Xia Xiaolan wasn’t foolish – it wouldn’t be appropriate to wear a bright smile when someone else’s family was in such distress.

However, when they arrived at the Beijing Hotel and she saw Jiang Hong in person, she was still shocked despite being mentally prepared… Guan E’e was right – Jiang Hong had aged considerably!

Jiang Hong used to have a medium build, and like many middle-aged women, she had gained some weight, with slightly plump cheeks. Though not wealthy, her family wasn’t short of money, and like Guan E’e, she had always taken good care of herself. For women of a certain age, having some flesh in the cheeks helped prevent wrinkles. But now Jiang Hong resembled a shriveled peach, dehydrated with loose skin and flesh. She looked at least ten years older!

Standing beside Zhou Wengang, she looked more like his sister than his wife. It wasn’t that Jiang Hong hadn’t made an effort – her hair was freshly permed and dyed, the scent of hair dye still lingering. She wore new clothes, a well-tailored cashmere coat, and had applied makeup. But one glance revealed she was barely holding herself together – the more polished her exterior, the more apparent her lack of vitality.

“Uncle, Aunt,” Xia Xiaolan greeted them. Zhou Wengang responded with a sound, while Jiang Hong, appearing distracted, managed a forced smile. “You’ve arrived? Please, sit down.”

Today they were to discuss Zhou Yi and Yuan Han’s marriage. Jiang Hong was genuinely ill – experiencing palpitations, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. These symptoms intensified whenever she saw Yuan Han. Given her pride, she would typically try to hide such embarrassing matters and initially didn’t want Guan E’e and Xia Xiaolan to come.

But Zhou Wengang had told her, “Zhou Cheng is closest to Zhou Yi. Without Zhou Cheng looking after her, who would help Zhou Yi in her foolishness?” With Zhou Guobin and Zhou Cheng absent, they had no choice but to involve Guan E’e and Xia Xiaolan.

When Zhou Yi and Yuan Han knelt at Zhou’s parents’ doorstep, there was no point in hiding anymore. Now everyone in Beijing knew what Zhou Yi had done – getting pregnant out of wedlock and desperately wanting to marry Yuan Han. Jiang Hong had given up on saving face, thinking she might as well salvage something from this situation.

This was Jiang Hong’s mental state. She could even maintain composure when looking at Guan E’e now. Because at this moment, she despised the Yuan family most – from Yuan Han to his mother, to his three sisters. The Yuan family had become the focus of her contempt, making her sister-in-law Guan E’e seem like one of their own in comparison.

Therefore, when Guan E’e sat down, Jiang Hong unusually grabbed her hand: “Just thinking about dealing with that family gives me a splitting headache…”

Xia Xiaolan was surprised – how formidable must the Yuan family be to frighten Jiang Hong this much? It must be pure loathing!

Zhou Wengang had no intention of hosting the in-laws properly. This wasn’t meant to be a feast at the Beijing Hotel for the Yuan family. Before they arrived, he had already called the waiter to take orders and told Xia Xiaolan to choose whatever she liked.

“Don’t be polite with your uncle, order whatever you want from the restaurant.”

The savings he and Jiang Hong had were originally meant for Zhou Yi, but given the current situation, giving money to Zhou Yi meant giving it to the Yuan family to spend. They might as well spend it themselves!

Xia Xiaolan ordered just a couple of dishes to be polite, and Zhou Wengang had them served immediately.

This meal was peculiar – all dishes were served before Zhou Yi and the Yuan family arrived. Once the food came, Zhou Wengang didn’t wait for anyone, urging Xia Xiaolan and Guan E’e to start eating.

Guan E’e hesitated, “Elder Brother, is this appropriate?”

No matter how much they looked down on Yuan Han, they still had to marry Zhou Yi to him. Guan E’e thought Zhou Wengang would at least maintain appearances, especially since tonight was about discussing the marriage… Shouldn’t they wait for the Yuan family?

