After Being Forced Into Marriage, I Became Very Successful - Chapter 17

17:

Tonight’s banquet was attended by nearly all of Haicheng’s prominent business figures. Naturally, the Li family, currently riding high, was present, as was the Jiang family, mired in a debt crisis yet clinging to hope thanks to their powerful in-laws.

Jiang Chaohan and Jiang Daming, father and son, made a point to ingratiate themselves with Xia Langyan and his wife. Everyone at the banquet was aware of the connection between the two families. Out of respect for the Xia family, people were polite to the Jiang’s, though when the conversation turned to recent business developments, the Jiang’s had little to boast about.

The Li family, on the other hand, had plenty to talk about. Having started as a fast-food hotpot chain, they were now setting their sights on traditional old shops, aiming to strike it big with an “old shop, new sales” strategy.

This idea wasn’t original to them, but the Li family was among the first to take bold steps, making them pioneers in the field. While others outwardly expressed admiration, they were quietly watching, waiting to see the results.

If this strategy is proved to be successful, the dormant capital in the market wouldn’t stay idle for long, and the catering industry would surely face another wave of fierce competition.

Throughout the banquet, the Xia family kept a low profile but undeniably held the spotlight. Despite Xia Langyan’s repeated insistence that Xia Corporation had no major investment projects planned, attendees still clamored for future collaboration opportunities.

In the car on the way home, the Jiang father and son finally dropped their forced smiles. Jiang Chaohan removed his tie, holding it in his hand. He had quite a bit to drink that evening.

“Dad, should we call Dr. Chen to check on you?”

“It’s a small matter. No need to bother.”

Jiang Daming was still uneasy, but since Jiang Chaohan insisted, he didn’t press further.

“You saw how it was tonight. If it weren’t for the Xia family, those people would’ve openly mocked us.”

Recalling the duplicitous behavior of some attendees, Jiang Daming felt genuine indignation.

“Once we sort out our troubles, those people won’t get a chance to come crawling back.”

Jiang Chaohan, however, wasn’t as optimistic. Having navigated the business world for years, he knew exactly how dire Jiang Corporation’s crisis was.

“Let’s hope so,” he said, silently calculating the days. The wedding was drawing closer.

Compared to the glum Jiang father and son, the Li family was far more upbeat. However, their plan to acquire old shops wasn’t as smooth or simple as they had made it sound at the banquet. They were already facing resistance.

Li Zien was concerned about his father’s bold claims at the event. “Dad, you said we’d complete the acquisitions within three months. What if it doesn’t happen?”

Li Wannian glanced at him. “What’s there to fear? Business is unpredictable. If we succeed in three months, great. If there are setbacks, we’ll take another three.”

Li Zien nodded, suppressing his unease.

“Those shops you mentioned last time, are they still refusing to sign?”

“Yes, the most stubborn ones won’t even negotiate, flat-out saying they’re not interested. A few owners that seemed promising last week suddenly said they needed more time to think.”

A last-minute change of heart suggested something significant had shifted.

Li Wannian pondered for a moment before instructing, “Put the hardline shops on hold for now. Focus on locking down the wavering ones, and find out if anyone’s competing with us.”

The Li family had kept their acquisition plan under wraps initially, only loosening their secrecy after securing over half the targeted shops, effectively signaling their intentions to the capital market.

Li Zifeng, returning from a night out at a bar with friends, passed by his father’s study and overheard the conversation with his older brother.

He paused.

He’d never been deeply involved in the family business, largely because he was too fond of leisure. With a clearly more capable older brother, he rarely got a chance to shine.

This acquisition plan excites him, seeing it as a golden investment opportunity. But his own funds were limited, so he thought of roping in Jiang Yan. He’d pitched the idea not only to her but to others in his circle, though most claimed they didn’t have spare millions to invest casually. For second-generation heirs reliant on family wealth, such sums weren’t easy to come by.

So far, only Yu Ming had explicitly agreed to invest, leaving Jiang Yan as his other hope. Li Zifeng hadn’t received the latest updates and could only glean bits from his father and brother’s occasional talks.

What he overheard tonight, however, wasn’t good news. What he’d thought was a done deal was now at risk of falling apart. Back in his room, head pounding, he sent Jiang Yan a message.

