Chapter 256
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Chapter 256 Won’t Grant Your Wish
“Qin Ranlong, who are you referring to as the outsider?” Zhang Ling’s harsh face had darkened to the extreme!
Qin Ranlong was quite blunt: “I don’t know who it is, but definitely not someone with the surname Qin!”
“Fine, you’re really something!” Zhang Ling laughed coldly: “I’ll just see what tricks you siblings can pull today! In front of so many people, if you’re still thinking of running away, you’ll completely disgrace the Qin family!”
Zhang Ling kept mentioning the Qin family, deliberately using family pressure. There are always many people in this world who do this – clearly acting for their own selfish interests, yet always in the name of the collective.
“If I want to leave, who can stop me?”
Qin Ranlong used to be a fearless troublemaker in the capital, and now with his temper flaring up, naturally no one could stop him.
He grabbed Qin Yueran’s hand and said: “Fourth Sister, I’ll take you away. Let’s see who dares to stop us!”
As he said this, Qin Ranlong gave his third aunt Zhang Ling a fierce glare.
However, Qin Yueran stopped in her tracks.
“Sis, what are you doing? Let’s go quickly. Once the Ouyang family arrives, you won’t be able to leave even if you want to.”
Qin Yueran also looked at Zhang Ling and sneered: “I’ve changed my mind. I’m not leaving.”
“Why?” Qin Ranlong was nearly frantic! What was his fourth sister trying to do?
“Some people want to see me make a fool of myself, and I refuse to let them have their way!”
Qin Yueran walked up to Zhang Ling, slightly lowering her head, staring into her eyes, and said: “I understand. You want me to marry Ouyang Xinghai to gain a powerful ally, using the Ouyang family’s influence to help you rise to prominence. But don’t forget, if I become Ouyang Xinghai’s wife and don’t want him to help you, will he still help?”
Hearing this, Zhang Ling realized the implications and her expression changed instantly!
Indeed, although they were forcing Qin Yueran to marry Ouyang Xinghai, and he would owe them a huge favor, pillow talk was not to be underestimated. If Qin Yueran frequently whispered in Ouyang’s ear, speaking ill of them, the Ouyang family might very well abandon them after getting what they wanted!
Qin Yueran caught every change in Zhang Ling’s expression and sneered: “Third Aunt, don’t worry, I’ll make sure you get what you want.”
“Come, do my makeup.”
With that, Qin Yueran sat down at the makeup table, her gaze calm as water, but revealing a subtle hint of determination.
Seeing this, Qin Ranlong sighed heavily, then walked outside!
…
Meanwhile, the banquet hall of the Qin family was already filled with distinguished guests.
As today’s protagonist, Ouyang Xinghai wore a white suit with an elegant bow tie, exuding powerful confidence.
In recent years, he had risen rapidly like a comet, almost becoming the leading figure among the younger generation in the capital, his prominence even surpassing people like Bai Qinchuan.
Now, Ouyang Xinghai already had decision-making power in family affairs. Unless it concerned matters of life and death for the family, his authority allowed him to make decisions directly. At a time when most family businesses were run by the second generation, it was truly remarkable for a young man like him to achieve such status!
Today, this pride of the Ouyang family was about to be engaged to Qin Yueran, who possessed a rare husband-prospering fate seen only once in a thousand years. This made everyone envious. Ouyang Xinghai was already soaring like an eagle, and with Qin Yueran’s support, his future achievements would be limitless – perhaps the sky was his only limit!
Many had tried to compete for Qin Yueran but ultimately failed. Therefore, in reality, many people did not want to see today’s engagement become a reality.
Success always requires many factors, and the words “husband-prospering fate” were filled with endless temptation.
At the head table sat a middle-aged man in a Tang suit, appearing to be in his fifties, with a goatee and sparse, slicked-back hair that shone with oil.
At this moment, Ouyang Xinghai walked to his side and respectfully said: “Master Ji, my gratitude to you is beyond words. If you have time, I would like to host a separate banquet to thank you. You must honor us with your presence.”
Master Ji’s face revealed a slight smile, the kind of demeanor that seemed befitting of a master. His single statement from over a decade ago had set the capital’s young men competing for Qin Yueran, a level of influence rarely seen throughout history.
Now, Ji Bangxing’s status in the capital was extraordinarily high. Normally, high officials and wealthy merchants would flatter him excessively, and even some minor celebrities would throw themselves at him, making his life very comfortable. Sometimes, matters that even the mayor couldn’t resolve could be settled with just a word from him.
“Xinghai, you don’t need to be so formal with Uncle Ji. To be honest, I haven’t been of much help,” Ji Bangxing said lightly, gently waving his feather fan with a mysterious air.
“That won’t do, Uncle Ji. Your great kindness is something I will never forget.” This Ouyang Xinghai was quite clever, immediately taking the opportunity to change the address from “Master Ji” to “Uncle Ji,” bringing their relationship much closer.
Ji Bangxing patted Ouyang Xinghai’s shoulder and said with great approval: “Young man, you have a limitless future.”
