Chapter 1: The Office's Unspoken Rules...

  Originally planned to go back to grandparents' house for winter vacation, but unexpectedly received a sacred decree the day before New Year's Eve, asking Yang Zongbao to pay his respects.

  Yang Zongbao didn't feel like there was anything to be happy about, but Bao Guo was in high spirits early in the morning and dug Yang Zongbao out of bed, directly stuffing him into the car. It wasn't until the car door closed that he realized Yang Zongbao's outfit was too unusual - a down jacket worn over his athletic wear.

  "Brother Bao, I said why don't you buy some better clothes?" Baoguo said disapprovingly.

  "Woke up as soon as I got out of bed, no time to change." Yang Zongbao's typical morning temper, if he was sleeping on a recliner, it would be fine. But once he slept in bed, he must have slept until he woke up naturally, otherwise, who would dare to disturb him, completely irrational: "You can't sleep in later?"

  "Alright, I was wrong. But Brother Bao, how old are you? You're still addicted to sportswear?" Baoguo didn't dare argue with Yang Zongbao and could only change the subject.

  Yang Zongbao still had a crap-colored face: "Nonsense, I sleep in athletic wear."

  "Wearing sportswear to sleep? Brother Yang, how stingy are you? Turn on the air conditioner?" Bao Guo couldn't stand Yang Zong's miserly personality.

  "No money."

  "You... " Bao Guo was really at a loss with this lazy good-for-nothing, so he could only say: "Wait a minute, I'll get you something decent."

  It just so happened that on the way to that house, I passed by the largest department store in Luojiang - Hualian Department Store.

  Baoguo didn't say another word and took Yang Zongbao to the top floor. The first floor of Hualian Department Store is a supermarket, floors 2-5 are domestic brands, the top floor on the 6th floor is a world-renowned luxury brand, and the basement is a home appliance specialty store.

  Bao Guo picked out a few pieces and asked Yang Zongbao to exchange them.

  A man is judged by his clothes and a horse by its saddle. Yang Zongbao changed into a new set of clothes and gained some air of nobility.

  Protecting the country nodded and approved: "Good, this set is fine."

  "No, just these two pieces of cloth are cold." Yang Zongbao thought that wearing a suit in winter didn't feel realistic: "Down jackets are warmer."

  "You think everyone is like you, with nothing at home that can be used to make a fire." Baoguo really thought that neither of them knew who was the real rustic.

  "You're exaggerating, I'm just having a fever." Yang Zongbao disliked Bao Guo's exaggerated way of speaking.

  "Y... ou..." Bao Guo was at a loss for words in the face of Yang Zongbao's bizarre thinking, and finally had to coerce and deceive him into putting it on.

  A black woolen suit, with a casual sweater inside, and straight trousers on the bottom, paired with newly purchased shiny leather shoes.

  Yang Zongbao got off the car, it was this pose. His tall figure, even with messy hair, looked like he did it on purpose, that's the effect of wearing different clothes.

  "You deceived me."

  Baoguo didn't expect that the first sentence Yang Zongbao said after getting out of the car was this. The front yard was all lawn, and it's really unknown where this green lawn came from in winter. Looking at the lush greenery, it's actually still cold, and you won't feel less cold just because your courtyard is green.

  "Wait, Bao Ge, you go in and take a look first." Baoguo smiled and walked towards the door.

  Yang Zongbao followed reluctantly, grumbling in his heart.

  Didn't expect that once I walked in, it didn't feel too cold. Compared to the obvious zero-degree temperature in the air, my feet felt surprisingly warm.

  Yang Zongbao noticed and Baoguo smiled: "It's different now, this is all floor heating. How about it? I said it wasn't cold."

  "The decline of capitalism." Yang Zongbao responded with a sentence.

  "Haha, don't say it, don't say it, let's go. There should be a lot of people inside. See? The cars at the entrance are all here to see you." Baoguo pointed to the vehicles parked far away outside the door behind him.

  "What's wrong with me?" Yang Zongbao pointed at himself in confusion.

  "Nonsense, with so many industries, can Yang Shuo handle it all by himself?" Bao Guo sneered.

  "What's my advantage? I'm a doctor, I don't understand those corporate things, just take a look today and leave." Yang Zongbao was very calm. Just now when he entered the door, seeing that row of small cars, he could tell what had happened with his toes: "But this momentum is a bit exaggerated, or is this actually a parking lot?"

  Yang Zongbao spoke sarcastically, Bao Guo remained silent, that guy's morning temper hasn't dissipated yet.

  Two people walked through the golf course, Yang Zongbao thought to himself, it's really too luxurious, if all the land is heated, how much resources would be wasted. As the saying goes, warm feet, warm body, since entering this golf course, Yang Zongbao hasn't felt cold at all. However, this courtyard is really big, and the house is quite tacky.

  Imagine a 4-story farmhouse that a rural nouveau riche would build to show off, standing in the middle of a very Western-style golf course.

  It may have been decorated later, but it can't change the fact that the exterior is rough and crumbling.

  He stepped into the house and cursed under his breath, what is this? A three-hall trial?

  The first floor of the house was a living room, with an armchair in which sat an old lady. She looked very wealthy, wearing a black satin cheongsam with small red flowers embroidered on it. Her face didn't look kind, and when Yang Zongbao came in, she didn't show any expression, just playing with a small purple sandalwood rosary in her hand. In her arms was a copper incense burner, burning tea cakes inside. Yang Zongbao could smell that they were Pu'er tea cakes. Even if he couldn't ask, he could guess it - only Pu'er tea can be made into cakes. Under the current situation where Pu'er tea prices have skyrocketed, being able to burn tea cakes like this truly showed her wealth.

