"Mom, thank you!" Dongfang Mei said.
"You are my most beloved daughter, and these are all things I should do," Liu Hong replied.
Hearing this, Dongfang Mei's face was filled with happiness.
Having a mother who doted on her was naturally a very blissful thing.
"After I get married, I will be a daughter-in-law of the Jiang family. I can't interfere with the Dongfang family's affairs anymore, otherwise, the clan members will gossip!" Dongfang Mei said.
"How can that be?"
Liu Hong frowned and said, "You still have to be the head of the Dongfang family. Of all the people in the Dongfang family, none of them are capable except you. Only you can manage the vast fortune of the Dongfang family!"
"So what if you are the Jiang family's daughter-in-law? Even if you are the Jiang family's daughter-in-law, you are still the head of the Dongfang family. Whoever dares to gossip, I will expel them from the Dongfang family."
"But..." Dongfang Mei seemed helpless.
"You are a smart person, and you should be very clear about some things!"
Liu Hong continued, "The reason Li Ping wants you as her daughter-in-law and is eager for you to marry Jiang Yi is because you are the head of the Dongfang family, the future heir! Otherwise, do you think it's so easy to become Li Ping's daughter-in-law?"
Dongfang Mei remained silent.
Dongfang Mei knew about this matter clearly; she knew Li Ping's intentions.
"Actually, all of this was orchestrated by me!"
Liu Hong said, "I figured out Li Ping's psychological state, so I made you the head of the Dongfang family in advance. Just as I predicted, Li Ping came to propose herself, and was so proactive in arranging your marriage with Jiang Yi."
Hearing this, Dongfang Mei was stunned!
She never expected that everything was planned by Liu Hong.
If Liu Hong hadn't revealed it herself tonight, Dongfang Mei would probably never have guessed.
"I know this is not the best way, but for your happiness, I had to resort to some measures!"
Liu Hong held Dongfang Mei's hand and said, "After returning from Jiang Province, you have been yearning to marry Jiang Yi and become his wife. Although you didn't say it, I know it in my heart."
"Every time I see you heartbroken over Jiang Yi, I feel very sad. Now that you have finally gotten your wish, I am happy for you."
"Mom, thank you!" Dongfang Mei hugged Liu Hong.
"After you get married, you will have to leave me. I can't bear to part with you. I feel sad!" Liu Hong said with emotion.
"Mom, don't worry!"
Dongfang Mei smiled, "I will visit you often in the future. I am the head of the Dongfang family, and I will not leave the Dongfang family in the future either."
On the other side, Jiang Yi was driving at this moment.
Jiang Yi did not go home directly but secretly followed Dongfang Xun.
Jiang Yi wanted to see if what Dongfang Xun said was true.
Ever since Dongfang Xun got together with Song Tong, he always held back half of what he said.
Jiang Yi didn't quite trust Dongfang Xun.
Dongfang Xun didn't realize he was being followed. After reaching a park, he walked straight in.
Jiang Yi got out of the car and followed him.
It was very late now, and the park was deserted. Not a single person could be seen.
Soon, Dongfang Xun walked into a pavilion in the park.
Jiang Yi did not follow him but hid in the nearby woods.
He saw Song Tong, her mother, and her father all in the pavilion.
Everyone looked very disheveled, their faces gaunt, having lost their former elegance.
Especially Song Tong, without makeup and dressed very plainly, she looked like a village girl.
Song Tong's father, suffering from illness, didn't even have the strength to sit up and could only lie on the wooden bench.
Seeing this scene, Jiang Yi sneered.
It wasn't that Jiang Yi lacked sympathy, but that Song Tong and her family were truly detestable. Not a single one of them was good.
"Did you borrow the money?"
Song Tong stood up and asked Dongfang Xun anxiously.
"No! Not a single penny was borrowed," Dongfang Xun replied helplessly.
"Slap!"
Song Tong raised her hand and slapped Dongfang Xun across the face, then cursed, "You useless good-for-nothing! How blind was I to have fallen for someone like you? If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have ended up in this state."
Dongfang Xun dared not say a word.
Their current predicament had nothing to do with Dongfang Xun.
It was all their own doing.
If Song Tong's mother hadn't gambled, they might not have been wealthy, but their basic living conditions would certainly have been fine.
Now, Song Tong was blaming all their misfortunes on Dongfang Xun.
And Dongfang Xun dared not utter a word.
"You truly are a useless piece of trash!"
Song Tong's mother directly cursed Dongfang Xun, "We were originally counting on you, but now it seems we can't!"
Dongfang Xun still dared not speak.
"There is only one last option left! This option will not only ensure we have food and clothing but also allow us to make a fortune, and we'll never have to worry about money again!" Song Tong's mother said.
"What option?"
Song Tong asked hurriedly.
"I just found out that Dongfang Mei is going to marry Jiang Yi, and this is a golden opportunity for us."
Song Tong's mother revealed a sinister cold smile and said, "Once Dongfang Mei marries Jiang Yi, she will no longer be a member of the Dongfang family, and she will not be qualified to be the head of the Dongfang family!"
"Dongfang Xun can take this opportunity to approach Liu Hong, say that he has broken up with Song Tong and has repented, and beg Liu Hong to allow Dongfang Xun to return to the Dongfang family!"
"That's a good idea!"
Song Tong said, then asked, "And then?"
"Then, after Dongfang Mei marries Jiang Yi, Dongfang Xun can seize the position of family head. Dongfang Mei is already married, and the only person qualified to be the head of the Dongfang family would be Dongfang Xun!"
"Once Dongfang Xun becomes the head of the Dongfang family, the entire Dongfang family will be ours!" Song Tong's mother declared.
"It's decided then!"
Song Tong said to Dongfang Xun with a gentle smile, "This time it's up to you. I believe you can definitely do it."
"No!" Dongfang Xun said hastily.
"Why? Do you want to see our family starve to death on the streets because of your incompetence? If you love me, you should provide me with a good life, not let me live on the streets," Song Tong frowned.
"It's not that I won't agree, but this matter cannot be done. I have already been kicked out of the Dongfang family and am no longer a member of the Dongfang clan. Even if I go back and admit my mistake, my sister and my mother will not forgive me and will not let me return to the Dongfang family, let alone let me become the head of the Dongfang family," Dongfang Xun explained.
"How will you know if you don't try?" Song Tong said angrily.
"But..."
Dongfang Xun was very helpless.
"This is our only chance to turn things around, you must do it," Song Tong insisted.