On what grounds?!

  Fortunately, her father had allowed her second uncle and family to return from America.

  Her second uncle and family could help her with things that she could not do. She just had to sit by one side and watch how unfortunate her father would become. “I heard grandpa mention this before. Both second uncle and you have strong tempers. You never allow anyone to bully you. Otherwise, second uncle would not be so determined to leave the home country for America with second auntie and you twenty years ago. This time, all of you nearly suffered a huge loss. You should know what to do?”

  “Yes.” Tian Dong did not disappoint Tian Tian at all. “Elder Uncle is too much this time.”

  He knew that his elder uncle was not happy that he was together with Hua Hua and wanted him to break up with Hua Hua.

  At first, he thought that his company encountered so many problems because other people or his opponents had deliberately created chaos. At most, his elder uncle just behaved like a passive onlooker and did not intervene or help, waiting for him to surrender and plead with him when he could not endure it further. He would then help him.

  However, Tian Dong never expected that his elder uncle was actually the mastermind who made his company suffered such huge losses.

  Plenty of businesses had been taken away from his company after confidential information was leaked. Tian Dong was so furious that he was clutching onto the phone receiver with so much might that cracks had appeared on its outer casing.

  All of his company’s losses eventually went into his elder uncle’s pockets. His elder uncle filled his stomach by sucking other people’s blood like a mosquito. Tian Dong could not wait to slap this ‘big mosquito’ dead.

  If it were in the past, Tian Dong might still persuade Tian Tian and ask her not to be against her biological father. After all, his elder uncle only had one daughter and vice versa.

  However, at this point, Tian Dong did not wish to persuade Tian Tian anymore. He even hoped that Tian Tian could continue to hate his elder uncle.

  \r \r \r

  Tian Dong was aware that she would definitely notify him if his elder uncle was taking any action against him and his family. Now, they had the same target and were guarding against the same individual. They hoped that this person would not have a good life.

  “If he is too much, you can be worse than him.” Tian Tian laughed. There was a gust of sinister feel in her laugh. Tian Dong could not see it but he could sense it through the phone. “Your company had been in a lot of trouble recently. All the money went into his pocket. Remember. A man will turn bad once he has money. It’s much easier to catch his handle now.”

  For example, the one in her family was keeping the marriage intact while having affairs outside.

  At the thought of the messy affairs of that wretched fat man, Tian Tian’s expression turned menacing.

  “Okay, I know.” Tian Dong was momentarily surprised. “My company’s money has just gone into his pocket. Is he so ill-disciplined to spend it immediately? Is he not afraid of arousing suspicion from my family?”

  Tian Tian hummed gently. “He is used to having a smooth life all these years. Furthermore, the capital is his territory. All of you are new here. What is he afraid of? What can he be afraid of?” In front of his own people, her father was so bold that he dared to make a hole in the sky.

  “Alright, I am clear about this.” Tian Tian had told him so clearly about his elder uncle’s situation. If Tian Dong still could not get it, Tian Tian would no longer be willing to task Tian Dong with this mission of dealing with her father. “That’s all. Let’s hang up.”

  “Okay, I will notify you when there is news. Similarly, if he is down on luck, remember to give me a heads-up so that I can watch the show from the beginning until the end.” She would not want to miss any second of it.

  After hanging up the phone, Tian Dong saw his parents, especially his father, looking solemn and serious. Their faces were so black.

  Tian Shouxin sneered. “Brother is truly Dad’s son. No wonder Dad is so biased toward him since young. I can completely understand.” It was not enough to sacrifice him in the past. Now, they even wanted to sacrifice his son. They were too much!

  Mother Tian was furious too. “At the mention of your brother, I can’t breathe well. What is he? Dongzi even addresses him as elder uncle. How dare he do such shameless things to us? Did he think that we are like him—that we will not decline anyone, be it fragrant or smelly—that comes?”

  Mother Tian had some knowledge of his brother-in-law’s dirty deeds.

  Mother Tian had rejoiced more than once that she had married Tian Shouxin and not Tian Shouyi many years ago. Otherwise, she would have been driven to grave long ago by such a husband.

