Zhong Liyu then realized that the wealthy standards set by his stepmother were quite flexible.
As if that wasn’t enough, feeling a chill in his heart, his stepmother spoke again: “Don’t blame Mom for not feeling sorry for you.”
Saying this, she took out her phone and started tapping and swiping, as if looking for something.
Zhong Liyu’s eyes lit up: “Mom, are you planning to give me some money so I won’t feel too ashamed working over there?”
Madam An just smiled, looking at him with the affectionate gaze of a mother looking at a silly child.
When the phone screen was presented to him, all the emotions Zhong Liyu felt were thrown to the dogs.
Madam An pointed at the video on the screen: “Look, a tutorial on how to build a simple house out of cardboard boxes. As long as it doesn’t rain, it shouldn’t be a big problem.”
“You’ve lived a refined life since you were little. Even if you’re at a low point, Mom doesn’t want you to settle for something rough. One must have hope; even if you sleep in a cardboard box, Mom hopes you sleep in the most decent cardboard box.”
Zhong Liyu, expressionless, pointed at the tutorial: “But that’s for dogs.”
“Is there a difference?”
Zhong Liyu: “Mom, do you think I ended up in this low point because of what?”
Madam An: “Isn’t it because you lack ability?”
That’s it, over twenty years of raising him for nothing; she was purely helping someone else raise him.
Seeing her son so unaccomplished, Madam An felt a mix of disappointment and frustration, sighing: “So, tell me, how did you get kicked out?”
“Was it because you didn’t work hard? Or because you didn’t flatter enough?”
“What are you talking about, Mom?” Zhong Liyu said in disbelief.
“Well, I gave you such a thick tongue for this moment,” Madam An said matter-of-factly.
Then, with disdain, she added: “Are you capable or not? If you’re not, just come back; I’ll take over.”
“What do you want to do?”
Madam An: “Anyway, Jiajia must be part of our family, either as my daughter-in-law or your stepfather.”
Zhong Liyu’s scalp tingled: “Mom, stop talking. I was wrong; I’ll go back and sleep in a cardboard box tomorrow.”
“That’s more like it!” Madam An clapped her hands, pleased: “Jiajia is actually very soft-hearted. As long as you show sincerity, it will definitely be useful.”
She continued to ask: “Now tell me, how did you get kicked out?”
Zhong Liyu’s expression twisted: “He’s stingy.”
“Nonsense, Jiajia is the most generous person. I’ve never seen a man so patient. Unlike you two, who act like it’s a matter of life and death just to accompany you on a shopping trip.”
“Mom, you’re biased; why are you asking me?”
“I’m asking you to talk about your situation, not to randomly criticize Jiajia. Keep going.”
“Well, I went to work without a penny, and when I asked him for some shower gel, toothpaste, toothbrush, and old clothes, he got angry.”
“Wasn’t the shower ball Jiajia used fragrant?” Madam An suddenly said.
Zhong Liyu immediately showed a blushing, joyful expression: “It was orange-scented, just like the smell after he took a shower.”
After saying that, he noticed his stepmother looking at him as if he were a pervert, and quickly retracted his expression: “No, that’s not the point; he’s just stingy.”
Madam An sighed: “Just like your dad, if he doesn’t get beaten for three days, he won’t behave. When you were together, Jiajia never hit you; that was such good temper.”
At this moment, Madam An genuinely felt that Lu Qingjia’s character was accommodating.
She relaxed a bit: “Well, since that’s the case, I guess Jiajia is still angry, so I won’t let you go back to annoy him.”
“You can sleep at home tonight. Tomorrow, isn’t there a football match at the old folks’ home? You can watch it before going back; by then, Jiajia should be calmed down.”
Zhong Liyu: “…”
The next morning, Uncle Zheng was in high spirits. When he saw Zhong Liyu still at home, he thought he had indeed come to terms with things and decided not to go back.
Upon learning that the mother and son were preparing to go to the prison to watch the match, he was even more excited, shedding tears of joy, and immediately arranged for a car.
The prison wasn’t close to the manor, and by the time Madam An and the others arrived, the venue was already packed.
