The Crazy Son-In-Law

At that moment, Liu Yunxiang’s family had just arrived. They immediately greeted everyone.

“Ah, Yunxiang is back, and Yao Cen is here too,” Liu Yunsheng responded casually, “I was looking at Miaozhen’s car and didn’t notice you guys coming over.”

Liu Miaozhen, whom Liu Yunsheng mentioned, was the youngest daughter of their family.

“Yao Cen, you’ve been driving this car for years, right? I thought you’d have changed it by now, but it’s still this one, huh?” Qin Shuang said sarcastically.

“I’m used to this car, and I’m attached to it, so I don’t want to change it,” Yao Cen replied with a smile.

“Who wouldn’t want to drive a better car if they have money? I heard you took over a bankrupt company; you didn’t lose all your family’s money for it, did you?” Qin Shuang teased with her laughter.

“My daughter didn’t take a single penny from us,” Liu Yunxiang said irritably.

Liu Yunxiang had never got along well with these people. In the past, when she came back for the New Year, she had been ridiculed by them, so there was some tension as soon as they met.

“Let’s all not mention it again,” Liu Yunsheng tried to mediate.

“Yao Cen, take your mother inside. Your grandfather is waiting for you at home.”

After the four entered the house and walked a short distance, they heard Qin Shuang’s voice: “Should they not feel ashamed, still bringing that waste over to disgrace themselves…”

Liu Yunxiang was about to turn around and argue when Yao Cen and Xiao Shun stopped her.

“Mom, let it go, there are so many people at home today, there’s no need to argue with her,” Yao Cen advised.

“Who is she calling a waste? Is our Shun a waste?” Liu Yunxiang seemed to have forgotten that she used to call Xiao Shun completely the same way, and now she was angrily defending him.

Yao Cen and Xiao Shun exchanged a smile, both with helpless expressions on their faces.

The house, in fact, was not large, but it was neatly arranged. At noon, the sunshine was just right.

There were not enough seats inside for so many people, so some chairs were placed in the courtyard, where some guests were sitting and chatting. They were all members and relatives of the family. In front of the main hall, some young children were setting off firecrackers, creating a scene of harmony and joy.

Old Mr. Liu was not in the courtyard. After the Yao family of four entered the house and exchanged greetings with the relatives for a while, they went straight to the main hall to pay their respects to Old Mr. Liu.

Liu Mingda, accompanied by Liu Yunxiang’s eldest sister Liu Yunxia, was sitting in the main hall, watching his children and grandchildren in the courtyard, and the wrinkles on his face couldn’t help but soften.

On the wall behind him hung an old painting, and beneath the painting, a wooden table held a censer with burning incense. The white smoke curled up, indicating that a worship ceremony had just taken place not long ago.

Every year when Xiao Shun came, he saw that the Liu family hardly worshipped any other gods, only this one. It was said to be called St. Lilith, and the woman in the painting was St. Lilith’s sacred woman.

“Yunxiang is back,” Liu Mingda said with a smile as the four entered the room.

“Dad, how have you been feeling lately?” Liu Yunxiang asked.

“Very good,” Liu Mingda replied, then looked at Yao Cen affectionately, “Cen is here too.”

“Grandpa, it’s your 90th birthday, of course I am here!” Yao Cen said as she approached him and acted coquettishly.

“You still have some conscience, girl,” Liu Mingda laughed, then glanced at Xiao Shun, his face involuntarily cooling down a bit.

His most beloved granddaughter had married a good-for-nothing, which had always been a knot in his heart.

After placing the gifts they brought on a side table, Xiao Shun sat next to Yao Jianguo.

In this kind of situation, he and Yao Jianguo were similar, having very little to say.

Originally, the reason the Liu family married Liu Yunxiang to the Yao family was because they valued the Yao family’s background. They never expected that Yao Jianguo would be so devoted to his studies that he barely paid attention to the business of the Yao family. Moreover, he had been an associate professor for over a decade, so the Liu family had always looked down upon him. In the past, the two of them shared a sense of being in the same boat, adrift in the world.

However, at this point, Yao Jianguo was no longer just an “associate” professor, and Xiao Shun had become a tycoon in Stillwater in the blink of an eye. Their state of mind had naturally changed, although they still couldn’t add much to the conversation.

“Yunxiang, what’s that thing you brought for Dad?” Liu Yunxia asked disdainfully as she glanced at the gift box on the coffee table.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Before Liu Yunxiang could speak, Yao Cen interjected: “Oh, that’s a health supplement produced by our company. It’s very effective. With the New Year approaching, we specially launched this New Year package. Not bad, right?”

“Isn’t everything your factory produces just scams?” Liu Yunxia sneered. “Do you plan to fool your grandfather with this on his birthday? Kumi Essence is the real deal, you know? At the very least, you could bring some well-known brands. What will you do if your grandfather gets sick from eating this mess? Throw it away now.”

Liu Yunxiang and Yao Cen’s faces immediately turned livid.

The former retorted, “Yunxia, my daughter’s Starline Health is far superior to those you mentioned. I’ve tried it myself, otherwise I wouldn’t dare to bring it for Dad. Don’t just focus on the price and the brand; the real value is in the effectiveness.”

“Enough, enough. Is it worth arguing over such a trivial matter? It’s embarrassing if people find out. We don’t see each other very often throughout the year; where does all this resentment come from?” Liu Mingda said, his face showing displeasure.

At this moment, the sound of commotion came from outside, and soon Wen Yunshan, and his wife, Liu Manqing, and Xue Cheng entered the courtyard. After briefly greeting the relatives in the yard, they walked towards the main room.

“Grandpa, happy birthday and happy New Year!” Liu Manqing said with a bright smile as she approached.

“Hello, Grandpa.” Xue Cheng greeted politely with a slight nod. As soon as he entered the room, he saw Xiao Shun and nodded at him as a greeting.

“Good, good. Your marriage is already settled, when do you plan to hold the wedding?” Liu Mingda asked as he looked at the two.

“Next summer, Xue Cheng and I have already discussed it,” Liu Manqing replied.

“Good, I’ll leave my granddaughter in your care. You must treat her well,” Liu Mingda said, looking at Xue Cheng.

“Don’t worry, Grandpa. I will definitely treat Manqing well,” Xue Cheng replied.

After the arrival of Wen Yunshan’s family, the room was starting to get crowded. After Wen Yunshan and his wife sat down, there were not enough seats, so Liu Manqing and Xue Cheng had to stand.

“Xiao Shun, how can you be so blind? Don’t you know to give up your seat for Mr. Xue and Manqing? Do you have any idea of your own status? Sitting there so brazenly, it’s disgraceful!” Liu Yunxia, the eldest sister, scolded.

Although Xue Cheng was not aware of Xiao Shun’s other identities, Xiao Shun was still his lifesaver. Moreover, Xue Cheng’s father held Xiao Shun in high esteem and occasionally reminded Xue Cheng to get closer to Xiao Shun when he had the chance. Hearing Liu Yunxia’s words, Xue Cheng immediately waved his hand: “No need, no need. I can stand, Mr. Xiao please just sit here.”