Chapter 328: The Unyielding Song Yujun
Cheng Yuan was taken aback. ’Who is this kid? Why is he so hostile toward me?’
If anyone else had been so defiant, Cheng Yuan would have slapped them dead on the spot. But this was one of the Hu Family. Cheng Yuan felt deeply indebted to them, so he certainly wouldn’t kill one of them lightly.
Cheng Yuan raised his hand, gripped Hu Minjiang’s wrist, and with a gentle twist, forced it behind his back.
Having never been treated this way before, Hu Minjiang immediately howled in pain. "AHH! It’s killing me! Let me go! Cheng Yuan! Let me go!"
Cheng Yuan frowned and asked, "Who are you? How have I offended you?"
Niu Fu quickly explained from the side, "Young Master Cheng, this is Miss Shishi’s younger brother, Young Master Minjiang!"
Cheng Yuan’s expression softened slightly. "Since you’re Sister Shishi’s brother, I won’t harm you this time. But if you dare to cross me again, don’t expect me to be so lenient."
With that, Cheng Yuan shoved Hu Minjiang away.
Hu Minjiang rubbed his aching arm joint, turning to glare coldly at Cheng Yuan. "Cheng, you can drop the hypocritical act! You don’t have the right to even mention my sister’s name!"
Cheng Yuan’s expression hardened. "Hu Minjiang, I, Cheng Yuan, have always acted with a clear conscience. I have done nothing to wrong Sister Shishi. How could I not be worthy of mentioning her?"
"A clear conscience? You have the nerve to say that, after what you did to my sister—"
He was cut off mid-sentence by Hu Yidao’s cold voice. "That’s enough, Minjiang! Shut your mouth!"
Hu Yidao had heard the argument outside and, fearing a clash between Cheng Yuan and Hu Minjiang, had rushed out, stopping his son just in time.
’Even if I told Cheng Yuan about Shishi’s condition, what good would it do?’
’Cheng Yuan might be a Divine Doctor, true, but the Old Valley Master of Medicine Valley is the greatest Divine Doctor in the Ancient Martial Realm, and even he was helpless to do anything for Shishi. Why bother letting Cheng Yuan know about her condition?’
’Wouldn’t that just be adding needless sorrow?’
Cheng Yuan, mistakenly believing Hu Minjiang was referring to the broken engagement, said with a solemn expression, "Minjiang, regarding the annulment of my engagement with Sister Shishi, my conscience is clear. I admit, Sister Shishi was very good to me, and I admire her greatly. Unfortunately, by the time I met her, I was already legally married to Ruoxi. I couldn’t give Sister Shishi the status she deserved, so I had no choice but to break the engagement."
Hu Minjiang was so furious he could grind his teeth to dust. "Some clear conscience!" he snarled. "Since you were already married, why did you let my sister..."
"Enough, Minjiang! I told you to shut your mouth!" Hu Yidao interjected. "This matter is entirely my responsibility! It was all my fault for trying to play matchmaker, and I’m the one who harmed your sister! If you need to hate someone, then hate me!"
Hu Minjiang turned his head away, fuming, as two lines of hot tears streamed down his face. ’My sister has suffered too much!’
’This Cheng is too heartless!’
Cheng Yuan quickly tried to placate him. "Uncle Hu, you only had good intentions. It’s just that I was raised with more traditional values and can’t accept the idea of having multiple wives. I do bear some of the responsibility..."
Hu Yidao sighed. "Forget it. Let’s not dwell on the past. We’ll just say you and Shishi weren’t meant to be. What brings you to the Hu Family today? Did you run out of your share of medicinal herbs?"
"No, I came here today to propose a partnership with the Hu Family."
Before Hu Yidao could reply, Hu Minjiang shouted, "What right do you have to partner with our Hu Family? You broke the engagement with my sister, and now you want to fleece us? Have you no shame?"
Hu Yidao was getting angry now. "That’s enough, Minjiang!" he snapped. "Shut your mouth, or I’ll lock you up!"
