Chapter 398: with translation of chapter title

Hehe... hehe, brother-in-law, there's no way you're such a kept man.

He Yi counted on her fingers and said: "Look, you're lazy and unambitious, hoping to attract rich women with your looks and win them over, living off their moods."

Thus letting women provide him with a satisfactory material life, such a man is called a "soft-rice eater".

And you give the elder sister a platform, making her a big rich woman, then you live off her—how can that be called eating soft rice?

Brother-in-law, you're reluctantly living off her money, and the elder sister still has to coax you to accept it!

"What to eat?"

He Qiong's mother then walked in with a middle-aged man.

Li Xin stood up and greeted her: "Auntie."

Ertai smiled and said: "A Xin, you're back!"

Look, you have to admit Ertai has ways! One reply and she instantly closed the distance between them.

"Sit down, this is our home, no need to be polite." After saying that, Ertai sat down beside He Xin.

Pointing at the middle-aged man, he introduced him to Li Xin: "This is A Qiong's maternal uncle."

Li Xin shook his hand and said, "Maternal uncle."

The phrase "maternal uncle" is used everywhere; a maternal uncle is the brother of one's mother and has a close blood tie to her.

Therefore, respecting one's maternal uncle is also seen as respecting one's mother, and is an expression of filial piety.

Since the maternal uncle is closely related by blood to the family, his authority and influence in the household are usually greater.

In important family matters or decisions, the maternal uncle's opinion is usually listened to and given careful consideration.

Most women trust their natal family members more than their in-laws, considering their natal family as their ultimate reliance.

This trust, based on blood ties and long-term interaction, makes the maternal uncle's status in the family especially important.

Ertai comes from a military family, her ancestral home is Dabu County, Guangdong Province, and she is Hakka.

Her grandfather, Lan Yin Nan, once served as a major general in Chaoshan; after retiring, he came to Hong Kong Island and built a five-story house on Lai Chi Kok Road, making them a wealthy family.

Her father, Lan Jian Yi, graduated from the Chinese Department of Lingnan University, then entered the seventh cohort of the Whampoa Military Academy, once served as a cavalry battalion commander, and participated in the War of Resistance Against Japan.

After 1949, the Lan family moved back to Hong Kong Island; Lan Jian Yi continued to enjoy his original military benefits and opened a mid-range silk shop on Hong Kong Island.

Ertai has eight siblings, making her the fifth in birth order.

In 1956, at a Mid-Autumn charity gala, He Xin met Ertai; this old guy, with ill intentions, kept asking her to dance.

They became the best dance partners, and people praised them as the "Wudi" and "Wuhou".

After several months of dating, Ertai realized that the wealthy man before her was also a top graduate of Hong Kong Island University, and the distance between them instantly closed.

He Xin not only had wealth but also talent, with graceful bearing and extraordinary demeanor, which made Ertai develop feelings of affection for him.

At the end of 1958, He Xin bought Ertai a villa on Park Road in Hong Kong Island as their new home.

A few days later, the 36-year-old He Xin formally married the 15-year-old Ertai.

This old guy, "an old ox eating tender grass," he could even bring himself to do it!

Ertai comes from a good family, has deep connections in Hong Kong Island, and to say that He Xin married her purely for her money would be unfair.

During the process of He Xin obtaining the gambling license, the Lan family contributed greatly.

He Qiong and He Yi stood up to greet the middle-aged man: "Maternal uncle."

Lan Hua Ying waved her hand: "Hurry up and sit, we're all family—there's no need for such formality."

She then smiled at Li Xin and said: "A Xin, I've heard your great name from You Bo; seeing you today, your reputation is indeed well-deserved."

Li Xin knew his background, which was similar to that of the Xu family; he held a high status in the underworld and had deep ties with Victory Union.

Li Xin glanced at him and asked: "Really? How come? Is You Bo still feeling sorry for his fan?"

This guy didn't mention anything else, only saying he'd heard of him from You Bo, which surely meant he had no good intentions.

Seeing Li Xin's change in expression, Lan Hua Ying thought to herself: "Those rumors are true—this kid has a dog's face, he flips his attitude at the drop of a hat, never caring about the occasion or who he's with."

Just moments ago he was affectionately calling him "uncle," but upon hearing the two words "You Bo," he immediately changed his face.

Lan Hua Ying could also guess why Li Xin was acting this way.

"A Xin, you've misunderstood; I mean no harm—I just want to act as a mediator between Victory Union and you, after all, we're all in the same circles, and too much tension isn't good."

Li Xin gave a faint smile and asked: "Mr. Lan, I have no misunderstanding with Victory Union; what do you need to mediate?"

Seeing this, He Xin got up and called Ertai to go upstairs; he had experienced Li Xin's tendency to turn hostile and deny people.

He didn't want to get involved in this!

Let A Xin give Lao San a lesson—ever since he became general manager of Ao Entertainment, he's become more and more arrogant!

Assuming everyone would give him face, let him kick a stone once.

He Qiong put her arm around Li Xin's arm and called out: "A Xin!"

Li Xin pointed to He Xin upstairs and said: "You two come up as well."

He Qiong saw his stern face; A Xin usually takes care of her moods, but this tone of speaking to her was the first time.

It must be that the maternal uncle touched A Xin's taboo; after glancing at the two, he pulled He Yi along and followed He Xin upstairs.

Upstairs, Ertai asked He Xin: "Master, won't those two start fighting?"

"Hehe!"

He Xin patted Ertai's arm and laughed: "No, Lao San isn't stupid either; he won't come to blows with A Xin."

"Don't look at Lao San having trained in boxing since childhood; his skills can't compare to A Xin's—Lao San's ability is trained, while A Xin's is honed through actual fights; they're not on the same level."

He Yi had just gone upstairs when she overheard this conversation.

She chuckled and said to He Xin and Ertai: "Dad, Mom, don't worry—the maternal uncle is definitely no match for the brother-in-law."

"I watched the recent boxing match; that guy, the Jade-Faced Flying Dragon Youngster, couldn't even land a punch against the brother-in-law, let alone the maternal uncle."

Also 'brother-in-law' not a name, 'maternal uncle' not a name.

Second Aunt patted He Yi's little head, laughing and scolding, "Am I worried about A Xin? I'm just afraid your third uncle will get beaten."

"You little heartless brat, your third maternal uncle doted on you for nothing!"

He Yi made a face at Second Aunt, turned and pulled He Qiong into her room, curiously asking: "Eldest sister, why did brother-in-law get angry?"

He Qiong speculated: "It should be that A Xin doesn't want any involvement with Victory Union; I don't know the exact situation, but given A Xin's personality, this time Third Maternal Uncle will suffer a small loss."

He Yi waved her hand nonchalantly: "Don't worry! Brother-in-law will give you face and won't let Third Maternal Uncle lose too much face; it won't be a big problem!"

He Qiong was amused by He Yi's manner, and said in an annoyed tone: "No wonder Mom says you're heartless; Third Maternal Uncle has doted on you since you were little, aren't you worried about Third Maternal Uncle?"

He Yi spread her hands: "Does worrying even help?"