37: My awful relatives are collectively pressuring me, demanding 500,000 yuan right off the bat!

The next morning, at dawn.

Sunlight filtered through the old windows, casting dappled spots on the living room floor.

After the meal, Jiang Lijun and Zhang Huilan sat on the sofa with furrowed brows, discussing where to move in low voices.

"How about we check out that new residential area in the south of the city? The environment is good and it's quiet," Zhang Huilan suggested softly.

Jiang Lijun smoked a cigarette and shook his head.

"It's too far. It wouldn't even be convenient for you to go grocery shopping."

Just then, a piercing phone ring shattered the silence in the house.

It was the home landline.

Zhang Huilan's body stiffened. She exchanged a look with her husband, and both saw a clear sense of resistance in each other's eyes.

Lately, this phone had been the source of all their troubles.

The ringing persisted stubbornly.

Zhang Huilan sighed, stood up, walked over, and picked up the receiver.

"Hello, who is this?"

An overly enthusiastic female voice immediately came from the other end.

"Oh, Huilan! It's me, your sister!"

It was Jiang Ming's eldest maternal aunt, Zhang Huifang.

Zhang Huilan's expression became somewhat unnatural.

"Sister, is something the matter?"

"Look at what you're saying. Can't I call my own sister if nothing's wrong?" Zhang Huifang's voice was loud, carrying an undeniable warmth.

"It's mainly about Xiao Ming! Our Xiao Ming was truly blessed this time, returning safely from such a massive plane crash. This is a huge cause for celebration! I've discussed it with your brother-in-law; we must celebrate properly to wash away the child's bad luck!"

Zhang Huilan gripped the phone cord, a bad premonition rising in her heart.

"Sister, the boy just got back. We want him to rest more..."

"Rest for what!" Zhang Huifang cut her off directly.

"I've already arranged everything! Tonight at seven, at Tianyue Mansion, in the largest Emperors Pavilion private room! Our whole family will have a good gathering! You must bring Xiao Ming along!"

Tianyue Mansion was the most high-end hotel in Yuzhang City, with per capita consumption starting in the four digits.

Zhang Huilan looked troubled and was about to find an excuse to decline.

"Sister, there's really no need to spend so much..."

The enthusiasm on the other end cooled instantly, and a hint of sharp grievance entered her tone.

"Huilan, what do you mean by this? Now that Xiao Ming is successful and has become a famous figure nationwide, you look down on us poor relatives, don't you? As his aunt, I can't even see my nephew once?"

This accusation left Zhang Huilan unsure of how to respond for a moment.

Emotional blackmail through family ties was always the hardest weapon for an honest person like her to deal with.

Just as Zhang Huilan was caught in a dilemma, Jiang Ming walked out of his room.

He glanced at his mother and spoke calmly.

"Mom, agree to it."

"We're going."

Zhang Huilan was stunned.

Hearing this, Jiang Lijun abruptly stubbed out his cigarette, his brow furrowing deeply.

He pulled Jiang Ming to the balcony, lowering his voice, his tone filled with worry.

"Son, have you lost your mind? This is clearly a 'Hongmen Banquet'! Don't you know what kind of people those relatives of yours are?"

Jiang Ming looked at his father's anxious face, his expression not wavering in the slightest.

"Dad, some things can't be avoided."

"Resolve it once and for all, and things will be quiet afterward."

After speaking, Jiang Ming turned and went back to his room, leaving Jiang Lijun alone on the balcony, staring blankly at his son's back.

In the room, Jiang Ming took out that black encrypted phone and sent a message to Chen Jianguo.

The content of the message was very brief.

"Tonight at seven, Tianyue Mansion. Handling family matters, no intervention needed. Help me prepare a detailed profile of my aunt Zhang Huifang, uncle Li Jian, and cousin Li Hao's family, including their financial status and recent social activities."

The moment the message was sent, the screen immediately displayed "The other party is typing."

A few seconds later, Chen Jianguo's reply popped up.

"The information will be sent to your phone in half an hour."

Chen Jianguo sat in his office at the Ninth Bureau, looking at the text on the screen, lost in thought for a moment.

He understood that Jiang Ming's "no intervention needed" meant he didn't want the Ninth Bureau's power to directly interfere in his internal family affairs.

But he still picked up another phone and called the head of the Yuzhang branch.

"Send a team in plain clothes to stand by on the perimeter of Tianyue Mansion. Remember, observe only, no contact, unless you receive a direct order from me."

Half an hour later, an encrypted file appeared on Jiang Ming's phone right on time.

Jiang Ming opened the file; the information inside was startlingly detailed.

Aunt Zhang Huifang and Uncle Li Jian had recently participated in private fundraising, but the platform collapsed, resulting in a loss of over eight hundred thousand, and they still owed the bank three hundred thousand in loans.

Cousin Li Hao had found a girlfriend whose family demanded a house in the city paid for in full, otherwise they wouldn't marry. They couldn't even scrape together the down payment.

At the end of the file were several photos, image records of the aunt's family frequently visiting various small loan companies and mahjong parlors recently.

Jiang Ming finished reading all the information expressionlessly and deleted the file completely.

6:30 PM.

Jiang Ming's family changed into ordinary clothes.