  When she first arrived in the capital, Mother Tian’s first meeting with her sister-in-law was not at the old house of the Tian family but the hospital.

  At first glance, Mother Tian thought that her father-in-law was unwell and her sister-in-law came to take care of him. When she wanted to call her sister-in-law, she did not expect the latter to make a turn at a corner into another building.

  Not knowing the reason, Mother Tian followed her silently. She was surprised and shocked to discover that her sister-in-law went to the obstetrics and gynecology department. Her sister-in-law did not have to wait for her consultation. It was not because it was not crowded at the hospital that day. It was because she was the relative of a high-ranking government official. As such, she most likely pulled some of her strings.

  As there were fewer people, Mother Tian happened to hear some of the conversations between the doctor and her sister-in-law.

  Mother Tian did not feel good after listening to it.

  Her sister-in-law was already of this age. Why would she contract such an illness? At the sound of it, she seemed to have been infected by someone.

  Her sister-in-law had most likely endured and suffered too much wrong. She was in a panic. As soon as she saw Mother Tian’s blow-stricken face when she came out, she burst into tears and expressed how aggrieved she felt.

  Thereafter, she ignored all consequences and dragged Mother Tian to a café for a chat. She spilled out her resentment to Mother Tian. She was determined not to take the rap for that lousy man. “It will be good if he is like Shouxin. He…… he is not human. He is already so old. Many of the girls are younger than Tian Tian…… The most terrible thing is that…… he is not afraid of death. As long as he fancies them, he dares to touch them no matter whether they are clean or not. That day, he probably had too much of a drink when he came back. I…… I feel really disgusted!”

  After knowing the circumstances of the matter, Mother Tian’s first reaction was that she was not willing to acknowledge Tian Shouyi as her brother-in-law. What a good-for-nothing!

  At that time, Mother Tian was fuming with anger. However, she did not expect that more annoying things were about to happen.

  Facing the recent happenings, Mother Tian thought of her sister-in-law’s expression when she chatted with her. At this very moment, she had the same thoughts as her. Why did such disgusting people exist in this world? Why wouldn’t they go and die!

  They were all mothers. Mother Tian’s heart also ached for Tian Tian. “I remember Tian Tian is very sensible when she is a child. She is also very good-looking. She was so happy when Dongzi was born. She addressed him as younger brother every day and said that she wanted to help me bring Dongzi out to play. She’s such a good lady. She had been harmed by her biological father. Tian Tian’s life is so bitter.”

  That day, her sister-in-law not only told her about her own situation but also Tian Tian, her daughter’s situation.

  1285 Everyone Hates Him

  Her sister-in-law’s hatred toward Tian Shouyi was not only because he had many affairs outside. Most importantly, he was so cold and heartless toward their only daughter.

  It was no wonder that Tian Shouyi was fond of his son-in-law. The latter had the same temperament as him.

  When they were newly married, Tian Tian was very unhappy and pulled a long face every day. She had agreed to marry to spite her lover and also out of the pressure from her biological father.

  Initially, this son-in-law cared very much for Tian Tian. After all, Tian Tian was good-looking and had a good family background. The elders in the family liked Tian Tian very much and sang rare praises that he had finally done something good by marrying the right woman.

  After some time, as the second generation of a government official, how would he spare so much thought and effort on Tian Tian? He simply continued to indulge in wine and pleasure outside. He was multiple times worse than when he was before marriage. There were many occasions where he had three women taking turns to sleep with him in one day.

  Tian Tian was furious after she found out. She argued with him and suffered a fall during the brawl. As a result, she had a miscarriage when she was just two months pregnant.

  Thereafter, Tian Tian suffered excessive bleeding. After the surgery, it was very unlikely that Tian Tian would become a mother in the future.

  However, Tian Tian had a ‘son’. According to sources, she not only had ‘son’ but also a few girls to pick from if she wanted daughters. Of course, these children were definitely her husband’s biological children. At most, they did not come out from her womb.

  The situation was already as such. Tian Tian wanted to have a divorce but Tian Shouyi refused to let her do so. He said the alliance between the two families would be gone upon a divorce. Furthermore, Tian Tian could not become pregnant anymore and could no longer have her own child. On the other hand, if she did not get a divorce, Tian Tian could have children, be it a son or a daughter. If she did not like the child, she could still exchange for another one.

