C56 His Fatherinlaw Bullied His Soninlaw so It Was Justified

"Big brother, this cash is from hawking bootleg movies, and it's been through more than just my hands."

"Are you really going to swindle an old man's money?"

Minutes later, Lin Chen and Old Man Huang arrived at a fruit shop, where they picked out ten baskets of fruit.

With Old Man Huang's wallet feeling light, fruit baskets were the modest offering he could afford for his mother-in-law.

"Huang, there's an old saying, 'You can't trap a wolf without risking your sheep.'"

"If you don't want to get hit, you've got to flex that billfold!"

Lin Chen clapped Old Man Huang on the shoulder, offering a bit of solace.

Old Man Huang's face contorted at the words.

This kid was obviously after his money, spouting nonsense about curing his illness and making a fortune.

Disgusting, no shame!

"Ten fruit baskets for one thousand three hundred yuan, but I'll cut you a deal. One thousand two hundred and it's yours."

The fruit shop owner declared with a hearty tone.

Old Man Huang reluctantly pulled out twelve crumpled bills and handed them over, wincing slightly.

Post-purchase, Lin Chen escorted Old Man Huang back to the hospital.

Approaching the entrance, they spotted an elderly man in a windbreaker standing nearby.

On the phone, he assured, "Miss Huang, rest easy. I'll surely heal your grandfather."

"And during his treatment, I'll keep it confidential, ensuring Old Mr. Huang remains in the dark about the truth."

Lin Chen overheard the conversation, despite the man's hushed tone.

Miss Huang and Old Mr. Huang?

Could he be talking about the very Old Man Huang beside him?

Lin Chen eyed Old Man Huang, who was struggling with eight fruit baskets, gasping for breath.

Shaking his head, he didn't dwell on it and continued towards his mother-in-law's hospital room.

For Lin Chen, Old Man Huang's identity was irrelevant; what mattered was the extra cash he could pocket.

"Ah, there's my dear son-in-law!"

"Come here, let me get a good look at you."

"Oh, what a handsome young man."

Ann's mother called out to Lin Chen with warmth as he entered the ward.

Ann Yongmin, seated nearby peeling fruit, cast a sidelong glance at Lin Chen.

He couldn't help but grumble, "What good does it do to be handsome? He's just playing daddy for someone else!"

Upon hearing Ann Yongmin's remark, Lin Chen nearly choked on his own spit.

Is this really the fabled father-in-law I've heard about?

Accusing me of playing daddy at our first meeting?

"Old man, what kind of nonsense are you spouting?"

"Playing daddy is still being a daddy, isn't it? What's the issue? Got a problem with that?"

Ann's mother shot Ann Yongmin a fierce glare and retorted sharply.

To her, her son-in-law was nothing short of a gem.

He had saved her life before, and now he was willingly stepping into the role of a father. A son-in-law like him was a rare find, indeed.

"Ahem... Uncle, Auntie, I've given all my money to Crazy... to my beloved Lanlan."

"So for our first meeting, I just picked up a few fruit baskets."

"I hope you won't hold it against me."

Lin Chen cleared his throat and offered a casual explanation.

"My daughter is madly in love with you?"

"Pfft, how shameless!"

Ann Yongmin dismissed Lin Chen with a look of utter contempt.

Lin Chen was itching to ask if he had somehow offended the Ann family's ancestors.

Why else would Ann Yongmin have it in for him?

"Old An, you hit the nail on the head."

"This guy is utterly shameless."

"These fruit baskets? I paid for them, and he had the nerve to make an old man like me carry them all!"

Old Man Huang, chiming in from behind, agreed wholeheartedly with Ann Yongmin.

Old An?

Lin Chen paused, his gaze instinctively shifting to Old Man Huang.

The familiarity in their address suggested a close acquaintance.

"Kid, don't give me that look. I was in the same hospital ward as your mother-in-law."

Old Man Huang seemed to read Lin Chen's mind.