Lately, reaching Jiang Yan by phone had been tough. She had explained it was due to the hectic wedding preparations, which made sense. Li Zifeng couldn’t exactly ask her to prioritize him over the wedding, he didn’t have the clout to compete with Xia Yining.

Drowsy, he waited over an hour for a reply that never came. He drank a glass of water and went to bed.

—

For the wedding banquet, Boss Qian meticulously prepared several variations of crab shell pastries, distinct from those sold in his shop. The fillings were carefully refined and selected, some of which he hadn’t made in nearly twenty years.

Jiang Yan and Qian Ming were among the first to taste them, and they had nothing but praise.

“I never thought my dad could make such stunning crab shell pastries. I always assumed what we sold in the shop was his full supply,” Qian Ming said.

Jiang Yan savored the ham-filled pastry, diced finely with bits of cured meat, its rich aroma lingering without being greasy, maintaining a soft, chewy texture she couldn’t bear to swallow in one bite.

“These recipes are from the old days, but the costs are high. If we sold these in the shop, we’d probably move only a few a day,” Boss Qian explained, delighted to see his creations devoured completely.

He looked at Jiang Yan. “I revisited some old recipes recently and made these flavors, closer to the original taste. What do you think?”

Though confident and satisfied, he knew it was Jiang Yan’s wedding. If she didn’t approve, he wouldn’t make changes on his own.

Jiang Yan gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up. “Absolutely fantastic.”

Qian Ming clearly preferred these new flavors too, finding them more refined and flavorful, elevating the humble sesame cake to a whole new level.

But she was a bit worried. “Won’t this innovation deviate from expectations? If people came for the shop’s usual taste and found it different, wouldn’t they be disappointed?”

Her question was directed at Jiang Yan. A mishap at a high-profile wedding could have serious consequences. Her father might not care, but she couldn’t ignore it.

“No, it’s not a complete departure. Besides, Boss Qian said these are closer to the traditional flavors, only replaced over time with cheaper ingredients due to market demands. I’m grateful he’s willing to revive the complex process for my wedding to create something more authentic,” Jiang Yan said, reassuring Qian Ming.

Boss Qian fell silent, and after a moment, sighed softly. “It’s been a long time since I had the chance to make something this meticulous.”

The wedding took place as planned at the end of summer. Xia’s mother, after tasting the finalized crab shell pastries and scallion pancakes, couldn’t stop praising them. Beyond looking forward to seeing her daughter in her wedding dress, she was excited to share these Haicheng specialties with the guests.

Xia Yining’s flawless features, enhanced by the makeup artist, radiated captivating beauty. Compared to her usual cool detachment, today she exuded a touch of charm and softness. Ye Chenchen bustled around her, unable to resist snapping several photos.

“Cousin, you’re absolutely the most beautiful woman in the world today!”

Xia Yining looked at herself in the mirror, feeling a bit dazed. It was her wedding day, yet apart from being a little nervous, she didn’t feel anything else. She’d heard countless compliments but responded only with smiles, not feeling particularly elated.

Jiang Yan knocked and entered. Her makeup was simpler than Xia Yining’s, and she was already prepared. Ye Chenchen playfully blocked her path. “Why are you not out greeting the guests? Are you sneaking in to see my cousin?”

Jiang Yan smiled gently. “Auntie asked me to check if there’s anything I can help with.”

“Still calling her Auntie? You signed the marriage certificate this morning, you need to change how you address her.”

Ye Chenchen’s reminder was timely. Jiang Yan paused, then corrected herself. “I forgot for a moment. Thanks for the correction.”

She leaned forward to look at Xia Yining, who had her back to her. “Mom said that if you need any help, just tell me directly.”

The makeup artist had finished the final touches, lingering to admire the perfect result.

From the mirror, Xia Yining saw Jiang Yan’s sincere expression and nodded slightly. “I’m fine for now. Everything’s going smoothly.”

Ye Chenchen glanced at the time. “It’s about time to go greet the guests.”

The makeup artist stepped aside to pack up, and Ye Chenchen and the other bridesmaids prepared to leave. Xia Yining was about to head out with Jiang Yan when she felt a sudden breeze.

Jiang Yan stepped closer, gently touching her hair. “It looks a bit loose here. Should we get the stylist to fix it?”