Chapter 387: Chapter 388: To the Zhang Family

“This student, you’re being so selfish. We’re all students here, so why can’t you participate in the competition just because you want to look for a job?

Then doesn’t that mean others don’t want to? Besides, succeeding in this competition offers an opportunity for a foreign exchange. I think you have motives beyond just finding a job,” Zhang Meiling said furiously, having never before encountered someone so shameless.

“Exactly, classmate. You played your cards too well. With Xu Ying out of the picture, the first place will surely be yours,” Liu Ying added from the sidelines.

The male student’s face turned angry, and he shut his mouth.

Xu Ying looked at Liu Ying, quite surprised. She hadn’t expected her to speak on her behalf and nodded in gratitude.

As soon as the exam was over, Liu Ying ran excitedly up to Xu Ying, smiling broadly, “Hello, my name is Liu Ying, our names are quite similar. It must be fate.”

Zhang Meiling was shocked, “Both of you are called Yingying, that really is fate.

Thank you, Liu Ying, for speaking up for our team just now.”

Liu Ying waved her hand, “It’s nothing. I just can’t stand that guy being so selfish.

If someone is excellent, it’s their own merit. He has no right to deprive them of their qualifications.”

Zhang Meiling agreed wholeheartedly with her, “Liu Ying, you’re absolutely right. I feel the same way.”

Speaking of which, she too benefited from Xu Ying’s participation; without her, they may not have won.

The foreign language teacher, excited, approached them, “Let’s go celebrate the competition. Next week we’ll be going abroad with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

The teacher, mentioning the trip, smiled broadly, having never been abroad before.

Originally, this precious opportunity was meant for Liu Suqin, but after what she did, it was given to her.

“Teacher, where shall we eat?” Zhang Meiling asked with a smile, looking at Xu Ying, “Would you like to join us?”

Xu Ying hadn’t come with them earlier and hadn’t been able to join them for lunch, so Zhang Meiling was curious if she would come to the celebration dinner.

As expected, Xu Ying declined, “Teacher, my man and I still have some matters to handle in Shanghai. I’ll just wait until we leave next Monday.”

Hearing her refusal, Zhang Wu was immediately disappointed.

The foreign language teacher nodded, leading Zhang Wu and Zhang Meiling away.

As Xu Ying was about to leave, Director Yang stopped her, “Why go through all the trouble of competing? If you wanted to go, you should’ve just said so.”

Xu Ying looked confused, “Isn’t the trip abroad just for a visit, without any business deals?

Could I really have just gone?”

Director Yang chuckled, “With your language skills, you’d absolutely make a great translator.”

Xu Ying sighed, realizing that all the hassle was unnecessary, as she had to sit an exam while visibly pregnant.

After a brief chat with Director Yang, Xu Ying turned around and went to look for Huo Chen.

Huo Chen saw her coming out and embraced her waist as they got into the car.

“Going to the Zhang Family?” Xu Ying asked softly.

Huo Chen nodded, “Yes.”

Facing them sooner rather than later would be best. Besides, the Zhang family was probably expecting his visit.

Huo Chen drove directly to the Zhang family home. Zhang Yanlin had known his son was coming back today and had started preparing early in the morning.

Now that it was dark and still no sign of him, his face turned anxious.

Zhang Yuhua sat in the courtyard, watching her husband and couldn’t help feeling a bit of schadenfreude, “It seems your son doesn’t care much about you.

He’s come all the way to Shanghai and hasn’t even thought to visit you, yet you were so excited to start cleaning the house early this morning.”

The Zhang Family house was a large quadrangle dwelling, originally bought by Zhou Yuelian with her own money.

Over the years, many people struggled with housing shortages, but Zhang Yanlin and his family never had to worry about such problems.

When Zhang Yanlin heard his wife’s words, his brows furrowed tightly together, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

Huo Chen drove up, asking for directions, and parked the car in front of the Zhang Family’s house.

As soon as Zhang Yanlin heard the noise at the gate, he couldn’t wait to open the door and stepped out of the courtyard, only to see a sedan parked under his eager gaze.

Huo Chen got out of the car. His stern face bore some resemblance to Zhang Yanlin’s.

When Zhang Yuhua saw Huo Chen, her nails dug deep into her flesh until they turned white, and only from the pain did she let go and force a strained smile, “So this is Huo Chen, you’re back. Come inside quickly.”

Zhang Yanlin was also very happy to see his son, especially since his son arrived in a car, not bad for someone from a rural area. How could he be so wealthy?

Huo Chen, holding Xu Ying’s hand, followed Zhang Yanlin into the courtyard.

Zhang Yuhua, with the air of the lady of the house, told Huo Chen, “Don’t be shy in your own home, do whatever you like.”

Huo Chen nodded and said, “I really shouldn’t be shy. After all, my mother bought this house, and since she passed away, the house belongs to me. I have no need to stand on ceremony.”

Hearing this, Xu Ying immediately lowered her head, struggling to suppress her laughter, her shoulders shaking continuously. Her man sure had a sharp tongue.

Zhang Yanlin and Zhang Yuhua were both stiff-faced upon hearing this.

Zhang Yuhua, her face a mix of blue and red from anger, glared fiercely at her husband, “I told you this son of yours doesn’t come with good intentions. He’s probably just here for Zhou Yuelian’s inheritance.”

Zhang Yanlin was also somewhat unsure, wondering what the Zhou family had told him.

When Zhang Zhiguo returned, he saw the car at the front of the house and remembered what his mother had said: today, his father’s ex-wife’s son would be visiting.

His face instantly turned cold, and upon entering the courtyard and recognizing the somewhat familiar figures, he rushed over. Once he clearly saw their faces, Zhang Zhiguo was shocked, “Why is it you two?”

Zhang Yuhua, seeing her son’s reaction, was quite surprised, “You know each other?”

Zhang Zhiguo replied resentfully, “We met at the flood relief site in their village.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yanlin’s face was full of compassion, and his eyes reddened, he introduced, “Zhiguo, this is your older brother and your sister-in-law.”

Seeing Xu Ying’s noticeably pregnant belly, Zhang Zhiguo felt a sourness inside. He had taken a liking to this girl at the Department Store initially, but had to go home for some urgent matters and failed to get her contact information.

Now, meeting again, she was already with someone and even pregnant.

“Big brother, sister-in-law,” Zhang Zhiguo called out reluctantly.

Huo Chen, well aware that this was the man who had eyed his wife that day at the Department Store, replied distantly, “So this is my younger brother, who’s only half a year younger?”

At this, Zhang Yanlin’s face turned from pale to flushed, “Zhang Chen, where did you hear that? Your brother is over a year younger than you.

It was half a year after your mother passed away that I married Mother Zhiguo.”

“I am called Huo Chen.”

Zhang Yanlin became angry, “Alright, you’re called Huo Chen, then what am I to you? Are you implying that you don’t intend to recognize me as your father?

I know you’ve been wronged over the years, but when your mother was giving birth, the midwife clearly told me you had died, I had no idea you were still alive.

If I had known, I would have definitely brought you back sooner.”