Chapter 26
Grandpa was everyone’s grandpa. It wasn’t that Yvette Larson was reluctant to fork out money for the party, but it was ridiculous for her family to fork out the entire cost.
Quince Larson knew that her family was the poorest amongst the four families. He was clearly trying to force them into a corner.
“What’s wrong, Yvette Larson? It was your family that forced Grandpa to be admitted in the first place, and that piece of trash wasn’t even willing to take care of Grandpa. He slept soundly outside instead! Now, you’re not even willing to organize a party to celebrate Grandpa’s recovery?”
“Yvette Larson, I never thought that your family was so unfilial.”
Eleanor Larson—who was standing by the side—tutted. “Sigh, how did Uncle raise you? Yvette Larson, is your entire family so unfilial? Forget it if you’re unwilling. Our family will pay for it; we’ll just take it as though Grandpa never had family like you.”
Quince Larson and Eleanor Larson were in perfect harmony as they tried to chase Yvette Larson’s family out of the Larson family.
Yvette Larson felt aggrieved and wanted to rebuke them, but her husband stopped her from doing so. “Sure, we have some responsibility for Grandpa’s illness. We’ll pay for it.”
“Alright. Yvette Larson, your husband agreed to it. You won’t go back on your word, will you?”
What else could Yvette Larson say now that Finn Taylor had already agreed? She had no choice but to agree as well.
When Francis Larson and Linda James learned about the matter, they were furious.
Linda James slammed the table and shouted, “Finn Taylor, do you really think you’re part of our family now? Who gave you the right to make decisions for our family? Since you agreed, why don’t you tell us where the money is going to come from? We don’t have that much money.”
Finn Taylor remained silent.
Linda James felt her blood boiling but was helpless.
The date for Old Master Larson’s party had been set for the eighth of next month.
Since he wasn’t the one paying for the party, Quince Larson had generously sent invitations out to anyone who was vaguely related to the Larson family.
Even distant acquaintances they had only met once in their lives received invitations from the Larson family!
In the end, they had invited more than 1,500 people!
When Linda James learned of it, she lashed out at Finn Taylor. Nevertheless, he remained silent.
Finn Taylor sat at the gate, smoking.
At that moment, Yvette Larson walked over.
He quickly stubbed his cigarette on the ground.
“Wow, how nice. You’re not smoking because I’m here. Tell me, why did you agree to Quince Larson’s request?”
Finn Taylor smiled. “I didn’t want to hear his nagging.”
“Where’s the money coming from?”
“Do you remember that the late Old Master gave me a sum of money when we got married?”
Now that he mentioned it, Yvette Larson had a hazy memory of it. At that time, not a single person in the Larson family thought well of Finn Taylor when they had first gotten married.
Only Hugo Larson had given Finn Taylor some money because he had been the one who arranged this marriage to begin with.
Yvette Larson didn’t ask about how much he had received. Of course, she didn’t want to know either.
It was true that she had been rather cold and indifferent toward Finn Taylor over the past few years. Since it was the Old Master who had given him that sum of money, she had no right to ask for it.
“Is it enough?”
“I guess.” Finn Taylor didn’t go into any specifics.
“Alright, I’ll tell Mom about the money. She’s just uneasy that we’re being bullied by the second branch of the family. Don’t mind her.”
“It’s alright.” Finn Taylor smiled bitterly when Yvette Larson left. ‘Yvette Larson’s attitude toward me has probably improved again after seeing how pitiful I’ve been recently and how I took the blame for her yet again.’
…
Seven days flew by.
It was the day of Joseph Larson’s party.
Quince Larson had already found a spot for himself at the entrance of All Stars Hotel bright and early to welcome the guests.
Every guest walked up to present their gifts.
“CEO Eugene Kelly from the Winsdale Corporation wishes the Old Master a long life. Here’s a violin.”
“CEO Sam Schubert from Barocloud Corporation wishes the Old Master a long life. Here’s a thousand-year-old ginseng.”
“CEO Martin Kleine from Gowinds Corporation wishes the Old Master a long life and good health. Here’s a precious and rare herb.”
…
The prices of all these gifts from the guests were sky-high.
Quince Larson broke out into a wide smile as he listened to the list of gifts.
He felt that these gifts all belonged to him.
“The first family of the Larson family, Francis Larson’s son-in-law, Yvette Larson’s husband, Finn Taylor wishes Grandpa a long life and good health. Here’s an incense burner.”
A discordant sound suddenly sounded out.
More than a hundred pairs of eyes outside the All Stars Hotel turned to the entrance.
They saw the useless son-in-law of the Larson family, Finn Taylor, holding an incense burner in his hand, making his way into the hotel lobby.
Quince Larson was infuriated when he saw it. He rushed up and shouted, “Piece of trash, stop right there! Are you serious? Grandpa just recovered from a serious illness, and we’re organizing this party to celebrate his recovery.”
“Everyone in San Francisco has gathered here to wish Grandpa well. As a son-in-law of the Larson family, how could you present him with such a measly incense burner? What do you mean by this?”
As Quince Larson was berating Finn Taylor, Yvette Larson, Eleanor Larson, and the rest of the Larson family had gathered around.
Everyone glared at Finn Taylor, thinking that he was doing this on purpose.
“Yvette Larson, if you don’t want to pay for Grandpa’s party, you can just let us know. Eleanor Larson already offered for the second, third, and fourth branches to pay for it if your family doesn’t want to. You already agreed to it, and we’ve already welcomed so many guests. What are you trying to do by giving Grandpa a broken incense burner?”
Yvette Larson felt embarrassed. “Finn Taylor, what’s up with you? Didn’t I give you 15,000 dollars to buy Grandpa’s present?”
Finn Taylor alone had paid for the party.
Yvette Larson felt bad about that. As such, she had given him 15,000 dollars, asking him to get a present. Whatever remained would be his.
She had never expected Finn Taylor to buy such a lousy present with 15,000.
“That’s right, tell me about it. This is the present I got for Grandpa; I only spent 50 dollars on it! I think the seller was a fool!”
Finn Taylor was pleased with himself, but his wife landed a slap on his face.
“Finn Taylor, I know that you don’t have much money and that you must’ve felt the pinch this time, but I gave you 15,000 dollars. Don’t you think you’re going overboard by only spending 50 dollars on Grandpa’s present? Finn Taylor, I’m so disappointed in you.”