After setting the fruit baskets down, he made a beeline for the neighboring bed and stretched out.

He hadn't realized that Lin Chen's mother-in-law was Ann's mother.

But now, with Old An present, Lin Chen wouldn't dare to push him around.

After all, he and Old An had shared the bond of watching the 'real deal' together. Their revolutionary friendship was unbreakable!

"Lin Chen, if you're broke, stop trying to act like the big shot."

"Old Huang is all by himself, and you're trying to scam him out of his money? That's pretty low, don't you think?"

Prompted by Old Man Huang's meaningful look, Ann Yongmin shot to his feet, fixing Lin Chen with an angry stare.

Before Lin Chen had arrived, Ann Yongmin's wife had been busy making plans to dote on Lin Chen, the son-in-law who was overjoyed at becoming a father, as soon as she got out of the hospital.

That's precisely why Ann Yongmin had taken such a disliking to Lin Chen.

"Ann Yongmin, if you utter one more word, I want you out of this hospital room!"

Ann's mother, witnessing her husband's treatment of their son-in-law, lost her temper.

"Darling, I..."

Ann Yongmin began, looking the picture of wounded innocence.

Wasn't it a father-in-law's right to give his son-in-law a hard time?

How come it was unforgivable in the eyes of his wife?

"Chen, don't mind this old rascal; he's just looking for trouble after a full belly."

"Come on, tell me, did everything go well at the birthday celebration today?"

"I tried asking Lanlan, but that girl wouldn't spill a bean."

After giving Ann Yongmin a withering glance, Ann's mother shifted the topic to the Sun family.

This time, even Ann Yongmin fell silent, worry flickering in the depths of his eyes.

"Regarding your grandfather's family, handle it as you see fit."

Ann Lan, sensing Lin Chen's confusion, quietly offered an explanation.

She had kept the Sun family's issues from her parents to protect Lin Chen's secrets.

"Uh... that old geezer, I mean, nothing really happened at Grandfather's place."

Lin Chen brushed off the question with a nonchalant response to Ann's mother.

Ann's mother, having rested these past couple of days, was feeling somewhat better, but it was still best not to upset her.

Besides, revealing the Sun family's truth to her mother-in-law would inevitably put her in an awkward position.

"Lin Chen, be straight with me, did the Sun family give you and Lanlan a hard time?"

Ann Yongmin's eyes narrowed, a glint of frost in his gaze.

Despite the bickering, Lin Chen was now part of the Ann family, and Ann Yongmin would not stand for anyone mistreating him!

"Chen, don't worry about my feelings."

"I've come to terms with the Sun family's situation over the years. Aside from your grandma, I've let go of my concerns about the rest."

Seeing Lin Chen's hesitation, Ann's mother sighed.

"Old Man Huang, you might as well worry less."

"This kid is so cunning, I'd wager he's more likely to bully others than be bullied!"

Old Man Huang, propped up in his hospital bed, grumbled.

"Huang, have you lost your mind?"

Lin Chen's threat to Old Man Huang was delivered with an impassive face.

Before returning to his room, this old codger was all 'big brother' this and 'big brother' that. But once back, he not only turned cold but also started undermining Lin Chen at every turn. That was just way over the line.

"Come on, big brother, I was only kidding."

"What I meant to say is that with your unmatched courage and wisdom, you could make the Suns pee their pants with just a tremor of your mighty frame."

"They wouldn't dare cross you, right?"

Feeling the naked threat in Lin Chen's tone, Old Man Huang involuntarily recoiled, his aged face earnestly bootlicking.

"So, what's the real situation with the Sun family?"

Ann Yongmin gazed intently at Lin Chen, a trace of astonishment in his eyes.

He never imagined that Old Huang, who bowed to no one, would be so intimidated by Lin Chen.

He couldn't help but wonder what unspeakable deeds the young man had done to earn such wariness from Old Huang.