Chapter 153 Witnessed Firsthand

Li Chengtian wore an expression of arrogant entitlement, leaving Zhao Fan with a helpless look.

"I believe that for an elderly person, living with their children and grandchildren is the most appropriate arrangement. Don't you think so, Second Uncle?"

"Me? I think you're just a junior, so you shouldn't be meddling in the affairs of your elders. I don't know how Li Hui raised you, you have zero manners."

Li Chengtian's words nearly laughed Zhao Fan out of his anger. He had no manners?

"Second Uncle has a point. In some aspects, I really don't have much in the way of manners. However, no matter what, I am still better than those who disguise their self-interest under the noble banner of doing what is best for others."

Li Hui stepped up alongside him and chimed in, "Xiaofan is completely right. Second Brother, it's not like we can't afford to support an elderly person. Just for the sake of your pathetic pride, you stubbornly shipped Mom off to a nursing home. Have you forgotten how you got to where you are today? You are utterly unworthy of her."

Li Chengtian stared daggers at Li Hui. "Are you looking for a beating?"

"You wouldn't dare!"

Zhao Fan took a stride forward, blocking his mother.

"I call you Second Uncle out of respect for my mother, but don't try to act high and mighty in front of me. To be blunt, you're not worthy."

"I'm not worthy? Ha! A guy who has to go everywhere borrowing money just to pay the bride price for his wedding—what qualifications do you have to say I'm not worthy? Figures, Li Hui has no manners, so the son she raised is naturally devoid of them too."

"Speaking of lacking manners, I suppose no one can compare to Second Uncle. Oh, by the way, I recall the school has a suggestion or feedback box, doesn't it? Second Uncle, do you think I should pay a visit and share a few thoughts with the administration on your behalf?"

Li Chengtian's complexion shifted drastically. "What do you mean? Are you trying to report me?"

"What is Second Uncle talking about? I wouldn't call it reporting, just offering some helpful suggestions."

Zhao Fan intentionally emphasized the last two words, infuriating Li Chengtian to no end.

"You're—you're just talking nonsense!"

"Whether it's nonsense or not, Second Uncle knows very well in his heart."

"What on earth do you want?"

"I don't want anything."

"You..."

Seeing that Li Chengtian was choked with rage yet completely unable to utter a retort, Li Hui tugged at the back of Zhao Fan's shirt.

"Xiaofan."

Zhao Fan smiled faintly. "Mom, I know. I won't say anymore."

With Zhao Fan falling silent, Li Chengtian finally felt a sense of relief, though the look he cast at Zhao Fan was still brimming with lingering fury.

"Li Hui, you'd better keep your son on a tighter leash."

Mother Zhao replied with an indifferent expression, "Keeping my son in check is my business; there's no need to trouble Second Brother with your opinions. Besides, we didn't come here to start trouble. Where is Mom?"

"Why should I tell you?"

Zhao Fan chimed in, "You don't have to, but tomorrow morning I'll head over to your school..."

"Shut your mouth!"

Li Chengtian roared, only to wince in pain as the scratch marks on his face pulled taut.

"Let me tell you, Zhao Fan, if you dare to go, I—gah..."

Zhao Fan's gaze turned chillingly cold. "Say one more word like that, and I will ensure you can never set foot in any school in Yangcheng again."

Li Chengtian cared deeply about his reputation, so Zhao Fan trampled that reputation straight into the dirt, ensuring it could never be restored.

Under Zhao Fan's threat, Li Chengtian ultimately chose to yield, revealing the location where the old woman was staying.

In an alley across the street stood a sign reading "Elderly Joy," and inside lived various seniors who had been sent away by their families.

Mother Zhao conferred with Qian Yu, and they ultimately decided that Qian Yu would take the elderly woman back with her.

"I'll take care of her for a while. Once things are settled on your end, you can come pick her up."

"That's not a problem at all."

With both sides in agreement, Zhao Fan didn't say anything further, simply driving Qian Yu and the old woman back to the village.

Mother Zhao talked with the elderly woman the entire journey and stayed at Qian Yu's house until dusk before finally departing.

After this incident, the relationship between Mother Zhao and her eldest sister-in-law, Qian Yu, had grown considerably closer. Before leaving, the two even exchanged phone numbers.

"Whether you have business or not, come visit whenever you like. You're always welcome here."

"Got it, Sister-in-law. You should head back inside."

"Alright, take care."

The trip went smoothly.

Upon returning home, the moment Zhao Fan pushed open the front door, he sensed something amiss. Looking closer, the living room that had been tidy before they left was now in complete disarray.

What was going on here?

Mother Zhao poked her head in from behind. "Xiaofan, why are you standing..."

Before she could finish her sentence, her face darkened.

At the same time, Zhao Fan also noticed the dozen pairs of shoes lined up at the entrance.

Indeed, over a dozen pairs of shoes sat neatly by the door, and not a single pair belonged to their household.

Clearly, a group of uninvited guests had taken over the house.

"Xiaofan, go straight upstairs for a moment. Until I call for you, just..."

Before Mother Zhao could finish, Zhao Fan had already picked up a broom from the side. Hearing a tremendous commotion coming from upstairs, he kept his expression icy and headed up the stairs.

"Bang!"

He kicked the master bedroom door wide open, and upon seeing the sea of startled faces inside, he sneered.

"I honestly never knew outsiders were allowed to freely enter the master's bedroom."

Everyone in the room belonged to his father's side of the family. Zhao Fan swept his gaze across them, and virtually all the relatives he could remember were present.

That wasn't even the crucial part; what mattered was that he could hear noise coming from his own bedroom as well.

In other words, his father had brought at least a few dozen people into their home.

At this moment, the stunned crowd finally snapped back to their senses.

"Xiaofan, oh, we understand that young people can be hot-headed, but we're all family here. What kind of..."

Zhao Fan pointed his broom straight at the speaker. "What did you say?"

The person froze. "I-we're family..."

Before the word "family" could fully leave his mouth, Zhao Fan's broom swung directly toward his face.

Wielding the single broom, Zhao Fan drove every last person out of the room, and then proceeded to repeat the exact same operation in the adjacent bedrooms.

In an instant, the living room was packed to the brim. Everyone stood around in angry huddles, surrounding his father and mother while pointing fingers and berating Zhao Fan.

Because his father was already intimidated by Mother Zhao, he didn't dare utter a sound, let alone echo their complaints. For a long while, only the chaotic uproar filled the air, with not a single word of response from the master of the house.

As time ticked by, the clamoring crowd gradually realized the silence and slowly quieted down.

Up on the stairs, Zhao Fan looked down at them with a towering, condescending gaze, remaining utterly silent as well.

In that instant, the atmosphere throughout the entire villa felt frozen solid.

"I say, Big Brother, you invited us over, and this is how you treat your guests?"

"If you didn't want to host us, you should have just said so. Is making such a huge fuss supposed to be amusing?"

"..."

"Bang!"

A heavy thud echoed sharply, startling everyone in the living room into a collective shudder, his father and mother included.

Zhao Fan spoke up, "It's the New Year. Making the atmosphere this ugly isn't a good look for anyone. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm not an unreasonable person, but I'll ask you just one question: are you leaving, or not?"

Today had truly opened his eyes; these people kept stepping over his bottom line. If he didn't assert himself, the lot of them would mistake him for a pushover.

"You're just a junior! The adults haven't even spoken yet, what qualifications do you have to run your mouth?"

"Exactly! The elders haven't said a word, who gave you the right to speak?"

Mother Zhao stepped forward and declared, "In our household, Xiaofan makes the decisions. He is fully qualified to speak on our behalf."