Xiao Churan's declaration left the entire Xiao Family dumbstruck!
Everyone thought Xiao Churan must have gone mad!
There was a time and place to show off! What could showing off now lead to but death?
Dihao Group was the biggest company in Jinling. How could it possibly think anything of the Xiao Family? No matter who went to negotiate, there was no chance of success!
Xiao Hailong couldn't help sneering, "Churan, do you think someone like you can get a contract from Dihao Group?"
Xiao Hailong's younger sister, Xiao Weiwei, who was also Xiao Churan's cousin, sneered as well. "Churan, look at your status, and then look at Dihao Group's. Don't disgrace the Xiao Family by rushing in to negotiate!"
Someone chimed in, "Exactly. If Dihao Group throws her out, our Xiao Family will become a laughingstock in Jinling!"
Hearing this, Xiao Churan's cheeks flushed scarlet, and she felt deeply humiliated and annoyed.
Ever since she married Ye Chen, her standing in the family had plummeted. She had become less and less valued and was nearly being pushed out, while even her parents had been subjected to ridicule.
She felt that if she could secure this project with Dihao Group, her position in the family would surely be strengthened.
Most importantly, her parents would be able to hold their heads high again.
But with so many people mocking and ridiculing her now, she couldn't help having second thoughts.
She shot Ye Chen a frustrated glare. How could she have listened to his cajoling? If she had known, she would never have stepped forward...
Old Madam Xiao was furious when she heard what everyone was saying.
She had asked several times, and no one had dared take on the task. Now that Xiao Churan had stepped forward of her own accord, these people were pouring cold water on her!
Although Old Madam Xiao had never liked Xiao Churan, she felt that, at the very least, Xiao Churan was willing to help shoulder her burden, unlike the others, who only knew how to make things harder for her!
Her favorite grandson, Xiao Hailong, in particular, had truly disappointed her!
For that very reason, Old Madam Xiao's attitude toward Xiao Churan changed considerably.
She immediately said, "Since the rest of you don't dare take it on, stop talking nonsense! Churan will handle the negotiations for the project with Dihao Group!"
Xiao Churan could only brace herself and reply, "Don't worry, Grandma. I'll do my very best."
At that moment, Xiao Hailong snorted and jeered, "What good will doing your best do? If you fail in the end, won't you still disgrace the family?"
Ye Chen sneered and asked, "Xiao Hailong, what are you trying to do by talking Xiao Churan down like this? Do you think the Xiao Family isn't qualified to work with Dihao Group?"
Xiao Hailong hadn't expected a good-for-nothing like Ye Chen to dare speak up at the family meeting, much less pin such a label on him right off the bat.
Seeing that Old Madam Xiao looked somewhat angry too, he quickly explained, "That's not what I meant. I just don't think Xiao Churan can secure this deal!"
Ye Chen smiled and asked him, "What if Churan does secure the deal? Shall we make a bet?"
Xiao Hailong sneered. "Come on, then. You think I'm afraid of you? Name your stakes!"
Ye Chen said, "If Churan secures the contract, you'll kneel and kowtow to me three times in front of the whole family and say out loud that you were wrong. If she can't, I'll kowtow to you three times and say out loud that I was wrong. What do you say?"
"Hahahaha!" Xiao Hailong immediately burst into wild laughter. "You good-for-nothing, you're really courting death! Fine, I'll take that bet!"
Ye Chen nodded in satisfaction and said, "The whole family is here to witness it. Whoever goes back on the bet, may their father, mother, grandfather, and grandmother die!"
Ye Chen deliberately placed extra emphasis on "grandmother die," precisely because he was afraid Xiao Hailong would go back on the bet if he lost.
Once those words were spoken, Xiao Hailong would never dare go back on the bet. Wouldn't that be cursing his grandmother, Old Madam Xiao, to die? If he did, Old Madam Xiao herself probably wouldn't let him off!
"Fine!" Xiao Hailong didn't realize Ye Chen had dug a pit for him. Instead, he thought there was no way he could lose.
So he laughed and said, "The whole family can bear witness. I'll be waiting for you to kowtow to me!"
Xiao Churan was startled and kept signaling to him, but to her surprise, he paid her no attention at all.
Old Madam Xiao paid the bet no mind. All she cared about was whether they could get onto Dihao Group's list of partners this time. If they could, never mind making Xiao Hailong kneel to Ye Chen-even if he had to call Ye Chen "Dad," she wouldn't care in the slightest.
So she said, "That's all for today's meeting. Churan, you have three days to secure the contract. Meeting adjourned!"
Back home, Ye Chen's father-in-law and mother-in-law immediately turned on him and Xiao Churan.
His mother-in-law, Ma Lan, was frantic. "Churan, have you gone mad? How could you listen to that good-for-nothing Ye Chen and agree to this job without thinking it through?"
His father-in-law, Xiao Changkun, also scolded Ye Chen. "Ye Chen, Ye Chen, you good-for-nothing, you've really done my daughter harm!"
Then his father-in-law said angrily, "If Churan can't secure the deal with Dihao Group, she'll definitely be pushed out by the family. And you, you good-for-nothing, will have to kneel and kowtow to Xiao Hailong in front of the whole family. Won't you make me lose every last shred of face?"
Ye Chen said seriously, "Dad, Mom, as long as Churan can secure the contract, won't everything work itself out?"
"Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate! Negotiate my ass!"
His father-in-law cursed, "Do you know how powerful Dihao Group is? How could they possibly think anything of the Xiao Family?"
Ye Chen smiled. "Maybe they will. I think Churan will be just fine. She'll definitely get the contract."
His mother-in-law sneered from the side. "You think? Who do you think you are, the boss of Dihao Group? You're a good-for-nothing, not worth a fart, yet here you are talking big!"