  Someone would support Tian Tian financially when she was old then.

  \r \r \r

  She was already of this age and her health was not good. If she were to get a divorce, she would be able to get anything that she wished for. Her life could not possibly be better than it was before marriage?

  Hence, she should be more abiding.

  Anyway, Tian Tian could forget about returning to the Tian family if she were to get a divorce. He would not accept a divorced daughter such as Tian Tian and would not let her enter the house. It was not only so. After he knew that his daughter had thoughts of a divorce, Tian Shouyi even behaved like a good father-in-law by sounding his son-in-law out. He asked him not to keep a tight watch on his daughter’s money and never let Tian Tian have too much money.

  This was the only way. When Tian Tian did not have money and could not return to her maternal family, certainly, she would not dare to get a divorce.

  He was most aware of his own daughter’s situation. He had spent so much money on Tian Tian since she was a child. Tian Tian had never endured many hardships before, not when she was living with her maternal family, and all the more not in her in-law family. She was never short of money and did not know the pain of being poor.

  Given this, he was certain that his daughter did not have the confidence to get a divorce with his son-in-law.

  In fact, when she heard Tian Shouyi treating their only daughter in this way, Mother Tian was shaking with anger. She did not believe that there was such a father in this world.

  Mother Tian just found out about the situation of Tian Shouyi’s family. For the sake of bringing Tian Dong and Qiu Chenxi together, he had already laid his hands on Tian Shouxin and his family. Mother Tian did not even have a chance to remind her husband and son.

  Besides the old master and himself, Tian Shouyi was heartless to everyone else. Hence, everyone around Tian Shouyi hated him to the core.

  “Mom, don’t be like this. Tian Tian knows what to do. She doesn’t want elder uncle to lead such a good life. It has been so many years. This is definitely not the first time that elder uncle did this. He will not only do this to his own family. Most likely, he is corrupted. It may be quite hard for us to deal with him alone. The good thing is that we have the Zhai family.” Tian Dong took a deep breath. He felt ashamed to have such relatives. However, he would have returned to the home country for the sake of Hua Hua latest by last year even if the old master was not unwell.

  Tian Shouxin was calm and not as affected as his wife. “Dongzi is right. He will be marrying Zhai Hua very soon. We are also sincere in becoming in-laws with the Zhai family. We don’t have the intention to make use of them. However, my brother is too much. He should be prepared that we will take revenge on him.”

  His family alone would not be able to compete with and win against his brother. However, with the Zhai family, it was a matter of time before his brother would lose miserably.

  It was also because of this that his elder brother was so afraid of letting Dongzi marry Zhai Hua.

  Could Tian Shouxin not understand his brother? Many years ago, his brother was afraid that he would go into politics and over-shine him. Hence, Tian Shouyi fawned on the old master and asked the latter to force Tian Shouxin into business.

  Although they were biological brothers, it was not right for him to do that. No matter how close they were, he would cause enmity between them with such a din.

  He said that he did not harbor any resentment toward Tian Shouyi. It was a pity that Tian Shouyi was guilt-conscious and did not believe him.

  Tian Shouyi was afraid that Tian Shouxin would make use of the Zhai family’s power and influence to go against him after the latter became in-laws with Chief Zhai. As such, Tian Shouyi wanted to arrange Dongzi’s marriage before Tian Shouxin could do that. In this way, he would have wrecked Tian Shouxin’s plan for revenge and also made use of Dongzi’s future happiness to derive benefit for himself.

  This was killing two birds with one stone. Similar to the past, Tian Shouyi had it all planned out to his favor.

  This time, Tian Shouxin finally hated his elder brother to the core. His brother did not spare any mercy for his closest kin. He could not wait to exploit all the usefulness from his kin, hammer and shatter their bones and see if he could get some oil out of them.

  Whose heart was not made of flesh?

  Tian Shouyi was so heartless. Tian Shouxin was not willing to admit that such a person was his twin brother.

