Chapter 139: Chen Shufen’s Obstruction

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The hall erupted in discussion, and the birthday elder, Old Master Chen, immediately darkened.

He turned to Lin Shuyu. “Shuyu, why didn’t your mother come?”

“And even if she couldn’t come, you shouldn’t have brought him along. Are you deliberately trying to anger me?”

Old Master Chen treated Lin Shuyu very well. After all, his granddaughter was beautiful, obedient, and well-mannered. But being fond of Lin Shuyu did not necessarily mean he had any affection for Hong Yu.

Hong Yu was such a useless live-in son-in-law that merely seeing him gave Old Master Chen a headache and made him furious. After Lin Shuyu had brought Hong Yu into the family, Old Master Chen had been so angry that he could barely eat for several days.

Like Chen Lan, Old Master Chen had always wanted Lin Shuyu and Hong Yu to divorce. But he was in Huai Prefecture and had difficulty getting around, so after trying to persuade her several times, he eventually gave up.

Lin Shuyu hurriedly said, “Grandfather, please don’t be angry. Hong Yu sincerely wanted to wish you a happy birthday.”

Before Old Master Chen could respond, Chen Shufen cut in from the side. “Oh? Having filial intentions is a good thing!”

“But anyone can make claims with their mouth. Let’s see just how much filial devotion you have—and how valuable the birthday gift you brought today is.”

Chen Shufen wore a mocking smile. She had deliberately said this because she was already looking forward to watching him make a fool of himself.

From head to toe, Hong Yu was dressed in cheap clothes bought from street stalls. Chen Shufen was certain he could not possibly produce anything valuable.

Hong Yu thought for a moment, then suddenly walked up to Old Master Chen and bowed slightly.

“Grandfather, happy birthday. May you live as long as the Southern Mountain.”

“I didn’t know what you liked, so I bought you several pounds of tea. It was personally picked by a local family from their mountain tea bushes. It’s completely natural and free of preservatives. I hope you’ll be able to drink it and stay healthy.”

The moment Hong Yu finished speaking, the people around them burst into laughter.

Chen Shufen froze for a moment. She had not expected Hong Yu to bring such a shabby gift. Even an ordinary person earning only a few thousand a month would grit their teeth and buy something decent for an occasion like this. Yet Hong Yu had simply brought several pounds of tea.

Chen Shufen sneered. “This is what you call filial devotion? Shuyu, you really did find yourself an excellent live-in husband!”

“And you claim it was picked by hand? Is tea not picked by hand? Do you think it’s harvested by machines?”

“Honestly, I know you’re poor, but you couldn’t even come up with a few thousand? This tea is worth at most one or two hundred. You really have no shame!”

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After mocking Hong Yu, Chen Shufen stood up with a laugh.

“Father, look at Hong Yu and his lot. He clearly doesn’t care about you at all.”

“Only your youngest daughter still keeps you in her heart. She even went all the way to Changbai Mountain to buy you wild ginseng worth over a million.”

Chen Shufen looked smug, and the people around them cried out in astonishment.

“Damn! Wild ginseng worth over a million? That’s an incredibly generous gift.”

“Shufen has always been wealthy and generous. Everyone in the Chen family knows that.”

“Now that is filial devotion. Bringing several pounds of tea as a birthday gift—if you told that story, people wouldn’t just laugh; even dogs would die laughing!”

“Forget it. Chen Lan knew she’d only embarrass herself, so she didn’t come. This live-in husband probably thought he was just going through the motions. People without filial hearts are all alike.”

“Even someone lacking filial devotion wouldn’t go this far. I think this live-in husband came here deliberately to provoke everyone.”

“Exactly. When a colleague at my workplace has a birthday, I give a gift worth several thousand and still have to include a cash envelope. Yet this old man received only several pounds of tea. He really did come here to humiliate him.”

…

Among the Chen relatives and friends gathered around, some praised Chen Shufen for her generosity, while others scolded Hong Yu for lacking social sense and being stingy and miserly. The scene was thoroughly lively.

“Do you have anything to say?” Chen Shufen raised her chin and glanced sideways at Hong Yu and Lin Shuyu. “I’ll allow you one chance to defend yourselves.”

Lin Shuyu clenched her teeth and stepped forward. “Aunt Shufen, is it really appropriate for you to speak about Hong Yu like that?”

“Is tea not a gift? Hong Yu is still a guest, and he came all the way from Feng Prefecture specifically to wish Grandfather a happy birthday. Was there any need for you to treat him like this?”

“Hahaha, of course there was!” Chen Shufen roared with laughter. “Lin Shuyu, are you Chen Lan’s daughter? And isn’t Chen Lan the old man’s daughter?”

“Isn’t Hong Yu your live-in husband? Without that connection, would a good-for-nothing like him even be qualified to come here and wish the old man a happy birthday?”

“Hong Yu is useless and poor—that much is forgivable. But as his granddaughter, how can you be so thoughtless too?”

“On such a joyous occasion, you actually intend to pass off a few pounds of tea and get away with it. Have you really fallen this low? Don’t tell me you came here just to eat your fill!”

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“Aunt, you’ve gone too far!” Lin Shuyu’s cheeks flushed scarlet with anger. To say such things in front of everyone was nothing less than a blatant public humiliation.

Hong Yu was also deeply displeased with this aunt of hers. But remembering Lin Shuyu’s earlier warning, he did not dare to strike her or curse at her directly.

After thinking for a moment, Hong Yu glanced at the box containing the Changbai Mountain wild ginseng Chen Shufen had presented.

That single glance suddenly made his eyes light up.

With a smile, Hong Yu walked over. Seeing him approach, Chen Shufen did not stop him. Instead, she wanted to see what trick he was planning to play.

Now, she even felt that Chen Lan’s absence was a good thing.

After all, over the years she had humiliated her elder sister Chen Lan countless times. Repeating the same routine had become somewhat tiresome. Humiliating her sister’s live-in husband this year, however, was rather amusing.

Hong Yu stopped in front of the long box containing the wild ginseng. He examined it carefully before smiling.

“Is that Chen… Aunt, right? Is this the Changbai Mountain wild ginseng you gave Grandfather?”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Not bad!” Chen Shufen replied sarcastically. “I never imagined that a useless live-in husband like you would even recognize ginseng. I thought you only knew about tea!”

Her words immediately sent everyone into laughter.

Mockery aside, once the laughter subsided, Chen Shufen immediately issued a warning.

“Let me tell you, this Changbai Mountain wild ginseng cost me more than a million. You may look at it, but if you dare touch it, I’ll have your hands chopped off.”

Hong Yu sneered. “Aunt, are you sure this ginseng of yours is truly wild ginseng from Changbai Mountain?”

Chen Shufen snapped angrily, “You insolent fool! What do you mean? What could a clueless live-in husband like you possibly know—”

“I actually know a thing or two about ginseng.” Hong Yu interrupted her. “The outer skin of wild ginseng is usually rather dry and shriveled. Its shape resembles the character for ‘person,’ and its roots are also fairly tangled and irregular. After all, it grows wild.”

“But this piece of ginseng, Aunt, has a surface that is not only smooth, but a shape that is completely straight. Its roots are plump, uniform, and neatly arranged. How should I put it? It looks just like a white radish.”

“From top to bottom, and bottom to top, I can tell that this piece of ginseng is artificially cultivated—and that it was dug up only recently.”

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