From Wage Slave to Tycoon

"After Yongheng passed, I never asked any of you for a single thing in return. I raised these children all by myself. Now that they’re successful, you all come flocking over like you smell money."

"Chen the Third, you tell me..." Grandma’s stern gaze swept across the crowd. Every person she looked at lowered their head. "You tell me, why did you bring this whole mob here today!"

"If you’re here to pay a New Year’s visit, I’d welcome you with open arms. But if you’re up to something, I suggest you go right back where you came from!"

"Sister-in-law... We... Sigh. I’m sorry to have disturbed you today!" Chen the Third let out a long sigh, exchanged a look with the men beside him, and, leaning on his cane, stood up to leave.

Seeing this, a middle-aged man said frantically, "Dad, we can’t just..."

Before he could finish, a cane struck him, making the man cry out in pain.

"You ungrateful whelp! If your uncle hadn’t helped you back then, who knows where you’d be now, you little bastard! Now get the hell out of my sight!" As he spoke, he swung his cane and struck the man hard a few more times.

’It was my son who started all of this today. I was a fool to be taken in by his silver tongue. How could I have agreed to something like this?’

Thinking this, Chen the Third and the others bowed once more to Grandma before leaving, leaning on their canes.

When the others saw that the most senior members had left, they saw no reason to stay. In a flurry, they were all gone.

In a matter of moments, the only ones left in the courtyard were the Chen family and Su Chen’s family.

This was a real eye-opener for Su Chen. ’If not for the seeds of kindness sown all those years ago, I truly have no idea how today’s scene would have ended.’

’If Grandma had asked him directly, or if Chen Shufen and her husband had, could they have refused?’

For a moment, Su Chen was lost in thought.

"What are you thinking about? Your grandma is calling you over!"

Su Chen felt someone shake him twice, and his mind instantly snapped back to reality.

"Huh? Wha— Oh!"

Su Chen quickly walked over to his grandmother.

"Grandma." Su Chen found a low stool and sat beside her, feeling a wave of emotion.

’When I was a kid, the thing I looked forward to most was coming to Grandma’s for the New Year. For no other reason than the good food and the red envelopes.’

’Unfortunately, every year, my mom would confiscate my red envelope money with the same excuse: "I’ll keep it safe for you and give it back when you’re older."’

’Thinking back, I was so naive. How did I believe my mom’s words for so many years? To this day, I still have no idea where all my New Year’s money went.’

These thoughts flashed through his mind, and he sighed with emotion. Time really flew. It felt like he had grown up in the blink of an eye.

"Xiaochen, I’m so sorry you had to see that," Grandma said, taking Su Chen’s hand, looking ashamed.

Su Chen was confused at first, but then he saw Chen Shufen nod at him from the side. ’It hit me instantly. My own mother sold me out.’

’But thinking about it, it makes sense. Grandma must have asked Chen Shufen how the hot pot restaurant started. Did he really think he didn’t know his own mother’s personality?’

But that was no big deal.

Su Chen was no fool. He certainly wasn’t going to say something brainless like, "That was quite a show."

"Grandma, you were totally badass back there!" Su Chen added, giving her a big thumbs-up.

Hearing this, Grandma burst into laughter. "HA HA HA! I’m getting old. If I were younger, I’d stand outside their front doors and curse them out for a whole day and night until those heartless fools couldn’t even sleep!"

At her words, everyone standing nearby started laughing, and the tension from before seemed to vanish into thin air.

...

"Uncle, do you have to go?" Little Yaoyao hugged Su Chen’s leg, looking up at him with a pout, her voice full of reluctance.

Su Chen squatted down and gently tweaked her nose. "Uncle has a lot of things he needs to take care of," he said with a smile. "If little Yaoyao misses Uncle, you can have your mommy and daddy call me anytime, okay?"

Just then, his second sister-in-law also squatted down and said in a mock-stern voice, "Be a good girl, Yaoyao. If you don’t listen, we won’t let your uncle come play with you next time, and he won’t buy you any more pretty toys and clothes!"

Hearing this, little Yaoyao grew anxious and immediately let go of Su Chen’s leg. "Uncle, you have to bring me a pretty doll next time!"

