School Beauty's Invincible Martial Expert

"Oh, I almost forgot!" Xiao Han suddenly stuck out his tongue as realization hit him.

Having said that, he hurriedly picked up the third bowl from the table and filled it up with rice, hastily placing it in front of his father's portrait after bowing three times, carefully setting the brimming bowl before the image.

Mother Xiao stood behind Xiao Han; she lit a few candles and three sticks of incense.

"Old Xiao, it's been several years since you've been gone," Mother Xiao sighed, then added earnestly, "In the blink of an eye, four years have passed. Look at our son now, he's really made something of himself. Back then, Xiao Han was the top college entrance exam scorer, and now he's not the same boy—he has become a company owner and owns millions in assets. Old Xiao, if you know of this in the underworld, you should be smiling from ear to ear."

Mother Xiao murmured beside him, appearing quite nostalgic. For her, her husband was once her pillar of support. After his death, she lost this support, the man she relied on for survival; back then, she had nearly followed him to the grave. If it were not for Xiao Han's presence, she might no longer be in this world.

Now, Xiao Han had become her only support, the only family she had left in the world. Mother Xiao felt her decision to not follow her husband was wise because her son was still here. If she had acted impulsively back then, it could have led to eternal regret.

"Mom, don't be sad," Xiao Han said, watching his mother cry, unable to help feeling emotional. "It's been so many years. Maybe Dad has already been reincarnated, right? He must have his own life now, his own destiny."

"Mm!" Mother Xiao nodded, then said, "I understand."

"Alright, let's eat," Xiao Han suggested with a nod.

The New Year's Eve dinner is the most lavish meal of the year. Of course, that's what the older generation would say. These days, every family can afford such meals. On ordinary days, everyone has chicken, duck, fish, and meat.

It wasn't like the old days of hard times when daily meals were composed of vegetables and radishes, with meat only eaten during holidays.

"Xiao Han, eat up!" Mother Xiao was worried her son might be hungry.

"Mom, I know," Xiao Han nodded and said, "Things are different now; in the past, we could only enjoy delicacies during the holidays, but now we can have them anytime. Besides, are you still worried I don't have enough to eat? I've opened a restaurant right outside Shuimu University; I can eat there anytime!"

"Really?" Mother Xiao exclaimed in surprise. "You never told me about this!"

"Heh, there are a lot of things I haven't had the chance to tell you yet!" Xiao Han laughed.

"Then you have to tell me from now on!" Mother Xiao quickly said.

"Sure thing!" Xiao Han nodded.

Sharing in her son's success was Mother Xiao's joy. Who could deny a mother's love? Every mother hopes her son will be successful. It's unquestionable. Mother Xiao had always hoped her son would achieve great things and lead a better life. Now that her son was on that path, it was an immensely proud moment for her.

"By the way!" Mother Xiao started.

"What is it?" asked Xiao Han, puzzled.

"Tomorrow we have to visit Eldest Uncle's house to celebrate the New Year!" Mother Xiao quickly replied.

"Why?" Xiao Han was taken aback.

"Since we went last year, it won't hurt to go again," Mother Xiao said with a smile, continuing, "They're relatives, after all. We should keep in touch; otherwise, our relationship might not last."

"Alright," Xiao Han agreed, then said, "But, Mom… don't mention anything about my business to them, and if they ask to borrow money, we definitely shouldn't lend it. They all came asking for a loan after I received a scholarship from the college entrance exams. If they find out I've made so much money, who knows how they might try to suck up to me!"

Xiao Han wasn't a materialistic person. What he disliked most were people like his Eldest Uncle and Second Uncle, who were typical snobs—especially his aunt, who was a huge snob. When you have money, they can't wait to cling to you, and when you don't, they keep their distance and might even kick you while you're down. As the saying goes, 'In the mountains, rich relatives are readily found; in the city, no one asks about you when you're down.' Xiao Han had experienced such life first-hand, which is why he looked down on the ways of Eldest and Second Xiao.

"Understood!" Mother Xiao nodded, saying, "I'm not one to show off."

"Heh heh…" Xiao Han chuckled.

Right after dinner, Li Dapang's voice rang out from the outside.

"Xiao Han!" Li Dapang called out loudly from outside the door.

"This damn fatty," Xiao Han couldn't help but curse, "Can't even let a man have a peaceful New Year's Eve dinner."

"Xiao Han!" the voice grew louder.

"Have you eaten enough?" Mother Xiao asked.

"I'm full," Xiao Han nodded.

"Then go out and have fun," Mother Xiao said with a smile. "I'll take care of cleaning the table."

The New Year's Eve dinner was a quiet affair for just the two of them, unlike other families bustling with numerous members, where the dinner was always a lively event. Xiao Han had just reached the door when suddenly, a figure barged in from outside.

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Ouch...

