Chapter 130 Chapter 130 Brother Liu arrives.
Now that things have come to this, it's not easy to hide it from Qian Juxiang and Liu Laogen alone.
No matter how close a niece is, she is not as close as a brother. Liu Laogen was quite dissatisfied with this, but Qian Juxiang accepted it well.
Before, when she saw her niece Liu Xiangxiang find such a good partner and own a building as soon as she got married, she did feel unfair in her heart. But in the past six months, her son-in-law's business has been booming and he has made a lot of money. The family's money has always been in her daughter's hands. With the help of his sister, her youngest son also successfully bought a house. It is a large house with three bedrooms and two living rooms, which is enough for him to get married and have children in the future. Seeing that her son and daughter are getting better and better, and are no worse than others, Qian Juxiang naturally no longer envies others' good life.
Niece Xiangxiang is so blessed. To put it bluntly, it is because she is lucky. Others can't envy her. Moreover, even if they are not related by blood, she has watched this girl grow up. For a woman, getting married is like being reborn. In this matter, Qian Juxiang sincerely hopes that she can find a good family and live in harmony with her partner and parents-in-law.
The most important thing is that her daughter has already gotten involved. If she doesn't cooperate with them to stabilize her powerful sister-in-law, does she have to hold her daughter back herself?
Qian Juxiang was indiscriminate in protecting her own people, and would make a fuss even if it was unreasonable. Moreover, the two cousins occupied the moral high ground this time, and they had a legitimate reason to do so. She directly suppressed the old man who wanted to express a different opinion, and set the tone forcefully - when Liu Xiangxiang's parents came, they would appease and suppress the couple in their capacity as the eldest brother and sister-in-law, not make a big deal out of it, treat them well, and try to send them back in peace.
With the protection from her aunt, Liu Xiangxiang was completely relieved.
Liu Suqin also adheres to the concept of "helping people to the end and sending Buddha to the west". She not only took the time to receive her second uncle and aunt who were traveling far away for the first time, but also drove to pick them up and take them home personally.
Although she stood on her cousin's side on the issue of the bride price, Uncle Liu and Aunt Liu were also serious elders, and Liu Suqin couldn't neglect them, especially since it was her eldest brother who accompanied them this time.
The second brother has been a guest several times, and the younger brother almost treats her home as his own. The eldest brother who took the best care of her when she was a child was the last one to come. Although it is understandable, when Liu Suqin knew that the eldest brother was joining this time, she also silently prepared to raise the standard of hospitality to a higher level, and make sure it was grand and warm, so that the eldest brother could feel the status of being the eldest brother.
Uncle Liu's two sons were still young and useless, so his nephew, Brother Liu, stepped forward to accompany them on the trip. However, it was the first time for the three of them to travel far away, so they were quite at a loss and did not want to take the train, so they chose the long-distance bus that Lin Nanhe and He Shengli were responsible for.
They were all relatives, and Brother Liu had vaguely heard that his sister and brother-in-law also had a share in this business. He thought that instead of taking the ready-made sleeper bus and squeezing into the train, he was going far away. So he took his uncle and aunt to seek refuge with Lin Nanhe and the others.
The uncle and aunt also warmly welcomed the few people.
During the Spring Festival travel rush, they could pick up a full bus of passengers from Shenzhen every time they went. Most of them went directly to their county, and a small number got off in the city. The ticket price in the city was about ten yuan cheaper than that to their county, and the difference was so small that it could be ignored. Anyway, they could make a net profit of five figures with a round trip. The two men never dreamed that money was so easy to make, and were immersed in the excitement of suddenly getting rich.
People are in high spirits when they are happy. Facing the relatives from the Eighth Route Army who came to seek refuge, the two were also warm and considerate. They helped to settle the luggage and arranged the best berths. They took several people with them to rest and eat along the way. Before leaving, Lin Nanhe went to the station staff's office to borrow a phone to inform Liu Suqin.
During the Spring Festival travel rush, colleagues were racing against time to solicit customers, and he and his brother-in-law joined the ranks without hesitation. They had originally agreed to take turns on the shifts, but now they were out together, one driving while the other slept on the floor in the middle of the aisle to catch up on their sleep, and then took over after a good rest.
This is done to ensure that the bus departs immediately when it is full of passengers, saving time and allowing for more trips during the Spring Festival travel rush.
