From Wage Slave to Tycoon

When he came back and saw the hotpot restaurant’s business was booming, he returned to the city that very day, quit his job, and came straight back to the village with his wife and child.

After all, it was best to keep the profits within the family, and every penny saved counted.

"Second Brother!" Chen Shufen called out, walking over from behind the car with several gift boxes in hand.

Snapping out of a daze at her call, Chen Rui yelled into the house, "Mom, Fourth Sister is back!"

Looking at the exquisite gift boxes in Chen Shufen’s hands, Chen Rui’s tone was tinged with complaint. "Little Sister, you’re here, and that’s more than enough. Why bring gifts? You’re embarrassing me!"

Chen Shufen’s contribution to the family’s recent, dramatic change in fortune was undeniable. ’How could I possibly accept gifts from her?’

Chen Shufen arched an eyebrow at his words and said gruffly, "These are for Mom. There’s nothing for you!"

After she spoke, Su Zhuyun and Su Chen, who were right behind her, both snickered.

Chen Rui didn’t show the slightest hint of embarrassment. He took the gifts from her and glanced at them...

He might have been fine if he hadn’t looked, but one glance at the packaging made his hands tremble.

In the past, he would have just seen them as ordinary gifts. But now that he was running a hotpot restaurant, he had made a special effort to learn about high-quality ingredients.

He could tell at a glance that the dried seafood he was holding was all top-grade, worth at least tens of thousands of yuan. A quick look at the accompanying saffron and cordyceps told him they were just as extraordinary.

This gift set was easily worth over a hundred thousand yuan. He suddenly felt like the boxes were burning his hands.

"Little Sister, this is far too expensive!" Chen Rui said with a wry smile.

"What ’too expensive’? Just accept them without worrying!" Chen Shufen said, heading into the house. Just then, she saw a hunched figure walking out.

"Mom, why did you come out? Quick, sit down!" Chen Shufen quickly helped the old woman over to a lounge chair.

Following behind, Su Zhuyun and Su Chen also came in and greeted her. "Happy New Year, Mom!" "Happy New Year, Grandma!"

"Happy New Year! Happy New Year! Come here, my good grandson. Grandma has a red envelope for you!" she said, pulling a palm-sized red envelope from her pocket. It was thick and bulging, clearly stuffed with a lot of cash.

Su Chen had intended to refuse, but when he saw the expectant look in his grandmother’s eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to say no.

"Thank you, Grandma!" Su Chen said, bowing slightly as he accepted the red envelope.

The smile on his grandmother’s face grew even wider.

Just then, Chen Rui emerged from the kitchen in the back. He was a bit startled to see Su Chen and the others, but after a moment, he quickly greeted Chen Shufen and Su Zhuyun.

"Second Brother, you’re getting in great shape!" Su Chen said with a laugh, patting Chen Rui’s waist. He was wearing just a thin shirt, and Su Chen could feel solid muscle.

"Sigh, I had no choice! It’s all from the work I’ve been doing lately," Chen Rui said, a rueful look on his face.

He had come back with his wife and child after hearing how well the family’s hotpot restaurant was doing, but he had no idea the real hard work was just beginning.

Every morning, he had to go to the slaughterhouse in the city to buy the freshest ingredients, then come back and prep everything himself. He was the only young man in the family, so most of the physical labor fell to him.

In just two short months, he had lost nearly twenty-five pounds. His formerly chubby frame had transformed into that of a fit hunk. It was a bittersweet experience, to say the least.

"Hm? Second Brother, haven’t Eldest Brother and Third Brother come back this year?" Chen Shufen asked, just now realizing that the Chen family’s eldest and third sons were nowhere to be seen.

"No. I called them before the New Year, and they said things were too busy at the factory, so they didn’t come back."

Although Chen Rui didn’t say it outright, everyone present knew what that meant. It was nothing more than that they hadn’t made enough money this year and were too embarrassed to come home.

That was something Su Chen could relate to deeply.

With a tacit understanding, everyone steered clear of the topic. After a few more sentences of small talk, people started to go about their own business.

His mom sat with Grandma to chat, while Su Zhuyun tucked two packs of Zhonghua cigarettes under his arm and went for a stroll. As for what he was up to... it was nothing more than showing off his success as a son-in-law to the neighbors.

Su Zhuyun had wanted to take Su Chen with him, but Su Chen refused without a second thought. ’I’d better not get in the way of Dad’s moment in the spotlight.’

He moved a lounge chair into the courtyard, leisurely enjoying the feeling of the gentle breeze on his face.

"Un...cle!" Just as he was about to close his eyes and rest, a small, squeaky voice sounded by his ear.

"Hm?" Su Chen opened his eyes and turned his head to look...

A cherubic little girl was holding onto the lounge chair, staring intently at him. Her two big, dark eyes shone with an innocent light.

Su Chen knew this was his Second Brother’s child. ’What I can’t believe,’ he thought, ’is that my not-so-handsome Second Brother could have such an adorable daughter.’

’From her chubby little face, you can already tell she’s going to be a great beauty one day!’

He picked the little one up and set her on his lap. "What’s your name, little one?" he asked.

"My mommy and daddy call me Xiao Yaoyao," the little girl said with great seriousness.

"Xiao Yaoyao is such a good girl!"

The little girl was just too adorable. With her big eyes, double eyelids, long lashes, and delicate features, she was the dream child everyone wishes for!

Su Chen held her and found himself reluctant to let go. He teased her from time to time, and her little pout when she got mad was enough to melt his heart.

The two of them played for a while before a clear voice called out, "Xiao Yaoyao, get down from your uncle! Look, your dirty feet are getting his clothes all messy!"

Su Chen turned to see his second sister-in-law walking out of the house. She was wearing an apron and looked like she had been cooking in the kitchen.

"It’s fine, Sister-in-law!" Su Chen said, waving his hand calmly,

"Uncle, you’ll protect me, right?" Xiao Yaoyao whispered.

Seeing the hopeful look in her eyes, Su Chen nodded emphatically,

With Su Chen’s guarantee, it was as if she’d found a powerful backer. She pressed her right index finger to the tip of her nose, pushing it up to make a piggy face at her mother.

Her adorable expression made Su Chen burst out laughing.

But her mother, standing to the side, was fuming. She wanted nothing more than to grab Xiao Yaoyao and teach her a lesson.

Seeing her mother’s helplessness, Xiao Yaoyao was overjoyed, her face cycling through one triumphant little expression after another.

What she didn’t know is that there’d be a reckoning later!