Chapter 929

“Eat, eat!” Zhou Andong put meat and vegetables into the pot.

Gu Minglan looked at Zhao Ping with clear displeasure: “Why didn’t you tell me they were here?”

Jian Qi immediately took over: “What, you don’t want to see your own daughter?”

“Seeing you makes me annoyed.” Gu Minglan gave no quarter.

Zhao Ping sighed helplessly: “Qiuqiu and Dongzi asked me to invite you over.”

Gu Minglan snorted: “Didn’t you tell him what I said?”

“I told him!”

Zhou Andong’s face beamed like a blooming flower; to Gu Minglan, it only fueled her anger.

“If you already know, why even come see me?”

Zhou Andong eagerly picked up a slice of meat and placed it in Gu Minglan’s bowl: “Mom…”

“Stop!” Gu Minglan held up a stopping hand. “Can you just not call me Mom? It makes me feel like I can’t breathe.”

“Fine, fine, I won’t!”

Jian Qi shot Zhou Andong a warning glance—don’t provoke the old goddess further, or he’d only make things worse.

Forget making 1 billion in two years—even if he made 10 billion, it might still not count.

“Alright, alright!” Zhou Andong dared not call her Mom anymore, not even Auntie: “Auntie, I came to see you just to say this—two years for 1 billion? That’s too easy.”

“What?” Before Gu Minglan could respond, Jian Mingfan actually panicked: “Sis… Brother Dong, can you please be a little more restrained in front of Second Auntie? Don’t go blowing smoke.”

Zhao Ping was stunned. She’d always thought Zhou Andong was quite mature—even if he was thick-skinned, it was a minor flaw.

But what was going on today? Especially in front of Gu Minglan—why was he speaking without any restraint? Was he trying to hang himself on his own birthday?

“Zhou Dong is Zhou Dong—his words are always grand.” Gu Minglan sneered. “Fine. Since you say it’s easy, I’ll hold to my word: if you make 1 billion in two years, I’ll let you call me Mom right away.”

“Mom!” Zhou Andong’s “Mom” rang out crisp and clear.

“Wait!” Gu Minglan’s face darkened further. “Don’t you understand me? I said—only if you make 1 billion within two years will I let you call me Mom.”

“No need to wait two years.” Zhou Andong again placed a tender cabbage heart into her bowl: “I already have 1 billion in personal assets.”

*Clatter!*

Jian Mingfan had just lifted a meat slice toward his mouth; hearing Zhou Andong’s words, his chopsticks and the meat clattered onto the table.

“Sis… Brother-in-law, you’re not just blowing smoke, are you?”

“I never blow smoke.” Zhou Andong glanced at Jian Mingfan. “Don’t you know? To a strong person, every word they speak is truth—but to a weak one, it sounds like boasting.”

Zhao Ping opened her mouth to say something, then closed it, glancing at Zhou Andong before turning her eyes to Jian Qi.

Jian Qi nodded to Zhao Ping, then looked at her mother: “Mom, what Dongzi said is true—and it’s not just 1 billion. Add another zero and it still falls short.”

*Clatter!* This time Zhao Ping dropped her chopsticks: “Qiuqiu… are you serious?”

“Of course!” Jian Qi looked at Zhou Andong with pride: “Last year, when the pound depreciated, Dongzi predicted it. We shorted the pound and bought stocks at the bottom—within months, we made over 2 billion U.S. dollars.”

Silence. Only the bubbling of the hot pot broke it.

After a moment, Zhao Ping exhaled slowly, then laughed, turning to Gu Minglan, who was still dazed.

“Second Sister-in-law, you’ve got nothing to say now, right?”

Gu Minglan snapped back to reality, gave Zhou Andong a complex look, then glanced at her daughter, sighed, said nothing, and stood to leave.

“Mom!”

Jian Qi’s face changed instantly; she moved to chase after her, when Gu Minglan spoke.

“After dinner, go to Courtyard Six. Your grandfather wants to meet Zhou Andong.”

Jian Qi froze. Then came the sharp slam of the door.

Zhou Andong chewed thoughtfully, looking worried: “Auntie, is my mother-in-law overwhelmed?”

Zhao Ping chuckled: “Not just your mother-in-law—I’m reeling too. I’ve never even seen 20,000 U.S. dollars in one pile, let alone 2 billion.”

“Yeah!” Jian Mingfan nodded eagerly, stars in his eyes as he stared at Zhou Andong: “Brother-in-law, when I graduate, I’m joining you. Don’t you dare turn me down.”

Zhou Andong smiled: “I can’t decide that. Ask your dad and mom—if they agree, I’ll take you in. I guarantee you won’t go hungry.”

Zhao Ping was genuinely delighted: “If you agree, I won’t object. Your father won’t either.”

Jian Qi glanced nervously at the door: “Do you think my mom will be okay?”

“Of course,” Zhao Ping waved her hand. “Even I, as her aunt, was stunned by 2 billion U.S. dollars. How much more so for her, as his mother-in-law? She needs time to process.”

Jian Qi still wasn’t reassured. She checked the time and said to Zhou Andong: “Let’s stop eating. Let’s go to Courtyard Six now.”

“Eat first,” Zhao Ping cut in before Zhou Andong could speak. “A few minutes won’t matter. After we eat, I’ll go with you.”

“I’m coming too!” Jian Mingfan raised his hand.

“Fine,” Jian Qi nodded reluctantly. “Then hurry up and eat.”

“That’s the spirit!” Zhao Ping urged Zhou Andong: “Dongzi, eat fast—we’ve got to go.”

………………

Gu Minglan walked along the roadside, her mind in chaos, but Jian Qi’s words—2 billion U.S. dollars—echoed endlessly in her head.

After walking for over ten minutes, she stopped, looked up at the setting sun, sighed deeply, and raised her hand to hail a taxi.

At Courtyard Six, the old master had just finished eating and sat in the living room reading the newspaper. Seeing Gu Minglan return so soon, he was surprised.

“Why are you back so soon?”

Gu Minglan sat silently beside him: “Jian Qi and Zhou Andong were there too. I didn’t eat.”

The old master shook his head helplessly. He wanted to say something, but seeing her pale face, he held his tongue.

After all, she was his daughter-in-law—not his son. Some things couldn’t be spoken plainly.

After a moment of silence, Gu Minglan suddenly said: “I’m done interfering in Jian Qi and Zhou Andong’s affairs.”