The day after Jiang Wuming and Dongfang Xiaoyao parted ways, Dongfang Xiaoyao followed Su Shiyun to Donghai.
The previous evening, Su Shiyun had received a call from the leaders of the Mindong District in Donghai, informing her that leaders from the medical department would be visiting Tianyao Group for inspection and research.
Personnel from Donghai and Mindong District would accompany them, and Tianyao Group's core members, led by Su Shiyun, were requested to prepare for the inspection.
At nine o'clock in the morning, Su Shiyun arrived at Tianyao Group.
Although Su Shiyun had been informed by General Manager Qian Jin that the group had made all necessary preparations, upon her arrival, she personally inspected the preparations with Qian Jin and other executives to ensure everything was in order.
At ten o'clock, Su Shiyun, along with Qian Jin and other executives from Tianyao Group, stood below the group's building to wait.
At five past ten, several cars drove into the Tianyao Group compound. Among them were official vehicles from Donghai and Mindong District, as well as a Rolls-Royce Phantom.
That was the vehicle of Li Shanglai, the chairman of Longteng Pharmaceutical.
Li Shanglai had also arrived.
This surprised Su Shiyun and the executives of Tianyao Group. They had not been informed of Li Shanglai's impending visit and were curious as to why he was coming.
The answer was soon revealed.
Li Shanglai and a young man alighted from the Rolls-Royce Phantom. Some staff from Donghai and Mindong District immediately surrounded the young man, showing him exceptional courtesy.
The young man was the one from the medical department sent to inspect and research Tianyao Group. His surname was Li, and his given name was Muzhi. He hailed from the same Li family as Li Shanglai.
Li Muzhi was impeccably dressed in a suit, exuding an air of natural arrogance.
In his early thirties, he already held a deputy position in a department within the medical ministry, with a promising future.
More importantly, he was the eldest grandson of the Li family and a true scion of the Li clan. Among the younger generation, his status was second only to Li Lianyi, and he was a key member of the Li family's younger generation, apart from those inheriting medical skills.
In fact, his standing within the entire Li family was somewhat higher than that of Li Shanglai.
Seeing Li Muzhi and his entourage alight from the car, Su Shiyun proactively led her team to greet them. The second-in-command of Mindong District introduced Li Muzhi's identity.
"Welcome to Tianyao Group, Director Li. We are honored by your visit for inspection and guidance," Su Shiyun said, extending her hand to Li Muzhi with a low posture.
"Ms. Su, your reputation precedes you," Li Muzhi replied.
Li Muzhi smiled faintly, appearing polite, but as he spoke, he held his head high, adopting a condescending demeanor.
Su Shiyun did not mind Li Muzhi's arrogance. She withdrew her hand with a smile and personally led Li Muzhi and his group on a tour of the group's factory and office buildings.
During the tour, a dedicated person introduced Tianyao Group's business operations and future development plans. However, Li Muzhi showed little interest throughout, giving the places a cursory glance.
This led Su Shiyun and the staff from Donghai and Mindong District to believe that Li Muzhi was merely going through the motions to fulfill his duty of grassroots inspection and research. They were unaware that Li Muzhi's visit to Donghai and Tianyao Group was a case of "the hunter aims at the pheasant, but the pheasant is looking at the hunter."
After the tour, as per procedure, the accompanying leader from Donghai organized a meeting.
Although Li Muzhi's position was not the highest among those present, he represented the medical department from Yanjing. The accompanying leader from Donghai ceded the main seat, which Li Muzhi readily accepted. During the meeting, he spoke with an air of seniority, parroting the speeches of his superiors and offering pronouncements.
After the meeting, Su Shiyun invited everyone to stay for lunch. Neither the staff from Donghai and Mindong District nor Li Muzhi refused. However, Li Muzhi expressed a desire for a private discussion with Su Shiyun before lunch.
The staff from Donghai and Mindong District, being perceptive, excused themselves, with Qian Jin leading them to the group's reception restaurant.
They knew that Li Muzhi and Li Shanglai were from the same Li family, and Tianyao Group was a collaborative enterprise between the Li and Su families. It was a private discussion among their own, and outsiders were not meant to be present.
"Director Li, do you have any further instructions?"
After everyone else left, only Su Shiyun, Li Shanglai, and Li Muzhi remained in the conference room. Su Shiyun initiated the conversation.
"We will not discuss Tianyao Group matters from now on," Li Muzhi said, delivering a surprising statement. "Let's talk about your brother, Jiang Wuming."
"Talk about Wuming?" Su Shiyun asked, a hint of confusion in her voice.
Li Shanglai also looked at Li Muzhi with surprise.
Li Muzhi had not discussed Jiang Wuming with Li Shanglai prior to this.
