Chapter 96: Happy New Year’s Eve!
When Jiang Tao and his little cotton jacket arrived at his parents’ home, they heard the two of them arguing.
“The cigarettes and alcohol your son gave you, what are you showing off about!”
“A pack of cigarettes costs tens of yuan. Go around the village entrance and hand them out, look at you showing off!”
“Am I showing off! So what if I hand out a cigarette to someone? Stop being so motherly and petty all the time, such a small-minded person!”
“I’m small-minded! Yes! I’m small-minded! If you were like Li Ka-shing, would I even care about this!”
“You should look in the mirror. If I were Li Ka-shing, I would have married you!”
“Fine, fine! Jiang Wen, if you’re so capable, let’s stay together, or we’ll get a divorce!”
“Divorce then! Let’s go! Whoever doesn’t go is a grandson!”
“Grandpa, Grandma, please don’t divorce. Then my dad won’t have a mom and dad.”
When little Jiang Xue heard her grandparents were getting a divorce, she got anxious.
In her class, there were several little friends whose parents had divorced, and they were so pitiful.
She didn’t want her own dad to become one of those pitiful children.
“Mom, Dad, let’s put the divorce on hold for now. The Civil Affairs Bureau is also closed for the New Year.”
Jiang Tao didn’t take the old couple’s words to heart and jokingly persuaded them.
This old couple had been married for over forty years. If they had taken every word seriously, they would have divorced eight hundred times already.
Seeing Jiang Tao and his precious granddaughter enter, the old couple glared at each other and temporarily ceased hostilities.
“Xuexue is here, Grandma’s precious granddaughter. Come on, Grandma will take you to Auntie’s room to get some chocolate.”
“Yay!”
As soon as Jiang Xue heard there was chocolate, her sadness vanished. She grabbed her grandma’s hand and happily skipped off to her aunt’s place.
“Dad, as men, we should have some magnanimity. It’s the New Year, don’t take it out on Mom.”
Jiang Tao took out a pack of Huazi cigarettes from his pocket, took one for himself, and handed the whole pack to Old Jiang.
“Mm.”
Old Jiang was quite receptive to the advice, giving a quiet “Mm” as an agreement.
What was wrong with him wanting to show off his son?
The father and son chatted for a bit in the courtyard, and then Old Mother came out of Third Sister’s room with Jiang Xue, who had swept up a large pile of snacks.
Jiang Tao, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, said: “You’ve cleaned out your aunt’s entire snack stash!”
“Third Sister is already an old maiden, yet she still eats children’s snacks all day. She’s no adult!”
“In our village, everyone her age has already had a second child, and she doesn’t even have a boyfriend! Aren’t you worried!”
“Second Brother, Third Sister listens to you the most. You should talk to her and tell her to settle down.”
“Since everyone is back for the New Year, let her meet some potential partners. Who knows, she might meet someone she likes!”
“When it comes to blind dates, you have to go on many to find the right one. Don’t you think so.”
“Ahem, okay, okay, I’ll persuade her, I’ll persuade her…”
Jiang Tao responded with a smile, as he was too lazy to talk to Third Sister about such things.
When it comes to important matters like marriage, it’s best to respect the wishes of the individuals involved.
People should get married when they want to, not when you think they should.
After some idle chat, Jiang Tao mentioned Xu Li’s invitation for them to help out, and the elders readily agreed.
At noon, Jiang Tao also invited his two nephews over for lunch.
Elder Sister-in-law was busy earning money, and Xu Li couldn’t get her to come back even after calling, so she didn’t force it.
However, it was still a bit sad that she was working while pregnant.
Jiang Tao secretly thought that if there were any opportunities in the future, he would definitely help his elder brother and sister-in-law first.
After all, they were brothers bound by blood.
Lunch lasted from noon until past one in the afternoon.
Jiang Tao, the old man, and his eldest nephew Jiang Shijie drank a bottle of Moutai together.
They were just slightly tipsy, not too much, just right.
After the meal, Wang Xiaobai thanked Jiang Tao multiple times for his hospitality and drove away with her sister Wang Xiaohong and Xu Sha.
“Husband~ It’s our first year in our new home. Can we buy some fireworks to set off?”
After sending everyone off, Xu Li went to Old Jiang, who was sitting on the sofa watching television, and clung to his arm, asking in a sweet voice.
A few days before Jiang Tao returned, the old man had given Xu Li dozens of thick, pipe-like firecrackers.
Those things exploded like hand grenades, making a loud noise but having no aesthetic appeal.
Xu Li preferred to watch brilliant fireworks and enjoy the romantic atmosphere.
“Okay, buy them! Buy more this year, let my wife watch to her heart’s content.”
Jiang Tao agreed with a smile, as he could easily fulfill his wife’s small request.
In previous years, Jiang Tao would at most buy five or six fireworks just for the noise and to join in the fun.
He would say it was enough to participate, but in reality, he was just reluctant to spend money.
A single firework tube, small ones cost tens of yuan, larger ones hundreds, or even thousands.
To just hear a bang and see a fleeting burst of light, it cost several days’ salary. How could he not feel heartbroken?
