A Matrilocal Husband's Counterattack

Chapter 27：Unreasonable

At dawn, Ethan got up early. After serving breakfast to Timothy and Linda and seeing them off to work, he prepared to head to Baishi Village.

He wanted to check on Mary's condition. With her stomach tumor cured and the debts cleared, her life should be much better now. However, Ethan had a habit of visiting every few days to make sure.

Mary's family had taken him in and raised him for 18 years. Ethan had long regarded them as his parents.

To his surprise, Sophia offered to accompany him for the first time when she heard he was going to visit Mary.

Ethan was astonished but even more pleased; this seemed like a sign that Sophia was gradually beginning to accept him.

After all, she had rarely visited his mother before.

Twenty Minutes Later

Their old Audi rolled into the streets of White Stone Village. However, Mary was not at her rental house.

A quick phone call revealed she was at the nearby Sunrise Market.

Ethan and Sophia headed there on foot.

The lively atmosphere was thick with the sounds of hawkers and bustling crowds.

After a brief search, they spotted Mary in the east corner of the market.

She had rented a small stall, setting up a table with six large aluminum teapots filled with her homemade herbal teas.

Each cup sold for three dollars.

The tea seemed effective, as a steady line of customers had formed. Mary was busy managing her sales.

"Mom, why are you here selling tea? You're still recovering!"

Ethan rushed over to help, taking a teapot from her hands.

"It's nothing serious," Mary replied with a gentle smile. "Staying at home was just too dull. Besides, we've spent a lot on medical bills this past year. I thought I could make a little to cover the groceries."

"You don't need to worry about money," Ethan said, frowning slightly. "I've told you before, I can handle the expenses."

Mary shook her head, her voice calm yet firm:

"You have enough on your plate. And as a live-in son-in-law, people will gossip if you keep giving me money. It wouldn't be fair to the Thompson family."

"Mom, Ethan hasn't taken any money from the Thompsons," Sophia interjected with a smile as she emerged from the crowd.

"The money he gives you is his own, and he has full control over it. So, please, feel free to use it."

Sophia even put on a mask and started calling out to customers to help sell the tea.

Mary blinked in surprise at Sophia's sudden appearance and the warmth in her actions.

"Why didn't you tell me you were bringing Sophia?" Mary chided Ethan as she pulled out a chair.

"I could have prepared a nice meal at home instead of letting Sophia do this hard work."

"This is nothing, Mom," Sophia replied, her voice light and cheerful.

"But you should rest. Let Ethan and me handle the stall today."

Despite Mary's protests, Sophia firmly guided her to a chair and seated her.

A Harmonious Scene

The three worked seamlessly: Sophia welcomed the customers, Ethan poured the tea, and Mary collected the payments.

Sophia's presence as a stunning beauty drew in an even larger crowd, causing sales to skyrocket.

Ethan couldn't help but feel a warmth fill his heart. This was the life he had always dreamed of—a simple, happy, and united family.

Yet, deep down, he knew he still couldn't truly enter Sophia's heart.

"Black Dog's Here!"

Suddenly, a loud shout broke the market's lively atmosphere, plunging it into silence.

Ethan looked toward the market's entrance, where seven or eight thuggish young men swaggered in.

Leading them was the infamous Black Dog, chewing betel nuts and casting a condescending gaze at everyone present.

Among them was a buzz-cut youth holding up a printed QR code, waving it arrogantly at each stall.

Ethan's eyes narrowed. It was Leafy, his uncle's youngest son.

Ethan was not surprised. Leafy had always been a troublemaker, known for bullying classmates and even ambushing teachers.

Seeing him now, Ethan felt both disgusted and unsurprised.

Stall owners reluctantly took out their phones to scan the QR code and transferred the demanded amount—500 dollars per stall. More successful vendors had to pay up to 1,000 or even 2,000 dollars.

The Chaoyang Market had about 120 stalls. A single round for these thugs easily netted them tens of thousands.

Sophia frowned.

"Mom, who are they?"

Mary hesitated before replying, "They're here to collect management fees."

Ethan scoffed.

"Management fees? This is nothing but extortion."

Sophia's expression hardened.

"Protection fees?"

Mary quickly waved her hands, trying to pacify them:

"No, no, son, it's just a management fee. You two don't need to get involved—I'll handle it."

She reached into her bag, pulling out some bills to make up 500 dollars.

Ethan's Disapproval

"Mom, you've barely made a hundred dollars all morning, and now they want 500? And from Leafy, no less?"

He clenched his fists, anger flashing in his eyes.

As Ethan spoke, a butcher at a nearby stall got into an argument with Black Dog's group.

In response, Leafy kicked the man to the ground, slapped him four times, and stomped on his merchandise.

"Dare to defy the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce? You've got a death wish!"

Leafy's voice rang out as he grabbed the butcher's young daughter.

Sophia's eyes narrowed.

"They're completely lawless."

Ethan's face turned cold as steel.

Black Dog noticed Ethan's challenging gaze and strode over with his gang.

"Kid, what are you looking at? Want me to blind you?"

Ethan suppressed his rage, lowering his gaze to sip on his tea.

Black Dog sneered.

"Smart choice."

He turned to Mary's stall.

"Business is booming, huh? Today's fee is 1,000 dollars. Hurry up!"

Mary hastily tried to comply, but Ethan stepped forward, pulling out a check.

"Here's your money."

Black Dog snatched the check with a smirk.

"Big shot, huh? What's this?"

He glanced at the check, his grin freezing as he read the amount—one million dollars—signed by Victor Blacke.