Chapter 21: My Mother-in-Law Is a Real Talent

“Old Lin, there’s a tobacco and liquor store over there. Go buy the most expensive pack they have.” After finishing her call, Shen Huifang suddenly remembered something. She glanced out the car window, then slapped the shoulder of Lin Yuan’gui in the passenger seat.

“Don’t drag me into your women’s matters, alright? Chun Yong is a decent man,” Lin Yuan’gui grumbled in protest.

“Decent, my foot. Every time he hands you a cigarette, it’s one at a time, talking about how his future son-in-law is honoring his father-in-law. Only you would grin and light it for him, puff away, and praise him for his luck. Just look how smug he gets.” Shen Huifang retorted unhappily but didn’t push Lin Yuan’gui any further. Instead, she quickly rummaged through her purse, pulled out two hundred yuan, and tossed it to Hong Chen. “You go buy them. Get a pack for yourself as well, and put away those cheap Baisha cigarettes of yours.”

Hong Chen was speechless. Here they were, riding in a luxury car worth several million, having just received a hundred thousand yuan, and Shen Huifang was acting all high and mighty. Normally, she would complain about Lin Yuan’gui smoking Yuxi, which cost twenty-one per pack, saying it was wasteful. Now, she was shelling out for cigarettes at a hundred per pack—five times the usual price.

This urge to compete was poison.

He parked the car by the roadside. Hong Chen was gone and back within minutes, returning with two packs of Pride of ’95.

The Bentley rolled through two open lacquered wooden gates, followed a long tree-lined avenue to its end, then turned into a parking lot.

From a distance, through the windshield, Hong Chen spotted four figures standing beside a bright red Cayenne.

When they were still ten meters away, Shen Huifang was already clamoring to get out. Lin Yuan’gui and Lin Yufei followed, while Lin Yuxin stayed in the car with Hong Chen as he parked.

While reversing, Hong Chen saw clearly how Shen Huifang, gesturing animatedly and speaking with excitement, caused the faces of her aunt’s family to grow increasingly stiff.

“The car belongs to the company, so that’s fine. But going out and borrowing a hundred thousand just for pride’s sake—you’re being reckless,” Lin Yuxin, who had been quiet the whole way, suddenly spoke up. Her tone was mild, her voice soft, but her displeasure was obvious.

Hong Chen, turning the wheel, replied, “Didn’t I say? A hundred thousand for a month of peace and quiet—it’s worth it.”

“Who did you borrow it from? Don’t tell me it’s a loan shark. If debt collectors come knocking, it’ll be trouble for the whole family.”

Lin Yuxin’s brows knitted together. After some hesitation, she voiced her concern. Hong Chen pouted and assured her, “Don’t worry, I won’t drag your family into this.” With that, he pressed the handbrake button and stepped out.

Lin Yuxin felt somehow unsettled, adjusted her mood, and followed him out.

“Oh, let me tell you, cars are just for getting around. Spending millions on one is extravagant. But Yuxin insisted—her company just signed a fifty-million contract, and with business booming, image matters too. And soon, they’ll sign a deal worth over a hundred million. Money isn’t an issue. She’s even planning to buy me a villa in Scenic View Gardens so that Old Lin and I can enjoy life…” As soon as she got out, Shen Huifang’s exaggerated tone reached Lin Yuxin’s ears. Her barely relaxed brows tightened again. Scenic View Gardens was the most prestigious neighborhood in Qing City, with fewer than twenty standalone villas, the cheapest starting at thirty million.

Her mother really dared to brag!

“Mom, you don’t know anything about business. Nothing’s set in stone yet, so stop saying such things.” Lin Yuxin hurried forward, scolded Shen Huifang lightly, then smiled and greeted her aunt’s family. “Uncle, Aunt, Xiaoting…”

“Yuxin.” Shen Huizhu nodded and glanced at Hong Chen. “Hong Chen, you look thinner—though more spirited than before. Have you found a suitable job lately?”

The family had come to the parking lot to greet them—not out of real warmth, but to show off their new ride, the Cayenne. Though only the base model, costing over eight hundred thousand, it was still a luxury car. But next to the Bentley Mulsanne, it instantly became ordinary.

The sting of comparison made Shen Huifang feel as if she’d been slapped hard; her face burned. Her constant boasting felt like needles stabbing Shen Huizhu’s heart, filling her with shame and anger she couldn’t express. Now, seeing Hong Chen arrive was like a timely rain, offering her a chance to regain her sense of superiority.

