The Two-Hundred-Thousand-Yuan Gold-Inlaid Jade Bangle

"Same day every year, same spectacle every year. It's like an annual show, and you're the star."

Xia Shiying approached with a mocking smile. The moment he opened his mouth, he began ridiculing Zhang Yang in front of all the guests, without a thought for his dignity or feelings.

Zhang Yang grinned and shot back, "Others laugh at me for being mad; I laugh because they cannot see the truth!"

"Haha... Quoting Tang Bohu now, are you? Wait... Are you calling me an idiot?"

Xia Shiying stared in surprise. He had not expected that comeback, and his interpretation sent the room into laughter.

"Hahaha..."

The two of them were like a comedy duo. They had traded only one line each, but it was already entertaining.

Xia Shiying frowned. Zhang Yang had never dared talk back before. He had always kept his head down, and the rare times he responded to a jab, his words were feeble. Why had he suddenly grown witty enough to mock him with an old saying?

"Zhang Yang, show some respect! Xia Shiying is your brother-in-law, after all." Cheng Dongyu stepped forward and scolded him as though she were his elder.

Zhang Yang gave a cold smile but said nothing.

"Oh, a present? What have you brought Mom this year? Don't tell me it's another market-stall trinket." Cheng Dongxue felt her husband had been insulted. Spotting the box in Zhang Yang's hands, she changed the subject to get even for his jab at Xia Shiying. She was certain the gift would give her the perfect opportunity.

"Nothing much. Just a little thing I bought at the secondhand market." Zhang Yang held back a laugh and answered his eldest sister-in-law honestly.

"Hahaha! That's worse than I thought. At least last year's market-stall trinket was new. How did you have the nerve to bring something secondhand this year?" Sensing his chance, Xia Shiying jumped in to mock Zhang Yang.

"Sis, brother-in-law, that's enough. Whatever it cost, Zhang Yang put thought into it, and he spent—"

"Spent what? It can't have cost much. Secondhand things are always cheap, and sometimes nobody even wants them. Haha, you're killing me!" Cheng Dongyu cut Cheng Dongxue off.

Cheng Dongxue had meant to defend Zhang Yang and tell them the truth. But before she could say how much he had spent, Cheng Dongyu seized the conversation and left her unable to finish.

"Fair enough. It isn't worth much!" Zhang Yang held himself back. He could not control how others mocked or looked down on him, but he knew better than anyone what kind of man he was now.

"Of course. How could a good-for-nothing without a job afford a proper gift? Your wife probably even pays for the groceries!" Xia Shiying looked around to draw the guests' attention, then focused it on Zhang Yang and let his mockery fly.

"Heh. My wife's good to me. She gives me spending money, and I've been saving it day by day. It's added up." Zhang Yang grinned.

"Hahaha! This live-in son-in-law of the Cheng Family is something else. Is he stupid? Can't he tell when someone's mocking him?"

"Seriously. Why did the Cheng Family take in a man like that? A dog would be better. What a waste of the beautiful Cheng Dongxue. She must be living like a widow!"

"Come to think of it, Cheng Dongxue's still a fine young lady. She can't count as secondhand. That marriage will end in divorce sooner or later. Wonder which lucky bastard will get her then?"

The guests laughed and discussed Zhang Yang without restraint. Cheng Dongxue, meanwhile, suddenly became the center of attention.

"Zhang Yang, have you lost your mind? Wise up!" Cheng Dongxue's cheeks burned as the guests laughed at her. She tried to pull her hand from his arm, but he held it firmly in place.

"Don't rush. Let the guests enjoy themselves. Today's show will give them a bigger surprise. There's no need to tell them about the White Jade Hairpin yet. The harder they mock me now, the more embarrassed they'll be later," Zhang Yang said confidently.

"Zhang Yang, what are you planning? This is my mother's birthday banquet. Don't ruin it." Cheng Dongxue was afraid he would lose his temper and make a scene.

Zhang Yang smiled coldly. "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."

Cheng Dongxue worried that Zhang Yang would lose control, but Lin Xiaofei, standing nearby, did not mind. He was not her husband in any official sense. For now, they simply needed each other.

Still, hearing people mock him left Lin Xiaofei simmering with anger. After all, he knew his way around her body.

"I didn't expect you to bring a decent gift, but ours isn't just any birthday present. As you know, your brother-in-law was recently promoted. His position and income have both gone up, so we've prepared something much more valuable. Mom will love it," Cheng Dongxue said happily.

Xia Shiying was a department manager at a publicly listed company. His promotion had happened not long ago, and he had treated the family to dinner that day. Naturally, they had made sure Zhang Yang came along.

Zhang Yang gave them someone to talk about and someone to compare themselves with. Beside him, they could always feel superior and hold their heads high.

Xia Shiying had not earned all that much before, but as a department manager, his monthly salary had reached a million.

A million a month made him a high earner in Gong City, and it was enough to make others envious. The old Zhang Yang would have felt jealous too.

But that was then. Now, Zhang Yang did not think much of that income.

"Show them. Let it dazzle his eyes," Xia Shiying said proudly.

At his urging, Cheng Dongyu brought over the gift box and opened it.

"Wow, that can't have been cheap!"

"It's beautiful!"

"If my son-in-law gave me that, I'd be over the moon."

Inside lay a Gold-Inlaid Jade Bangle. The Hetian Jade was a fine, pale white, set with gold around the outside. Substantial and exquisitely made, it was an excellent birthday present.

As the guests praised it, Xia Shiying and Cheng Dongxue beamed with pride. They lifted the bangle for everyone to see.

"It cost me two hundred thousand yuan, and that was the discounted price a friend gave me. It'll go up in value, too." Xia Shiying had plenty of friends in business, though those friendships were bound tightly by self-interest. Any discount was relative.

"That's a lovely bangle."

"Two hundred thousand? It's worth it."

"Now there's a son-in-law the Cheng Family can be proud of."

Once everyone had admired the bangle, Xia Shiying and Cheng Dongyu basked in the praise. They held their heads high, delighted to show off in front of the guests.

"Second sister!" Another fashionably dressed woman arrived. Cheng Dongxue greeted her, then noticed she was alone. "Where's second brother-in-law?"

"Oh, him? His new company just opened, so he's busy. He asked me to come ahead with Mom's birthday present. He'll be here soon."