CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 35: THE FAMILY’S SHOCK

After Lin Feng and the other two left, the private room was enveloped in a strange atmosphere.

"Students these days have such big mouths."

After a while, the previously lively chubby guy picked up his glass and broke the silence first.

"Yeah, claiming to be too good for us small families? Ridiculous."

"Kids like to brag, don’t take it seriously, everyone keep eating, the food here is really good."

All the relatives chimed in, but this didn’t ease the expressions of Chen Hao’s parents, as their faces had been thoroughly embarrassed. Some relatives even showed mockery and schadenfreude, making them wish this family gathering would end quickly.

In the Chen Clan, although Father Chen wasn’t the eldest son, he was third in rank. However, due to his economic strength, he held a high status in the family and liked making decisions, which many relatives couldn’t stand. Seeing him embarrassed at this moment, while they didn’t laugh outright, they did seem to be enjoying the show.

"End things with that woman today once and for all. How many times have I told you not to let her entangle you anymore?"

Mom Chen said sternly to Chen Hao, her tone somewhat exasperated.

She had never liked her son’s girlfriend in the first place.

Although Lin Kerou was outstanding in appearance, after so many years, it was clear she was a gentle girl.

Even though they disapproved of the relationship and sometimes spoke coldly, the girl always maintained respect for them, showing she was well-bred.

Such a girl is very suitable to be a wife!

This was a fact they could not and would not deny.

But her education and background determined she was just an ordinary factory worker.

If Chen Hao married her, it wouldn’t help his career and might even be a burden.

After all, that family lived in Shore District.

For the poor, there’s always some kind of trouble.

Today’s events further solidified Mom Chen’s thoughts.

Faced with Mom Chen’s demand, Chen Hao kept his head down and said nothing. He didn’t want to leave his girlfriend nor directly contradict his mother.

"Alright, don’t talk about it, Little Hao, you’re still young, take your time to think, no need to rush into marriage so soon."

At this moment, the grandfather, who had been eating without voicing an opinion, spoke up.

As the eldest in the family, his words meant the end of the topic.

"Understood, Grandpa," Chen Hao nodded.

"Everyone eat, or else the food will get cold."

Just as Mom Chen was asking everyone to eat, a female server knocked on the screen and then pushed a mobile dining table inside.

"Apologies for interrupting, I’m here to serve your dishes now."

The server brought in seven or eight dishes in succession, all hearty dishes, fish, and meat, and showed no signs of stopping.

"Wait a minute, we didn’t order so many dishes?" At this point, Mom Chen quickly reached out to stop the server, puzzled.

Today, she was the one who ordered the dishes. They were already halfway through eating, and all the dishes had been served.

"Exactly, it’s for your private room," the server replied politely.

"Did you order these?"

Mom Chen asked her husband and relatives, but received negative responses.

"Are you sure you didn’t make a mistake? If you did, we’re not paying for it," Mom Chen asked again, feeling a bit impatient as she was already in a bad mood.

After placing the final dish, the server said with a smile, "No mistake, someone has already paid for these."

"Who paid for them?"

Mom Chen asked, her face very displeased.

She seemed to have already guessed the answer, and many people also guessed but found it hard to believe.

"A student ordered them, they already took their own food to go."

The server smiled and said, "He also mentioned you ordered too lightly, so he ordered some greasy dishes as a boost."

After saying the line, the server left the private room happily with a 200-yuan tip from her pocket.

In the private room, everyone looked at the table full of meat dishes, gazing at each other speechlessly.

There were nearly fifteen or sixteen dishes full of fish and meat, but not a single vegetable.

Everyone looked at Chen’s father and mother, was this a result of you mocking that girl’s inability to handle greasy food just now?

What’s with this whole table of greasy meat dishes?

These dishes must cost at least thirty to forty thousand.

The slap in the face really echoed loudly; even they felt hurt watching.

.....

Shore District.

Lin Feng’s family of five sat around the dining table, with dishes emitting an enticing aroma placed on the table, six dishes and one soup, a luxury even during New Year.

Though very hungry, none of them moved their chopsticks, instead, they focused their gazes on Lin Feng.

"Alright, everyone is here, what good news do you want to announce?" Lin Fang looked at Lin Feng with a mix of helplessness and eagerness.

Because Lin Feng failed in his awakening yesterday, Lin Fang didn’t sleep all night, worried that her son might be affected. After a day’s work, she dragged her tired body home, ready to cook, but was startled to see a table full of delicious dishes.

