Chapter 1

The luxurious Xiao family villa was ablaze with light.

Tonight is the 70th birthday banquet of Madam Xiao, the head of the Xiao family.

A multitude of grandsons, granddaughters, and sons-in-law presented lavish gifts.

"Grandma, I heard you love to drink tea. This brick of hundred-year-old Pu'er tea is worth 500,000 yuan. It's a birthday gift for you."

"Grandma, I heard you believe in Buddhism. This jade Buddha is carved from Hetian jade and is worth 700,000..."

Grandma Xiao looked at the various gifts and laughed happily. The whole family was full of joy.

At this time, Ye Chen, the eldest grandson-in-law of Old Lady Xiao, suddenly spoke up: "Grandma, could you lend me one million? Aunt Li from the welfare home has uremia and needs money for treatment..."

The entire Xiao family was shocked.

Everyone stared at Ye Chen with disbelief.

This son-in-law is too bold, isn't he? On his mother-in-law's birthday, not only did he not prepare any gifts, but he even dared to open his mouth wide and ask his mother-in-law for one million dollars?

Three years ago, the elderly Mr. Xiao, who was still alive, somehow found Ye Chen and insisted on marrying his granddaughter, Xiao Churan, to him. At that time, Ye Chen had no money and was practically as poor as a beggar.

After the couple got married, the old man passed away. Since then, the Xiao family has been scheming to get rid of him.

Ye Chen remained unfazed by the insults hurled at him. He simply accepted his role as the son-in-law of the Xiao family.

Today, I had to ask the old lady for money. It was a last resort.

Li Auntie, the caregiver who took him in and saved his life at the welfare home, got uremia. Dialysis and kidney transplant would cost at least one million. He was helpless and could only ask the old woman for help.

He thought that today was the old woman's birthday. If she was happy, she might be generous and willing to help.

To everyone's surprise, Old Lady Xiao went from laughing heartily one second to scowling the next.

She slammed the teacup in her hand onto the ground and roared, "You scoundrel, are you here to celebrate my birthday or to borrow money?"

Ye Chen's wife, Xiao Churuan, hurriedly stepped forward and explained to the old woman, "Grandma, Ye Chen is being unreasonable. Don't take it to heart."

Saying that, he pulled Ye Chen aside.

At this time, Xiao Weiwei, Xiao Churan's cousin, sneered and said, "Sister, look at what kind of trash you married! I only got engaged to Yunfei, but before we even get married, he sent Grandma a jade Buddha. Your husband is so good that he didn't bring any gifts, and still has the face to ask Grandma for money!"

"That's right, Ye Chen. We're both grandsons-in-law of the Xiao family. You, as the eldest grandson-in-law, are truly a failure!"

The man speaking is Xiao Weiwei's fiancé, Wang Yunfei, the young master of a local prominent family.

Although Wang Yunfei was about to marry Xiao Weiwei, in his heart, Xiao Weiwei's appearance paled in comparison to Ye Chen's wife, Xiao Churan. It was a difference of ten thousand miles.

Xiao Churan was a renowned goddess throughout Jinling, but seeing the goddess marry this useless man, Wang Yunfei felt very dissatisfied in his heart.

"This trash, it's best to get out of our Xiao family as soon as possible!"

"That's right! This guy has ruined the Xiao family's reputation!"

"I think he borrowed money out of pretense, but he truly meant to ruin the atmosphere at the old woman's birthday party!"

Ye Chen saw that the entire Xiao family was against him and insulting him, he couldn't help but clench his fists.

If he wasn't raising money for his savior's medical expenses, he would have left this dangerous place long ago.

But, thinking of the teachings his father had given him since he was a child, to repay kindness with even greater kindness, he forced down the humiliation in his heart and said to Old Madam Xiao: "Grandma, saving a life is better than building a seven-tiered pagoda. I beg you to show mercy."

Someone snorted coldly and snarled, “You surname Ye, stop trying to bullshit me! If you want to save people, figure it out yourself. Don't expect me to pay for your rescue mission. What do you think you are?”

The one speaking is Xiao Weiwei's elder brother, Xiao Haolong.

They, the siblings, always had a huge grudge against Xiao Churan for being better than them in every way, so they loved to seize any opportunity to ridicule Ye Chen.

Xiao Churan on the side looked a little embarrassed and said, "Grandma, Ye Chen lost his father when he was eight years old. He was raised by Li Auntie from the orphanage. He wants to repay her kindness because of a grateful heart, so please help him..."

Old Mrs. Xiao's face darkened as she said, "Let me help him? Okay, unless you divorce him and marry Young Master Zhang. If you do that, I'll give him one million right away!"

The old lady was referring to Zhang Gongzi, who had been pursuing Xiao Churan all along. His name was Zhang Wenhao, and his family, the Zhangs, were a prominent family in Jinling, far more powerful than the Xiaos. The old lady had always wanted to curry favor with them.

