Chapter 88: Smiles Don’t Disappear, They Just Transfer!
On the small stone table in the courtyard of Old Jiang’s home.
Jiang Tao’s father, Jiang Wen, was playing chess with his neighbor Jiang Tianming.
These two have been neighbors since childhood, growing up playing together naked.
Moreover, both of them were breastfed by Jiang Tao’s grandmother when they were young.
They are not biological brothers, but they are closer than brothers.
Although this pair of old brothers have a good relationship, they don’t shy away from bantering.
When arguments got heated, they would even have a physical wrestling match on the spot.
However, no matter how fierce the argument, they would reconcile within a week at most.
They would still play chess, and they would still drink together.
“My second son really doesn’t know how to manage money.”
“He bought a BMW worth over 300,000 without even discussing it with me and his mother.”
“We’re just small farmers, what do we need that for! Isn’t a car just a shed with four wheels?”
“A car is just for getting around. Spending tens of thousands more for face is just showing off wealth!”
“The liquor he brought back this year is also Wuliangye, costing nearly 6,000 yuan per box.”
“As farmers, we can’t drink such expensive liquor; it’s purely a waste!”
“My wife and I combined, our monthly salary isn’t even worth as much as this box of liquor.”
“If you’re not visiting relatives on the fifth day, come to my place, and we brothers will open a bottle of Wuliangye to try.”
Although Jiang Tianming seemed to be complaining, the smug look on his face clearly showed he was showing off how capable and accomplished his second son was.
Jiang Wen didn’t bother to expose him!
They’ve been buddies for decades; who doesn’t know who?
You old rascal, you just want to show off in front of your buddy!
“Hey Jiang Tianming, let’s play chess, can you stop rambling and messing with my thoughts?”
Jiang Wen waved his hand in annoyance, his own two sons combined couldn’t compare to Jiang Tianming’s single second son.
This fact always made Jiang Wen feel he was one step behind Jiang Tianming, and he could only quietly watch him show off every time.
He didn’t even have the opportunity to show off himself.
His eldest son works at a chemical factory in a nearby town as an ordinary worker, and after working tirelessly, his monthly salary is only a little over 5,000.
The two teenage sons at home who are still studying, their food expenses alone cost nearly a thousand yuan a month.
Coupled with various pocket money at home, they can’t even save 10,000 yuan a year and live frugally.
His second son drives a truck in the Capital City, and after all expenses, he only pockets about forty to fifty thousand a year.
In contrast, look at their neighbor Jiang Tianming’s family.
The eldest son was always an excellent student, and he pursued his studies all the way to graduate school. Now he’s a manager at a company in Shi City.
According to Jiang Tianming, his eldest son’s annual salary is over 300,000, firmly in the high-salary class.
Although their second son wasn’t good at studying and dropped out of high school before finishing.
But the second son was also sharp-witted and good with his words.
He runs a liquor sales business in the city and can earn two to three hundred thousand a year.
The gap between the second generations of the two families is enormous; they simply cannot compare!
Every Spring Festival, the high-end tobacco and alcohol that Jiang Tianming’s two sons buy for him, even though Jiang Wen verbally claims not to care, he is secretly very envious!
However, envy is envy.
He would naturally not ask his children to buy such expensive things for him and would not add any burden to them.
“Yo! Uncle Tianming is here to give my dad another head!”
Carrying a bottle of Moutai, Jiang Tao entered and greeted Jiang Tianming with a smile upon seeing the two old brothers playing chess in the courtyard.
“Yo, second son is back, are you here to give your dad… to give…”
Jiang Tianming looked up and saw Jiang Tao entering with the wine box, greeting him with a smile.
But halfway through his smile, his expression vanished, replaced by surprise.
He looked at the Moutai wine box in Jiang Tao’s arms with disbelief.
Countless question marks popped into his mind????
May I ask, what’s going on!
Moutai?
Jiang Wen’s second son, who hauls goods, brought him a case of Moutai?
In an instant, Jiang Tianming felt that the Wuliangye his son had given him no longer tasted good.
Wasn’t he completely suppressed!
