Chapter 1: Enduring Humiliation
The luxurious Xiao family villa was brightly lit.
Tonight was the 70th birthday celebration of the Xiao family's matriarch, Grandma Xiao.
All the grandchildren and their spouses presented lavish gifts.
"Grandma, I heard you love tea. This century-old Pu-erh tea brick, worth 500,000, is my gift to you."
"Grandma, I heard you are a devout Buddhist. This jade Buddha is carved from Hetian jade and is worth 700,000..."
Grandma Xiao looked at the various gifts and laughed heartily. The whole family was in a joyful mood.
At this moment, Xiao's eldest granddaughter's husband, Ye Chen, suddenly spoke up, "Grandma, could you lend me one million? Aunt Li from the orphanage has uremia and needs money for treatment..."
The entire Xiao family was shocked.
Everyone looked at Ye Chen with incredulous eyes.
This live-in son-in-law had a lot of nerve. Not only did he not prepare any gift for Grandma’s birthday, but he also dared to ask her for a million?
Three years ago, the now-deceased Grandpa Xiao somehow found Ye Chen and insisted that his eldest granddaughter, Xiao Churan, marry him. At that time, Ye Chen was penniless and almost like a beggar.
After they got married, Grandpa Xiao passed away. Since then, the Xiao family had been trying to drive Ye Chen out.
However, Ye Chen remained indifferent to all insults and continued to be the live-in son-in-law.
Today, asking Grandma Xiao for money was a last resort.
Aunt Li from the orphanage, who had taken him in and saved his life, had uremia. Dialysis and a kidney transplant would cost at least one million. He had no other choice but to ask Grandma Xiao.
He thought that since today was Grandma's birthday, she might be in a good mood and willing to help.
Unexpectedly, Grandma Xiao, who was laughing heartily a moment ago, immediately turned grim.
She smashed her teacup on the ground and shouted angrily, "You wretch! Are you here to celebrate my birthday or to borrow money?"
Ye Chen's wife, Xiao Churan, quickly stepped forward to explain, "Grandma, Ye Chen is being foolish. Please don't be offended."
She tried to pull Ye Chen aside.
At this moment, Xiao Churan’s cousin, Xiao Weiwei, sneered, "Sister, look at the trash you married! I'm only engaged to Yunfei, and he already gave Grandma a Hetian jade Buddha. But your husband didn't bring any gift and even had the nerve to ask Grandma for money!"
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"Exactly, Brother Ye, we are both grandsons-in-law of the Xiao family, but as the eldest grandson-in-law, you are really failing!"
The man speaking was Xiao Weiwei’s fiancé, Wang Yunfei, a young master from a prominent local family.
Although Wang Yunfei was about to marry Xiao Weiwei, he considered Xiao Churan to be much more beautiful. Seeing the goddess married to a loser like Ye Chen, Wang Yunfei was very displeased.
"This kind of trash should leave our Xiao family as soon as possible!"
"Yes! He’s bringing shame to the Xiao family!"
"I think he’s just here to spoil Grandma's birthday on purpose!"
Seeing the entire Xiao family targeting and insulting him, Ye Chen clenched his fists.
If it wasn’t for the need to raise medical expenses for his benefactor, he would have left this place a long time ago.
But, remembering his father’s teaching to repay kindness a hundredfold, he suppressed his humiliation and said to Grandma Xiao, "Grandma, saving a life is a great virtue. I beg you, please have mercy."
Someone snorted and cursed, "Ye, stop trying to sweet-talk Grandma. If you want to save someone, figure it out yourself. How dare you ask Grandma for money? Who do you think you are?"
The speaker was Xiao Weiwei’s brother, Xiao Hailong.
The siblings had always been envious of Xiao Churan, who excelled in every way, and they loved seizing opportunities to mock Ye Chen.
Xiao Churan looked embarrassed and said, "Grandma, Ye Chen lost his father at eight years old. Aunt Li from the orphanage raised him. He wants to repay her out of gratitude. Please help him..."
Grandma Xiao's face turned dark, "Help him? Fine, I will, but only if you divorce him and marry Young Master Zhang. If you do, I'll give him one million right away!"
