Mu Linjing's uncle, Zhang Yi, acted exactly like a scoundrel, his legs crossed and bouncing incessantly. "Some people, the richer they get, the stingier they become. Now that he's a leader in a big company, he barely comes back a few times a year, and he can't even afford to treat us to a meal."
"Exactly, no matter what, we're elders. We traveled all this way, and it's not right to let us go hungry."
Aunt Liu Xin chimed in, as if it were Mu Linjing's fault.
Mu Linjing had no intention of indulging the couple's shameless behavior. She knew their true nature all too well; if she conceded an inch today, they would take a mile.
"Uncle, Aunt, is your family so poor you can't even put food on the table, that you have to beg everywhere? Whether I make money or not is none of your business. My mother is sick and no one asked you to visit, so you're uninvited guests. I haven't even said I'm willing, and you already have so much to say."
She spoke without any pleasantries. It wasn't that she lacked respect for her elders, but her uncle's family had been parasites on her family since she could remember.
Her aunt and uncle were well into their forties yet had no proper jobs. They would show up with their children every few days to freeload meals. There was no need to be polite to such leech-like bloodsuckers.
Before, when her parents were healthy, her mother would often help her uncle's family, and she had treated it as charity. But now, things were different. Her own family wasn't doing too well. Seeing these two parasites again, she wished they would just disappear.
Aunt Mu also knew that her younger brother had been spoiled too much. In the past, when he and his wife ran a fruit store, she didn't mind them freeloading. But now, they had come to Pengcheng, and every cent they spent was earned by her daughter.
She was willing to let her brother suck her blood, but how could she bear to let her daughter toil in vain?
Therefore, Aunt Mu didn't stop Mu Linjing when she sarcastically rebuked her brother and his wife.
Zhang Yi and his wife, naturally, did not want to be told they were worthless, even if it was the truth. They would never admit it.
Zhang Yi felt his face lose all dignity being lectured by a junior. He slammed the table and stood up, pointing an index finger at Mu Linjing's nose and cursing loudly.
"Who do you think you are, to talk to me like that? I'm telling you, whether you invite me or not, you *will* treat us to this meal."
He seemed to imply that if Mu Linjing didn't take them out for a good meal, he would refuse to leave, making a scene in such a place.
Mu Linjing didn't fall for it. She directly called for security.
"We don't know these people. They have been harassing the patient. Please escort them out."
Zhang Yi and his wife, accustomed to bullying their family, never expected such a young girl to call security. Relying on their brute force, they argued with the security guards and refused to leave.
When Zhan Yichen arrived, he saw this scene. He knew Aunt Mu was being discharged today and had come to pick her up, never expecting the ward to be so chaotic.
"What are you doing? Who let you in?"
He roared, and the security guards and Zhang Yi's couple separated. Mu Linjing saw him arrive and pushed him away. "This is our family matter. You should leave now."
She knew her uncle's character all too well. Seeing Zhan Yichen and realizing she had such a rich and influential boyfriend, he would cling to Zhan Yichen like a barnacle, causing him considerable trouble.
She didn't want these annoying relatives to bother Zhan Yichen, as she was already burdened by them. She didn't want to drag Zhan Yichen into it as well.
However, Zhang Yi had already noticed Zhan Yichen. Seeing his imposing demeanor and the top-brand clothes he wore, he immediately knew this was a rich man.
He swaggered over and directly revealed his identity. "I'm her uncle. So what? Are you her boyfriend?"
Zhan Yichen knew that admitting his relationship with Mu Linjing would lead to him being pestered. But how could the trouble Mu Linjing brought him be considered trouble?
He pulled Mu Linjing behind him. "That's right. If you have something to say, tell me. Don't trouble them."
Hearing this, Zhang Yi's face lit up. If he could latch onto this rich man, he wouldn't bother with Mu Linjing anymore.
"It's like this, I heard my sister was sick and hospitalized here, so I traveled all this way to see her. Wouldn't it be only proper to treat me to a meal? Also, we don't have a place to stay. Are you taking us to your home, or finding us a star-rated hotel?"
He spoke with a sense of entitlement, as if he were collecting a debt rather than visiting a sick relative.
Zhan Yichen saw through him instantly. These were clearly the Mu family's bloodsuckers, bottomless pits. Most people couldn't get anything from such individuals. They usually had to pay to get rid of them, and it was this repeated concession that had enabled them.
Looking at Mu Linjing's furious face and Aunt Mu's shame-faced expression, he knew that the Mu family truly had no way to deal with such relatives.
Since that was the case, he would stand up for them.
He smiled and put his arm around Mu Linjing's shoulder. "You too. Your uncle and aunt traveled so far to visit. Why haven't you taken them out for a meal? Providing for their food and lodging is what we should do. You take Auntie back first. I'll take Uncle and Auntie out for something to eat and find them a five-star hotel to stay in."
Mu Linjing was so angry she almost choked. Money wasn't meant to be spent like this. Just as she was about to remind him, his gaze stopped her.
Right, how could someone as astute as Zhan Yichen genuinely entertain them? She was worrying for nothing. She turned to help her mother.
Aunt Mu refused to leave. She had not disciplined her younger brother properly since childhood. Now they were draining her family's resources, which was her own doing.
If she really spent Zhan Yichen's money today, how could she face him, her future son-in-law? It would be like destroying her daughter's happiness with her own hands. Of course, she wouldn't allow it.
Mu Linjing whispered in her ear, "Mom, don't worry. Yichen won't be taken advantage of. I'll take you back first. Dad is already preparing dinner at home."
She looked at Zhan Yichen, who gave her a reassuring smile. "Hurry and go with Linjing, Auntie. I will take good care of Uncle and Auntie and make sure they eat and drink well."
These words made Zhang Yi and his wife ecstatic. Rich people's money was easily gained, very easily fooled.
Aunt Mu left with Mu Linjing. Zhan Yichen then invited the couple out. "Let's go, I'll treat you two to something good."