“What are you doing here?” Huo Junting wiped his sweat, walked over to a water basin, and doused himself with a scoop of cold water.

Xiao Anlan kept his distance to avoid getting his suit wet. “Mother asked me to bring my wife to pay her respects to you. By the way, Uncle, now that I’m married, where’s my aunt?”

Huo Junting didn’t respond. He could easily dismiss his nephew, but he wouldn’t argue with his sister, so he stayed silent.

After dumping half the water basin over himself, he finally stopped and went inside.

Following behind, Xiao Anlan said, “I have something serious to discuss with you as well.”

“Go on.”

“I want to bring down Song Debiao in the provincial capital. Do you think you can make it happen?”

Huo Junting kicked off his wet army pants, found a clean pair, and put them on, replying without looking back, “300,000.”

Xiao Anlan winced. “Uncle, you’re my blood uncle. Can’t I get a family discount?”

Huo Junting replied, “300,000 for a one-time solution.”

Xiao Anlan fell silent, mentally calculating his assets.

Song Debiao was the military commander in the provincial capital who had long protected the Sun family, enabling them to become more brazen over the years.

To take down the Sun family and teach Second Young Master Sun a lesson, Xiao Anlan’s first step was to eliminate their protector, then dismantle the Sun family’s assets one by one, perhaps even absorb them. Once the Sun family was defenseless and on the brink of ruin, others would naturally step in to finish them off.

However, his uncle was ruthless. A flat price of 300,000 silver dollars—he might not even have that much in total assets.

Although Wanchang Grand Hotel was currently thriving with business and generating consistent revenue, the hotel had only been open for two years and had just recently broken even, beginning to make a profit. It was far from providing him with such a large amount of cash.

He wasn’t planning on borrowing money from his parents. His only choice for now was to sell the shares he held in other companies, combine the funds with his existing savings, and maybe ask Yang Shidong or Zhou Sheng for additional funds. Once he seizes the opportunity and merges with the Sun family’s business, the capital he spends today would be recovered.

Yu Wanru was sitting in the front hall and stood up when she saw Xiao Anlan and Huo Junting enter.

Huo Junting walked straight to the main seat.

Xiao Anlan approached Yu Wanru, held her hand, and patted it gently to reassure her, “Wanru, come and greet my uncle.”

A servant brought tea, and Yu Wanru took it, respectfully handing it to Huo Junting, saying, “Uncle, please enjoy some tea.”

Huo Junting nodded slightly, took a sip of tea, and handed her a red envelope.

Yu Wanru quickly received it with both hands, saying, “Thank you, Uncle.”

After a while, as a colleague came to visit Huo Junting, Xiao Anlan and Yu Wanru had to take their leave.

…

Back at the Xiao residence, Xiao Anya and Xiao Anhui were about to go out to meet friends. They bid farewell to their elder brother and sister-in-law before cycling away.

Xiao Anlan noticed Yu Wanru watching the bicycles and asked, “Wanru, do you know how to ride a bicycle?”

Yu Wanru shook her head, “I’ve never learned before.”

Xiao Anlan said, “Let’s buy one this afternoon, and when the sun sets, I’ll teach you to ride.”

Yu Wanru shook her head again, saying, “Let’s wait a bit.”

Although she was curious about bicycles, she had only just entered the family and felt it would be too showy to buy one and immediately start learning to ride.

Xiao Anlan didn’t know what she was thinking but didn’t insist.

In the living room, Madam Xiao was playing mahjong with a few ladies. Seeing them return, she asked a few questions, then, noticing Yu Wanru’s dark circles, told them to go upstairs to rest. She specifically reminded Xiao Anlan not to bother his wife.

Xiao Anlan made a gesture of acknowledgment and led a blushing Yu Wanru upstairs.

Yu Wanru did feel a bit tired, as she hadn’t slept well last night and had risen early that day. Still, she didn’t think it appropriate to go straight to bed, as she felt she wouldn’t be able to sleep.

So, Xiao Anlan sat on the sofa with her, asking, “Darling, what gifts did Dad, Mom, and Uncle give you?”

Yu Wanru took out three red envelopes. Actually, Madam Xiao’s gift wasn’t a red envelope but a small red box.

Yu Wanru opened it to reveal a radiant gemstone necklace.

Xiao Anlan exclaimed, picking up the necklace, “This was given to my mother by my grandmother. I remember she always cherished it.”

Yu Wanru quickly said, “Isn’t it too valuable?”

Xiao Anlan shook his head, “It’s a token of her goodwill. She’s pleased with you. Accept it.”

Yu Wanru nodded slightly and carefully put the necklace away. She then opened the other two red envelopes.

Both Master Xiao and Huo Junting had given her bank deposits. Master Xiao’s was for 10,000 silver dollars, while Huo Junting’s was 20,000.

Xiao Anlan was speechless, almost sure that his uncle had intentionally doubled his father’s gift upon learning of it, to one-up him.

Those two elderly men had been childish their whole lives.

Not that he minded this sort of playfulness happening a few more times.

Yu Wanru, seeing the large amount, felt overwhelmed.

Xiao Anlan said, “Take it. Neither Dad nor Uncle are short on money.”

Especially his uncle—who, despite his title as a military officer, was a ruthless businessman!

Due to his 300,000-silver-dollar debt to Huo Junting, Xiao Anlan was now broke, while his wife was quite wealthy.

He leaned on the sofa and wrapped his arms around Yu Wanru’s legs, saying, “Darling, now that you’re rich, I’ll have to rely on you. Don’t despise your husband.”

Yu Wanru was startled and tried to pull her legs away, feeling embarrassed, “Someone might come in and see us.”

Xiao Anlan grinned, “Don’t worry. We’re newlyweds. Everyone knows we’re in the honeymoon phase, so who would interrupt us?”

Blushing, Yu Wanru covered his mouth, scolding, “Why do you say such things? You’re supposed to be a scholar.”

Xiao Anlan then playfully leaned closer, snuggling her on the sofa, saying, “Being a scholar doesn’t mean I don’t have emotions and desires. Come here, my dear wife.”

Yu Wanru dodged his kisses, her face turning red, “Stop it…”

Ignoring her protests, he kissed and hugged her until she was out of breath, her hair disheveled, her face red with embarrassment.

Seeing the intense look in Xiao Anlan’s eyes, she quickly whispered, “I-I’m still not feeling well.”

Xiao Anlan touched her slightly swollen lips, his voice husky, “I know. Don’t worry, I won’t go too far.”

At least not today.