Old Harden, can you handle having your vision-shifting abilities on all the time?

Xu Yanle's expression froze instantly, and her eyes began to dart away.

"Dad, about this..."

"cousin?"

A voice broke in.

Xu Xing turned his head and saw his cousin Zhang Ming walking over from the corridor. Zhang Ming was two years younger than him, but he looked older than he had before.

Zhang Ming looked at Xu Xing in surprise and exclaimed, "Holy crap, bro, have you become young again? What kind of magic pill did you eat?"

Then he caught a glimpse of Xu Yanle's expression, and then looked at Xu Xing's unpleasant face, and suddenly understood something.

"Xu Yanle".

Zhang Ming frowned and asked, "Your father didn't know the child's surname was Gao?"

These words were like a slap in the face to Xu Xing.

He slowly turned his head to look at his son and said, "What do you mean by not knowing the child's surname is Gao?"

Xu Yanle's face turned deathly pale, and he stammered, unable to speak.

Zhang Ming sighed, grabbed Xu Xing's arm, and said, "Brother, today is a joyous occasion, don't rush, let's go inside and talk..."

"What did you say?"

Xu Xing shook off his hand and asked in a low voice, "Zhang Ming, tell me what it means for a child to have the surname Gao?"

Seeing that he couldn't hide it any longer, Zhang Ming simply pointed at Xu Yanle and said, "That brat secretly let his child take his mother's surname without your knowledge. Half of the guests today are relatives of the Xu family, and the other half are from the Gao family. Everyone thought you knew. They were just praising you for your high moral character and not minding this..."

"Fuck it!"

Xu Xing was trembling all over. He pointed at Xu Yanle and laughed angrily, saying, "Xu Yanle, you're not a son-in-law! I've worked hard all these years, driving a ride-hailing car after work and selling scrap metal on weekends to pay for your college education, buy you a car and a house, and even pay for your dowry and wedding."

"Your wife was in postpartum confinement, and I, being a man, couldn't easily take care of her, so I gave her mother 30,000 yuan to help. I've practically drained myself to support you, and this is how you treat me? You're letting the child take her surname without even consulting me?"

Xu Yanle was so ashamed by the scolding that he couldn't lift his head. He muttered, "I had no choice. Gao Min said that if I didn't let the child take her surname, she would divorce me and leave the father with the child..."

"Dad, you spent so much money to get me a wife. If she leaves me, I'll lose both my money and my wife. I did it all for this family..."

"Bullshit!"

Xu Xing was furious: "For this family? You'd throw away your father's surname for this family?"

"Xu Yanle, you lost your mother when you were eight. I raised you all by myself. I didn't remarry, I didn't leave myself a way out, I gave you everything I had, and this is how you repay me?"

He raised his arm to strike, but Zhang Ming and several Xu family relatives who rushed over upon hearing the commotion held him back tightly.

"Brother! Brother, calm down!"

"Cousin, there are so many people here today, don't let people laugh at us!"

"Yeah, Lao Xu, it's no use making a fuss now that things have come to this..."

"The child's surname is already registered in the household registration; it can't be changed now. What can you do even if you're angry?"

Several relatives offered their advice, and Xu Xing was so angry that he trembled all over.

He looked at Xu Yanle, who was bowing his head and remaining silent, and at the faces around him that showed either sympathy, embarrassment, or amusement. Suddenly, he felt extremely tired.

Over the years, he worked hard like an old ox, thinking that once his son was lifted out of Jingyang and settled down in Chang'an, he could retire in peace.

But now this guy has actually made his grandson take the surname Gao!

They didn't even consult me!

Why should someone surnamed Gao spend her coins?

Fuck!

He closed his eyes, and scenes from the first half of his life flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.

Then he remembered the bluefish stone that had melted that morning, his face in the mirror that looked ten years younger, and his newly awakened X-ray vision.

And that house that was bought at the peak, and whose down payment was completely lost after the price dropped.

He gradually calmed down, opened his eyes, and found that his anger had subsided, replaced by a deep, unfathomable calm.

"OK."

Xu Xing spoke, his voice unusually calm: "Xu Yanle, you idiot."

Everyone looked at him.

