Chapter 114: Song Li Gets Carried Away

Song Li noticed that something was amiss. She rushed over to check the inventory list, immediately cursing He Haoxuan in her heart for being a spendthrift. Those were all high-end items; whether cosmetics or nutritional supplements, even the cheapest ones cost thousands.

She couldn't even bring herself to buy such things, yet He Haoxuan had bought them all. Wait, where did He Haoxuan get the money?

Could he have stolen it from Li Qingying? The more Song Li thought about it, the more wrong it felt. This was their family's money; if He Haoxuan squandered it all, what would become of them?

Song Li jumped up in a panic. "Don't come over here anymore! Go over there and chat; I have something to discuss with Qingying." With that, she closed the large trunk and pulled Li Qingying aside.

"Qingying, did you give He Haoxuan the money to buy these things?"

"I didn't give it to him," Li Qingying shook her head.

"Oh! So he stole your money?" Song Li was incensed, ready to commit murder. Li Qingying hurriedly grabbed her impulsive mother. "Mom, what are you talking about? How could I have that much money?"

"Then where did He Haoxuan get it?" Song Li demanded.

"I don't know." Li Qingying shook her head. She realized she couldn't read He Haoxuan anymore. Just like the BMWs—he claimed they were rented, but they had been driving them for so long that the rental fees alone would be astronomical. Moreover, the vehicle registration was in her name; it seemed unlikely they were using fake documents. Li Qingying found that the more she thought about it, the more confused she became, so she decided to stop dwelling on it.

The Song family members were beaming as they held their gifts. They never imagined that Song Li was doing so well now, bringing with her millions worth of presents.

"Song Li, come here for a moment," the elder Mr. and Mrs. Song called out to her.

"Dad, Mom." Seeing her parents' newfound warmth, Song Li felt a surge of secret delight. "Are you satisfied with the gifts we brought this time?"

"Satisfied, extremely satisfied," the elder Mr. Song nodded vigorously. How could he not be satisfied when he had just received hundreds of thousands worth of century-old ginseng?

The elder Mrs. Song smiled broadly. "Song Li, you're doing well for yourself now. Seeing you live so comfortably, I’m relieved."

"Of course, Mom. I'm living very well; don't you worry." Song Li puffed out her chest with pride.

The elder Mr. Song laughed. "In the future, you must help the Song family. If we ever face any difficulties, you cannot just stand by and watch."

"Dad, don't worry. I am a member of the Song family, too. I won't ignore the family," Song Li promised, patting her chest. For so many years, the Song family had never treated her like this, and it made her feel incredibly emboldened.

"That's right, sister. You’ll have to look out for your brother from now on. Also, your nephew has never been very focused. I was thinking of having him work at your Baili Group as a deputy general manager," Song Li's brother, Song Li, added, pleading his case.

"What? A deputy general manager?" Song Li was shocked. That was impossible; they weren't the ones in charge of Baili Group—everything rested with the elder Mrs. Li. Li Qingying had been demoted to deputy general manager last time, and if not for the support from Quange Trading, she might not even be a general manager now. Since even Li Dong couldn't secure a deputy general manager position, how could Song Li's son get one?

"Brother, your son is still too young. The position of deputy general manager is difficult to hold; it requires seniority," Song Li refused tactfully.

"Hahaha, then let me be the deputy general manager of your Baili Group!" Song Li laughed heartily. This was exactly what he wanted. He had been too embarrassed to ask for the position for himself initially, which was why he used his son as a pretext. Once he became the deputy general manager, wouldn't it be easy to secure manager or supervisor roles for his son and daughter? He had heard that Baili Group was doing very well. In the past, Song Li might not have had any say, but things were different now—Li Qingying was the general manager, and with He Haoxuan being so capable, surely a deputy general manager position was a simple matter?

"Brother, that probably isn't a good idea," Song Li frowned slightly.

"What's wrong? Song Li, now that you're successful, you don't want to help your own family?" Song Li’s face darkened immediately.

"That's right, Song Li. You can't abandon the Song family. Back then, if we hadn't raised you, would you have even been able to marry into the Li family?" the elder Mrs. Song chimed in.

Immediately, the elder Mr. Song and Song Li joined in, criticizing her. Song Li felt a headache coming on. She had only intended to return to her maiden home to show off, never daring to make decisions for the Li family's Baili Group. But now, her family was relentless, leaving her with no choice but to agree.

"Alright, I'll go back and find a way."

"Hahaha, sister! You're doing so well now; surely you can handle this?" Song Li said happily.

Li Dong, having heard Song Li agree to such a request, stomped his feet in anger. "Song Li, have you lost your mind? How could you agree to this? You know we have no real power in the Li family; my mother calls all the shots, and she listens to those people." The more Li Dong spoke, the more his head throbbed; sometimes, Song Li acted without thinking.

"Come over, sister! You're sitting at the head table today, right next to Mom and Dad!" Song Li called out.

Upon hearing this, Song Li felt a secret surge of joy. In all her years with the Song family, she had never enjoyed such treatment. Her earlier unease vanished instantly. She decided to set her worries aside for now, enjoy the glory of the moment, and figure out the rest later. In this atmosphere, Song Li sat at the head table, basking in the flattery of the Song family, so intoxicated by the attention that she nearly forgot who she was.

Li Dong found Li Qingying and told her what had just happened.

"Qingying, your mother has that kind of personality—she's soft-hearted. Once her family talks to her, she forgets how things really are. Tell me, what should we do now?"

"Sigh, Dad, let's not worry about this for now. I expect Mom won't actually follow through on it later," Li Qingying comforted him.

"I hope so, but don't you know the Song family? If they use this as an excuse, they'll keep coming to the group or our home to pester us. Life will be impossible," Li Dong sighed.

Li Qingying wanted to console her father further, but the Song family came over to usher them to the head table, forcing her to join the group.

"Haoxuan, let's have a drink," Song Li said, fawning over He Haoxuan.

"Brother, why don't you bring out that Moutai from earlier?" Song Fang urged.

"Hmph, Song Fang, don't talk to me about that. You don't have the qualifications to sit at the head table today; go to one of the other tables," Song Li said, casting a disdainful glance at Song Fang and barring her from joining.

Furious, Song Fang returned to the second table and scolded her husband and the others, "You lot better start making something of yourselves! I want to sit back at that head table!"