Chapter 85

Xia Hou Zhongying really couldn't stand Li Xunzhe's arrogance. Although he himself also didn't like the Korean custom of bowing deeply, there were so many elders sitting up front, and showing respect to the elderly was still necessary.

Moreover, Jin Taeyeon was very unhappy due to Li Xunzhe's impolite behavior. She was the most opposed to those who disrespected their elders, finding them extremely uncultured. Today was New Year's Day, and Li Xunzhe's actions clearly made the Jin family lose face.

Xia Hou Zhongying, a foreigner, had adapted to local customs, while Li Xunzhe, being Korean, had only obtained American citizenship and thought he was superior to everyone else. This made Xia Hou Zhongying even more annoyed. Whether for his own comfort or for Jin Taeyeon, Xia Hou Zhongying couldn't help but try to embarrass him.

When the younger siblings behind Jin Taeyeon bowed to them, Xia Hou Zhongying asked, "Hey, Brother Xunzhe, I see the elders are giving the younger ones lucky money, why haven't you given any?"

Xia Hou Zhongying naturally knew that Li Xunzhe was still in university but deliberately pretended not to know. Why? Because Li Xunzhe had boasted about owning a company. He asked in a curious tone, loud enough for all the Jin family members present to hear.

Li Xunzhe couldn't help but turn pale, his chest swelling with anger, not knowing how to respond. He was still a student and didn't need to give lucky money. However, he had been boasting about his company to the Jin family, and many didn't know he was still a student. Combined with their disapproval, they couldn't help but look at him with disdain.

Seeing the disdainful looks from the Jin family, Li Xunzhe was very embarrassed. He couldn't say he was a student now, as it would easily be seen as an excuse. He hadn't prepared any lucky money and couldn't take out the money the elders had given him to distribute to the younger ones, which would be too embarrassing.

The Jin family elders, upon hearing Xia Hou Zhongying's question, had strange expressions, looking at Li Xunzhe with a mix of amusement and seriousness, waiting to see how he would respond.

Although Xia Hou Zhongying and Li Xunzhe had participated in the Jin family's ancestral worship, they were still outsiders, at most considered potential sons-in-law. Even if they had a conflict, as long as they weren't married to Jin family daughters, it wouldn't be considered a Jin family matter. The superstitious elders wouldn't think their conflict would affect the Jin family's fortune.

Li Xunzhe's behavior had indeed angered the Jin family elders, and no one was willing to help him. Even Jin Baoyan's parents didn't want to step in, thinking about how to persuade Jin Baoyan to break up with him.

With no one willing to step in and Li Xunzhe unable to respond, Jin Baoyan hesitated but decided to speak up. Although she was also dissatisfied with Li Xunzhe's behavior, he was still the man she had brought home. No matter what the future held, she was still his girlfriend and couldn't abandon him.

"Brother Xunzhe is still a student, currently studying in the United States," Jin Baoyan said helplessly to Xia Hou Zhongying.

"Oh, so Brother Xunzhe is still a student," Xia Hou Zhongying said, feigning realization. "I heard Brother Xunzhe say he owns a company in the U.S., so I thought he had already finished school. I'm really sorry, Brother Xunzhe, I misunderstood you as being stingy."

Xia Hou Zhongying smiled mischievously and slightly bowed to Li Xunzhe.

"Brother Zhongying, please stop," Jin Taeyeon, sitting next to Xia Hou Zhongying, tugged at his sleeve, her face flushed, and whispered.

Although Jin Taeyeon also disapproved of Li Xunzhe's rudeness, she was a traditional girl with a gentle personality, worried that Xia Hou Zhongying's behavior would leave a bad impression on the elders, making her very anxious.

"Alright, alright, I'll stop," Xia Hou Zhongying muttered. "How was I supposed to know he was still a student? He kept saying he owns a company. It's all his fault for looking so old, making me misunderstand him and causing a big embarrassment."

Xia Hou Zhongying's muttering was a bit too loud, making the corners of the elders' mouths twitch, and some of the younger ones couldn't help but laugh, quickly covering their mouths and shaking with laughter.

Li Xunzhe almost spat out a mouthful of blood. Looking old? He was only twenty-one or twenty-two, how could he look old? But compared to the young Xia Hou Zhongying, he did look older.

"Zhongying, how can you be so mischievous? The elders are here, and you're being impolite. You should apologize to Xunzhe quickly," Jin Mother scolded Xia Hou Zhongying with a smile. It was more of a defense than a scolding, covering up Xia Hou Zhongying's fault and preventing the elders from criticizing him.

"Uncle, Aunt, Uncle, Aunt, Zhongying is indeed rash. Please forgive his mistake. I will definitely discipline him when we get home," Jin Father quickly apologized to the elders.

"It's fine, he's just a child, and children speak without thinking. He seems to be a straightforward and kind boy," the oldest uncle smiled and nodded. "No need to discipline him; he's young and will understand better as he grows up."

With the oldest uncle's defense, the other elders didn't say much. Moreover, most of them had a good impression of Xia Hou Zhongying, secretly thinking he was a good kid who had given them a sense of satisfaction. Not only did no one blame Xia Hou Zhongying, but several elders even spoke up to defend him to Jin Father and Jin Mother.

However, the phrase "children speak without thinking" deeply hurt Li Xunzhe, making his face turn iron gray and his hatred for Xia Hou Zhongying grow.

Xia Hou Zhongying was already sixteen, and "children speak without thinking" was a joke. "Children speak without thinking, my ass."

Jin Baoyan sighed inwardly, feeling hopeless about her future with Li Xunzhe. After this family New Year's ceremony, if she insisted on staying with Li Xunzhe, she would be expelled from the family and disowned by her parents.

"I finally found a golden turtle son-in-law, gave him everything, and now it's all gone," Jin Baoyan felt like crying.

Seeing the elders defending Xia Hou Zhongying, Jin Taeyeon was relieved and couldn't help but glance at Xia Hou Zhongying.

Li Xunzhe remained silent, hating the Jin family deeply. He decided to leave as soon as the ceremony was over, unwilling to stay in this place where he had lost all his dignity. Jin Baoyan was already on his list of people to cut off.

"No, I need to teach Xia Hou Zhongying a lesson first. I won't leave until I beat him to the point of spitting blood," Li Xunzhe thought.

After the last two infants were carried by their parents to bow to the elders, Li Xunzhe suddenly stood up and walked to the center of the hall.

The Jin family members were stunned, unsure what he was doing, and looked at Li Xunzhe with confusion.

Li Xunzhe forced a smile and bowed deeply to the elders.

"Dear elders, before the ancestral worship, I promised Zhongying and the others to perform a Taekwondo demonstration," Li Xunzhe said. "But the ceremony started, so I didn't have time to demonstrate. I promised them I would do it after the ceremony."

The Jin family members who didn't know about this were stunned, not understanding why Li Xunzhe was bringing it up now.

"Now, I want to perform for everyone to fulfill my promise," Li Xunzhe continued. "However, a solo performance isn't as good as a duo. It would be best if someone could join me. Therefore, I request the elders' permission for Xia Hou Zhongying to come out and perform with me, adding to the festive atmosphere of the Jin family's ancestral worship."