Qin Mufeng stood nearby, looking at the hall full of guests, most of whom were heavyweight figures from the capital’s great families. His heart was filled with joy – this was an incredibly powerful network of connections. If properly utilized, there would be no shortage of opportunities in the future!
The Qin family elders also appeared one after another. They all had military backgrounds and were former comrades-in-arms with the other old men present, making the atmosphere very lively.
A powerful alliance – could this herald the second rise of the Qin family?
Qin Zhizhang was the current head of the Qin family. The old man was already in his seventies, and although his hair had turned completely white, he remained spirited and energetic. As a former military region commander, he couldn’t sit still even in retirement and felt uncomfortable if he didn’t practice swordsmanship twice a day.
Qin Fanghua, Qin Bikai, and others were Qin Zhizhang’s full siblings. They had all reached an advanced age and had successively retired from their military positions, but still, no one dared to ignore the influence of these old men.
They wore military uniforms, with general’s stars still shining brightly on their shoulders.
Now, the Qin family’s influence in the political arena was declining daily, and people had begun to intentionally or unintentionally ignore this family, turning their attention to families with stronger momentum like the Ouyangs. But today, they discovered that if the Qin family elders joined forces, what terrifying power they could unleash!
Those stars on their military ranks were not for show! Each one represented glorious military achievements that could not be erased!
Qin Zhizhang didn’t take Qin Yueran’s unwillingness to marry too seriously. After all, Ouyang Xinghai was extremely capable and among the best of the capital’s young people. Young people without feelings would develop them over time, wouldn’t they? How could they know if they liked each other without interaction? Hadn’t he and his wife never met before marriage, yet they had weathered decades together!
Simply put, Qin Zhizhang still believed in the old ways of parental arrangements and matchmaking. One couldn’t blame him for not loving his granddaughter; after all, people from that era found it difficult to change their perspectives.
“Old Qin, your granddaughter and my grandson are about to become a couple. We brothers should have a good drink today,” Ouyang Jian said with a smile.
As the founder of the Ouyang family, his prestige had risen with the tide. Once just a poor boy who came to the capital to make his fortune, he had now reached such heights – his shrewdness and capability were truly frightening!
“Old Ouyang, I speak rather directly, so don’t take offense. Let me tell you upfront, if my granddaughter enters your family and suffers even the slightest grievance, I’ll bring my troops to smash down your gates!” Qin Zhizhang looked very serious.
“Of course, but look at that boy Xinghai – does he seem like someone who would let Yueran suffer?” Ouyang Jian wasn’t bothered at all.
“That’s true. Xinghai is a good kid, otherwise I wouldn’t have agreed to this marriage.” Saying this, Qin Zhizhang seemed somewhat proud, after all, his granddaughter was highly sought after.
“I’d like them to give me a chubby grandson soon. I can stay at home with nothing to do but take care of the child.” Ouyang Jian patted Qin Zhizhang’s arm and said meaningfully: “Let the young people handle the fighting and killing outside. You and I have struggled all our lives; in our old age, we should rest.”
Qin Zhizhang nodded as well, then his gaze swept across the faces of Jiang Tiancang, Bai Tianzhu, and others sitting opposite, and he sighed, suddenly raising his voice: “That’s what I think, but some people still won’t settle down. When you’re old, you should accept it.”
Hearing this, Jiang Tiancang smiled: “Old Qin, don’t say that. The one here who least accepts aging is you. I heard that yesterday you were sparring with your guard and left him lying on the ground unable to get up for half an hour.”
Qin Zhizhang’s eyebrows furrowed: “Old Jiang, what should I say about you? How do you know so clearly what happens in my backyard? Do you have spies in my house?”
Jiang Tiancang’s thick eyebrows furrowed again, and he said in a deep voice: “Old Qin, that’s not a friendly thing to say. If I were to plant spies, I’d plant them in the Bai and Ouyang families. Why would I bother with spies in your old Qin family? I wouldn’t go that far!”
Qin Zhizhang’s explosive temper was no joke. He had first mocked Jiang Tiancang and others, but after being countered, he immediately became angry, rolled up his sleeves, and said: “What’s this, Old Jiang? Are you looking down on my family? You want to fight? Let’s try it right here. I guarantee I’ll throw you down so hard you won’t be able to get up!”
Bai Tianzhu, Bai Qinchuan’s grandfather, came to mediate: “Look at you two, almost in your coffins and still making a scene without any dignity. Really… you’re making all us old folks lose face.”
“Old Bai, who are you saying is making you lose face?” Now, the anger of both Qin and Jiang was directed at Bai Tianzhu.
Qin Mufeng couldn’t help but say helplessly: “Uncles, today is Xinghai and Yueran’s joyous day. We shouldn’t forget the main event.”
At this moment, a figure in a Tang suit sat down at the main table and said with a faint smile: “It’s rare for the old gentlemen to gather together in such high spirits. Mufeng, don’t worry too much.”
This man appeared to be in his forties, with a straight mustache, looking quite scholarly – it was Su Wuxian!