This year, with hundreds of thousands in his pocket and goods in the courtyard that could earn him millions more.
Buying some fireworks to set off was like popping champagne to celebrate in advance!
Although Ping County still had an explicit regulation against setting off fireworks and firecrackers this year.
However, it seemed that very few people paid attention to this rule.
In the days before the New Year, the sound of firecrackers had been incessant.
Patrol cars patrolled the villages every day, but no one was ever caught.
“Husband, you’re so good~ Mwah~ Mwah~ You’re the most handsome husband in the world~”
Xu Li happily cupped Jiang Tao’s face and kissed him on the lips several times.
This feeling of being doted on by her dear husband, day or night,
made Xu Li feel like the happiest woman in the world.
“Let’s go, let’s go buy fireworks~ Is your cousin still selling them?”
Jiang Tao playfully patted Xu Li’s perky, bouncy buttocks and they got up from the sofa together.
“Yes, yes! He’s still selling them!”
“My brother makes over a hundred thousand yuan a year from this. Would he be willing not to sell them!”
“If we buy from his place, it definitely won’t be expensive.”
The couple agreed and were about to head out.
When Jiang Bing and Jiang Xue heard they were going to buy fireworks, they excitedly wanted to go along too.
“Daddy, I want to go too, I want to go too~”
“Second Brother! Second Brother! I want to set off a Gatling gun! I want to set off ten of them!”
Jiang Bing excitedly hugged Jiang Tao’s arm. Hearing about fireworks, she was even more excited than her niece Jiang Xue.
Jiang Tao laughed: “You can set off 100, no one will stop you. Buy them yourself.”
“No, Second Brother~ My good Second Brother~ You’re the most handsome Second Brother in the world~”
Jiang Bing started acting spoiled, imitating Xu Li, but her attempt was like a failed imitation, giving Jiang Tao goosebumps.
Third Sister had a loud voice since she was little, which was no comparison to her sister-in-law’s soft, gentle tone!
“Auntie, shame on you! Grandma said you’re an old maiden, yet you’re still acting spoiled with my dad~”
Jiang Xue, bouncing around, made faces at Jiang Bing.
“Tch, what do you know, you little brat? This is my biological Second Brother~ Right, Second Brother?”
“No.”
“Second Brother, you’ve changed, you don’t love me anymore! Wuwuwu, you’re not my Second Brother, you must have been possessed!”
“Possessed by your sister, you’ve been reading too many novels!”
The group playfully went out. Xu Li drove, Jiang Tao sat in the front passenger seat, and Jiang Bing and Jiang Xue, aunt and niece, sat in the back.
Amidst the bickering of the two lively spirits in the back, the Mercedes-Benz GLS drove towards town.
Xu Li’s cousin, Xu Jiantao, owned a medium-sized supermarket in town, with an annual income of around 300,000 yuan.
Additionally, by secretly selling fireworks and firecrackers during the New Year, he could earn another ten thousand yuan.
This income was considered high among their many relatives and friends.
The supermarket was not far from Jiang Family Village, less than a 10-minute drive away.
Xu Li drove the car directly to the back door of the supermarket and saw several vehicles already parked there.
It was likely that these were also people coming to buy fireworks and firecrackers.
Due to the ban, the business of selling fireworks and firecrackers was conducted like a clandestine operation.
Jiang Tao and the others walked to the back door of the supermarket and entered the courtyard through a half-open blue iron gate.
In the backyard, a man who was plump, weighing at least over 200 catties, was counting goods and settling bills for several customers.
“Lili is here! Pick whichever ones you like. I’ll be done soon.”
“When did Jiang Tao return from the Capital City? When are you leaving?”
Xu Jiantao saw his cousin and her husband with the children, and he greeted them with a smile.
Among the customers standing in the courtyard buying fireworks were men and women.
They appeared to be boyfriends and girlfriends, or couples who came together.
Upon seeing Xu Li enter, both men and women couldn’t help but look at her a few extra times.
Her tall stature of 1.72 meters, combined with her beauty that surpassed even the big stars on television.
Xu Li’s appearance instantly outshone all the other women present.
The eyes of several men looking at Jiang Tao were filled with envy!
They were both wives, yet the difference was so great!
The combined beauty of several women did not match Xu Li alone.
Feeling the envious gazes, Old Jiang also felt a sense of accomplishment, his emotional value maximized.
“Go pick, pick whatever you like.”
With Jiang Tao’s command, Xu Li, Jiang Bing, and Jiang Xue each took a box and went to choose fireworks.
After the other guests finished paying and left, Xu Li and the others had also finished choosing.
The fireworks they picked together filled a large box!
Although these items were highly profitable, their cost was also considerable.
Xu Jiantao did not pretend to give them away for free; at most, he would let them have it without making a profit.
Otherwise, his shrewish wife would scold him from Lunar New Year’s Eve until the fifteenth.
The large box of fireworks finally cost Jiang Tao 3,000 yuan.
Jiang Tao didn’t say anything about it being too expensive or too cheap. He readily scanned and paid, and then Xu Jiantao helped him carry them out to the car.