“When did the second son get back, didn’t he already give me wine, why is he still… why…”
Jiang Wen’s words trailed off as he also noticed that the wine box in Jiang Tao’s arms was a Moutai box!
Jiang Tao said with a smile, “I made a little money outside this year, so I bought you a case of good wine and a few cartons of good cigarettes, and upgraded things for you.”
“You brat, really, really! Sigh!! Why buy such expensive wine! This case must be over ten thousand!”
Looking at the Moutai in his son’s arms, Jiang Wen was both surprised and delighted.
The smile that had disappeared from Jiang Tianming’s face reappeared on his.
Why was his heart so happy, why did he want to laugh out loud!
At this moment, Jiang Wen felt as happy as if he had eaten two pounds of pistachios!
“It’s the Spring Festival, let’s have something good to drink. I’ll take it to the house for you, and you two can continue playing.”
Jiang Tao said with a smile and walked towards the main house carrying the wine box.
“Jiang Wen, how much did your second son earn this year? They’re building a house and renovating, and I heard they’re not short of money…”
Jiang Tianming looked at Jiang Wen with a puzzled expression, finding today’s events quite surprising.
“I usually don’t ask about the children’s affairs. How much they earn is their business and has nothing to do with us old folks.”
“Come on, let’s continue the game, watch me sweep you off the board!”
Jiang Wen, who had been listless and a bit upset just moments ago, became somewhat agitated after his second son’s visit.
“I’m not playing anymore, I need to go to the market and see if there’s anything else I need to buy.”
Jiang Tianming had originally come today to show off the fine cigarettes and liquor his son had bought him, but instead of showing off, he was shown up.
He naturally didn’t want to stay any longer.
It’s boring, so boring!
Despite Jiang Wen’s repeated attempts to keep him, Jiang Tianming left in a huff, not even finishing the game of chess that was going his way.
“Second son, do you know if your wife knows about you buying such expensive cigarettes and liquor?”
Jiang Wen saw his son coming out of the room and asked with some concern, afraid that it might cause conflict between the couple.
Jiang Tao smiled and said, “She knows. I also gave her dad a case of Moutai and two cartons of Huazi cigarettes, fair and square, the same for both sides.”
“This, how much money did this cost!”
After the initial excitement, Jiang Wen also felt a little heartbroken for his son, thinking it was unnecessary to spend money on such things.
“You brat, you’re being ridiculous. Just giving a little as a token gesture would have been enough!”
“With this money, you could have bought Lily and Xiao Xue more clothes!”
His mother, Tian Xiaomei, also began to feel sorry for her younger son’s spending.
“Heh heh, don’t you two old folks know me? Am I that inconsiderate? Just take what I buy for you.”
“I bought cigarettes and liquor for Dad, but didn’t buy anything for you, so take this.”
Jiang Tao said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a bulging red envelope, handing it to his mother.
“This is…”
Tian Xiaomei felt the thickness of the red envelope, and her face immediately showed surprise.
Jiang Tao said with a chuckle, “Exactly 10,000, no more, no less. Count it in front of me, I won’t be responsible if there’s any shortage.”
“No, no, Mom can’t accept this money. Take it back and spend it with Lily.”
Tian Xiaomei quickly handed the money back to Jiang Tao. She had been planning to secretly give Jiang Tao some money without the eldest son knowing, so how could she accept his money?
“Just take it. I told you, your son is making money now, and it’s the same for Xu Li’s side of the family. Keeping things balanced, no favoritism.”
Jiang Tao joked with a smile, “If you don’t take it, shouldn’t I not give it to the mother-in-law then? What would Xu Li think of you?”
“Ah, this…”
Upon hearing that it would affect the mother-in-law-daughter-in-law relationship, Tian Xiaomei immediately dared not refuse anymore.
“That’s right, take good care of it.”
Seeing that his mother was no longer refusing, Jiang Tao also smiled.
This was the first time he had honored his mother with money after getting married.
A faint sense of accomplishment arose in Jiang Tao’s heart.
In the past, he didn’t even have the ability to manage his own small family, so he naturally couldn’t take care of his parents.
Now that he had the ability, he not only wanted to provide a good life for his wife and children.
He also wanted his father and mother to live a good life!
He is both a husband and father, and also a son.