  As for Old Master Tian, he was already so old and a great-grandfather, yet he continued to stir up troubles. Tian Shouxin knew that he did not need to do anything about his father, whose health wasn’t good. Given the old master’s character, he might even court his own death one day.

  Tian Shouyi found out from Qiu Chenxi that his plan had failed. Tian Dong not only met Zhai Hua but they were also in marriage talks.

  Tian Shouyi flared up on the spot. He made a call to Tian Shouxin and gave him an order. “Brother, if you still acknowledge me as your elder brother and dad as your father, no matter what method you use, only that lady from the Qiu family can be my niece-in-law. It cannot be Zhai Hua. Understand?!”

  “So what if I do not acknowledge, so be it! As you wish!” Would he be afraid of severing kinship ties?

  Tian Shouyi’s round and plump face swelled in crimson. “Brother, what kind of attitude is this? Don’t think that you can be on your own now that your wings have hardened. Let me tell you. It’s not so easy to establish yourself in the capital! If not for my help, would Dongzi do so well in his business? He relies on my help entirely.”

  “Alright, cut your nonsense.”


  1286 She Has a Good Temper

  “I am well aware of whether you are helping or harming Dongzi. Besides, let me remind you. The central government is keeping a tight watch. Don’t think that no one knows what you have done and that you can be free of all worries. Dongzi and I are not cowards that will take bullying from others!”

  After saying his last sentence, Tian Shouxin simply hung up the phone.

  This phone call was considered his last reminder to his elder brother out of kindness. Henceforth, they were no longer brothers. If Tian Shouyi were to cause any harm to Dongzi or him, he would retaliate and not show any mercy toward Tian Shouyi anymore.

  At the thought that the money Tian Shouyi spent on wine and pleasure recently was all conned from his son, Tian Shouxin’s eyes turned gloomy. He felt that he could not just be all talk and no action.

  It was not going to be so easy to con his money. He would make Tian Shouyi repay him all his money the same way that Tian Shouyi conned his family.

  “What a surprise, Qiao Nan!” Xu Shengnan visited the place of Qiao Nan’s in-law as she had long wanted to see Qiao Nan. When she was there, she realized that her previous worries for Qiao Nan were all unfounded.

  After all, Xu Shengnan had lived in the capital for a few years. As soon as she heard the area of Qiao Nan’s residence, she sensed that this junior of hers was not a simple character. Only the rich and influential stayed in this area. Could her junior be the second generation of the government officials?

  To her absolute surprise, Xu Shengnan’s eyes turned into heart shapes when she saw a row of little ones when she arrived at the Zhai family’s residence. “You gave birth to all three of them? Three, all three?!”

  Chubby little faces, watery big eyes, red and tender little mouths and round and stout bodies. They even carried a tinge of milk fragrance.

  \r \r \r

  When the triplets stared at her in this manner, Xu Shengnan felt her heart melt into a puddle of water. “You’re awful. Why don’t you tell me that you have three children? As a senior, I didn’t even prepare any present. What if the children remember this and dislike me in the future?”

  Qiao Nan touched the three little ones lying on her lap. “If you really have such concern and worry, it’s easy to resolve them. It’s not as if you are visiting me only for once. Remember. You have to give us double the presents to make it up to them.” Double the presents for the three children. “Senior Xu, I’m afraid one month of your salary will be gone when that time comes.”

  Xu Shengnan was staring at the three children. “If one month of salary is gone, so be it. I have colleagues in the office who are mothers too. I heard from them that children’s stuff is very costly. Junior, you’re so blessed. Isn’t there a national family planning policy? Why do you have two sons and one daughter? Are they triplets?”

  The triplets were about the same height. One could not completely say that the three adorable faces looked alike. Nevertheless, there were many similarities among them.

  “Yes, triplets.” Qiao Nan nodded proudly. “Da Bao, Er Bao, San Bao, call auntie.”

  The triplets had been observing Xu Shengnan for a long time. They seemed to realize that their mother was on quite good terms with this auntie. After enduring for a while, the three children then addressed ‘auntie’.

  “Aye!” This greeting from the triplets made Xu Shengnan’s heart flutter and bones crumble. “Come, Da Bao, Er Bao, San Bao, let auntie carry you.”

