Chapter 0013: The Suffering of a Son-in-Law
"Dad, I'm trying my best. Just give me a little more time. I'll definitely make something of myself." Li Bin smiled helplessly, swallowing his pride as he spoke.
Facing this domineering father-in-law, Li Bin, who had never been able to make much money, couldn't hold his head up to speak.
"Trying your best! I don't see you trying anywhere! You said the same thing last time, and what happened? Look at you now! Just look at the state you're in! People are all saying my son-in-law is a good-for-nothing! A freeloader who just lives off his family! My daughter is so outstanding, how could she have ended up with someone like you..."
The more Wen Xingsheng looked at Li Bin, the more displeased he became. Emboldened by the alcohol he had drunk, his face slightly flushed, he began to berate Li Bin in front of everyone.
"Dad, stop it! Li Bin doesn't spend your money. He might not earn much now, but he is trying. What's wrong with giving him a bit more time?" Wan'er frowned and spoke up angrily for Li Bin.
"Doesn't spend my money? Hmph! Where does the food he eats come from? Where does he live? If he had to eat out and live on his own, would his monthly income even be enough? What kind of good life can you have following him?!"
Wen Xingsheng glared at Wan'er and said coldly, "I'm only saying this for your own good! Don't you know what the neighbors, relatives, and friends all say about him? I couldn't even hold my head up high during the New Year visits this year! Other people's sons and sons-in-law are all managers and supervisors, each with a monthly salary of over ten thousand. Just look at him! What part of him is worthy of you?!"
"Dad! Don't say any more..." Wen Lan looked at Li Bin sympathetically and also spoke up to stop Wen Xingsheng.
"Alright, alright! It's rare for the whole family to have a meal together, let's not talk about this today!" Shen Han's impression of Li Bin had improved considerably from the earlier incident, so she also spoke up for him. "Our Li Bin isn't actually that bad. At least he's honest and treats us well, isn't that right?"
"Hmph!" Seeing that Li Bin kept his head down and didn't respond, Wen Xingsheng lost his interest in continuing his lecture. He took a sharp swig of baijiu and stopped berating Li Bin.
On the surface, Li Bin was silent. But under the table, his hand was clenched tightly into a fist.
Having been a live-in son-in-law for over a year, Li Bin had long grown accustomed to this kind of sarcasm and scolding.
As a son-in-law, he could only endure it, pouring all his hope into his novel, writing like a madman day and night in the hope of proving himself.
But alas, he ran into a government crackdown. The one book he had finally managed to make money from was banned. The new one he wrote didn't fit the "positive energy" theme. One failure after another, rejection after rejection.
This left Li Bin with nothing to show for the past six months, and his last bit of savings was almost gone.
If it weren't for the system, Li Bin might have actually agreed with his father-in-law today. He'd give up writing and his dreams to return to working in a factory, living a mediocre life for the rest of his days.
But things were different now!
The system gave Li Bin hope!
Hope to wash away his past shame and prove himself!
For all the criticism and sarcasm he endured today, Li Bin swore he would pay it back to these people tenfold in the future!!
"Dad, Mom, I have something I need to discuss with you..." At that moment, Wen Lan suddenly spoke up.
"I'm about to graduate. I want to participate in the internal audition show held by Tianle Media to join their new girl group. But this audition is internal, so I need someone to recommend me... My teacher has already agreed to recommend me, but, on her end... she wants a recommendation fee of 100,000 yuan..."
"What? A 100,000 yuan recommendation fee? Is your teacher crazy for money? They want you to pay them before you've even been selected?" Shen Han slapped the table in shock, scolding Wen Lan angrily, "No! What Tianle Media, what girl group! It doesn't sound reliable to me! I've heard that celebrities these days are all kept by sponsors! They're asking for money now, and soon they'll be asking you to sleep with them! No! I won't allow it!"
"Mom! That's just gossip you've heard! Not all celebrities are like that! Dancing and singing are my dreams! I have to go!" Wen Lan stood up excitedly, arguing her case.
"No! I absolutely will not agree to you joining some girl group! It's not that I'm reluctant to spend the money, but a proper young lady like you shouldn't be in a place like that! Do you know what people say about the girls in those groups? They're just a bunch of whores! If you dare to join that girl group, I'll disown you! I, your father, can't afford to lose that kind of face!!" Wen Xingsheng was burning with rage. He slammed the table hard and declared decisively.
"I don't care!! I'm going anyway!! If you won't help me, I'll find a way myself!!" Tears welling in her eyes, Wen Lan stood up, wiped her tears, and ran upstairs with a "thump, thump, thump."
"We rarely get to have a meal together, and you just had to ruin it like this... I'm going upstairs to study." Wen Ting stood up, looking annoyed, and went upstairs by herself.
By now, Li Bin had completely lost his appetite. He politely picked up his bowl and chopsticks, said, "I'm done," then went to the kitchen to put them down and walked out the door.