Chapter 24: Yan Peng, the Fool Who Finds Fortune

"Honey, Dad wants us to come over for dinner next Friday."

On Sunday afternoon, Zhou Chen was at home writing when Nan Li returned from taking their two children to the community square. She brought up the family dinner as soon as she walked in.

"Again?"

Zhou Chen looked stunned. The events of the last family dinner were still fresh in his mind, and he couldn't believe they were expected to gather again so soon.

Nan Li sighed, "There’s no way around it. The old man has called me more than once, asking us to come over on the weekend. I’ve been busy and kept putting it off, but this time I can't really say no. Besides, Huanhuan and Chaochao mentioned they miss their grandfather. Let’s just go for the sake of the kids."

Deep down, neither of them wanted to dine at Nan Jianlong’s place. They knew that if they went, Tian Yulan’s family would certainly be there too, and wherever Tian Yulan was, trouble was bound to follow. Zhou Chen had no interest in bickering or playing mind games with her, and he certainly didn't want Nan Li to get into a conflict with her either. Because of their work, the two women had already clashed several times. He had heard Nan Li complain about it more than once; whenever they met, they were like two fighting cocks.

"Fine, let’s go then. But please, don't get into it with Tian Yulan this time. Let’s just have a peaceful meal and come home."

Nan Li looked disdainful. "You think I want to fight with her? She’s always the one to instigate. I don't want to engage with her either, but sometimes the things she says are just too infuriating. Besides, why should I back down?"

Zhou Chen was speechless. "The old man is really something, insisting on calling both of you back together. He’s just asking for trouble."

He understood Nan Jianlong’s intention—he just wanted everyone to gather and bond, thinking familiarity would lead to closeness. But the old man failed to realize that one was his biological daughter from his first marriage, and the other was the stepdaughter of the woman who replaced her. Two women with no blood relation and fundamental, deep-seated conflicts could never coexist harmoniously. Any display of peace would just be an act.

Nan Li didn't argue. She felt the same way. She didn't have much objection to eating dinner there—after all, he was her father and the children's grandfather—but every time they went, he had to include that other family. Over the years, how many of those dinners had actually been peaceful? Nan Jianlong clearly knew this, yet he persisted in inviting everyone every single time. If this wasn't self-inflicted, what was?

"I’ll give Chen Xiaoqin a call to push back the tutoring lesson on Friday," Zhou Chen said. Since the children started tutoring, they had always had lessons on Friday afternoons right after school, but he would have to reschedule for next week.

That evening, Nan Jianlong posted a message in their family WeChat group, inviting everyone to dinner next Friday. He even went as far as creating an "invitation card" with flowery, pretentious language.

On Thursday, during his lunch break, Zhou Chen met Yan Peng for a meal.

"Brother, what made you think of asking me to lunch today?" Yan Peng asked, looking quite surprised when he arrived at the restaurant. He worked at a state-owned enterprise, where the job could be summed up in one word: leisurely. He was available on call.

Zhou Chen replied, "I wanted to catch up, and also to thank you for the two 'Silver Alliance' rewards you sent for my novel. You wouldn't let me pay you back, so the least I can do is treat you to a few meals."

Yan Peng laughed, "Forget about paying me back. I only sent those rewards because I actually like your story. If you really want to thank me, just treat me to lunch more often."

"That’s no problem. You can count on it. I’m usually alone for lunch anyway, so having some company is nice."

"By the way, brother, I actually owe you a thank you. You mentioned that Bitcoin thing a while back, so I bought some. And let me tell you, I’ve made quite a bit lately! I haven't told Tian Yulan; I’ve kept it all in my private stash. I even bought a full set of skins for my game. Hehe, if there’s another opportunity like this, remember to let me know!"

"You actually bought it?" Zhou Chen was genuinely surprised. He had only mentioned it to Yan Peng in passing. Who would invest in virtual currency based on a single comment from someone else? Yet here was Yan Peng, who had actually listened and, from the sound of it, made a tidy profit. Was this just the luck of the naive?

"Yeah, I bought it. Don't you dare tell Tian Yulan."

"Do I look like I have nothing better to do than tell her?"

"Hehe, man, I’ve been so bored lately. I just play games at the office all day."

Zhou Chen looked at him with disdain. "You don't know how lucky you are. Look at you, a rich second generation, and you don't even have to worry about your son's studies. How could you be bored?"

"I can't help it. I was never interested in learning the business from the old man, and Tian Yulan won't let me get involved with Ziyou’s schooling anyway. What can I do?"

"Alright, enough complaining. I know you’ve got it easy."

Yan Peng’s life was indeed comfortable. With a wealthy family and no pressure regarding his child, he was the polar opposite of Zhou Chen, who had to grind out writing every day just to secure a better life.

"You know about the family dinner tomorrow afternoon, right?"

"Yeah, the old man called. Can't say no to that."

Zhou Chen leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. "Look, we’re going, but you need to talk to Tian Yulan. Tell her to just eat the meal and not cause any trouble, alright?"

Yan Peng looked helpless. "Brother, I don't want to either. But you know how Tian Yulan is. She’s blunt and impulsive. If she’s unhappy, she’ll blurt out whatever is on her mind. Even if I try to stop her, I can’t."

Zhou Chen scolded him, "Can’t you show some backbone? You’re a grown man, can’t you manage your own wife?"

Yan Peng rolled his eyes. "Brother, let’s not throw stones in glass houses. I can’t manage Tian Yulan, but can you really manage Nan Li? Nan Li might not start the fire, but once she’s provoked, she’s just as sharp as anyone. Can you stop her?"

Damn... Zhou Chen was left speechless.

"Passive retaliation is not the same as active provocation! I’m telling you, if you don't want the upcoming dinners to be ruined, you need to talk to her."

"Fine, I get it. I’ll try my best. Hey, are you free to play ball this weekend?"

"How about Saturday afternoon? I haven't had much exercise lately, so that’ll be good."

***

Friday arrived in a flash. After work, Zhou Chen and Nan Li picked up Huanhuan and Chaochao, who had already been collected by their grandmother, and drove to Nan Jianlong’s community.

They arrived quickly. Apart from Cai Juying, who was busy in the kitchen, everyone else was either in the living room or outside in the small pavilion. Zhou Chen helped the children and drank tea with his father-in-law, Nan Jianlong. Nan Li sat on the sofa scrolling through her phone, while Yan Peng was gaming.

As for Tian Yulan, she was chattering away incessantly. Her main point was emphasizing that in the recent exams, Yan Ziyou had placed first in the entire class. Speaking of her son’s studies, Tian Yulan was beaming, radiant with pride, constantly detailing how hard her son worked, how clever he was, and what a natural talent he had.

Zhou Chen didn't know much about the art of tea; he had never really been exposed to it before. In his worldview, tea was just something you drank to quench your thirst—there shouldn't be so many complicated rituals. However, compared to listening to Tian Yulan’s endless chatter, he was much more willing to learn the tea ceremony from Nan Jianlong. He listened to the old man’s instructions and tried his hand at it. Although his technique was rough, he found it quite interesting, and the more he listened, the more he realized there was a profound depth to the craft of tea.