Chapter 44: Ambition

However, reality unfolded like a stampede of wild horses, shattering all of Li Qiang's previous assumptions.

The impact was so swift and sudden that it caught him completely off guard.

Zhao Chengyu's goal wasn't the fleeting possession or mere pretense he had imagined.

The man wanted a legally binding marriage with his sister, Li Yaqin.

What stunned him even more, leaving him almost unable to think, was that Zhao Chengyu, right before his eyes, directly handed over the weighty marriage certificate.

On that thin piece of paper, Zhao Chengyu's and his sister Li Yaqin's names were clearly written, side by side, so striking and alluring.

He clearly remembered Political Commissar Li's outstretched hand, steadily accepting the certificate symbolizing the future close union of their families, without the slightest hesitation.

His sister, Li Yaqin, that country girl, had such incredible luck.

This was an unprecedented opportunity, like the primordial good fortune of the Li family!

Li Qiang's heart pounded uncontrollably in his chest, crashing against his ribs like a drum.

A surge of hot blood rushed to his head, his vision blurred, and a wave of dizziness washed over him.

An immense, indescribable excitement gripped him, making him tremble uncontrollably.

In that instant, he realized with absolute clarity that his bright future would be backed by an incredibly solid and unbreakable foundation.

Zhao Chengyu…

Li Qiang murmured the name, his heart still racing.

These three words represented more than just power; they represented a ladder to the pinnacle of his dreams!

As long as Yaqin remained firmly in her position as the young mistress of the Zhao family, who would dare stand in his way?

Thinking of this, he could almost see his meteoric rise to power.

Then, another enormous surprise crashed down upon him.

Along with his wife, Li Panpan, he also received an unexpected job arrangement.

An extremely leisurely and incredibly respectable job.

A job at the post office!

That's a coveted position that countless people would kill to get into.

Sitting in a clean, bright office every day, sheltered from the wind and rain, comfortable in winter and summer.

Just mentioning this job made him incredibly proud.

It was indeed a dream job that countless ordinary people in this era coveted and envied.

Li Qiang's entire chest felt as if it had been instantly filled with boiling, scalding air, burning his internal organs.

An indescribable, overwhelming joy erupted like a flash flood, violently assaulting his reason and nerves.

He was so excited that he could barely maintain his usual calm and composed facade.

His fingertips, hidden at the seam of his trousers, began to tremble uncontrollably.

His breathing became rapid and heavy, tinged with barely suppressed excitement.

Li Qiang secretly pinched his inner thigh hard, trying to use the pain to bring back some clarity.

The sharp pain brought a slight jolt to his mind, which was somewhat clouded by excessive excitement.

Stay calm, he must calm himself now.

Li Qiang repeatedly warned himself in his heart, his voice urgent.

This was a momentous event, a stroke of incredible luck, a windfall of wealth, that would determine his entire future.

He absolutely could not afford to lose his composure at such a crucial moment, lest he be looked down upon.

Moreover, he couldn't let anyone else in the office see the turmoil and loss of composure he was experiencing.

He struggled to control his facial muscles, trying to straighten his slightly weak back.

He forced a slightly stiff, yet as natural and appropriate, smile.

Yes, from this moment on, everything would be different.

His life, Li Qiang's life, was about to turn a new page.

A thought exploded in Li Qiang's mind like a thunderbolt, sending a shiver down his spine.

From this moment on, his status underwent a dramatic change.

He was about to become Zhao Chengyu's brother-in-law.

Li Yaqin stood aside, taking in the fleeting greed and elation on Li Qiang's face.

Ha, men!

She sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly composed.

Zhao Chengyu's attraction to her was both expected and unexpected, almost a result of her own manipulation.

Seeing her brother's smug expression, as if he'd struck gold, she was even more certain that she'd made the right move.

Li Qiang, and the Li family behind him, would be another tool for consolidating her position.

