The luxurious Xiao family mansion was bathed in bright lights, illuminating the night.
This evening marked the 70th birthday celebration of the head of the Xiao family, Xiao Lao Tai.
Grandchildren, granddaughters, and their husbands all presented exquisite gifts.
"Grandma, I heard you love tea. This century-old Pu'er tea brick, valued at half a million, is my gift to you," said one.
"Grandma, I heard you believe in Buddhism. This jade Buddha, carved from Hetian jade and worth seven hundred thousand, is for you," added another.
Xiao Lao Tai gazed at the myriad of gifts, laughing heartily, as the entire family immersed in a joyful atmosphere.
Suddenly, Ye Chen, the eldest grandson-in-law, spoke up, "Grandma, could I borrow a million? Auntie Li from the welfare home has kidney failure and needs money for treatment..."
Shockwaves reverberated through the Xiao family.
Everyone stared at Ye Chen in disbelief.
How dare this son-in-law, on his grandmother-in-law's birthday, not only come empty-handed but also ask for a million?
Three years ago, the late Xiao Lao Ye, unbeknownst to anyone, found Ye Chen and insisted on marrying off his eldest granddaughter, Xiao Chu Ran, to him. At that time, Ye Chen was penniless, akin to a beggar.
After their marriage, Xiao Lao Ye passed away, and from then on, the Xiao family schemed to drive him away.
However, Ye Chen remained unfazed by their insults and stayed on as a son-in-law.
Today, asking Grandma for a loan was a last resort.
Auntie Li, who had taken him in and saved his life, had kidney failure and needed at least a million for dialysis and a kidney transplant. Desperate, he turned to Grandma.
He thought, on her birthday, she might be in a good mood and lend a helping hand out of kindness.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Lao Tai, who was laughing just a moment ago, suddenly soured her face.
She smashed the teacup in her hand to the ground and shouted, "You ingrate! Are you here to celebrate my birthday or to borrow money?"
Ye Chen's wife, Xiao Chu Ran, rushed forward and explained to Grandma, "Grandma, Ye Chen doesn't understand things well. Please forgive him."
Saying this, she tried to pull Ye Chen aside.
At this point, Xiao Chu Ran's cousin, Xiao Wei Wei, sneered, "Sister, look at the trash you married! My fiancé, Yun Fei, hasn't even married me yet, and he already gave Grandma a Hetian jade Buddha. Your husband, on the other hand, didn't even bring a gift and dares to ask Grandma for money!"
"Exactly, Ye Chen. As fellow sons-in-law of the Xiao family, you've really failed as the eldest grandson-in-law!"
The speaker was Wang Yun Fei, Xiao Wei Wei's fiancé and a local aristocrat's son.
Although Wang Yun Fei was about to marry Xiao Wei Wei, in his heart, Xiao Wei Wei's beauty paled in comparison to Xiao Chu Ran.
Xiao Chu Ran was a renowned goddess in Jinling, and seeing the goddess married to such a loser made Wang Yun Fei quite upset.
"This trash should leave our Xiao family as soon as possible!"
"Right! This guy has brought shame to the Xiao family!"
"I think he's not really borrowing money; he's just trying to ruin Grandma's birthday party!"
Seeing the entire Xiao family gang up on and insult him, Ye Chen couldn't help but clench his fists.
If it weren't for raising money for his savior, he would have left this troubled place long ago.
However, remembering his father's teachings to repay even a drop of kindness with a spring of gratitude, he suppressed his humiliation and said to Xiao Lao Tai, "Grandma, saving a life is better than building seven-storied pagodas. Please have mercy..."
Someone sneered and cursed, "Ye Chen, stop trying to brainwash Grandma. If you want to save someone, do it yourself. Asking Grandma for money to help you save someone? Who do you think you are?"
The speaker was Xiao Hai Long, Xiao Wei Wei's brother.
The siblings had always harbored resentment against Xiao Chu Ran for being superior to them in every way, so they loved to seize every opportunity to ridicule Ye Chen.
Xiao Chu Ran, somewhat embarrassed, said, "Grandma, Ye Chen lost his father when he was eight, and Auntie Li from the welfare home raised him. He wants to repay her kindness out of gratitude. Please help him..."
Xiao Lao Tai's face darkened, "Help him? Fine, only if you divorce him and marry Mr. Zhang. If you do, I'll give him a million right away!"
The Mr. Zhang she mentioned was Zhang Wen Hao, who had been pursuing Xiao Chu Ran. The Zhang family was an upper-class family in Jinling, much more powerful than the Xiao family, and Xiao Lao Tai had always wanted to curry favor with them.
At this moment, the butler ran in and announced loudly, "Mr. Zhang Wen Hao has sent a birthday gift! A jade pendant carved from old pit jade, valued at three million yuan!"
