"Dad, you're back." A Biao's son, who is already ten years old, is helping his mother Zhang Yan serve food like a little adult.
Zhang Yan now manages to balance work and life. She works as a manager at Lin Chunhua's clothing store, and her job isn't exactly easy. But whenever she has time, she cooks a good meal so that the whole family can enjoy a good meal together.
After all, Ah Biao's work kept him very busy, and he couldn't take care of his family at all, so she could only be more tolerant.
Lin Chunhua originally wanted to open another branch for her and make her the store manager, but she politely declined.
She has a rather traditional mindset, advocating that men should be responsible for external affairs while women should stay at home. Even though she is very capable, she has not forgotten her role as a virtuous wife and loving mother.
She was even scolded by her parents for this.
Her family is from Beijing. Her father used to work in a chemical plant, but later contracted pneumoconiosis and needed to take medicine and see a doctor all year round. Her mother was just a temporary worker. The family lived in a large courtyard.
She was doing a good job, earning a decent amount of money each month, which helped support her family. I thought it would be perfect if she could marry a factory worker.
Unfortunately, it was around that time that she met Ah Biao, and they gradually developed feelings for each other through their work interactions.
"What? A self-employed individual? The man we found for you is the deputy director of a factory, earning over a hundred yuan a month. If you marry him, you'll never have to worry about anything for the rest of your life, and he can also help support your family. Your younger brother is married but doesn't have a house yet." Her parents objected to her relationship with Abiao.
Zhang Yan didn't know at first that A Biao had saved several hundred thousand yuan; she only thought that he earned a little more than her, and still stood firmly by his side.
It wasn't until he heard about her family's concerns and offered 10,000 yuan as a betrothal gift to the Zhang family that she realized she had no idea about his financial situation.
Knowing that A Biao was rich, Zhang Yan actually backed down.
She admits that she is not a particularly charming person; she has an average appearance and an ordinary family background. It is said that men become bad when they have money, and she is not confident that she can handle it.
After learning of her concerns, Ah Biao handed over all his savings to her.
This enormous fortune gave her a sense of unreality, and it also made her marry him without hesitation.
After marriage, she focused on taking care of her family and lived a life free from financial worries.
A few people were eating together and chatting casually when Zhang Yan suddenly remembered that A Biao's cousin was having a birthday party and had called home asking him to come over.
"It's my 68th birthday, not a big one, why are they making such a fuss? I've been very busy lately, I haven't had much time to entertain him."
Back then, he lived at his maternal uncle's house, and his aunt often made sarcastic remarks about him not doing anything productive.
Later, when he had gained enough power, he decisively left his cousin's house and gave them 10,000 yuan.
At the time, his cousin Li Qin was surprised, wondering how he could have so much money.
Later, A Biao spent a large dowry to marry Zhang Yan. The wedding was so lavish and grand that it stunned her.
At that time, she was pleased with herself for having a boyfriend who worked in a government department, and she looked down on Ah Biao even more.
Li's father already vaguely knew that Abiao was up to something big outside, and warned his daughter that she and Abiao were not related by blood and could get married, but she dismissed his warning with disdain.
Later, she got married. It was a very ordinary wedding, and her married life was just like any other ordinary life. After her father fell seriously ill, he spent all the money that A Biao had given him. When she asked her husband for more, he refused.
"You've spent over ten thousand yuan and it still doesn't cure you. Is it worth continuing? What if you lose both your money and your health? How can you live like this?" She was rejected.
Later, it took Ah Biao another five thousand yuan to save Li's father's life.
Later, because of this incident, she felt like she had a thorn in her heart and became increasingly dissatisfied with her married life.
Ultimately, she painfully ended her two-year marriage because her husband cheated on her with a subordinate.
It was only then that she realized how incredibly happy she was to be Ah Biao's wife.
During my pregnancy, I ate and used the best food and supplies. I gave birth in the intensive care unit and hired two nannies, one to take care of the baby and the other to take care of me.
She regretted it immensely, missing out on Ah Biao, her cash cow.
When Mr. and Mrs. Li talked about it, they were filled with emotion.
Now, the Li family occasionally invites Abiao to their home for meals in an attempt to mend their relationship, but with little effect.
The purpose of holding this birthday party is quite obvious.
Zhang Yan felt that since the Li family had taken in Ah Biao, they should be grateful and help him whenever possible. She advised him to have a meal together to improve their relationship.
Ah Biao, however, did not think so. He felt that he had suffered a lot of humiliation in the Li family and had spent a lot of money for them. He felt that he had long since repaid their kindness and there was no need to continue the relationship.
Having navigated the complexities of society for so many years, he fully understands the Li family's mentality. Once he gets involved with them, they might try to morally blackmail him in the future.
However, he didn't say much in front of the child.
After dinner, when the family was about to go for a walk, Li Qin came home carrying a shoulder bag and looking a little timid.
"Cousin, my dad says his health is deteriorating and he doesn't have much time left. He asked me to personally deliver the invitation so you can see him," Li Qin said, her voice trembling with tears.
Having said all that, Ah Biao had no reason to refuse. He figured it was a banquet with a lot of people attending, so he could just exchange a few pleasantries and leave.
Zhang Yan also felt that he should go, so as not to leave any regrets for himself.
On the day of the banquet, Ah Biao wore casual clothes and slippers.
Most of the people attending the banquet were former colleagues of Li's father, and they were all in their sixties or seventies.
Seeing Ah Biao dressed like that, they all shook their heads, looking down on him.
But when he took out a red envelope containing 1,000 yuan and handed it to Li's father, everyone was shocked.
When they come to the banquet, they give a gift of no more than ten yuan. If they are close to the person, they might give an extra ten yuan. A thousand yuan would be an incredibly generous gift!
Taking this opportunity, Li's father introduced A Biao to everyone. His friends were all from various government agencies, and their families had children who would follow in their footsteps. A Biao might come in handy in the future.
Ah Biao was thus indebted to him.
Economics is the bottom line, and having money has become the pursuit of most people. Naturally, A Biao became the dazzling star at the banquet.
Looking at A Biao, who was raising his glass and chatting animatedly with everyone, Li Qin felt a strange sensation in her heart.
After the guests left, Li Qin approached Ah Biao, whose face was flushed, and deliberately pretended to be drunk, spilling wine on him.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to." She hurriedly put down her glass, grabbed a tissue to wipe the wine stains off his body, and let her rich jasmine scent linger on him.
Ah Biao was a little drunk but hadn't lost his senses yet, and quickly pushed her away, saying, "I can do it myself."
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