"Today, all of Xu's relatives are here, and I don't want things to get too ugly. From when you were eight years old, after your mother passed away, until now, when you got married and had children, I believe I have fulfilled all the responsibilities a father should have."

Xu Yanle raised her head and her lips moved.

Xu Xing raised his hand to stop him, saying, "You don't need to say anything, just let me finish."

"From today onwards, I will not contribute a single penny to your mortgage or car loan payments. The total monthly payment of over ten thousand is your responsibility to figure out. If you can pay it, great; if not, you can sell the house – that's your problem."

"Whether you want to have more children in the future, and whose surname the children will take, is none of my business."

"I'll find a time to transfer your household registration out, and then we, father and son, won't need to contact each other anymore."

"Furthermore, the Xu family will no longer have you as a relative. If any member of the Gao family dares to harass the Xu family's relatives in the future, I reserve the right to sue and reclaim the house and down payment at any time."

"Don't forget that when you bought the house, I marked the transfer as a mortgage loan. The mortgage payments over the years have also been made through my account, with every single transaction noted as a loan repayment. Legally speaking, all this money is what you owe me!"

The hall fell silent after he finished speaking.

Xu Yanle's face turned pale instantly: "Dad! What are you saying! How am I supposed to pay the mortgage if you don't pay it?! My monthly salary is only nine thousand, and Gao Min hasn't been working since she had her baby, we..."

That's your business.

Xu Xing interrupted, "You're twenty-four, married and a father now. You should be able to handle things on your own."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards the banquet hall.

Xu Yanle wanted to chase after him, but Zhang Ming stopped her.

"Let your dad calm down."

Zhang Ming lowered his voice and said, "Try to calm him down first, then talk to him slowly. He's angry right now, the more you push him, the more ruthless he'll become."

Xu Yanle opened her mouth but ultimately didn't dare to chase after him to say anything.

……

The banquet hall was packed with twenty tables, with Xu's relatives sitting at ten tables on the left and Gao's relatives at ten tables on the right, clearly separated.

As Xu walked in, all eyes turned to him.

"Hey, Lao Xu? What happened to you?"

"Brother Xing, you went to Korea? You look so much younger!"

"Cousin, what skincare products are you using? I'd love to hear some recommendations!"

Xu's relatives gathered around, teasing him all at once. They had all witnessed how Xu Xing had endured all these years, and they were both surprised and curious to see him suddenly looking radiant.

Xu Xing forced a smile and said, "I had a change of heart recently, and when I'm in a good mood, I naturally feel younger."

He didn't explain much and went straight to the head table to sit down.

Several elders of the Xu family, along with Gao Min's mother, were seated at the main table.

Her eyes lit up when she saw Xu Xing, and she said, "Oh my, father-in-law, you look so energetic today! Anyone who didn't know better would think you were the child's uncle!"

Xu Xing didn't reply, he just nodded.

Gao Min sat next to Xu Yanle with her child in her arms. She was stunned when she saw Xu Xing, but quickly lowered her head and pretended to tease the child.

The entire banquet proceeded in an eerie atmosphere.

Xu Xing didn't drink a drop of alcohol, only ate some food. His relatives took turns toasting him, and in their low voices, they advised him to take it easy and not to take the child's feelings to heart.

The Gao family's side was much quieter, with only a few scrutinizing glances occasionally falling over.

As the banquet drew to a close, Xu's relatives began to leave. Xu Xing got up to go to the restroom, but when he returned, he was stopped in the corridor by Zhao Jinhua, Gao Min's mother.

"Father-in-law, I need to discuss something with you."

Zhao Jinhua smiled obsequiously.

"explain."

"Look, Gao Min is taking care of the children now, and I'm retired. I'm just sitting around doing nothing in Chang'an anyway. I heard you know a lot of people working at the Jingyang County Museum. Could you help me find a less demanding job? The salary doesn't have to be high, just two or three thousand is fine, as long as I have something to do."

Xu Xing looked at her without saying anything.

Zhao Jinhua thought he had agreed, so she leaned forward and lowered her voice, saying, "I can also help you with laundry and cooking. You need someone to take care of you since you're living alone..."

Xu Xing nearly vomited, interrupting, "Where did this old pig demon come from? Get lost!"