A Dish Best Served Cold (The Man In Rage)

"What are you standing there for?"

"Get over there and help them carry the stuff in."

Han Yu and her husband had brought along a lot of presents. The fine wine, like the Wuliangye, took up two boxes by themselves and, together with the health tonics, they almost filled up the back of the car.

At this moment, Han He remembered that Ye Fan was still around, so he ordered the latter to move the presents into the house.

"That's right!"

"Can't you read the mood?"

"Can't you see that my daughter and son-in-law are here? Get yourself over here and help them carry the presents!"

"Were you expecting to just freeload off us and not do any work in return?" Han Yue asked disdainfully.

Ye Fan frowned in displeasure. But they were his elders and disobeying them would make things difficult for his wife. So he got up and went over to help carry the presents. "Uncle Hai, how are you doing?"

"Fei-Fei, you are getting prettier and prettier~" After her arrival, Han Yu started making small talk with her relatives.

Han Fei-Fei giggled and said, "No way. No matter how pretty I get, I will never be as pretty as Mu-Cheng."

The Han family had many offsprings, but none was fairer than Qiu Mu-Cheng.

Han Yu frowned surreptitiously when she heard this.

No woman liked to be told that another woman was prettier; even if the other woman was her own cousin.

"Yu, you are here." Just then, Qiu Mu-Cheng walked up and greeted Han Yu.

"Yes, Mu-Cheng." Han Yu smiled politely and asked, "Where is your mother? Is she not here? Did you come by yourself?"

Before Qiu Mu-Cheng could answer, her aunt, Han Yue, sneered and said: "Your aunt is afraid of losing face so she is not coming. Instead, she sent her live-in son-in-law and your cousin here to celebrate your grandmother's birthday."

"Live-in son-in-law? Mom, what live-in son-in-law?" Mo Wen-Xuan asked doubtfully. He had just walked over and overheard the conversation.

"Wen-Xuan, you haven't heard this yet, but your cousin's husband is a live-in son-in-law."

"Oh, so he is my in-law?" Mo Wen-Xuan said in realization.

"Bullshit. Wen-Xuan, he doesn't deserve to be your in-law. He is just a useless country bumpkin without any skills. Look, he is over there carrying those boxes." Han Yue smiled disdainfully and pointed at Ye Fan.

It was Mo Wen-Xuan's and Han Yu's first time seeing Ye Fan. And once they had seen him, the husband-and-wife duo shook their heads in laughter. They did not even bother to greet Ye Fan, but merely looked at him with contempt and disdain in their eyes.

Well, since he was just a useless person from a poor family, there was no reason for anyone to respect him.

"By the way, Wen-Xuan, do you know what birthday present he gave your grandmother? A few catties of home-grown tea leaves. I bet they are only worth a few dozen yuan. Isn't he ashamed to give such a cheap gift?"

And then, Han Yue started to recount earlier events to her daughter and son-in-law.

"That fellow is too prideful. Just now, I only criticized him a little and he actually talked back to me in front of everybody. He even accused me of trying to murder your grandmother. He was so forceful that he nearly scared me out of my wits."

Han Yu frowned when she heard this. "Mom, what did you say? That live-in son-in-law humiliated you? He sure has guts!"

Han Yu flew into a rage when she heard that Ye Fan had talked back to her mother.

Just then, Han Hai laughed and said, "Alright, Han Yu, don't get mad. Your grandmother has already told him off. Look. Isn't he more obedient now?"

Mo Wen-Xuan nodded and consoled Han Yue. "Mom, there is no need for you to stoop to his level. Useless people like him tend to get angry easily. You don't have to mind him."

"That's right, that's right. Yu and Wen-Xuan, quick, come in and have a seat. Don't just stand around." Just then, Han Fei-Fei chimed in with a smile and ushered the new arrivals into the hall. As for Ye Fan, nobody paid him any attention.

Meanwhile, Qiu Mu-Cheng was feeling unpleasant because she had overheard her relatives' disparaging remarks about Ye Fan. But what could she do? They had spoken nothing but the truth. Once all the guests had arrived, Madam Han started directing the guests to their seats.

