Chapter 285
“I do!” Su Hongchen didn’t wait for Su Xiaoxiao to speak and immediately snapped back. Seeing Jiang Guoli’s expression as if he had eaten something foul, Su Hongchen coldly continued, “You’re trying to leverage Aunt Guo’s questionable background. But Aunt Guo has been married to you for so long and has given birth to two children. By now, whatever issues her background might have had are long cleaned up. Even if she leaves you, her situation won’t be that dire.”
At worst, she might face some criticism, but nothing severe. If managed properly, she might not even have to go to a farm in the northwest, just to a forest farm in the northeast. Though it was harsh and poor there, the regulations were lenient, and the work was minimal. Typically, half the year could be spent indoors, living off stored supplies. The remaining half, when not farming, wouldn’t be as exhausting as working elsewhere. Spending a little money to get help with work wasn’t an issue.
They had heard rumors that this status-based discrimination wouldn’t last much longer. The country was now in dire need of educated talents, and soon they would be released. Those who could study well in the past were usually from wealthy families. Thus, the lines would eventually blur, and all these distinctions would be abolished.
“You… Do you know how strictly they’re enforcing this now? Even if you’re in the army, Yexun’s mother’s relationship with you is too distant. Your status might not protect her,” Jiang Guoli said with a forced smile, though inwardly he was increasingly anxious.
Unable to argue further with Jiang Yexun, he returned to his room and brought out seventy-three yuan.
“Here!” He suppressed his anger and pain, his voice tight.
As Jiang Yexun took the money from him, Jiang Guoli’s heart ached. He felt the pain of his failed schemes and the impending doom for his grandson, who seemed destined to be a fool.
But then he saw Jiang Yexun smiling brightly, handing all the money to Su Xiaoxiao.
“Household contribution,” Jiang Yexun said tenderly, a stark contrast to his earlier harshness with his father.
Su Xiaoxiao accepted the money generously and took out three yuan, handing it to Jiang Yexun.
“Your pocket money,” she said, her tone triumphant like a victorious peacock.
Jiang Yexun smiled and accepted it, “Thank you, Xiaoxiao.”
Was this his good son, giving so much money to an unmarried woman?
“Jiang Yexun, we haven’t even split the family yet, and you give all the money to your girlfriend? What family does that?” Jiang Guoli couldn’t help but mock bitterly.
But Jiang Yexun retorted smugly, “You were afraid my sister and I would take away your two sons’ work points and agreed that everyone would manage their own work points and money, remember?”
His two brothers, six or seven years older, had devised this scheme to force his mother to work more by claiming that he and his sister were too young to work. Despite the hard times back then, he and his sister had managed, and now the situation had changed—they envied his earnings.
With the entire village as witnesses, Jiang Guoli could only retreat with a mix of embarrassment and resentment, not daring to argue further with Jiang Yexun.
Not wanting to linger, Jiang Yexun and the others turned and left the Jiang Family.
As soon as they left, Jiang Guoli angrily shut the door. Onlookers outside the courtyard immediately started gossiping.
“Guoli, is your grandson really going to become a fool?”
“You’ve been the production team leader for so many years, how come you can’t come up with five hundred yuan? Even if your second son died, he should’ve left some money, right?”
Jiang Guoli almost snapped at them, but thinking of something, he forced a smile and apologized, “It’s late, and I have to go to the city early tomorrow. Sorry for the inconvenience.”
Seeing his hunched back, the villagers refrained from further gossip.
Su Xiaoxiao, who had been eavesdropping from the neighboring yard, finally returned to her room.
“Is she always so nosy?” Su Hongchen asked, amused by his sister’s sneaky behavior.
Jiang Yexun shook his head, “Xiaoxiao isn’t usually nosy.”
Recently, though, the village’s gossip often involved their family. Of course, Jiang Yexun wouldn’t admit this to his brother-in-law, fearing it would worsen his already strained relationship with him. If things went badly in Shanghai, Su Hongchen might not even speak well of him, which would be the least of his problems.
“Brother, this isn’t just gossip. We’re trying to get our money back,” Su Xiaoxiao pouted.
She couldn’t believe Jiang Guoli had borrowed a bicycle to go to the city and ended up selling it. It was the kind of thing that made you sit up in bed in the middle of the night and exclaim, “Is he insane?”
“Do you think Jiang Mancang has any hope?” Su Xiaoxiao asked, unable to resist the gossip.
“Of course,” Jiang Yexun and Su Hongchen answered in unison.
Seeing the surprise in her eyes, Jiang Yexun found her adorable. He was about to pat her fluffy head when a larger hand got there first, gently rubbing her head.
Ah, having a brother-in-law is the worst.
Jealous, Jiang Yexun glared at the hand before explaining, “Even though Jiang Quansheng and his wife spend more, they still have at least a hundred yuan in savings. My father likely has another hundred, and though Jiang Quankun’s family won’t give everything, they’ll contribute at least another hundred. Combined, they have nearly five hundred yuan.”
“But my father will pretend they only have around three hundred, then go around the village borrowing money. Despite everyone being poor, our village has nearly two hundred households. If each household lends five to ten yuan, he’ll easily gather the money.”
Su Xiaoxiao nodded in agreement. Although there were bad people, most were just loose-tongued. When real trouble struck, they were willing to help, even if it meant living frugally themselves. If anyone refused to help, they’d be criticized by the whole village.
Moreover, everyone feared facing their own crises alone in the future. If they didn’t help now, they couldn’t expect others to help them later.