Du Feiyang’s words left the Hu family speechless. Weren’t Hong Kong businessmen supposed to be arrogant? Was his affection genuine or just for show?
Xu Wanning was ecstatic, finally able to hold her head high. The feeling was exhilarating, her grin stretching from ear to ear. “Good, it’s thoughtful of you. You two can talk. Free love is encouraged nowadays; as long as Pan’er likes you, we’ll support it.”
“It’s also important that Aunt and Uncle are satisfied. My father always taught me to be filial.”
Old Master Du heard that he would recover, and this young man was mindful of filial piety? It was already good enough that he wasn’t infuriating him.
“Indeed, Hong Kong has old-fashioned values and emphasizes filial piety even more. It’s only right to be filial. However, your aunt and I are still young. You should focus on building your own careers.”
Du Feiyang replied, “Career is secondary; family is primary. I’m investing with Brother Xie. If there’s anything we don’t understand in the future, Uncle Hu, we’ll have to ask for your guidance.”
“You mean Director Xie?”
“Yes, Brother Xie is like my own brother. We already have a partnership in Hong Kong.”
Mayor Hu nodded. “Director Xie is a young man with vision and courage. His factory is doing very well, providing jobs for many laid-off workers. The city has heard of him.”
“Brother Xie’s capabilities are too great to be confined to a small county town. However, he values home and is willing to give back to his hometown, so he hasn’t expanded. His potential is far beyond this; his factories will be known nationwide in the future.”
“Really? I’ll have to meet this young man sometime.”
As Du Feiyang and Mayor Hu chatted merrily, the various aunts and elders questioned him about the Du family’s situation. Hu Pan didn’t know much either and gave perfunctory answers.
Hu Pan’s cousin noticed her hesitant demeanor and said, “Could it be that his parents haven’t accepted you yet? Such prominent families place great importance on social standing. Pan’er, you shouldn’t be too optimistic. It will be difficult to get married in the future.”
Xu Wanning was furious. How could anyone speak like that? It was clear she didn’t wish her Pan’er well.
Du Feiyang had been paying attention to their conversation and immediately explained, “Aunt Xu, please don’t worry. I’ll handle my family matters. My father is ill and unconscious. To be honest, I have many brothers at home, and they are all vying for the family business, each wanting to be the head of the household.”
They had never heard of such infighting in wealthy families. Hong Kong palace dramas hadn’t spread yet; they were still engrossed in Journey to the West and Dream of the Red Chamber.
“They’re all fighting; don’t you want any of it?”
Du Feiyang explained, “Brother Xie told me, ‘A good man doesn’t eat from a divided household.’ I have a ten percent stake in the group and hundreds of millions in hand. No matter who becomes the head, I’ll still get my dividends. Why fight so fiercely? With these hundreds of millions, I can invest in the mainland. The mainland is developing rapidly, and my future fortune might even surpass that of the Du family. Building my own commercial empire would be more fulfilling. Pan’er studies economics and management; we can work hard together.”
The Hu family’s jaws dropped once again. Hundreds of millions of yuan was more than the annual budget of an entire city.
Hu Pan’s cousin disbelief, “Do you really have hundreds of millions?”
Du Feiyang nodded. “I should. That’s not including the properties, cars, and stocks under my name. This is liquid capital. I used to spend too much, millions every year on family dividends, and didn’t save much. Fortunately, I earned a bit last year, or I’d be begging for food.”
Tens of millions in family dividends?
Hu Pan’s cousin inquired, “Is that all from dividends? Then why are you still working so hard? That much money, I couldn’t spend in several lifetimes.”
Du Feiyang responded, “It’s not just about the money. The Du family has many children, so the dividends are average. Compared to the true heirs of the family, I don’t even dare to speak loudly. I don’t want to be looked down upon as a family disgrace. I have to work hard to give Pan’er a better life, to be respected wherever we go, and be called Mrs. Du, not be looked down upon with contempt. Hong Kong and the mainland are different; only those with money can stand tall.”
This conversation was getting out of hand. Hu Pan said, “You should say less and be more low-key. Are you just showing off how rich you are? Are you richer than Brother Xie? I haven’t seen him show off like this.”
Du Feiyang immediately apologized. “Oh, I understand. I won’t say it then. Brother Xie is indeed richer than me. My wealth was also earned with Brother Xie’s guidance. But Pan’er, don’t worry, I’ll earn as much as Brother Xie in the future.”
“Who wants you to compete with him? As long as the money is enough, that’s fine. People on the mainland are very humble; they don’t flaunt their wealth. You’re acting like a nouveau riche.”
“No, Brother Xie is the nouveau riche, okay? Fine, if you don’t like it, I’ll change. From now on, if anyone asks, I’ll say I have millions in assets.”
Hu Pan didn’t want to talk anymore. Millions were still astonishing.
“Alright, let’s stop talking about it. Eat your food, eat your food. Feiyang, do you like our local cuisine?”
“I do, it’s very delicious. Auntie, I’ll invite you for Hong Kong-style dim sum another day, it’s very healthy. And Shenzhen seafood, the taste is excellent too.”
“Good, I’ll look forward to enjoying it.”
