The vicious female supporting role is posted in the opposite direction by the cub

Seeing that Jiang Na looked unwell, the First Elder interrupted, "Young Master was just joking with you."

She turned to Yan Yueqing, her eyes sharp as an eagle's, "But, young master, you took over Haixing and Xingyue in China, yet you ignored overseas mines and banks. What the Jiang family needs is a leader, not a lone goose guarding its homeland."

Yan Yueqing calmly took a sip of champagne, the bubbles bursting on her tongue with a slightly astringent sweetness.

This was the moment she had been waiting for.

"Elder." She put down her wine glass, the crisp clinking sound making everyone hold their breath. "When I was inspecting China's industries, I discovered two old incidents—the accounts of the orphanage my mother donated to build fifteen years ago were tampered with, and 300 million yuan of donations flowed into Lowell's overseas account; last year, when the exploration ship in the B Sea sank, the compensation for the families of the victims was intercepted by the foundation under the Second Elder's name."

Her gaze swept over Jiang Wenying's suddenly stiff smile. "Is this considered defending the territory or betrayal?"

Jiang Wenying's fingertips dug into her palms, but a gentler smile bloomed on her face: "Child, mistakes are inevitable when accounts are complicated. But you..." She gently pointed to the center of the dance floor, "A lone goose cannot form a flock. Women of the Jiang family are respected, but the continuation of the bloodline requires the assistance of a virtuous husband. Come, meet the rising star of the Chen family—Chen Rui."

A young man dressed in traditional Chinese clothing stepped out from the crowd.

He was as refined as bamboo, bowing to Yan Yueqing: "Young Master. I studied under the Department of Energy at MIT, and I am willing to help you establish a new energy chain between China and Northern Europe. The Chen family owns seven lithium mines in Stockholm. All you need to do is nod..." His eyes gleamed, "Marriage is a partnership."

"Greetings, Young Master Chen." Yan Yueqing's smile gradually turned cold. "Unfortunately, I had just returned to the Jiang family and forgot to inform you—I am already married in China. I apologize for the marriage arrangement."

Chen Rui was not surprised at all: "I understand, but, young master, the marriage alliance does not conflict with your already having a husband."

Jiang Wenying explained with a smile: "The young master rarely returns to the Jiang family, so he may not know that our Jiang family respects women and that polyandry has been the norm for thousands of years."

Fifth Elder Jiang Catherine also said, "The marriage partner carefully selected for you by the Elder Council is rejected so easily with a simple 'married,' which is rather heartless. Jun Li comes from China, and in the eyes of the Jiang family, he is nothing more than a small border tribe. How is he worthy of the position of the young family head?"

Jiang Wenying added gently, "But having another talented man to assist us means having more strength. In the thousand-year history of the Jiang family, which patriarch hasn't had three husbands and four concubines? Staying with only one Chinese husband would be like cutting off one's own arm."

These words sound like they were referring to Yan Yueqing, but more like they were implying something about Jiang Yu.

After all, the shift from polyandry to monogamy started with Jiang Yu.

This mother and daughter are determined to go against the Jiang family!
The Second Elder's words provoked agreement.

Although Jiang Na was being supported by Eric, the icy anger in her blue eyes had not subsided. She shrieked, "Wen Yin is right! Young Master, by refusing Eric, you're cutting off Lowell's bridge. A 30% stake in B Sea Energy! Can China's pilot project compare? No matter how capable Jun Li is, he's just a local bully in China. What the Jiang family needs is a deep-sea dragon!" Her words were full of superiority, belittling China as a "local bully," as if the billions of dollars invested and the new energy base were just child's playthings.

Upon hearing this, the guests all raised their heads, and the air was filled with collective contempt for those "of Chinese descent".

Yan Yueqing listened patiently, her fingertips gently stroking the Star Orbit bracelet on her wrist. Jun Li's message vibrated slightly, like a warm current flowing into her heart.

She glanced around at everyone and said calmly, "Elders, I regret that I cannot comply with this marriage proposal. I will say it again—my husband is Jun Li, and my two sons are waiting for me in China. I respect the traditions of the Jiang family; but my choice is not to be interfered with."

She paused, her voice suddenly turning cold, "As for China, it's not some backwater. The wind turbines at the Haixing New Energy Base are already towering like giant trees, and the Jun family's research vessel will arrive in the B Sea next week. If you think it's insignificant, then why did the Second Elder embezzle the pension funds? Why did Luo Weier misappropriate orphanage donations? The filth of these 'overseas pillars' has been washed away by the clean stream of China!"

A rebuttal is like a sharp blade, slicing through the robe of hypocrisy.

The First Elder, Jiang Jingshu, frowned slightly, as if struck in a vital spot, but her anger intensified: "Young Patriarch, you are too naive! Human relationships are not battlefields; marriage alliances are bonds, they are trust. How can the family be united if you are so rigid?"

After saying that, he turned to Jiang Yu, his voice earnest, "Patriarch, there are very few people in the Jiang family who insist on returning to China! Overseas is our true foundation!"

These words reveal a harsh reality—the younger generation of the Jiang family is largely influenced by the superficiality of overseas and views China as a symbol of backwardness.

Yan Yueqing felt a chill run down her spine as her gaze swept across the elders' faces: Jiang Wenying's hypocrisy, Jiang Su's recklessness, Jiang Na's arrogance, and Jiang Jingshu's indifference of "putting the big picture first."

She suddenly realized that, in the vast Jiang family, just as her mother had said, perhaps only she and her mother remained who could uphold the Chinese bloodline. Those former followers who had followed her grandmother had long since vanished in the power struggles, and the younger generation were more inclined to curry favor and take pride in being overseas.

"Consolidation?" Yan Yueqing chuckled, a hint of sorrow in her smile. "If consolidation relies on marriage alliances and groveling, then this family is better off not existing."

She took a step forward, her skirt fluttering like a crane's wings, and her voice suddenly rose, "Today I refuse you all not because I am ignorant of the ways of the world, but because—my path, Yan Yueqing's path, does not need thorns paved by others."

After he finished speaking, the dance hall fell into a deathly silence.

The elders' faces turned ashen... (End of Chapter)