Han Tao stepped out of the private room, a glint in his eye. Wang Qiqi looped her arm through his. “I’m still hungry. Let’s find somewhere else to eat, have a happy dinner.”

Han Tao patted Wang Qiqi’s hand, signaling he was fine. “Mom, Qiqi and I went to a home-style restaurant last time, it was quite good.”

Luo Hongjuan hadn't expected her son to remember something from when he was five or six so clearly. In truth, she hadn't stopped regretting those years; she always felt she hadn't fulfilled her duty as a mother that day. Sometimes she dreamt that her son had truly become what they said he was. “Son, Mom, I really should have stood up then; I shouldn't have run.” But some things were etched into her bones, like the fear of her own father. If it weren't for worrying that her decline would cause her natal family to swarm them and overwhelm her son and daughter-in-law, she absolutely wouldn't have had the courage to say those things today.

“Mom, it’s fine. In fact, their words only stoked my desire to win.” Han Tao knew he wouldn’t be where he was today without those childhood remarks truly stinging him. He’d always held onto the belief that he needed to show those who looked down on him exactly how successful the person they scorned had become.

“So inviting them to dinner today is our repayment, then.” Han Tao admitted he had been deliberately showing off. “But they still haven’t changed; it’s still that ‘I’m second best in the world, no one is first’ attitude. No wonder they’ve been muddling along for so many years, only getting by because Grandpa has old friends looking out for them.” Han Tao thought about their temperaments and couldn't expect much success from them. Looking at his cousins of the same generation, they were either slick as eels, lecherous, or just plain dull. It probably wasn't genetics; it must be nurture. Raising shortsighted elders meant they couldn't possibly raise a bright, promising child.

The three of them chatted as they left the restaurant, heading toward their second dinner destination. Looking at their retreating figures from behind, one could tell they were a harmonious, loving family of three.

Han Tao’s words had completely silenced everyone present. At first, when they saw Han Tao arrive, they had been praying that the brat hadn't heard much, especially since his expression when he left was the same as when he entered. But why did he have to drop that bomb last?

Luo Jianguo watched his panicked descendants and gave up any thought of lecturing them. Some people, no matter how much you educate them, remain hopeless good-for-nothings. “I’m full. Take me back.” The old man hadn't actually eaten much today; it was less that he was full and more that he was stuffed with anger.

“Dad, there’s still plenty of food left; it’s delicious. Since we’ve already offended Han Tao and the others, we might as well eat more.” Luo family’s youngest daughter-in-law waved her chopsticks, continuously picking up food. She figured since the old man disliked her husband and thought he was useless, she might as well rush forward whenever there was a benefit and stay put otherwise. Conversely, she didn't have much of a bad impression of Luo Hongjuan, her sister-in-law whom she had met only a few times; she just felt they were both pitiful. During their vicious infighting, she naturally didn't join in but instead used the opportunity to eat heartily.

Luo Jianguo looked at his youngest son’s family, who were eating like starving ghosts. He was about to curse them as pigs; he truly detested his youngest son’s family, thinking they were completely worthless. But thinking again, perhaps this family, apart from chasing small advantages, didn't have any truly major vices. For instance, they were quite responsible when it came to caring for the elders, and when the others were gossiping about Luo Hongjuan, only this family didn't participate. Thinking of this, Luo Jianguo waved his hand. “If you like it, then eat more.”

Luo Jianguo’s words stunned his other children. They had expected the old man, no matter what, to scold the couple fiercely, but they never expected such a mild tone. In fact, not only did they find it strange, but Luo family’s youngest son was also puzzled. They were accustomed to the old man scolding them regardless of whether the fault lay with them. As the youngest son was about to say something, his wife nudged him. “If your dad isn't angry, what are you talking about? Eat, don’t be polite about it.” Nothing was better than eating! Besides, his elder brothers might still be plotting to trick them into falling into a trap.

Luo family’s youngest son’s family fell silent and focused only on eating. What could their older siblings say? They could only call a truce. Of course, at this moment, they also sobered up, realizing the terrible things they had just done. Instantly, their faces flushed red. However, they certainly didn't attribute the blame to themselves; they simply marked the debt against Luo Hongjuan.

