, "Ah... Yes, that's true. Director Wang even toasted me."

"He had high praise for me at the time!"

Truth be told, Soong Qiao had never actually met Wang Baifa; he'd only shared drinks with his driver—and it was he who had offered the toast...

Old Lady Pei, delighted by the conversation, chimed in, "Ah Qiao, since that's the case, you and Shasha should go see Director Wang. You might just clinch the order!"

Pei Qiusha declared with pride, "Great, I'll go with Ah Qiao tomorrow. Director Wang is sure to show us respect!"

She reveled in her triumph, oblivious to Soong Qiao's growing distress.

Old Lady Pei continued contentedly, "My granddaughter is truly outstanding. With the fierce competition in A City's business world, this C Group project could be a game-changer for the Pei family. It's all riding on you and Ah Qiao this time!"

Just then, a discordant voice cut through the air.

"The only one who can land the order is Qiuyu!"

The room fell silent at the pronouncement, only to erupt into laughter moments later.

This was because the individual addressing them was none other than Lin Xuan.