Chapter 49: The Son-in-law Enters the Trap

  Inside Chen's mansion.

  Chen Siliu was leaning back with his plump belly, enjoying the massage on his legs given by his daughter Chen Ying'er.

  Recently, Chen Siliu's mood has been good. In the dispute between Huang Zhixian and Cao Xiancheng, he was half-voluntarily and half-forced by Xiao Fan to pawn all his treasures on Cao Xiancheng. The fact proved that he had made a correct bet, and Cao Xiancheng did not disappoint him. He indeed controlled Jiangpu with an iron fist, nominally as the county lieutenant but actually exercising the power of the county magistrate.

  The political climate has changed, and as a businessman, he naturally needs to start reaping the rewards that belong to him. After all, he had risked the Chen family's entire fortune and lives in the first place. High risk means high returns, and now it's time for his own returns.

  These days, he was busy taking over the shops. The former Huoying's competitors in Huangzhi County were afraid that Cao Yi's new official would burn them with three fires when he took office, so they sold their shops in Jiangpu County and left this heartbreaking place.

  Chen Siliu has been smiling with his eyes closed for the past few days, as he bought all these shops at an unreasonably low price without any courtesy. Not only did he get a huge bargain, but also greatly expanded the influence of Chen's business in Jiangpu commercial district. With Cao Yi as his backer, Chen's family has become the largest wealthy merchant in Jiangpu County.

  The feeling of gambling is really good, especially political gambling. After winning a bet, the rich bonus makes Chen 46's heart still abnormally fast to this day.

  My son-in-law is a good man and a capable person!

  Chen Siliu sighed in his heart, if it weren't for him this time, how could he have gotten such a huge bargain?

  It's just a pity that this son-in-law is too overbearing, almost forcing me to put my treasure on Cao Yi. Actually, if you had asked me nicely, I would have agreed. With my years of experience, can't I see who will be the ultimate winner? Do I need to be forced into making a bet? I'm not an unreasonable person...

  Chen Si Liu narrowed his eyes, secretly gloating in his heart, but the corners of his mouth had already betrayed him.

  Chen Ying'er raised her head and saw that her father was laughing with a face full of wrinkles. She curiously asked, "Dad, what are you laughing at?"

  Chen Si Liu looked at his daughter and suddenly felt a sense of crisis in his heart.

  His son-in-law is a capable person, and in recent days, he has increasingly demonstrated his abilities. Not only did he see Cao Yi take charge of Jiangpu's government, but he also got along with Cao Yi, and recently, the various things he did to manage the Drunken Immortal Building also showed off his extraordinary business skills. The bright pearl gradually shines brightly after removing dust, and Xiao Fan has unknowingly reversed the roles of host and guest. Now, the Chen family is subtly relying on him.

  Chen Si Liu reaped the fruit of victory, only to suddenly realize that this capable son-in-law, for now, didn't quite count as his own son-in-law...

  At first, she disliked his poverty and delayed their marriage for four years, even considering calling off the engagement and kicking Xiao Fan out. Now it seems like a foolish decision.

  The bird has turned into a phoenix, the hidden dragon has risen to the sky. Xiao Fan is no longer the introverted and weak Xiao Fan of before. Judging from his recent performances, he is destined for a great future that even he cannot imagine. Would you still be willing to have such a person as your son-in-law?

  If he is unwilling, perhaps he will leave the Chen family, then how should the Chen family handle it?

  Chen Siliu felt a sense of dread, he absolutely could not allow this kind of thing to happen.

  Things are really ironic, before he tried every means to divorce and drive Xiao Fan away, now it's completely reversed, becoming trying every means to keep Xiao Fan from leaving.

  Chen Si Liu bitterly smiled, no wonder others say businessmen are despicable. Now it seems, businessmen are indeed very cheap...

  "Ying'er, recently... has Xiao Fan talked to you?"

  Chen Ying'er's beautiful face suddenly floated up with a hint of melancholy, and she gently shook her head, saying: "No, he is busy at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion every day and rarely returns to the mansion..."

  Chen Si Liu Yi Leng, according to reason, there should be a heart devoted to the Chen family business, willing to be a cow for the Chen family, he should feel happy, but why is his unease growing more and more?

  His own daughter is elegant and refined, with a beautiful face like a flower in the moonlight. How can Xiao Fan not be moved by her? This won't do at all.

  "Ying'er, or else you sneak into... cough, cough, your father misspoke... " Chen Si Liu loudly cleared his throat. How could he let his daughter take the initiative to get into a man's bed? He was indeed too hasty.

  Chen Ying'er was already eighteen years old and understood everything she should. Of course, she heard the meaning behind her father's words. As soon as she did, a blush spread across her face, and in shame, she lowered her head deeply, not daring to lift it again.

  "Father, what are you saying?! How could your daughter possibly do such a shameful thing?" Chen Ying'er's face was flushed with shame and she couldn't help but rebuke him.

  Chen Siliu wiped the sweat and laughed: "Father was wrong, hehe, Ying'er, didn't Xiao Fan ever show you affection before?"

  Chen Ying'er's face gradually lost its rosy complexion, turning pale, and she shook her head sorrowfully: "He... he didn't show any expression at all, seeing his daughter was like a partner seeing the boss, polite but very distant..."

  "Has the fellow met the master? This... this is terrible!" Chen Siliu was anxious, this reaction wasn't what he had hoped to see. What did Chen Siliu hope to see? Best would be Xiao Fan's beastly nature erupting, and at night, forcefully pushing down his own daughter, then...

  "Perhaps he has high standards and my daughter's beauty is not enough to catch his eye..."

  "Nonsense! My daughter is a beauty, with a lovely face and sparkling eyes. She's the best in all of Jiangpu, how could she not catch his eye?" Chen Si Liu said angrily.

  Chen Ying'er sighed silently, her expression becoming even more sorrowful and bitter.

  Chen 46 saw his daughter's sad and bitter appearance, and couldn't help but speak in a warm voice: "Ying'er, you're already eighteen this year. Ordinary girls from other families get married at the age of thirteen or fourteen, but you've been kept in the boudoir all along... it's all because of Xiao Fang that delayed your marriage..."

  Chen Si Liu said this when he had completely forgotten that it was himself who looked down on the poor son-in-law and delayed his daughter's marriage, but now he blamed everything on Xiao Fan, which was truly shameless.

  “…That Xiao Fan is a capable person, our Chen family's incense is not continuing, your younger brother Ning Er is young and has a spoiled temperament, in the future it's hopeless to rely on him. Only by quickly winning over Xiao Fan can we ensure that the large estate of the Chen family will not decline. You and Xiao Fan have been engaged since childhood, it's a legitimate engagement between you as an unmarried couple. I will start preparing for your wedding soon, this matter should not be delayed any longer, if we delay any further he might run away... Cough, cough, usually you shouldn't mind taking the initiative to talk to him more, be more friendly and gentle with him, don't put on that miss's airs, nowadays are different from before, our Chen family is relying on him now...”

  Chen Ying'er nodded silently with a blush, of course she understood what her father meant, which was to be bolder and more liberated in her thinking, even if it meant seducing Xiao Fan into bed, as long as she could make this Chen family's daughter-in-law a reality.

  In both public and private, she couldn't refuse. Her marital relationship with Xiao Fan had long been a done deal. Talking to her own fiancé didn't pose any psychological barrier for her.

  Just thinking of Xiao Fang's unromantic and wooden personality, Chen Ying'er couldn't help but let out a faint sigh, her joyful expression gradually turning melancholic and sorrowful.

  You're really going to make me strip naked and crawl into your bed before you understand what's on my mind?!

  At this time, Xiao Fan was completely unaware that the Chen father and daughter were about to take him in, he was still busy with the Chen's Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

  These two days, his mood has been quite good. He's been drunk and disorderly for several days, but the imperial capital hasn't sent anyone to arrest him. This shows that the Crown Prince is no longer holding a grudge against him. Also, there's that Taoist priest who eats without paying, whose performance these past few days has been impressive. Although the guests at the wine shop are all armed and look menacing, often provoking the customers into furious outbursts, slamming their fists on the table and cursing, this at least shows that the old Taoist is seriously working for him, quietly contributing to the prosperity of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion with his own brand of heat and light.

  Overjoyed, Xiao Zhangzi showed great compassion and decided to offer the old Taoist additional dishes and wine after the restaurant closed.

  Tai Xū didn't understand what courtesy meant at all, stroking his immortal wind and dao bone whiskers in a leisurely manner: "...... I want to eat dog meat hot pot."

  Xiao Fan cupped his hand around his ear and asked the kitchen staff, "What dishes are left over today?"

  "Two portions of braised pork belly are left, one portion of pig's trotters and one portion of lamb's stomach..."

  "Go and cook it in a pot, then give all of it to Daozhang."

  Taiyu reluctantly accepted with great discontent.

  The next day after closing, Xiao Zhuang continued to add dishes for Taixu.

  "What's left for today?"

  "A dish of wind chicken, a dish of sauce beef, a pair of pig trotters..."

  "Go and cook it in a pot, then give all of it to Daozhang."

  The third day, the fourth day...

  Tai Yu couldn't take it anymore and ran over to Xiao Zhanggui to protest.

  "You're too much! I help you calculate fortunes for customers every day, how hard it is! You, on the other hand, just feed me that big mess all day, I almost ascended to heaven..."

  Xiao Fan said in surprise: "Master Tao, why did you say that? I'm offering you the best food and meat every day, aren't I rewarding you for your hard work in calculating the divination? Look at how well-fed and prosperous you look now, where's the 'Tai Xu' (Extreme Emptiness) in you? You should change your Taoist name to 'Bu Xu' (Not Empty) instead..."

  "Is this how you reward people with leftover food? I've figured it out, this isn't a reward at all! You're treating the Daoist master like a trash can, pouring all sorts of random things into his belly... The Daoist master's life is tough indeed!"

  Xiao Fan Lao Shen said, "Daozhang, you should cherish your blessings! Don't worry about whether there's leftover food or not. Think about it, when have you ever had such a carefree and divine life, with plenty of meat to eat every day?"

  Tai Yu stomped her foot in frustration and hastily left with tears streaming down her face.

  Before long, a shop assistant of the bone ash level, Dogzi, came running over in a fluster.

  "Shopkeeper, it's bad! You'd better hide, the daughter of our eastern neighbor is coming to cause trouble again..."

  Xiao Fan was taken aback, and before he could say a word, a hoarse voice outside the door declared in a tone that brooked no argument: "This young lady has an evil omen, she really does have an evil omen!"