  The triplets blinked their eyes and smiled at Xu Shengnan. At the sight of them smiling, Xu Shengnan thought that she could definitely get to carry the three soft and chubby babies. Who would have known that the triplets unanimously escaped to the side of their grandmother, while they continued to smile at Xu Shengnan.

  “Crap! They are using the tactic of feinting? First, they smiled to make me let down my guard. When I was feeling happy, they escaped?” Xu Shengnan was dumbfounded. She felt that her intelligence had been challenged by these three one-year-old kids who did not even know how to speak properly yet. The way they walked was completely copied from Donald Duck. She had been harshly mangled by them.

  Qiao Nan smiled, embarrassed. This was not the first time that she heard others commenting that the triplets were as cunning and slippery as eels. “Perhaps they inherited their father’s genes?”

  Anyway, she definitely did not behave like that when she was a child.

  If she had that natural capability, would she have been so badly bullied by Ding Jiayi and Qiao Zijin?

  “Their father?” What kind of person was that? The triplets were so capable just relying on his genes alone? Xu Shengnan expressed that this was completely beyond her imagination.

  “My husband is a soldier.” Since the triplets did not inherit the bravery and wit from her, it could only be from their father.

  Xu Shengnan lifted the corners of her lips in shock. “You…… are the wife of a military man?” You were just a twenty-two-year-old young military wife who was still in college. “What? Your man is too shameless. He has smeared the name of our soldiers. How can he bear to lay his vicious hands on you? He’s poisoning the buds of our motherland. How old were you when he started hitting on you?”

  That soldier ruffian could not simply kidnap Qiao Nan to collect the marriage certificate during their first meeting, just as she reached the legal age of marriage. Nothing so absurd would happen in this world.

  Xu Shengnan sounded a little impolite. Fortunately, Miao Jing had a good temper. Otherwise, she would certainly flare up.

  Thankfully, it was also because Miao Jing was on very good terms with Qiao Nan.

  When she found out that Qiao Nan was her son’s young girlfriend, Miao Jing’s first reaction and thoughts were exactly the same as that of Xu Shengnan now. She was also disdainful that Zhai Sheng was so shameless.

  Fortunately, Xu Shengnan very quickly remembered that this was the house of Qiao Nan’s in-laws and not her maternal family. Hence, the auntie surrounded by the triplets now was most likely Qiao Nan’s mother-in-law, who gave birth to the ruffian that she just spoke of.

  Xu Shengnan looked embarrassed as she smiled at Miao Jing. “Auntie, I have always been very frank in my words. I am not as sensible as my junior. Please don’t take issue with me. I don’t mean any harm.”

  Miao Jing kissed the soft hair on the top of Er Bao’s head. “It’s okay. Certainly, this is the truth.” These words carried some humor so that Xu Shengnan would not feel so nervous.

  If her son had not played rogue and did something shameless, where would such beautiful and adorable grandchildren come from?

  All those shameless means of her son were worth praises after having these three children.

  Miao Jing was not angered and Xu Shengnan heaved a sigh of relief. She sat beside Qiao Nan and whispered to the latter. “Your mother-in-law seems quite polite and nice. She did not give me any black face although I spoke about her son in this manner.”


  1287 Uncle-In-Law

  “Yes, my mother-in-law is very good to me. It’s as if she is my biological mother.” Her mother-in-law treated her better than she treated Brother Zhai. Fortunately, both Brother Zhai and Sister Zhai Hua had never been displeased at her because of this matter. Similar to her mother-in-law, they also treated her very well.

  Xu Shengnan could tell that Qiao Nan was very serious and grateful when she said this. There was no sense of falseness or cover-up. Xu Shengnan felt very heartened. “Perhaps it is your greatest fortune to be able to marry into this kind of family.”

  She had always heard people saying that the mother and daughter-in-law’s problem was an eternal and difficult one which even the saint could not resolve.

  It was truly not easy to find a mother-in-law who treated her better than her own son. “Right, you have many wedding candies in your house. Is your family organizing a wedding banquet?”