How much did this cost?

It was clearly the handiwork of Lin Feng and Lin Kerou who returned home early. She asked but got no answer, as her daughter said with a mysterious look that there was good news to announce when the family returned.

"Brother, did you win the lottery?"

Ma Lele said excitedly, unable to resist swallowing. She had never eaten so many delicious foods, touched her belly, and felt it flatten.

"This meal must cost two or three thousand, did you really win the lottery?" Old Ma said curiously.

This single meal matched his monthly salary.

As a small clerk at Qingshui Government Office, Old Ma hadn’t eaten such good things before, but he had an eye for them.

"Ke Rou, why are you smiling? Do you know something?" Old Ma asked Lin Kerou, as she kept smiling as if she knew something.

Facing Old Ma’s doubts, Lin Kerou smiled without speaking.

She had already recovered from the sadness and anxiety of before, all previous obstacles were gone.

Life suddenly became full of hope.

She felt proud to have a brother like this!

When she first heard the news, she was also shocked and incredulous, curious about the reactions she would see later.

With everyone’s eyes focused on him, Lin Feng smiled: "This afternoon, I went to challenge at Thunder Martial Arts Dojo and earned 180,000."

"How is that possible?"

As soon as Lin Feng finished speaking, Lin Fang exclaimed in disbelief.

Although she wasn’t a Martial Artist and didn’t follow martial arts, she wasn’t unfamiliar with Martial Arts Dojos.

She knew Martial Arts Dojos allowed betting, but how could a seventh-rank high school Body Cultivator earn so much money?

To his mother’s doubts, Lin Feng didn’t explain, but continued: "Actually, I didn’t fail the refinement on Awakening Day."

"What?"

This time even Old Ma exclaimed.

Yesterday, they were all saddened by Lin Feng’s failed awakening, and Lin Fang tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.

Adding to that, Lin Feng looked depressed in the morning, appearing weak and sleepless, causing everyone to worry he would be affected.

If it wasn’t a failure, could it have been a success?

"Actually, I could have refined a ninth-grade Demon Spirit, or even an Earth Chart Demon Spirit, but I couldn’t find one that suited my attribute, so I gave up."

Lin Fang and Old Ma were a bit bewildered. Only Ma Lele, after slight surprise, quickly reacted and screamed loudly: "I always knew my brother was the best."

Ma Lele waved her small hand, jumping up and down excitedly.

After a long while, Lin Fang regained her senses and asked: "Why didn’t you say so yesterday?"

"I did say!" Lin Feng said helplessly: "I told Lele those Demon Spirits were too low-ranking, and I couldn’t find a suitable one."

At this point, Lin Fang and Old Ma seemed to recall that yesterday, Lin Feng did say that.

They thought Lin Feng was protecting his brother’s image or comforting Lele, never imagining it was true.

Upon learning of Lin Feng’s exceptional martial arts talent, Lin Fang and Old Ma were not happy but rather fearful. They suspected Lin Feng was affected or it was a prank.

Martial arts genius?

Refine Earth Chart Demon Spirit?

It felt like hearing the news.

And this news was yesterday’s news, the protagonist of the news was called Ye Qiu.

Ye Qiu had excellent martial talent, reaching ninth rank as a Body Cultivator at only fifteen, just a step away from Martial Artist, refining the Thorny Demon Dragon ranked 46 on the Earth Chart, wasn’t he a genius like that?

Their son too?

Is he also a genius like Ye Qiu?

"Then why did you..."

This dinner lasted more than an hour, and although Lin Feng explained a lot, Lin Fang and Old Ma still found it hard to believe.

The dinner was extremely sumptuous, but Lin Fang and Old Ma ate without much appetite.

Originally, their expectation of Lin Feng was that he could get into the Nine Elite Joint Schools, and the family could move into the Inner City after graduation.

But now, this all seemed within reach, even far beyond, too unreal.

"Don’t look at me like that."

Seeing his mother staring at him, Lin Feng showed a hint of a bitter smile and helplessly shook his head.

He knew the news was too exaggerated and hard to believe.

Originally, Lin Feng didn’t plan to let his family know early; he intended to refine the Nightmare, get into the Three Heroic Academies, and then tell them.

Then it would be more credible in the face of facts, and easier for his family to accept.

However, plans couldn’t keep up with changes. Due to school conflicts and his sister’s relationship, Lin Feng had to speak early.

From tomorrow on, everything will change.