Days of Living with My Sister-in-Law-Chapter 208 The Excited Shen Family Members

"Oh, really? Since you keep insisting your gift is better than all of ours, why don’t you take it out and let us have a look?" Shen Yao crossed her arms, her face full of disdain. "Stop trying to be clever."

But Chen Xiaobei just sighed and said, "Ah, forget it. Even if I took it out, none of you would recognize its value. You’d just think I was showing off again. In that case, why should I bother making things difficult for myself?"

"Chen Xiaobei, that’s enough!" Shen Yao was fuming. "Don’t think I can’t see through your little tricks. You’re just playing hard to get, aren’t you? Well, I’m calling your bluff today. Either show us the gift or get out. My family has no obligation to give you a free meal."

"Shen Yao, you’ve gone too far!" Shen Jiaqi stood up. "Even if my family didn’t bring a gift, we still gave the customary contribution! What right do you have to kick us out?" She gave Chen Xiaobei a shove. "Hey! Do you have a gift or not? If not, can you please stop making things up? It’s embarrassing, you know!"

Shen Jiawen also spoke up weakly, "Xiaobei, please stop messing around. What is it really?"

"Jiawen, it’s not that I won’t show it. It’s because they wouldn’t believe me even if I did!" Chen Xiaobei shrugged, looking utterly unbothered by the whole situation.

At this point, even Shen Jiawen started to think he was just putting on an act, and a sharp pang of disappointment washed over her. She had specifically reminded him to bring a gift that morning, and he had agreed, yet he had come empty-handed. This is bound to make me misunderstand. Do I not matter to him anymore? Is he only here today to appease me? The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt, and her eyes began to redden.

"Alright, that’s enough arguing," Shen Wanshan interjected sternly. "Yaoyao, no matter what, your third aunt’s family came here with sincere intentions to celebrate my birthday. You know their financial situation; a gift doesn’t matter. It’s rare for you young people to gather like this, so you should all mingle. Xiu Qing, please come to the main table. As for the rest of you youngsters, you’ll all sit at another table. If outsiders saw you sitting separately, wouldn’t they gossip about the Shen Family?"

Soon, the staff set up another table, and Shen Jiawen, her sister, and Chen Xiaobei sat down with the other younger relatives.

Staring at the feast of delicacies on the table, Shen Xiaochuan was practically drooling. But the waiter was slow to bring the chopsticks. Unable to wait any longer, he asked, "Uncle, since all the dishes are here, can’t you have the waiter bring the chopsticks? I’m starving, and I have to get to the construction site after this!"

His words drew annoyed looks from the other guests, but Shen Wanshan remained perfectly calm. "Xiaochuan," he said, "you may have a little money now, but your uncle still has to lecture you a bit: don’t be so shallow. Haven’t you noticed that even I am not sitting in the seat of honor today? That’s because a very important guest will be arriving shortly. Before she gets here, no one is to touch their chopsticks."

Shen Xiaochuan’s eyes lit up. "Uncle, this important person... you don’t mean a real big shot, do you?"

"Not quite. She’s that big shot’s secretary," Shen Wanshan said with a self-deprecating smile. "But even as a secretary, she’s far beyond what ordinary people like us can compare to."

"Damn, that impressive?" Shen Xiaochuan’s interest was piqued. "Uncle, Uncle, tell us! What does this big shot do?"

"Allow me," Zheng Qiang cut in, affecting an air of mystery. "Has anyone heard about the massive incident that just happened in Songshan?"

As everyone shook their heads, the eldest son-in-law, He Yang, spoke up. "If I’m not mistaken, you’re talking about the Li Family being wiped out, aren’t you?"

"Whoa, I didn’t expect my brother-in-law to know about this! You’re right. The Li Family was indeed annihilated, and it was done by the boss of Secretary Qiao, the woman who’s coming here soon. They say this big shot not only has incredible connections but is also a top-tier master in the Ancient Martial World. He wiped out the entire Li Family all by himself. Otherwise, why would I have left my perfectly good job at the Su Family’s Galaxy Hotel to move to the Star River Hotel? It was to get closer to that big shot, of course! Ah, but it’s a shame. He’s incredibly elusive, and I don’t know if I’ll ever get the chance to see him in person!" With that, Zheng Qiang took a long gulp of his soda.

His words made everyone’s eyes widen with excitement. Shen Yao, in particular, looked completely enthralled, desperate for a chance to meet such a powerful man. Although Shen Jiaqi wasn’t as obvious, she was burning with envy. If she had such an astoundingly powerful boyfriend, how would these relatives ever dare to humiliate her? The more she thought about it, the more she disliked the sight of Chen Xiaobei. While everyone else was hanging on every word about the big shot, he was just sitting there, playing with Xin Xin, not acting serious at all.

"Haha, speaking of which, I actually caught a glimpse of this big shot once from a distance!" He Yang suddenly added.

"Hm?" Chen Xiaobei shot him a curious look. When did you ever see me?

Shen Yue nudged her husband. "Honey, tell us! Where did you see him?"

"Yeah, Brother-in-law, stop keeping us in suspense!" Shen Yao urged. "Tell us, is he handsome? Is he young?"

"How could a man that powerful be young?" He Yang said, striking a pose. "I saw him at Young Master An’s Ting Yu Xuan. I was pretty far away, but I’d estimate he’s at least fifty years old! He won a massive amount of money from Young Master An that day, and An Zhiwen didn’t even dare to make a peep; he just obediently paid up.

"Later, I heard the only reason the big shot was there gambling was to get revenge for his girlfriend! Do you know how our current Director Xia got her position? By becoming his mistress. Now, Director Xia Xue wields immense power in Songshan’s education sector.

"It’s a real pity, though. I was too far away, so I only saw his back. But even just his silhouette was as imposing as a mountain. He’s the kind of figure we can only look up to for the rest of our lives.

"So, you see, Dad made the right call today. We absolutely must not touch our food before the big shot’s secretary arrives. If we anger her, the Shen Family will be finished. But if we can forge this connection, the Shen Family will definitely soar to new heights. We could even become a top family in Songshan, or maybe all of Qingyang!"

At these words, the Shen Family members lit up as if they’d been injected with adrenaline.

Shen Wanshan’s face twitched with excitement, and his voice trembled. "Hahahaha, it seems our family’s fortunes are truly about to change. Yaoyao, before Secretary Qiao arrives, hurry out and buy a roll of 100,000 firecrackers. We can’t have her thinking we’re slighting her!"

"Dad, I’ll go right now!" Shen Yao nodded eagerly.

But just at that moment, everyone’s attention was drawn to Chen Xiaobei. "Be a good girl, Xin Xin. This canned fruit is delicious. Open wide, Daddy will feed you!" He then brazenly picked up a piece of canned fruit from the table with his bare hand and held it directly to Xin Xin’s mouth.

"Chen Xiaobei, what do you think you’re doing!"

Everyone at the table erupted in anger.