"Limin, that car of yours is about ready for the scrap heap. It's falling apart," Shen Han said, giving Li Limin a cold look, her tone far from friendly.
"Heh～～I'm planning to replace it, but this car's been with me over ten years. I'm kinda attached～～" Li Limin patted his beat-up car, chuckling without a care.
"Attached? That old clunker's dangerous to drive! Our Wen Ying was practically a lady of class back then, and she's been suffering with you ever since!" Shen Han grumbled, her tone laced with dissatisfaction, her words sharp and biting.
Li Bin sensed the warm, happy vibe turn awkward after his mother-in-law's jab. To smooth things over, he stepped forward, smiling, and grabbed Uncle Li Limin's arm. "Uncle, Aunt, Xiaoyan, come inside and sit. It's hot out here—there's AC and fruit indoors."
"Alright! Xiao Bin, been a while, huh? How you holding up lately?" Li Limin gave Li Bin's shoulder a warm pat. Both surnamed Li and married to Wen women, Li Limin always felt a special bond with Li Bin, treating him like family.
"Doing alright, things are looking up!" Li Bin nodded with a grin.
"Brother-in-law～～" Li Xiaoyan shyly trailed behind Li Bin, her soft voice tinged with warmth, her big, watery eyes dodging his gaze.
She wanted to get closer to Li Bin but, held back by shyness and insecurity, only managed a timid greeting.
"Xiaoyan, what's this? Half a year and you're acting all distant? Last year, you weren't shy with your sister and brother-in-law! Little girl, don't tell me you forgot me already?" Li Bin teased, affectionately ruffling her hair with a chuckle.
"No, no! Brother-in-law, I've been thinking of Sister Wen Wan, Sister Wen Lan, Sister Wen Ting, and you every day! I wanted to visit, but～～Mom wouldn't let me～～" Li Xiaoyan rushed to explain, flustered.
The girl was so naive she didn't catch Li Bin's playful jab.
"I know you've been busy with high school entrance exams. How'd it go? Feeling good?" The exams were over, but results weren't out yet, so Li Bin asked.
"Mhm! Should be fine!" Talking about grades, a spark of confidence lit up Li Xiaoyan's shy, self-conscious face.
Li Bin knew she was gifted academically, on par with Wen Ting, but worked way harder.
"Good! What's the target school? I hear the best in your area is No. 1 High School, right?" Li Bin nodded, asking. From what he knew, the schools in Li Xiaoyan's county were subpar, even their top No. 1 High School lagging behind a decent Hangzhou high school.
"I～～The schools there aren't great. I… I want to try for Hangzhou No. 2 High School～～" Li Xiaoyan mumbled timidly, a trace of disappointment in her tone.
"Then go for it, silly! If you get into a top school like that, I'll give you a big reward! What's wrong? Any problems?" Sensing her hesitation, Li Bin pressed.
"But～" Li Xiaoyan wavered, about to share her troubles, when a loud beep beep beep! cut her off.
Everyone turned to see a shiny new Mercedes C200L and a BMW X1 pull up roadside.
"It's Little Aunt!" Wen Lan said, smiling.
After parking, Shen Yun's family stepped out. Spotting Wen Ying's crew, their faces lit up with smug pride.
"Wen Ying, you guys are here too? It's quite the party today," Shen Yun chuckled, strolling up with her son Du Bin and Yu Yinyan. Seeing Wen Ying's junker car, Shen Yun's superiority complex kicked into overdrive, her tone dripping with condescension.
"Yeah, it's Sister-in-law's birthday, so we're here for dinner," Wen Ying forced a smile, keeping her words brief. Shen Yun's family was far better off than the Wens, making Wen Ying's family feel inferior around them.
Shen Yun's crew were total snobs, looking down on Wen Ying's family. Though they sometimes crossed paths at the Wen house, they rarely spoke.
"Sis, happy birthday! Li Bin really went all out, booking a banquet at the Pan Pacific Fishing Platform Hotel? I've never even eaten at a fancy place like that," Shen Yun said, cozying up to Shen Han with a smile.
Her words were polite, but Li Bin noticed Shen Yun's family showed up empty-handed.
Meanwhile, the poorer Wen Ying's family had brought a ton of gifts, none cheap. Li Bin estimated the haul cost two or three grand.