Chapter 17: Tang Qiyue's Man

The car started up, leaving Father Tang with nothing but a trail of exhaust. Clutching his chest, he shouted toward the house, "You bitch, what else have you done?!!!"

Tang Qiyue had successfully disrupted the peace of the Tang family. Leaning back in her seat with a face full of smiles, she hadn't even had time to gloat before meeting Zhan Zeye's inquiring gaze.

She instantly sat upright, realizing she had been too carried away. She had forgotten that although the guy beside her was a soldier, he didn't seem to be stupid.

"Sister, why did you agree to let that old man supplement your dowry? If you're lacking anything, I'll give it to you!"

Tang Xiuyuan held a large sum of money given to him by Tang Qiyue; it was enough to cover four years of living expenses with plenty to spare.

Tang Qiyue leaned forward and tapped the back of Tang Xiuyuan's head. "What is with this impulsive temperament of yours? Why are you picking fights with the old man? He's senile, but are you becoming senile too?"

As the siblings bickered in front of Zhan Zeye, he did not stop them; instead, he leaned back against the seat, looking quite interested.

Tang Xiuyuan rubbed his head, looking aggrieved. "How am I senile? What good things could that dead old man possibly prepare for you? He just wants to put on a show! He definitely doesn't have good intentions!"

After years of living as father and son, the poor impression Tang Xiuyuan had of Father Tang was something that simply could not be broken.

"Is it bad that he's giving me things? Getting something for free is like picking it up off the ground. Besides, do you really think he's doing it because he cares about me? He's afraid the Tang family will be raided and all the good things will be confiscated. It's better to stuff them to me; at least in the future, he can shamelessly come and ask for them back!"

Tang Qiyue saw through things much more clearly than Tang Xiuyuan did.

Tang Xiuyuan found it even harder to understand. "Since you already know what the old man is plotting, why did you agree to it? He's clearly up to no good, wanting to use his status as Brother-in-law to hide things!"

Zhan Zeye let out a laugh. He had thought this cheap little brother-in-law was merely impulsive, but he hadn't expected him to be able to think this far.

Perhaps Zhan Zeye's laughter was too sudden, causing the siblings to realize that they weren't the only ones in the car.

"Brother-in-law, do I look like a sucker to you?"

Zhan Zeye leaned forward slightly, his oppressive gaze falling upon Tang Xiuyuan.

Tang Xiuyuan subconsciously shook his head.

As long as one wasn't a fool, they could sense the fear that the old fox, Father Tang, had toward Zhan Zeye. How could a man with no background make an old man like Father Tang feel fear?

Tang Xiuyuan was young, but he wasn't stupid.

He only just realized that this marriage had always been something Father Tang worked hard to facilitate. Even if it meant being criticized, he would do everything in his power to marry his daughter off just to have a connection to Zhan Zeye.

Tang Xiuyuan looked at Tang Qiyue. Seeing her brother quiet down, Tang Qiyue knew he had finally understood.

Feeling relieved, she reached out and patted Tang Xiuyuan's head.

"Alright, don't worry about what to do with the old man. Just keep an eye on Mom and make sure she doesn't drink anymore. Don't tell her about the money I gave you. In the future, if the state takes back Mom's shops, try to persuade her to cooperate a little!"

Nowadays, there weren't many private shops left; they were all state-owned, and the takeover was only a matter of time. The shops in Mother Tang's hands were the last batch. Because she refused to cooperate, negotiations had stalled, and it was estimated that they would soon resort to compulsory execution.

Mentioning serious matters, Tang Xiuyuan nodded obediently.

"Also, after you go to university, don't tell the old man. I'm afraid he'll cling to you and drag you down. If those three older brothers mess with you, just publish the severance of kinship statement in the newspaper a few more times!"

Tang Qiyue gave many instructions. She knew that once they left Mother Tang's place, there wouldn't be much time to talk to her brother. Since there was time in the car, she ignored the fact that Zhan Zeye and Chen Dazhuang were present and instead reminded Tang Xiuyuan bit by bit on how to deal with the Tang family and how to navigate Mother Tang.

Perhaps it was because the young woman's voice carried a unique softness, and because her emotions remained stable—always able to quickly soothe Tang Xiuyuan when he flared up—that Zhan Zeye never interrupted their conversation.

When Chen Dazhuang stopped the car, he turned back to give a reminder, though his gaze toward Zhan Zeye was strange.

He had thought the daughter of a capitalist would be a willful and ignorant person, but he hadn't expected Tang Qiyue to be so savvy about social graces and able to precisely grasp the loopholes in human nature.

Compared to Father Tang, who greeted them at the doorstep, Mother Tang made her displeasure blatant.

The gates were tightly closed, and there was no festive atmosphere in the house.

Tang Xiuyuan got out of the car but didn't push the door open. He peered through the crack for a moment and whispered to Tang Qiyue, "Mom is home, and she's locked herself in!"

Tang Qiyue gave a bitter smile. It was obvious Mother Tang was still sulking with her.

"Climb the wall and get inside to open the door!"

At a time like this, she couldn't call out to Mother Tang.

Tang Xiuyuan was clearly familiar with Mother Tang's temperament. He rubbed his hands, preparing to climb the wall, but Chen Dazhuang held him back.

"Let me do it!"

At this moment, Zhan Zeye's body was still injured and not suited for large movements. As the person sent to protect Zhan Zeye, Chen Dazhuang naturally stepped forward.

Under Tang Xiuyuan's shocked gaze, Chen Dazhuang took off his cap and asked Tang Xiuyuan to hold it. He looked at the somewhat high wall, took two steps back, lifted his pant legs, and with a running start, leaped up.

That jumping ability was excessively terrifying.

With one bound, he landed on the top of the wall, checked the situation below, and jumped straight down, opening the door in the blink of an eye.

Tang Xiuyuan's eyes widened. He gave a thumbs-up to the emerging Chen Dazhuang and respectfully handed him his military cap.

Without a hint of redness in his face or shortness of breath, Chen Dazhuang put on his cap, smiled at Tang Xiuyuan, and went back to carrying the things to follow Zhan Zeye into the courtyard.

Compared to his arrogance at the Tang house, Zhan Zeye had taken on a different demeanor now. His expression was much more restrained as he respectfully followed Tang Qiyue into the house.

Mother Tang was sitting in the main hall, facing the front door. She happened to see their entire sequence of actions and stared at Tang Qiyue with a face like frost.

Tang Qiyue shrunk her neck, but she still braced herself to walk into the room and knelt directly before Mother Tang.

"Mom, I'm back!"

Tang Xiuyuan hurriedly knelt down as well; he was truly afraid Mother Tang would lose her temper.

Zhan Zeye also knelt beside Tang Qiyue. Only Chen Dazhuang set the things down and ran outside.

He had no reason to kneel, nor did he dare stay to watch the spectacle, fearing he would be dealt with by Zhan Zeye later.

Mother Tang looked at the three people kneeling before her, the veins on her temples throbbing. It was one thing for her own children to kneel, but for Zhan Zeye, an outsider, to kneel before her made her blood boil.

"In what capacity are you kneeling here?"

Mother Tang stared at Zhan Zeye, giving him no face at all.

When Zhan Zeye knelt, he had already taken off his military cap and jacket and set them aside, as he could not kneel while wearing his uniform.

Hearing Mother Tang's question, Zhan Zeye spoke calmly: "Tang Qiyue's man!"