Chapter 6: The Cheap Brother-in-Law

Tang Qiyue covered Tang Xiuyuan’s mouth and apologized to Zhan Zeye with an apologetic look: "My younger brother is young and speaks without thinking. Please don't hold it against him!"

Zhan Zeye didn't actually intend to pursue the rudeness of his brother-in-law; instead, he snatched the newspaper from Tang Xiuyuan’s hand.

He scanned the content briefly, seeing nothing particularly noteworthy.

"Sis, is there something wrong with his brain?"

Tang Xiuyuan pulled down the hand covering his mouth and muttered in a low voice.

Tang Qiyue curled her finger and tapped Tang Xiuyuan on the forehead: "Shut up. Tell me, when will you ever be more mature?"

Tang Xiuyuan rubbed his forehead and pointed at the newspaper in Zhan Zeye’s hand: "Dad actually really published a notice in the paper to disown me!"

In the margins of the newspaper, there was a very small statement, which would have been hard to find if one hadn't been looking carefully.

It was clear that Father Tang didn't want to make a big scene; he likely did it just to appease Tang Qiyue.

It stated clearly that Father Tang and Tang Xiuyuan were severing their father-son relationship, and from then on, they would have nothing to do with each other.

Prompted by Tang Xiuyuan, Zhan Zeye also saw the statement, and he looked at Tang Qiyue in surprise.

"What are you two siblings playing at?"

It was no wonder Zhan Zeye was puzzled. Based on his understanding of Father Tang, that old man would sacrifice his own daughter’s marriage just to cling to his former superior; how could he be willing to sever ties?

Tang Xiuyuan didn't know Tang Qiyue’s plans either, but he realized that the relationship between his sister and Zhan Zeye was somewhat subtle; the two didn't seem to dislike each other very much.

Tang Qiyue explained her thoughts quite frankly: "The Tang family’s status affects Xiaoyuan too much. He took the college entrance exam this year, and his grades are very good. He will definitely be able to continue his studies, but the political background check would screen him out!"

Tang Qiyue didn't need to say more; Zhan Zeye understood.

In recent years, political background checks had become increasingly strict. The Tang family were major capitalists. Based on that alone, if someone were to seize upon it, Tang Xiuyuan’s spot at university would certainly be revoked.

In that light, Father Tang being able to sever ties with Tang Xiuyuan seemed to be only to Tang Xiuyuan’s benefit.

"Besides, my father and my mother divorced ten years ago. My mother’s status is that of an ordinary person. If Xiaoyuan is registered under my mother’s name, he won't have any problems!"

Tang Qiyue would have preferred to have Tang Xiuyuan’s household registration under the Zhan family. Compared to her mother’s side, Zhan Zeye was a soldier; there would definitely be no issues with a political background check there.

Unfortunately, she was a daughter married out of the family, and it wasn't appropriate to bring her brother along, so she had to settle for the next best thing.

Zhan Zeye folded the newspaper and shoved it to Tang Qiyue, reminding her: "A statement alone is useless. You also need a handwritten written proof, the kind that requires a notary!"

Tang Qiyue hadn't considered that.

Afraid that things might change, she grabbed Tang Xiuyuan and was about to head to the Tang house to find Father Tang, but just as she lifted her foot, she heard Zhan Zeye say: "Are you sure you want to go now?"

Tang Xiuyuan also pulled on Tang Qiyue: "Sis, the three-day return visit—today is only the second day!"

There were rules for a bride’s return visit.

Having spent many years in the apocalypse, she had forgotten these customs. Tang Qiyue let out a sigh and instructed Tang Xiuyuan: "Then you go back first. I will go back tomorrow, and you can come and join me then!"

Tang Xiuyuan pulled Tang Qiyue into a corner and whispered: "Mom said for you to come home when you do your return visit. She has something to tell you. Also, about that money—Mom won't let me take it!"

