Chapter 77: Lady Wealth Transfers Fifty to Test My Strength

Noticing the Shen family looking their way, Shen Miaoyu led Chu Fei over to the old madam. She had planned to offer her birthday gift and then quietly take her leave, not wishing to linger longer than necessary.

However, as she approached, many of the guests took notice and began whispering amongst themselves.

“Isn’t that Shen Miaoyu? I heard she was kicked out of the Shen family for some pretty boy, so what’s she doing back here?”

“She probably couldn’t manage on her own and is hoping to return to the Shen family. I bet she’s come to plead with the old lady!”

“The family has already made the whole thing public. There’s no way she’ll be forgiven so easily. This should be entertaining!”

The scandal of Shen Miaoyu’s expulsion had, over the past few days, become the talk of the town. Many secretly mocked her as a lovesick fool, willing to turn against her own family for a man.

The old madam’s expression soured as she overheard the murmurs around her. Shen Miaoyu’s recent actions had thoroughly shamed the Shen family, and she was in no mood to be charitable.

“Grandmother, may your blessings be as boundless as the sea, and your years as enduring as the southern mountains,” Shen Miaoyu said, offering her carefully prepared gift.

But the old madam didn’t even glance at it. Her voice was cold. “Who invited you here?”

Chu Fei frowned, thinking to himself that this old woman really didn’t know her place. Perhaps, he mused, it was time to find an opportunity to put her in the ground.

Shen Miaoyu, embarrassed, looked toward Jiang Hong. Hadn’t she said that Grandmother wasn’t angry with her anymore? Why, then, did she greet her with such hostility?

In truth, the old madam, poisoned by Shen Linglong’s words, now despised Shen Miaoyu more than ever. She hadn’t planned to invite her to the birthday banquet at all; it was Jiang Hong who, eager to mend the rift between her daughter and the family, had tricked Shen Miaoyu into coming.

“Oh, mother, we’re all family here…” Jiang Hong tried to smooth things over. “Miaoyu is here to wish you a happy birthday. You should be glad she came.”

“Glad? After all she’s done, I’m lucky not to have been driven to an early grave!” the old madam snapped.

Shen Qiushan turned to Jiang Hong, voice sharp. “Exactly! Why did you bring this unfilial girl, and that scoundrel too? Are you trying to kill our mother with rage?”

Chu Fei hadn’t planned to exchange words with the Shen family, but when they started hurling insults right at him, he saw no reason to hold back.

“You old fool,” Chu Fei stepped forward, his tone menacing, “didn’t I nearly send you to your grave last time? Are you looking for a repeat performance? Or did a little sunshine and a break in the rain make you think you could handle it?”

He spoke without a trace of fear for whose territory this was. After all, his philosophy had always been: better to force others into a corner than to suffer humiliation himself.

Shen Qiushan had not forgotten how Chu Fei had nearly killed him the last time. Seeing the young troublemaker seeming ready to act, he quickly retreated a few steps, a hint of fear showing. Pointing at Chu Fei, he sputtered, “What are you trying to do? I’m warning you, today is my mother’s birthday. Don’t you dare make trouble, or you’ll force my hand!”

“Fine, fine, I won’t force you.” Chu Fei’s words bore a double meaning. “Wouldn’t want to drive you to leap over a wall.”

The guests quickly caught on—wasn’t he indirectly calling Shen Qiushan a dog? The audacity to speak to a future father-in-law like this—could the Shen family really dislike him so much?

“Shen Miaoyu, is this the wild man you’ve found? He has neither manners nor respect!” the old madam thundered at Shen Miaoyu. “It’s bad enough you disgrace yourself, but bringing him here—do you want the whole Shen family to become a laughing stock?”

Shen Miaoyu, not wanting to make a scene, tugged at Chu Fei’s sleeve, signaling him not to go too far.

Chu Fei sighed. “Very well. If I can’t speak crudely, I’ve nothing to say to her at all.”

The old madam was so infuriated her mouth twisted askew. If the strength of one’s tongue were measured like the martial ranks of the mundane world, this boy’s sharpness would surely be godlike.

But the old madam was no stranger to grand occasions. Would she be cowed by Chu Fei’s bluster? Certainly not. Composing herself, she turned to Chu Fei and adopted a lofty tone. “Young man, let me offer you a word of advice—”

She had barely begun before Chu Fei cut her off. “Don’t keep offering young people words of advice. What we need most isn’t words—it’s money.”

The old madam was left speechless.

“Perhaps… Madam, why not send me fifty bucks on Vpay and see what I can do?” he added.

She was utterly at a loss. She couldn’t quite understand his words, yet each one sounded more insulting than the last.

The surrounding guests thought to themselves that young people these days—well, they certainly sounded young.

Just as the old madam was about to explode with anger, a voice rang out.

“All right, Grandmother, there’s no need to let people like that get under your skin!” Shen Linglong interjected. “Besides, Elder Sister is only here to wish you a happy birthday. Even though she’s been expelled from the family, she means well.”

This took everyone by surprise; no one had expected Shen Linglong to speak up for Shen Miaoyu.

Shen Miaoyu frowned, uncertain what Shen Linglong was up to.

“Linglong, what are you…” Shen Qiushan asked, puzzled. Had his youngest daughter taken leave of her senses today?

“Father, Brother Xinghe will be here soon for the birthday, and this time he’s brought an expert with him,” Shen Linglong whispered. “As long as we keep things steady until Xinghe arrives, we can have him deal with that mongrel in front of everyone. Once he’s dealt with, what leverage will Shen Miaoyu have to act arrogant?”

Shen Qiushan saw the sense in her words. Dealing with a reckless brute like Chu Fei required cunning, not force.

Just then, Meng Xinghe appeared at the entrance, accompanied by a middle-aged man. Shen Linglong led the Shen family to greet him, leaving Chu Fei and Shen Miaoyu to one side.

Many guests were astonished at Meng Xinghe’s arrival.

“Isn’t that the young master of the Meng family?”

“There were rumors that Shen Linglong had partnered with Chu Group, backed by the Meng family. I thought it was just gossip, but it looks real now!”

“I heard Shen Linglong is romantically involved with Young Master Meng. With this connection, the Shen family is bound to soar!”

“No wonder Shen Miaoyu had the nerve to bring that wild man back and beg for forgiveness. She must have regretted her choices once she realized the Shen family was about to hit it big!”

This was precisely the effect Shen Linglong wanted. With Meng Xinghe at the banquet, their relationship was implicitly acknowledged. The entire Shen family’s standing would rise, and it would be that much easier for her to marry into the Meng family.

“Young Master Meng, it is truly an honor for both myself and the entire Shen family to have you here for my birthday,” the old madam exclaimed, clasping Meng Xinghe’s hand as though he were her own grandson.

After all, the Meng family wielded enormous influence. The Ouyang family’s dominance in Dragon City had stemmed from their alliance with the Mengs. With the Meng family’s support, the Shens would become the leading family in Dragon City, leaving the Guans and Lins in their dust.

“Grandmother, you’re too kind,” Meng Xinghe replied with a dazzling smile, glancing at Shen Linglong. “We’re practically family already.”

The old madam knew well the relationship between Meng Xinghe and Shen Linglong, and wholeheartedly approved of the match.

“Linglong certainly has an eye for talent, choosing such an exceptional suitor,” she said, pointedly adding, “Unlike some people, who picked a useless man from the mountains—good for nothing but a sharp tongue, with no real abilities at all!”

This wasn’t just a veiled insult—it was nearly a direct accusation aimed at Chu Fei.