Chapter 146 Betrothal Gifts
The steward’s voice was extremely obsequious, as if the Bai family’s eldest young master’s personal visit to the Liu family was akin to an emperor on a private tour.
As the steward finished speaking, the Liu family matriarch and the others inside the hall were overjoyed. Everyone quickly bowed and hurried outside to greet them.
Upon reaching the outside, they saw Bai Leitian and Uncle Wu walking in.
The Liu family matriarch bowed and rushed forward to greet them, her posture almost at the point of kneeling.
Bai Leitian supported the Liu family matriarch’s arm and said with a smile, “Grandma Liu, there’s no need for such formalities. Let’s go to the hall to discuss matters.”
The Liu family matriarch was so excited to hear Bai Leitian address her as “Grandma” that her soul nearly flew out. She quickly nodded and said, “Okay, okay, Young Master. Please, you go first.”
They all entered the hall together and sat down once more.
Bai Leitian glanced at everyone present and said, “So, Grandma, you were having a family meeting! But why does it feel like some people are missing?”
The Liu family matriarch was stunned by his words. She looked at everyone in the hall and didn’t notice anyone missing.
After all, for the Liu family matriarch, Liu Jianghu, Cao Meihua, and the trio of Liu Ran’s family were not considered members of the Liu family.
Liu Jianghu’s leg had been crippled since childhood. This lame son had always been the one existence the Liu family matriarch was most unwilling to acknowledge, feeling that wherever she went, people would point fingers and say she gave birth to a crippled son.
Therefore, the Liu family matriarch had always been very disdainful of Liu Jianghu. Now that she had driven him out of the Liu family, she felt no psychological burden whatsoever, even having forgotten about this son’s existence.
Hearing Bai Leitian say this, the Liu family matriarch simply chuckled and said, “Young Master Bai, what are you saying? Our Liu family is naturally not as prosperous as the Bai family. Is there something that brings you to visit the Bai family so suddenly tonight?”
“Young Master Bai, please speak your mind. If this old woman can help, I will not refuse.”
Bai Leitian smiled and took out a piece of paper from his embrace, handing it to the Liu family matriarch. He said, “Grandma, please take a look at this betrothal gift list. Are you satisfied?”
The Liu family matriarch took the paper and looked at it. Then, she stood up with excitement.
On the paper was written a villa by Qingzhou Lake, a Bentley sedan worth seven million yuan, five million in cash, five important positions in the Bai family company with an annual salary of two million, ten engineering orders from the Bai family with a total value of no less than three hundred million, and an unlimited number of invitations to first-class social gatherings, ensuring the Liu family could attend any banquet.
After reading the paper, the Liu family matriarch swallowed with excitement. Although the paper only stated five million in cash, the actual cash profit from all the items combined was around one hundred million.
The Liu family’s total assets were only a little over a billion. If liabilities were excluded, their net assets were about two hundred million.
Now, Bai Leitian had gifted them one hundred million with one move.
The Liu family matriarch, trembling with excitement, asked Bai Leitian, “Young Master Bai, what do you mean by this? Is this gift list for this old woman because you want to acquire some of our Liu family’s industries?”
Bai Leitian laughed heartily and said, “No, I do want to acquire something, but I’m not acquiring any of your Liu family’s industries. I’m acquiring one of your Liu family’s granddaughters. I presume you have heard about what happened today. At Qingzhou University, my fiancée Wu Yuqing caused me great trouble, causing the Bai family to lose face. Therefore, I have already cast her aside.”
“Now, I have taken a fancy to one of your Liu family’s granddaughters, and I wish to use this betrothal gift list to exchange for a Liu family granddaughter to be my girlfriend. Even if she cannot become the young madam of our Bai family in the future, I guarantee that I will give her an important status. I will not look down on your Liu family, nor will I mistreat her.”
Hearing this, the Liu family matriarch’s legs trembled with excitement. She quickly swallowed and said earnestly to Bai Leitian, “Young Master Bai, you flatter me, you flatter me. For my granddaughter to be favored by Young Master Bai is already her fortune and the fortune of our Liu family. Whether or not she is given a status, or if you can’t afford to marry her, is not important. Her being with you will bring us honor.”
“Moreover, you have given us such a generous betrothal gift list with just one move!”
“I just don’t know which of my granddaughters Young Master Bai has taken a liking to? As long as you say her name, this old woman will definitely agree.”
When the unmarried granddaughters below heard that it was Young Master Bai himself who was coming to propose, they were all incredibly excited and looked on with anticipation, hoping to be chosen by Bai Leitian.
Liu Xin, sitting next to Yang Long, felt a pang of jealousy when she heard Bai Leitian’s words.
She was feeling down, as Yang Long was indeed quite good.
After all, the Yang family was considered a prominent family in Qingzhou City. However, there was simply no comparison between the Yang family and the Bai family. The Yang family was only considered decent within Qingzhou City, whereas the Bai family was a powerful family throughout Jiang Province, and the foremost family in Jiang Province.
Compared to the Bai family, the Yang family was like a dung beetle next to an elephant!
Liu Xin sighed inwardly, thinking that if she hadn’t married Yang Long, perhaps today she might have actually caught Bai Leitian’s eye!
Bai Leitian smiled gently when he heard the matriarch’s words. He said, “Then, Grandma, I’ll be direct. To be honest, I’ve taken a fancy to your granddaughter Liu Ran. This time, I wish to ask for her to be my girlfriend. I hope Grandma will grant my request.”
The Liu family matriarch froze in astonishment. She looked at Bai Leitian and asked, “Ah! Liu Ran? Young Master Bai, you… you’re not joking, are you? You took a liking to Liu Ran a few years ago. Back then, Liu Ran was still a maiden, and I would have certainly supported it. But now, Young Master Bai, you are unaware of the situation!”
“That scoundrel Liu Ran is already married! And she married a good-for-nothing delivery driver. We’ve had quite an unpleasant time with her because of this matter.”
“Oh dear! Young Master Bai, please choose someone else. A married woman, a fallen flower, a disobedient scoundrel, is truly unworthy of being Young Master Bai’s girlfriend! She doesn’t deserve you.”
Bai Leitian frowned and snorted, “Matriarch, I’m not here to select concubines. I came specifically for Liu Ran. In short, tell me yes or no. As long as you let Liu Ran be my girlfriend, this betrothal gift list will be honored immediately.”
The Liu family matriarch sat down with a troubled expression. In the Liu family hall, Liu Xin, Liu Qing, and the other women heard this and their eyes instantly glowed with jealousy.
They simply couldn’t understand why Liu Ran, that wretched girl, had such good luck. Even though she was married, she could still be fancied by the Bai family’s eldest young master. And the Bai family’s eldest young master was willing to offer a betrothal gift worth one hundred million for such a tarnished woman.
For a moment, many granddaughters were filled with indignation, envy, jealousy, and hatred. Especially Liu Xin, who clenched her fist tightly. She couldn’t bear this outcome.
She and Liu Ran were both married, yet now Young Master Mi inexplicably fancied the married Liu Ran but not her. This made her feel unbalanced once again.
Just then, the Liu family matriarch suddenly slammed the table. She said to Bai Leitian, “Alright, Young Master. I agree. Starting tomorrow, Liu Ran will be your girlfriend. We will make plans and definitely deliver Liu Ran to you, Young Master.”