"Child, you...what's wrong with you?" Mother Ai heard the grievance in her daughter's voice and asked worriedly.
"Nothing," Ai Zhiyin said, not wanting her mother to worry. After quickly calming down, she said, "Did Dad... have any contact with anyone before the New Year?"
Mother Ai thought for a moment and said, "Yes, a few old friends who I haven't seen for a long time came to visit and reminisce about the past. They were chatting in the study, and I don't know what they talked about."
Ai Zhiyin: "Where's my dad? Is he asleep already? I want to talk to him."
Ai's mother: "I'm asleep. I had two drinks with your father-in-law today."
Ai Zhiyin: "That's fine, you should get some rest early too."
Ai's mother: "Zhiyin, did something happen to you?"
Ai Zhiyin's heart skipped a beat. "No, what's the matter?"
Ai's mother: "I don't think so. Don't lie to me. If there is anything, you must tell it to us. Don't keep it in your heart, especially to the Han family. If you have suffered any grievances, you can tell Hui Zhang's grandfather and us. When Hui Zhang's grandfather proposed marriage, he said that as long as he was there, he would not let you suffer any grievances in the Han family again."
Ai Zhiyin smiled wryly, feeling both warm and bitter in her heart. "Mom... I know. But the Han family has always treated me well, don't you know that?"
Ai's mother said, "After all, this isn't your own home. How can there not be some friction when such a large family lives together? It's normal. If you have any questions, talk to Grandpa Huizhang. He was chatting with your father today and even mentioned the time when you and Huizhang got married."
Ai Zhiyin: "Why bring up those old memories?"
Ai's mother: "When people get old, they always like to reminisce about the past. Hui Zhang's grandfather said that among those girls who were a good match for the Han family, you were the bravest. You came to him alone and said you wanted to meet Lin Feng and have a chat first."
Ai Zhiyin: "You know, I have no other choice. Dad and Big Brother are almost driven out of the capital."
That was the most unstable time for the Ai family. My father had a straightforward personality and few connections with higher-ups. My eldest brother had just started his job and had not yet established himself.
Both of them face the risk of being transferred out of the imperial capital. Their Ai family's roots are in the imperial capital. If they run to other places, they will have to fight with local tyrants and probably will never have the chance to return to the imperial capital.
Ai Zhiyin herself was aware that if she managed to stay in the imperial capital, she might find a husband with a good family background and status in the future. If she left... then she would probably find a man from another place and live a mediocre life. She would never be able to have the quality of life and standard she has now, not to mention her family background and status.
She always thinks about herself. The Ai family and she will prosper together.
At that time, the Ai family happened to hear that Han Hongde was looking for a partner for Han Chi, and Ai Zhiyin thought this was a good opportunity.
Of course she had heard about how outstanding Han Chi was, so she went to Han Hongde alone and said she wanted to talk to Han Chi.
Han Hongde was surprised by her elegance and competence, and said that she had the spirit of an "Iron Lady".
There were many girls introduced to Han Chi at that time, but she was the only one who came to visit.
However, she never met Han Chi.
Han Hongde did not hide it from her and said that Han Chi would probably not be able to make it because he already had someone he liked and that person was out of town.
However, he admired Ai Zhiyin's decisiveness and courage. If she didn't mind, she could meet Han Chi's brother Han Ji, and maybe it would work out.
Ai Zhiyin thought about it and disagreed, saying that she came to see Han Chi today, and would go back if she couldn't see her. As for whether to consider Han Ji, she would go home and discuss it with her parents.
Han Hongde admired her clear mind and her rationality that was not shaken by external influences.
So, Ai Zhiyin went home and told her parents that the Han family planned to exchange Han Chi for Han Ji, and asked her to meet Han Ji first.
Ai Zhiyin's parents strongly disagreed.
Because everyone knows that Han Chi is the future of the Han family. As for Han Ji... he is okay, but compared to Han Chi's excellence, he seems a little ordinary. Especially at that time, Han Ji had only been working for a short time and was just a university teacher. He had nothing to do with a career in politics and could not necessarily help the Ai family much.
Ai's father said at the time, "Marriage is a lifelong commitment. If you don't choose well, neither you nor the Ai family will have an easy life in the future. Even if you overcome the current difficulties, there will still be trouble in the future."
The implication is that he is not very optimistic about Han Ji's career development.
What the Ai family wants is a strong alliance, not a son-in-law who becomes a decoration and is of no use to the Ai family after completing the short-term goal of staying in the imperial capital.
In particular, they were more worried that Han Chi would suddenly return from Shanghai. If that happened, Han Ji would be in trouble.
Their identities and backgrounds are destined to always think from the perspective of "interests", including Ai Zhiyin.
Everything that Father Ai said does need to be considered.
However, when faced with such a complicated situation, Ai Zhiyin has her own way of dealing with it.
Since she couldn't contact Han Chi, the only person she could contact to understand the situation was Han Ji.
At that time, Han Ji also heard that Han Hongde was very satisfied with Ai Zhiyin and wanted to introduce her to him.
Perhaps it was to please Han Hongde, or perhaps she felt that if she agreed to the marriage, she would be able to "defeat" Han Chi at that moment.
In short, for various reasons, Han Ji was also tempted by Han Hongde's proposal.
Ai Zhiyin and Han Ji were in sync with each other. They each had their own goals, but both wanted to meet each other first.
Some things can only be discussed face to face.
However, after just a brief meeting, Ai Zhiyin could sense that Han Ji, who seemed ordinary to others, was actually intelligent and ambitious, and was not content to be an ordinary university teacher as her father had said.
That's enough.
At least in terms of various conditions, Han Ji has been able to meet her father's requirements.
So after she returned home, she ignored everyone's objections, used herself as a guarantor, and convinced all those who disagreed with her at home that she had made up her mind to marry Han Ji.
Facts have proved that her judgment of Han Ji was correct. Now Han Ji has begun to make great achievements in his career.
It completely met her father's expectations for his future son-in-law.
And this is what Ai Zhiyin wants.
It can allow the Ai family to stay in the imperial capital and not be squeezed out, and it can also give the Ai family a break. When her two brothers come up, the entire Ai family will be able to gain a firm foothold in the imperial capital.
Because she knew that she was a member of the Ai family, and only when the Ai family members worked together could the family last longer, so the family’s interests were her top priority.
Her father has no one above him, his position is not particularly high, and his brothers have an unstable foundation. These are all things she is worried about.
Ai's mother once asked her, didn't she think about herself?
Ai Zhiyin asked back, isn't she thinking about herself?
What Ai's mother wants to talk about is marriage and love.
Ai Zhiyin said, I just want to live a better life, and I want my future children to live a better life too.
Favorable conditions and superior family background are the real hard capital.
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