Zhou Wengang sneered: “They’ve shown nothing but predatory intentions from start to finish. If we put the Yuan family on a pedestal, they’ll only become more demanding. I want Yuan Han to see – if he wants to leech off the Zhou family, he better learn some humility!”

Did they think they could demand respect while taking advantage? There would be no such treatment.

Xia Xiaolan understood – this was meant to put Yuan Han and his family in their place. They got Zhou Yi pregnant and probably expected the Zhou family to panic and offer a dowry, marrying off their daughter with their heads bowed. The Yuan family was dreaming!

Xia Xiaolan couldn’t help but compare this to when Zhou Guobin and Guan E’e visited her family – it was completely different from Zhou Wengang’s behavior today.

What else was there to say? They might as well eat.

Jiang Hong had no appetite. After swallowing her food, Xia Xiaolan said, “Aunt, if you let them make you too upset to eat, the Yuan family will be delighted.”

Jiang Hong felt the sting of those words and finally picked up her bowl.

Zhou Wengang gave Xia Xiaolan an approving look. He knew Zhou Cheng’s girl was clever and that inviting her was the right choice.

“Such good food, why not eat? It’s not like we get to eat this often.”

Even as an official like Zhou Wengang, they didn’t frequently dine out. Though they weren’t short of necessities, they hadn’t reached the stage of casual indulgence. Hearing this, Jiang Hong agreed – ordinary people needed foreign exchange certificates to eat at the Beijing Hotel, and she and her husband rarely came. Why should they leave the good food for the Yuan family?

Just as the four of them were finishing their meal and putting down their chopsticks, the waiter led Zhou Yi and the Yuan family into the private room.

Many Beijing locals had never been to places like the Beijing Hotel, let alone people from small towns like the Yuan family.

When Yuan Han’s mother first heard that Zhou Wengang wanted to meet at the Beijing Hotel, she was quite proud. She privately told her son, Yuan Han, “The Zhou family has a daughter who’s pregnant – who else could she marry but you? See how they’ve lowered their proud stance? My son, it wasn’t in vain that you knelt at their door. Even a family of officials cares about face!”

Yuan Mother truly doted on her son.

After three daughters, Yuan Han was the Yuan family’s treasure, their only son.

She knew her son would be successful – moving from their small town to work in Beijing, even making an official’s daughter so devoted she’d elope with him. Wasn’t that capability?

Though he’d temporarily lost his job, Yuan Mother wasn’t worried. The Zhou family had lowered their heads – if they wanted their daughter to avoid hardship, they’d naturally have to support their son-in-law, Yuan Han. How could they not arrange a better job? The Zhou family couldn’t afford such embarrassment!

Of course, these words were said behind Zhou Yi’s back. Now that Zhou Yi was pregnant, Yuan Mother and her three daughters treated her like royalty.

When Zhou Wengang said he wanted to discuss the marriage, Yuan Mother was triumphant, with a belly full of demands ready for Zhou Wengang. But upon arriving, being led by the waiter through this high-class establishment, her steps became unsteady.

Entering the private room, they were dumbfounded. The presence of two unfamiliar women was secondary – they must be from the Zhou family.

But what did it mean that the table of dishes was almost finished? Zhou Wengang was the host, and the Yuan family were guests, yet the hosts had eaten before the guests arrived… This was looking down on the Yuan family, humiliating them.

The smugness vanished from Yuan Mother’s face.

Xia Xiaolan noticed Yuan Han’s expression wasn’t good either.

No matter how calculating he was, his age showed his lack of experience – he couldn’t hide his true emotions.

While the Yuan family stood shocked and embarrassed, Zhou Yi, that fool, couldn’t contain herself. Trembling with anger, she burst out, “Dad, what do you mean by this?”

Zhou Wengang wiped his mouth, “Sit down. If anyone has complaints, let them address me directly. Having a woman speak up – is this the man you so carefully chose?”