Huang Meihua put down her wine glass, and Beth McKen also put down his cutlery. Everyone looked at Zhang Hongmei.
"Since we're all sitting at the same table, there's no need for anyone to introduce us. I'll start myself."
I am Zhang Hongmei. Please don't pretend you don't know me when we meet in the future.
Zhang Hongmei's words were truly blunt; she needed to define her position clearly and there was no need for her to be subservient.
At this moment, Carlos McKen also came over, sat to Annie's right, and poured himself a glass of red wine. He glanced at Zhang Hongmei with a smile; this woman was definitely not one to suffer losses.
They weren't speaking Chinese, but their own language, so you couldn't pretend you didn't understand.
“I am your eldest sister, Julia McCann, I am forty-five years old. This is my husband, Enrique Butch. My eldest son, Andrew Butch, is sixteen years old. My youngest son, Jamie Butch, is fourteen years old. My eldest and second daughters are both married.”
Zhang Hongmei smiled and nodded, "It's a pleasure to meet the four members of the Butch family. Hello."
“I am the second sister, Erin McKen, and I am forty years old. This is my husband, George Harrison, our eldest son, Mark Harrison, who is fifteen years old, and our youngest son, Thomas Harrison, who is thirteen years old.”
"I am also very happy to have met the four members of the Harrison family."
“I am the third sister, Helen McCann, thirty-eight years old this year. This is my husband, Duskreit. Our eldest son, Aaron Clayt, is fourteen years old this year, and our youngest son, Cal Clayt, is ten years old this year.”
"I am equally pleased to meet the four members of the Clayt family."
"Now that I've gotten to know everyone, I can't be an outsider on the street!" Zhang Hongmei said with a smile, then lowered her head and continued eating.
The men from all three families wanted to get to know Zhang Hongmei, but since she was already eating, they felt awkward inviting her again, so everyone continued with their dinner, which they hadn't finished earlier. The food here was much better than what they had at home.
Beth McKen and Huang Meihua exchanged a glance, thinking in unison, "He's young, but has a big temper, and he's the type to hold a grudge. It's true he won't suffer a loss, but Huang Meihua still has some concerns. Isn't his strong personality a bit hard to control?"
Beth McKenna thought things through more deeply than Huang Meihua. She was a rare talent; even without her family background, her intelligence alone qualified her to be the eldest daughter of the McKenna family. He needed to explain this to his wife privately. This was someone he couldn't afford to offend.
Carlos McKen chuckled. "Now that you all know our young lady, I require you all to respect her from now on. Although her position is second only to mine, there are some things I will have to listen to her on. Do you all understand?"
Regardless of what they were really thinking, everyone present outwardly agreed with great respect. Zhang Hongmei didn't think much of it; since they were willing to back her up, she might as well accept it!
"Mom, I'm full."
"Okay, so what should you do?"
"I will wait until all the elders have finished eating before I can leave."
"Yes, how come our Annie is so smart and polite? This shows respect and filial piety towards her elders."
"Okay, Mom. Are you full?"
"Mom has finished eating, but Grandpa and Grandma haven't eaten yet, so I have to wait for them."
The mother and daughter chatted quietly, oblivious to everyone else, and Huang Meihua put down her wine glass and joined in.
Now that the important people had finished eating, the adults at the table put down their knives and forks, leaving only the five younger boys still eating.
"Mom, can I play the piano for you in a little while?"
"Of course, the melody Annie played for me last time still seems to linger in my ears."
“Annie, Hongmei, you two can go now. I think you’ll eat more if you can hear my granddaughter’s beautiful piano playing while you’re eating,” Beth McKen said to the two of them with a smile.
Annie led Zhang Hongmei by the hand to the piano, where a maid helped open the piano lid.
"Mom, what song would you like to hear?"
"Hehe, I don't understand music, so just play whatever you like."
Zhang Hongmei sat down, watching the little girl's fingers skillfully glide across the strings, and beautiful music filled the air. This, too, was a kind of enjoyment!
They left, but the table was far from calm. Beth McKen put down her fork. "If there's a next time, you don't need to come back."
Although he didn't name anyone, everyone knew. Julia murmured, "Yes, there won't be a next time!"
Huang Meihua is a contradictory person. She can scold her children, but she is unwilling to let others, even the children's father, criticize them.
He handed Beth a glass of wine and said, "Okay, don't be angry."
Then, turning to her daughters, she said, "Don't be resentful. You'll understand later. Don't cause unnecessary trouble. If you really clash with her, you'll be the ones who suffer. Remember that?"
Everyone at the table nodded, even the youngest, Carl, understood. Grandma was absolutely right.
Eileen looked at her younger brother across from her and asked, "Why don't you marry her? Wouldn't it be better this way?"
Carlos just smiled and didn't answer. He still had his own thoughts, so he felt that nothing he said would be accurate.
Beth glanced at her second daughter. Of the three daughters, only the second one was alright. "Don't have any unrealistic ideas in the future. That's Carlos's own business. No one is allowed to interfere."
Beth didn't really approve of his son's idea. Although his son was the outstanding person his daughter-in-law described, he felt that his son might not be able to control her. However, he didn't object to them becoming family.
The McCann family could have remained prosperous for a hundred years even without expanding into China. If he truly followed his son's wishes, he wouldn't be afraid to antagonize that person, even if it meant falling out with him.
Everyone at the table had their own thoughts, but Andrew Butch was extremely excited. His mother always said she could be the head of the McCann family, but he felt the chances were slim.
But marrying a heiress who isn't related to me by blood would be far better than running my own small company. She'd be a year younger than me, and most importantly, she'd be stunningly beautiful, truly unforgettable, dazzlingly beautiful.
My second aunt suggested that my uncle marry her, but no one would agree. Although my uncle has a high status, he is old and has children. Who would want that? And she is a beautiful 15-year-old girl, it would be such a waste for her to be with my uncle.
Although his family background was not as good as his uncle's, he was handsome, and the more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.
Marrying such a beautiful wife is a matter of pride. Taking her out will dazzle everyone. Although she's a foreigner, her looks make up for everything.
Andrew was lost in his own fantasies with his head down. No one else at the table noticed, except for his younger brother, who knew him best and curled his lip in disdain.
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