Seeing her earnest and adorable expression, Su Chen grinned from ear to ear.

Patting her head, he smiled and said, "Okay! I’ll definitely bring you one!"

Little Yaoyao held out her pinky finger toward Su Chen.

Su Chen knew exactly what she wanted and immediately hooked his pinky with hers.

"Pinky promise, good for a hundred years! Whoever breaks it is a little puppy!"

Standing to the side, his second uncle watched the scene and, on a whim, blurted out, "Xiaochen, since you’re so good with kids, you should try to find a girlfriend this year and get married!"

This suggestion earned high praise from Grandma, who added excitedly, "Yes! While I’m still around to see it, my dear grandson, you have to work hard on that!"

Su Chen almost lost his composure. ’I just like kids, that’s all! Get married and have someone boss me around? No way. I’m still young, I’ve got a few more years to have fun.’

"Heh heh... Grandma, Second Uncle, I believe in fate when it comes to relationships. But I’ll try my best to find a girlfriend this year!" Su Chen said, forcing a smile.

Grandma’s smile widened at his words.

After chatting for a while longer, Su Chen’s family finally got in their car and left.

Watching the white G-Wagon drive away, Grandma’s eyes were filled with reluctance. She didn’t look away until the car disappeared around a bend.

She turned to Chen Changjie and Chen Rui’s family beside her and said, "From now on, just focus on managing the hot pot restaurant in town. If you can expand to the neighboring towns, that’s great. If not, just run the one you have well."

"From now on, don’t call Su Chen for every little thing. That goes for Shufen and her husband, too. You can’t rely on others for everything. You have to be able to stand on your own two feet."

"I can help you for a time, but not for a lifetime. You saw for yourselves today what your own relatives are like. I hope you remember this and never become one of those ungrateful wretches."

"We understand, Mom (Grandma)!" Their hearts tightened. They knew the old matriarch was laying down the law, reminding them to never forget the kindness Chen Shufen’s family had shown them.

Just then, a small, sweet voice piped up, "Great-Grandma, what if I miss Uncle? Can I not call him either?"

Little Yaoyao was sitting on a chair, her hands clasped together nervously, a flicker of anxiety in her eyes.

Though she was young, she knew whose words in the family had to be obeyed.

A smile spread across Grandma’s face. She stroked little Yaoyao’s head and said, "Of course, little Yaoyao can. But we can’t disturb your uncle too often. How about once a month, okay?"

Although little Yaoyao didn’t know how long a month was, she knew she would be able to video call her uncle. She hopped down from her chair with delight, ran to her great-grandmother’s side, and said happily, "HEE HEE! Great-Grandma, you’re the best!"

"HA HA HA HA HA!"

The courtyard filled with joyous laughter.

...

On the way back, with upbeat music blasting from the car stereo, Chen Shufen and Su Zhuyun were both visibly excited, humming softly along to the songs.

Seeing their excitement, Su Chen couldn’t help but pour some cold water on them. "Dad, Mom, I might have to leave tomorrow."

Their swaying bodies instantly froze. Both of them turned to look at Su Chen.

"But tomorrow’s only the sixth day of the New Year. What’s the big rush? Why not wait until after the fifteenth?" Su Zhuyun asked, puzzled. ’Does a big boss like him really have to be this busy?’

Su Chen sighed. "I can’t help it. I have to go pay some New Year’s visits, too."

Hearing this, both his parents assumed Su Chen was going to visit business partners. Knowing their son’s career was important, they didn’t try to persuade him further.

"Your career comes first. You should go out and make your mark while you’re still young. As for finding a girlfriend, your mom won’t rush you. You can find one whenever you want."

"But let me give you a heads-up. Don’t find one of those arrogant women who look down on everyone. Your mother does not want to be fighting all the time!"

Su Chen was surprised by how open-minded his mother was. "Don’t worry, Mom!" he said with a big laugh.

Sitting in the back seat, Su Zhuyun shook his head helplessly, sighing to himself about how long it would be before he could hold a grandchild.

Of course... all he could do was sigh in silence.