Chapter 416: Chapter 416: It’s All Your Fault
Han the Third clapped a hand over his mouth in disbelief, not even bothering to swallow the food inside.
He asked indistinctly, "Brother-in-law, can you bring us in on your research?"
Su Shuochi glanced nonchalantly at Han the Third. He gracefully swallowed his food and said,
"Bring you along? How? We’re planning to recruit some recent graduates and provide them with some direction."
"Shuo Ci, would you be interested in being a part-time professor at a university?" Old Sir Han asked.
His good friend, Old Shen, was a university president. They would be delighted to have a talent like Su Shuochi help cultivate the nation’s best and brightest.
"Mr. Han’s suggestion is a good one. My wife and I want to contribute more to the country and its people."
Su Shuochi agreed without hesitation. His wife had so much high-end equipment in her ’space,’ and he was genuinely willing to teach others.
He had been worried about not having an opportunity to promote it. If he could go to a university and teach students directly, they could refine the research even further.
That would be a wonderful way to benefit the nation and its people. Besides, if he became a professor, he could see his wife more often.
Everyone at the Han family dinner was in high spirits. The younger generation of the Han family admired their granduncle and grandaunt even more.
But two people were displeased from beginning to end: Han Meizhen and her second daughter, Xu Lin.
Han Meizhen was simply unhappy. She just didn’t like it when everyone’s attention was on someone else.
Ever since she was a child, she had loved the feeling of being admired. The contrast today was too stark, which was why she was so sullen.
But Xu Lin was different. Her grandfather, whom she admired most, and both her uncles were now looking at Su Shuochi in a new, impressed light.
This made her fall even harder for the handsome and brilliant man. The way he looked at his wife was so adoring and tender.
He was so gentle as he served her food and soup. Xu Lin wished she could just pull Gu Jiaojiao away and take her place beside him.
Her heart had long been twisted by jealousy and hatred.
Her dad kept his eyes on her, terrified she would do something out of line. Her grandfather and eldest uncle would also glance at her occasionally.
Those glances were full of warning, their eyes flashing with a cold glint.
Seeing that Su Shuochi had agreed to teach at the university, Old Sir Han put down his bowl and invited them to the study to discuss the details.
He also called his two sons and son-in-law to the study. Han Meizhen saw Su Shuochi take Gu Jiaojiao by the hand.
She said with a beaming smile, "Aunt, the men are going to the study to talk business. Let’s us women sit together and have a little chat."
"My Jiaojiao is as capable as any man. She’s coming with us to discuss things..."
Gu Jiaojiao cut her husband off before he could finish. "Shuo Ci, it’s enough for you and Mr. Han to talk. I’ll stay downstairs and hang out with them."
Old Sir Han and his two sons all shot Han Meizhen a glare at the same time, their expressions terrifyingly dark. Her third brother, in particular, looked at her as if he wanted to kill her.
Since Gu Jiaojiao was also willing to stay, they couldn’t say anything more and went upstairs, clearly displeased.
Gu Jiaojiao was admiring Su Shuochi’s tall, straight back when she caught a burning gaze fixed on her man out of the corner of her eye.
She turned her head, her sharp gaze stabbing at Xu Lin’s face. "Is this how you normally stare at other people’s husbands?"
"I was looking at my dad. What’s it to you?" Xu Lin’s voice was arrogant and shrill, sounding somewhat frightful to everyone’s ears.
The few people she was most afraid of were no longer in the living room, so what did she have to fear?
"Is that how you speak to your grandaunt? You look human enough, so why don’t you act like one?"
"Aunt? Hmph, I only call you ’Aunt’ out of respect for my father. Did you really think that makes you our elder? My daughter just glances at her dad and she gets interrogated by you?"
Han Meizhen looked at Gu Jiaojiao with disgust, her tone dripping with contempt.
Anyone else hearing Han Meizhen’s words would have been choked speechless and stormed off in anger.
But Gu Jiaojiao didn’t play by the rules. She elegantly picked up the teacup in front of her and took a sip.
Then, she said slowly, "You’re not getting any younger. Have you only been growing wrinkles and not a brain?
"Otherwise, how could you not even understand basic etiquette? I am your father’s sworn sister. If that doesn’t make me your elder, what does?"
"You... you..." Han Meizhen was so angry her eyes went wide, but she couldn’t utter a single word for a long moment.
The thing she hated most in the world was people mentioning her wrinkles. Even her oldest sister-in-law didn’t have as many wrinkles as she did.
Because she had always been an armchair critic who found fault in everything, she had suffered more than others during their years in the countryside.
"Seductress!" Xu Lin roared. Seeing her mother’s face turn red with anger, she immediately stood up and yelled at Gu Jiaojiao.
She had long been dissatisfied with this so-called grandaunt, who was younger and more beautiful than her. This was the source of her jealousy.
There’s no reasoning with an angry person. Xu Lin’s jealous heart was already twisted.
She blurted out, "What kind of vixen tricks did you use to fool my grandfather into accepting you as a sworn sister? My grandmother has been dead for years. I bet you’re more like his ’darling sister’!"
SLAP! SLAP! Without another word, Gu Jiaojiao landed two hard slaps on Han Meizhen’s face.
"Your daughter is so spoiled and domineering because of you. That’s why she acts so brazenly, isn’t it?
"Han Meizhen, has anyone ever told you that if you don’t discipline your child properly, someone else will do it for you?"
Han Meizhen was stunned by the slaps. She instinctively covered her swollen cheeks with her hands.
"Today, I’m going to teach this ignorant little pest, Xu Lin, a lesson for you!"
SLAP! SLAP! Gu Jiaojiao landed another two heavy slaps on Xu Lin’s face.
"Xu Lin, these two slaps from your grandaunt are to teach you a lesson: keep your mouth clean."
SLAP!
"This slap is to teach you to have some shame!"
SLAP! "This slap is to teach you to know your place."
Gu Jiaojiao slapped her again and again, viciously striking Xu Lin’s face. "And this slap is to teach you that your grandaunt is someone you can’t afford to provoke!"
"Gu Jiaojiao, you bitch, you..." Xu Lin was completely stunned by Gu Jiaojiao’s assault.
When she came to her senses, she shrieked at the top of her lungs, "How dare you hit me? Believe it or not, I’m going to report you for assault right now and have the police throw you in jail!"
"Go on, report me. If that’s too far, just go upstairs and tattle. Your grandfather and uncles hold pretty high positions, don’t they?"
Gu Jiaojiao kicked Xu Lin, sending her flying onto the sofa. Her eyes, glinting with a cold light, bore into the stupefied Han Meizhen.
Han Meizhen felt as if a knife was suddenly at her throat, ready to slit it.
Especially when she remembered the warning-filled gazes from her father and eldest brother before they went upstairs, a shiver ran down her spine.
’I’m so screwed.’
She stammered, "Aunt... Auntie..."
"So now you know I’m your aunt? Too late. I won’t acknowledge disrespectful, ill-mannered juniors like you."
All the Han family grandchildren: ...
They all stared angrily at their biological aunt, their gazes an accusation: ’This is all your fault, Aunt and Xu Lin.’