“Hong Chen is now Yuxin’s assistant. Yuxin’s business is growing so fast, she needs trustworthy people by her side. I think it’s great. The company makes tens of millions a year, and Yuxin gets at least five million—more than enough to spend. If Hong Chen could earn as much, but they were always busy apart, it would harm their relationship. Too much money, in the end, is just meaningless numbers.” Shen Huifang quickly answered for Hong Chen, her philosophical musings leaving Hong Chen astonished.

Not only did she keep a straight face while boasting, but she even spun it into a profound life lesson. His mother-in-law was truly a talent!

Shen Huizhu’s face flushed with frustration. Hong Chen, useless as he was, could hardly earn fifty thousand a year, let alone five million. Only Shen Huifang could shamelessly say such things, but she couldn’t retort—her daughter actually earned that much. With a six-million Bentley Mulsanne parked right before them, who cared if the son-in-law was useless? Even if he squandered money, did it matter?

Her sense of superiority had turned to humiliation.

“Let’s go, sit in the room for a bit. We’ll eat in about an hour,” said Shen Huizhu’s husband, Xiao Chun Yong, checking his watch. Lin Yuan’gui immediately agreed, “Yes, yes. It’s colder this afternoon—standing here gives you chills.”

Lin Yuan’gui had no desire to stand around any longer. The outdoor temperature was fine, but Shen Huizhu’s words felt like a cold wind, making him break out in goosebumps.

Shen Huifang had no objections. She linked arms with Shen Huizhu, and to outsiders, the two sisters seemed close and inseparable. After a few steps, Shen Huifang suddenly glanced at the Cayenne beside the Bentley and laughed lightly, “Huizhu, this car is your son-in-law’s new purchase, isn’t it? Tsk, tsk—so young and already able to afford a luxury car worth over a million. Honestly, your son-in-law is quite impressive.”

There was nothing wrong with the words. Shen Huizhu’s son-in-law, though four years older than her daughter, was not yet thirty. Buying a luxury car with his own income was indeed impressive. Yet, coming from Shen Huifang’s mouth, it sounded anything but pleasant.

She was subtly disparaging her son-in-law to highlight her own daughter.

Xiaoting and her boyfriend Luofei, walking behind, felt a sudden blow to the chest and their faces darkened; anyone could see they were in a foul mood.

They only stayed in Shen Huizhu’s duplex for less than half an hour before Shen Huifang proposed going out for dinner. She had little to boast about—apart from the borrowed Bentley, she had no edge. When it came to cosmetics, clothes, jewelry, she was outmatched. Shen Huizhu seemed to have recovered her confidence, her sense of superiority returning. Later, she even hinted at stories of putting on airs—telling of a married daughter whose husband’s family had fallen on hard times. Though barely making ends meet, whenever she returned to her parents’ home, she would always rent a carriage drawn by two horses to appear more prosperous than the others.

Who was the married daughter meant to reference? Shen Huifang was quick and sensitive to such insinuations, and it infuriated her. Determined to make a grand gesture, she relied on the hundred thousand Hong Chen had given her, intending to show Shen Huizhu she was not just putting on airs.

They all went to the restaurant together. Shen Huifang demanded a private room; upon hearing the minimum charge was twenty thousand, she didn’t even blink, patting her chest and declaring that, since they were in Qing City, she was the host. She told Shen Huizhu’s family to order whatever they liked—the meal was on her, and no one was allowed to fight over the bill.

This made the faces of Shen Huizhu’s family turn sour. They had issued the invitation, and it was meant to be a gathering before Xiaoting’s wedding, with her fiancé Luofei footing the bill.

Shen Huifang was clearly taking over as host.

Luofei hesitated, preparing to speak. Earlier, as a half-outsider, he’d refrained from commenting on the rivalry between his future mother-in-law and her sister, even when it grated. Now, with Shen Huifang usurping his role as bill-payer, she was either saving him money or, less kindly, slapping him in the face. Was a single meal too much for a man whose family assets exceeded ten million and whose annual salary was a million?

“Well, we’re all family. Since Huifang wants to be a gracious host, I won’t compete with you for the bill tonight. Next time you visit Huang City, let young Luo return the favor,” Shen Huizhu unexpectedly spoke up before Luofei could, readily accepting. Her previously unpleasant expression softened into a warm smile, as if she truly appreciated the gesture.