No one understood her mother better than Tang Qiyue. Ever since she divorced Father Tang, Mother Tang had managed to support her and her brother solely through a clothing shop. Even when Father Tang occasionally sent money home, Mother Tang wouldn't accept it.

A woman with such a strong backbone—how could she want such a large sum of money?

"Keep it hidden well. Wait until I go back and discuss it with Mom in detail. I suggest you put it in the bank!"

Tang Qiyue pushed Tang Xiuyuan to leave first. She hadn't yet established a firm footing in the Zhan family and didn't want to make Zhan Zeye dislike her because of her brother’s appearance.

Although the Zhan family was curious about Tang Xiuyuan’s intentions, seeing Zhan Zeye standing there, no one stopped him from leaving. Only Zhan Chunying muttered with dissatisfaction: "Really no manners. He didn't even know to greet the hosts when he came in!"

Tang Xiuyuan heard this and snorted coldly: "I came to find my sister. What does that have to do with you?"

Zhan Chunying was a firecracker by nature; she couldn't take that and immediately put her hands on her hips, chasing after Tang Xiuyuan to have it out with him. Fortunately, Mother Zhan was quick-witted and pulled her back.

"Shut your mouth. Your brother hasn't said anything, so why are you meddling?"

Mother Zhan poked Zhan Chunying’s forehead twice, but her gaze landed on Tang Qiyue, and her eyes held some dissatisfaction.

Tang Qiyue opened her mouth to explain, but because Zhan Zeye closed the door, her chance to speak was cut off.

The room was left with only Tang Qiyue and Zhan Zeye again, and the awkward atmosphere emerged once more.

"Eunuch?"

Zhan Zeye’s voice popped out suddenly, making Tang Qiyue shiver.

She rubbed her hands: "He was also misled by rumors! I’ll teach him a lesson when I go back; I definitely won't let him spread hearsay!"

Her face was filled with a fawning smile, which looked somewhat incongruous with her naturally delicate appearance. Zhan Zeye found it very uncomfortable to look at; if he weren't so unfamiliar with her, he would have wanted to straighten out the curve of her lips.

"It had better be so!"

Zhan Zeye didn't pursue that topic further, but instead thought of another matter: "Why didn't you sever the father-daughter relationship with your father?"

A bitter smile replaced the fawning one on Tang Qiyue’s face. She would have liked to, but Father Tang would never allow it.

She swept her gaze over Zhan Zeye: "He is a profit-seeking businessman; he won't do a losing deal!"

Zhan Zeye was no fool; he naturally understood what Tang Qiyue meant and let out a scoff: "Is he so certain that I will swallow this bitter pill?"

Tang Qiyue naturally knew that Zhan Zeye wasn't the type to suffer a loss; otherwise, there wouldn't have been the revenge Zhan Zeye took on the Tang family after her miserable death in her first life.

Of course, she also knew that Zhan Zeye didn't take revenge on the Tang family for her sake; he was simply disgusted by Father Tang.

"I know I don't have the capital to negotiate with you. How about you just treat it as hiring a nanny?"

Tang Qiyue’s eyes were full of pleading. She had no other better choice and could only cling tightly to Zhan Zeye as her straw of salvation.

"Do you want me to make a mistake?"

Zhan Zeye’s tone was stern. "Put away your little tricks!"

Tang Qiyue had thought Zhan Zeye would be hard to handle, but she hadn't expected him to be this difficult. She had no other way out. For her brother’s sake, and to live with dignity, it was best she didn't leave the Zhan family right now.

"I’m sorry, I was too presumptuous. Then please send me back to the Tang house. You still need to go to the Tang house yourself to call off the engagement!"

Although her life would be difficult after calling off the engagement, it wasn't as if she had no options. At worst, she could follow Tang Chunlan’s example and choose to go to the countryside.

Dejectedly, she walked toward the door, already pondering how to protect her brother from Father Tang’s wrath, when she was grabbed by the arm by Zhan Zeye.