So at most they could help the third sister-in-law take her relatives from her natal family to Shenzhen, but they didn't have time to send them directly to the doorsteps of the third brother and sister-in-law's homes. After the third sister-in-law sent her relatives from her natal family home, she had to notify them in advance and let the third brother and sister-in-law arrange someone to pick them up at the station outside the customs.
Liu Suqin happened to have time, so she took on the task without hesitation. On the way to the outside of the customs, she also loaded the trunk with New Year gifts.
It was so convenient to have a bus of their own. They had just agreed not to go back for the New Year this year, so they prepared lavish gifts for their hometown, including boxes of fruits, seafood frozen and packed in ice, supplements, clothes and toys for the elderly and children. He Shengli and Lin Nanhe, who had just gotten off the bus to say hello, were then pulled by her to move things from the trunk. They were stunned by the scene.
When Brother Liu saw this, he quickly rolled up his sleeves and came over to help.
Three grown men were in charge of moving things into the luggage compartment under the bus. Liu Suqin didn't do anything, but just stood by and said, "Fruits and seafood are easily crushed, so just put them on the bus. By the way, Nanhe, I saw a coat while shopping a few days ago that should be perfect for your wife. Don't forget to let her try it on when you take it back. If it doesn't fit, you can bring it back for an exchange before the New Year."
In fact, it was because the children of other families all had toys, clothes and shoes, but the two of them had just gotten married last year and had not yet announced the good news. In order to prevent the new sister-in-law from feeling lost or at a disadvantage, Liu Suqin compensated her with Lin Nanhe's wife.
Lin Nanhe couldn't help but shake his head, "Third sister-in-law, you guys are too extravagant. Even if you have money, this isn't the way to spend it..."
Then he mentioned the big color TV they bought for Lin's parents. "It's been installed for half a month now. Almost from morning till night, there are people squatting at our house, waiting for my parents to remember to turn on the TV. At night, when we watch TV series, most of the village comes..."
Liu Suqin raised her eyebrows. "This isn't the first TV in our village. Is that really that exaggerated?"
He Shengli also joked, "Old Four, you're not exaggerating. The budget you sent back was more than sufficient. They picked out the most expensive and largest color TV. There aren't many comparable ones on the street. It's the first of its kind in the village."
"The TV needs a big screen to be seen more clearly." Liu Suqin said with a smile, "It would be nice if more people came to watch TV together, so that there would be someone to chat with my parents."
Lin Nanhe and He Shengli exchanged a glance. They hadn't mentioned how, when they first bought the TV, their parents complained that it was too power-hungry and wouldn't use it. It was only after they painstakingly explained things to him and offered to cover the electricity bill that they finally felt comfortable enough to start watching TV.
But I only watch the news broadcast and TV series after dinner, and I never watch it at other times. It’s no use even if my grandchildren act coquettishly and roll around.
After all, the son and son-in-law's money didn't come from the wind, they are very frugal.
Liu Suqin didn't know about this little episode, and didn't take the quarrel between her husband and uncle to heart. Seeing that they had almost moved, she asked how much the tickets for her eldest brother and second uncle and aunt were, and prepared to take out her purse to pay for the tickets.
She thought that given the personalities of her brother-in-law and second brother-in-law, neither of them would accept the ticket money from her family. However, she felt that the more they did business together, the more they needed to keep public and private affairs separate. There was really no need to take advantage of such a small thing, so she planned to pay for it herself.
But she was really mistaken this time. The two of them looked helpless when they heard this. Lin Nanhe even scratched his head awkwardly, "Third sister-in-law, you and our eldest brother are really siblings. You speak in exactly the same tone. Brother Liu even said before that he wouldn't get on our car if we didn't pay him."
They feel embarrassed to charge their relatives for taking the bus.
Brother Liu said to the younger sister with a silly smile, "They gave the three of us the original price, so you're still getting a bargain."
As long as her family didn't take a taxi, everything else was just a small matter. Liu Suqin smiled and said, "That's good. It won't interfere with your business. Uncle, Aunt, and Big Brother, let's go back first. Mom went to the market early this morning to buy a lot of fresh vegetables. Xiangxiang and Liu Ping will go there after work..."
