[Current state: Proud, happy, excited, complacent, satisfied]
[Intimacy: +20 (60 Familiarity)]
When Ben heard his aunt praising Harry, his face immediately turned ugly.
In the past, every time he visited the Mackerel family, Ben would flaunt his superiority over Harry. With a poor son-in-law like Harry around, Ben was always the center of attention.
But today, on the very day he brought his beloved girlfriend to show off his new Mercedes, he was humiliated by Harry.
Instead of being the one showing off, he became the one being shown up!!
Seeing his girlfriend, Anya, looking at Harry with admiration and his mother trying to please Harry, Ben was so angry that his face turned purple. He clenched his fists tightly, wishing he could leave immediately.
"Sister, you can't say that. Didn't Harry just graduate from an ordinary university? Isn't he doing so well now? I think our Ben can give it a try too..." Yana said, still looking at Harry with a pleading expression.
"Harry, don't you agree?"
"I'm sorry, Auntie, this has little to do with academic qualifications. It depends on talent. Ben doesn't have this talent, so I'm afraid I can't teach him. But I think Anya is very talented. She earned by writing during her time in college. If she learns from me, she'll have a bright future,"
Harry said with a smile, glancing at Anya who was looking at him with admiration.
"Who wants to learn such dishonest stuff! I don't want to write any rubbish online articles! Isn't it just luck that you made some money? Are you so excited? How long can you make money in this kind of shady job? You got lucky with one book, but does that mean all books are lucky? Our Anya doesn't want to learn how to write books. She'll start a business with me, expand our family business, and list it on the stock market. Isn't that much better than this?"
Ben said stiffly, trying to save face and refusing to back down.
"Of course, writing is a good choice! I love writing and reading! Being a writer has been my dream since I was a child! If Brother-in-law is willing to teach me, I'd definitely like to learn. Brother-in-law, can you teach me?" Anya didn't give Ben any face and slapped him down unapologetically.
[Current status: Worship, excitement, admiration, curiosity]
[Intimacy: +20 (20 First Acquaintance)]
"Of course, I can. You're Ben's girlfriend, so we'll be family soon. It's my duty to teach you," Harry said with a generous smile, like an elder brother.
But in his heart, he was already plotting how to win over this future sister-in-law with her baby face and big breasts.
'Anya is still a virgin. I need to act fast and claim her before my cousin Ben does.'
"That's great! Thank you, Brother-in-law!" Anya was even more excited than if she had won the lottery. Her eyes sparkled with joy, and her big, watery eyes were full of admiration for Harry.
"Ahem... Harry, there's no need to be too proud of the money you made from writing books. What Ben said isn't wrong. After all, this isn't a stable career. Save the money you've made and don't spend it recklessly. You and your wife haven't bought a house yet, and this money might not even be enough for a down payment,"
Jace said, coughing awkwardly and trying to regain some dignity.
Jace had made some money from his business in his early years and had already paid the down payment for Ben's property.
Jace brought up the house to pressure Harry.
Compared to real estate, Harry's money was nothing!
"My uncle is right. I'll work harder and try to buy a house this year," Harry nodded sincerely.
Seeing Harry's humble attitude, Jace's family felt slightly better.
"Okay, okay, it's getting late. Let's sit down and have dinner," Hazel said, in an exceptionally good mood today. She hadn't been this happy since Harry married into the family!
Today, she finally got rid of the resentment in her heart!
In the past, Hazel always made Harry sit at the least important seat. But today, she specially pulled Harry to sit in the seat of honor next to her. As she served him food, she praised him with a smile.
Although Harry enjoyed the admiration, he still felt a bit uncomfortable, remembering how he had been criticized at every meal before.
We are a family—why should we judge each other solely by wealth? Is money really that important?If given a choice, Harry would much rather have a warm, affectionate family environment where material success didn't overshadow genuine care and love. Unfortunately, in this era dominated by materialism, everyone seems obsessed with houses, cars, and bank balances. Where has true family affection gone?When you're poor and seemingly without prospects, people criticize, mock, and belittle you. But once you achieve financial success, those same individuals suddenly flock to please you, eager to take advantage of your newfound prosperity.
This stark contrast left Harry feeling utterly devoid of familial warmth.
In contrast, his wife Wanda had never looked down on him during their leaner days. Even now, despite his significant earnings, she didn't display excessive pride or excitement.
Instead, her expression often carried a hint of worry. Her quiet concern stood out against the backdrop of others' opportunistic behavior.
Meanwhile, Yana grew increasingly uncomfortable as Hazel continued to boast about her son-in-law's accomplishments.
For years, the Jace family had held sway over the Mackerel family, but today, the tables had turned. The very son-in-law they'd dismissed as unremarkable was now bringing shame upon them.
After dinner, Wanda and Clara helped Hazel clear the table, bringing out fruits, snacks, and tea for everyone to enjoy. They sat together again, attempting to ease the lingering awkwardness.
Had it been any other day, the three members of the Jace family might have launched into their usual routine: criticizing Harry, adopting condescending tones, offering unsolicited advice, and urging him to find stable employment.
However, tonight felt different. As both families gathered, an unusual silence hung in the air—they simply had nothing to talk about.