Cowed, Hu Minjiang could only lower his head.
Hu Yidao turned to Cheng Yuan. "Xiaoyuan, please, tell us. How would you like to partner? The Hu Family will give you its full support."
"My company, Yuanxi Pharmaceutical, has just developed a product called Lingxi Health Beverage. I’d like the Hu Family to be our distributor."
’Lingxi Health Beverage?’
At that name, Hu Minjiang’s eyes instantly lit up.
Just yesterday, the Lingxi Health Beverage had flooded his social media feeds. All his friends and even his mentor were incredibly bullish on it, believing the Lingxi beverage would soon take the entire country by storm.
Hu Minjiang’s classmates and mentors were all scrambling to find a way to contact Yuanxi.
But Yuanxi was too hot right now; they wouldn’t even bother with smaller-scale partners.
Hu Minjiang truly never expected such a golden opportunity to fall into his lap. To think the Lingxi Health Beverage was actually developed by Cheng Yuan’s company!
Hu Yidao, devoted to his martial arts practice, had no head for business. He’d never even heard of the Lingxi Health Beverage and had no idea that Cheng Yuan was essentially offering to line their pockets.
Hu Yidao simply assumed Cheng Yuan had run into some difficulty and was asking for his help with distribution.
Hu Yidao nodded readily. "Alright, the Hu Family can be your distributor. However, I’m not the one who handles the business side of things. You should go talk to your aunt."
With that, Hu Yidao led Cheng Yuan to Song Yujun.
Cheng Yuan took the initiative to greet her. "Aunt, it’s been a while. You’re looking even better than before."
Song Yujun shot Cheng Yuan a cold glare. "That’s the first I’ve heard of anger improving one’s complexion. In that case, you should come visit the Hu Family more often and make me even angrier!"
"Yujun, what kind of way is that to talk?" Hu Yidao said. "Cheng Yuan is here to propose a partnership. I’ve already agreed that the Hu Family will be Xiaoyuan’s distributor. You two can sort out the details."
Song Yujun instantly exploded. "Cheng Yuan!" she shrieked. "Have you no sense of shame?! You break the engagement with my daughter, and then you have the audacity to ask for a partnership with our family? Why in the world should the Hu Family help you? Don’t even think about it! We will absolutely not become your distributor!"
At the side, Hu Minjiang started to get anxious.
’This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! We absolutely can’t miss it!’
"Mom," he blurted out, "you’re the one who taught me that business is business! There are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests! Don’t let your emotions cloud your judgment! The product Cheng Yuan wants us to distribute is the Lingxi Health Beverage!"
’Lingxi Health Beverage?’
Song Yujun was stunned.
As the head of the Hu Group, she had, of course, heard of the Lingxi beverage.
Just last night, the Dongshan Commerce Association’s group chat had been buzzing with talk about it.
All the association members were in unanimous agreement: Yuanxi Pharmaceutical was destined to become the premier pharmaceutical behemoth in Dongshan, and might even go on to dominate the entire Dragon Country!
Anyone who managed to hitch their wagon to Yuanxi Pharmaceutical would be guaranteed to skyrocket to success right alongside them.
Unfortunately, Song Yujun hadn’t been in the Provincial City yesterday, so she’d had no way to approach Yuanxi Pharmaceutical to discuss a partnership.
She never imagined that Yuanxi Pharmaceutical would come knocking on her door of its own accord.
If it had been anyone else, Song Yujun would have agreed without a moment’s hesitation and treated them as a guest of honor.
But, of all people, it just had to be Cheng Yuan.
’Does Cheng Yuan think this small token of charity can make up for what he did to the Hu Family? That it can compensate for our daughter’s sacrifice?’
’Absolutely not!’
’She, Song Yujun, would never climb to success by stepping on her own daughter’s corpse!’
’She, Song Yujun, would not eat the bread bought with her daughter’s blood!’
"Cheng Yuan! Get the hell out!" she roared. "The Hu Family will never be a distributor for Yuanxi Pharmaceutical!"