  On the old lady's left stood Yang Tianming, and on her right were Mrs. Yang and their two children.

  On both sides were people clearly divided into two groups. Dressed in uniform suits and leather shoes, with serious faces, unexpectedly Shen Lianlian and her brother Shen Ming were among them, but standing on the right side.

  "Come here." The old lady beckoned to Yang Zongbao directly.

  Yang Zongbao slowly walked forward, looking somewhat flustered. He had never seen such a grand scene before, and suddenly seeing such a massive gathering, anyone would be intimidated. Of course, Yang Zongbao's so-called fluster was all fake, and being flustered was the most normal reaction he should have been showing at this moment.

  Some people saw Yang Zongbao's soft-boiled egg-like appearance and burst out laughing.

  "Come here." The old lady called out again, this time even stretching out her hand that held the Buddhist beads.

  Yang Zongbao was momentarily at a loss, unsure whether he should grasp the withered hand that resembled a dead pine branch. Having endured two years of hellish days, his instincts recoiled at human contact.

  The old man grasped Yang Zongbao's hesitant hand: "How can you wear this on such a cold day? Don't be like them, prioritize demeanor over temperature. But why did you come at this time? You should have come earlier."

  Yang Zongbao couldn't tell whether the old lady was putting on an act or not. To him, she seemed overly enthusiastic; if he wasn't mistaken, this was their first meeting, after all.

  "Squat down, let me take a look." The old woman made Yang Zongbao squat in front of her and carefully combed through his hair.

  Nobody understands the old lady's actions, including Yang Zongbao. Only Yang Tianming standing aside knows that the old lady is checking the family inheritance. No matter how Yang Shuo and Yang Jing prove they are of the Yang family in medical terms, their own mother superficially acknowledges but psychologically does not accept them at all. She is also not close to her two children. It turns out that this Yang Zongbao has a good relationship with the old lady.

  "Come on, get up, get up." The old lady suddenly became very happy, pulled Yang Zongbao to stand up, and conveniently slid the Buddhist beads in her hand into Yang Zongbao's hand.

  "Hiss..."

  The people around, including Mrs. Yang and her two children, all took a deep breath. The old lady's action was clear enough. That was her true affection for Yang Zongbao. The small-leaf sandalwood Buddhist beads were not something valuable, but the devout elderly had used them to chant scriptures for nearly 30 years, never leaving their side, and suddenly gave them to Yang Zongbao, whom they had just met.

  "No, can't want..." Yang Zongbao wanted to take it off and give it back to the old man.

  "It's yours, I'm giving it to you." The old man patted Yang Zongbao's hand kindly. This little guy looked more and more like his grandfather. He hadn't expected that when he looked at the hair on the front of his head, he also saw three red hairs. This was really his own grandson! All these years outside had been truly hard work. This was the true scion of the Yang family.

  "It's nothing, you can all go back now. What are you doing gathering here on New Year's? I'm not dead yet!" The old lady spoke ill-omened words, but no one dared to retort.

  Under Yang Tianming's indication, they came forward one by one to say some auspicious words such as "Happy New Year" and presented their personal gifts. Many people gave red envelopes with varying thicknesses, but there were no surprises. The old lady handed them all over to Yang Zongbao: "Take it, take it, wait a minute, grandma will give you something good later."

  "Daughter, you can't do this, in front of so many people, and besides..." Mrs. Yang, aka Shen Rou, tried to stop the old man's radical behavior.

  "Daughter? Who is your daughter? The child you gave birth to is my grandchild, but you are not my child." The old lady was quite annoyed at being interrupted when she was in high spirits.

  Shen Rou's face was dark with resentment, but on the surface, she pretended to be extremely wronged and looked at Yang Tianming. Yang Tianming didn't say a word.

  "In the evening, I'll cook for you myself. Do you like potstickers?" The old lady turned to Yang with a warm smile.

  Yang Zongbao still didn't know why the old lady had such a good impression of him at this time, it was too abnormal. In fact, he had no idea that in Yang's mother's eyes, only those with three red hairs on their head were considered family members. Although Shen Rou brought Yang Shuo and Yang Jing's DNA test reports as a door-knocking brick to enter the Yang household before, now that there was Yang Zongbao, it was truly a right turn.

  The old lady was overjoyed on this side, while Shen Rou's face was full of gloom.

  As people on both sides were taking turns to pay their New Year's greetings and give out red envelopes, when it was Shen Jianhong's turn, who is Shen Xiangxiang's father, Shen Xiangxiang sweetly called out: "Brother Bao."

  "Hmm." Yang Zongbao replied indifferently.

  Shen Lianlian lowered her head in distress.

  "Zongbao, do you know him?" the old lady asked.

  "They grew up together." Shen Jianhong hastily explained. Shen Lianlian's face turned slightly red with embarrassment, and she scolded, "Dad..."

  Yang Zongbao watched the father and daughter singing opera in front of him, speechless.

  "Really? Then stay for Chinese New Year." The old lady seemed to be thinking deeply.

  "Not yet, thank you, old lady." Shen Jianhong pushed his daughter and immediately agreed, afraid that the old lady would regret it.