Zhang Xinda, though excited, wasn't foolish enough to fall for that trap. He immediately retorted, "You're the one who married into the family, so why should I spend my money on you?"
Xu Bin smiled slowly, "You're just figuring that out? So, when my father-in-law isn't around, I'm the head of this household. Why are you butting in?"
"You..." Zhang Xinda slammed his fist on the table, pointing at Xu Bin's nose. "You're just a son-in-law, who do you think you are?"
Xu Bin had put up with enough. With his mother-in-law on his side and Yao Xin, who he could charm with his looks, he felt empowered. He coldly smiled and said, "So what if I'm a son-in-law? When you married Yao Xin, weren't you just as pathetic? Where was the fanfare?"
Yao Xin's face darkened slightly. Her parents were sharp-tongued and stingy, but they were fair. They didn't demand much for their daughters' marriages, just a suitable match. For Yao Xin's wedding, there was no dowry or betrothal gifts, just a handbag and some jewelry totaling around 40,000 yuan. At the time, Yao Xin didn't think much of it, but comparing herself to others, she felt she had married into poverty. This was her secret shame.
"Since marrying, I've spent more on your family than you ever did," Xu Bin said casually. "My money, my choice. At least I spend it on my wife and family."
This seemed to spark something in Shen Ruyu. She joined in, "Exactly! Xu Bin doesn't hesitate to spend on us. He barely buys clothes for himself, but he spends freely on us. He bought us gold bracelets worth over 30,000 yuan each without batting an eye."
"Xinda, you're not a kid anymore. You should know better than to waste money on games and nights out. That's no way to live."
After this exchange, Zhang Xinda's face turned green and then pale.
Previously, Shen Ruyu would scold Xu Bin, but now her anger was directed elsewhere. Zhang Xinda couldn't argue back without causing a scene, and suddenly, he understood Xu Bin's past frustrations.
Zhang Xinda gritted his teeth, "Mom, don't be fooled. He's broke and must have used credit cards and loans to afford this."
"He's not even working now, so how will he pay it back? His salary alone won't cover the interest."
This time, Yao Xin didn't stay quiet. Despite rumors of a strained marriage, with frequent arguments, she couldn't let her husband be ganged up on.
Among the three sisters, Yao Nan was the meekest, and Yao Le'er the most introverted. Yao Xin, the eldest, inherited their mother's fiery temperament and wasn't one to hold her tongue.
She agreed with her husband's assessment. This son-in-law was a good-for-nothing, and though Yao Nan was ordinary, the Yao family wasn't poor. Yao Nan had only rebelled once, insisting on marrying Xu Bin. Shen Ruyu, doting on her obedient daughter, had relented.
So, Yao Xin looked down on this son-in-law. Zhang Xinda, despite his laziness, had supportive parents who could spoil him and his wife. What right did Xu Bin have to complain?
Yao Xin pulled her sister's hand, concern etched on her face, "Nan, your husband's situation is clear. Where did he get all that money?"
"To say he won the lottery, I might believe, but that he earned it? Impossible."
Her tone was gentle but laced with insinuation, implying that Xu Bin was incapable.
Yao Nan, usually soft-spoken, met her sister's gaze and said, "It's possible, you just don't know him."
This soft rebuke irritated Yao Xin. She was a tiger at home and didn't hold back with her sister, "Yao Nan, don't be ungrateful. If he's in debt, you won't escape it. I'm warning you, don't drag the family down with you."
Zhang Xinda chimed in, "Exactly. We can check his loan records online."
"Mom, don't rush to speak. I'm doing this for your own good. When he can't pay, you'll be the one facing collection calls."
The couple, unusually united, took turns speaking, convinced that Xu Bin had taken out loans to impress his mother-in-law.
Xu Bin, seeing Yao Xin's disdain, smirked and placed his phone in front of Shen Ruyu, "Mom, go ahead and check. Let my sister-in-law put her mind at ease."
Shen Ruyu opened the messages, which showed a 500,000 yuan withdrawal, net of taxes from the stock market.
She was taken aback, "Son, why did you withdraw so much? Is something wrong?"
