Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 435 - 434 Happy New Year, some people are happy, some are not.

Chapter 435: 434 Happy New Year, some people are happy, some are not.

Old House of Hale Family

Tim Payne felt uneasy but it didn’t show on his face. After finishing putting up the Spring Festival couplets, it was already dark outside. Tonight’s Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner was personally prepared by Brock Hale, with Quade Hale helping out as an assistant cook.

Lily Lott and Mindy Xander were sitting on either side of Julia Yates.

The two of them had already booked an appointment with her to design jewelry for them after the New Year, and they were currently discussing an antique piece.

When Finn Hale appeared, he was holding several red envelopes.

Wyatt Hale, like a cat that smelled something enticing, dashed over, "Uncle Finn..."

"Happy New Year," Finn Hale handed him a red envelope.

Wyatt Hale felt it, noticing the thickness!

Not bad!

Deserving of an uncle—quite generous.

"Thank you, Uncle Finn, I wish you a sweet and honeyed new year with my aunt, that you’ll soon achieve your dream and your career will rise to the next level..."

Wyatt Hale was sweet-tongued, and after finishing, he received another red envelope, tucking it into his pocket with delight.

As an elder, Finn Hale gave red envelopes even to William Hale, and naturally, the one for Zoe Payne was the thickest. When she held it in her hand, she discovered there seemed to be a card stuffed inside.

Finally, he walked over to Tim Payne and handed him a red envelope.

Tim Payne was stunned.

Beside him, Mario Payne coughed, "You should accept it when given by an elder."

"..."

Their relationship was quite funny. Even though Finn Hale called him a senior, in front of so many elders, they couldn’t mess up the seniority, so Tim Payne still followed his sister’s way of addressing and called him "Uncle Finn."

"What are you hesitating for? Do you think it’s too little?" Finn Hale raised an eyebrow.

"No, thank you, Uncle Finn!"

Tim Payne accepted the red envelope, the word "uncle" through gritted teeth.

Because Finn Hale had set the precedent, the other elders followed one after another, handing out red envelopes, some even sent them directly via mobile phones. However, the Payne Family was different; the elder pair directly gave out gold bars.

Wyatt Hale cradled the gold bar, his eyes gleaming with gold.

He often accompanied Martin Yates on hunts, so Martin Yates also personally gave him a jade pendant.

"Sister-in-law, is this thing valuable?" Wyatt Hale asked.

Zoe Payne only knew the jade was good quality but wasn’t sure of its value, until Tim Payne whispered, "It could be worth seven figures."

Wyatt Hale immediately started pouring tea and massaging shoulders for Martin Yates, saying, "Uncle, do you particularly like me?"

"Not bad."

"How about you consider me as an honorary son then?"

Everyone: (O_o)??

Lily Lott glanced at her son, wondering what mischief he was up to this time.

She kept signaling someone with her eyes, but they pretended not to see.

"Uncle, I promise to be good to you. What do you think? On this festive New Year’s occasion, why don’t I acknowledge you as my godfather today and add joy upon joy?"

Martin Yates smirked dismissively, "You’re too noisy, not suitable to be my son."

Everyone laughed.

Wyatt Hale scoffed, "You just admitted you like me."

"I said you’re ’not bad.’"

"Then what kind of person do you like? I’ll change right away."

"Well..." Martin Yates pondered for a few seconds, "Like Cressida Jones, you know her, right?"

Naturally, Wyatt Hale knew her; he had attended her engagement party.

His impression was that Miss Jones was a bit lovesick, delicate, and pitiable. She was cheated on by her fiancé and her step-sister and seemed to still want to rekindle the romance with the scoundrel.

He never expected his uncle to like such a ’damsel in distress.’

Well...

That was something he couldn’t change.

With a dejected face, he wanted to sit next to his sister-in-law but was scared off by his elder brother’s cold glance.

However, Tim Payne suddenly heard the name Cressida Jones, and his heart stirred.

"Do you have a personal friendship with Miss Jones?" Old Lady Hale asked.

"She’s a young friend of mine."

All of them are shrewd, with the Jones Family experiencing many events overnight, which have already become a hot topic of discussion in the circles. This is because Cressida, who was never favored, gained control over the Jones Family’s assets overnight. The reasons behind it were sufficient to fuel gossip for years.