Xiao Han actually bumped right into someone.

"Ouch..." the other person screamed in pain.

"Who's there?!" Xiao Han exclaimed.

"Xiao Han, it's me..." That voice sounded very familiar, although the figure resembled Li Dapang quite a bit, this person was clearly not Li Dapang. Taking a closer look, the other person seemed more like someone he knew well.

Xiao Han focused his eyes and said, "Dahai, is that you?!"

"Hehe..." Xiao Dahai quickly got up, dressed in a worker's clothes, chuckled with a simple and honest smile. If there was someone in the Xiao's family who Xiao Han disliked the least, it probably had to be this chubby deadbeat, Xiao Dahai. He scratched his head in embarrassment and said, "You...where are you heading?"

"What are you doing here?" Xiao Han asked. Not disliking someone didn't necessarily mean liking them. Just as the saying goes, love for a person extends to the crows on the roof, and hate to the crows as well. Xiao Dahai was Xiao Guoming's son, and for this uncle, he also harbored some dislike.

"Oh, Eldest Uncle and my dad asked me to invite you and your aunt to join us for the New Year's Eve dinner!" Xiao Dahai said with an awkward smile.

"Oh?" Xiao Han was taken aback for a moment. Since when did Eldest Uncle and the second uncle become so kind-hearted? To think of inviting him over for New Year's Eve dinner was somewhat surprising for Xiao Han. Looking at him doubtfully, he said, "Dahai, you're not lying to me, are you?"

"Why would I lie to you?" Upon hearing this, Xiao Dahai hurriedly shook his head and replied, "I…I never lie to anyone!"

Indeed, this chubby guy wasn't someone who would lie; he was rather honest and straightforward. His eyes also proved that what he was saying was the truth, not falsehood.

"But we've already eaten," Xiao Han shrugged and said, "Who invites people over for a meal at the last minute?"

Upon hearing that, Xiao Dahai said awkwardly, "Xiao Han, how about… you all just come and join us anyway, almost all the families have arrived."

At this moment, Mother Xiao came out of the kitchen.

"Dahai, it's you?" Upon hearing him, Mother Xiao immediately asked, "Have you eaten? Come on in for dinner."

"Auntie, I haven't eaten yet," Xiao Dahai quickly responded, tantalized by the aroma of the food at home, "Eldest Uncle sent me to invite you over for dinner. He said it's been many years since the whole family got together for the New Year's Eve dinner."

"Good, good!" Mother Xiao was deeply touched upon hearing this. After all, her brother-in-law and the second brother-in-law had always looked down on her, and now they were finally willing to invite her family for a meal, which in some sense meant they were acknowledging her. Mother Xiao hastily said, "Wait a moment, I will be done soon."

"Mom, we've already eaten, why should we go?" Xiao Han asked, puzzled.

"Just to sit for a while," Mother Xiao said with sparkling eyes. Her son was successful now, which naturally gave her, as his mother, confidence and spirit. She quickly added, "I'll finish up right now; Dahai, come inside and sit for a while!"

"Okay!" Xiao Dahai nodded.

Outside, Li Dapang was still carrying on noisily.

Xiao Han hurried outside.

"Who came to your house?" Li Dapang sat on a flashy motorcycle.

"A relative!" Xiao Han replied.

"Fuck, your family still has relatives?" Upon hearing that, Li Dapang opened his mouth in surprise, accidentally dropping his lit cigarette onto his crotch.

"Ouch..." Li Dapang quickly patted off the cigarette butt, but unfortunately, a hole had been burned into his new trousers, and he lamented, "Fuck, these pants are brand new, cost me over six hundred bucks!"

"No worries, you made over a hundred thousand in year-end bonuses this year, right?" Xiao Han chuckled and said, "It's just a pair of pants, you can buy a few more. Wear different colors every day, seven days a week without repeating!"

"Get lost!" Li Dapang scratched his head and said, "Xiao Han, I'm planning to buy a house after the New Year."

"That's great news." Xiao Han nodded.

"My parents are getting old, and I want them to move into a new house soon!" Li Dapang said with a smile before adding, "My mom is disabled, and my dad is just a carpenter, they're both over fifty. I don't want them to keep working anymore. Now that I can support them, I'm going to."

"Yeah!" Xiao Han nodded.

Li Dapang took a deep breath and then said, "I told them during the New Year's Eve dinner just now. They were so moved, they cried. I can't stand to see them cry, so I came out to find you."

"You came at the wrong time," Xiao Han said with a helpless shrug, adding, "We got relatives over inviting us to join them for the New Year's Eve dinner!"

"Damn, must be those snobbish relatives, right?" Li Dapang replied, unimpressed, and then said, "Forget such relatives. They never bothered to see you before, but now that you're successful, they come around. Nine out of ten they're going to ask to borrow money!"

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