Seeing this, Gilberto's expression darkened immediately.
"Have you all lost your minds over money?"
"Chasel coming back healthy is the best gift!"
Gilberto's displeasure was evident.
The others fell silent, sensing the tension in the air, especially his sister-in-law, who realized Gilberto's words were aimed directly at her. Her face turned sour.
Her gaze toward Chasel became increasingly hostile.
A disaster!
How could someone like him not rot in prison?
What was he back for? To bring everyone trouble!
Chasel seemed oblivious to his aunt's glare.
He reached into the pocket of his trench coat.
"Dad, I know you enjoy a few puffs every day. I didn't bring any fancy gifts this time; like my brother-in-law, I brought you a smoking pipe and some tobacco leaves!"
"I was planning to give them to you after dinner!"
As he spoke, Chasel pulled out a smoking pipe and a regular plastic bag filled with sun-dried tobacco leaves, still in whole sheets and not yet shredded!
Samir, who had been staring at Chasel, let out a sigh of relief. He had feared that Chasel would pull out something more valuable than his own gift to one-up him.
Who would have thought it was just some cheap stuff made in the countryside! It was downright embarrassing!
Aunt and the other relatives exchanged disdainful glances at the sight.Of all the things to bring, you chose to show up with a cheap smoking pipe and tobacco leaves. Even if it was low-quality, that would be fine. But after Samir gifted a global limited edition luxury pipe and premium tobacco, your low-end pipe made of ordinary bamboo and uncut leaves was just too much. The stark contrast was painfully obvious, making it a self-inflicted humiliation!
"If it were me, I'd rather say I didn't bring a gift at all than show up with that!" Aunt couldn't hold back her sarcastic remark.
The other relatives and Samir looked on, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
Only Monica and Nora exchanged glances, their expressions shifting to something more complex.
Sure enough, when Gilberto saw the smoking pipe and tobacco leaves in Mitchell's hands, his face lit up with joy as if he had stumbled upon a priceless treasure. He took them eagerly and exclaimed, "Is this made by our hometown's Harris family?"
"Yep! Uncle Harris made the pipe himself, and dried the leaves also. I specifically asked him to save some whole leaves for me! Chasel replied with a grin. Seeing Gilberto so happy made him feel good too.
"Good kid! No wonder you're my son. You know I only like to smoke pipes from the Harris family and prefer to cut the leaves to my liking!"
"Nothing beats our local products! Those foreign trinkets just don't appeal to me!" Gilberto laughed heartily, playfully slapping Chasel on the shoulder.
Just as Gilberto's hand was about to land on his shoulder, Chasel instinctively tensed up, almost ready to retaliate. But then he realized they were no longer on the battlefield, so he let Gilberto's hand rest on his shoulder.
At that moment, Samir's expression darkened. He sensed that Gilberto didn't genuinely appreciate those cheap goods; it felt more like he was trying to save face for Chasel.
This old man really doesn't care about my feelings. Once I marry Nora, I'll make sure to kick this father-in-law to the curb. He can go live with his useless adopted son!
However, Samir kept his composure, knowing he needed to maintain a good relationship with his future father-in-law before the wedding. He quickly gathered his thoughts and smiled, "Since you prefer local products, Uncle, I'll be sure to pay more attention in the future. I'll ask for your preferences first instead of blindly trying to please you!"
His performance was gracious and appropriate, making the relatives sigh in admiration. This was what a young talent should be like, unlike Chasel, who was nothing but a disgrace!
Samir's demeanor instantly cleared the awkward atmosphere from earlier. Monica Anderson quickly chimed in, "We all see Samir's filial piety!"
"Come on, let's eat some vegetables first!"
Nora Mills shot a deep glance at Chasel. She thought to herself, you only know what Dad likes and took advantage of that.
Soon, everyone began to pick up their chopsticks.
Glasses clinked!
"Cheers, Dad!"
Chasel poured wine for Gilberto, then filled his own glass. After toasting, he downed it in one go, showcasing the boldness typical of a military man!
"How crude!"
