Xia Ai and Jiang Wencheng lived in the Jiang family for a while. Jiang Yiliu took them up the mountains and down the rivers, letting them experience a lifestyle that was not available in the city. The skills of Old Lady Miao made the two sigh that the trip was worthwhile. However, they had a home to return to after all, so after thanking the Jiang family again and again, Jiang Yiliu sent them on a bus to the provincial capital.
"This Xiaobao's classmate is really polite. The things he gave her are all high-end goods."
Old Lady Miao was counting the things Xia Ai and Jiang Wencheng had sent. They were all high-end canned food and gift-boxed cakes, as well as some biscuits and candies with foreign words printed on the iron boxes. They were obviously expensive snacks bought from the Overseas Chinese Supermarket. These few things offset their food and lodging expenses at the Jiang family. They were neither too polite nor too polite.
"Isn't it Xiaobao's grandmother's 66th birthday the day after tomorrow? In addition to eggs and pork, bring two boxes of biscuits to her. It will be grand and prestigious."
Old Mrs. Miao was overwhelmed by the choices, but she finally picked out the two smallest boxes of biscuits. She hid the rest tightly in the cupboard and locked it, preparing to leave them for her precious grandson.
Jiang Cheng closed his eyes and rested on the kang, not making any comment on her words. Anyway, these things have always been handled by his wife, and he believes that she knows what's going on.
These days, Gu Dongmei has been a little unhappy. Everyone thought that she was tired from the farm work and no one took it seriously. Erni and her two younger sisters simply let her have a good rest after coming back from the fields every day and took care of all the housework. But even so, Gu Dongmei still couldn't muster up the energy. Several times she looked at Jiang Yilu and seemed to be hesitant to say something, which made Jiang Yilu feel confused.
However, Zhao Hong’s 66th birthday was a big event. On this day, even if Gu Dongmei felt aggrieved, she had to put on a smile.
The rule in Yuchuan is that on the 66th birthday of an elder, the married daughter needs to cut a palm-sized piece of pork, then cut the pork into 66 fingernail-sized cubes, and return to her parents' home to make a bowl of food. No one else can eat this bowl of food, and the birthday girl must eat it all. If the family really has no money to buy pork, they can use dried bean curd instead. Jiang Yilu didn't understand the principle of this meaning, but it was a custom passed down by the older generation. As long as the younger generation in the family is filial, they will do this on the day of the elder's 66th birthday.
Gu Dongmei's sister married far away, so of course this matter fell on her alone. Old Mrs. Miao had prepared pork for her long ago, and early in the morning, Gu Dongmei started to cut the pork into dices in the kitchen.
Everything was almost ready, and the family packed up their things and headed towards Daqian Village.
"mom."
Gu Dongmei and Jiang Dahai greeted her with smiles. Jiang Yilu and several sisters also called her grandma affectionately several times.
A few years later, Zhao Hong has aged a lot, but she is still full of energy, not like an old woman who is almost 70. Today, she is wearing a bright red Tang suit embroidered with golden patterns and a pair of comfortable dark red cloth shoes, looking very festive.
"This dress must have been bought by my second brother. It fits me perfectly."
Gu Dongmei put all the things she brought on the table, reached out and touched her mother's new clothes, and said curiously, "It's a rare thing that her sister-in-law doesn't shave her mother's skin, but she doesn't have the heart to buy new clothes for her mother."
When Zhao Hong heard her daughter's question, she said in an angry tone: "Your second brother only knows how to spend money recklessly. Why should I wear new clothes at my age? If he really wants to respect me, he should find me a wife and have some grandchildren." After saying that, she glared at Gu Xiashi who was standing beside her.
"Mom, you talk to my elder sister. Xiaobao and I have something to do, so we'll be out first." When Gu Xiashi saw that his mother was going to catch him and teach him a lesson again, he got upset and ran out with Jiang Yilu.
"I can't say anything about this kid."
