Chapter 3: What If I Can Pull It Off?

“Lin Feng, don’t forget what you are. You’re just a pauper from the countryside. Marrying into our family won’t change your lowly status, even if you have married Lu Wanqing.”

“You’re going to lose your temper? Go on, then. Let me see!”

Lu Muxue’s voice dripped with sarcasm. She had a pretty face, but her tongue was pure poison.

Lin Feng had intended to teach her a lesson about the consequences of running her mouth. Before he could act, however, Lu Wanqing caught his arm.

“Don’t rise to it. You’ll only be the one who suffers,” she urged quietly.

Lu Muxue had targeted her countless times. Even when she had conclusive evidence, her grandfather would brush it aside with a few meaningless words.

Her father’s disgrace had made him increasingly disgusted with her and her mother. Even knowing that Lu Muxue was deliberately picking on her, Lu Zhengguo wouldn’t give her justice.

In his eyes, only useless people needed help from others.

After going through it so many times, Lu Wanqing knew that arguing with her cousin would only make her own position more awkward.

“My wife has spoken, so I’ll let it go today,” Lin Feng said calmly. “You’d better pray you can keep throwing your weight around forever. Otherwise, the day will come when you regret this.”

“Hmph! If you can’t back it up, stop talking big. Weren’t you about to lose your temper? Now look how obedient you are.”

“Regret isn’t in my vocabulary.”

Lu Muxue held her head high, strutting like a hen that had won a fight.

Lin Feng couldn’t be bothered with her. His nine masters had told him to prepare a proper gift when he married a daughter of the Lu family. He was not to disgrace their names.

He reached into his pocket and took out a pair of translucent jade bangles. At first glance, they seemed no different from ordinary jade bracelets.

Only a knowledgeable eye would recognize their inestimable value.

They had been the most treasured jewelry of an empress of the last dynasty. Lin Feng’s Eighth Master had acquired them by chance.

“Honey, we’re husband and wife now. As your husband, I ought to give you a proper present.”

Without waiting to see whether Lu Wanqing wanted them, he slipped the bangles onto her wrists.

They really did suit her. They looked as though they had been made for her.

“Oh, please. He picks up some junk from who knows where and treats it like treasure. How ridiculous.”

Lu Muxue regarded Lin Feng as an uncouth country bumpkin. Naturally, she assumed that anything he owned was worthless too.

The more she spoke, the more she enjoyed herself, until the atmosphere became unbearably awkward.

At last, Lu Zhengguo broke the impasse.

“That’s enough, Muxue. Whatever else he may be, Lin Feng is now a son-in-law of our family. Watch what you say.”

After all her posturing and mockery, that mild warning was the extent of her grandfather’s reprimand.

“Your grandfather is right, Muxue. You and Zhang Heng, the young master of the Zhang family, will be getting married soon,” Lu Jianwei said.

“You’re about to become the future lady of the Zhang household. And they’re going to help us establish ties with Juntian Group.”

“Arguing with those two is beneath you.”

He was telling his daughter to let the matter drop, but the contempt behind his words was obvious.

At the mention of Juntian Group, Lu Zhengguo’s breathing quickened.

“Muxue, did Zhang Heng really say he’d help our family make a connection with Juntian Group?” he asked earnestly.

His excitement was understandable. The Lu family might wield tremendous influence in Jiangcheng, but beside a corporation worth trillions like Juntian Group, they were an ant standing before an elephant.

They weren’t remotely in the same league.

If they could establish ties with the group, they might become Jiangcheng’s foremost family overnight. Expansion into the provincial capital might even be possible.

“Of course, Grandpa. Zhang Heng’s father—my future father-in-law—is a close friend of Juntian Group’s president.”

“One word from him, and our family can become a business partner of Juntian Group. It couldn’t be easier.”

“Wonderful! Wonderful!”

“Muxue, there’s a reason you’re my favorite granddaughter. If you really secure that partnership for us, I can retire without a care. Your father can take over as head of the family. As for you, I think the president’s position at the Lu business would suit you very well.”

Lu Zhengguo lost no time dangling rewards before them.

Lu Jianwei and his wife’s eyes lit up.

Pleased with herself, Lu Muxue made sure to throw Lin Feng and Lu Wanqing a sidelong glance. Her arrogance was unmistakable.

Lu Wanqing’s face fell.

She and her mother were already struggling to hold their place in the family. If her cousin secured the partnership, then, knowing how that family operated, there might be no place left for either of them.

Lin Feng sneered inwardly.

Juntian Group was one of his Seventh Master’s businesses. Before Lin Feng came to Jiangcheng, his master had transferred it to him.

In other words, Lin Feng was now its president.

Lu Muxue had just solemnly declared that her future father-in-law was a close friend of the group’s president, a man who could secure them a partnership with a single word.

That was rather funny, considering Lin Feng had no idea who her future father-in-law even was.

“I’m afraid you’re in for a disappointment, Lu Muxue. You won’t be getting that partnership.”

His casual remark wiped the joy from her family’s faces.

“You penniless wretch. You’re just jealous! If I can’t get it, are you saying you can?” Lu Muxue scoffed.

To her, this was sour grapes. He was deliberately trying to spoil her moment.

“Of course,” Lin Feng answered simply.

Lu Wanqing decided he was more than an animal. He was also a shameless braggart who could lie without blinking.

She knew the Zhang family did business with Juntian Group. When Lu Muxue claimed she could secure a partnership, it was practically a certainty.

It was bad enough that Lin Feng insisted her cousin couldn’t do it. Now he was claiming he could?

What a joke.

Sure enough, Lu Muxue burst out laughing. She stared at Lin Feng as if he were an idiot, contempt spreading across her face.

“Did you hear that, Grandpa? Being poor wasn’t enough for him. He’s lost his mind too.”

She turned to Lin Feng with a mocking look. “Do you even know what Juntian Group does? Do you have any idea how big it is?”

“Even the slightest pressure from Juntian Group would crush you.”

“How dare you claim you can get them to agree? You must be insane!”

What should have been a happy occasion had been repeatedly disrupted by Lin Feng. Lu Zhengguo’s expression turned thunderous.

“Now that you’ve entered our family, learn your place. This isn’t your mountain home. You can’t behave however you please here.”

“I’ll let it pass this time. Speak such nonsense again, and don’t blame me for being harsh.”

Lin Feng paid the stern warning no mind.

“And what if I really can secure a partnership with Juntian Group?”