"Just a regular transaction," Xu Bin replied casually. "Some stocks are about to drop, so I cashed out."
Yao Nan giggled, "See, Big Sister, nothing to worry about."
"Impossible, you must have faked those messages," Zhang Xinda scoffed.
Xu Bin handed the phone to Yao Xin, "Sister-in-law, check for yourself. Look at my loan apps and credit card statements. I don't even have a credit card."
Zhang Xinda and Yao Xin leaned in, smirking. "Keep talking, we'll see how you explain this."
They scrolled through his phone, finding no evidence of loans or credit card use. His messages were filled with stock market updates, and his banking app showed only a savings account.
"Impossible," Zhang Xinda spluttered. "You dropped out of high school, what do you know about stocks?"
"Mom, he's fooling you. Those messages are probably fake. Everyone loses money in the stock market, but he's making a profit? He's no expert, how can he understand financial reports?"
Zhang Xinda's face contorted with anger. He opened the stock trading app, and his jaw dropped. The account, under Xu Bin's name, showed holdings worth over 360,000 yuan.
"This, this can't be right," Yao Xin stammered, her face pale.
"Now you believe me?" Xu Bin said, taking his phone back.
Seeing Zhang Xinda's shocked expression, Xu Bin felt a surge of satisfaction. The looks on the women's faces were even more entertaining.
Yao Nan's eyes sparkled with admiration, Shen Ruyu's with pride and approval, and Yao Xin's were a mix of surprise and embarrassment.
The account was legitimate, and the transactions were system-generated. Xu Bin didn't even know the password, so he could only withdraw money after completing tasks.
"Where did you get all this money? Those English apps, are you into something illegal?" Zhang Xinda asked, his voice shaking.
He cursed his mother-in-law under his breath for being so money-hungry. No wonder she was suddenly nice to him; she was impressed by the money.
Xu Bin looked at him like he was an idiot, "Those are legitimate Microsoft and Google apps, Sister-in-law. They're for trading futures, oil, and indexes. Ask any finance student, they'll tell you."
"Oh, and Sister-in-law, you don't speak English, so it's no surprise you can't understand."
This revelation even surprised Yao Xin, "You, you speak English?"
"I taught myself. I've been meaning to get certified."
Xu Bin boasted freely, knowing the system was foolproof. Might as well show off.
"Look at that!" Shen Ruyu beamed with pride. "Xu Bin isn't poor, he just doesn't spend on himself. He's a hard worker and always learning. You all should learn from him."
Yao Xin's confidence wavered, her expression complex as she looked at Xu Bin.
Seeing his wife's change in attitude, Zhang Xinda felt his face burn with humiliation. He grabbed at moral high ground, "Xu Bin, just because you have some money now, doesn't mean you should spend it recklessly."
Before Xu Bin could respond, Shen Ruyu jumped in, "So, spending on your wife and mother is reckless?"
Zhang Xinda stammered, "Mom, I didn't mean it that way. I just think buying jewelry is impractical."
"You don't even have a car. Nan rides that old electric bike to work every day. Isn't that miserable, especially in bad weather?"
Zhang Xinda saw an opening to turn the tables, feeling he was back in control.
"Sister-in-law, I don't have my driver's license yet, so I wouldn't know how to drive a car," Xu Bin said.
"Xinda, I have a driver's license, but I've forgotten how to drive," Shen Ruyu added.
"Besides, I don't go out much, the tea house is just a walk away. Nan should focus on getting her driver's license."
The mother and daughter spoke with one voice, unaffected by Zhang Xinda's attempts to rile them up.
What Zhang Xinda found most infuriating was that Yao Xin, usually his ally, was now thoughtful, speaking in a gentle tone, "You're right, a car might not be necessary right now."
Then, turning to Xu Bin, she said, "But Brother-in-law, you take the bus to work and spend your money on Nan and Mom. You should get yourself a car."
Zhang Xinda almost choked. On the surface, it seemed Yao Xin was agreeing with him, but her words were clearly praising Xu Bin's devotion to his family.
Seeing Shen Ruyu's smile and Yao Nan's adoring gaze, Zhang Xinda felt his world crumble.