Zhao Hong seemed to be complaining, but she wasn't really angry. Even if her son didn't want to get married, she couldn't force him to get married. She was used to it. Wouldn't it be uncomfortable if she didn't say a few words every day? And she was still happy that her son was filial and bought her new clothes. As soon as she changed her clothes this morning, she went out for a walk and showed off in front of her old sisters and a few old ladies she didn't get along with.
Her son did not give her a grandson, but his filial piety was everything. Isn't that what life is all about? Raise sons when you are young and raise grandchildren when you are old. When will your life end?
******
"Xiaobao, did you buy it?"
As soon as Gu Xiashi pulled the person out, he couldn't wait to ask.
Jiang Yilu nodded, took out a house deed and handed it to his uncle.
"Jin Mansion, No. 329 Iris Road. Yes, that's it." Gu Xiashi sighed as he looked at the deed in front of him. He finally lived up to the man's trust and bought the land back.
"You can keep this. It's in your name anyway. But outsiders can't enter this house. You can live in it yourself and can't rent it out. I'll go to the capital in a while and finish my business. You can use this house however you want."
Gu Xiashi stared at the deed for a long time, and finally returned it to Jiang Yilu.
"Uncle, this house?" Jiang Yilu looked at the title deed and had a lot of doubts in his mind, but he didn't know how to start.
It was strange to say that before Gu Xiashi left the capital, he left Jiang Yiliu 15,000 yuan. I don't know what he was thinking, handing such a huge sum of money to a 14-year-old child. He asked Xiaobao to pay attention to the small western-style building at No. 329 Iris Road at that time, and as long as the house was sold, he would buy it at any price.
Jiang Yilu was shocked by his uncle's wealth, and didn't know why his uncle insisted on having that Western-style building.
Speaking of which, the house is still ownerless. It is said that during the Republic of China, a businessman used it as a place to hide his mistress. However, after the establishment of China, the businessman never appeared again. Now the building has been designated as a public house and is not for sale. Gu Xiashi had already hit a wall when he accompanied his nephew to the capital. He originally thought that the house would not be returned, and he left the money to his nephew only because he still had a glimmer of hope and luck in his heart.
Jiang Yilu was lucky to be able to buy that yard.
Originally, that western-style building was occupied by a rebel, and his family lived in it and acted arrogantly. Now that the Gang of Four has fallen, a powerful figure who was defeated by him has returned. That person is not a good person. The first thing he did after coming back to power was to arrest that rebel. Once the rebel fell, his family naturally could not live in such a luxurious house, and were driven out.
Jiang Yilu happened to be in luck because the western-style building was still empty and no one had been arranged to live there.
Public housing is not as cheap as private transactions. There are too many relationships to deal with privately. Jiang Yiliu was embarrassed to waste Xia Ai's favor. He spent more than 13,000 yuan and finally turned this small western-style building into a private property. However, the money from buying this western-style building is enough to buy three houses of the same size.
In the long run, this business is profitable, but at the moment, it is definitely a huge loss.
"It's almost time for dinner, let's go back."
Gu Xiashi obviously didn't want to answer Jiang Yilu's question directly, so he smiled and changed the subject.
"Okay, I'll let you know sooner or later." Seeing that his nephew was still frowning and thinking, Gu Xia Shi rubbed his hair and said soothingly.
......Jiang Yiliu helplessly looked at the uncle who sometimes treated him as an adult and sometimes as a child. He really couldn't understand, what's the difference between knowing some things earlier and later. But since his uncle said so, even if Jiang Yiliu was full of doubts, he was too embarrassed to ask again. He just hoped that the sooner or later that his uncle talked about would come sooner.
When Jiang Yilu and Gu Xiashi returned to the Gu family, that annoying family finally arrived.
"Hey, the Jiang family's prodigy is here too."
A high-pitched female voice stimulated people's eardrums. It sounded like words of praise, but people could hear a sense of sarcasm.
A short and fat woman in her forties walked into the room, followed by a slightly hunched man and a young man in his twenties with a sly look in his eyes who was wandering around the room.
