Chapter 88: Chapter 88: Stirring Up Trouble
Jiang Xiulan glanced at Li Xuemei, let out a dry laugh, and said, "Oh sister-in-law, we definitely can’t compare to you and big brother. You are in business and have spare money on hand. Me and the second brother are just farmers, with a college student at home who spends money, so where would we have extra to honor our parents? That’s why they have suffered."
Her words were well-crafted, easily brushing aside the issue of their couple being unable to present decent New Year’s gifts, and with ample reason.
Instead, she moved Gu Ruhai and Li Xuemei to the forefront, with the underlying meaning being to cast doubt in Mrs. Gu’s mind, seeing that the eldest family earned money this year and still showed no intention of being more generous, sticking to the measly four-piece New Year gift.
Gu Ruhai, being straightforward, didn’t catch on, but Li Xuemei did.
Before Li Xuemei could speak, Mrs. Gu indeed burst out first.
With a slap on the table and a glare, Mrs. Gu’s old authority immediately returned.
Couldn’t handle Gu Ruhai, but could definitely manage Li Xuemei.
Pointing at Li Xuemei, she began, "This life is unbearable. You coax my son to make money outside, giving us old folks just this little bit as a New Year’s gift. Are we still considered elders in your eyes?"
Upon hearing this, Li Xuemei thought to herself, this is dismissing my gift as being light, but you’re not even looking at how even lighter your second son’s gift is.
She opened her mouth calmly, "Mom, aren’t the New Year gifts always these four types? I’m just following the trend; doesn’t every family give gifts like this?"
"Didn’t you make money doing business this year? I lived to such an old age, worked myself to the bone, raised you brothers with so much worry, and now I’m old, and you don’t see us as worth anything anymore. My eldest was truly unlucky to marry someone like you, a wrecker..."
Mr. Gu coughed to stop Mrs. Gu’s words.
Gu Ruhai looked a bit uncomfortable.
"Parents, if every time we come back there’s such a commotion, next time, we just won’t come back. We made some money, but we haven’t neglected what we should do, yet don’t expect more than that from us. We do no less than others; if every meeting is like this, we’d rather not come back."
Gu Ruhai laid down his words.
Mr. Gu also saw that no matter what, this wasn’t Gu Ruhai’s fault, and immediately reprimanded Mrs. Gu, "What are you doing? Making such a fuss during the New Year looks good, does it? The children come back out of filial piety, and you’re always being picky. If you really want to compare the New Year’s gifts, look at what the eldest brought versus the second. Is this something to compare?
This is the kids’ thoughtfulness. If there’s more, we take more; if there’s less, we don’t blame. As parents, we hope for the children’s success. You woman, why speak like this? Aren’t you intentionally causing a rift between the eldest and the second?"
This reprimand finally calmed Gu Ruhai’s anger, and Li Xuemei couldn’t keep arguing, after all, it was her father-in-law, what could she say?
As a daughter-in-law, she just had to listen. Besides, in this matter, Gu Ruhai was already on her side, unwaveringly, and his stance and words made Li Xuemei feel satisfied.
Such a man was something she never dared dream of before. Gu Ruhai used to always timidly follow his parents’ orders, doing whatever was told, saying whatever was told. Now that Gu Ruhai had changed like this, she truly cherished it.
Mrs. Gu finally kept quiet.
Gu Rushan and Jiang Xiulan, seeing the atmosphere, knew they couldn’t fan the flames any further. If something else happened, especially in the twelfth lunar month when everyone was preparing for the New Year, it wouldn’t be good.
Gu Xiaocheng was also present today; this couldn’t turn into such chaos.
He stepped forward to mediate.
"Big brother, don’t be angry. I was just speaking carelessly. Seeing you do well in business in town, we’re happy for you. I thought with the New Year coming, you’d prepare more for parents. Actually, your gift is quite a lot, it’s us as the younger siblings who didn’t prepare properly."
Gu Rushan covered all facets with his explanation, and said it nicely.
Gu Ruhai couldn’t stay angry.
Jiang Xiulan also pulled Li Xuemei aside, "Sister-in-law, it’s my fault for speaking carelessly. How’s business in town? I’ve heard, and seen twice, your steamed and fried dumplings, and lamb offal businesses are quite busy. Must have made a lot of money this year?"
Jiang Xiulan’s thoughts were indeed focused on this. She’d heard quite a few times that Gu Ruhai’s stall was doing well, it’s said to have become a famed local eatery through word of mouth.
In town, the two army-green canvas tents were erected, with a large red banner with bold text. It’s quite eye-catching.
Gu family’s lamb offal, Li family’s noodles, now considered two famous eateries in town, attracting people from other towns and villages to come try.
Jiang Xiulan had long set her mind on this business idea.
Gu Xiaocheng was about to graduate.
Although Jiang Caifa, her big brother, had agreed to use his connections to find a job for Gu Xiaocheng, those connections don’t come without favors, costing money all around.
At the very least, asking someone requires handing over a pack of cigarettes, right?
Not to mention, sometimes having to treat acquaintances to dinner, which all costs money.
Jiang Caifa isn’t the type to pull out money from his own pocket, so Jiang Xiulan had to prepare on her own.
Though she didn’t worry about tuition, once the harvest came in, and combined with what the old man had, it was just over two hundred yuan.
Previously, they could have more with Gu Ruhai’s twenty; this time, there wasn’t any.
Last time she gave Gu Ruhai sixty, all these were sums adding up to money.
That’s why Jiang Xiulan had her eyes set early on Gu Ruhai’s food business.
Just wasn’t in a position to say anything before.
This time, seeing it as an opportunity, Jiang Xiulan indirectly probed for information.
To see how much profit could be extracted from this.
Li Xuemei frowned, hesitating to smile, squeezing out a barely acceptable smile. She saw through Jiang Xiulan’s intentions immediately.
This was an idea targeting their family business.
This won’t do.
Now Li Xuemei really considered this business as the family’s livelihood, there was no way to let someone leech off of it.
She replied insincerely, with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, "It’s just like that, just enough to cover living expenses, to support the family a bit. The kids are growing up; the eldest is almost ready to talk about marriage, have to save up dowry. The second and third still have schooling; there’s money needed everywhere. Though it looks prosperous and crowded, really, after costs, it’s just small earnings, working the whole family to death.
If not for the farming offseason, staying idle at home, I’d bring out my dad’s skills to earn some money, just to get some things for the kids."