The meal was very pleasant, at least for Hu Pan’s family. As for others, their eyes were red with jealousy.
Hu Pan’s cousin, unwilling to see her happy, thought, *She can be well-off, but not better than me.* Pretending to be casual, she asked, “Your previous boyfriend was so poor he couldn’t even afford a meal. Your tastes have changed too quickly. Have you forgotten our ancestors’ teachings of hard work and simplicity? Are you aiming to be a rich wife?”
Hu Pan’s expression remained unchanged. *She just can’t help but bring up sensitive topics. Doesn’t she want me to do well?*
Du Feiyang’s face also darkened. He had tolerated her for a long time, her constant taunting of Pan’er was simply bullying.
“Cousin, that’s not right. I met Pan’er’s previous boyfriend too. Pan’er didn’t dislike him because he was poor, but because his family had character issues. You don’t need to say such things. Since I’m dating Pan’er, I don’t care about her past. I only want us to have a good future together and make those who are envious even more envious, driving them to death.”
Now it was Hu Pan’s cousin’s turn to change color. *Who is he referring to?*
Hu Pan couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t say that. As long as we live well, what others think doesn’t matter.”
“Pan’er is right. But if someone comes to you spewing sour remarks, just retort. If they don’t give you face, we don’t need to give them face either.”
The cousin was furious. “What do you mean? You Hong Kong people really don’t know manners. Are you speaking ill of someone indirectly?”
Du Feiyang sneered, “Manners depend on the person. I’ll show respect if you deserve it. Don’t assume I have a good temper just because I’m being polite. Cousin, why are you so angry? Are you jealous of Pan’er? This kind of thinking is not good. Pan’er’s good life has just begun. She’ll be traveling all over the country, reaching heights you can only gaze up at. If you don’t learn to adapt now, it will be even harder later.”
“You… This meal can’t be eaten anymore. Your family is climbing the social ladder, do you still look down on us poor relatives?”
She started to leave, but Mayor Hu slammed the table. “Sit down.”
“This is their first visit. Look at what you’re saying! Eldest sister doesn’t care about me, but I have to say something to you. Our Hu family isn’t some impoverished household. Where did you learn this petty-mindedness?”
Hu Pan’s cousin wanted to cry. Her husband was just an ordinary railway worker, and her in-laws had a bunch of troublesome issues. She had endured so much hardship on her own. Today, visiting relatives, she couldn’t even find a decent outfit. Hu Pan, on the other hand, was wearing a camel-colored cashmere trench coat and sheepskin boots. She couldn’t even identify the material of the leggings. Her inferiority complex was instantly amplified. She was already not as good as Pan’er, and now her husband was compared to mud. How could she feel comfortable?
Hu Pan’s expression was impassive. She ate a piece of sparerib that Du Feiyang had served her. She felt no sympathy for her cousin. One had to live their own life; one couldn’t ask for personal comfort at the expense of their own well-being. They always brought up her age and her past relationship with Xie Chen. Had she ever lost her temper?
Mayor Hu continued, “We are all educated people. Don’t make a spectacle for Feiyang. I’ve helped your family quite a bit, but it’s your husband who is not ambitious. What can I do? Just this time, he wanted me to arrange jobs for his brothers. A farmer who hasn’t even finished primary school, how can I arrange that for him? As soon as I refused, his face fell like a donkey’s. Do I owe you anything?”
Hu Pan was unaware of these matters. She immediately became displeased. “Cousin, you’re putting my father in a difficult position! You always say I don’t know manners, but what about your man? You usually take good care of his family, and now he hasn’t even shown up. He always says our family looks down on him, but it’s clearly his own inferiority complex. He’s so petty, thinking more than a woman. Only you can tolerate such a man.”
The cousin started crying, “What can I do? I didn’t know his family was like this back then. Can’t I get a divorce?”
“Why not?”
Du Feiyang found it strange. “If you’re not happy, get a divorce. In Hong Kong, there’s an aunt who’s been divorced five times. She’s now found a male celebrity twenty years younger than her, and they’re equally in love. Who can say anything?”
“Ah, is that possible? Isn’t that shameless?”
Du Feiyang replied, “When you have enough strength, no matter how absurd your actions are, people will praise you. When you have nothing, even breathing is wrong.”
Mayor Hu nodded. “Feiyang is right. You need to be confident and self-reliant first, instead of caring about others’ opinions. Chen Ying, have you thought it through? If you really want a divorce, I’ll support you.”
Hu Pan blinked. How did it turn into instigating her cousin to divorce?
Hu Pan’s paternal aunt was displeased. “Wouldn’t that be too disgraceful? Besides, there are children.”
The cousin said, “Don’t mention the children. It’s family planning now, no second child. They keep giving me the cold shoulder. But if I have a second child, I’ll lose my job. Relying on his meager salary, how can we get by? His salary is all used to support his family back home. He talks a good game, but if he doesn’t have a son, his family line will be broken. I don’t understand, what’s so worth inheriting in a few dilapidated rooms? My mother-in-law hasn’t even glanced at Niu Niu since she was born. If I don’t give birth to a grandson, I’m a sinner in his family.”