Chapter 254: Sending Xia Jiajiao to a Marriage Alliance?
Yan Shutang raised an eyebrow at Mei Lin’s words.
But she had a point. After all, how could Mr. Tang’s lab possibly be protected by just a simple security system?
"That’s one way to do it, but... are you certain your security system is the absolute best?"
The model Mei Lin presented today was certainly difficult to breach, but it wasn’t impossible if one was persistent enough.
"If you’re concerned about it not meeting other standards, I can list some parameters. You could then apply my security system elsewhere for a practical field test."
A security system, in essence, is a central control unit. There are countless lines of defense you can add to it.
That was a viable method, but the question of where to conduct this field test was still up for debate.
Yan Shutang mulled it over for a while before finally agreeing to Mei Lin’s proposal.
It was a decent way to test the system, and certainly much easier than him having to go around asking to borrow places for testing.
"Now that we’ve reached a consensus, when can construction on the lab begin?"
Yan Shutang knew Mr. Tang had been waiting a long time to begin his experiments.
"Soon."
’As long as the Xia family falls, the land will naturally become hers.’
Yan Shutang glanced at Yun Zijin. He knew exactly what her "soon" was referring to.
Ever since Tang Zhaosong reported the matter, Yun Zijin’s complete file had been delivered to him.
Yun Zijin may have looked young, but Yan Shutang had a feeling that in this game, the Xia family stood no chance of fighting back against her.
"Then I’ll await Miss Yun’s good news."
Now that he had confirmed Mei Lin’s security system was up to standard, Yan Shutang had nothing more to say.
Yun Zijin smiled faintly. "Thank you."
*
「Meanwhile, at the Xia family residence.」
"Cry, cry, cry! Is that all you know how to do?!"
"Honey, our Jiao Jiao is still so young! She’s still in school! How could you... How could you send her off to an arranged marriage!"
Zhang Yiqin couldn’t believe Xia Zhengguang was truly so heartless. Since he couldn’t get his hands on Yun Zijin, he was going to send their Jiao Jiao away instead.
"I’ve fed her and clothed her, raised her all these years, and she’s not even my biological daughter. It’s not too much to ask for something in return now, is it?"
For the sake of the Xia Corporation, Xia Zhengguang had become somewhat unhinged.
Calls from the bank demanding payment came daily. Because of his record of late payments, he couldn’t even get a loan from other banks to rob Peter to pay Paul.
Yun Zijin had bodyguards with her 24/7; he couldn’t kidnap her even if he wanted to.
His own son had gone to ask her personally and failed to bring her back. What else could he do?
As it happened, someone had come to him asking for Xia Jiajiao’s hand in marriage. If he married her off, he would receive a substantial bride price.
This bride price would be enough to fill the financial hole the Xia Corporation was in.
"What are you talking about? You watched Jiao Jiao grow up! How can you be so heartless!"
Zhang Yiqin genuinely doted on Xia Jiajiao. The woman who was usually completely submissive to Xia Zhengguang now actually dared to shout at him.
Xia Jiajiao was touched for a moment by Zhang Yiqin’s defense, but the feeling quickly vanished. She was filled with hate—hate that while Zhang Yiqin might dare to challenge Xia Zhengguang, he was still the one who made the final decision.
Sitting beside Xia Zhengguang, Xia Zhiyun remained silent the entire time, his lips pressed into a thin line.
’He was heartbroken that his sister was being sent away for an arranged marriage, but he valued the Xia Corporation more than his sister’s marital happiness.’
’As long as the Xia Corporation survives, his sister will have her maiden family to back her up, even in an arranged marriage. The other family wouldn’t dare treat Jiao Jiao too poorly.’
It had to be said, Xia Zhiyun’s thoughts were far too optimistic.
"Dad, didn’t we agree... to have my sister go?"
Just a few days ago, Xia Jiajiao had been gloating, certain that Xia Zhengguang would be sending Yun Zijin off to be married. Now that she was the one on the chopping block, she couldn’t accept it.
’She was in love with Brother Yun Que! She would never marry into this Zheng Family that had just popped up out of nowhere!’
Xia Zhengguang turned his bloodshot eyes on Xia Jiajiao. "If you could get Yun Zijin to take your place, then of course Dad wouldn’t make you get married."
’One of you sisters has to marry him, sooner or later.’
Seeing the look in his eyes, Xia Jiajiao instinctively took a step back. ’Why does Dad look so scary?’ she thought.
"But... my sister is your biological daughter. Now that you’re in trouble, why isn’t she willing to help?"
Xia Jiajiao couldn’t show any open dissatisfaction; she could only keep bringing up Yun Zijin at every turn.
"Jiao Jiao, don’t you worry. Mom won’t let you be married off."
Zhang Yiqin had been perfectly happy when the father-son duo was scheming to use Yun Zijin. But now that they couldn’t get their hands on Yun Zijin and had turned to Xia Jiajiao instead, Zhang Yiqin couldn’t accept it.
’Her Jiao Jiao was still so young! How could she be forced into an arranged marriage!’
"Hmph! Don’t think for a second I don’t know what’s going on. You just don’t want to do it! You say Yun Zijin is my biological daughter and should help the Xia Corporation in its time of need. Well, what about you? You’re the cuckoo who took over the nest. I’ve raised you for more than twenty years, and now I’m asking for one small favor. Why can’t you do it? Xia Jiajiao, if you can’t bring Yun Zijin here, then you’re the one getting married!"
Xia Zhengguang hadn’t built his company into a reputable Dijing enterprise by being a fool who was easily tricked.
He had let her little manipulations slide for years, deeming them insignificant, which was the only reason he hadn’t exposed her before.
But now that she was needed to make a contribution, she was still trying to weasel her way out of it. Xia Zhengguang had no intention of playing along with her charade any longer.
Xia Jiajiao’s eyes went wide. She never expected Xia Zhengguang to suddenly tear away her every pretense.
She turned to Xia Zhiyun. "Brother..."
’She had no hope for Zhang Yiqin, who could only cry. If anyone could save her now, it was her brother.’
"Jiao Jiao, no matter where you go, I’ll always be your brother. If you’re wronged in any way, just tell me. I’ll have your back."
Xia Zhiyun didn’t give Xia Jiajiao a chance to respond, making his choice clear.
’For the sake of the Xia Corporation, Jiao Jiao’s marriage was a worthy sacrifice.’
Xia Jiajiao’s mouth fell open, her gaze fixed on Xia Zhiyun in utter disbelief.
"You two are too heartless! I don’t care what you say, Jiao Jiao will absolutely not marry into the Zheng Family! You want Yun Zijin, don’t you? Fine! I’ll bring her to you myself!"
For Xia Jiajiao’s sake, Zhang Yiqin was challenging the father-son duo for the very first time.
At that moment, no one knew that Zhang Yiqin had just made a momentous decision.
Xia Zhengguang and Xia Zhiyun both looked at her. "What are you planning to do?"
’Yun Zijin couldn’t stand her. Did she really think she could convince Yun Zijin to agree to the marriage just because she was her biological mother?’
’If that was her plan, the father and son thought she was being utterly delusional.’
"Don’t you worry about how. Just know that I will bring her here. When the Zheng Family comes to pick up the bride, it’ll be her they take. My Jiao Jiao is not going anywhere!"
"Mom..."
Xia Jiajiao threw herself into Zhang Yiqin’s arms. For the first time, she felt that Zhang Yiqin truly, genuinely loved her.
’It wasn’t about blood ties. She just loved her.’
"There, there, don’t cry. Mom will help you."