Samir, who considered his aunt and other relatives beneath him, watched as Chasel behaved nothing like Samir himself. While Samir ate and drank with a casual air, Chasel moved with grace and elegance, like a true gentleman. This only fueled their disdain.
After several rounds of drinks and a variety of dishes, Samir suddenly turned to Chasel and asked, "Now that you're back, do you have a job lined up?"
Before Chasel could respond, his aunt sneered, "A guy who just got back from... where would he find a job? I bet he came back because no one wanted him out there, just to mooch off his parents..."
With a criminal record, what kind of job could he possibly get?
"I tell you, brother, sister-in-law, you can't spoil someone like this. If you hadn't pampered him since he was little, he wouldn't have ended up like this."
Gilberto's face darkened completely. "Can't you keep your mouth shut even during dinner?"
"Fine, if you won't say anything, then I won't either!" Chasel's aunt pouted. Now that Gilberto had a golden son-in-law, they would need to rely on his family more in the future, so she didn't dare to truly offend him.
"I was thinking, my family's company is currently preparing for an IPO and really needs talent. If Chasel is looking for work, he could consider joining us. After all, we're family, and I can look out for him," Samir quickly chimed in.His flattering words left everyone feeling quite pleased. The relatives, especially those with children about to enter the workforce, had their eyes light up. If Samir was willing to help, their kids could land jobs at his company, which would soon be a publicly listed one.
Instantly, the way these relatives looked at Samir became even more fervent, and their satisfaction grew. Even Gilberto's expression softened significantly, and he finally nodded in approval at Samir.
Then he turned to Chasel and asked, "Chasel, do you have a job right now?"
Chasel, not daring to hide anything from his adoptive father, replied, "Not at the moment."
"Well then, why not consider Samir's company?" Gilberto Mills suggested. He knew that after spending five years in prison, it would be tough for Chasel to find a decent job. Joining Samir's company could be a great opportunity. With Chasel's abilities, he could certainly make a name for himself and build a better resume. Even if he decided to leave later, he wouldn't be stuck doing manual labor.Chasel understood Gilberto Mills's good intentions, but he also knew Samir's ulterior motives. Sure enough, before Chasel could respond, Samir spoke up again, looking at Mitchell Anderson and asking, "Chasel, do you have a master's degree or just a bachelor's?"
"Don't get me wrong; each position has its own requirements regarding education. I'm just trying to understand the situation to see what kind of job can be arranged," Samir said.
As soon as he spoke, the expressions on several relatives' faces changed dramatically, turning into a mix of glee and schadenfreude.
"He attended a prestigious university but dropped out voluntarily!" Nora Mills chimed in, noticing that Chasel was ignoring Samir. She assumed it was because Chasel was too proud to respond, so she decided to speak on his behalf.Even though she despised Chasel at the moment, she still hoped he could find a job and adapt to society in five years, so his parents wouldn't have to worry. Of course, she wasn't being entirely truthful; Chasel didn't drop out voluntarily—he was expelled after going to prison due to his poor reputation.
"I see," Samir pondered for a moment before continuing, "With just a high school diploma, you can only work as a security guard or a warehouse manager. It pays about three thousand a month, with food and lodging included. While the salary isn't high, the work is easy. If you do well, I can promote you and give you a raise in a few months. That way, no one will have anything to say!"
Promotion and a raise!
Upon hearing this, Chasel's aunt and the other relatives widened their eyes in surprise. Initially, they had relished the idea of Chasel becoming a security guard or warehouse manager, but now they felt a twinge of envy at the prospect of a promotion and raise."You should thank Samir properly!" one of them urged.
"Yeah, if it were anyone else, they wouldn't even offer you a job, let alone guarantee a promotion and raise!" another added.
Gilberto Mills decided to keep quiet this time. Since Samir had promised a promotion and a raise, being a warehouse manager was better than being a security guard. It was a step up, after all.However, just as Samir was arranging everything clearly, Chasel raised an eyebrow and looked around at Samir and the relatives. "Did I ever say I wanted to work at your company?"
In that moment, Chasel's expression turned icy. His gaze was sharp and piercing!