Mu Jinyu's act of volunteering caused a slight astonishment among those present.
Following that, Lin Zhiping and the others slightly lowered their heads and began to snicker secretly.
Did this cousin really think she could accomplish what even they had failed to do?
Did she truly believe that just because she had fortunately retrieved Mysterious Spring Water from the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains and cured Grandfather's serious illness that everything would go her way?
Indeed, Elder Lin had been deceived by everyone into truly believing his recovery was self-healing and had nothing to do with Lin Qingxue, focusing only on how Lin Qingxue had tirelessly run about for him without any other gratitude.
But they were different; they knew the elder's recovery was likely related to the spring water Lin Qingxue brought back because they had sent the plastic bottle filled with the spring water for institutional testing and discovered that the minerals in it were very special.
Therefore, they were very apprehensive afterward, fearful that Elder Lin might mistakenly leave most of the family assets to Lin Qingxue.
In the end, they even managed to convince the somewhat confused elder that his recovery was solely due to his destined survival.
And now, seeing their cousin unlikely to inherit most of the Lin Group's assets yet unwilling to give up and still attempting to attract Elder Lin's attention, they could not help but secretly scoff at her overestimation of her abilities.
The difficulty of negotiating a partnership with Jinyu Group was no less than curing Elder Lin.
After all, Jinyu Group had so far only partnered with a few major families in River City; these opportunities were gained by the Xu Family and Jiang Family bending over backwards for them; otherwise, Jinyu Group might have continues to monopolize the market.
And what right did their little Lin Family have to discuss cooperation with such a corporate giant?
Wouldn't they just end up being left unattended in the lobby for a day and a night?
They couldn't afford to lose that much face!
So when Lin Qingxue volunteered, they could not help but snicker secretly.
When Elder Lin heard Lin Qingxue's offer, he was slightly taken aback but did not get excited, instead scanning the Lin descendants and said in a deep voice, "Is there anyone else willing to go?!"
Lin Zhiping thought for a moment and said, "Grandfather, I have a lot on my plate recently and can't make it; let cousin go instead."
The others echoed his sentiment.
Elder Lin's expression darkened as he said in frustration, "You really are not even on par with a woman!"
Elder Lin harbored a strong preference for males over females, always envisioning his grandchildren rather than his granddaughters or daughters-in-law carrying on the Lin family banner, or he wouldn't have lost his composure and made such a remark...
Lin Qingxue felt very uncomfortable hearing Grandfather's words.
What did he mean by not even being on par with women?
Was she innately inferior to her male cousins?
The great leader once said that women could hold up half the sky, yet Grandfather looked down on people so easily!
Lin Qingxue clenched her teeth in determination to make a mark for herself, to make Grandfather and the others take her seriously and never look down on her again.
Elder Lin, seeing that none of his descendants dared to commit decisively, shook his head in disappointment and then addressed Lin Qingxue, "Qingxue, then this task is yours to take. Can you guarantee its completion?"
If Lin Zhiping had been the one to respond, Elder Lin would not have asked if he could guarantee completion of the task; he would have been very pleased just by his willingness.
Lin Qingxue pursed her lips, hesitated for a moment, and then shook her head, "Qingxue cannot guarantee completion of the task, but will do her best."
Although she was determined to establish a career that would make Grandfather take notice, she understood that negotiating a partnership with Jinyu Group was an extremely tough challenge.
Her reason for agreeing was that none of the other Lin Family descendants were willing to step forward, and she didn't want Grandfather to feel embarrassed, which prompted her to volunteer.
Upon hearing Lin Qingxue's words, a younger member of the Lin Family sneered and muttered, "If you can't guarantee completion of the task, why go at all? Is it to embarrass yourself?"
Some people echoed, "Exactly, if her attitude there is as bad as it is at home and she offends the person in charge of Jinyu Group in Jinling, our Lin Family might suffer too. I think it's better if she doesn't go!"
"..."
Listening to these people whisper, Lin Qingxue pursed her lips and said nothing.
Fortunately, the elder wasn't so biased towards gender discrimination that he would allow them to bully Lin Qingxue. He opened his mouth to scold:
"Shut your mouths! You don't dare to go yourselves, yet you criticize Qingxue. If you're capable, go yourselves!"
Feeling her grandfather's support, Lin Qingxue felt much better.
Upon hearing their grandfather's reprimand, the Lin Family juniors fell silent like cicadas in the cold, not daring to speak.
Seeing this, Elder Lin waved his hand in disappointment and advised, "Alright, enough said. Qingxue, when you go there later, just do your best, but don't offend anyone from Jinyu Group."
"Yes, I understand, Grandfather," Lin Qingxue nodded.
Soon, the banquet was over.
Elder Lin didn't say much to everyone else, simply turned around and slowly walked upstairs.
"Cousin, you should go now. I heard that the person in charge of Jinyu Group is still in the Jinyu Tower and hasn't gone elsewhere."
"Yes, and it's Friday today. If they're off tomorrow, you'll have to wait another two days. Hurry up."
As soon as Elder Lin left, Lin Zhiping and several others wore smiles that were not quite smiles, and teased Lin Qingxue.
"I understand."
Lin Qingxue did not take offense at their thinly-veiled jibes, nodded, and said, "Thanks for the reminder, cousin. I'm heading over now."
With that said, Lin Qingxue didn't linger at the Lin Family Villa. She stood up, grabbed her bag, and headed out.
"Brother Ping, do you think that girl can be successful?"
After Lin Qingxue had left, a junior from the Lin Family suddenly asked worriedly.
"What if she's lucky again, and successfully negotiates a partnership, one after another? Won't the elder start to see her in a new light and eventually hand over Lin Group to her?"
"Don't worry, she definitely won't succeed," Lin Zhiping shook his head with confidence.
The reason he was so sure was that he had also visited Jinyu Group previously wanting to discuss a partnership, but Lin Qiaoxia had him wait in the reception room and then forgot about him, leaving him hanging all day.
Clearly, the person in charge of Jinyu Group had too high an opinion of themselves, not taking the Lin Family seriously at all.
As for Lin Qingxue, could she really change their attitude?
Lin Zhiping simply didn't believe it.
...
Meanwhile, having left the Lin Family, Lin Qingxue quickly adjusted her mood, putting the unpleasant experiences there behind her, and approached Jinyu Group in a positive and upward-looking attitude to discuss a partnership.
Soon, Lin Qingxue arrived at Wuhu Plaza, Jinyu Tower, took the elevator to the eighteenth floor, explained her purpose to the receptionist, and was escorted to the reception room by a young lady at the front desk.
Before long, Lin Qiaoxia came in, wearing an apologetic smile, and said, "Is this Ms. Lin from Lin Group? I'm really sorry. I was too busy last time and forgot about Mr. Lin..."
She was apologizing for the fact that she had made Lin Zhiping wait for an entire day on a prior occasion when he had come to discuss a partnership.
Having just been inspired by Mu Jinyu, she was determined to be more diligent in her own work and to apologize for the oversight.