At this time, the butler strode in and shouted, "Young Master Zhang Wenhao has sent a birthday gift! A jade Buddha carved from an old mine, worth three million yuan!"

Grandma Xiao was overjoyed and blurted out, “Quickly bring it here, quickly bring it here, let me have a look!”

The butler immediately presented a piece of emerald green jade Buddha pendant. Everyone present gasped in amazement.

This jade Buddha pendant is emerald green and crystal clear, without a trace of impurities. At first glance, it's obvious that it's high-quality goods.

Wang Yunfei, who had just gifted a Hetian jade Buddha, saw this emerald Buddha pendant and his face turned a little pale. He hadn't expected that Zhang Wenhao, with no connections to the Xiao family, would be so generous in his spending!

Old Madam Xiao was overjoyed, playing with her jade Buddha pendant and excitedly saying, "Oh my, Young Master Zhang is so thoughtful! If he could be my grandson-in-law, I would dream of it every night!"

After finishing, she looked up at Xiao Churan: "How about it? Do you want to consider my terms?"

Xiao Churan shook her head: "Grandma, I won't divorce Ye Chen."

Old Mrs. Xiao's expression instantly turned gloomy. She angrily scolded, "Don't you have any shame! You dare to disgrace me in front of everyone? Get this useless good-for-nothing out of here! This is my birthday banquet, and I won't allow this trash to participate!"

Ye Chen was utterly disappointed in the Xiao family. He had no face to stay at the Xiao family any longer, so he told Xiao Churan: "Churan, I'm going to the hospital to see Aunt Li."

Xiao Churan hurriedly said, "Then I'll go with you."

At this, Old Lady Xiao scolded, “If you leave too, I'll have no granddaughter like you! You take your parents and get out of the Xiao family with this useless good-for-nothing!”

Xiao Churan was taken aback. She didn't expect the old lady to say such harsh words.

Ye Chen hurriedly said, “You stay here, don't worry about me.”

Saying that, without waiting for Xiao Churan to react, she turned and walked out.

Xiao Hailong laughed heartily from behind. "Oh, my dear brother-in-law, you left on an empty stomach. Are you going to beg for food on the streets? That would shame our Xiao family! I still have a dollar here. Go buy some steamed buns!"

Xiao Hailong said, then 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 walked out of the Xiao family without looking back.

......

Upon arriving at the hospital, Ye Chen immediately went to the payment counter, hoping to negotiate with the hospital for a two-day extension on medical expenses.

But when he asked the nurse, he was suddenly told that Aunt Li had been sent to the best hospital in Beijing, Fuwai Hospital, for treatment overnight.

Ye Chen was greatly surprised and hurriedly asked her, "How much does this cost? I'll think of a way!"

The other party said: "A total of three million is needed, one million has already been paid, and two million are still owed. It needs to be paid in full within a week."

Who paid this one million?

The other party shook their head: "I don't know either."

Ye Chen was surprised. Just as he was about to figure out what was going on, he turned his head and saw a man in a black suit with slightly gray hair, about fifty years old, standing behind him.

Their eyes met, and the man bowed deeply to him, saying, "Young master, all these years, you have suffered!"

Ye Chen frowned, his entire demeanor seemed to change, and he asked in a cold voice, "Are you Tang Sihai?"

The other party exclaimed in surprise, "Young Master, you still remember me!"

Ye Chen's expression turned cold, and he muttered, "Of course I remember! I remember each and every one of you! Back then, it was you who forced my parents to leave Beijing and flee. My parents met with an accident during our escape, and I became an orphan. What are you doing here now?"

Tang Sihai said with great pain, "Young Master, when your father passed away, the old master was also deeply saddened. He has been looking for you all these years. Now that you're found, come back with me to see him!"

Ye Chen said coldly, "You go. I will never see him for the rest of my life."

Tang Sihai said, "Young Master, do you still blame your father?"

"Of course." Ye Chen said word by word, "I will never forgive him in my life!"

"Ai..." Tang Sihai sighed, "Before I came, the master said you might not forgive him."

"Well, at least he knows his own limitations!"

Tang Sihai said, "Master, I know you've suffered these years. Let me compensate you. If you don't want to go back, I'll buy the biggest company in Jinling and give it to you. Also, here's a card for you, the password is your birthday."

Saying that, Tang Sihai handed over a top-tier black gold card from Chase Bank.

"Young master, this kind of card, there are only five in the whole country."

Ye Chen shook his head and said, "Take it. I don't want it."

Tang Sihai said, "Young master, your savior is still short two million yuan in medical expenses. If they can't be paid, the person may be in danger of death..."

Ye Chen frowned: "Did you deliberately scheme against me?"

Tang Sihai hurriedly said, "I dare not! Just accept this card, and it will be enough to pay for this sum."

Ye Chen opened his mouth and asked, "How much money is in this card?"

"Grandpa said, 'This card has a little spending money for you. It's not much, only one billion!' "