1Ever since his son-in-law took him out for dinner with Zhou Jicang, Jiang Yonghan's days at the office had become much easier.
Once the news spread that he had been hired as a consultant by Qing Yuan Group Long Yin Branch Company, his treatment nearly rivalled that of the leadership.
Not only did the incessant jokes about him vanish completely, but colleagues who used to be impatient after a few words now frequently invited him to dinners and gatherings. Although they still joked around, there was now a flavor of flattery in their banter.
Even the section chief would call him "Brother Jiang" upon seeing him.
Having lived most of his life, Jiang Yonghan was finally experiencing a buoyant feeling. Though he wasn't overly arrogant, he walked with his head held high and chest out unconsciously, and his whole demeanor changed; he seemed much younger.
Naturally, the news that he was now living at his son-in-law's place, effectively separated from his wife, also made the rounds.
As a result, female colleagues who were divorced or widowed seemed to become suddenly more numerous. They would smile and greet him in passing, leaving him bewildered and unsure of what to do, as he hardly knew most of them.
Just after a chat with some colleagues who were fishing for gossip, Jiang Yonghan looked at his watch; it was almost time to clock out, yet he still had unfinished work in hand, making him hesitate whether to work overtime.
Suddenly, the section chief walked in with a smile and said, "Brother Jiang, don't busy yourself, hurry downstairs."
Jiang Yonghan was clueless, "What's going on?"
"You don't know yet? Oh, I'm envious of you. If my son-in-law was half as filial as your daughter's husband, I'd be laughing in my dreams!"
Jiang Yonghan was even more confused, "My son-in-law? What has he done now?"
"Hah! Listen to this, everyone, the way he uses 'now' is great. Old Jiang has also learned to show off."
The section chief chuckled as he pulled him out the door, "The guard just called, there's a car here for you.
After I inquired, I found out it was bought for you by your son-in-law, he had it delivered straight here, and I've already told the guard to let it through."
As they spoke, they had already left the office, and the others looked at each other in confusion.
A nosy woman immediately stood up and went to the window, craning her neck to look down.
"Wow! You guys have to see this, what kind of car is that? It looks even more impressive than the leaders' cars."
A male colleague took a look and said with a hint of sourness, "Oh, a Magotan, huh? It's in the same class as the leaders' Passats, not that expensive."
"How much?"
"Around two hundred thousand or so."
The woman gasped in shock.
To think, her salary was just one thousand five hundred, and her son, who had a decent job, only made a little over three thousand a month. Two hundred thousand was the price of an apartment; she would never dare to spend that much on a car.
"Really don't know what's going through Old Jiang's wife's mind. With a son-in-law so capable and filial, she's still unsatisfied and spreading rumors.
I heard she's now living alone at home, stuck with a no-good son, it's her own doing, serves her right!"
Jiang Yonghan stepped out of the building, and the sight of the car at the foot of the stairs shocked him. Without bothering to say much to the person who delivered the keys and documents or to check the vehicle, he hastily expressed his gratitude and said to the section chief, "Xiao Ming really...
Being rich doesn't mean he should waste money like this. An old codger like me doesn't need such a fine car. I'm going to have words with him once I'm back."
"Hey, Old Jiang, that's not reasonable of you. Just because you're the father-in-law, you can't dismiss the child's filial piety out of hand like that. Acting old and entitled is not on."
The section chief knew what he meant and said with a smile, "Moreover, I think your son-in-law is really considerate.
Passats are more common as official vehicles and naturally have better sales, so most people would choose it, but your son-in-law went for a Magotan instead.
Despite a similar price, they're completely different in reality.
So just go ahead and drive it with confidence and try not to lord over the kids too much in the future.
To be honest, I don't see anything wrong with a child buying a car for his parent, but your son-in-law having such thoughtful consideration truly makes me envious!"
The words from the leader put Jiang Yonghan completely at ease, and he finally felt the mood to appreciate his car.
After saying goodbye to the leader, he drove away from his unit, purposely rolled down the window to enjoy the cool breeze, and was feeling quite content when he suddenly thought of his wife, Zhou Aifeng.
Although they had talked about divorce, that was just said in anger. After living together for decades, how could they just part ways so easily?
After a long sigh, he turned the steering wheel and took another road.
His wife would surely understand Xiao Ming's kindness if she saw this car. She would realize her daughter had married a good husband and would hopefully have a change of heart, right?
A family should be whole and harmonious, after all.
By coincidence, just as Jiang Yonghan drove into the residential complex, he saw Zhou Aifeng walking ahead with a basket of vegetables.
So he called out to her.
Zhou Aifeng, seeing it was him, snorted coldly and turned her head away, only to whip it back around and scrutinize the car closely. She asked, "Whose car are you driving?"
"Can't you see even the license plate isn't on yet? Of course, it's mine," boasted Jiang Yonghan.
Zhou Aifeng's eyes widened with anger, "Good for nothing, Jiang, you really did hide away some private money, and quite a lot of it, by the looks of it.
I've slaved away half my life for you, never getting to enjoy any blessings, and there you go, hiding money and buying a car. Are you even human?"
Jiang Yonghan, black lines forming on his forehead, glanced around at the neighbors' attention they had attracted and whispered, "What are you blabbering about? My entire salary is with you, so how could I have any private stash?
This was bought by Xiao Ming."
Xiao Ming?
Zhou Aifeng immediately remembered the amount of money she saw on Xiao Ming's phone and felt an extreme surge of jealousy.
"Why would he buy you a car?"
"What else could it be for? Our daughter is married to him; isn't it only right for him to be filial to me?"
Jiang Yonghan purposefully raised his voice so the nearby neighbors could hear and then waved his hand, "Get in the car. We'll talk about it at home."
Zhou Aifeng got into the passenger seat, seemingly reluctant, and immediately began harshly criticizing upon smelling the pungent new car scent. The gist of her critique was: This car is crap, Xiao Ming isn't filial at all; he must be up to no good.
Jiang Yonghan was used to this kind of reaction.
No matter the issue, whether she understood it or not, Zhou Aifeng always liked to comment, and it was almost never anything positive.
Using the words of later generations, she was the type of person who could only bring others negative energy.
Once home, Jiang Yonghan carefully chose his words, "Regardless of what Xiao Ming is really thinking, the fact is he's got a car worth over two hundred thousand parked downstairs. This proves Xue's exceptional place in his heart.
You know what Xue is like, she definitely isn't the type to hold a grudge against you.
So, I'm planning to pick a day in the next few days for the five of us to go out for a meal. You apologize, and we get past what happened last time. We can live well as a family, and you can enjoy the blessings of having a son-in-law. How nice would that be?"
"Bullshit!"
Zhou Aifeng sprayed Jiang Yonghan's face with spittle, "I am her mother! How dare she make me apologize? She's the one who's crossed the line!"
Jiang Yonghan frowned, "Xue is also a mother to the child in her womb. It was wrong of you to endanger her child. Isn't apologizing the right thing to do?"
"The right thing my grandma's leg!" Zhou Aifeng cursed again, "That child is an abomination, not even worth a stray dog, totally deserved to die!
Besides, I carried Xue for ten months and gave her life.
Forget about killing an unborn child; if it came to ending her life, she'd have to obediently stick her neck out for me to do the deed.
She owes me that much!"