Paranoid Doctor Only Loves Me
Chapter 507 - 470 Lu Han: We Are All Family (2 more - s)

Chapter 507: 470 Lu Han: We Are All Family (2 more Chapters)

"Tang Su, fancy an all-nighter playing cards?" Knowing that Tang Su and Lu Han were heading back to Beijing tomorrow, her cousins called out in unison as soon as she appeared, urging her to join them in a game of cards, clearly aiming to win some easy money off the rookie.

Tang Su didn’t like playing cards, but during the festive seasons, she would often partner up with her brothers and sisters-in-law in mahjong games. Of course, she always lost but didn’t mind.

After all, it’s all in the family.

"Are you guys sick, keeping her up all night when she has a flight to catch tomorrow?" The sisters-in-law scolded.

"Tang Su, tonight, let’s squeeze into one room, and let Hong Tao and Tang Feng bunk with your Lu Han," Tang Qiwen approached with a proposal.

Although Lu Han and Tang Su had been the center of attention that evening, Tang Qiwen harbored no complaints. It had been a long time since the sisters had slept and chatted in the same bed.

"Sure," Tang Su agreed.

With the whole family gathered, the Tang Family Elders didn’t want them staying in hotels, so several large guest rooms were fitted with beds—men with men, women with women. There was still room in the eldest son’s quarters; there was definitely enough space for everyone.

Some folks were still clamoring for an all-night mahjong session, so there was even more room available.

Tang Feng and Hong Tao came over and took Lu Han to the large room assigned to the three of them.

Inside were three single beds, with neatly laid sheets and quilts, and the room was spotless.

After freshening up next door, the three of them lay down in their beds.

As a bachelor, Tang Feng didn’t care where he slept. Exhausted from a long day, he quickly dozed off on the little wooden bed by the window.

Hong Tao offered the middle bed to Lu Han and took the one closest to the wall for himself.

The two men, who had wives but couldn’t share a bed with them that night, tried hard to fall asleep, but to no avail.

Then, the two sons-in-law from the Tang family huddled together for a chat.

"Lu Han, can’t sleep? How about we talk?" Hong Tao initiated.

"Sure, brother-in-law," Lu Han replied, following Tang Su’s way of addressing him.

"We’re quite fated, becoming in-laws through the Tang family. The Tang family has a great atmosphere, and you’re a good guy."

"Thanks, brother-in-law. I think I owe you an apology, though. Some things I did today might not have been well thought out," Lu Han expressed, recalling how Tang Su had reprimanded him before.

Tang Su had worried that his high-profile actions might upset Tang Qiwen and brother-in-law Hong Tao.

After all, brother-in-law Hong Tao didn’t come from as wealthy a background as Lu Han. A single fireworks display cost millions, whereas the year Hong Tao joined the Tang family, he had brought nothing more than some gift boxes of fruit.

Of course, everyone knew that Hong Tao came from a rural family. Back then, the government wasn’t heavily developing rural areas. In those conditions, for a family to raise a child who stands out is already quite an achievement.

Marrying off a daughter could deplete a family’s entire savings, and it still might not be enough.

Lu Han’s family was wealthy, and he never cared about these matters; thus, he had no idea of the harrowing sacrifices ordinary people made for a marriage.

For him, sincerity and capability were all it took to marry; he believed unleashing one’s full strength was the way to go.

He thought that would suffice.

Someone like him probably wouldn’t ever encounter a woman who’d drastically overcharge in dowry demands. After all, he wouldn’t give such women a second glance, so how could he ever reach the point of deep conversations about hefty dowries?

"If you’re talking about tonight’s events, you really don’t have to. I understand you wanted everyone to have a joyous New Year, and we’ve all felt your sincere intentions," Hong Tao reassured.

"So, you needn’t feel any pressure, and neither do I."

"As far as I’m concerned, as long as my wife isn’t ashamed of my poverty, I couldn’t care less about what others think," Hong Tao declared.

"There are so many rich people. If I were to resent every wealthy person, could I even live, right?"

"Is your brother-in-law a teacher?" Lu Han immediately felt relieved.

"Mhm, he’s at the same school as Auntie."

"Then your brother-in-law and Auntie must both be good teachers."

"You flatter me. Teaching is just about edifying students and living up to one’s own conscience. It’s not easy being a teacher in the city these days—you can’t hit or scold the children. Even when they make a mistake, you can only counsel them."

"It’s still manageable here. Probably because the young parents who went out to work realized the harshness of society and understood that earning money through manual labor is far less easy compared to those who earn it with their intellect."

"So, when they call us teachers, they ask us to educate their children properly. They even say we can beat them if necessary. In fact, as teachers, as long as we’re not sick, no one really goes after students with the intent to harm them."

"A slap on the palm or a tug on the ear serves as admonishment and that should suffice. But some kids these days are really fragile. To say they are like delicate objects is no exaggeration."

Lu Han nodded, "Yes, being a teacher is tough. Actually, being a doctor isn’t easy either. Doctor-patient relationships have always been strained, and the personal safety of doctors is seriously threatened."

"The authorities have been trying to find solutions, gathering ideas, but so far, they haven’t come up with anything specific and appropriate."

"Isn’t that the truth? May I ask something personal, Lu Han? As a doctor, do you earn a high salary? We only make a few thousand a month."

"I’m a director, maybe just over ten thousand." Lu Han hadn’t really paid much attention to his payroll card.

"Then how..." Hong Tao was also very curious. Based on Lu Han’s salary, how could he afford the high costs of tonight’s fireworks display?

The pyrotechnicians were professionals—labor costs are so expensive these days, aren’t they?

"I make investments and have several side hustles. I’m part of a stock trading group. If you’re interested, brother-in-law, I can add you. My dad is also in it," Lu Han said with a smile.

The "dad" he mentioned was Tang Su’s father, his father-in-law.

"Hmm?"

"But he doesn’t know I’m in there."

"I see. The last time, Uncle bought a house for Tang Su with the money he earned from stock trading. If it’s convenient, you can add me to have a look. If not, it’s fine."

"There’s nothing inconvenient, very convenient," Lu Han laughed.

It was his group; he was the admin. He could add anyone he liked and decide who gets to make money.

"Thank you so much. To be honest, they’ve been talking about demolishing my old neighborhood for years now and this year it finally seems likely. If it happens, I’ll have some extra cash. Putting it in the bank for interest is one thing, but making money from money is the best."

"Yes, in the group, as long as you’re not greedy, making a small profit is no problem."

"It looks like you’ve made quite a bit."

"It’s been okay." Lu Han scanned Hong Tao’s QR code and, after fiddling with his phone for a while, he added Hong Tao to the WeChat group, "The admin regularly posts three stocks."

"Not many people, huh?" Hong Tao noticed there were fewer than ten people in it.

"Making money doesn’t need to be public knowledge, right? Brother-in-law."

"Yes, you’re right. Thank you, Lu Han."

"You’re welcome. We’re all family here. I’ll be relying on you for guidance in the future, brother-in-law."

"You’re too kind."