Chapter 13 The pain of a son-in-law

Facing his domineering father-in-law, Li Bin, who hadn't been able to make money, lacked the confidence to respond firmly. "Effort, effort! I haven't seen any effort from you! Last time you said the same thing, and what was the result? Look at you now! Look at what you've become! People are saying Wen Xingsheng's son-in-law is a useless bum who only knows how to live off his in-laws' money! My daughter is so brilliant, how could she have chosen someone like you?"

Wen Xingsheng, increasingly dissatisfied with Li Bin, took advantage of his drunkenness, his face slightly flushed from the alcohol, to publicly reprimand Li Bin. "Dad, that's enough! Li Bin hasn't asked you for money, even if he doesn't earn much, he's trying, what's wrong with giving him a little more time?" Wen Wan frowned, defending Li Bin with an angry tone.

"He hasn't asked for money? Hmph! Where do you think the food he eats, the place he lives, comes from? If he had to pay for all that with his salary, do you think it would be enough? What kind of life do you think you'll have with him?"

Wen Xingsheng looked at Wen Wan angrily, saying coldly, "Do you think I'm scolding him for your sake? Do you know what the neighbors and friends say about him? This year during New Year's visits, I couldn't even hold my head up. Other people's sons and sons-in-law are managers, supervisors, earning thousands a month. Look at this guy, he has nothing to make him worthy of you!"

"Dad! Please stop!" Wen Lan looked at Li Bin with sympathy and also tried to stop Wen Xingsheng.

"Alright, alright! It's rare we're all together for a meal, let's not talk about this today."

Shen Han, whose impression of Li Bin had improved a bit after the incident, also came to his defense: "Our Li Bin isn't bad, at least he's honest and treats our family well, right?"

"Hmph!" Seeing that Li Bin didn't respond and kept his head down, Wen Xingsheng lost interest in continuing to scold him and took a big gulp of baijiu, not pursuing his verbal attack.

Li Bin said nothing at the table, but under it, his hands had clenched into tight fists.

After more than a year of living in this house as a son-in-law, Li Bin had grown used to this kind of sarcastic and inconsiderate reprimand. As a son-in-law, he could only endure, placing all his hopes in his writing, working tirelessly day and night on his novels to prove his worth.

However, with recent online crackdowns, his most profitable book had been blocked, and his new writings didn't fit the required positive themes, failing repeatedly and being constantly rejected.

This left Li Bin with no achievements in the last six months, and his savings were nearly depleted.

If it weren't for the system, Li Bin might have accepted his father-in-law's proposal today, abandoning his writing dreams and returning to factory work, living a dull life.

But now it was different.

The system had given him hope!

Hope to redeem himself, to prove his worth!

Li Bin swore he would pay back tenfold all the criticism and disdain he'd received today.

"Dad, I have something to discuss with you and Mom..." At that moment, Wen Lan spoke.

"I'm about to graduate soon, and I want to enter an internal competition organized by Tianle Media to join a new girl group, but this competition is only for internal members and needs a recommendation... My teacher has already agreed to recommend me, but she... asks for 100,000 yuan for the recommendation..."

"What? 100,000 yuan for a recommendation? Is your teacher crazy for money? You haven't even been selected yet, and they already want money!" Shen Han slammed the table in surprise and anger, scolding Wen Lan: "No, what Tianle Media or girl group, that doesn't sound right! I've heard that today's stars are kept by others. First it's the money, then the harassment will follow! I won't allow it!"

"Mom! That's just a rumor! Not all stars are like that. Dancing and singing is my dream! I have to go!" Wen Lan stood up, arguing.

"No! I won't allow you to join that girl group either! It's not that we don't have the money, but it's no place for a decent girl like you! Do you know what they say about those group girls? They're prostitutes."

"If you dare to participate, I'll cut ties with you! I can't bear that shame!" Wen Xingsheng, furious, slammed the table again, declaring firmly.

"I don't care! I'll go anyway! If you won't help, I'll find a way myself!" Wen Lan, with tears in her eyes, stood up and ran upstairs.

"What a way to ruin a dinner... I'm going to study." Wen Ting, clearly annoyed, also stood up and went to her room.

Li Bin, having lost his appetite, politely put down his chopsticks and said, "I'm done eating," before taking his dishes to the kitchen and leaving the house.