"You, if you don't want to help, just say so. Why beat around the bush?"

Cheng Baoguo couldn't stand it anymore and muttered under his breath.

"Cheng, what's that supposed to mean? What do you mean I don't want to help him! Those agricultural products are hard to store and hard to sell. If I help him and end up losing money, who do I go to? You?"

Xu Jie looked coldly at Cheng Baoguo, retorting with dissatisfaction.

"You..."

Cheng Baoguo looked at Xu Jie's ugly face, so angered that he couldn't speak.

If it were any normal time, he'd be the type to resort to fists rather than words.

But on an occasion like today, he still had to consider the feelings of the family elder.

"Tch! It's not like I'm saying anything new, but I really look down on you soldiers. You sit around not fighting wars but happily consuming the taxes we pay, just like parasites."

Xu Jie said casually to Cheng Baoguo.

People are such peculiar creatures. Once someone thinks they are the best in the group, they can't help but become a bit full of themselves.

When that pride inflates, they speak without thinking and without regard for how others might take it.

"Um... Brother Xu, Cheng, both of you stop quarreling. The elders are here! If anything unpleasant happens, it won't be good."

Yang Yong quickly stood up to persuade the two as they seemed ready to argue.

Hearing Yang Yong's words, Yang Yan glanced appreciatively at his relative.

Someone's success is secondary; what really matters is their character.

After all, success might be fleeting, but character defines a lifetime.

For now, Yang Yan thought this Yang Yong had a good character.

As for Xu Jie, a simple "heh" sufficed; even commenting on him felt like a waste of time.

Xu Jie snorted coldly, then returned to Zhang Yu's side, sitting down heavily.

"Brother, Grandpa is here today. It's best not to cause trouble or else Grandpa will be very upset. Going home, Dad will also make it hard for you."

Cheng Xueyan tugged Cheng Baoguo's arm, whispering a reminder.

"I know. Otherwise, I'd have sorted out this snobbish trader long ago."

Cheng Baoguo huffed angrily.

"That guy should be Yang Yan, right?"

Cheng Xueyan quickly glanced at Yang Yan, softly inquiring.

"Yeah! That's him. According to the military records, in Huaxia, the first person not to offend is him."

Hearing Cheng Xueyan's words, Cheng Baoguo also instinctively glanced at Yang Yan.

"Doesn't seem like it, though? That Zhou Hanyun is his girlfriend, right? Can he really endure her being teased like that?"

Cheng Xueyan looked at Zhou Hanyun again, frowning unconsciously.

"That, I don't know. Though the guy is really annoying, it's not enough to deal with him severely! He probably just doesn't care from the start, so he can't be bothered to respond."

Cheng Baoguo smiled as he said.

"Hanyun, sister, I'm not saying anything new, but investing here in the Imperial Capital is very risky. One slight mistake, and you'd want to jump off a building from the loss."

After a moment of silence, Xu Jie seemed reluctant to lose his presence and loudly reminded Zhou Hanyun.

"Mhm! Got it, thank you for the reminder, Brother Xu. I'll be careful."

Zhou Hanyun responded with a smile.

Seeing the polite smile on Zhou Hanyun's face, Xu Jie felt increasingly displeased inside.

She always had this expression when speaking to him, yet she addressed Yang Yan with such warmth.

If Yang Yan was truly excellent, that would be one thing. But apart from a slightly good-looking face, his social status was far inferior to his, making it hard for him to tolerate.

"I wonder how the talk is going with the elders. If anything happens to the elderly folks, what should be done?"

Zhou Hanyun looked at Yang Yan, expressing a bit of concern.

"It's fine. They've weathered countless storms, surviving on the battlefield, so what would a gathering like this amount to? Don't worry, nothing will happen."

Yang Yan smiled reassuringly.

"This brother's name is Yang Yan, right? How do you find the Imperial Capital these days? Isn't the entrepreneurial environment obviously much better than other places?"

"It's not like I'm saying anything new, but as young people, we should venture out more. When I was your age, I had already started my second company."

Seeing Yang Yan and Zhou Hanyun whispering intimately again, Xu Jie couldn't help but interrupt them.

"This place? It's okay! As for entrepreneurship, I've never been very attentive to it. Hanyun handles those things quite well. I just support her in other aspects."

Yang Yan smiled lightly as he spoke.

"Hey! Why doesn't this young man have any ambition? Letting a woman struggle outside while you're contentedly eating off her at home, isn't it bad?"

Xu Jie, watching Yang Yan, said with a smile.

He finally found an opportunity to step on Yang Yan.

"Not at all! I don't find anything bad about it. The thing with living off someone else always depends on looks."

"For instance, I can comfortably live off someone, whereas Brother Xu has to toil in entrepreneurship, facing wind and rain, sun and storm, even fear and worry. Honestly, I don't envy Brother Xu at all!"

Yang Yan deliberately provoked the malicious Xu Jie with his words.

"I knew it; this guy is no pushover."

Cheng Baoguo murmured, wearing a schadenfreude smile.

He was eager for that self-righteous Xu Jie to keep provoking Yang Yan.

"What do you mean by that?"

Xu Jie asked with some anger.

"What else could it mean? Just the literal meaning! He's saying you're ugly and can't even manage to live off someone if you wanted."

Beside them, a woman who was evidently displeased with Xu Jie couldn't help but chime in sarcastically.

"I remember your name is Zhao Meng, right? What's your deal?"

Xu Jie looked coldly at Zhao Meng, asking indignantly.

Zhao Meng wasn't particularly striking, but not unattractive either.

She exuded a youthful vigor that made her pleasant to see.

Zhao Meng sneered as she said:

"No reason, really, just bothered by you constantly flaunting your superiority."

"Today, everyone came to accompany the elders. Otherwise, I guess nobody would willingly come over."

"You, of all people, have been causing trouble ever since you got here, even ranking people when introducing ourselves."

"Do you really think you're the most outstanding here? It's time to wake up!"

Yang Yan couldn't help but laugh, sighing:

"Tsk tsk! This sister is quite the sharp tongue, really doesn't spare any face at all!"

Hearing Yang Yan's words, Sun Jing beside him let out a laugh.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.