Xiao Lao Tai was overjoyed and exclaimed, "Bring it here quickly! Let me see!"
The butler immediately handed over a jade pendant, emerald green and crystal clear, without a trace of impurity, clearly a superior quality item.
Wang Yun Fei, who had given a Hetian jade Buddha, felt a bit embarrassed when he saw the jade pendant. He didn't expect Zhang Wen Hao, who had no connection to the Xiao family, to be so generous!
Xiao Lao Tai joyfully played with the jade pendant and exclaimed excitedly, "Oh, Mr. Zhang is so thoughtful! If he could be my grandson-in-law, I'd be dreaming with a smile every night!"
Saying this, she looked up at Xiao Chu Ran, "Well? Will you consider my proposal?"
Xiao Chu Ran shook her head, "Grandma, I won't divorce Ye Chen."
Xiao Lao Tai's expression instantly darkened, and she shouted in anger, "You don't know when you're well off! Why insist on clinging to this loser? Get this loser out of here! My birthday party doesn't allow this loser to attend!"
Ye Chen was completely disappointed with the Xiao family and had no face to stay any longer. So he said to Xiao Chu Ran, "Chu Ran, I'm going to the hospital to see Auntie Li."
Xiao Chu Ran quickly said, "Then I'll go with you."
At this point, Xiao Lao Tai cursed, "If you leave too, you're no longer my granddaughter! Take your parents and this loser and leave the Xiao family!"
Xiao Chu Ran was stunned, not expecting Grandma to say such harsh words.
Ye Chen quickly said, "Stay here. Don't worry about me."
Saying this, before Xiao Chu Ran could react, he turned and walked out.
Xiao Hai Long laughed behind him, "Oh, my dear brother-in-law, are you leaving hungry? Won't you go begging on the streets? If that's the case, won't you bring shame to our Xiao family? Here's a coin. Go buy a bun!"
Saying this, Xiao Hai Long took out a coin and threw it at Ye Chen's feet.
The entire Xiao family burst into laughter.
Ye Chen gritted his teeth and left the Xiao family without looking back.
...
Rushing to the hospital, Ye Chen went to the billing office to negotiate a two-day extension for the medical fees.
However, when he inquired with the nurse, he was suddenly informed that Auntie Li had been rushed to the best hospital in Beijing, Xie He Hospital, for treatment.
Ye Chen was shocked and asked anxiously, "How much does it cost? I'll find a way!"
The nurse replied, "It totals three million. One million has already been paid, leaving two million. It needs to be paid within a week."
"Who paid the one million?"
The nurse shook her head, "I don't know."
Ye Chen was puzzled and was about to figure it out when he turned around and saw a man dressed in a black suit, with graying hair and around fifty years old, standing behind him.
Their eyes met, and the man bowed and said, "Young master, you've suffered so much over the years!"
Ye Chen furrowed his brow, his demeanor changing as if he were a different person. He asked coldly, "Are you Tang Si Hai?"
The man replied with surprise, "Young master, you still remember me!"
A stern expression appeared on Ye Chen's face as he muttered under his breath, "Of course, I remember! I remember each and every one of you! It was you who forced my parents and me to flee from Yanjing, causing us to go into hiding. During that time, my parents suffered an unfortunate accident and passed away, leaving me an orphan. Now, what do you want from me?"
Tang Sihai replied with great distress, "Young Master, when your father passed away, Lord Ye was deeply saddened. He has been searching for you for so many years. Now, please come back with me to see him."
Ye Chen responded coldly, "Go away. I will never see him again in this lifetime."
Tang Sihai asked, "Young Master, do you still blame Lord Ye?"
"Absolutely," Ye Chen said, enunciating each word clearly, "I will never forgive him in this lifetime!"
Tang Sihai sighed deeply and said, "Before I came here, Lord Ye mentioned that you might not forgive him."
"Then he has some self-awareness!"
Tang Sihai continued, "Lord Ye knows that you have suffered these years and asked me to give you some compensation. If you are not willing to return, he will buy the largest company in Jinling and give it to you. Additionally, he has given you this card, and the password is your birthday."
Saying this, Tang Sihai handed over a top-tier black card from Citibank.
"Young Master, there are only five such cards in the entire country."
Ye Chen shook his head and said, "Take it away. I don't want it."
Tang Sihai persisted, "Young Master, your savior still owes two million yuan in medical fees. If it's not paid soon, their life may be in danger..."
Ye Chen furrowed his brows and asked, "Are you deliberately trying to manipulate me?"
Tang Sihai quickly replied, "No, I dare not! If you accept this card, it will be enough to cover the medical expenses."
Ye Chen inquired, "How much money is in this card?"
"Lord Ye said that this card contains some pocket money for you, not much, just ten billion yuan!"