Some people looked at Qiao Zhenguo with envy, while others stared at him as if he were an idiot.
When the server came over to have them sign the bill, Qiao Zhenguo's face was dark the entire time.
After signing, he coldly said to Guo Yuhua, "I bought this pill for you. If it's useless, don't even think about touching another cent of the family's money."
Guo Yuhua, already emotionally unstable and easily agitated, snapped at his words. She stood up abruptly, her face turning dark, and shouted, "Qiao Zhenguo, say that again?"
"Mr. Qiao, if you have personal matters, please settle them next door," the auctioneer immediately interjected upon noticing the commotion below.
Qiao Zhenguo's face flushed red, utterly humiliated.
Feeling the strange looks from those around him, he was overwhelmed with exhaustion at that moment.
"What are you doing? Sit down," Qiao Zhenguo said, feeling that Guo Yuhua was embarrassing him so much he wished he could crawl into a crack in the ground.
But Guo Yuhua, already somewhat unhinged, was hardly easy to placate.
She sneered, "What, you have the guts to say it but not to let others hear? Have you been wanting me dead all along so you can marry someone younger and prettier? Let me tell you, dream on."
"I was just speaking in anger. Stop making a scene. There are so many people here—you're embarrassing us both."
"Hmph, just speaking in anger? You've clearly been dissatisfied with me for a long time. I bore you children, managed the household—doesn't that deserve even two million? And this is how you treat me? You've wronged me, betrayed me. Those who betray true hearts should swallow ten thousand needles."
Qiao Zhenguo couldn't sit still any longer. If he stayed, who knew how much more face he'd lose.
Without another word, he stood up and strode out, ignoring Guo Yuhua's hysterical shouts behind him.
The crowd cast strange glances, and some even looked sympathetically at Qiao Zhenguo.
Guo Yuhua must have gone mad—if not mad, then something was wrong with her mind, to act like this.
She hadn't been like this at previous banquets.
Qiao Pengyu and his brothers quickly helped their mother up, apologizing to everyone, "Sorry, our mom has been suffering from severe insomnia lately and is in a bad mood. Sorry for the spectacle."
Though dissatisfied, Guo Yuhua knew she had just lost her composure.
Now slightly calmer, she realized her outburst could cause significant damage to the Qiao family, so she didn't argue further. Instead, she pulled a long face, forcing a stiff expression.
She would rather let people think she was mentally unwell than risk a major crisis for the Qiao family.
Qiao Pengyu and his brothers escorted her to the lounge. After learning the details, they all fell silent.
What was the big deal?
She had made their father lose face in front of so many people?
"Mom, I'm not trying to criticize you, but couldn't you have said whatever it was at home? Why did you have to do it in front of everyone?"
Seeing her three sons' displeased expressions and their disapproval of her actions, Guo Yuhua knew she had overreacted. She could only say guiltily, "I couldn't control my temper at the time. I've been having insomnia every night lately—you know how irritable I've been."
Thinking of their mother's torment from nightmares, the Qiao brothers' expressions finally softened.
Shen Yunyun had just enjoyed a good show and felt like snacking on sunflower seeds, but remembering the setting wasn't appropriate, she refrained.
The auction continued, and the next item was the Rejuvenation Pill.
Unexpectedly, when it came time to bid on the Rejuvenation Pill, the Qiao family returned in full force.
Shen Yunyun widened her eyes in surprise and asked Tang Yu beside her, "Why are they back?"