"Ms. Su, I need you to convey a few words to Jiang Wuming," Li Muzhi stated directly.
"What words?"
Su Shiyun sensed something was amiss. The smile on her face vanished, and she subtly furrowed her brow.
"The engagement between Jiang Wuming and my sister, Li Lianyi, has been dragging on for too long. It's time to settle it," Li Muzhi said solemnly. "The Li family and my sister have not brought up this marriage, nor have they canceled the engagement, out of respect for Jiang Zhan's reputation. After all, Jiang Zhan is a hero of the Dragon Country. However, Jiang Wuming cannot feign ignorance. He and my sister can never be together. Continuing this way is not good for either of them."
With a suddenness, Su Shiyun and Li Shanglai's expressions changed drastically upon hearing Li Muzhi's words.
At the time, Su Shiyun had unconditionally handed over the secret formula for the Qi and Blood Pills to the Li family, considering it as Jiang Wuming's betrothal gift to Li Lianyi and the Li family. Li Muzhi's implication that Jiang Wuming should unilaterally break off the engagement was thus a considerable shock to Su Shiyun.
As for Li Shanglai... he had made a grave error by acting on his own accord and cooperating with Wei Qianyuan, narrowly escaping a fate of cultivating herbs in Yaoshen Valley. He had also discerned that Li Guoyi and Li Lianyi placed great importance on Jiang Wuming! In such a situation, Li Muzhi was now advocating for the termination of the engagement?
"Ms. Su, please tell Jiang Wuming that one must have self-awareness and learn to take initiative. He should break off his engagement with my sister as soon as possible, so as not to delay my sister's youth!" Li Muzhi continued, revealing his ultimate objective while Su Shiyun and Li Shanglai were still in shock.
"Alright," Su Shiyun replied, her expression grim. She felt a mix of anger and frustration but was unable to articulate it.
Li Shanglai wanted to say something, but he felt it was inappropriate, swallowing his words.
Seeing this, Li Muzhi saw no need for further discussion and stood up. "Uncle Shanglai, shall we head to the restaurant?"
"Sure," Li Shanglai nodded and also stood up.
"Director Li, Mr. Li, please go to the restaurant first. I'm not feeling well and will join you later," Su Shiyun said.
Li Muzhi did not seem to mind and left the conference room with Li Shanglai.
"Muzhi, what you just said, is it your intention or your father's?" Li Shanglai couldn't help but ask after leaving the conference room.
"It is both my intention and my father's," Li Muzhi replied.
"Does your grandfather and Lianyi know about this?" Li Shanglai asked after a moment's hesitation.
"Grandfather and Lianyi don't know yet, but it's not important. What's important is that they do not approve of Jiang Wuming," Li Muzhi stated.
"Why do you say that?" Li Shanglai inquired, puzzled.
"Uncle Shanglai, I know that the incident last time made you believe that Grandfather and Lianyi greatly value Jiang Wuming. But in reality, they only care about the formula for the Qi and Blood Pills. Otherwise, why wouldn't Grandfather invite Jiang Wuming to his birthday banquet this time?" Li Muzhi paused and said with a mocking smile.
"Muzhi, you and your father are acting on your own accord simply because your grandfather didn't invite Jiang Wuming..." Li Shanglai exclaimed in shock.
"Uncle Shanglai, Grandfather not inviting Jiang Wuming signifies his disapproval of him," Li Muzhi interrupted Li Shanglai's words sternly. "And my father and I are asking Jiang Wuming to break off the engagement because we have found an excellent man for Lianyi!"
"Who?" Li Shanglai's eyes widened as he blurted out the question.
"Gu Tianlong, the eldest young master of the Gu family and the chief disciple of the Dragon Gate!" Li Muzhi declared with a proud smile. "Uncle Shanglai, do you think that Jiang Wuming can be compared to Gu Tianlong?"
Li Shanglai remained silent, but he felt something was not quite right.
Meanwhile, in the conference room, after Li Shanglai and Li Muzhi had left, Su Shiyun hesitated for a moment before finally calling Jiang Wuming. She relayed Li Muzhi's words to him verbatim.
"Sister, I understand," Jiang Wuming replied softly after listening to Su Shiyun's transmission.
"Wuming, what does the Li family mean by this? How could they do such a thing?" Su Shiyun asked, confused and, more so, indignant.
"I don't know, but we will find out soon," Jiang Wuming said.
"What do you mean?" Su Shiyun inquired, not understanding.
"I will attend Li Guyi's eightieth birthday banquet, the head of the Li family, uninvited!" Jiang Wuming said slowly, his gaze fixed towards the southwest, his expression as placid as a still ancient well, as he stood before the wooden house in the Zhanlong Hall of the Shenxian Valley.