Days of Living with My Sister-in-Law-Chapter 209: Pushing Too Far

Faced with several pairs of furious, glaring eyes, Chen Xiaobei was the picture of calm.

"I’m not doing anything. Xin Xin was hungry, so what’s the problem with me feeding her a piece of canned food?"

"No problem? The problem is huge!" Shen Yao snapped, her voice filled with anger. "Are you deaf? Didn’t you hear that the dignitary’s secretary is coming to our home for the banquet? A small piece of canned food might not seem like much, but if it’s missing, this entire dish is incomplete. When Secretary Qiao holds us responsible, do you want our whole Shen Family to be buried with you?"

Her words were like a lit match in a tinderbox. The scene nearly erupted, and Chen Xiaobei instantly became the target of everyone’s scorn. Those outside the Shen Family looked as if they wanted to tear him to pieces.

BANG!

Shen Yue slammed her hand on the table. "Shen Jiawen, is this how you handle your own brother-in-law?" she screeched. "No, wait—" She gave her sister-in-law’s face a mocking look. "What did I just hear him tell Xin Xin to call him? ’Daddy,’ wasn’t it? You shameless hussy, Shen Jiawen! Ugh, disgusting! Seducing your own brother-in-law. I now seriously suspect the child in your arms is the bastard spawn of you two! Why else would he be so good to Xin Xin?"

"Elder Sister, what are you saying? It’s not like that!" Shen Jiawen cried out, her eyes turning red.

Shen Jiaqi hadn’t planned on defending Chen Xiaobei, but hearing Shen Yue aim her vitriol directly at her sister ignited her fury. She shot to her feet.

"Shen Yue, you’ve got a filthy mouth!" she retorted. "My sister and Xiaobei are completely innocent, and this child is not theirs. Stop slandering our family!"

"Slander? Which one of your eyes saw me slander anyone?" Shen Yue crossed her arms, a smug look plastered on her face. "Chen Xiaobei said it himself. What does that have to do with me? If your conscience is clear, you have nothing to fear. And another thing, don’t say I didn’t warn you. If you want my husband to arrange a job for you, you’d better watch your mouth. Otherwise, believe me when I say I can make it so you can’t survive in Songshan."

Those words struck Han Xiuqing like a bolt of lightning. She rushed over, speaking apologetically. "Yue, I’m so sorry. Jiaqi has always had a short temper, so I apologize on her behalf. We’re all family. Please, you must get He Yang to help Jiaqi get a job. Your aunt is begging you!"

As she spoke, Han Xiuqing began to bow. But she had only bent halfway down when an arm grabbed hers. She turned to see it was Chen Xiaobei.

"Auntie! There’s no need to bow to her. She’s not worthy."

"You rotten brat, what did you just say?" Han Xiuqing was on the verge of tears. "Chen Xiaobei, I’m begging you, can you just leave our family alone? I was against it when Jiawen told me you two were together, but what’s done is done. But please stop hurting Jiaqi now! She just graduated from university, and all she needs is one good job! If you ruin this for her, I... I’ll fight you to the death!"

"Mom, please stop..." Shen Jiaqi’s eyes were rimmed with red.

If only I had a powerful brother-in-law like He Yang or Zheng Qiang, would I have to suffer this humiliation? A bitter feeling welled up in her heart.

Seeing Shen Jiaqi’s sorrowful and lovely face, He Yang’s eyes suddenly lit up. He smiled and said, "Yue, that’s enough. We’re all family; there’s no need to make things so tense. You must be Jiaqi, right? Don’t you worry. It’s just a job. Your brother-in-law will take care of it for you."

He had to admit, Shen Jiaqi was absolutely stunning, on a completely different level from Shen Yue.

If I could use this chance to get her into bed, it would be a wonderful perk.

The innocent Shen Jiaqi had no idea of He Yang’s lecherous thoughts and asked in surprise, "Brother-in-law, you... you can really solve my job problem?"

Before He Yang could answer, Shen Yue sneered, "Shen Jiaqi, my husband is a man of his word. But you have to apologize to me first. Otherwise, the deal’s off!"

Han Xiuqing quickly urged her, "Jiaqi, hurry! Apologize to your elder sister!"

"I—" Shen Jiaqi felt deeply wronged. But when you’re under someone else’s roof, you have to lower your head.

Compared to a job, what’s a little apology?

With this thought, Shen Jiaqi bowed and said, "Elder Sister, I’m sorry. I was wrong!"

But Shen Yue replied coldly, "Are you joking? Is that supposed to be an apology? Get on your knees! Kowtow and apologize! No one in my entire life has ever dared to curse at me like that. If I don’t teach you a lesson today, you’ll think I’m some kind of pushover, won’t you?"

With her arms crossed, Shen Yue was the very picture of arrogance.

Shen Xiaochuan even chimed in, "Little sister, a wise person yields to circumstances. Compared to a job, what’s a little dignity? Hurry up and kneel. Don’t keep us waiting."

At his words, the commotion started up again. Since dinner was clearly on hold, everyone settled in to watch the show. Even Shen Wanshan said nothing, merely squinting his eyes as if enjoying a good play.

But just as Shen Jiaqi was about to bend her knees and kneel, Chen Xiaobei suddenly stepped in front of her.

"Shen Yue, in all these years, besides never being cursed at, have you ever been hit?"

Shen Yue froze. "Wh-what do you mean?"

SMACK!

Chen Xiaobei sent a thunderous slap across her face.

AAAAAH!

With a tragic scream, Shen Yue crashed backward, flipping the table over. The dishes on it rained down, splattering all over her and drenching her from head to toe. She looked like a drowned rat.

In that instant, you could have heard a pin drop. Everyone was stunned into silence by Chen Xiaobei’s actions.

"AAAAAH! Bastard, you dare hit me?" Shen Yue scrambled to her feet, clutching her face and shrieking, "Dad! He Yang! He... he hit me! I want him dead! WAAAAAH!"

Shen Wanshan finally snapped out of his stupor and roared, "You scoundrel! I put aside my disdain for a country bumpkin like you and treated you as a guest, and in return, you dare hit my daughter? Do you really think I, Shen Wanshan, am a pushover?"

"Chen Xiaobei, you son of a bitch!" He Yang roared, grabbing a stool. "You dare hit my wife? I’m telling you, you’re finished! If you know what’s good for you, get on your knees and let us tie you up! Otherwise, I swear I’ll kill you today!"

WHOOSH!

As soon as he finished speaking, all the younger relatives rushed to stand behind him. It wasn’t that some of them lacked a conscience; they knew perfectly well that Shen Yue was deliberately tormenting Shen Jiaqi. But who could argue with power? In this day and age, people are pragmatic. No one was willing to offend a rich relative to help a poor one, especially when that rich relative was on the cusp of becoming even more powerful.

"Xiaobei, what have you done? Why were you so impulsive!" Seeing the unfolding scene, Shen Jiawen was frantic with worry. She bitterly regretted ever letting Chen Xiaobei come to her uncle’s birthday banquet.

As for Han Xiuqing, she looked as if she wanted to tear Chen Xiaobei to pieces.

Shen Jiaqi, however, felt her earlier dislike for Chen Xiaobei vanish, replaced by a wave of emotion.

After all, Chen Xiaobei was genuinely trying to help me. But what good would it do? We’re just poor people; we can’t afford to provoke them.

Just then, Shen Yao, who had been quiet until now, suddenly pointed toward the courtyard gate and cried out in astonishment, "Look, a Rolls-Royce Cullinan! Could that be Secretary Qiao?"