Days of Living with My Sister-in-Law-Chapter 165: Menopausal Syndrome

"I—" Chen Xiaobei was immediately left speechless. He’d seen unreasonable people, but never someone this unreasonable. If it wasn’t for the fact that Jiang Peilan was He Zixuan’s biological mother, Chen Xiaobei would have slapped her long ago.

Just then, He Zixuan couldn’t hold back anymore. "Mom!" she scolded. "Are you even listening to what I’m saying? If Brother Chen hadn’t taken me home tonight, those bastards would have killed me! You’re just lashing out without knowing the facts! Can’t you have some decency?"

But Jiang Peilan retorted, "Xiaoxuan, your mother understands better than anyone, but business is business. You are the daughter of the Songshan County Magistrate and the future daughter-in-law of the Qingyang Zhong Family. You’re not someone any random man can touch. As for you," she said, turning to Chen Xiaobei, "thank you for saving my daughter. With that said, please leave immediately. If you dare to bother my daughter again, I will never forgive you!"

"Mom, are you crazy?!" He Zixuan lost her composure, so embarrassed she wished she could find a hole to crawl into. But she knew her mother all too well—a typical opportunist, obsessed with power and status, and absolutely beyond changing. Helpless, He Zixuan could only look at Chen Xiaobei apologetically. "Brother Chen, I’m sorry. Please don’t take it to heart. My mother is beyond help."

Chen Xiaobei laughed. "Xiaoxuan, don’t worry. I have a good temperament, and I never stoop to arguing with trash."

"You little rascal, who are you calling trash?" Jiang Peilan immediately flared up. "Don’t think you’re so special just because you know a little about medicine. I’m warning you, my daughter is not for you to covet! Bottom line, are you going to scram or not? Don’t make me have my husband arrest you!"

"Whether I scram or not is none of your damn business!" Chen Xiaobei wasn’t about to indulge her. He sneered, "You, on the other hand, with your foul mouth and twisted face, are a classic case of menopausal syndrome. If you ask me, Magistrate He truly does love his people like his own children. For the sake of developing Songshan, he’s even stopped sleeping with his own wife! A woman needs some loving now and then, otherwise she’s bound to get pent-up problems."

"You bastard! How dare you insult me? I’ll kill you!" Jiang Peilan lunged at Chen Xiaobei, fingers clawed. She was, after all, considered the First Lady of Songshan. When had she ever suffered such a humiliation? She couldn’t contain her rage.

"Mom, have you lost your mind? Can’t you be reasonable?" He Zixuan quickly grabbed her mother’s wrist, almost crying in desperation. But it had to be said, listening to Chen Xiaobei’s fiery tirade was incredibly satisfying. He wasn’t wrong at all—her mother did indeed have a severe case of menopausal syndrome. She and He Yongkun had been sleeping in separate rooms for five years now. For Chen Xiaobei to bring it up was like tearing away the family’s facade of a harmonious marriage, which would be unbearable for anyone.

Just then, He Yongkun stepped forward. "Stop this at once! What a spectacle! Isn’t this embarrassing enough?"

"Husband, you’re finally here!" Jiang Peilan shrieked, pointing at Chen Xiaobei with fire in her eyes. "Arrest this little bastard! I want him dead!"

In truth, He Yongkun was also furious, not expecting Chen Xiaobei to speak so harshly and show him absolutely no respect. But this was Chen Xiaobei. He even dared to stand up to Zhao Qingshan’s Deputy General, Guo Yingqiang. What was a mere Songshan County Magistrate in comparison?

With this in mind, He Yongkun pushed his wife aside and commanded, "You shut up! You’re always more trouble than you’re worth. Had I known you were this unreasonable, I would never have brought you here."

He then cupped his fist towards Chen Xiaobei. "Doctor Chen, my apologies. My wife spoke out of turn because she was worried about our daughter’s safety. Please don’t take it to heart. I’ve learned the truth from the culprits’ confessions just now. This has nothing to do with you."

"Xiaoxuan, aren’t you going to thank Doctor Chen?" As he spoke, He Yongkun shot his daughter a meaningful glance.

He Zixuan’s pretty face flushed red as she said softly, "Thank you, Brother Chen!"

"Don’t be so formal, we’re friends." Chen Xiaobei patted her on the shoulder and deliberately let his gaze drift over to Jiang Peilan. His expression seemed to say, "That’s right, I touched your daughter. What are you going to do about it?"

But how could Jiang Peilan dare to do anything? She could only grit her teeth, her body trembling with rage. It was hard to say just why she hated Chen Xiaobei so intensely.

Chen Xiaobei, however, couldn’t care less about her. "By the way, Magistrate He," he asked curiously, "how do you plan on dealing with this Li Guangding? I just interrogated him. He said he’s one of the Four King Kongs under Brother Chai of the Qingyang Black Tiger Gang. He confessed that Brother Chai ordered him to come here and assassinate Xiaoxuan. I suspect the group that poisoned Xiaoxuan last time was also them."

He Yongkun frowned. "I haven’t decided how to handle this yet. I’ve navigated the political world for years and made many enemies. It’s quite possible a political rival sent them to target me. However, rest assured, Doctor Chen. I will handle this matter with absolute impartiality."

"And as for you, Xiaoxuan!" He Yongkun said with displeasure. "I warned you it’s dangerous right now, but you wouldn’t listen. Why did you sneak out? This time, Doctor Chen happened to be here, but what about next time? You’re grounded when we get home!"

"Dad, can’t you be reasonable?" He Zixuan retorted angrily. "My academic advisor had surgery. As his student, how could I not go visit him? Besides, I’m planning to start an internship early to get some real-world experience. How am I supposed to find a job without my advisor’s help? I’m not asking you for help, because I know you wouldn’t help me anyway!"

"Insolence!" He Yongkun flared up. "You will remember this: you are the future daughter-in-law of the Qingyang Zhong Family. Your duty is to support your husband and raise your children. You don’t need a job."

"Dad, how can you be like this!" He Zixuan’s eyes reddened. "What future daughter-in-law of the Zhong Family? Yes, Zhong Wannian took an interest in me, but he has two grandsons and has never specified which one I’m supposed to marry. What am I? A piece of merchandise? Why don’t I even get the right to choose!"

This left Chen Xiaobei dumbfounded. He couldn’t help but interject, "Xiaoxuan, are you saying you have to marry whichever one they pick for you?"

"You’re right, Brother Chen," He Zixuan pouted, looking utterly wronged.

Chen Xiaobei swallowed hard, feeling his own worldview crumbling. What kind of parents would push their own daughter into a pit of fire like this? You, He Yongkun, are the Magistrate of Songshan County! Are you really willing to trade your daughter’s most basic dignity for so-called advancement? Unbelievable! Absolutely unbelievable!

He Yongkun’s face had turned purple with rage. "Insolence! Peilan, what are you standing there for? Get this girl and her nonsense back home. From today on, she’s not allowed anywhere. If she dares take one step out of the house, I’ll break her legs!"

"Alright, alright." Jiang Peilan took her daughter’s hand. "My dear, your father is only doing this for your own good. Why can’t you understand? Come home with Mom. One day you’ll understand our good intentions."

"WAAAAH! You’re all monsters!" He Zixuan completely broke down, running to the car in tears.

Chen Xiaobei frowned, feeling a sudden, powerful surge of sympathy for He Zixuan. He was about to chase after her to say goodbye, but at that moment, He Yongkun stopped him. In a low voice, he said, "Doctor Chen, may I have a word with you in private?"