Jiang Lijun wore a semi-worn jacket, and Zhang Huilan wore a dark coat; both had an uncontrollable sense of worry and unease on their faces.

"Dad, Mom."

Jiang Ming walked up to them and helped straighten his father's collar.

"Tonight, you don't need to say anything or do anything."

"Just watch the show."

Jiang Lijun and Zhang Huilan looked at each other, and the tension in their hearts dissipated slightly for some reason.

The family of three walked out of the residential area.

Downstairs, the noisy crowd had long since vanished, with only a few Ninth Bureau personnel disguised as sanitation workers and security guards keeping watch nearby.

A black Volkswagen sedan with ordinary local license plates was parked quietly at the entrance of the building.

Seeing them, the driver immediately got out and opened the rear door.

The vehicle started smoothly, merging into the city's evening rush hour traffic, heading toward the brightly lit Tianyue Mansion.

Tianyue Mansion, "Emperors Pavilion" private room.

Under a luxurious crystal chandelier, around a huge round table that could seat twenty people, it was already bustling with voices.

Aunt Zhang Huifang was wearing a brand-new mink coat with a thick gold necklace around her neck. Uncle Li Jian had a beer belly and a glowing face.

Cousin Li Hao and his flashily dressed fiancée were surrounded by a group of relatives, their faces full of pride.

Also at the table were over a dozen distant relatives whose names Jiang Ming could hardly recall, all decked out in gold and silver, trying their best to look like members of high society.

When the door to the private room was pushed open and Jiang Ming's family of three walked in.

The entire room went silent for a second before exploding into even more enthusiastic clamor.

"Oh! Xiao Ming is here! Quick, quick, please take the seat of honor!"

Zhang Huifang was the first to rush over, warmly grabbing Jiang Ming's hand and pulling him toward the head of the table.

"Dear nephew, I've finally been looking forward to your arrival! Let your aunt have a good look. You've lost weight; you must have been terrified on that plane!"

"Xiao Ming is now the greatest pride of our Jiang and Zhang families!"

"Exactly, a living immortal! Our family's guardian deity!"

A group of relatives immediately swarmed around, offering greetings and concerns, their words filled with nauseating flattery and praise.

Jiang Lijun and Zhang Huilan were overwhelmed by the spectacle and could only laugh awkwardly.

Jiang Ming let them perform, allowed himself to be pushed into the seat of honor by Zhang Huifang, his face showing no emotion.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes.

The atmosphere in the private room became increasingly heated under the influence of alcohol.

Aunt Zhang Huifang felt the time was right; she put down her glass, her smile vanished, and her eyes instantly turned red.

She first tearfully recounted how difficult her business had been over the past two years, how much money she had been cheated out of, and how hard life had become.

After laying the groundwork, she changed the subject, wiping away non-existent tears with a handkerchief, and looked intently at Jiang Ming.

"Xiao Ming, you're the most capable and successful one in our family now. You have to give your aunt a hand!"

Uncle Li Jian immediately followed up, raising his glass to Jiang Ming with a fawning smile.

"Xiao Ming, and your cousin too. Look at him, he's not young anymore, and he finally found a girlfriend. The girl's family has only one requirement: a house paid for in full. We parents aren't capable enough, so... we're still short by five hundred thousand. Do you think you could... sponsor us a bit?"

Cousin Li Hao's fiancée, her fingers with red nail polish curled up, spoke in a sarcastic tone.

"Oh, Uncle, you can't say it like that. Xiao Ming is the famous Crow God now. The internet says he can easily earn tens of millions just by doing a single livestream. To him, five hundred thousand is just a drop in the bucket."

As soon as she finished speaking, other distant relatives at the table also found their openings.

"That's right, Xiao Ming. Your second great-uncle's grandson wants to go to school in Jiang City. Do you think you could help arrange a better school?"

"And me, Xiao Ming. Your third great-aunt is a bit short on cash lately. Could you lend me eighty or a hundred thousand to tide me over?"

"My son just graduated from university and hasn't found a job. Is your company hiring?"

Greedy faces were fully exposed under the magnificent lights.

It was as if they weren't making requests, but were righteously demanding, dividing up their own spoils of war.

Jiang Lijun's face was so dark it looked like it could drip ink, and his fist under the table was clenched tight.

Zhang Huilan's face turned even paler, her lips trembling as she looked at her sister and this group of relatives, her eyes filled with disappointment and embarrassment.

She was about to speak up for her son.

"Xiao Ming, he..."

But Jiang Ming gave her a look—calm, yet carrying an unquestionable authority.

Zhang Huilan swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

In the entire private room, only Jiang Ming was still eating his food unhurriedly.

Under everyone's gaze, he picked up the last piece of sweet and sour pork, put it in his mouth, chewed carefully, and then swallowed.

Then, he picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth.

Finally, he set down his chopsticks.

The chopsticks collided with the plate, making a clear, crisp sound.

The sound wasn't loud, yet it caused the entire room to fall silent instantly.

All the noisy demands came to an abrupt halt.

Everyone's eyes were focused on Jiang Ming.

Jiang Ming didn't look at anyone.

He simply leaned back in his chair, looked around, and then asked in an extremely calm tone.

"Are you finished?"