"Fourth brother, is the price really no less than this?"
Old Man Li looked at Li Laosi in a deep voice. He genuinely hoped that Li Laosi could soar to great heights.
"Dad, six hundred is the lowest price."
What Li Laosi didn't say was that this was information he'd heard through the grapevine, and he wasn't sure if it was true or false. But even if there was only a sliver of hope, he didn't want to miss it.
Silence was silent. Old Li's face showed a conflicted expression. Just as Li Laosan had predicted, the family didn't have enough money to support Li Laosi in buying a job. Letting go would be a real pity.
"We must buy the fourth brother's job."
Feelings of pity and a desire for advancement prevailed, and Old Man Li gritted his teeth and agreed.
"I won't agree."
I disagree.
Li Lao Er and Li Lao San strongly objected, while Li Lao Da curled his lips in a sneer. Their family was truly harmonious.
"Dad, are you getting senile? Do we have that much money to buy a job for our fourth son? If we buy him a job, will we still be able to survive?"
Turning his head away from Li Laosi, Li Laosan realized for the first time that beneath Li Laosi's harmless exterior lay a vicious heart.
"And you, Li Laosi, your family has supported your education for so many years. We don't ask for anything in return, but please don't be like a bottomless pit. You're comfortable now that you've bought a job, but have you thought about how your family will make a living? If you're truly grateful, Li Laosi, please don't talk about jobs anymore."
"Third Brother."
Li Laosi didn't expect Li Laosan's reaction to be so strong.
"Don't call me Third Brother, I won't agree to that, Li Laosi."
Li Laosan sat down, furious. Buying a job? It was easier said than done.
"Second and third sons, listen to your father."
Old Li couldn't bear to see his youngest son return to farming, nor did he want his family to toil in the fields forever.
Here it comes again, the inevitable brainwashing session. Does Old Man Li really think everyone is as obedient and compliant as my father?
Li Lao Er and Li Lao San are both troublemakers, and Li Lao Si is even worse; they'll fight it out.
Jiang Yuting glanced sideways at Li Laoda. How much of a bias did her daughter have towards Li Laoda that she would use the term "honest and obedient" to describe him?
Old Li wholeheartedly agreed. He was just too honest, which was why this family had let him move in. His daughter was right.
“It was your mother and I who agreed to buy a job for the fourth son. If we don’t have enough money at home, we’ll borrow some. It’s okay to suffer for a few months. The important thing is that once the fourth son has a job and makes something of himself in the city, he can help you all.”
"Second and third sons, I hope you can understand your father's good intentions. I don't want you to toil in the fields for generations. Now that we have a rare opportunity, I don't want to miss it."
His words were heartfelt and righteous, and Li Lao Er and Li Lao San were somewhat moved.
With a helping hand and the thought of them becoming workers in the city in the future, Li Lao Er and Li Lao San's firm opposition softened considerably.
A glint of light flashed in Li Laosi's eyes.
"Second brother, third brother, I know you've worked hard all these years to raise me and send me to school. I also want to do what I can to help you. Don't worry, once I have a stable job, I will give two-thirds of my salary to the family every month. I will also take care of Fuqiang and Minzhu's jobs in the future."
In order to get ahead in life, Li Laosi went all out.
With Li Laosi's assurance, Li Laoer and Li Laosan were relieved.
"Pfft~" Boss Li chuckled.
Li Laosi's plan was shrewd. No matter how nicely he talked, when it came to actually needing his help, he'd just say he was powerless. What could Li Laosan and the others possibly do then?
"Big brother, the promises I made to my second and third brothers also apply to you. I'll also help you find a job in the future."
Li Laosi was furious, but he dared not provoke Li Laoda. Of the entire family, Li Laoda was the person he least trusted.
Let's appease Boss Li first. It wouldn't be a big deal if he agreed; Li Yiyi might not even live to see that day.
[Dad, he's just making empty promises!]
Look at this big pancake, it smells so good and it's so round, but you can't see it.
They're saying all this now, but who knows when they'll say they never promised you anything back then.
His daughter was deeply loved by him, and Li Laoda hugged Li Yiyi even tighter.
“Li Laosi, I’m not Li Laoer or Li Laosan. I don’t believe your nonsense. No matter how nice you talk, it can’t hide the fact that you’re trying to buy a job for six hundred yuan.”
“You said you give two-thirds of your salary to your family every month. Then I want to ask you, is the job you bought a permanent or temporary one? A permanent job costs 30 a month, and two-thirds is 20. You have to pay back 600 yuan for 30 months, which is more than two years. You are not young anymore. After you start working, shouldn't you start thinking about getting married?”
"When the time comes, your parents will definitely use the money you hand over as a bride price. Getting married means raising children. Can you really keep handing over 20 yuan to your family? Your wife can influence you with her words, and you probably won't be able to make a decision, let alone help Fuqiang and Minzhu find jobs. Listen to yourself, do you even believe what you're saying?"
"The same logic applies. If you're a temporary worker, you'll only earn 16 yuan a month. Two-thirds of that is no more than 10 yuan. How long will it take you to pay back 600 yuan? No matter how you calculate it, there's only one conclusion: you, Li Laosi, are making a sure profit by getting 600 yuan for free."
Li Laoda spoke succinctly, yet he revealed the truth that Li Laosi was trying to cover up, causing the expressions on Li Laoer and Li Laosan's faces to change.
"Dad, I don't agree with the job. If you insist on buying it for the fourth son, then we'll split up the family property."
Before the pie in the sky could be fully digested, it was shattered by Li Laoda, and Li Laosan suddenly realized the truth.
“Father and Mother, I will not agree either. Fourth son has not earned a single cent all these years. We have done more than enough by supporting him to go to high school. I will pretend I never heard about buying him a job. If you still consider me your son, please don’t bring this up again.”
Li Lao Er's face was cold, his expression full of determination and resolve, a far cry from his previous dullness and honesty.
[Li Laosi is something else, driving an honest man crazy.]
This is going to be interesting! I really want to see how far the Li family will go without my dad being the sucker.
With his two sons threatening him, Old Man Li was truly at his wit's end. Until the situation was completely settled, he couldn't possibly abandon his two sons, Li Er and Li San, for the sake of Li Lao Si.
Not to mention that what Boss Li said made sense; they were so focused on what would happen if Boss Li had a job that they neglected what would happen to him in the future.
"Fourth brother, if you can convince the second and third brothers, your father and mother will buy you this job."
Without offending Li Lao Er and Li Lao San, Old Man Li wouldn't offend Li Lao Si either, so he directly presented the problem to Li Lao Si.
What was about to succeed was ruined by Li Laoda's interference, leaving nothing behind. Li Laosi was furious, even though what Li Laoda said was true, Li Laosi just refused to admit it.
"Second Brother."
Li Lao Er turned his back, and Li Jiafu and Li Jiaqiang followed suit. They used to like their fourth uncle, Li Lao Si, the most, but now they disliked him completely.
"Third Brother."
Li Laosan bowed his head, and Li Laosi felt embarrassed.
"Third Sister-in-law, could you please..."
"cannot."
Wang Yiting firmly opposed it and completely ignored what Li Laosi was trying to say.
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