  “The triplet’s auntie is getting married at the end of the year.” Tian Dong was truly very effective. After he proposed, the two families sat down together and picked an auspicious date before the Lunar New Year for the marriage. This marriage had thus been settled. “I’ll tell you something. Today is the day my sister-in-law and her husband will collect their wedding certificate.”

  She had heard that her father-in-law had never used his authority for personal gains or allowed his two children to get in through the back door. However, in this marriage, this was the first time that he sped up the matter for Sister Zhai Hua. He helped her settle the marriage report at the fastest speed.

  Since the marriage report had been approved, Tian Dong could openly bring Sister Zhai Hua to collect the marriage certificate.

  Speak of the devil. Zhai Hua and Tian Dong, who had just collected the wedding certificate, came back looking happy.

  At the sight of the candies left in the bag in Tian Dong’s hands, Miao Jing asked, “Didn’t I ask you to distribute all the candies? Why are there leftovers?”

  Tian Dong placed the excess candies on the table and explained. “Those that we brought earlier were not enough for distribution. We bought some at the last minute.” That was the reason for the excess.

  \r \r \r

  “Tian…… CEO Tian?” At the sight of the proud and happy Tian Dong walking in, Xu Shengnan nearly bit her tongue in shock. She especially wanted to ask Qiao Nan if she did it on purpose.

  “You’re an employee of CEO Gao’s company?” At one glance, Tian Dong recognized Xu Shengnan. “I remember that your surname is Xu. You are Miss Xu, right?” Tian Dong had some impression of Xu Shengnan because of her name. Clearly, she was a lady but her name was very unique. When Tian Dong heard that, the first thought that came to his mind was Zhai Hua.

  As such, Tian Dong remembered who Xu Shengnan was when he saw her today.

  Xu Shengnan was pleasantly surprised by the attention. Although CEO Tian was the one who initiated the collaboration with their company this time, CEO Tian’s company was much bigger than theirs. The other party was such an established company whereas they were only a start-up that had just gone into a stable working mode.

  CEO Gao’s aim was to turn his company into a listed one by the end of next year.

  Xu Shengnan put away her smitten behavior due to the triplets and straightened her shirt. “CEO Tian has a good memory. Yes, I am an employee of CEO Gao’s company.” She only suspected Qiao Nan for a fleeting moment.

  Others might not know, but how could Xu Shengnan not know?

  If not for the help of Qiao Nan, this junior, she would not have the opportunity to join CEO Gao’s company.

  If her junior really wished to help CEO Tian clinch the project with their company, why would she require her help? She could simply look for CEO Gao and this business could be settled very quickly.

  Qiao Nan blinked her eyes. She roughly guessed that Tian Dong’s and Gao Yan’s companies should be in some business relationship, and Tian Dong thus knew Xu Shengnan. “Senior, the candies that you are eating belong to them. This is the triplet’s auntie, Zhai Hua. This is the triplet’s fresh-from-the-oven uncle-in-law, Tian Dong.”

  Xu Shengnan raised her brows and smiled. “I see. Congratulations, CEO Tian.” For finally getting married at such an ‘old’ age.

  Speaking of marriage, Qiao Nan nudged Xu Shengnan. “Has Gao Yan’s matter been settled?” She had contacted Fang Fang and knew that her family had moved to the capital a few months ago. Fang Fang’s father had been deployed to the capital because of his job.

  It had been so many years. Gao Yan had not managed to settle Fang Fang?

  “Settle?” Xu Shengnan could not stop laughing. “CEO Gao can only boss us around. In front of our future lady boss, tsk, tsk, tsk…… I can tell that our boss is definitely one that will dote on his wife in the future. Speaking of this matter, my boss wants to treat you to a meal and get your help to put in a few good words for him in front of the future lady boss. My boss said that our future lady boss is on very good terms with you. She doesn’t listen to anyone but you.”

  It was no wonder that her boss looked at Qiao Nan in such a ‘different’ light. Initially, she even misunderstood before that her boss was hitting on her junior.

  After so long, it was not that her boss had taken a liking to her junior. He wanted her help to settle his future wife. It was no wonder the boss listened so much to junior’s words.

  Tian Dong’s company had suffered a huge loss due to Tian Shouyi. He was thinking of ways to secure long-term businesses to regain these losses. Amongst many, the projects in Gao Yan’s company were those that Tian Dong thought most highly of at this moment.