The three people who came were Gu Dongmei’s eldest brother Gu Chunhui and his family. The woman who spoke was Gu Chunhui’s wife Niu Fang, and the young man was Gu Chunhui’s only son Gu Dakin.
"Big brother is pretty punctual. He shows up right at dinner time."
Gu Xiashi said sarcastically in a very impolite manner. His younger sister and several nieces had been busy in the kitchen for a while just now. This family of freeloaders would have been fine if they didn't come to help, but it was their own mother's sixtieth birthday and they didn't even bring any gifts.
He was afraid of his wife and was very capable. It can be said that for his elder brother's family, what Gu Xiashi hated most was not his sister-in-law Niu Fang, but his elder brother Gu Chunhui. After all, Niu Fang was not raised by his mother, but his elder brother was so old, didn't he know his mother's hardships over the years? He forgot about his family after marrying a wife, and all the food in those years was eaten up by dogs.
"Second brother."
Gu Chunhui looks honest and simple, but he has lived under the oppression of Niu Fang for many years. He is so timid that he can't even stand up straight. Even though he is being scolded by his own brother, he still hesitates and doesn't know how to refute.
"Oh my, our family lives a hard life. We are not like you, my second brother, who idles around every day and has to rely on mom to support him. He has to work in the fields and at home. How can he have so much free time?"
Niu Fang pouted for her man and rolled her eyes at her uncle. Then she turned to the cabinet beside her and her eyes suddenly brightened up: "Our Da Jin has been complaining about his taste buds recently. These cookies are just right for him. Mom, I'll take these two boxes of cookies back when the time comes."
After saying that, he unceremoniously picked up the two boxes of high-end biscuits brought by the Jiang family and stuffed them into his arms.
"Aunt, this is the birthday gift my mom gave to grandma. You can take it home and eat it without worrying about shortening her life. Also, why didn't I see you bring back any gifts for grandma's birthday?"
Jiang Er Nico couldn't stand the behavior of her uncle's family, so she stepped forward, snatched back the two boxes of biscuits, and glared at Niu Fang.
"You." Niu Fang was so angry that she wanted to hit someone, but there were only two men in her family. Looking at the other group of people, it was obvious that they could not beat them. "You are so young, but you are so cunning. Be careful that you won't be able to get married in the future. I'm not saying anything, little sister, you should also take care of your daughter."
Niu Fang said to Gu Dongmei, the soft-tempered sister-in-law, in a sarcastic tone that the Gu family only had Da Jin as a grandson, and as long as the biscuits were still in the Gu family, she would be able to trick them back. But she saw that there was a piece of tadpole writing on it.
"I'm a college student and I'll be pursued by many people in the future. Unlike you, think about where your daughter-in-law is first." Xiao Lajiao retorted unceremoniously. Niu Fang rolled her eyes in anger and was about to curse.
"Okay, be quiet today and let me have a good meal." It was Zhao Hong who spoke again and took control of the situation.
Seeing his mother's unhappy face because of that woman, Gu Xia Shi was glad that he listened to Xiao Bao. He would rather spend more money to make her mother make up her mind to approve a piece of residential land at the other end of the village to build a new tiled house for his eldest brother's family and move the people out. Otherwise, if they lived together every day, he was afraid that his mother would get sick sooner or later because of that woman.
"Grandma."
Jiang Dani and Xiang Qianjin arrived a little late. They hurried over after everyone had taken their seats.
"Where's Niu Niu?" Zhao Hong was a little disappointed when she saw that her granddaughter did not bring her lovely great-granddaughter.
"Niuniu didn't sleep well last night, and she kept dozing off during the day. It's not convenient to bring her here, so I asked my aunt to help take care of her." Jiang Dani explained embarrassedly.
"It's okay, the child is important." Zhao Hong nodded after hearing Jiang Dani's explanation. She thought her great-granddaughter had plenty of opportunities and one day wouldn't make a difference.
"Niuniu is not sick, right?" Jiang Yilu was a little worried. When he was taking care of Meiling in his previous life, Meiling would sometimes wake up in the middle of the night and couldn't sleep. She would often catch a cold and fever the next day.
