chapter 1 humiliated

The luxurious Xiao family villa was brightly lit tonight.
Tonight, it was the 70th birthday feast of the Xiao family's matriarch, Old Lady Xiao.
Grandsons, granddaughters, and their spouses presented extravagant gifts.
"Grandma, I heard you love tea. This century-old Pu'er tea brick worth half a million is a gift for your birthday."
"Grandma, knowing your devotion to Buddhism, this jade Buddha carved from Hetian jade is worth seven hundred thousand..."
Old Lady Xiao looked at the various gifts, laughing heartily, the family immersed in joy.
Suddenly, Bradley Ye, Old Lady Xiao's eldest grandson-in-law, spoke up,"Grandma, could I borrow a million? Aunt Li from the orphanage has uremia and needs money for treatment..."
The entire Xiao family was shocked.
Everyone looked at Bradley Ye in disbelief.
This son-in-law, who didn't even bring a gift for the birthday, had the audacity to ask Old Lady Xiao for a million?
Three years ago, the late Mr. Xiao, found Bradley Ye and insisted on marrying his granddaughter, Lorcia Xiao, to him. At that time, Bradley was penniless, almost like a beggar.
After their marriage and the passing of Mr. Xiao, the Xiao family schemed to drive Bradley away.
But Bradley, undisturbed by insults, remained as the son-in-law in the Xiao family.
Asking Old Lady Xiao for money today was a desperate move.
Aunt Li, who took him in and saved his life, was suffering from uremia. Dialysis and a kidney transplant would cost at least a million, and he had no choice but to ask Old Lady Xiao.
He thought, on Old Lady Xiao's birthday, perhaps she would be charitable enough to help.
Unexpectedly, Old Lady Xiao's face turned from laughter to anger instantly.
She slammed her tea cup to the ground, yelling,"You good-for-nothing, are you here to celebrate or beg for money?"
Bradley's wife, Lorcia Xiao, hurriedly stepped forward to explain,"Grandma, Bradley is thoughtless, please don't be offended."
While pulling Bradley aside, Brandice Xiao, Lorcia's cousin, sneered,"Sister, look at the trash you married! Canille Wang, my fiancé, gave Grandma a Hetian jade Buddha, and your husband, without any gift, shamelessly asks Grandma for money!"
"That's right, Bradley brother, we both are sons-in-law of the Xiao family, but you, as the eldest, are truly a failure!"
The speaker, Canille Wang, Brandice's fiancé and a local prominent family's young master, always felt irked seeing Lorcia, a renowned goddess in Jin Ling, married to a 'loser' like Bradley.
"This trash should leave our Xiao family as soon as possible!"
"That's right! He's disgraced our Xiao family!"
"I think he's purposely ruining Grandma's birthday mood by asking for money!"
Bradley clenched his fists as the entire Xiao family targeted and insulted him.
If not for the need to raise money for his savior, he would have left this place of conflict long ago.
Remembering his father's teaching to repay kindness, he suppressed his humiliation, pleading with Old Lady Xiao,"Grandma, saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-level pagoda. Please, show mercy..."
Someone scoffed,"Bradley, stop trying to bewitch Grandma. If you want to save someone, find your own way. Why should Grandma pay for your savior? What are you?"
The speaker was Daniel Xiao, Brandice's brother, who, along with his sister, always felt overshadowed by Lorcia and loved to seize opportunities to mock Bradley.
Lorcia, slightly embarrassed, said,"Grandma, Bradley lost his father at eight and was raised by Aunt Li from the orphanage. His gratitude is sincere. Please help him..."
Old Lady Xiao darkly responded,"Help him? Fine, but only if you divorce him and marry Eric Zhang. Do that, and I'll give him a million right away."
Eric Zhang, the man Old Lady Xiao mentioned, was a suitor of Lorcia and belonged to a more powerful family in Jin Ling. Old Lady Xiao had always wanted to curry favor with them.
Suddenly, the butler hurried in, announcing,"Eric Zhang has sent a birthday gift! A Buddha pendant carved from old mine jadeite, worth three million!"
Old Lady Xiao was overjoyed,"Bring it here, let me see!"
The butler presented a vibrant, flawless jadeite Buddha pendant, eliciting gasps of admiration from everyone.
Seeing this, Canille Wang, who had gifted the Hetian jade Buddha, felt overshadowed, surprised by Eric Zhang's generous gesture despite having no relation to the Xiao family.
Old Lady Xiao, delighted with the jadeite pendant, exclaimed,"Ah, Eric Zhang is so thoughtful! If he could be my grandson-in-law, I'd be laughing in my dreams!"
Looking at Lorcia, she asked,"What about my offer?"
Lorcia shook her head,"Grandma, I won't divorce Bradley."
Old Lady Xiao's expression turned stormy, scolding,"Ungrateful! Clinging to this useless man! Let him leave my birthday feast!"
Disappointed with the Xiao family, Bradley had no face to stay. He told Lorcia,"I'll go check on Aunt Li at the hospital."
Lorcia quickly said,"I'll come with you."
Old Lady Xiao retorted,"If you leave, you are no longer my granddaughter! Take your parents and leave with this useless man!"
Lorcia was stunned by her grandmother's harsh words.
Bradley urged her to stay and left without waiting for a response.
Daniel Xiao mockingly called after him,"Oh, dear brother-in-law, leaving hungry? Don't end up begging on the streets, or you'll disgrace our Xiao family even more! Here's a coin, buy yourself a bun!"
Laughing, he tossed a coin at Bradley's feet.
The entire Xiao family erupted in laughter.
Bradley bit his lip and left without looking back.
...
Arriving at the hospital, Bradley immediately went to the billing department, hoping to delay the medical fees.
But he was told that Aunt Li had been urgently transferred to the best hospital in Yanjing, Concord Hospital.
Shocked, Bradley inquired about the cost,"How much? I'll find a way!"
The nurse informed him,"It's three million in total. One million has been paid, two million is still needed within a week."
"Who paid the first million?"
The nurse shook her head,"I don't know."
Confused, Bradley was about to investigate when a man in his fifties, wearing a black suit with slightly graying hair, stood behind him.
They exchanged glances, and the man bowed,"Young master, you've suffered all these years!"
Bradley frowned,"Are you Paul Tang?"
Paul Tang, surprised, said,"Young master, you remember me!"
Bradley's expression hardened,"Of course I remember! You all forced my parents to flee Yanjing with me, leading to their accidental deaths, leaving me an orphan. What do you want from me now?"
Paul Tang looked pained,"Young master, your father's death deeply grieved the old master. He's been searching for you for years. Please, come back with me to see him."
Bradley coldly refused,"Leave. I'll never see him in my life."
Paul Tang asked,"Do you still blame the old master?"
"Of course," Bradley firmly said,"I will never forgive him in my lifetime."
Paul Tang sighed,"The old master expected you might not forgive him."
"He's self-aware, then!"
Paul Tang continued,"The old master knows you've suffered these years and wants to compensate you. If you don't want to return, he's willing to buy Jin Ling's largest enterprise for you and give you this card. The PIN is your birthday."
Presenting a top-tier black gold card from the National City Bank of New York, Paul Tang added,"There are only five such cards nationwide."
Bradley declined,"Take it back, I don't want it."
Paul Tang mentioned,"Your savior still needs two million for medical fees. Without it, she might be in danger..."
Bradley frowned,"Are you plotting against me?"
Paul Tang hurriedly assured,"Not at all! This card is enough to cover the fees."
Bradley asked,"How much is in the card?"
Paul Tang replied,"The old master said it's a little pocket money for you, not much, just ten billion."