  Unfortunately, good things were always in demand. He was not the only one who knew that this project would work. Others who were adept at earning money would be aware too.

  Gao Yan’s company was good at technology. This technology was profitable and sustainable. Hence, Tian Dong thought highly of Gao Yan and felt that although Gao Yan’s current company was a little small now, given enough time, Gao Yan would definitely grow and reach a level that was comparable to him.

  Gao Yan’s progress was a certainty. Tian Dong also wished to regain his losses and revert his company to the original state or for it to become better in the shortest time possible. However, he was in a more difficult situation than Gao Yan.

  As such, Tian Dong felt that his projected targets could still be met as long as he could clinch the collaboration project with Gao Yan.

  “Mom.” They had collected the wedding certificate and Tian Dong could now openly address Miao Jing as mother. No matter how anxious Tian Dong was about the collaboration proposal with Gao Yan, he could not directly ask Qiao Nan about her relationship with Gao Yan in front of Xu Shengnan.

  “Aye.” Miao Jing was smiling like she had taken honey when she heard the greeting ‘mom’. She saw Er Bao cover his little mouth, feeling very jealous. “Grandma!”

  Wasn’t that just a greeting of ‘mom’? He knew how to shout ‘grandma’.

  “Aye, grandma’s darlings.” Miao Jing responded happily. “Remember. You can call him uncle-in-law in the future, okay?” This time, Tian Dong had become the Zhai family’s son-in-law. This could not be changed and Hua Hua’s case was finally closed.

  “Uncle-in-law- law……” San Bao, who had not finished growing her baby teeth, enjoyed calling ‘uncle-in-law’ very much. Just as her grandmother taught her, she mouthed the word. As soon as the word ‘law’ came out, the rim of Miao Jing’s trousers seemed to have walked in the mist once. There was a layer of bright and dewy water beads on them.

  1288 ‘Watched Indifferently’


  Miao Jing was all smiles. “My dearest granddaughter, it’s no wonder that your mom is afraid of you. You spat so much saliva from calling your uncle-in-law. Aren’t you thirsty?” If San Bao kept calling Tian Dong, she might create a man-made drizzle.

  Tian Dong smiled at being called uncle-in-law. He held a cup of warm water in his hands and walked to stand beside San Bao. “Is San Bao thirsty? Let me give you some water.”

  Er Bao blinked. He seemed to have discovered an interesting game. He walked wobbly toward Tian Dong. “Uncle……”

  Tian Dong shut his eyes at the saliva that Er Bao inevitably spat on him.

  “Gegegege!” Er Bao hugged his stomach as he broke into laughter, looking funny. It turned out that he was doing it on purpose and he was teasing the new uncle-in-law.

  San Bao ran away from Tian Dong who was right in front of her and stopped in front of Qiao Nan. She hugged Qiao Nan’s calf. “Mama, thirsty, drink, water.” She knew that if she was thirsty, she had to look for her mother.

  Qiao Nan carried her daughter and placed her on her lap. The auntie would bring the warm water for her to feed San Bao.

  San Bao sat happily on Qiao Nan’s lap. She kicked her legs from time to time, slurping the water.

  Er Bao, who was done teasing Tian Dong, left his victim and leaned against Qiao Nan, looking at her longingly.

  Qiao Nan was left with no other choice. She turned to Er Bao after she fed San Bao with water. “Er Bao, are you thirsty? Do you want to drink some water?”

  Er Bao nodded honestly. Therefore, Qiao Nan took another cup of water and fed Er Bao.

  \r \r \r

  The triplets liked to join in the fun. Without waiting for Da Bao to say that he wanted to drink water, the auntie came out with the third cup of warm water. As expected, being the eldest brother, Da Bao waited until Er Bao had finished drinking the water before he ran to lean against his mama and drank the water obediently, not moving or fidgeting about.

  Xu Shengnan just happened to drop by the Zhai family’s residence. Now that Tian Dong visited the Zhai family as well, the atmosphere at the Zhai family’s residence seemed to have changed.