The Young Master Zhang she referred to was Zhang Wenhao, who had been pursuing Xiao Churan. The Zhang family was a prestigious family in Jinling, far superior to the Xiao family, and Grandma Xiao always wanted to establish connections with them.
At this moment, the butler rushed in, announcing loudly, "Young Master Zhang sent a birthday gift! A jade Buddha carved from imperial green jade, worth three million!"
Grandma Xiao was overjoyed and exclaimed, "Quick, let me see it!"
The butler presented the exquisite jade Buddha, and everyone gasped in admiration.
The jade Buddha was pure green and flawless, clearly a top-quality piece.
Wang Yunfei, who had gifted a Hetian jade Buddha, felt awkward. He hadn't expected Zhang Wenhao, who had no ties with the Xiao family, to be so generous!
Grandma Xiao, delighted, exclaimed, "Young Master Zhang is so thoughtful! If he became my grandson-in-law, I'd be over the moon!"
She then looked at Xiao Churan, "So, what do you think of my offer?"
Xiao Churan shook her head, "Grandma, I won’t divorce Ye Chen."
Grandma Xiao's expression turned dark and furious, "You're ungrateful! Insisting on staying with this loser! Get him out of here! He’s not allowed at my birthday celebration!"
Ye Chen, completely disillusioned with the Xiao family, turned to Xiao Churan, "Churan, I'm going to the hospital to see Aunt Li."
Xiao Churan quickly said, "I’ll go with you."
Grandma Xiao snapped, "If you leave, you’re no longer my granddaughter! Take your parents and this loser and get out of the Xiao family!"
Xiao Churan was stunned, not expecting Grandma to say something so harsh.
Ye Chen quickly said, "You stay here. Don’t worry about me."
He turned and walked out without waiting for Xiao Churan to respond.
Xiao Hailong laughed behind him, "Hey, good brother-in-law, leaving on an empty stomach? Don’t go begging on the streets and disgrace the Xiao family! Here, take this coin and buy yourself a bun!"
He threw a coin at Ye Chen’s feet, causing the entire Xiao family to burst into laughter.
Ye Chen gritted his teeth and walked out without looking back.
......
At the hospital, Ye Chen went to the payment desk to see if he could arrange a delay in the medical fees.
When he inquired with the nurse, he was told that Aunt Li had been transferred overnight to the best hospital in Yanjing for treatment.
Ye Chen was shocked and asked urgently, "How much does this cost? I’ll find a way!"
The nurse said, "It costs three million. One million has been paid, and the remaining two million is due within a week."
"Who paid the one million?"
The nurse shook her head, "I don't know."
Surprised, Ye Chen turned around to see a man in a black suit, about fifty years old with graying hair, standing behind him.
The man bowed deeply and said, "Young Master, you have suffered all these years!"
Ye Chen frowned, his demeanor changing. He asked coldly, "Are you Tang Sihai?"
The man replied with delight, "Young Master, you remember me!"
Ye Chen’s expression grew stern as he muttered, "Of course, I remember! I remember each one of you! It was you who forced my parents to flee from Yanjing, leading to their accidental deaths and leaving me an orphan. What do you want from me now?"
Tang Sihai spoke with deep pain, "Young Master, your father was deeply grieved by your parents’ passing. He has been searching for you all these years. Now that you’ve been found, please come back to see him."
Ye Chen coldly replied, "Leave. I will never see him."
Tang Sihai asked, "Are you still angry with him?"
"Absolutely," Ye Chen said firmly. "I will never forgive him!"
Tang Sihai sighed, "The master expected this response."
"He’s self-aware, at least."
Tang Sihai continued, "The master knows you’ve suffered and wants to compensate you. If you won’t return, he will buy the largest enterprise in Jinling for you and give you this card. The password is your birthday."
He handed Ye Chen a top-tier black gold card from Citibank.
"Young Master, there are only five such cards in the country."
Ye Chen shook his head, "Take it back. I don’t want it."
Tang Sihai said, "Young Master, your benefactor still needs two million for her medical expenses. Without it, her life is at risk..."
Ye Chen frowned, "You’re forcing me?"
Tang Sihai hurriedly replied, "No, sir! With this card, you can pay the money."
Ye Chen asked, "How much is in this card?"
"ten billion," Tang Sihai replied. "Just a little spending money from the master."