Chapter 192: Ernest Johnson's Brother-in-Law!
That demand left Ernest Johnson speechless as he knelt helplessly on the ground.
She wanted a mansion in Platan Heights?
He doubted he could afford even a toilet in Platan Heights, even if he sold himself piece by piece!
Sarah Johnson felt a headache coming on too.
She understood Karen all too well; she could make a scene out of nothing, let alone when she had some ground to stand on.
And she was unrelenting!
That was why Sarah Johnson didn't plan to continue trying to persuade her. She thought it best to let Karen have her outburst and cool down with time.
Ding-dong!
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Sarah Johnson gave Ryder Clark a look, signaling him to answer the door.
Ryder went to open the door and found himself frowning slightly at the sight of three figures standing at the entryway.
It was a middle-aged couple with a chubby teenage boy, all of them relatives of Karen.
The man was Karen's younger brother, Mike Johnson, the baby of his siblings and therefore, Sarah's uncle.
His wife was Lisa Johnson, and their son had a promising name, Chris Johnson.
However, when it came to school, the boy was hardly an academic star.
Ryder Clark didn't have a shred of fondness for this family of three.
Mike and Lisa Johnson had spent their lives as freeloaders. They still lived with their own parents well into their forties and relied on the old couple’s money for daily expenses.
And that wasn’t the end of it. When they were short of cash, they never hesitated to call their siblings asking for money.
Karen, who had married into the well-to-do Johnson family from a rural background, found herself the wealthiest among her siblings, an unfortunate position that made her the prime target for their mooching habits.
They all liked to hit Karen up for a loan, but were notably less enthusiastic when it was time to repay the debt.
That left Karen, who was known for her assertive and domineering personality, quite exasperated with her brother. And now, when she saw Liu Xueming's trio at the doorstep, Karen's brow furrowed in displeasure. "What brings you and your whole family here?"
Liu Xueming brushed past Ryder Clark, who was blocking the entrance, brusquely saying, "Move aside!" He barged in without even bothering to take off his shoes, a sly grin on his face. "Saw your post on about some trouble with your hubby, just thought I'd check in on you!"
Annoyed, Karen retorted, "What trouble could I possibly have with your brother-in-law? It's practically been resolved. If there's nothing important, you better head back home!" She then shot Ernest Johnson a meaningful look.
Ernest Johnson quickly got the hint and moved over to the sofa. He knew all too well that Karen was likely trying to avert any nuisance Liu Xueming might bring, deciding it was best to set aside any conflicts temporarily to see him off first. Frankly, this was also a bit of relief for him as it diverted Karen's attention.
Liu Xueming, a wily character through and through, kept up his smile despite Karen's words. "Oh, big sis! Look at you talking like that. Even if there's nothing, can't I drop by for a visit? I’m your brother, after all. Besides, I've brought you guys a special gift!"
He gestured to his wife, Yvonne Wang, "Honey, come in and bring the gift for my sis and her husband, it's something pretty cool!"
Yvonne Wang, and their child, Liu Qinghua, entered without bothering to remove their shoes either. She placed a small basket she was carrying onto the coffee table and lifted the cloth that covered it, revealing a bunch of eggs inside.
Liu Xueming boasted, "Big sis, these are genuine free-range eggs from back home, purely organic, something you won't find easily in the city! I’m so thoughtful, aren’t I?"
Ryder Clark glanced over and counted – there were barely ten eggs, and one was even cracked!
At market prices, these eggs wouldn't cost more than twenty bucks.
Still, it had to be acknowledged this was the first time Ryder Clark had seen Liu Xueming's family bring Karen any gifts.
Hell must have frozen over!
When Karen spotted the eggs in the basket, the corner of her mouth twitched. "How thoughtful, Xueming. You brought me ten eggs and smashed one?"
Hearing that, Liu Xueming let out an awkward cough and explained, "Ah, it's a bumpy ride over here on the motorcycle, and one got broken. But it won't spoil the meal. We haven't had dinner yet, so we could boil these up and eat together!"
Waving his hand at Ryder Clark, he snapped, “Hey you, get those eggs boiling and whip up some dishes. Throw in some extra meat, I'm starving!"
Then he turned to Ernest Johnson, grinning, "Don't you have a thing for collecting fine spirits, Ernest? Crack open a bottle, I'll have a few drinks with you tonight, haha!"
Ernest Johnson's immediate thought at the mention of drinking was the comical mix-up that had happened earlier that evening.
He quickly declined. "Ahem! Better not, my blood pressure’s been high, gotta skip the booze!"
Liu XueMin, a disappointed, sighed, "Man, you’re no fun! Since you’re not drinking, I guess I’ll drink solo! Hahaha!"
Liu XueMin's antics left the Johnson family and Ryder Clark exchanging bewildered looks.
He was treating the place like his own home.
But what could they do?
They were, after all, relatives.
So Karen resigned herself to saying, "Ryder Clark! Go fix your uncle some food! And boil those... eggs, too. My cholesterol’s through the roof, I can't indulge in so many farm eggs."
Her voice was tinged with sarcasm, an obvious dig at Liu XueMin’s family.
But Liu XueMin's clan seemed oblivious to it all.
They just sprawled across the couch as if they owned the place.
Liu XueMin even took off his shoes.
His white socks were yellowing and turning black, with a hole over the big toe on the left foot, releasing a pungent scent reminiscent of old pickles that immediately filled the living room.
It was almost too much for the eyes to bear!
Ryder Clark hurried into the kitchen to start cooking, and Sarah Johnson slipped in behind him.
They closed the kitchen door behind them.
Sarah, who was feeling defeated, said, "I can't even... My uncle’s family has got some nerve! Every time they swing by, I get this bad vibe!"
Ryder chimed in, "At the end of the day, your mom's too concerned about keeping up appearances. She’s always bragging to her folks back home about how great we’re doing in Houston, saying just holler if they need anything.
“That’s why we get relatives like your uncle always showing up. Even if your mom’s unhappy, she’s still got to put up a front. This vicious cycle’s only going to keep repeating and become the norm!"
Rubbing her head, Sarah Johnson lamented, "The fiasco between my mom and dad hasn't even settled down, and now my uncle’s family is stirring things up. I’m starting to think that dealing with these domestic problems is tougher than sorting out company issues! I'm so ready to move out, but who knows how long that will take…"
A smile played at the corners of Ryder Clark’s lips as he heard that. Inwardly, he responded, ‘Just a few more days, and I'll whisk you away to our new place in Platan Height number one.
‘Then, you’ll be the happiest woman in Houston…’
Half an hour later.
Ryder Clark laid out a spread of home-cooked meals on the table.
The Thompson family of three devoured the food with gusto, marveling at how delicious everything tasted.
Uncle Mike, picking at his feet, commented, "Geez! You did a pretty good job with these dishes! Sarah, your hubby's got some skills. Too bad he's a bit of a slacker, otherwise, he’d match up with you quite well!"
Aunt Linda, however, smirked and said, "He's just a stay-at-home son-in-law. He’s not a big deal, even if he's got skills."
Then she reminded her son, Brian, "Eat up! Once you transfer to that city high school and get into Stanford, you'll be a real man, far better than some son-in-law who just roams around the kitchen!"