Shen Yao didn't want to deal with her paternal cousin, but out of politeness, she said, "Cousin."
After calling out, she immediately retreated behind Shen Huaisang, as she had just felt another offensive gaze.
It was a man, around 24 or 25 judging by his appearance, but his attire and stance lacked the composure expected of someone his age.
Especially his eyes, which seemed to want to strip her bare.
Sensing Shen Yao's discomfort, Shen Huaisang cast a glare, and the man finally retracted his gaze.
"Cousin, everyone knows the relationship between our two families. What brings you to our home this time?" Shen Huaisang, not wanting to prolong the conversation, got straight to the point.
Shen Juan, seeing Shen Huaisang, a junior, showing her such disrespect, immediately said loudly to Shen Jun, "Shen Dajun, look at how your son speaks to his aunt! He's grown so much, if you don't discipline him properly, what will become of him in the future!"
Shen Jun was also displeased. After not being in contact for over twenty years, she immediately wanted to lecture his son?
"Cousin, how we raise our children is our business. Even the state hasn't said there's anything wrong with our San'er. Besides, San'er didn't say anything wrong. After all, our two families are less than strangers."
His son was so outstanding, he didn't need this paternal cousin, whom he had only met a few times, to educate him. She would be better off managing her own son.
That man who had been staring at Shen Yao with ill intent was her cousin's son, Chen Jiabao, whom his cousin had painstakingly managed to have after much hiding.
He was his cousin's fifth child; the fourth child was the female infant intended to be adopted by him.
For this son, his cousin's family had almost gone bankrupt paying fines.
The entire family doted on this son, absolutely obeying his every whim, spoiling him into the most detestable hoodlum in the village.
"How can you say that? We are relatives after all, we both have the surname Shen! And besides, those are old matters, why bring them up now."
Shen Juan knew this wasn't the place for her to be arrogant, so she decided to play the emotional card.
"Cousin, two characters still don't make a Shen," Shen Huaisang said, not forgetting to glare at Chen Jiabao, scaring him into hiding behind his mother, Shen Juan.
Shen Juan angrily pushed him in front of her. "This is your nephew, Jiabao. Quick, say hello to your uncle."
Chen Jiabao glanced at Shen Jun and called out in a low voice, "Uncle."
"Mm," Shen Jun replied, saying nothing more.
Hearing Shen Jun's acknowledgment, Shen Juan, without caring about anything else, happily said, "Exactly! We are all one family, we should love each other and help each other."
Help each other?
With this phrase, everyone in the Shen family knew their intention. It turned out they really didn't visit without a reason.
After a brief monologue, Shen Juan finally got to the point.
"Dajun, I've come today to ask for your help," Shen Juan said.
It turned out Chen Jiabao was already 24 and still idle. So, she thought of asking the family for some money to open a small shop in town.
Originally, their family was quite well-off. After all, Shen Juan had received substantial bride prices when her elder daughters got married.
However, Chen Jiabao was a disappointment. He got involved with gambling and not only lost all the family's money but also accumulated a mountain of debt.
Shen Juan thought that their family and Shen Jun's family were relatives, and more importantly, Shen Jun's family had prospered. Giving them some money would be a small matter.
They never considered why Shen Jun would lend them money, let alone the fact that they had no intention of borrowing!
"I heard your lychees sold for a lot of money. Dajun, sister isn't asking for much, just give sister 300,000 yuan." Shen Juan said obsequiously.
"300,000 yuan isn't enough? Do you want me to give you all my money!" Shen Jun was almost amused to the point of anger. 300,000 yuan, why didn't she go rob a bank?
"Well, then that's very thoughtful of you. Of course, if you want to give it to me, I'll accept it," Shen Juan completely missed the meaning behind Shen Jun's words.
"So you know it's inappropriate? You ask for 300,000 yuan right off the bat. Why don't you rob a bank? Wouldn't that be faster!"
"But, but robbing a bank is illegal!" Shen Juan wasn't stupid.
"You know robbing a bank is illegal, so why are you trying to rob me? 300,000 yuan, even if I had it, how would you repay it? Relying on your good-for-nothing son?" Shen Jun stopped being polite and hit Shen Juan where it hurt.
"You think you're so great just because you have money? Ah, what do you mean good-for-nothing? Our Jiabao is just young. When he grows up, he'll definitely be more successful than your children." Shen Juan couldn't stand anyone badmouthing her son.
"Then you just wait for him to grow up. I have only one thing to say: I have no money, I won't give you any. Go back where you came from!" Shen Jun lost patience.
He was already 25, and she still considered him a child? His eldest son was already married at 25, his second son was earning his own money, and his youngest son joined the army at 18. His youngest daughter wasn't even 25 yet and was already a millionaire!
How could her son compare to his children!
Pah, what bad luck!
"Shen Jun, don't think you're so great just because you have money. If you don't lend us the money today, see how others drown you with their spit, you heartless wretch."
"Oh, my life is so hard! Dajun, if I hadn't given you a bowl of congee when you were young to save your life, you would have been dead by now. And now that you're rich, you've forgotten my kindness."
Shen Juan cried and rolled on the ground.
Fortunately, the ground was tiled. Otherwise, clouds of dust would have been kicked up.
"Mom, don't cry. Since Uncle doesn't remember your kindness, we won't ask him. As long as his conscience is clear, that's enough."
Chen Jiabao quickly went to support his mother. While he claimed to be calming her down, he was actually fanning the flames!
As expected, Shen Juan became even more outrageous upon hearing this, uttering all sorts of curses and vicious words.
The commotion caused by Shen Juan's crying and shouting attracted many onlookers, who pointed and whispered at Shen Juan and Shen Jun.
"What's going on?" a latecomer asked, eager for gossip.
"Ah, it's Shen Juan again, that friend of Shen Sanye's daughter. I heard Shen Jun's family has become rich, so she brought her son to mooch off them."
"Oh, but didn't they have no contact? I heard they had a falling out long ago?"
"What does a falling out matter? Shen Jun's family is rich now, so they're rushing to curry favor."
"But this situation doesn't look like currying favor, it looks more like seeking revenge."
"I heard Shen Jun refused to lend them money, so she's throwing a tantrum..."
Shen Yao had never witnessed such unreasonable troublemaking before. She used to think the stories online were just for fun.
Indeed, art comes from life.
But these people were just too disgusting!
Shen Yao gently patted the small black snake coiled around her hand. "Mo Xuan, go!"