Chapter 417: Chapter 417: Not to be Trifled With
"Aunt, you’re a magnanimous person. Please forgive my daughter for her ignorance." Han Meizhen humbled herself and apologized.
"And you think just because you’ve apologized, I have to accept it?"
"No... I can’t be sure..."
The powerful aura radiating from Gu Jiaojiao was so intimidating that Han Meizhen started to stutter.
She shrank back timidly, hiding behind He Yulan. "Aunt..."
"Do you think your daughter’s face is so beautiful?" Gu Jiaojiao asked, taking another step forward.
Han Meizhen had always prided herself on her daughter’s peerless beauty, but Gu Jiaojiao’s terrifying presence now left her completely tongue-tied.
How could she possibly dare to say her daughter was beautiful now? "No... not beautiful..."
"Mom! How could you give in to that fox—!"
Han Meizhen loudly cut her daughter off. "Linlin, not another word!"
’If you keep talking, even I won’t be able to protect you,’ she thought. ’This aunt is no simple woman. My daughter really crossed a line with what she said.’
"Since she isn’t pretty, why is she still here being an eyesore? Your brains must be working overtime!"
Han Meizhen jolted, so frightened she collapsed to her knees. "My brain... isn’t... isn’t working..."
"So, are you going to get out of your Grand-aunt’s sight and go hide in your room?"
"I’ll get out right now. I’ll take Linlin and get out and go back to our room... Aunt, you’re a bigger person than this, please don’t tell on us."
Realizing this aunt truly didn’t want to see them, Han Meizhen grabbed her daughter and scrambled away as if fleeing for her life.
"Mom, are you afraid of that fox— MMMMPH..." Han Meizhen clamped one hand over her daughter’s mouth and dragged her away with the other, making a swift escape.
’Though I’m arrogant, I’m not a fool. If Gu Jiaojiao dares to strike us in the Han family home, it means she isn’t afraid of the Han family.’
Only then did Han Meizhen realize that it wasn’t this aunt who was trying to climb the social ladder by latching onto the Han family; rather, it was the Han family that needed to rely on that handsome man.
’That young, handsome man is clearly a dragon among men. His family background must be extraordinary.’
The Xu family’s eighteen-year-old son had been standing by, stunned. He was left speechless by Gu Jiaojiao’s actions.
Deep down, he admired this grand-aunt, because his mother was usually very arrogant in the Xu household.
She always acted high and mighty in front of his aunts, all because the Xu family owed its current success to his maternal grandfather and uncles.
His second older sister was just as domineering, treating all their female cousins horribly.
But no one in the Xu family dared to argue with his mother and sister, let alone slap them!
Gu Jiaojiao noticed the young man, who was not yet twenty, staring blankly at Han Meizhen and Xu Lin’s retreating backs.
His dark, somber eyes were like a surging black tide, threatening to swallow all light.
Gu Jiaojiao knew he was Han Meizhen’s son. She asked deliberately, "What’s your name? How old are you this year?"
"Grand-aunt, my name is Xu Haifeng. I’m nineteen and a college freshman. I would like to apologize to you on behalf of my mother and sister."
"You didn’t do anything wrong. What is there to apologize for?" Gu Jiaojiao’s voice was gentle.
Hearing Gu Jiaojiao’s gentle voice, Xu Haifeng’s sense of guilt grew even stronger.
Just as he was at a loss for what to do, he heard his cousin, Han Jingyi, clap him on the shoulder and say,
"Cousin Haifeng, our grand-aunt is a very good person. She doesn’t usually get angry. Your mom and sister just went too far today. A few slaps are for their own good."
What Han Jingyi didn’t mention was that when his grand-aunt got angry, she had broken a senior student’s arm and fed her a whole bag of salt.
Hearing this, Xu Haifeng nodded quickly. "Thank you, Jingyi. My mom and second sister were indeed out of line today. Please accept my apology, Grand-aunt."
Han Jingyi had already walked up to Gu Jiaojiao and asked furtively, "Grand-aunt, does your hand hurt? Heh heh, you should have called me over to do the slapping."
After hearing what Han Jingyi said, Gu Jiaojiao smiled. "This kid, Jingyi, is really so considerate."
Hearing the aunt praise her youngest son so highly, He Yulan’s face blossomed into a smile. "You little rascal, hurry up and thank your grand-aunt for her kind words."
"Mom, you have no idea. Grand-aunt praises me all the time." Han Jingyi grinned so widely his eyes narrowed to slits, revealing a set of white teeth.
Han Jingyi’s male and female cousins all gathered around Gu Jiaojiao, calling her "Grand-aunt."
Gu Jiaojiao looked at the crowd and acknowledged their greetings with a warm smile.
Then she raised her hands to quiet them down. "Everyone, don’t be so loud. Your grandfather is still upstairs in a meeting. Come, come, everyone sit down and talk."
Seeing this, everyone immediately clapped their hands over their mouths and quickly squeezed onto the long sofa across from Gu Jiaojiao.
Those who couldn’t get a spot leaned over the back of the sofa, staring at their grand-aunt with wide, round eyes.
He Yulan, for her part, sat on the loveseat next to Gu Jiaojiao, looking at her with a face full of admiration.
"Aunt, what kind of fruit do you like? I’ll go wash some for you," asked the Han family’s third aunt, her face all smiles.
"Third Aunt, please sit. Grand-aunt likes grapes and cantaloupe. We’ll go wash them," Han Jingyi said fawningly, smiling like a sunflower.
"Jingyi, I just finished a big meal and don’t want any fruit right now. Besides, we have to go back to my parents’ house for dinner later."
Gu Jiaojiao smilingly declined the Han family’s eager hospitality and then asked, "Are your jobs going well?"
"It’s going smoothly enough, but it doesn’t match my major. I’m not too happy about working at the post and telecommunications office," the son of the third Han uncle said sheepishly.
In this era, a job at the post office was one of the best you could get. He only got in because the Han family had connections.
"What did you major in?" Gu Jiaojiao was intrigued. ’Hard to believe there are still people who are picky about their jobs these days.’
"I majored in mechanical and electrical engineering."
"That’s an excellent major. Why did you end up at the post office?" Gu Jiaojiao asked curiously.
"There weren’t any suitable companies hiring, so my eldest uncle temporarily arranged for me to work at the post office."
One of the young women of the Han family blurted out without thinking, "Third Brother, if you don’t want to work at the post office, give the job to me!
I don’t want to sell bus tickets anymore. Riding the bus all day is so tiring. If I worked at the post office, I could just sit there instead of running around all over the place."
"I want to work at the post office too."
"The jobs you have now are at the best companies, and here you are, being picky.
So many people don’t even have a formal job yet, and you all don’t appreciate the good fortune you have.
These are all official jobs with vacation time and a stable income. Aren’t you satisfied? It’s not like doing odd jobs for people.
People who do odd jobs get paid for the day they work. If they don’t work, they have to pay for their own meals out of pocket!"
"Heh heh, Mom, why are you blowing this out of proportion? We were just kidding around with Grand-aunt," said He Yulan’s daughter, pulling on her arm coquettishly.
He Yulan: "..."
"Say, you studied electrical engineering? Your grand-uncle is looking for someone with exactly those skills. Would you be interested in joining his..."
Before Gu Jiaojiao could finish, Han Jinglin cut in eagerly, "I’m willing! Very willing!"
