Chapter 114: Impressive, Aren't I?

At the Du residence, Mother Du rolled her eyes at Xu Fei, who sat before her.

"Hmph, what are you here for?"

Du Ying, sitting with one leg crossed over the other, shot a sidelong glance at Xu Fei and remarked, "Mom, what could he possibly be here for? Don't tell me he's here to pay us back?"

"Du Ying." Father Du gave his son a stern look. "Regardless of everything, he is still your brother-in-law. Actually, Xu Fei, while you were certainly in the wrong yesterday, though..."

"Though what?" Mother Du glared at her husband, cutting him off. "Are you going to play the saint again? Is a man like this worth your sympathy? I'd rather pity a stray dog on the street than him." She pointed a finger at Xu Fei. "Listen well: if you can't come up with the money today, you will kneel before me and admit that the entire Xu family is nothing but trash. Only then will I consider this debt settled."

"Mom!" Duman, unable to bear it any longer, rose to her feet.

"Don't call me Mom! I have no such daughter—a traitor who sides with outsiders!" Mother Du jabbed a finger at Duman.

"But... you can't force Xu Fei to kneel and say such things!"

"What's wrong with that? Kneeling and admitting his faults to clear a three-thousand-dollar debt—is that not reasonable?" Mother Du glanced at the silent Xu Fei. "Let me tell you, there are plenty of people who would beg to kneel for three thousand dollars, and I wouldn't even grant them the chance."

"Exactly," Du Ying added, waving a hand at the standing Duman. "Duman, why don't you just stay out of this? This doesn't concern you."

"And does it concern you?" Xu Fei finally spoke. He glared at Du Ying.

"Oh, Xu Fei, have I given you too much face?" Du Ying leaped from his chair, pointing at him. "You owe us money, and now you’re acting like you’re in the right?"

"Enough. No more nonsense," Mother Du commanded. "Speak up, Xu Fei. Either pay the money and leave, or kneel and admit your wrongs. Make your choice."

Seeing the situation reach a breaking point, Duman stomped her foot in frustration. "I'll kneel for them, is that enough?" She moved toward her parents, about to drop to her knees, but Xu Fei reached out and pulled her back.

"Duman, don't kneel to them."

"Hmph, you're kneeling? You're our daughter; it's only right that you kneel. Besides, your kneeling doesn't count."

"Fengzhi, let it go. I think..."

"Be quiet!" Mother Du snapped at her husband. She turned her cold gaze back to Xu Fei. "Are you going to kneel or not?"

Xu Fei shook his head with a cold smile. "I had hoped that our relationship might improve, but..."

"Spare me the drivel!" Mother Du said impatiently. "Did you forget what you said to us yesterday? We were nearly driven to wrecking your home because of you. Now you come here with this? Money! Bring the money, or get ready to see us in court!"

Xu Fei shook his head again. "Isn't it just money you want?"

"That's right. Do you have it?" Du Ying looked at him with disdain.

"I can give you the money, but you must promise me that from this day forward, you will never treat Duman with such disrespect again."

"Pay the money?" Mother Du scoffed. "She is our daughter. The only reason she gets treated poorly is because of a useless man like you. If you were capable, she wouldn't have to suffer such a lack of status in our home."

"Since you want to use money to define a person's status and worth," Xu Fei said, pulling a stack of cash from his pocket and slamming it onto the coffee table. "Here is three thousand yuan. Look closely. Every cent I owe you is here, paid in full. But don't forget what you just promised!"

Without another word, Xu Fei took Duman's hand and walked out of the Du residence.

In the living room, Father Du stared at the money on the table. "This... sigh! Why go through all this trouble?" He stood up and headed upstairs.

"Mom, this money... it isn't fake, is it?" Du Ying asked, pointing at the stack.

"Check it, check it quickly!" Mother Du grabbed the cash and rubbed it vigorously. Du Ying picked up a few bills, inspected them, and looked at his mother. "Mom, it's real."

"Then count it!"

The mother and son counted the stack twice. "Mom, it's exactly three thousand. This... how is this even possible?!" Du Ying muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Hmph!" Mother Du threw the money back onto the table, feeling bitter. "Where on earth did Xu Fei get this money?"

"Borrowed it?" Du Ying suggested. "It must be. A loser like him, without even a job, how could he possibly get this much money in a single day?"

"Mom, what about us now?"

Mother Du pondered for a moment. "As for him? Hmph. Don't think for a second that paying back this debt earns him any status in our family. He will always be a hopeless fool."

"That's true," Du Ying agreed.

"Son, you take this money. Didn't you say you were going south to source goods? This will serve as your capital." Mother Du smiled and handed the money to him.

"Thanks, Mom. You really are the best."

Mother Du patted him on the shoulder. "Work hard, son. My future happiness depends on you."

"Don't you worry, Mom. I'm going to make a big move down south."

Meanwhile, out on the street, Duman glanced at Xu Fei beside her. "Where did this money...?"

Xu Fei looked at his wife, whose hand he was still holding. "I earned it."

"Earned it?" Duman thought for a moment. "Did you sell your television today?"

"Yes."

"Three thousand? Did you sell a dozen sets in one day?"

Xu Fei nodded with a smile.

"Really!" Duman was so happy she jumped up like a little girl.

"Actually, it was more than that."

"What!?" Duman looked at him, astonished. "How much did you sell in total?"

"Six thousand," Xu Fei said, smiling.

"Ah! That much?" Duman froze for a second, then threw her arms around him. "My man is so capable!"

"Am I really that capable?"

"Of course!" Duman looked at him, then suddenly realized they were in the middle of the street and quickly pulled her arms away. But Xu Fei reached out and pulled her close by the waist, the two of them standing tightly together.

"Let go, there are so many people around," Duman said, looking around in embarrassment as passersby began to watch them.

"Don't worry about them. From today on, you never have to put up with their cold faces again, do you understand?"

Duman nodded.

"So tell me, how will you reward me?"

Duman lowered her head, her pretty face flushing red. "Tell me what you want to eat, and I'll make it for you."

"I don't want to eat right now."

"Then what do you want?"

Xu Fei leaned in close to her ear. "I want you to give me a kiss."