"Wen-Xuan, your family will sit at the table on my left."

"Han Hai, your family will sit at the table on my right."

Because Qiu Mu-Cheng's mother was not here today, Madam Han had only set up two tables in the hall: one for Han Hai's family and one for Han Yue's.

"Mu-Cheng, you go sit with your uncle. Since your family is not expecting any guests, I did not prepare a table for you." Madam Han spoke indifferently, without the slightest care for her granddaughter's feelings.

However, Qiu Mu-Cheng did not mind and only asked, "But grandmother, what about Ye Fan?"

"Hmph, you care so much about him?" Madam Han's mood darkened immediately.

Just then, Han Hai interjected and said, "He is just a useless live-in son-in-law, and too unrefined to fit in with the people here.

I will tell the servants to set up a table for him in the courtyard. Don't worry. We are not going to starve that piece of trash."

Han Hai's words made Qiu Mu-Cheng feel even more terrible.

Han Yue's family, who had overheard Han Hai, burst into laughter. Han Yu, especially, had a smug and proud expression on her face.

She thought that Qiu Mu-Cheng's beauty had gone to waste when she married a useless man. In the future, it was certain that she, Han Yu, would always be above her cousin. And, throughout the rest of her life, Qiu Mu-Cheng would be looked down on by everyone.

"Mu-Cheng, our uncle is right. A live-in son-in-law is indeed too unrefined to fit in among us. By letting him eat in our courtyard, we have already done all we can for him."

"But Mu-Cheng, having a husband like him will only embarrass you and our family. Why don't you consider a divorce?"

"Don't worry about finding a new husband. I will get Wen-Xuan to find one for you. We have a driver. His name is Liu. You two are about the same age. He is recently divorced and has a kid. I think he is a perfect match for you," said Han Yu as she put on a show of concern for her cousin.

Mo Wen-Xuan nodded in agreement and said, "That's right, Mu-Cheng. That live-in son-in-law is not worthy of you. Divorce him after the banquet. I will go back and have a talk with my driver. He isn't from a particularly good family but, at least, they are not bottom-feeders. He is definitely better than your current husband."

"And, I am paying him a monthly salary of ten thousand. He is also an honest man.

As long as I talk to him, he will not turn down this marriage." Mo Wen-Xuan made a nonchalant boast about his wealth and attracted plenty of sideways glances from nearby guests.

Han Yu's husband is a capable man indeed! If he is paying his driver ten thousand per month, then just how much money does his family have?

Qiu Mu-Cheng's aunt, Han Yue, also joined in the conversation. "Haha, this is a good marriage! Mu-Cheng, your cousin is so nice to you. She is playing matchmaker for you, and even found you such a good match."

"Wen-Xuan, start planning when you get home tonight. Do your best to ensure that this marriage come to pass."

"Yes, mom."

Before Qiu Mu-Cheng could share her opinion, Han Yue and her family had already decided that the marriage would go ahead.

Meanwhile, both Han Hai and Han Fei-Fei were keeping their peace.

After all, they were not stupid. They could tell that Han Yu and her family did not have Qiu Mu-Cheng's best intentions in mind, when they proposed this marriage to her.

Putting aside the fact that Liu was a divorcee with a child, his job as a driver had already made him lower in status than others. And if she married Han Yu's driver, Qiu Mu-Cheng would forever be beneath Han Yu and her family.

This family was obviously out to humiliate Qiu Mu-Cheng.

Suddenly, even as Han Yu and her family were talking and laughing among themselves, Qiu Mu-Cheng stood up and spoke heavily with an expressionless face: "There is no need for you to do this. Ye Fan is a good man and I have no intention of divorcing him."

She gave a blunt rejection to Han Yu and her family, without allowing them to save face.

Following that, Qiu Mu-Cheng turned to face Madam Han and said slowly,

"Grandmother, I will not be sitting in the hall after all. I will go have my meal with Ye Fan in the courtyard."