Chapter 1

The luxurious Xiao family villa was brightly lit.

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

All the grandchildren, granddaughters and grandsons-in-law presented lavish gifts.

"Grandma, I heard you love drinking tea. This brick of 100-year-old Pu'er tea is worth 500,000 yuan, it's a birthday present for you."

"Grandma, I heard you believe in Buddhism. This jade Buddha is carved from Hetian jade and is worth seven hundred thousand..."

Old Mrs. Xiao looked at the various gifts and laughed with joy, her whole family was filled with happiness.

At this moment, Ye Chen, the eldest grandson-in-law of Old Madam Xiao, suddenly spoke up: "Grandma, could you lend me one million? Aunt Li from the nursing 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 audacious! At the old woman's birthday, he not only didn't prepare any gifts, but dared to open his mouth wide and ask the old woman to borrow one million?

Three years ago, Mr. Xiao, who was still alive, found Ye Chen from somewhere and insisted on marrying his granddaughter Xiao Churuan to him. At that time, Ye Chen had nothing, he was just like a beggar.

After the two got married, the old man passed away. Since then, the Xiao family has been scheming to drive him out.

Ye Chen remained calm and composed, indifferent to any insults hurled his way. He continued to live in the Xiao family as their son-in-law.

Today, I had to ask the old lady for money, it was really out of desperation.

Aunt Li, the kind woman from the orphanage who took him in and saved his life, was diagnosed with uremia. Dialysis and a kidney transplant would cost at least one million yuan. He had no other choice but to ask the elderly woman for help.

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

To everyone's surprise, Old Mrs. Xiao's face went from a bright smile to a scowl in the blink of an eye.

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

Yè Chén's wife, Xiāo Chūrán, hurriedly stepped forward and explained to the old woman: "Grandma, Yè Chén is being unreasonable. Don't take offense."

As he said this, he pulled Ye Chen to the side.

At this time, Xiao Wewei, Xiao Churan's cousin, sneered and said, "Sister, look at what trash you married! I only got engaged to Yun Fei, but before we even get married, he sent Grandma a jade Buddha. Your husband is so good for nothing, he didn't bring any gifts and still has the nerve to ask Grandma for money!"

"Well, Ye Chen, as both of us are grandsons-in-law of the Xiao family, you really have failed miserably as the eldest grandson-in-law!"

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

Although Wang Yunfei is about to marry Xiao Weiwei, in his heart, Xiao Weiwei's beauty pales in comparison to that of Ye Chen's wife, Xiao Churuan.

Xiao Churan was a renowned goddess throughout Jinling. However, seeing the goddess marry this useless man, Wang Yunfei felt very disgruntled.

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

"That's right! This guy has completely disgraced the Xiao family!"

"I think he borrowed money just as an excuse. He truly meant to spoil the elderly woman's birthday party!"

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

If it weren't for raising money for his benefactor's medical expenses, he would have left this place of trouble long ago.

But, thinking of his father's teachings since he was a child, to repay kindness with even greater kindness, he forced himself to suppress the humiliation in his heart and said to Old Madam Xiao: "Grandma, saving one life is better than building seven pagodas. I beg you to show great mercy."

Someone let out a cold snort and cursed, "Ye, you're trying to feed me lies! If you want to save him, figure it out yourself. Don't expect me to pay for your rescue. What do you think you are?"

Speaking is Xiao Weiwei's elder brother, Xiao Hailong.

They, the siblings, had always held a grudge against Xiao Churan for being superior to them in every aspect, so they loved seizing any opportunity to ridicule Ye Chen.

On the side, Xiao Churan's expression was a bit awkward as she said, "Grandma, Ye Chen lost his father when he was eight years old. Aunt Li from the orphanage raised him. He wants to repay her kindness out of gratitude. Would you please help him?"

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

The old woman was referring to Zhang Gongzi, the young master Zhang who has been pursuing Xiao Churan. The Zhang family in Jinling is a prominent family, much more powerful than the Xiao family. The old woman always wants to curry favor with them.

At this time, the butler strode in and shouted, “Master Zhang Wenhao has sent a birthday gift! A jade Buddha carved from old pit emerald, worth three million yuan!”

Grandma Xiao was overjoyed. She blurted out, "Quickly bring it here, quickly! Let me see it!"

The butler immediately presented a jade Buddha pendant, which was emerald green. Everyone present exclaimed in surprise.

This jade amulet is emerald green and crystal clear, without a single impurity. At first glance, it's evident that it's top-quality.

When Wang Yunfei, who had presented a jade Buddha, saw this emerald Buddha amulet, his face turned slightly pale. He hadn't expected Zhang Wenhao, with no connection to the Xiao family, to be so generous!

Old Mrs. Xiao happily played with her jade Buddha pendant, excitedly saying: “Oh my, Young Master Zhang is truly thoughtful! If he could be my granddaughter's husband, I would dream about it every night!”

After she finished speaking, she looked up at Xiao Churan and said, "Well? Are you considering my terms?"

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

Old Madam Xiao's expression instantly turned gloomy. She angrily shouted, "Don't you have any shame! To actually want to hang yourself on this useless piece of trash! Get this trash out of here for me! At my birthday banquet, this trash is not allowed to attend!"

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

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

Old Mrs. Xiao scolded at that moment: “If you leave too, I won't have you as my granddaughter anymore! You, along with your parents, get out of the Xiao family and roll away with this good-for-nothing!”

Xiao Churan was taken aback, not expecting the old woman to say such cruel words.

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

Saying that, without waiting for Xiao Churan to come back to her senses, she turned and walked out.

Xiao Hailong laughed heartily from behind, "Oh my dear brother-in-law, you left on an empty stomach. Won't you go beg for food on the street? Then our Xiao family would lose all face! I have a dime here, why don't you buy some steamed buns?"

Xiao Hailong said, then pulled out a coin and tossed it at Ye Chen's feet.

The entire Xiao family burst into laughter.

Ye Chen gritted his teeth and left 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 his medical expenses.

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

Ye Chen was startled and hurriedly asked her, "How much does this cost? I'll find 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 astonished, just about to figure out what was going on, when he turned around to find a man in a black suit, with slightly gray hair and around fifty years old, standing behind him.

With a glance at each other, the man bowed to him and said: "Young Master, all these years, you've suffered!"

Ye Chen furrowed his brows, 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 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 drove my parents to leave Beijing and flee all the way. During that time, my parents met with accidents and died, and I became an orphan. What do you want from me now?"

Tang Sihai said with great pain: "Young master, your father was extremely sad when he passed away. Grandpa has been looking for you for so many years. Now that you're here, please come back with me to see him!"

Ye Chen said coldly, "Go away. I will never see him again in my life."

Tang Sihai said, "Young master, do you still blame your grandfather?"

"Of course," Ye Chen said, each word carefully measured. "I will never forgive him for this!"

"Ai..." Tang Sihai let out a long sigh, saying, "Before I came, my master said you might not forgive him."

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

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 Citibank.

"Young Master, this 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, the person who saved your life still needs two million yuan for medical expenses. If we can't afford it, they might be in danger of losing their life..."

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

Tang Sihai hurriedly said, "I dare not! You accepting this card is enough to cover this sum."

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

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

(Editor in charge:historical fiction novels)