"How is she as a person?" Second Aunt Mindy Xander asked.

"Pretty good, she owns a flower shop, never used a penny from the Jones Family before, has great ideas, good temperament, and is extremely filial. Her mother was ill and exhausted their savings, and now her grandmother is also not well. It’s all on her to support them..."

Martin Yates mentioned her with a hidden smile in his eyes.

And he praised her highly.

Being a man of reclusive and proud nature, he only showed a pleasant face to his own sister and niece. He usually wore a cold expression, which made Second Aunt Mindy Xander’s mind stir, "She’s just broken off her engagement with the Jeans Family, so she probably doesn’t have a boyfriend, right?"

Martin Yates nodded, "As far as I know, no."

"I do have two boys at home..."

No sooner had Mindy Xander spoken than Simon Hale and Logan Hale were both dumbfounded.

My dear mother,

It’s the New Year, can’t we talk about something else?

It was not Mindy Xander’s fault. In Capital City, it has always been a case where if a family has a daughter, countless families seek her hand in marriage. She had not paid much attention to Cressida Jones until Martin Yates kept on praising her. He was someone with very high standards, and if he saw Cressida in a different light, she must be exceptional.

When everyone’s gaze fell upon the two brothers, they were mostly playful and watching the fun, but the two of them clearly felt that someone’s gaze was different...

That gaze came from Tim Payne!

That look,

Was measuring, scrutinizing, even somewhat hostile.

"Mom, I just want to focus on my studies right now, I’m not thinking about anything else," Simon Hale hurriedly said.

Everyone turned their gaze towards Logan Hale, who scratched his head, "My career is on the rise, I’ve got no time."

Mindy Xander snorted in disdain.

How could she have given birth to such two useless things?

The two brothers were also helpless, to tell the truth:

Being pressed to marry,

Was a new experience for them.

Although it was an indispensable part of New Year’s celebrations, in previous years they had avoided it thanks to their older brother and younger uncle taking the brunt. But within the span of just one year, both of them had gotten into relationships, turning the two brothers into the main targets.

Speaking of marriage pressure, Julia Yates glanced at her son.

He was also a concern.

——

As people chatted, the New Year’s Eve dinner started, with two families sitting together. There were many happy events this year, so naturally there was drinking involved to celebrate. Old Sir Hale raised his glass, inviting everyone to drink together, hoping that everyone would have their wishes fulfilled in the coming year.

Zoe Payne’s phone vibrated. Hannah Johnson sent her two red packets, indicating one was for her and the other for Isaac Shea, [Thank you, sis. Thank you, brother-in-law. Wishing you a Happy New Year.]

[Have you finished the New Year’s Eve dinner?]

[Nearly there.]

The Hugh Family being quite small, Old Sir Hale and his wife even considered inviting Old Lady Hugh to the Old House of Hale Family to celebrate the New Year, but then they found out Isaac Shea had brought his parents directly to the Hugh Family home.

This year, the two families also spent it together.

At the dinner table, they talked about interesting things.

Mr. Payne expressed his feelings: [Ever since firecrackers were banned, it feels like some of the New Year spirit is missing.]

When this was mentioned, all eyes from the Hale Family instantly focused on Wyatt Hale.

He was munching on crab legs at that moment, wishing he could just bury his head in the table.

"What’s going on?" Zoe Payne was puzzled.

"He used to play with fireworks at home and almost burned up grandpa’s vegetable garden," William Hale chuckled.

Back then, Wyatt Hale was still in middle school. He bought some small fireworks and almost set the greenhouse of Old Sir Hale’s vegetable garden on fire.

As a result, he got a doubles match of scolding from his grandpa and father.

Since then, he was never allowed to set off fireworks at home again.

The Hale Family lived in a remote location with a spacious yard, setting off fireworks wasn’t concerned by others, otherwise with his personality, how could he be so quiet?

Tim Payne just listened quietly and occasionally chatted with Finn Hale until his phone vibrated.

Surprisingly, it was a message from Cressida Jones:

[Happy New Year, wishing you smooth sailing in your work for the new year...]

He squinted his eyes.

The corner of his mouth couldn’t help but curve up slightly; after helping her so many times, she had some conscience, at least remembering to send him a New Year’s greeting message.