Upon arriving outside, he saw the very black and high-end Mercedes-Benz GLS that Xu Li had driven.
Xu Jiantao’s expression was exactly the same as his uncle, Jiang Tao’s father-in-law, Xu Wencheng.
With Xu Jiantao’s financial strength, he could afford a Mercedes-Benz GLS, but he was reluctant!
After all, he was tied to the supermarket like a donkey every day and rarely left for the entire year.
Buying such an expensive car would just be collecting dust at home, with no practical use.
It would be better to deposit the money used to buy the car in the bank and earn interest.
Xu Jiantao looked at Jiang Tao and asked in surprise:
“Jiang Tao, did you buy this car new? How much did it cost on the road?”
“A little over 1 million.”
Jiang Tao had a nonchalant expression on his face.
After all, he didn’t spend money to buy this car. Without the experience of seeing his savings drop by 1 million, he naturally wouldn’t feel heartbroken.
“Over a million! You’re really impressive, Jiang Tao! Such courage!!!”
Xu Jiantao looked at Jiang Tao and only then did he notice a detail.
Today’s Jiang Tao was quite different from the Jiang Tao he remembered.
Whether it was the aura he exuded or his demeanor, he was no longer the poor peasant he remembered.
He felt a sense of calm confidence emanating from Jiang Tao.
Xu Jiantao, who ran a supermarket and interacted with all sorts of people daily, had a good eye for people.
The aura and steadiness Jiang Tao possessed were similar to those of the wealthy bosses who frequently visited Xu Jiantao’s store.
Didn’t Jiang Tao’s brother-in-law drive a truck in the Capital City?
How suddenly…
At this moment, Xu Jiantao suddenly felt that his brother-in-law, whom he had known for over six years, seemed like a stranger.
Or rather, seeing Jiang Tao in person this time had shattered his ingrained impression of him.
Xu Jiantao jokingly said to Jiang Tao with a smile:
“It seems you’ve been doing quite well in the Capital City these past two years, driving a Benz.”
“If my supermarket ever goes under, I’ll come to you for a job.”
“Haha, brother, don’t make fun of me. You earn hundreds of thousands a year from your supermarket, while I’m just messing around in the Capital City. I can’t compare to you.”
“How can you not compare? You’re much better than me, aren’t you driving a million-dollar luxury car? I’ll have to hitch a ride with you sometime to experience it.”
“Haha, no problem, no problem. You can experience it anytime you want!”
The two brothers chatted while loading the fireworks from the box into the trunk and closing the trunk lid.
Xu Li chatted with Xu Jiantao for a while longer, asking about the recent situation of his father and mother, before bidding farewell and leaving.
When the group returned home, it was already past 7 PM.
As night fell, the sound of firecrackers echoed throughout the village.
Accompanied by the sizzling sound of fireworks ascending, the dark night sky was painted with colorful strokes.
Jiang Tao had bought 3,000 yuan worth of fireworks this time, wanting everyone to have a great time.
It is better to share joy than to enjoy it alone.
He called his elder brother’s two nephews to come over as well.
A large group of people cheered and set off fireworks, having an incredibly happy time.
The festive atmosphere of the New Year was instantly created!
Sizzling~
Crackling~
Sizzling, sizzling, sizzling~
The thousands of yuan worth of fireworks were all gone in less than half an hour.
All that remained was a pile of hard cardboard that even scrap collectors wouldn’t want.
If this were in the past, Jiang Tao’s half-month salary would have been spent on this, so how could he have been willing?
The custom of staying up all night on Lunar New Year’s Eve is still preserved in their hometown.
After setting off the fireworks, they still hadn’t waited for his elder brother Jiang He to finish work.
Jiang Tao had no choice but to take his two nephews to visit the uncles and elder uncles in the village.
The news of him driving back in a Mercedes-Benz had already spread throughout the entire village.
This year, Jiang Tao had become the hottest topic of conversation in Jiang Family Village.
No matter which house he visited, the conversation invariably revolved around the Mercedes-Benz and praise for him.
It’s no exaggeration to say that the praise Jiang Tao received tonight was several times more than what he had received in the previous thirty years combined.
The compliments, envy, and admiration from everyone made Jiang Tao feel a bit giddy.
He had never experienced this feeling of being affirmed and respected before.
He continued visiting houses until past eleven o’clock at night before returning to his own home.
Xu Li, her daughter, and Jiang Bing, who was sticking to Jiang Tao’s house like a piece of taffy and refused to leave.
The three of them were still in the living room sofa, eating nuts and watching the Spring Festival Gala, waiting to welcome the New Year together.
The clock struck midnight, and Jiang Tao officially said goodbye to his thirtieth year, growing one year older.
After celebrating the New Year, Jiang Bing went home, and Xu Li took Jiang Xue to take a bath.
Jiang Tao lay on the sofa, half-reclined, and opened the interface of the intelligence system.
Today was the day before the first day of Lunar New Year.
He hoped to get lucky and refresh two high-value pieces of intelligence!
