The Hidden Dragon In-Law

The luxurious Xiao Family villa was ablaze with lights.

Tonight, the Xiao Family was celebrating Old Madame Xiao's seventieth birthday banquet.

Grandsons, granddaughters, and sons-in-law presented extravagant gifts one after another.

"Grandma, I heard you love tea. This hundred-year-old Pu'er tea brick is worth half a million, a birthday gift for you."

"Grandma, I know you're a Buddhist. This jade Buddha carved from Hetian jade is worth seven hundred thousand…"

Old Madame Xiao looked at the array of gifts and laughed heartily, her family basking in joy and harmony.

At that moment, Old Madame Xiao's eldest grandson-in-law, James Ye, suddenly spoke up: "Grandma, could I borrow a million? Auntie Li from the orphanage has uremia and needs money for treatment…"

The entire Xiao Family was shocked.

Everyone looked at James Ye with disbelief.

This live-in son-in-law, how dare he? Not only did he not prepare any gift for the Old Madame's birthday, but he also had the audacity to ask her for a million?

Three years ago, the then-living Old Master Xiao found James Ye from who knows where and insisted on marrying his granddaughter Mary Xiao to him, despite James being penniless, practically a beggar.

After their marriage, the Old Master passed away, and since then, the Xiao Family had been scheming to drive James away.

But James remained indifferent, unaffected by the insults, and thus continued to live as a live-in son-in-law in the Xiao Family.

Asking for money today was a last resort.

Auntie Li from the orphanage, who had taken him in and saved his life, had uremia. Dialysis and a kidney transplant would cost at least a million, and he had no choice but to ask Old Madame Xiao.

He thought, today being the Old Madame's birthday, she might be in good spirits and willing to help out of kindness.

Unexpectedly, Old Madame Xiao's laughter turned to a scowl in a second.@@novelbin@@

She slammed her teacup to the ground and bellowed, "You scoundrel, are you here to celebrate or to borrow money?"

James Ye's wife, Mary Xiao, quickly stepped forward to explain to the Old Madame, "Grandma, James doesn't know any better, please don't take offense."

As she spoke, she tried to pull James aside.

At this moment, Mary's female cousin, Barbara Xiao, sneered, "Sister, look at the trash you married! Daniel hasn't even married me yet, but he already gifted Grandma a Hetian jade Buddha. Your husband, on the other hand, didn't bring any gift and has the nerve to ask Grandma for money!"

"That's right, Brother Ye, we're both sons-in-law of the Xiao Family, but as the eldest grandson-in-law, you're really a failure!"

The speaker was Barbara's fiancé, local tycoon Daniel Wang.

Although Daniel was about to marry Barbara, in his eyes, Barbara's beauty was far inferior to James Ye's wife, Mary Xiao.

Mary Xiao was a renowned goddess in Jinling, and seeing the goddess marry such a loser, Daniel Wang felt quite annoyed.

"This trash should just get out of our Xiao Family!"

"Exactly! He's disgraced our Xiao Family!"

"I think he's not really here to borrow money, but to deliberately ruin Grandma's birthday mood!"

James Ye clenched his fists as the entire Xiao Family targeted and insulted him.

If it weren't for the need to raise money for his lifesaver, he would have left this place of strife long ago.

But remembering his father's teachings to repay even the smallest kindness, he suppressed the humiliation in his heart and said to Old Madame Xiao, "Grandma, saving one life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda, please show mercy…"

Someone snorted coldly and cursed, "Ye, stop trying to sweet-talk Grandma. If you want to save someone, find your own way. Why should Grandma pay for your good deeds? What do you think you are?"

The speaker was Barbara's brother, Robert Xiao.

The siblings had always been envious of Mary Xiao, who excelled in every aspect, so they relished any opportunity to mock James Ye.

Mary Xiao, looking somewhat embarrassed, said, "Grandma, James lost his father at eight and was raised by Auntie Li from the orphanage. His desire to repay her kindness comes from a grateful heart, please help him…"

Old Madame Xiao's face darkened as she said, "Help him? Fine, if you divorce him and marry Young Master Zhang, I'll give him a million right away!"

Young Master Zhang mentioned by the Old Madame was Matthew Zhang, who had been pursuing Mary Xiao. The Zhang Family was a prominent family in Jinling, far more powerful than the Xiao Family, and the Old Madame had always wanted to curry favor with them.

Just then, the butler hurried in, announcing loudly, "Young Master Zhang has sent a birthday gift! A Buddha pendant carved from old pit jade, worth three million yuan!"