In addition to the families of the inmates, a large portion of the audience consisted of tickets sold at a high price online, largely thanks to Father Zhong’s good looks.
Many people came specifically for him; the prison’s official website even featured an image of him in prison clothes holding a football, making him almost the prison’s spokesperson.
After all, he had been crowned the world’s most handsome prisoner for several years running, which was quite a draw. The prison organized the match to enhance its image, donating most of the ticket sales, with a small portion serving as advertising fees for Father Zhong.
Purchasing tickets required real-name registration, so there were strict checks and identity confirmations upon entry.
By the time they sat in the front row, the two teams had already emerged from their respective tunnels.
Madam An looked at the several camera setups on the field and exclaimed, “They even have recordings?”
“Not just that; a TV station has already bought the broadcasting rights. Tickets are nothing; this is the real deal.”
Madam An glanced at her son: “I remember you invested in this prison; you actually made money off your dad?”
Zhong Liyu thought he would be scolded by his mother, but instead, she said: “Well done!”
“I’ve never seen him earn a single legitimate penny in his life.”
Zhong Liyu said: “Hey, I just want my dad to not give up on his pursuit of life.”
“What’s so great about spending twenty years in prison? Many people have come out after serving time and turned their lives around successfully.”
“You see, there are those who have been in prison for twenty or thirty years and then become presidents, and there are those who became superstars after serving time. My dad has everything going for him; he definitely won’t waste away in prison.”
“Look at my dad; if he were to become a star, he would definitely go for the handsome uncle route when he comes out. If I invest in a few tough-guy movies, hire the best special effects team, and add various gimmicks, he won’t do poorly.”
“If he wants to go into politics, he needs to start building his influence now, following the path of redemption. I’ve even thought of his campaign speech.”
“No one knows the underworld better than I do, so no one knows better how to combat it.”
Madam An: “…You really care about your dad.”
Zhong Liyu sighed: “What can I say? Parents are the debts of their children. Which child doesn’t want their parents to be well?”
As he spoke, he heard a sobbing sound from beside him. Zhong Liyu turned his head, puzzled: “Uncle Zheng, why are you crying?”
Uncle Zheng wiped his old tears and forced himself to calm down: “I’m not crying; I’m just feeling emotional.”
Zhong Liyu’s expression softened, and he smiled: “Don’t worry; it’s all good.”
“Mm!”
When you were born, why didn’t the boss find a basin of water to drown you, Char Siu’s son?
As they spoke, Father Zhong appeared at the end of the line.
The popularity of the world’s most handsome prisoner was no joke; as soon as he appeared, the entire audience erupted, filled with the screams of young girls.
Banners and support boards were raised: “Uncle Zhong, I love you!!!”
Behind Zhong Liyu, there was a group of cheerleaders, acting like they were going crazy. Although the number of people present couldn’t compare to a star’s concert, the fans’ enthusiasm was similar.
Some family members of the inmates sitting nearby were confused: “What are you all doing?”
“I was just wondering why so many people came to watch a prisoner play football. My family member is in prison, and I can’t hold my head up in front of relatives and neighbors; why are so many people interested?”
The girl being dragged along impatiently said: “Go away, who cares about your family? We’re here to see our Uncle Zhong.”
“Ah~~, Uncle looks even more handsome than when he was arrested. How can a man become more charming as he ages~~”
“Look at his muscles, that physique, and his skin condition; no current pretty boy can compare!”
“Uncle, I will love you forever!!”
“Uncle, I will wait for you to get out.”
“Uncle, I will steal an electric bike to support you.”
“Uncle, I will rob a bank to be in prison with you.”
The last one was directly arrested by the prison guards.
The family members of the inmates glanced at the prisoner waving at them, causing a chorus of screams from the girls.
Father Zhong was naturally happy to see his wife come over, although Char Siu’s son sitting next to him was annoying, it didn’t dampen his enthusiasm.
However, Madam An, hearing the enthusiasm of the girls behind her, looked at Father Zhong with increasingly sharp eyes.
Father Zhong shivered and awkwardly lowered his hand.
In this match, the two teams were also two factions within the prison, one led by Father Zhong and the other by his arch-nemesis, the notorious Jin.
Jin had been practicing his football skills recently, all to show off against Father Zhong.
However, reality was harsh; he was already a few years older than Father Zhong and didn’t take care of himself as well, so his physical condition was worse than in his youth.
Even if he wanted to kill his spirit, a group of old brothers who once ruled the roost were now unable to coordinate their arms and legs.
Father Zhong’s side was similar; his teammates were all his old subordinates, a bunch of old men playing football, with only Father Zhong performing impressively, as if he were playing in the World Cup.
He was the only one stealing the spotlight, and crucially, this guy was flashy, showing off to his wife whenever he performed well.
Both teammates and opponents felt uncomfortable.
They were all in prison; why was it that only he had a beautiful wife who didn’t age, flaunting their love, and a bunch of young girls chasing after him?
So when the match ended, and the families and players organized a picnic, Father Zhong eagerly pulled Madam An to sit down, ready to cut a sandwich for her.
Jin’s side came over with a group of people, smiling and greeting: “Oh, sister-in-law, here to visit?”
“Long time no see; you look even more beautiful, sister-in-law.”
Father Zhong had been in prison for three years, while Jin had been there even longer. Although he often visited, they had never run into each other.
Madam An smiled: “Old Jin, your performance on the field was impressive.”
“I didn’t expect you to still act like a young man at your age. But don’t overdo it; I just saw your face turning purple. Be careful not to have a heart attack.”
Jin choked, recalling the time he introduced women to Zhong and was chased down by this woman with a knife.
He knew she didn’t like him, but that didn’t stop him from stirring trouble.
He smiled: “So many years have passed, sister-in-law, and your relationship with Old Zhong is still so good. As an older brother, it’s comforting to see.”
“Previously, Old Zhong received love letters and gifts every day; I thought he couldn’t resist temptation and would float away.”
Hearing this, Father Zhong’s expression changed. Jin continued: “I’m not saying this to you, but now that you’re in here, sister-in-law is managing the business and raising the kids outside. It’s not easy; the whole family’s burden is on her. If you don’t understand her hardships, how can you have a second heart?”
“You son of a—” Father Zhong was about to curse, but seeing Madam An’s sharp glare, he immediately shut his mouth.
Madam An still wore a smile, gratefully saying to Jin: “Old Jin, you are indeed more perceptive than the others.”
“This rascal is in prison; if there’s anywhere good, it’s being with you, Old Jin, to look out for each other.”
Jin’s smile froze. When he first saw Old Zhong being locked up, he had been gloating.
But when he went to provoke and mock him, he got his front teeth knocked out. At that time, although the prison’s power dynamics were already established, Old Zhong could fight, and many of his little brothers came in with him.
He had suddenly become the biggest force in the prison, but not long after, because of his good son, they were not allowed to form cliques, and the prison atmosphere was cleaned up repeatedly, making it hard for them to maintain their big brother demeanor.
Over time, he couldn’t win arguments or fights. If it weren’t for the sake of pride, Jin would have applied to transfer prisons long ago; who would want to be locked up with this disaster?
But it wasn’t over yet; Madam An continued with a concerned expression: “By the way, Old Jin, how have you been recently?”
“Uh, not bad?”
“That’s good. Since you’re in prison now, don’t think too much about other things; you can’t manage more than you can handle, and it will only cause you distress.”
Jin had a bad premonition.
But before he could ask, Madam An spoke first: “Actually, it’s understandable; young people are different from us old folks. Anyway, at our age, just living day by day is fine.”
“Your wife remarrying with your son is also a matter of helplessness. But you, at your age, insisted on marrying someone thirty years younger. She has endured holding her nose for years, and even had such a lovely son—”
“Speaking of your son, he’s also burdened by you. If he took after his mother, how beautiful he would be! Unfortunately, he takes after you. But fortunately, his stepfather is handsome and young; when the three of them go out, people will envy them.”
Saying this, she looked at the already ashen-faced Jin with a smile: “Don’t worry; your son is being well taken care of.”
Jin exploded with rage: “That woman remarried? I’m not dead yet; how dare she remarry? Using my money to remarry? And letting my son take someone else’s surname?”
