Chapter 599: Chapter 516: Marriage Alliance

Bai Junfan had recklessly brawled in the street over Yang Liu’er. When Old Master Bai found out, he initially planned to let it slide. It wasn’t a major incident, after all; he could just pull some strings and make it go away. But the next day, Bai Junfan defied his orders. He didn’t accompany his grandfather on visits, nor did he wait at home for guests to arrive—all things meant to pave the way for his future. Old Master Bai couldn’t find him. When he asked, he learned that his grandson had run out as if possessed, going to find Yang Liu’er again.

Old Master Bai was furious. ’What does he think he’s doing? She’s just some poor village girl. Is she worth him losing his mind and abandoning his ambition? The Bai family has never produced such a good-for-nothing!’

Bai Qingyue defended her nephew. "Our Xiao Fan is a good boy, of course. It’s that Yang Liu’er—she’s vain and clingy. She’s not content with marrying into an ordinary family and still wants to stay entangled with Xiao Fan, making one scene after another. She knew Shun Ma has a loose tongue, so she deliberately brought up the fact that she was married. And just look, now Xiao Fan knows! They were involved for several years, after all. He’s bound to be upset and couldn’t stop himself from going to find her, which is exactly what Yang Liu’er wanted."

Old Master Bai’s gaze was grim. "If she was willing to leave, she shouldn’t have come back. How dare she stir up trouble? Who does she think the Bai family is? You handle it. If she affects Xiao Fan, then there’s no need for her to remain in Beijing. Just get rid of her!"

"Understood."

Bai Qingyue paused for a moment before continuing, "Xiao Fan is already in his mid-twenties. He’s a young man in his prime and the eldest grandson of our Bai family; he should have settled down and started a family long ago. The original plan was to have him transferred back to the North, closer to home, so we could conveniently arrange a marriage for him. But now he has to go to the Northwest border, which makes things difficult. If he has to stay there for three to five years, I’m afraid no family’s daughter will be willing to marry him."

Old Master Bai snorted. "Who says he’s going for three to five years? They only took advantage of our carelessness this time. By the time the news reached us, it was already a done deal. But of course we can’t just let it be. We have to find a way to change things. Two years at most, and Xiao Fan will be transferred back!"

Bai Qingyue said resentfully, "Father, are those people completely useless? They’ve failed time and time again, and now they’ve let Xiao Fan suffer this injustice. It’s so frustrating! Our boy should be the most proud and distinguished, covered in glory and drawing everyone’s admiration. Instead, that prime position was snatched by that Gu family boy, while our Xiao Fan got the short end of the stick. My heart just aches for him when I think about it!"

"Enough. Don’t say such things in the future, especially outside. It’s unseemly for others to overhear." Old Master Bai waved his hand irritably. "Xiao Fan really does need to get married. We were considering the Tang family’s daughter before. Is that really impossible now, it seems?"

Bai Qingyue pouted. "It’s impossible now. That eldest son of the Gu family keeps a close watch on her and is a master at sowing discord. Tang Manman completely ignores Xiao Fan... And this is Second Brother’s fault. He and Wu Xiaowen have a history. It would be one thing if they just fooled around in private, but they flaunt their affair everywhere, as if they’re afraid people *don’t* know the Bai family’s Second Master stole a Tang family wife! It’s a scandal no matter how you slice it. Tang Manman is Wu Xiaowen’s biological daughter, after all. She already hated Wu Xiaowen for abandoning her back then, and now she despises her even more. Her hatred for the mother has extended to us—she can’t stand the sight of our Xiao Fan now!"

"Short-sighted fools!" Old Master Bai slammed his hand on the table, though it was unclear just who he was cursing.

The affair between Bai Lihua and Wu Xiaowen was a major source of anger for Old Master Bai as well. He had always held Wu Xiaowen in contempt—a cast-off wife driven out of the Tang family, yet his own son treated her like a treasure. Not only did it make them a laughingstock, but it also offended the Tang family, preventing his eldest grandson from winning over Tang Manman. The Bai-Tang marriage alliance had fallen through, and now even he had a hard time getting a word in with Tang Renqian. ’I ought to give that stupid son of mine a good beating to knock some sense into him!’

Old Master Bai mused for a moment, then said, "When one door closes, another opens. Since it won’t work with the Tang family, we shouldn’t hold up Xiao Fan’s future. Yueyue, I’ll have to trouble you with this. Take a look at the young ladies from the various aristocratic and influential families in Beijing. Focus on those who would be most beneficial to Xiao Fan’s career. Don’t be afraid to consider several candidates. Choose the best and most outstanding one, and let’s get Xiao Fan married as soon as possible."

"Yes, Father." An idea suddenly struck Bai Qingyue, and she said excitedly, "There was a girl I had my eye on before—Zeng Rong, from the main branch of the Zeng Family. She’s beautiful, a Talented Woman, poised and elegant, and she even hosts a television program now. I think Xiao Fan would definitely like her! Unfortunately, I sounded her out a few times, but she seemed indifferent. But yesterday, I heard some news. You know Jun Ran, from the Jun Family, the one who went to study abroad? She’s back! She returned because she fell ill! Father, it’s the Jun Family! Even though Elder Jun is in a similar position to you these days, Jun Heng is steadily rising through the ranks. And then there’s Madam Jun, Huang Wei—her maiden family is also very powerful. Her two brothers hold key positions in the military!"

"What are Madam Jun’s brothers’ names?"

"One is named Huang Yuting, and the other is... Huang Yu-something?"

"Is it Huang Yuxuan?"

"Yes, yes! His name is Huang Yuxuan!"

Old Master Bai nodded, his brow unfurrowing. "This Huang Yuxuan... he’s a rising star. Hmph! That Gu family boy may have taken Xiao Fan’s position today, but he’ll soon live to regret it! You said the Jun family’s girl is ill? Then we must prepare a gift and pay her a visit. Tell Xiao Fan to go with you!"

"But Xiao Fan is supposed to leave tomorrow."

"I’ll make a call and see if I can delay his departure by a couple of days. The moment he gets back, tell him to come to my study immediately!"

"Yes. I’ll go make the preparations now."

Bai Qingyue had reached the door when Old Master Bai called out to her again.

"Lihua is divorced. The country woman was simple-minded, short-sighted, and greedy, which made things easy. She took the money and willingly accepted all the blame, so the impact on Lihua will be minimal. But knowing Lihua’s disposition, he’ll eventually stir up trouble if he stays single for too long. While you’re at it, find someone for him too. I don’t care about the woman’s personal circumstances—divorced, widowed, it doesn’t matter. As long as her maiden family has a strong background, have your second brother marry her!"

The corner of Bai Qingyue’s mouth twitched. "Father, will that really work? You know how picky Second Brother is."

"You just handle it. I’d like to see him dare to complain!"

"Sigh... I understand."

Jun Ran was staying at De Ren Hospital. No matter how much Huang Wei pestered her, Xiao Man refused to treat Jun Ran. Huang Wei gritted her teeth in frustration but was completely helpless. ’Her daughter was her precious, noble darling, but Tang Manman was no ordinary person either. What could she possibly do to her?’

Dean Sun had no choice but to step in personally as a show of respect for the Jun Family.

Dean Sun’s Sun’s Acupuncture technique was not as masterful as Xiao Man’s, so the results were naturally diminished. Still, the effects were quite good. Coupled with a special secret recipe and fine medicine, in just two or three days, Jun Ran, who had been like a withered branch, regained some of her vitality. Huang Wei was overjoyed and stopped insisting on finding Xiao Man.

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