As for his schemes—controlling her, persuading her…

How laughable! He had no idea who was controlling whom.

She only needed to subtly express a hint of "anxiety" about the future, or a "yearning" for the Zhao family's power.

That would be enough to make Li Qiang devoted to her.

Since he wanted the title of "brother-in-law," let him be it, let him use it for her purposes.

Zhao Chengyu.

That was the powerful and influential Zhao family!

Thinking of this soon-to-be-confirmed, unbreakable kinship,

he felt as if his feet had lost their weight, floating on cotton.

It was like walking on clouds, each step accompanied by a dizzying, unreal feeling.

His brain, overwhelmed by ecstatic joy, was working at an unprecedented pace.

This marriage, which had fallen from the sky, contained far too many benefits, so many that he could hardly believe it.

If his sister, Li Yaqin, successfully married into the family,

he, Li Qiang, would be instantly elevated to a position of near-royalty.

His future would be unimaginably bright and promising.

Not to mention, his wife, Li Panpan, had unexpectedly landed a good job at the post office.

That was a coveted, secure job that countless people would kill for—both leisurely and respectable.

All of this, all this unexpected wealth and privilege, was brought about by Zhao Chengyu.

This incredibly thick, gleaming golden thigh.

The entire Li family, from top to bottom, had to cling to him tightly.

Absolutely, absolutely not, could they afford the slightest mistake.

His thoughts immediately raced, landing on the key figure—his sister, Li Yaqin.

He absolutely had to make his somewhat clueless sister fully understand the earth-shattering significance behind this marriage.

Go back.

Yes, right now, immediately.

Once back, he must use every ounce of patience and eloquence to thoroughly "persuade" her.

He must make her clearly understand that this is an incredible blessing she could never have earned in several lifetimes.

All she needs to do is obediently and docilely wait to marry Zhao Chengyu.

Absolutely not, and he absolutely will not allow her to have any other thoughts that could ruin this good thing.

This marriage is no longer just about her personal happiness.

It carries the future rise and fall of the entire Li family!

Especially his own future, Li Qiang's, hangs heavily on this marriage, shining brightly.

His mind raced, rapidly calculating how he would phrase his words upon returning.

He must appeal to her emotions, making her understand the importance of family ties and the family's expectations.

More importantly, he must reason with her, making her recognize the practical advantages and disadvantages.

Zhao Chengyu's immense power had to be repeatedly emphasized to make her understand how rare this opportunity was.

The tangible benefits this marriage could bring needed to be explained to her in detail.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging excitement in his chest.

He turned again to look at the man still busy processing paperwork in the office.

His face immediately broke into a more genuine and enthusiastic smile, tinged with undisguised obsequiousness.

His tone, surging with emotion, was exceptionally excited, even trembling with a hint of fawning.

"Comrade, thank you so much for today, for all the trouble you've caused."

"Thank you so much, our whole family thanks you, really, thank you so much!"

He rattled off a string of thanks, his voice trembling slightly with excessive excitement, almost incoherent.

He secretly resolved that from this moment on, he would keep a close watch on his sister.

Before this marriage, a done deal, is completely settled, absolutely no mishap, not even the slightest variable, can be allowed to occur.

As for his younger sister, Li Yaqin, is she willing to marry Zhao Chengyu?

This thought flashed through his mind like lightning.

Immediately, he forcibly extinguished it with even greater speed and without hesitation.

Whether his sister is willing or not is completely unimportant, and it's not her place to decide.

That's simply impossible, a variable he absolutely cannot allow to happen.

With Zhao Chengyu's unfathomable cunning and ruthless methods, his sister will ultimately be firmly under his control.

She will be completely captivated by him, whether willingly or unwillingly.

That's only a matter of time.

He believes he understands his sister's deeply ingrained, selfish nature.

Zhao Chengyu actually proposed completing the marriage procedure first.

This was wonderful news for him.

He couldn't wait for his sister and brother to get married right away.

The sooner the better.