"Yeah, big brother, you should have told us at the time. The Du Family can really be nauseating!"
He Xiuxiu followed with agreement, her words implicating her own mother as well.
"Shut up! I'm a Du too," Du Limei said angrily, slamming the table.
The daughter-in-law disregarded her warning, the daughter didn't take her seriously, and the son resented her for being meddlesome and troublesome. Each one of them added to her frustration.
"If you do something disgusting, are you afraid of being talked about?"
"My brother suffered so much injustice and didn't settle accounts with you, and he even covered for you for so long. Are you grateful? If I had known at the time, I would definitely have chosen a time when the Du Family was hosting a banquet to catch Du Juan and slap her in public. Since she's so shameless, I don't need to save her any face."
He Xiuxiu had never had a good impression of the Du Family. People say that the depths of a wealthy family are like the sea, but in her opinion, the Du Family was a mire of filth, large in business and numerous in descendants, with every one of them having hundreds of schemes, none being simple and straightforward.
Moreover, their family passed down their snobbishness from generation to generation. For the sake of profit, they would even forgo basic decency and morals.
"How is it that there was no reckoning? Didn't your precious big brother kick your dad out of the company early on!"
What fools they had given birth to—still not seeing He Yannian's true nature; they would probably help count the money even after being sold.
Resentment simmered in Du Limei's heart as well.
Her children were not close to her, she had no share in the family business, and the bulk of everything was in He Yannian's name. She wanted to fight for it, but the old man who was willing to back her up had limited capabilities, and the children were not cooperative, leaving her feeling powerless despite her intentions.
"The company was originally my brother's."
It wasn't something the old man built from the ground up; it was an inheritance left to the big brother by his birth mother.
Besides, the old man was never cut out for business. The company survived until the big brother took over, all thanks to the connections of the big brother's maternal grandfather. Without that, it might have gone bankrupt long ago. So, instead of letting the old man retire early and live in peace, should they let him continue to cause trouble!
He Yan'an spoke with conviction.
"Your father worked in the company for over twenty years; if there's no merit, there should at least be some hard work..."
"That's why the big brother built you a big house, allowing you to lord over it at home, without need to worry about food and drink, even having leisure time for mischief."
After confronting his mother, He Yan'an turned to his father, "Dad, tell me the truth, are we your biological children? The Du Family used to look down on us so much, saying that you were living off a woman, and even Xiuxiu and I were bullied. But neither you nor mom would stand up for us, instead making us endure in silence, not daring to let out a peep. In the end, it was big brother who stood up for us that they finally restrained themselves. Have you forgotten all that? Or do you just like being a lapdog..."
"Bastard! Shut your mouth."
His past being revealed, He Yan'an's dad also got angry enough to slam the table.
If the table hadn't been large and there had not been some distance between them, given the old man's temper, He Yan'an would have definitely been struck.
"Speaking of reason, we are also human, we also have tempers. You go too far and we're not allowed to speak? Just because you are parents, doesn't mean we have to be Ninja Turtles."
He Yan'an certainly had a rebellious streak if he could raise a son who wasn't afraid of the old man. He would speak up if he was displeased and wouldn't hide it. "The Du Family is large in business and wealth. I could understand your wanting to curry favor with them when our family wasn't well-off, but ever since the big brother took over the company, our family has gradually been getting better, year by year. Now, we are even better off than the Du Family, so why do you still kiss up to them? One may lack talents, but shouldn't one at least have a bit of backbone?"
"Because the Du Family's business is big, it's not a loss to marry into their family," said the old gentleman He.
"Ha, if only it wasn't you getting married, you don't find it a loss, but we find it disgusting," He Yan'an sneered. "The Du Family sure knows how to make a loud noise with their plans. Eleven years ago, big brother didn't fall into their trap, and their schemes failed—they still haven't given up. It seems they are dead set on plotting against our family's assets."
"Don't talk nonsense, Jiahao genuinely likes Zhiyun," Du Limei retorted loudly.
"Du Jiahao? That guy isn't even fit to carry Zhiyun's shoes!" He Yan'an also began to get heated, "Du Jiahao is nothing but trash."
No wonder big brother was so angry, the Du family sure knew how to scheme!
"It's always the ugly ones who act out. He's a rapist, and he dares to show his face around us? If he dares to come near Zhiyun, I'll break his third leg and make sure he has no offspring!"
"What rapist, it was all a misunderstanding!"
"With money, you can make the devil turn the millstones. A misunderstanding, you say? Who believes that!"
Having said that, He Yan'an became extremely agitated. He slammed his palm down on the table, causing all the dishes and bowls to jump, and soup and water to spill out, "Damn it, dinner's ruined tonight. I've had it with you all. Since you like Du Jiahao that much, let him take care of you in your old age. I don't mind being the unfilial son."
"Big brother, let's go."
When He Yan'an said to leave, he left with his wife and children following right behind. He Xiuxiu didn't dawdle either, holding her husband and daughter's hands, she quickly made her escape.
He Yannian walked at the back, facing Du Limei's angry gaze, his mood gradually calmed.
"Are you satisfied now?" Du Limei asked through gritted teeth.
Once again, her biological children had turned against her for their half-brother.
"..."
He Yannian didn't respond. His steps didn't falter as he looked ahead at his family members walking in front, his eyes gradually softened, filled with gentle warmth.
"Husband, you've impressed me again today. I'm glad you had the foresight and courage to resist the pressure and refuse to let Mum and Dad take care of our child," Yang Xiuzhen walked arm in arm with He Yan'an at the front. She wasn't exactly overjoyed but her words were full of relief.
As far as her in-laws' values went, she really couldn't commend them.
Letting them raise the child would have definitely led to skewness.
"It's all thanks to big brother. He's the one with courage and capability, and he's generous too. He's suffered in the forefront, yet he never took his anger out on me and Xiuxiu because of our Mum. We're lucky to follow in his footsteps and enjoy the benefits. And thank goodness Zhiwei and Zhiyun are understanding kids. They know how hard it's been for big brother. My parents are just fools; I'd rather not have children than let them raise them," he added.
"Daddy, grandma and grandpa probably wouldn't want to take care of me. They prefer boys. They always smile when they talk to my brother, but they always have a stern face when they talk to me. It's so unfair," said He Zhiyao, He Yan'an's six-year-old daughter.
The young girl was perceptive and sensitive, already aware of her grandparents' favoritism towards boys.
"Hmph, I want to be like Sister Zhiyun and like them less too," He Zhiyao declared, showing her temperament despite her young age.
"Alright, no problem," He Yan'an readily agreed, nodding in support.
The affection of his parents was not something just anyone could handle.
He didn't want his precious daughter to be wronged.
As for being filial or not, all he could say was, kindness begets filial piety.