CHAPTER 510: CHAPTER 520: SMITH FAMILY MEMBER DOES NOT AGREE

At this moment, the sound of knocking was heard, and John Brown and Melody Yoody quickly tidied up. Melody went to open the door, finding her parents outside. She quickly invited them in.

After Melody’s parents sat down, they both looked at John Brown. John smiled slightly and said, "Uncle, Aunt, feel free to ask anything you like."

Melody’s mother nodded and said, "James, you’ve been with Melody since high school. We investigated you back then, please don’t mind. But is it true that you helped with Melody’s work?"

John Brown nodded and said, "Yes, it is."

Melody’s parents exchanged glances, and her father, William Johnson, said, "James, it’s not that we don’t trust you, but this is quite extraordinary. For a Mayor to be promoted to Deputy County Chief may not be a jump of several levels, but in today’s political climate, even a single step up is not easy. How did you manage it? Can you tell us?"

John smiled slightly and said, "Uncle John, I can only say that I know an important person up there. He owed me a favor and promised to ensure Melody’s career path would be smooth. By doing that, he repaid the favor, and I can’t ask him for more."

John Brown sealed his lips on the matter, preventing the Smith Family from trying to use him in the future to have others promoted as Melody was. Helping Melody was one thing John was willing to talk about, but helping an entire family was not something he could easily do. Even if he could, he wouldn’t. Many of these big families required a balance of power, and John couldn’t disrupt it without causing significant social issues, as the important person had already warned him.

Melody’s father quickly said, "It’s not that I want you to elevate the Yawk Family; I just wanted to confirm this matter. Now that you’ve explained, I feel reassured. As long as you can ensure Melody’s career is unimpeded, we have nothing else to ask for."

John turned to look at Melody with a face full of affection, saying, "I owe Melody so much, being able to do something for her is a way to make amends for the hurt I caused her."

Melody tenderly smiled at John and said, "As long as you understand. If you ever treat me poorly, I’ll never let it go."

Seeing the two of them so loving, Melody’s parents felt comforted. Melody’s father lightly coughed and said, "James, back then I hit you..."

John immediately interrupted him, "Uncle John, I don’t hold it against you at all, really! Since I’m about to become a father myself, if my daughter had that kind of issue with another boy, I’d surely beat him up too."

When John mentioned beating someone up, his eyes stood up fiercely, which made both Melody and her parents laugh. All parents have the same heart; nobody wants their daughter to suffer.

At this time, Melody’s mother said sincerely, "James, after this Melody is in your hands. She’s stubborn and hot-tempered; I’m afraid there will be no end to your squabbles. If anything happens, just be accommodating. If you can’t bear it, come to me; I’ll put her in her place."

Melody immediately protested, "Mom, I’m not that fierce."

John laughed loudly, "You aren’t just fierce; you’re incredibly fierce. But now that Aunt has got my back, I’ll have someone to take my grievances to in the future."

"You’re impossible. If you dare tattle, see if I don’t make you kneel on the keyboard," Melody waved her little fist at John.

Melody’s father was delighted but maintained a stern face and said, "You silly girl, you can’t be so unruly. You’re a grown-up already, a Mayor, no, Deputy County Chief now. If you make your husband kneel on a keyboard, won’t it be a laughingstock in officialdom?"

Melody pouted and said, "I was just joking. But really, Dad, am I your daughter, or is he your son? You’re standing up for him without hesitation."

Melody’s mother chuckled and said, "A son-in-law is like half a son. We have just one daughter, and since James has no parents, he’s like our very own son."

John quickly said, "Of course, I will definitely honor you both just like my own parents in the future."

Melody’s parents laughed heartily, which was a full endorsement of the relationship between John and Melody.

The family feast at the Yawk Family was very lively. Dozens of Smith Family Members gathered, aside from Old Master Smith, the head of the family, there was also the generation of Melody’s father, six brothers, and four sisters. All ten of them were present, each pair with their respective spouses, totaling twenty people, plus more than a dozen children, and some grandchildren who were also married with children. So just Smith Family itself had over forty members.

This was indeed a large family. John was entirely an outsider there, drawing everyone’s attention. However, John didn’t seem awkward at all. He had seen many grand scenes and met many big figures. The strength of the Smith Family Members was decent, but compared to the big figures John had seen, they were still falling short.

After the family feast, Old Master Smith invited John to the study alone, which surprised the younger members of the Yawk Family. They were not present when John helped with Melody’s job transfer, and some who were married had never received such treatment, as Old Master Smith had never summoned anyone personally.

After a servant served tea and left, John sat opposite Old Master Smith on two rosewood chairs with a rosewood table between them. The old master leisurely sipped his tea and said, "Have a taste."

John took a sip, closed his eyes slightly and said, "Not bad, this is top-grade Crimson Robe, not everyone gets to drink this."

"Not bad. You could tell with just a sip. Do you have a study of tea?" The old master’s eyes lit up.

John laughed, "Grandfather, you might be disappointed. I don’t study tea, but given your status, naturally, the tea you drink wouldn’t be inferior. Since you specifically let me try it, besides top-grade Crimson Robe, what else could it be?"

The old master paused for a moment and then laughed heartily, "Good, good, not bad at all. Such judgment skills are quite strong; among young people, I’ve never seen it before."

John smiled slightly, "Grandfather, you’re exaggerating. I was merely guessing."

"You didn’t rely on a guess when it came to arranging Melody’s work, did you?"

John knew such things couldn’t be easily concealed from the old master. He wasn’t like the other near-sighted Smith Family Members. After taking another sip of tea, he said, "Grandfather, whatever you think is fine."

Old Master didn’t press further on this topic and instead squinted at John, pushing a stack of papers on the table towards him and saying, "Take a look."

John glanced at the top page and saw it was his dossier. But there was no need to read it; it certainly wouldn’t contain information from the Hawk Squad. When leaving the Hawk Squad, higher-ups had already altered his personal resume. Except for people within the Hawk Squad or certain Advanced Level personnel, no one else could access John’s real records. Clearly, Old Master Smith wasn’t at that level and said, "Grandfather, I know this can’t be hidden from you, so what’s your opinion?"

The old master took a sip of tea and said, "That depends on your intentions. Our Yawk Family children surely won’t become someone’s mistress, right?"

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