The CEO's Substitute Ex-Wife-Chapter 148: Family Feud: The Return of the Prodigal Relatives

Listening to music, Wen Nuan slept soundly until noon the next day. She stretched her arms comfortably; it had been a rare and wonderful night’s sleep. As soon as she finished washing up, she heard arguing downstairs. Wen Nuan frowned, recognizing the voices as those of her second and third uncles.

Wen Nuan quickly changed and went downstairs.

Fang Liucheng had returned the company to Wen Nuan’s father, and now her paternal uncles were back, once again fighting over the family fortune. They brought their daughters and sons, creating a joyful commotion downstairs. After experiencing such great ups and downs and tasting the harsh realities of life, Wen Nuan’s mother cherished everything she had even more now and refused to give them a single penny.

Back when Wen Nuan’s father was imprisoned and their house was seized, the three of them—mother and two daughters—had nowhere to go. The second and third uncles offered no financial aid and made no effort to help Wen Nuan’s father. Instead, they quickly distanced themselves from the Wen family. Wen Nuan’s mother didn’t blame them for being heartless and not helping her and her daughters, even when they were left homeless. However, their indifference to her elder brother’s imprisonment, and even their willingness to kick him while he was down, was something she could not accept.

Wen Nuan’s mother was a kind woman from an excellent background. When Wen Nuan’s father was in college, he was just a poor boy, and her family strongly opposed their marriage. Yet, Wen Nuan’s mother insisted on being with him, causing countless family upheavals.

Wen Nuan’s father, to his credit, didn’t rely on his wife’s family for a single penny. While still in college, he drew up designs and earned his first sum of money, using a portion to pay his two brothers’ tuition fees, and the rest to put a down payment on their home. House prices weren’t as expensive then, so buying a house was manageable for him. After graduation, they married and worked together until Wen’s company found its footing. Wen Nuan’s mother wholeheartedly became a housewife, raising their two daughters.

She believed she had been more than benevolent to her second and third uncles. Over the years, whenever they needed money, wanted to join the company, or start a business, both she and Wen Nuan’s father helped. Yet, when Wen Nuan’s father was in trouble, they turned a blind eye.

People are flesh and blood, with grievances and pain. When the wound is still bleeding, who can forget such chilling indifference and heartbreak?

As soon as they saw Wen’s company back in Wen Nuan’s father’s hands, they came knocking again, demanding a share of the family fortune. How could Wen Nuan’s mother agree? If they had shown even a shred of concern when Wen Nuan’s father was in distress, she wouldn’t be so heartless today.

The whole family was sitting in the living room. Both the second and third uncles were stubbornly insisting on joining the company, or demanded a sum of money to start their own ventures. When Fang Liucheng took over the company, he had expelled all those with the Wen surname. Now, they wanted back in.

After all, at Wen’s, they were "royals" by relation, didn’t have to endure anyone’s scrutiny, and had a secure job that paid even without much work—it was incredibly easy, and everyone wanted that.

Wen Jing sat there with a cold face. Wen Nuan always felt that if Wen Jing weren’t still a minor, this girl would be more like an older sister than she was. Her icy expression was quite intimidating, like an ice sculpture.

"Dad, Mom," Wen Nuan walked over, calling out with a cheerful laugh, "Second Uncle, Third Uncle, cousins, what brings you all here?"

In Wen Nuan’s laughter, there was a faint hint of mockery.

Wen Nuan’s Second Uncle ignored her tone, fawningly asking Wen Nuan’s father if he would let them join the company. Wen Jing coldly interjected, "Second Uncle, are you deaf? Didn’t you hear my dad say no?"

"Wen Jing, how dare a child speak like that? So rude! I’m your elder!" Wen Nuan’s Second Uncle chastised.

Wen Nuan’s mother frowned. Wen Jing scoffed, "Elder? When my dad was imprisoned, I worked as a waitress to earn money, and my sister was self-sufficient. We didn’t ask you for a single penny. My mom says only children ask their parents for money. Second Uncle, Third Uncle, you’re worse than me and my sister. You’re so old yet still asking my dad for money. Don’t you feel ashamed calling yourselves elders?"

Wen Jing was a fierce girl; her words turned their faces pale with anger.

Wen Xiuli spoke up, "Xiao Jing, that’s not fair to say. Isn’t it only natural for my dad to ask for money from his elder brother? We want to work at Wen’s, we used to work there. We’re family, we should help each other."

Wen Nuan calmly sat down and poured herself a glass of fruit tea, taking a sip. "Family? We are not family. Although we all share the Wen surname, why didn’t you say ’family’ when my father was imprisoned? Now you’re suddenly talking about family. You have a thick skin. Let me be blunt: no money, no jobs. You’re not children, still asking parents for money and jobs."

Wen Meili angrily looked at Wen Nuan. "What do you mean by that? We wanted to help Elder Brother back then, but we had no ability, no connections. We couldn’t help even if we wanted to. It’s not like we didn’t try. My father went to the prosecutor’s office several times and gave many gifts. How can you say we didn’t help?"

"Oh, really? That must have been tough for Third Uncle," Wen Nuan said nonchalantly. "You’ve all embezzled quite a bit of money from Wen’s over the years. Out of respect for family, my father isn’t pursuing it. Don’t push your luck. You want to re-enter Wen’s? Impossible. If you want to start a business, earn your own money. Who gave my father money when he started his business? Didn’t he succeed anyway? Why can’t you? After joining the workforce, you all became lazy and gluttonous, wanting to just waltz into Wen’s. Do you think my family is a charity organization?"

"Wen Nuan, you’re truly wronging us by saying that."

Wen Zhanpeng stood up in anger. "Wen Nuan, how dare you speak like that? How are we lazy and gluttonous? We work at Wen’s to help our elder brother!"

"There are thousands of companies in A City. Why do you insist on joining Wen’s?" Wen Nuan retorted. She had disliked these relatives since she was a child, and after this whole incident, she detested them even more.

"I..."

Wen Nuan’s Third Uncle pulled Wen Zhanpeng back down, signaling him not to argue with Wen Nuan and Wen Jing. These sisters had been sharp-tongued since childhood; gaining an upper hand in an argument with them was impossible.

"Elder Brother, please say something. Your younger brother is begging you like this. With the current financial storm, it’s hard to find work outside. I have a family to support. Please help your younger brother. We’ll work hard in the future," Wen Nuan’s Third Uncle pleaded.

Wen Nuan’s Second Uncle also nodded, and Wen Xiuli, Wen Meili, and Wen Zhanpeng all nodded, vowing to work hard in the future.

Wen Jing said coolly, "Promises are as easy as farts. Who believes you?"

Wen Nuan’s female cousin glared at Wen Jing. Wen Nuan’s father said, "There’s no discussing this. I will not agree. You’re right, the economy is bad outside, and the company still needs to lay off staff. How can we hire people?"

"If you’re going to lay off people, lay off others! We’re your own brothers! You can’t refuse to help us, Elder Brother!" Wen Nuan’s Second Uncle shouted. "How can you compare us to those ordinary employees?"

Wen Nuan’s mother said, "Don’t you have jobs now? Why do you insist on shamelessly clinging here? Working elsewhere is the same. A stable job is enough to support your family. Don’t be so greedy."

Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om