I AM NOT A POOR SON-IN-LAW

Joseph is sitting at the corner of the table. He is eating alone and so alienated. The people there also ignore Joseph, they are busy joking around, but no one talks to Joseph. This is because Joseph is a son-in-law who lives in the house of his wife's family, the Smith family. Apart from having no wealth, Joseph has no position or dignity in the Smith family.

Today is Mr. Barta Smith's birthday. The entire family was present to celebrate Mr. Barta's birthday. Many of them were looking forward to the opportunity to mock and insult Joseph.

"Honey, please eat this pork soup," said Katty handing Joseph a bowl of pork soup. She is Katty Smith, Joseph's wife, and Mr. Barta Smith's youngest daughter.

Katty's eldest sister, hearing that, immediately sneered, "Katty, I made that pork soup, especially for our family. Not for such a poor and useless person like Joseph!"

Hearing her eldest sister's words, Katty put the bowl of pork soup back on the table. She looks down in shame.

"What Jenny said is true." Mr. Barta Smith said, looking at Joseph with a condescending gaze.

"Joseph, you've been in the Smith family for a year since you can't give me a grandchild yet, then at least buy some expensive jewelry for my daughter! Who will know you? You don't even have a job. Every day you eat and sleep! You're useless!" added Mr. Barta Smith.

Katty immediately replied to her father, "Dad, my husband is trying to find a job! We all know that all countries have been facing a covid pandemic for a year. That's why it's hard to find a job."

Mr. Barta Smith did not care about his youngest daughter's answer in defense of Joseph. The old man continued to say, "Joseph, my daughter marrying you was wrong. So I suggest you divorce my youngest daughter immediately! Katty is still young. After her divorce, there will be another man who will marry her."

Joseph clenched his fists angrily. His face looked annoyed, but he did not respond to his father-in-law's words. Because what Mr. Barta Smith said was true, Joseph was a useless person who only ate and slept. Even though he had been trying to apply for a job, no company would accept him.

"Look at my other son-in-law, and Lucky just bought his wife expensive jewelry and a Bugatti La Voiture Noire. So, can a poor man like you be like Lucky?" Mr. Barta Smith looked seriously at Joseph.

"A poor man like you can become rich like Lucky?" continued Mr. Barta. He asked Joseph a sarcastic question.

Joseph's eldest brother-in-law, Lucky, was not wealthy. Even when he first married Jenny, he sometimes relied on Katty's money to survive. When she was out, Katty took her monthly savings to help her eldest sister, Jenny. If Katty hadn't loaned her savings to Jenny and Lucky back then, the couple's life would have ended badly by now.

Last year, Lucky took on a government project, from which he made millions of dollars, and his life began to improve. He bought a brand-new BMW car and lived in an expensive apartment. Ironically, Lucky and Jenny's household, which had started to improve, now seemed to have forgotten Katty's kindness. Whenever they meet, they always badmouth Joseph.

"Dad, we're all family. Why do you say things like that?" Lucky smiled. He deliberately said that to pretend to defend Joseph. Then, Lucky says again, "Even though Joseph doesn't have any wealth and fancy cars, he's an unyielding person. That's why his future is so disgusting! HAHA." Lucky laughed loudly, and everyone in the room laughed at Joseph too.

"Joseph, I'm looking for security in my company. You can be the security there. HAHAHA!" said Lucky.

"Honey, how much salary will you give Joseph if he works as a security in our company?" asked Jenny while smiling condescendingly at Joseph.

"100 dollars. Because usually, a poor person like him will get that salary. HAHAHA!" Lucky laughed again at the end of his sentence.

When Lucky said that, everyone laughed again and looked at Joseph contemptuously.

Joseph was gritting his teeth in anger, his eyes looking slightly reddened. Katty's face also turned cold, and she couldn't stand it when people insulted her husband like this.

Katty almost wanted to protest against Lucky and Jenny because they were humans who didn't know what gratitude was. If it weren't for Katty's help, they wouldn't be able to be like today. But, when Katty wanted to speak like that, Joseph immediately extended his hand to prevent Katty from gesturing to his wife not to speak.

"By the way, today is your birthday, Dad. I, as your son-in-law, have prepared a gift for you." Lucky said. He takes out a small rectangular box, and when he opens it, there's a shiny lighter made of crystal. It looked very luxurious and expensive.

"This is a luxury lighter made of crystal. It must not be cheap. Lucky is truly a respectful son-in-law to his father-in-law!" The families at the dinner table all praised Lucky.

Lucky nodded and smiled proudly. "I know daddy is a smoker, so I bought him this match that cost hundreds of millions of dollars."

Mr. Barta takes the luxurious lighter from Lucky, and then he plays with it in his hand while smiling with satisfaction. He looked at Joseph again with a sneer, "Haha! Joseph, you're my son-in-law, but you're so useless. You're so different than Lucky."

"Today is my birthday. What did you bring for me? You can't give me any gift, right?" added Mr. Barta, further insulting Joseph.

Everyone was staring at Joseph with sharp eyes. They keep on insulting Joseph as well.

"Dad, I also brought a gift for you," Joseph replied. Then, Joseph took out a small box from his pocket and prepares to open it.

"I refuse your gift!" said Mr. Barta as he looked at the small box in Joseph's hand with disgust.

"I don't want to receive gifts from poor man like you!" Mr. Barta added to Joseph.