“Come on, be magnanimous, Old Jin,” Madam An said: “Your company collapsed, your assets are gone, and the monkeys scatter when the tree falls. What do you have left? Just an old man nearing eighty.”
She then muttered softly: “Whether you can get out is still uncertain.”
“You can’t hold someone back for a lifetime. And your son, he’s so young; do you want him to be discriminated against by his friends and classmates because his dad is in prison? You can’t be so selfish.”
Jin pointed at Madam An: “You, you old woman—”
As soon as he opened his mouth, Father Zhong’s gaze swept over, terrifyingly different from their usual bickering.
Jin knew he couldn’t win and had to endure the humiliation, sneering: “You can’t compare to me; your son’s dad is not only in prison but also well-known. Haven’t you seen him feeling inferior?”
Zhong Liyu proudly said: “My dad accepts punishment for the mistakes he made and is working on reforming himself. I’m proud of him.”
Jin: “…”
Father Zhong: “…”
Damn it, can someone get this Char Siu out of here? I don’t want to see him.
Jin’s attempt to stir trouble failed, and instead, he left in a huff.
But times have changed; when he was sent in by Father Zhong, although he was in prison, the family power was still there, just with a new leader. Under Father Zhong’s strong presence, they had to lie low.
If it were back then, Jin’s wife would surely not have dared to remarry.
Later, when Zhong Liyu turned his family upside down, those connected to his family naturally didn’t escape either. Now, Jin was just an old man who once had glory; what could he do?
But no one cared about that. Father Zhong was naturally overjoyed that his wife stood up for him.
With a face full of emotion, he said: “Wife—”
Madam An’s expression darkened: “Smile, and you still have the nerve to smile. You old man, at your age, still being flirtatious, thinking about seducing women in prison; do you think as long as you’re still breathing, you can be unruly?”
Father Zhong’s passionate feelings hit a wall, and his temper flared: “How dare you say that? Count how many days it’s been since you came?”
“What are those things you posted on your social media? I’m not dead yet, and you’re already hoping for a second marriage?”
“Yes!” Madam An said casually.
Father Zhong immediately knelt down, not daring to get angry: “Wife, I was wrong. You can scold me as much as you want. If I dare to retort, I’ll slap myself three hundred times. Don’t say anything that will upset you.”
“You know that’s not my fault, right? Your husband being good-looking isn’t a one or two-day thing. Don’t worry; I haven’t read a single letter, and all the gifts and chocolates, I sold them. Plus, the share from this match, I’ve saved it all up.”
“Since your birthday is coming up, I don’t have any legitimate income right now, so I’m thinking of at least being self-sufficient to buy you a decent gift.”
As he spoke, he glanced impatiently at Zhong Liyu: “From now on, we can only rely on each other; are we supposed to depend on that Char Siu?”
Madam An then coldly laughed and turned to her son: “Did you learn something?”
Zhong Liyu applauded in awe: “Indeed, actions speak louder than words. Dad! You’re amazing.”
Father Zhong was confused: “Learn what?”
“Learn how to sweet-talk people.”
Father Zhong’s expression changed: “You went to find that scammer again, didn’t you?”
Madam An smiled: “Not just that, A-Ye has successfully infiltrated the inner circle by selling himself cheap, and it’s only a matter of time before he brings people back.”
“Sell himself cheap?” Father Zhong couldn’t believe it.
“That’s not quite it,” Madam An thought for a moment and denied: “A-Ye at least has a two-thousand salary; when you came to my house to do hard labor, you didn’t earn a penny and had to bring gifts, so you’re the one who is cheaper.”
“Honey, our son is more capable than you; are you happy?”
Father Zhong was so angry he almost spat blood: “What’s wrong with you? You can’t enjoy a good life and sincerely want to disturb the peace at home, right? That scammer can live a good life?”
Madam An said coolly: “You’re not either; I’ve spent twenty or thirty years with you.”
Father Zhong choked: “Anyway, I don’t agree.”
He then looked at his son: “If you have ambition, just come back. As long as you don’t get involved with that scammer, I’ll look at you with a higher regard.”
Zhong Liyu was baffled: “Dad, why would I want you to look at me with higher regard? You’re in prison; aiming for a criminal’s approval? You think too little of your son.”
Father Zhong: “…Get out, get out of here right now, and don’t come back.”
Zhong Liyu helplessly glanced at his biological father, then took out his phone to check: “Fine, it’s almost noon. I have a late shift today; if I don’t go back now, I’ll get my salary deducted, seventy bucks.”
Father Zhong couldn’t believe it: “Wait! Being late means a whole day’s pay deducted? Why doesn’t he go rob a bank?”
“No choice; that’s the contract. If accommodation is included, being late means there’s a problem with the person,” Zhong Liyu said: “I can’t chat anymore, Dad; I have to get to work.”
Chased away and being made to feel like he was wasting time, Father Zhong: “…”
When Zhong Liyu returned to the farm stay, Ouyang Bai had already left.
The shop was still busy; it was just the right time for meals. Because the food here was delicious, much better than the restaurants and other shops outside, many people, even those from other shops, came here to eat.
Zhong Liyu’s appearance caused a small stir, especially among the young girls on vacation with their friends, who were already satisfied to see the legendary handsome boss, but now there was an even bigger handsome guy.
“The quality of the staff here is so high!” many people exclaimed.
Seeing that idiot return, Lu Qingjia didn’t chase him away but pointed to the dining area: “Don’t you see there’s work to do?”
Zhong Liyu’s eyes brightened, rolling up his sleeves to get to work.
After watching the entire match last night, Xiao Wei felt that the original partner was indeed humble; as long as the mistress was willing to leave, they would be grateful.
After finishing the lunch rush, there were two hours of break time.
Except for the staff on duty, everyone else could return to their rooms for a nap.
Before Zhong Liyu was kicked out last night, his room hadn’t been tidied up yet, so he planned to go back and continue cleaning.
As soon as he opened the door, he saw the sheets laid out, the comforter covered, and the necessary daily items neatly arranged in a small basin on the side table.
Taking a look, although it wasn’t his usual luxury brand, it was different from the standard supplies provided by the hotel.
The texture and taste are all things he likes.
On the bed, there were several sets of clothes prepared, both inside and out, with suitable sizes, colors, and styles that he liked.
Zhong Liyu’s face flushed, as if time had returned to those years, feeling the meticulous care he once received.
He felt warm all over, as if a part of his heart was swelling to the point of bursting.
Hugging the clothes, he rolled around on the bed, his face breaking into a silly smile.
After showing off in the room for a while, Zhong Liyu finally calmed his emotions and went out.
As he went downstairs, he ran into Lu Qingjia, who had just come out of his room.
With a surprised smile on his face, he asked, “Did you prepare the things in the room?”
Lu Qingjia replied with a half-smile, “After all, it’s not easy to hire five workers with half a person’s salary; shouldn’t I give a little incentive?”
Zhong Liyu’s smile remained unchanged: “Alright, I guarantee you won’t lose out.”
Seeing Lu Qingjia about to head out, Zhong Liyu quickly followed, asking, “Where are you going?”
Lu Qingjia said, “To the forest party in a few days. There’s a worker who keeps failing to achieve the design effect with the stage setup, so I’m going to take a look.”
Zhong Liyu knew that Lu Qingjia had managed this scenic area quite well; it could be said that the current popularity and surrounding business were all driven by him alone.
So he took it upon himself and said, “I’m going too; my hands-on ability is quite good.”
On the way, Zhong Liyu suddenly remembered, “By the way, I didn’t get a chance to ask you yesterday, how’s the task going?”
Although Lu Qingjia found this guy annoying, he had to admit that an administrator’s understanding of the game was something he couldn’t compare to.
Ouyang Bai, while at the same level, was also rather muddled in his progress through the game, and in fact, he didn’t grasp it as clearly as Zhong Liyu did.
So he openly shared the entire process and results, concluding, “With my performance like this, I should be a transfer student in the next instance, right?”
As he said this, he watched Zhong Liyu’s expression, and sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, the other person’s demeanor changed.
Lu Qingjia chuckled lightly, “So it turns out it’s in another game, right?”