Since her parents were coming, Liu Xiangxiang planned to take leave to receive them and was also prepared to book a hotel for them.
But her company was also busy at the end of the year, with too many orders to handle. Liu Suqin thought that since she had to pick up her elder brother anyway, there was no need to bother two people with one thing, and there was no need to ask for leave for another person. She actually agreed with her cousin's plan to arrange for her parents to stay in a hotel herself, but unfortunately Qian Juxiang and Liu Laogen disagreed.
My younger brother and sister-in-law finally came over, but my daughter’s house had no place to accommodate the couple. Don’t we still have a younger son?
The house that Liu Ping bought has been almost cleaned up. He also gave up the shared house at the beginning of the month and moved into his own house. Although Qian Juxiang and Liu Laogen still live with Liu Suqin, they visit their son's house every now and then to help buy some daily necessities and urge the fourth son to clean up. The house that they bought at a high price cannot be ruined by him again.
Liu Ping was also thoughtful. As soon as he moved into the master bedroom, he left the second bedroom closest to the master bathroom for his parents, saying that when he got married and had children in the future, this room would also be for his parents to live in.
It is true that Liu Suqin paid the bulk of the bill for this house, but Qian Juxiang and Liu Laogen also contributed. Last year, they borrowed a large sum of money when Liu Erge built the house, and this time when Liu Ping bought the house, they also paid several thousand yuan, completely emptying the family's savings.
Second Brother Liu had been married and established for many years, and the family had been tacitly separated. He had to repay the money he borrowed, but as parents, they certainly wouldn't pursue their own son's debts. If his conscience allowed it, they wouldn't say anything, let alone charge interest, even if he delayed repayment for ten or twenty years. In short, it all depended on conscience. But Liu Ping had only been an adult for two years, and in the eyes of his parents and even many people around him, he still looked like a child. Moreover, Qian Juxiang and her husband believed that providing a house and a betrothal gift for their adult son was their responsibility and obligation. So, even with their daughter's support, the old couple didn't hesitate to spend all their current savings on such a major event as their youngest son's house purchase.
The two elders did not hide anything. They took out the money in front of the siblings and made it clear that the fourth child would not have to pay back the money. He was under a lot of pressure living in the big city, and as parents, they would help him if they could. But he had also come at a good time and had obtained more resources than his brothers and sisters combined. They could not be too biased. They would help him just this once and get the house. The fourth child would have to rely on himself to get married and have children in the future. His parents could only help out, and if he wanted money, he had to follow the rules of the brothers and repay what he borrowed.
Liu Ping readily accepted his parents' coffin money and didn't react much to their declaration. The old couple were still a little worried, wondering if the fourth child resented their for speaking so directly, or simply wasn't happy with their decision to no longer support him financially. Alas, children are debts, never to be reckoned with, much less to be discussed openly. Once it was revealed, no one would be satisfied, and everyone would feel wronged.
Qian Juxiang and Liu Laogen appeared happy for their youngest son, but they were actually very upset and depressed in their hearts. They didn't expect that this kid had learned to put things down before they could praise him. He took their money and told everyone clearly that they also had a share in the house.
The two elders didn't say it out loud, but they felt proud and accomplished in their hearts. Even though they couldn't use it now, they decorated the second bedroom left for them well, put down sheets and bedding, and went there from time to time to wipe the doors and windows and mop the floor to keep the room clean.
The preparation was not in vain. The ready-made house was just right for hosting the eldest son and the children's second uncle and aunt.
If you don't return to your hometown when you are rich, it is like walking in fine clothes at night. Qian Juxiang has never been such a low-key person. She cannot tell anyone about her daughter and son-in-law's business. Why should she hide her youngest son's purchase of a house? Is she afraid that someone will take the house for themselves?
She had already thought about how to keep a low profile and not intentionally let the whole village know the good news after she returned. She also muttered to the old man that time was passing slowly this year and why they hadn't celebrated the New Year yet. At this time, the arrival of Uncle Liu and Aunt Liu was exactly what she wanted.
Having been a sister-in-law for half her life, Qian Juxiang is very confident in her brother's wife's big mouth. As long as she takes her to live in the fourth brother's house for a few days, when they return to their hometown, everyone in the village will be able to recite the fourth brother's house number.