Old Madame Xiao was overjoyed and blurted out, "Bring it here, let me see!"

The butler immediately presented a jade-green Buddha pendant, eliciting gasps of admiration from everyone present.

The pendant was verdant and translucent, without a single impurity, clearly of the highest quality.

Daniel Wang, who had gifted the Hetian jade Buddha, felt his face flush upon seeing this jade pendant, not expecting Matthew Zhang, who had no ties to the Xiao Family, to be so generous.

Old Madame Xiao, delighted, played with the jade pendant and exclaimed, "Ah, Young Master Zhang is so thoughtful! If he could be my grandson-in-law, I'd wake up laughing from my dreams!"

After saying this, she looked up at Mary Xiao, "What do you think? Will you consider my offer?"

Mary Xiao shook her head, "Grandma, I won't divorce James."

Old Madame Xiao's expression turned stormy as she cursed, "Ungrateful! You'd rather die clinging to this good-for-nothing! Get this trash out of here! He's not welcome at my birthday banquet!"

James Ye was utterly disappointed with the Xiao Family and had no face to stay any longer. He said to Mary Xiao, "Mary, I'm going to see Auntie Li at the hospital."

Mary Xiao quickly replied, "Then I'll come with you."

Old Madame Xiao then scolded, "If you leave too, then I no longer have you as my granddaughter! Take your parents and leave with this good-for-nothing!"

Mary Xiao was stunned, not expecting the Old Madame to be so harsh.

James Ye hurriedly said, "Stay here, don't worry about me."

Without waiting for Mary Xiao to react, he turned and walked out.

Robert Xiao laughed mockingly from behind, "Oh, my dear brother-in-law, leaving on an empty stomach, aren't you going to beg on the streets? Wouldn't that disgrace our Xiao Family even more? Here's a coin, go buy a steamed bun!"

As he spoke, Robert Xiao tossed a coin at James Ye's feet.

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The Xiao Family erupted into laughter.

James Ye clenched his teeth and left the Xiao Family without looking back.

***

Arriving at the hospital, James Ye immediately went to the payment counter, hoping to negotiate a delay in the medical fees.

However, when he asked the nurse, he was suddenly informed that Auntie Li had been sent overnight to the best hospital in Yanjing for treatment.

James Ye was shocked and asked urgently, "How much will it cost? I'll find a way!"

The nurse replied, "A total of three million is needed. One million has been paid, and two million is still outstanding. It must be paid within a week."

"Who paid the one million?"

The nurse shook her head, "I don't know."

James Ye was puzzled and was about to clarify the matter when he turned around to see a man in his fifties, wearing a black suit and with slightly graying hair, standing behind him.

Their eyes met, and the man bowed to him, saying, "Young master, you've suffered over the years!"

James Ye frowned, his demeanor changing as he asked coldly, "Are you Anthony Tang?"

The man replied with excitement, "Young master, you remember me!"

James Ye's expression turned stern as he murmured, "Of course I remember! I remember every one of you! It was you who forced my parents to flee Yanjing with me, leading to their accidental deaths and leaving me an orphan. What do you want with me now?"

Anthony Tang spoke with evident pain, "Young master, when your father died, the Old Master was also deeply grieved. He's been looking for you all these years. Now that we've found you, please come back with me to see him."

James Ye replied coldly, "Leave, I will never see him in this lifetime."

Anthony Tang asked, "Young master, do you still blame the Old Master?"

"Of course." James Ye spoke each word firmly, "I will never forgive him in this life!"

Anthony Tang sighed deeply, "Before I came, the Old Master said you might not forgive him."

"Then he's self-aware!"

Anthony Tang continued, "The Old Master knows you've suffered these years and asked me to give you some compensation. If you don't want to return, he'll buy the largest enterprise in Jinling for you and also give you this card, the PIN is your birthday."

As he spoke, Anthony Tang handed over a top-tier black gold card from Citibank.

"Young master, there are only five such cards in the country."

James Ye shook his head, "Take it back, I don't want it."

Anthony Tang insisted, "Young master, your lifesaver still needs two million for medical fees. Without it, her life may be in danger…"

James Ye's brow furrowed, "Are you deliberately scheming against me?"

Anthony Tang hurriedly said, "I wouldn't dare! Take this card, it's enough to cover the money."

James Ye asked, "How much is on this card?"

"The Old Master said it's a little pocket money for you, not much, just ten billion! "

Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan