BXBX NOVEL Chapter 336 - Things Have Changed, We Are Equal
Chapter 336: Things Have Changed, We Are Equal
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Because Huo Xiaoran and Qiao An were staying for the meal, the old man specially instructed the kitchen to make more delicious food. As the old man was in a good mood, he was much better and even asked the butler to push him out to eat together.
Although the Li family had declined, they adhered to the traditional style of many wealthy families. For example, the hierarchy between the elders and juniors was strict. When eating, the elders and juniors had to sit separately, the elders and guests sat at the top, and the women and male compatriots had to be separated. This way, it was convenient for the men to speak freely and drink to liven things up.
As the juniors were young, they did not have such a serious concept of hierarchy. They sat around randomly and chatted.
Huo Xiaoran had not married. Although he was an elder, he sat with Li Zecheng and the others. Today, the old man specially invited him to sit with his brothers.
Huo Xiaoran pulled Qiao An to sit with him.
Qiao An felt awkward and whispered to him, “Brother Xiaoran, there are no women here. I’d better sit with Tingting.”
Huo Xiaoran glanced at the juniors and saw Li Zecheng and Wei Xin. He grabbed Qiao An’s hand even tighter.
“Just sit with me.” His tone was gentle as he looked at Jo Ann.
Unable to resist his tenderness, Qiao An sat beside him nervously.
At this moment, the brothers saw Qiao An sit down and their eyes flashed with surprise. Qiao An was even more embarrassed.
Huo Xiaoran said, “Husband and wife should be equal. It’s time to get rid of the bad habit of the Li family.”
The brothers looked at each other and finally looked at Old Master Li.
Old Master Li was silent for a moment before saying, “Xiaoran is right. I was negligent in the past. Looking at the prosperity of your families, you still have to be husband and wife with one mind and have a harmonious family. Only then can you travel thousands of miles. In the future, when we eat, there’s no need to be polite. You can sit however you want. As long as you’re happy and harmonious.”
Qiao An’s eyes were smiling.
Unexpectedly, Old Master Li, this old antique, had been assimilated by Xiaoran.
After Old Master Li spoke, his brothers invited their wives back to the table. Their imprisoned thoughts were finally released and they all smiled happily.
However, Third Madam couldn’t feel happy when she saw Qiao An. After all, Qiao An used to be her daughter-in-law, and now she was her sister-in-law. She didn’t know how to get along with Qiao An.
In the past, she had shouted at Qiao An in the name of being her mother-in-law. It was a habit that had been branded into her bones. Now, she felt awkward near Qiao An.
Therefore, when First Madam and Second Madam held their wine glasses to congratulate Qiao An and Huo Xiaoran, Third Madam’s expression was very ugly. She could neither stand nor sit.
Qiao An held her wine glass and returned the toast to First Madam and Second Madam. She was generous and changed her words very naturally. “In the future, please take care of me.”
When Third Madam heard Qiao An address First Madam and Second Madam as First Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law, she felt as if she had been stung by a poisonous bee. Her body trembled and the wine glass in her hand slipped to the ground.
Everyone had a tacit understanding. She couldn’t accept her previous daughter-in-law being her sister-in-law. From now on, she had to be polite to Qiao An.
Qiao An looked at Third Madam and smiled quietly. She took the initiative to toast her. “Third Sister-in-law. I toast you.”
Third Madam stood up in shock. “What did you call me?”
Qiao An stood up as well. “I called you Third Sister-in-law.”
Third Madam’s face turned pale. “How can you call me Third Sister-in-law? You used to call me…”
Under Huo Xiaoran’s cold gaze, she did not say the word “mother-in-law”.
Huo Xiaoran reminded her coldly, “Third Sister-in-law, although my An’an is kind-hearted, she has always been stubborn since she was young. She never admits defeat easily. Therefore, please avoid her in the future. If Third Sister-in-law provokes her and she insists on fighting to the death with you, then I can only help her. After all, I can’t bear to let others bully my wife.”
In other words, Qiao An had been Huo Xiaoran’s from the beginning to the end. Qiao An and Li Zecheng’s marriage was just an interlude. He reminded Third Madam not to be immersed in the glory of Qiao An being her daughter-in-law.
Third Madam’s face darkened as she replaced the wine glass and refilled it. After clinking glasses with Qiao An, she said uncomfortably, “Fourth Sister-in-law and Fourth Brother are in love. Don’t forget to invite us to their wedding another day.”
Qiao An looked at Huo Xiaoran and asked him, “Third Sister-in-law wants to attend our wedding. Brother Xiaoran, can you arrange it?”
Huo Xiaoran patted her head dotingly. This action of patting her head was especially gentle and doting.
“Okay.”
Third Madam was especially depressed during the meal.
The brothers chatted with Huo Xiaoran. They actually wanted to make him happy and get him to pave the way for their career.
As for Huo Xiaoran, he casually dealt with his brothers and wholeheartedly took care of Qiao An while she ate.
He sampled each dish, offering Qiao An her favorite, piling her bowl with dishes. She could only dig into her food.
Not far away, Li Zecheng and Wei Xin kept glancing at Huo Xiaoran and Qiao An from time to time. Seeing that Huo Xiaoran doted on Qiao An so much, Wei Xin was jealous.
After all, the former Qiao An was as humble as mud in front of her. She only needed to use a little trick to cause her to completely lose her husband’s love and concern.
She’d once taken away Qiao An’s wedding ring, her marital property, and her man. She’d once left Qiao An to struggle in the mud.
Back then, she’d despised Qiao An and felt that she would never be able to make a comeback.
But now?
Qiao An sat beside Huo Xiaoran with a smile. Huo Xiaoran gently held her with one arm. His eyes and heart were hers. He treated her like treasure.
Only then did Wei Xin clearly realize that Qiao An was destined to have a noble life.
And she was the loser.
Where was Li Zecheng?
He felt even more complicated than Wei Xin.
He saw Qiao An stuffing the peeled shrimp into Huo Xiaoran’s mouth. He saw her gently wiping the food from the corner of his lips. That gentle look once belonged to him.
He was the one who’d lost such a gentle Qiao An.
He regretted it.
Wei Xin suddenly saw Li Zecheng looking at Qiao An with regret. She was so angry that she stomped on Li Zecheng’s foot.
“There’s nothing to see,” she said fiercely.
Li Zecheng lowered his head and ate. There were no dishes, only white rice. It was difficult to swallow.