What a great opportunity! Qian Juxiang had been waiting for this day. How could she let Liu Xiangxiang, a little girl who knew nothing, ruin it? At that time, she told her righteously not to worry about it, and that they, as the eldest brother and sister-in-law, would arrange food and accommodation for several people.
Liu Laogen had been unable to persuade his wife and daughter before, so he had to help his niece who was a disloyal person. He immediately offered his support with a compensatory mentality, and even mentioned in front of Qian Juxiang that there was an empty room in Liu Ping's new house, and it would be perfect for him to live there.
Liu Ping also gave them face and expressed a warm welcome. Liu Suqin saw that they had made good arrangements and had no objection.
In fact, when she thought about it, she knew that it was better for her parents to arrange it this way. In the past few years, when relatives from both families came to Shenzhen, including the younger generations who came to spend the summer vacation, they tried their best to settle them in their or Lin Quansheng's house. No matter how rich they were, they never let them stay in a hotel because doing so would easily lose the human touch. If they really let their second uncle and second aunt, the two elders, stay in a hotel, even if it was arranged by their own daughter, if the news got out, she and Lin Nanjiang would inevitably be labeled as ignoring poor relatives because they had money.
Liu Suqin doesn't care much about those things, but she definitely doesn't want to actively tarnish her reputation. Now she can gain a good reputation by just following her parents' arrangements, so why bother to resist?
She is not the one who troubles the most.
They had already discussed it, and Liu Xiangxiang had no choice but to accept it reluctantly.
Since ancient times, debts of gratitude are the hardest to repay. She originally felt that she might never be able to repay her cousin in this lifetime. This time, they had to cooperate in discussing the betrothal gift, and she had to trouble her aunt and others to entertain her parents. Liu Xiangxiang herself was a little nervous, so before her parents arrived, she specially took her boyfriend to Liu Suqin's house to express her gratitude.
Liu Xiangxiang knew that the reception would require delicious food and wine, and all of it should be paid for from the living expenses her cousin gave to the family. Neither she nor her aunt would take her own money directly, so she exchanged it for fruits and drinks in advance. She also bought bracelets for Liu Suqin, Qian Juxiang and Fangfang. They were very thin, made of pure gold, and of beautiful design. Liu Suqin and Qian Juxiang put them on on the spot.
Seeing their attitudes, Liu Xiangxiang rolled up her sleeves and shook her wrists with confidence, subconsciously starting to show her affection again. "I originally picked it for you, but Jiaxin said it would look good on me too, so he insisted on letting me try it on. Once I put it on, I wouldn't let him take it off..."
Liu Suqin kept smiling, "Then you both have good taste."
Qian Juxiang's smile was much more sincere. She pulled Chen Jiaxin and kept praising him for being a good guy, handsome, warm and cheerful, and so generous and considerate. He was truly one in a hundred, oh no, one in a thousand.
The young couple was so embarrassed that they blushed. Liu Xiangxiang stopped showing off her affection and just played the ostrich.
Liu Suqin quietly watched the younger brother beside her fiddling with the brand-name sneakers, which were also given by Liu Xiangxiang and her boyfriend. Liu Ping had another form of mortgage to pay for, and not only did he have to live on coarse food, he had indeed not bought himself any new clothes or shoes in the past six months. Now he had a pair of brand-name sneakers, and he couldn't put them down.
Liu Xiangxiang had sent a thank-you gift in advance. Even though Liu Suqin didn't need it, she was pleased to receive some feedback and gratitude. In return, she treated her uncle and aunt with more patience and affection, personally opening the car door for them. "Uncle and aunt, you two sit side by side in the back. This handle is for the window. Push it forward to open it, and pull it back to close it. Don't use too much force, just take your time."
After explaining how to open and close the doors and windows to the two people who were riding in a car for the first time, Liu Suqin closed the door for them before greeting Brother Liu, "Brother, sit next to me."
"I know, I'm waiting for you." Brother Liu chuckled twice, opened the car door skillfully and sat in, and even fastened his seat belt like the schoolgirl.
Not only him, but also his wife, his second brother and his wife, have learned this process. Although their movements are a bit clumsy, compared with their fellow villagers who can only eat car exhaust outside, their experience and knowledge are enough to make them stand out from the crowd.