“Dad, if Big Sister is going to Jingcheng, the house she lives in…” Luo Hongjuan’s youngest sister suddenly remembered something very important. Wouldn't it be a waste for the house to sit empty? If, if…

Luo Jianguo knew exactly what his youngest daughter was plotting. How to describe this youngest daughter? Her mouth was sweet, but her heart was a bit venomous. If she hadn't said those suggestive, irrelevant things in front of the children earlier, who would have thought that after such a short time, she would already be coveting her sister’s house? “Enough. That’s your sister’s house. Don’t think too much about it. You’d be better off thinking about how to earn more money. You spend all day thinking about other people’s money; aren’t you ashamed?”

“You’ve all seen the relationship your big sister has with us now. She’s managed to turn her life around by relying on her son. Don’t you see hope?” After saying this, Luo Jianguo stood up, ready to go home. He was exhausted from this dinner. At first, it was the stimulation from Luo Hongjuan and her son; then it was discovering that the children he thought were filial and obedient were actually like this. It made him wonder if his children had been discussing behind his back how he should hurry up and die so they could inherit his estate.

With Luo Jianguo’s withdrawal, those who had enjoyed the spectacle and filled their stomachs also began to leave. Of course, as they departed, they didn't forget to pack up the uneaten dishes. The private room, which had been bustling an hour ago, suddenly became deserted. When the waiter came in to clean up, he was greatly surprised; virtually every plate was empty. He wondered if these people had packed all the food to eat later, otherwise, why would it be so clean?

Luo Hongjuan thoroughly cleaned the house once they were back. Things that weren't needed were either thrown out or given away, and the things she needed to keep were packed into large plastic bags. “When the new house is bought and renovated, I can just move in directly.”

Wang Qiqi watched as the living room and rooms, which had felt somewhat empty before, were now noticeably sparser. She wondered if yesterday’s experience had been too shocking for Luo Hongjuan. After all, she had even given away some of her kitchenware. This made Wang Qiqi consider whether their family should also do a bit of decluttering. But in the end, Wang Qiqi dismissed the idea, thinking it was too tiring. It would be better to wait until winter when they returned, combining the moving and sorting into one process, avoiding doing the work twice.

Han Tao was quite displeased that his mother was giving things away to those neighbors. “Mom, why are you giving things to them? They are nothing but ungrateful wolves.” Han Tao recalled how those people showed not the slightest bit of embarrassment, happily accepting the things, then asking when they were going to Jingcheng, and offering congratulations on how happy she must be to have such a successful son. This really annoyed Han Tao.

“That’s just how they are; why bother arguing with them? Besides, the things we don’t want are either given away or thrown out. If we let them see that we’d rather throw them away than give them to them, we’d just create another enemy. That’s what they are like. They might not remember the good you do for them, but they remember everything you do poorly,” Luo Hongjuan said softly. “Son, it doesn't matter if you lose out a little; just don't take these things too seriously. In their eyes, we might be fools, but we can think of it as just giving alms to beggars.”

Wang Qiqi burst out laughing. She really wanted to say that her mother-in-law was quite amusing to use such a comparison, but she liked the comparison. Han Tao also laughed. “Mom, your mindset is much better. Mom, it’s getting late; let’s go.” Han Tao looked up at the time and realized it was already five o’clock. “We still need to go out to eat.” They hadn't cooked at home for several days; lunch had been eaten out. “And we can pick up some things for the train ride on the way.”

Wang Qiqi noticed that ever since Luo Hongjuan got on the train, her entire demeanor had been strange; she just stared out the window, and occasionally sighed. “Is Mom sighing about something?”

Han Tao’s eyes never left his book. “Mom is saying goodbye to her hometown. She understands that leaving this time means that if she returns, it will truly only be as a guest.” His mother was going to Jingcheng now, and later abroad, but before leaving, Han Tao wanted her to see the true faces of her relatives. He felt this trip back was well worth it. “I wonder how much the Han family will kick up a fuss now that we’re gone.”

Originally, Luo Hongjuan had intended to visit Old Mrs. Han, but because of Xue Hong’s trouble-making, the younger two strongly opposed it. Coupled with Luo Hongjuan’s worry about them pestering Han Tao again, everyone tacitly agreed not to mention visiting the Han family to inform them.

“That’s their business. But someone like your aunt might not be willing to take a loss quietly,” Wang Qiqi thought, wondering if Xue Hong regretted spending so much money trying to climb into the family of her wealthy daughter-in-law, only to end up selling the Han family house and still being heavily in debt herself. “I hope it can all be settled before the New Year,” otherwise, they wouldn’t even get to enjoy the holiday. (To be continued)