The specific details were too lewd for me to recall, and the process of how my mother and Xidong fell into depravity was too convoluted and bizarre.
I shook my head and put my pen down again.
“Nick, what kind of fetish is this?
Why do you have to give high heels to every pretty woman you see?” At that moment, I saw that my mother wasn’t wearing the high heels Nick gave her.
Although I felt a little smug, I was mostly consumed by jealousy, and my words were naturally quite blunt.
Nick grinned and chuckled, “Stockings and high heels, rouge for a beauty.” I rolled my eyes speechlessly, “If you don’t understand, don’t show off.
Stockings and high heels?
That’s a fine sword for a hero, okay?” Actually, Nick deliberately misspoke, just to elicit giggles and eye-rolls from my mother and Xidong.
“Hehe…
I mean, I’m sharing my affections with Aunt Yue and my sister equally, right?” Watching the black guy scratch his head dumbfounded, and hearing him use an even more inappropriate idiom, I stared at him speechlessly: “If you don’t know how to use it, don’t use it carelessly, lest people laugh at you.” I paused here, never imagining that Nick, that lecherous black guy, would one day make me, and my beloved mother and Xi Dong, kneel at his feet, sharing their affections equally, right in front of me…
“Nick, Aunt Yue is very grateful for your help training Harry.
I saw the video yesterday and the results were outstanding, but those high heels of yours are inappropriate for Aunt Yue’s status.
Aunt Yue appreciates your kindness, but when you bring Harry back, please take them back.” My mother was about to explain further when that damned black guy Nick suddenly interrupted, looking displeased: “Aunt Yue, fine, I won’t give you any perks.
But please accept the gift, please.” “Hey, sis, why did you bump into me!” This foul-mouthed black man not only annoyed me, but even Xi Dong, standing nearby, was very displeased.
She stopped, raised her arm, and elbowed Nick in the stomach, her pretty face icy: “Nick, can’t you speak properly?
Think before you speak!
What perks?
People will laugh at our family if they hear this.” “By the way, what gift did you prepare for Dad today?
I noticed you came empty-handed.” Nick pretended to rub his stomach, smiling shyly: “I didn’t use the money Mom gave me; I brought a gift myself.
I guarantee Dad will like it.” As I led my mother to the head table, my ears were constantly listening to Xi Dong and Nick’s conversation behind me.
“Nick, you haven’t been as angry with Mom these past few days since you came home, have you?” “No, Sis, I was young and immature back then, and I regret it now.” “Hmm, it’s good that you’re mature now.” “Sis, let me tell you, Mom listens to me a lot now…
no…
no…
I mean, I listen to Mom a lot now…
hehe…” Just as I was secretly thinking that Nick’s Chinese had deteriorated considerably, Zhao Dahai and his wife saw my mother walk to the main table and immediately stood up from their seats at the end.
Dahai reached out his hand, then realized it was inappropriate, awkwardly withdrew it, and rubbed it against his pants: “Secretary Yue, you…
you’re so beautiful!” I rolled my eyes at my childhood friend’s words, speechless.
He really doesn’t know how to talk.
His wife, Lin Ningwei, was much more adept at handling things.
She nudged him in the waist with her elbow, stepped in front of him, grabbed his mother’s hand, and smiled affectionately at him with her delicately made-up face: “Aunt Yue, don’t be angry.
My son, Dahai, is just clumsy; ignore him.” “Our Huashan County has recently developed many hot spring resorts.
Aunt Yue, would you do me the honor of joining us sometime?” His mother wore a formulaic smile, about to refuse, when Lin Ningwei whispered mysteriously in her ear: “Aunt Yue, Huashan County’s hot springs are very famous; it’s a wonderful health resort.
Many national capitals…” “I’ll send you the license plate number and exact location of the car that arrived via WeChat in a bit.” “Aunt Yue, don’t worry.
Your niece isn’t the kind of person who doesn’t know what’s good for her.
I know who I can and can’t arrange things for.
Don’t worry, they’re all wealthy ladies coming for beauty and skincare.” Seeing a hint of interest on her mother’s pretty face, Lin Ningwei raised a delicate hand and whispered something in her mother’s ear.
I watched as my mother nodded slightly, looking at her intently.
Then, she smiled and patted Lin Ningwei’s hand.
I knew this woman who knew how to treat people differently had once again used a rare opportunity to climb the social ladder.
Dahai, however, seemed completely uninterested in these official matters.
Instead, with a mysterious look and a gradual smile, he leaned closer to me and whispered, “Wenzi, come see me tonight.
I have something good to share.” “Uh…okay.” I looked at this guy I’d known since childhood.
Judging from his expression, I knew what he was talking about—some new club, with its new models or celebrities, and so on.
But I was wrong.
My most trusted childhood friend had successfully lured me into Nick’s trap.
At the birthday banquet, my family had no idea that it was the beginning of Nick’s wicked training plan.
“President Shen, on behalf of all the colleagues from the Jiangbei branch, I wish you boundless happiness and longevity, and present you with a painting of a secluded mountain retreat.” As the words fell, a branch manager presented a famous painting.
My father-in-law smiled and nodded.
Just then, another person came up—also a business partner of his—and presented him with a jade carving depicting the Three Star Gods of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity offering birthday wishes.
These were all people coming and going in the business world, and the gifts they gave always drew admiration.
That day, I could hear people whispering, “My goodness, this is an original!” “That jade carving, using such a large piece of Hetian jade, is very rare!” “Hey, I think those longevity peaches are quite nice too!” Looking at each and every precious or expensive gift, my father-in-law was beaming from ear to ear.
It wasn’t that he particularly loved these things, but he was giving them a lot of face.
Sitting next to me, Xi Dong, seeing my father-in-law’s happy expression, took advantage of the moment when no one was looking and kissed me on the cheek: “Wenbo, thank you for making Dad’s birthday banquet so wonderful.
Tonight… your period is over…” My wife’s initiative in giving me a kiss truly delighted me.
I smiled smugly: “Dad treats me like his own son.
Making his birthday banquet a success is simply my duty as his son-in-law, isn’t it?” “Don’t worry, I also had Dahai prepare a surprise, guaranteed to make him even more impressive.” My childhood friend, sitting nearby, saw my gesture, smiled, picked up a calligraphy scroll he carried with him, and watched as my father-in-law walked over with a beaming smile.
He took the microphone handed to him by the waiter, a hint of pride on his face: “Uncle Shen, this is a piece of calligraphy written by my grandfather.
It’s not an original work, just a congratulatory message for your sixtieth birthday.” The Zhao family patriarch’s influence in China is self-evident; everyone present knew it.
My father-in-law immediately stood up excitedly.
“Come on,” Zhao Dahai solemnly accepted the calligraphy and painting, his smile barely concealed.
“Dahai, please thank the old man for me when you get back today.
Please tell him that Shen Jian and his family will come to express our gratitude another day.” All the guests present, including my mother, the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, looked at my father-in-law with a newfound respect.
To receive such a personal gift of calligraphy and painting from the Zhao family patriarch was a rare honor in all of China, an honor that couldn’t be measured in money.
“Good brother, thank you for your hard work.” I patted Zhao Dahai heavily on the shoulder, and he smiled smugly at me.