However, during the Chinese New Year, they could only sit in the car to experience it. When they returned to the village from the town in the first month of the lunar year, it was also the brother-in-law who was driving. It was the first time for Brother Liu to see his own sister steering the wheel. The calmness and control of her demeanor were really unexpected.
Brother Liu watched intently the entire way, watching their car drive smoothly until they slowed down and drove into a residential complex. He sighed sincerely, "Xiaomei, you're really amazing now."
Uncle Liu and Aunt Liu all agreed, "Yes, yes, this car drives really steadily. We didn't feel any shaking or bumps at all. It's more stable than a man driving."
Brother Liu shook his head, his mouth curled slightly to the back of his ears. "I've taken a special look. Most of the cars we see on the road are driven by men. You're the first one among the girls."
Liu Suqin was very happy to be praised, but she did not forget to explain that there are fewer female drivers these days, not none. Moreover, there are many more girls learning to drive now than before, and it will only become more and more common in the future.
As he spoke, he asked a few people to get out of the car and go upstairs. They talked and laughed all the way, and there was no dull atmosphere when they arrived at Liu Suqin's house.
Liu Laogen and Lin Nanjiang, father-in-law and son-in-law, were busy outside, and Aunt Zhang was also making some stir-fried seasonal vegetables in the kitchen. She and Qian Juxiang had already prepared the main dishes, and Qian Juxiang was temporarily responsible for entertaining and greeting everyone. She was not at all nervous and asked everyone about their well-being. The conversation started and soon they were chatting animatedly.
After six o'clock, Liu Xiangxiang and Liu Ping also arrived one after another, and the house became even more lively. There was a lot of chatter and the background sound of TV. It was so noisy. Little Fangfang hadn't seen this scene for a long time. She ran around happily and shuttled among the guests. When she was caught by her uncle and teased for a few words, she climbed on his lap without any shyness and asked in a baby voice why her aunt didn't come and why her cousin didn't come. Brother Liu, who had never raised a daughter, loved her so much that he hugged this soft and sticky dumpling and was reluctant to let go. From the living room to the dining table, little Fangfang seemed to be growing on her uncle's legs.
As if that weren't enough, Big Brother Liu took the initiative to take over the task of feeding the little one. He didn't even have time to enjoy the meal himself, as he was directed by the little one to pick up dishes from all over the table and put them into her hungry mouth. Little Fangfang took a bite and didn't forget to give a sweet smile, "Thank you, big uncle, it's delicious."
Sister Liu was so coaxed that she was at a loss. She kept asking what else she wanted to eat, and her uncle picked up some for her.
While Xiao Fangfang was ordering her uncle around, she also did not forget to care about her uncle and let him eat a few bites from time to time to fill his stomach. The uncle and nephew seemed to have a tacit understanding and were having a lot of fun.
Liu Ping was a little surprised. He couldn't help but whisper in his sister's ear, "My nephew wasn't fed by his father when he was a child. I never knew our eldest brother was so fond of girls."
Before Liu Suqin could say anything, the sharp-eared Qian Juxiang heard it and glared at the fourth brother. "You are so unruly. You only know how to tease Fangfang. You don't want your eldest brother to be a good uncle?"
"That's right." Liu Suqin immediately condemned him, saying that she would rather die than let her fellow Taoist die.
Liu Ping:......
When they had almost finished their meal, Liu Laogen hurried back and said that his son-in-law knew that he was thinking about home, so he went to the night snack street to take over after he finished his work so that he would have time to come back and see them.
However, Liu Laogen only chatted with his eldest son and younger brother for more than half an hour. They got up before dawn to catch the bus, and they could no longer hide their fatigue from the day's journey. Qian Juxiang interrupted them in time and asked them to go to Liu Ping's place to rest first. They could talk slowly in the next two days if they had anything to say.
Naturally, it was Liu Suqin who took them there. Their luggage was left in her car and not brought up at all. Qian Juxiang then instructed them, "Liu Ping is such a slacker, you can't rely on him. Suqin, when you get there, go upstairs with them and help settle your uncle and aunt."
Liu Suqin was not in a hurry and readily accepted her mother's request, sending Liu Xiangxiang away as well. It was almost nine o'clock, and Liu Xiangxiang had to go with her to Liu Ping's house. After that, she wanted to take her back to the dormitory. It would be better to let her go back early so that she could go less frequently.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
