Deng Shangwei and Wen Dongrong, though brothers-in-law, hadn’t had much contact over the years.
Their life paths were completely different: one navigated the bureaucracy, the other started as a small vendor. Deng Shangwei, despite his wealth, wasn’t arrogant, but Wen Dongrong always held himself aloof, unable to let go of his airs.
Chen Ru and Chen Li, the two sisters, were close, but Wen Dongrong and Deng Shangwei’s brother-in-law relationship was just for show. As Wen Ying came to Chengdu to study, Chen Ru transferred jobs, and the Wen family bought and renovated a place in Chengdu, Deng Shangwei and Wen Dongrong’s interactions gradually increased.
After the Wen family rented two properties to renovate, their finances were tight. Wen Dongrong handed over his salary and bonuses, even quitting smoking to save money. This alone made Dengwei think that, despite Wen Dongrong’s flaws of being bureaucratic and aloof, he was still a responsible, family-loving man.
For big expenses like buying and renovating, quitting smoking didn’t make much difference, but many men couldn’t do it. If their wife suggested it, they’d argue they only had this one hobby, spouting a load of reasons to counter her.
Hobby?
When you can’t even manage life’s basics, what hobby are you talking about?
Quitting smoking had little financial impact for Wen Dongrong, but it showed his attitude: facing temporary family financial strain, he didn’t cut his wife or daughter’s spending, choosing to quit smoking to save a bit where he could!
Moreover, though Wen Dongrong was obsessed with officialdom and liked to put on airs, when he was reported last time, the investigation team found no financial issues, showing he had moral integrity at work.
With no major flaws, minor ones could be overlooked. Deng Shangwei knew nobody’s perfect; he wasn’t a moral paragon himself, so he didn’t judge others harshly while being lenient with himself.
But Wen Dongrong’s behaviour today left Deng Shangwei puzzled.
First, he tricked Deng Shangwei into admitting he knew about Wen Ying’s novel on the phone, then invited him to meet, not blaming him but insisting on treating him to a meal.
Deng Shangwei repeatedly offered to pay, but Wen Dongrong pulled rank as the elder brother-in-law, refusing to let him foot the bill.
When ordering, Wen Dongrong didn’t hold back, as if the one paying wasn’t him but some sucker who needed a good fleecing.
Deng Shangwei, the guest, grew uneasy.
Brother-in-law, that’s enough, really, we won’t finish if you order more.
Only after such earnest pleading did Wen Dongrong stop.
In 2005, Chengdu’s dining costs weren’t high. Except for business entertaining, even Deng Shangwei, worth millions, wouldn’t order like this. Wen Dongrong setting such a lavish lunch made Deng Shangwei nervous.
He’d heard leaders were ruthless, hiding knives behind smiles. Deng Shangwei suspected this meal was his last supper before execution, lavish now, but once full, Wen Dongrong would drag him to Chen Ru for the chop, ugh, the thought was terrifying. When the food arrived, Deng Shangwei ate to calm his nerves.
Little did he know, Wen Dongrong also saw this as a last supper. After handing over his salary and bonuses, he hadn’t spent so freely in ages.
Deng Shangwei ate to steady himself; Wen Dongrong was indulging in revenge spending.
Since he’d suffer either way, might as well spend the money!
After a whirlwind of eating, Wen Dongrong was eighty percent full, put down his chopsticks, and asked Deng Shangwei, Tell me, how do I break this to Wen Ying’s mum? Wen Ying’s got her own mind, we parents can’t control her, and you, her uncle, helped her keep it secret. If that lawyer hadn’t come to my workplace today, I’d still be in the dark!
Probably until Wen Ying got into university.
That lousy idea was Deng Shangwei’s suggestion to Wen Ying. Facing Wen Dongrong’s accusations, Deng Shangwei took it quietly, not arguing back.
Sigh, if not for Aige and that Editor Han slapping Wen Ying with a bad reputation, forcing her to sue to clear her name, her secret could’ve safely lasted until university.
Deng Shangwei understood Wen Dongrong’s mood but was still uneasy, Brother-in-law, what did that lawyer want at your workplace?
What else? To convince me to get Wen Ying to drop the case and settle.
Deng Shangwei couldn’t figure it out, Wen Ying’s lawsuit is almost won, why would they think you’d agree to drop it?
Wen Dongrong recalled his meeting with Lawyer Du, still annoyed.
Lawyer Du was polished, his suit perfectly pressed, his briefcase looking pricey, his whole getup probably worth months of Wen Dongrong’s salary, plus the flashy titles on his card, clearly a well-paid lawyer.
So confident he could persuade him to agree to drop the case?
Pah!
Wen Dongrong hated people making decisions for him or analysing his psyche. Lawyer Du’s arrogance ruined his own chances.
Wen Dongrong waved it off, Who cares what an idiot thinks? Let the idiot jump till his trousers fall off, we just stick to refusing to settle, and that’ll drive him mad. The real issue isn’t him.
Right, as long as Wen Ying didn’t want to settle, and the family didn’t force her to, the opposing lawyer’s antics were useless.
The real problem was if Chen Ru found out, Deng Shangwei’s scalp tingled.
Was Wen Dongrong’s lavish treat just to push him to confess to Chen Ru?
The day came sooner than Deng Shangwei expected.
For the sake of Wen Ying’s relationship with her parents, Deng Shangwei gritted his teeth, Brother-in-law, let me tell her
Wen Dongrong stopped him, What’s the rush? We’ll tell her, but we need to get our story straight. Am I the kind of heartless guy who’d push you into the firing line?
Isn’t that exactly what you are?
Deng Shangwei was genuinely touched now.
A man’s responsibility wasn’t just about family or career ambition, it shone in these details!
They discussed strategies for ages, waiting for Wen Ying’s cooperation.
Finally, Deng Shangwei got through to Wen Ying’s phone.
Having her secret exposed, Wen Ying was a bit panicked, but mostly furious.
Drop the case and settle?
No way.
This lawsuit had to be fought to the end.
Even if Chengdu Publishing Group compromised for profit and agreed to settle, Wen Ying herself wouldn’t.
Uncle, what’s that lawyer’s name?
Surname Du, what was it, brother-in-law, you tell her.
Wen Dongrong took the phone, Du Li!
Wen Ying felt a sense of fated inevitability.
Since meeting Zheng Zhihe early and seeing her mentor in court, Wen Ying knew the familiar faces from her past life would eventually re-enter her world.
Who was Du Li?
An arrogant man.
He had many traits unlike typical lawyers but entered the field early, winning many landmark cases, making him a renowned lawyer in the southwest!
More importantly, since rising to fame, Du Li had always opposed Wen Ying’s mentor. Even when Du Li’s reputation surpassed her mentor’s, this rivalry persisted, leading Wen Ying to repeatedly ask Zheng Zhihe, Did our teacher dig up the Du family’s ancestral grave?
