Chapter 227
“Since everyone has arrived, so why not stay and have a seat?” Jiang Guoli asked with a smile, addressing those who had brought gifts and were about to leave.
Those people deliberately glanced at the dishes on the table. Although there were only two tables, the plate of fragrant braised pork in the middle made them unable to resist swallowing their saliva.
But even though they were tempted, they firmly refused. “No need, you didn’t prepare much to begin with. Two tables are just enough for your family, and we didn’t bring much in gifts. We won’t eat your food.”
The already unpleasant faces of the Jiang family became even more unpleasant because of these words. However, they couldn’t erupt in anger and could only smile awkwardly and see the guests off.
After the villagers who were supposed to bring gifts had all come and gone, the Old Jiang family finally quieted down. Jiang Guoli could only put on a stern face and ask everyone to sit down for lunch. Although they really didn’t want to eat this meal, Aunt Guo and the others were technically still considered part of the Jiang family. So the four of them had to reluctantly sit down.
The four of them, along with Aunt Guo’s two sisters-in-law, and Hu Yuezhen with her child, sat at one table. Jiang Guoli and his two brothers, along with Aunt Ma and her two sons, sat at another.
“These people are really outrageous! When Quankun and Quansheng got married, they gave two jiao or five jiao. Even at a funeral in the village, they should at least give one or two jiao,” Aunt Ma felt indignant.
“Exactly! From now on, when these people have a funeral, we’ll only give one or two cents,” Jiang Guosheng nodded vigorously in agreement. Originally, he had thought that since everyone was giving gifts today, with over a hundred households, would surely add up to tens of yuan. He could borrow ten yuan in a few days, and they would have a prosperous year. Who knew that in the end, not even five yuan was collected from over a hundred households.
Seeing how angry they were, Jiang Guosheng took a big gulp from his bowl before saying, “Don’t think about it. Can a few cents from the whole village be compared to a few yuan from the entire village? Quansheng’s death was unjust, and everyone feels unlucky. If Guoli were still the production team leader, they wouldn’t dare to be so disrespectful, but now everything has happened at once.”
Upon hearing this, the people at Jiang Guoli’s table immediately turned their gaze to Aunt Guo’s table, especially looking at Su Xiaoxiao with undisguised disdain.
“What are you looking at?” Jiang Yexun slammed his chopsticks heavily on the table. Since most of the Old Jiang family had been beaten by him before, when he got angry, everyone instinctively averted their eyes.
“Mother, since we haven’t touched the food, let’s go back,” Hua Shoucheng whispered.
Aunt Guo immediately nodded and was about to get up, but Jiang Guosheng hurriedly said, “Yexun, you stay. I have something to tell you.”
“Say it now,” Jiang Yexun stood up, looking coldly at him. His sharp eyes were as piercing as a hawk’s, making Jiang Guosheng instinctively shrink his neck. But thinking of what he wanted to say, he forcibly suppressed the cowardly fear in his heart.
“Didn’t they give you a job in the city? What are you planning to do with it? We’ve noticed you haven’t gone to work for so long,” Jiang Guosheng asked.
Everyone’s eyes lit up upon hearing this. Even though Jiang Yexun had long refused to give up this job, it was hard for people from the countryside like them, let alone city folks, to secure a formal job. Hua Shoucheng, who heard about Jiang Yexun’s formal job for the first time, was also surprised.
“It’s none of your business what I’m planning. That’s my job,” Jiang Yexun replied coldly.
Jiang Guosheng immediately became anxious. “What do you mean? You wouldn’t be thinking of giving this job to your wife, would you? As a grown man, you can’t be so confused! If this job goes to your wife, who’s already a pampered city girl, and now she has a job too, would she still look up to you?”
“It’s none of your concern,” Jiang Yexun furrowed his brows, clenching his hand into a tight fist, making the bones crackle audibly.
Jiang Guohua quickly intervened with a smile, “Yexun, your uncle is just clumsy with his words. We don’t have any objections to your wife. When you two get married, you can’t separate city and countryside, right? When your wife gets pregnant, it’ll be even harder to work, and she could easily hurt herself.”
Jiang Yexun wanted to speak, but Jiang Guohua knew there wouldn’t be anything good, so he continued, “What we mean is, if you don’t want to go to work, why not sell the job to us?”
“I won’t sell it. I have other arrangements,” Jiang Yexun firmly refused.
Jiang Guosheng became agitated. “You won’t give it to your wife, you won’t go yourself, and you won’t sell it to us. Are you planning to give it to your sister?! Once a daughter is married, she’s like spilled water, and she’s no longer part of our Jiang family. Why should our family give her the job for nothing?”
“Guosheng! Watch your words! Xinyue is still Yexun’s biological sister!” Jiang Guohua hurriedly reprimanded. Then he looked at Jiang Yexun with a significant tone, “Your sister is pregnant now. Pregnant women are fragile and not suitable for work. And after the child is born, she’ll be busy with postpartum recovery and taking care of the baby. Why not sell the job to us, so you and your sister can both have a share, and both families can live more comfortably?”
Hmm, the Jiang family sure knows how to talk business. They’re throwing out the benefits, hoping Hua Shoucheng will start thinking about the money from selling the job and help persuade Jiang Yexun. After all, it’s almost impossible for a married daughter to get a formal job in the city. But with Jiang Yexun’s and Jiang Xinyue’s relationship, splitting the money from selling the job with Jiang Xinyue might actually be possible.
“No, I’ve said that I have other arrangements for this job,” Jiang Yexun still refused firmly.
Now, not just the people from the Old Jiang family, even Su Xiaoxiao found it a bit strange.
“Other arrangements? What other arrangements could be better than such a good job? I think you look down on us, thinking we can’t offer enough money, and you want to sell the job at a high price. Jiang Yexun, you’re still a member of the Jiang family. How can you be so selfish?” Jiang Guosheng roared in anger.
“So what if I’m selfish?” Jiang Yexun almost provocatively retorted.
Jiang Guoli sighed, “Alright, you’re grown up now, and you have your own ideas. None of us can sway you anymore. With your temperament, you’re bound to suffer losses in the future.”