"It's okay." Jiang Dani gave her husband a glare, "The father played with the child too late yesterday. It's past bedtime, and the child has trouble falling asleep."
Xiang Qianjin touched his nose and smiled awkwardly, because his daughter was so popular.
After hearing what his elder sister said, Jiang Yilu finally felt relieved and glared at his stupid father who had caused the trouble.
"Everyone is here, let's eat quickly."
Zhao Hong sat in the main seat and asked Dani and the other two to sit down. Their seats were right next to Gu Dongmei and her husband.
"Go ahead. Look, your cousin is not young anymore. Are you still hiring in your factory? Don't worry, your cousin will never forget your kindness after he joins the machinery factory."
Niu Fang's son Gu Dakin is nineteen years old this year. He has not continued his education since graduating from elementary school. He works in the fields only occasionally. The main branch of the Gu family is supported by the honest and hardworking Gu Chunhui alone. But Niu Fang thinks that her son is a good-looking man who will become successful sooner or later, so she indulges Gu Dakin's laziness.
"I don't have that authority. If Dakin is interested, he can apply for the job when the factory recruits." This was not the first time that Xiang Qianjin had been asked this by Niu Fang, but his wife's family said that the words of his aunt should be forgotten like a gust of wind and should not be taken seriously.
"They are all our relatives, and they can't even help with such a small matter." Niu Fang wanted to say something, but was scolded by Zhao Hong.
"If you don't want to eat, go home. Our family doesn't need you."
Zhao Hong stared at Niu Fang seriously. If it wasn't her birthday today and she was thinking about reuniting with her children, she would have kicked this troublemaker out early in the morning.
Niu Fang was still thinking about the two boxes of biscuits and didn't want to annoy the old lady all of a sudden. She grumbled a few times and kept staring at the table full of meat and dishes with her chopsticks. She not only picked up a full bowl of meat for herself, but also picked up a full bowl for her husband and son, for fear that they would suffer a loss if they ate less.
After the meal, Zhao Hong and her daughter and granddaughter tidied up the leftovers on the table, sweeping what needed to be cleaned and washing the dishes.
"Mom, we have something else to do at home, so Chunhui Dajin and I will leave first."
Niu Fang put her hands behind her waist and said with a somewhat unnatural expression. Before everyone could agree, Niu Fang ran away with her husband and son.
“It’s like doing some work is like dying.”
Jiang Erni thought she was trying to be lazy and muttered with disdain.
Everyone was used to Niu Fang's personality, so they didn't care and continued to do the work at hand.
After lunch, it was time to rest and chat. Women sat in one room and men sat in another, each chatting about their favorite topics, which was also a pastime for farmers.
"Dani, how is your discussion with Qianjin going? Have you decided to buy a house?"
Gu Dongmei sat cross-legged on the kang and asked her daughter.
"Well, I discussed it with Qianjin when I got back. We plan to go to the county town during the rest days and have a look around. If we find a suitable one, we'll buy it." Everyone in the family knew about this, and Jiang Dani felt there was no need to hide it.
Gu Dongmei moved her lips, struggled for a long time, and said to her eldest daughter: "Buying a house costs a lot of money, and you still have a daughter to raise. If you have more children in the future, the pressure will be even greater. Mom will give you an idea."
"What idea? Are you going to ask your aunt for help again? If this is your idea, don't tell her. Qianjin and I will never ask for it." Jiang Dani refused righteously.
"No!" Gu Dongmei shook her head and said calmly.
Now not only Jiang Dani was curious, but also Erni, Sanni, Sini and Zhao Hong beside her were interested.
"In more than a month, your brother will have money. He has a full 5,000 yuan. You can ask your brother to borrow it." Gu Dongmei felt relieved when she said this. Doesn't Xiaobao like his sisters? He will definitely not refuse. Dani and her sisters have a hard time, Xiaobao should help them.
"Five thousand!"
Zhao Hong and Dani and their sisters all exclaimed in surprise, after all, they had never seen such a large sum of money.
But why does Xiaobao have this money?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
