Jinling City, Zhongshan International Garden.
Lu Ming arrived in front of a villa and lightly pressed the doorbell. A middle-aged man wearing glasses opened the door, looking at Lu Ming with confusion.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Lu Ming, I'm here to see the Jiang family about something."
The middle-aged man said joyfully, "Ah, you're our son-in-law! We've been eagerly awaiting your arrival. I'm your future father-in-law, Jiang Xueyi! Come in, please."
Jiang Xueyi invited Lu Ming to sit down, poured him a cup of tea, and said, "We know about the engagement. The old man repeatedly instructed us before he left to ensure this marriage, saying you were a peerless hero who could help the Jiang family through this difficult time."
Lu Ming smiled and replied, "You flatter me."
At this moment, a middle-aged woman walked over and sat down. She looked Lu Ming up and down with an arrogant attitude. Upon seeing Lu Ming's cheap, street-stall attire, her eyes couldn't help but show a hint of disgust.
Jiang Xueyi introduced, "Son-in-law, this is your future mother-in-law, Xu Qin."
Lu Ming nodded, "Hello, Auntie."
Xu Qin snorted coldly and asked in a chilling tone, "What do you do for a living now?"
Lu Ming replied truthfully, "I'm a tomb keeper at the Martyrs' Mausoleum."
"What?" Xu Qin's face dropped. "You're a grave keeper? How inauspicious! Did Grandpa eat the wrong medicine to entrust our daughter to a grave keeper!"
Jiang Xueyi quickly intervened, "There's no shame or honor in any job. It's an honor for Xiao Ming to guard the graves of martyrs."
Xu Qin rolled her eyes at him and continued, "Then where do you live, what brand of car do you drive, and how many digits are in your savings?"
"Uh..." Lu Ming shrugged. "I haven't bought a house or a car. As for savings, I'm not sure how many digits it has."
He genuinely didn't know the number of digits in his savings because Lu Ming was incredibly wealthy, his fortune being a astronomical figure. However, in Xu Qin's ears, it sounded like an excuse.
Xu Qin shouted angrily, "No house, no car, no savings, you poor loser, how dare you come to our Jiang family to propose! Our Jiang family is one of Jinling's most prominent families, and my daughter, Jiang Mengxin, is the CEO of Jiang's Enterprise, a perfect rich and beautiful woman! Her suitors are all wealthy and influential. You, a penniless bum, who gave you the courage to come to my Jiang family? Have some shame!"
Jiang Xueyi frowned, "Don't speak so harshly. The engagement was arranged by the old man, he must have had his reasons. Xiao Ming might be poor now, but perhaps he has great potential and will shine soon."
"Bah!" Xu Qin cursed, "If he has great potential, why would he be a grave keeper? In my opinion, Grandpa was senile and made a foolish suggestion. If we really marry our daughter to such a loser, won't we be laughed to death by our relatives? No, I absolutely will not agree to this marriage."
Lu Ming smiled wryly and shook his head, saying slowly, "If that's the case, then I'll be going."
"Wait, don't," Jiang Xueyi stopped Lu Ming, then pulled Xu Qin aside and whispered, "If you drive Lu Ming away, you'll be going against the old man's will! What if our relatives use this to attack our daughter and force her to give up her CEO position?"
Those relatives had been eyeing the CEO position for a long time and hadn't had an opportunity.
Driving Lu Ming away would be giving them an opening.
Going against the old man's will alone would be enough to have Jiang Mengxin ousted.
Xu Qin gritted her teeth in anger, but she suppressed the urge to drive Lu Ming away.
At this moment, a graceful figure descended the stairs. Her fair legs, beautiful face, and lustrous black hair cascaded over her shoulders, exuding nobility and elegance.
She was Lu Ming's fiancée, Jiang Mengxin.
Jiang Xueyi called out, "Daughter, quickly come and meet the fiancé Grandpa chose for you. The young man is quite spirited."
Unexpectedly, Jiang Mengxin walked past Lu Ming without even looking at him, her eyes filled with coldness and arrogance.
Jiang Mengxin sat down and said in an extremely cold tone, "I heard your conversation just now. Grandpa married me off to a grave keeper, hah, he really cares about me."
Jiang Mengxin had always been strong-willed, revering men of distinguished background and strong character. She had always believed that only young talents worth over ten billion could be worthy of her.
Now, with the old man marrying her to Lu Ming, a mere tomb keeper, she was extremely displeased. While hating her grandfather, she also despised Lu Ming.
Jiang Mengxin said to Lu Ming, "I don't know what despicable means you used to get Grandpa to write this engagement contract, but I'm telling you, if you think you can possess me, Jiang Mengxin, and enjoy the Jiang family's wealth based solely on this contract, hah, I'll give you four words: Wishful thinking!"
"Trash should stay in the trash heap. Do you think an engagement contract can get you into our household? Dream on! I, Jiang Mengxin, will personally send you back to the trash heap."
The scene became extremely awkward.
Lu Ming smiled wryly, helpless. Was this the hospitality of the Jiang family? If it weren't for fulfilling his mentor's dying wish, he would have loved to leave immediately.
A moment later.
Jiang Mengxin ignored Lu Ming and placed a document on the coffee table, saying with a slight frown, "Let's put the engagement aside for now, Dad. There's a very tricky matter that needs to be dealt with urgently."
Jiang Xueyi asked, "What is it?"
Jiang Mengxin pointed to the document, "The Jiang family borrowed 300 million yuan from Chirey Bank. Tomorrow is the repayment deadline, and the company doesn't have the money."
Jiang Xueyi said, "Didn't we agree with Chirey Bank to extend the deadline by a month? We'll repay it when the final payments for our project come in."
Jiang Mengxin sighed, "This matter was negotiated by Grandpa. Chirey Bank, out of respect for Grandpa, did agree. But now that Grandpa is gone, Chirey Bank suddenly changed its mind and refused to acknowledge the agreement, forcing us to repay the debt tomorrow."
Jiang Xueyi cursed, "It must be the work of those enemies!"
Jiang Mengxin said, "No matter who is behind it, if this money can't be repaid, Jiang's Enterprise will be in big trouble."
The whole family fell silent.
Three hundred million yuan wasn't a lot, but for Jiang's Enterprise to come up with it all at once was indeed difficult.
What to do?
At this moment, Lu Ming, who had been silent, suddenly spoke, "300 million yuan? It's not much. Director Liu of Chirey Bank owes me a lot of money. I'll have a word with him and ask him to waive this loan for the Jiang family, considering it as repayment of his debt to me."
A bombshell!
Everyone in the room widened their eyes and stared at Lu Ming in disbelief.
Surprise, doubt, and then anger followed.
Xu Qin was the first to scold, "Will you die if you don't brag? Director Liu is incredibly wealthy, why would he owe a grave keeper money? What, did you forget to burn him offerings when you visited graves?!"
Jiang Xueyi also said with disappointment, "Xiao Ming, I know you're eager to prove yourself, but your lies are too clumsy and only make you seem unreliable. You, sigh..."