  Qiao Nan finally understood what was going on after Xu Shengnan left. “Does brother-in-law wants to work with Gao Yan’s company?” Qiao Nan raised her eyebrows. It was no wonder that her senior had that expression just now. “Is there competition?”

  In general, when bigger companies worked with smaller companies, it was the smaller companies that took the initiative to approach the bigger companies, while the latter would consider whether to work with them.

  However, Gao Yan’s company had a new technology and it turned the tables. All the bigger companies approached Gao Yan one after another with contracts and deals. It was up to Gao Yan to decide who he wanted to work with.

  “That’s right. I used to think that this technology will not be available in our country for the time being. Although it is slightly expensive, we could only purchase the patent from overseas. However, if the new technology in our country is just as good as the technology from overseas, there is no need for us to reject what is near at hand and seek what is far away or to waste money to purchase the technology from overseas. There is no need to spend our money overseas.”

  Tian Dong was very straightforward.

  As long as there were opportunities in the country, his top priority was to work with people in the country.

  Firstly, if anything cropped up, it was easier to communicate and sort it out.

  Secondly, since the foreigners held the patent to the technology, they would offer a higher price. They would need to invest a lot of money into it right from the start. When people did business, the main objective was to make profits. There was no such thing as a free lunch. Since they paid a high price to bring in the technology, they would charge a significant price when it was introduced to the market. They had to earn the money by selling it to the consumers.

  He had finally come back to his hometown and his wife came from an illustrious family. Tian Dong was more than willing to contribute to the country and to help the people. He did not harbor hopes of improving the economy with his own efforts, but at the very least, he should contribute and bring convenience to their people.

  Therefore, no matter what, Gao Yan’s company was Tian Dong’s top priority.

  Previously, the project had come to a standstill. Tian Dong was aware of the attractive conditions that other companies offered Gao Yan.

  But Tian Dong did not follow suit to make a better offer like his competitors. If so, he would have to increase the price when he introduced the technology to the market so as to make sure that he would make profits.

  If he did that, it would be going against his original intention.

  “Sister-in-law, how well do you know Gao Yan? Is he someone who is after benefits?” Gao Yan was very young. He must have a lot of aspirations. He must have dreamed of becoming successful. Tian Dong was uncertain if Gao Yan had the same thinking and goals as him.

  If Gao Yan was after material gains, his company would not stand a chance to work with him.

  “Well, I can’t say for sure. Will you believe me if I say that I am not very close to him? Our interaction with each other is limited to my high school classmate. I am not too sure what business your company is dealing with. The only thing that I can help you with is to ask Gao Yan out on behalf of you so that you can have more time to talk and discuss with Gao Yan privately.” Qiao Nan did not want to give false hopes. This project would bring about huge investments and profits, and she would not interfere with it.

  Although Tian Dong did not expect such an answer from Qiao Nan, Tian Dong knew his limits and he did not make further requests.

  It was already good enough if he was able to have a private chat with Gao Yan, and he would have to thank Qiao Nan for it.

  Right now, no one was given the chance to talk to Gao Yan in private. They were two or three competitors who would be present when he spoke with Gao Yan. Everyone tried to leave a good impression on him and would give in and make better offers when they learned that their competitors had made a more attractive offer than them.

  If he was able to talk to Gao Yan in private, he would be able to avoid such circumstances and no one would disturb them.

  Qiao Nan smiled widely at how enthusiastic Tian Dong was at the cooperation with Gao Yan. Fang Fang was blessed to know such a childhood sweetheart.

  Gao Yan was very capable. All the bigger companies kept making offers and wanted very much to work with him. They could not wait to clinch the deal as soon as possible, fearing that other people would get the deal before them. It was no wonder that after her senior joined the company, she had the intention of saving up the money within three years for the first installment of her house in the capital!

  If the project worked out, her senior would receive a huge sum for her year-end bonus.

  If Gao Yan was generous and gave his employers an additional red packet, the amount of money would be very significant. As someone who did not earn any money and had to spend her husband’s money, Qiao Nan could not help but be envious of Xu Shengnan for joining such a good company.

  She would have lots of money!

  The Zhai family kept silent while Tian Dong discussed the project with Qiao Nan. They did not give any comment.