The Liang Family made its fortune in the roasted nuts and seeds business, earning its first pot of gold with handfuls of sunflower seeds and peanuts.
At their peak, Liang Hongbao was bringing in tens of millions a year. But the good tis didn’t last. As major national brands rose to prominence, the Liang Family’s business plumted.
Still, Liang Hongbao had managed to make a good deal of money. His eldest son, Liang Anguo, opened a supermarket in the city. His second son, Liang Anjun, built and operated a farrs’ market at a T-junction, clearing seventy to eighty thousand yuan a month from stall rentals alone.
His youngest son, Liang Anmin, opened a roasted nuts and seeds shop on the outskirts of town, carrying on the family’s original trade, in a way.
They also owned three internet cafes and a movie theater. Back in 2012, ventures like those were practically money-printing machines, bringing in millions in revenue each year.
Yet even with all that, the Liang Family’s total assets didn’t exceed one hundred million yuan.
So when Liang Hongbao heard that Chen Yansen had 10 billion in cash, he was utterly dumbfounded and turned to Liang Anguo for confirmation.
"Dad, you can find it online. I bet there’ll be a story on tonight’s ’First Look’ news report. I’ll put it on for you then."
Seeing his father’s disbelief, Liang Anguo quickly explained.
"Fine. Hui Zhen has been gone for so many years. There’s no need for things to be so strained. You handle it."
Liang Hongbao was old and cunning; of course he could see through his son’s little sche. He let out a deliberate sigh and gave a noncommittal response.
"Alright, I’ll give our third brother a call then."
A wide grin spread across Liang Anguo’s face, as if he could already see Chen Yansen waving a hand and transferring five hundred million yuan to him.
"Hey, Third Brother, tell our brother-in-law to co over for dinner tomorrow."
Liang Anguo made the call to Liang Anmin while standing in the courtyard.
"Chen Guobin? Big Brother, are you... out of your mind?" Liang Anmin replied dryly.
"Third Brother, watch your mouth. No matter what, Chen Guobin is still our brother-in-law. What’s wrong with having a al together?"
Liang Anguo didn’t like the sound of that. He put his hands on his hips and shot back.
"I get it, but I can’t guarantee he’ll agree," Liang Anmin said before hanging up.
’He knew exactly what his older brother was up to.’
’Even he couldn’t stomach the way Liang Anguo, Liang Anjun, and their father had treated Chen Guobin.’
’It was only for his sister’s sake that he’d secretly looked out for his brother-in-law and nephew.’
Sitting in his office, Liang Anmin pictured Liang Hui Zhen. He couldn’t help but snort coldly as he pulled out his phone and dialed Chen Guobin’s number.
"Hey! Anmin, what’s up?" Chen Guobin asked with a smile.
’My son’s a success now. Hui Zhen would be so happy. And if she’s happy, I’m happy.’
"Brother Bin, you should just call Anmin," Liang Anmin said, exasperated.
Back when he was a teenager and Chen Guobin was dating his sister, Chen Guobin would often drive him to Zhou Lai for fun.
’Back then,’ he’d thought, ’Chen Guobin was perfect. He could drive, he was tall and handso, he was a college graduate working for the salt company, and he could even play guitar. He and his sister were a match made in heaven.’
But in Liang Hongbao’s eyes, what right did an orphan like Chen Guobin have to marry his precious daughter?
Besides, Chen Guobin had no money and no connections; he was completely useless to the Liang Family’s business.
But Liang Hui Zhen had fallen for Chen Guobin, and after throwing a huge fit and threatening to kill herself, she moved out of the Liang Family ho.
She insisted on marrying Chen Guobin, moving into a tiny apartnt in a tenent building with him.
"Anmin, sorry about that. I’m getting old and tend to get lost in mories. It just slipped out. Anyway, what did you need?"
Chen Guobin asked, scratching his head with a smile.
"My older brother wants you to co over for dinner tomorrow. The old man must have agreed, too. Are you coming?"
Liang Anmin finally got to the point.
After he spoke, he held his breath, waiting for Chen Guobin’s reply.
To be honest, he wouldn’t be happy if Chen Guobin agreed. He knew his two older brothers’ personalities all too well.
’They just wanted to use this as an opportunity to get so leverage over Chen Guobin.’
"Anmin, let ask Xiaosen for his opinion," Chen Guobin said. He was a college graduate from over twenty years ago; he might be stubborn, but he wasn’t a fool.
He knew what ga Liang Anguo was playing.
’If Liang Anmin knew that I almost got into a fistfight with Liang Anguo last Spring Festival, he probably wouldn’t have bothered making this pointless call.’
"Brother Bin is right, Xiaosen should be the one to decide. That kid has changed so much. I rember when he was little, I used to tease him that his little birdie had flown away, and he’d get so scared he’d just burst into tears."
Liang Anmin recalled with a wicked grin.
"Alright, I’ll let you go. We’ll talk later." Chen Guobin gave a faint smile and hung up.
After a mont of thought, he dialed his son’s number.
Chen Yansen was on his way back to Xucheng and was a little surprised to get a call from Lao Chen.
"Lao Chen, what’s up?" Chen Yansen asked directly.
"Your third uncle just called. He wants to go to the Liang Family’s ho for dinner tomorrow," Chen Guobin recounted.
"And? It’s not like I’m the one invited to dinner. Why are you telling this?"
Chen Yansen’s smile vanished. He arched an eyebrow and retorted coolly.
"I wanted to ask your opinion. Should I go?" Chen Guobin continued.
"Dad," Chen Yansen said, the word a rarity for him, "just forget it. Mom’s been gone for twenty years. For all we know, she’s already been reincarnated and is waiting for you. Besides, what kind of relationship do you have with the Liang Family that you’d just go over for dinner?"
Though he rarely called him ’Dad’, his words were laced with barbs and a hint of mockery.
"I’m not an idiot. Of course I know what Liang Anguo is trying to do. That’s why I’m asking for your opinion."
Hearing that long-absent "Dad," Chen Guobin didn’t even register the mockery in his son’s tone. A warmth spread through his chest, and he finally voiced what was really on his mind.
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