“Big brother, it’s me.”
“Jiang Teng?”
“Yeah, yes, that’s right.”
Jiang Da frowned subconsciously: “Do you need something from me?”
“Listen to you, that sounds so distant. Can’t I, as your younger brother, call to check in on you even if there’s nothing?”
Jiang Da didn’t know how to sweet-talk or respond, so he simply kept silent.
Anyway, the one who couldn’t hold it in would definitely be the other party.
Sure enough…
“Big brother, actually I do have a little something, hehe!”
Jiang Da: “……”
“I heard you and sister-in-law bought a big villa in the capital and have already moved in? Must have cost quite a bit, right?”
Jiang Da: “It’s alright. It’s livable.”
Jiang Teng curled his lips. A big villa, of course it’s livable.
Jiang Da: “And the villa wasn’t bought by us.”
“Huh? Then who bought it?”
“Yueyue.”
“Well, Yueyue’s is the same as yours, right? You raised her, she wouldn’t not let you live there, would she? Hahaha…”
He felt he had told a very witty joke and immediately burst into laughter.
But Jiang Da remained unmoved, only saying: “We’re going to sleep. You should rest early too.”
“Don’t, big brother, we’ve only said a few sentences… why go to sleep already?”
“We have things to do tomorrow.”
“Heh,” the other side sneered, changing tone so quickly it was as if the brotherly warmth just now had been an illusion, “now that big brother has made it big, he doesn’t recognize us poor relatives anymore… makes sense. People climb upward, go too far and you forget blood ties, very normal.”
Jiang Da frowned: “I’ve never said that.”
“But that’s exactly what you’re doing, isn’t it? Just a few sentences and you’re already annoyed, what is that if not disdain?”
“Old Three, if you have something to say, just say it directly. No need to beat around the bush, it’s quicker and more straightforward, don’t you think?”
The other side fell silent, then after two seconds…
“Fine, you want me to be direct, I’ll be direct. Mom is very angry after hearing you moved to the capital. She wants you and sister-in-law to come back immediately.”
Under the light, Jiang Da lowered his eyes slightly. Han Yunru couldn’t see his expression at that moment.
But it probably wasn’t very good.
“…Alright, we’ll come back tomorrow.”
Jiang Teng curled his lips in satisfaction. No matter how rich he got, wasn’t he still that honest, dull, almost foolish big brother?
After ending the call, Jiang Teng immediately called the old lady: “Mom, don’t worry, I’ve already conveyed the message… Big brother’s reaction? You can guess, right? Of course he agreed right away! In the end, Mom, you’re still the most capable, just a casual word from you, and big brother treats it like an imperial decree, rushing back eagerly.”
The old woman’s smug laughter came from the other end.
The next day, Jiang Da took Han Yunru back to Linhuai.
Jiang Fuyue, worried they might suffer losses, wanted to go with them.
But Jiang Da said: “Yueyue, focus on your work. I’ll handle it, don’t worry.”
Meeting his firm gaze, Jiang Fuyue paused for a moment, then nodded: “…Okay.”
Only after they left did she suddenly realize, this time, the one making the decision was actually Jiang Da?!
Normally, whenever something like this happened, he would first consult Han Yunru’s opinion, then say foolishly: I’ll listen to my wife.
But this time, he bypassed Han Yunru and made the decision directly.
Rare!
Extremely rare!
Thinking about how they left with only small personal bags, without any large luggage like suitcases, Jiang Fuyue couldn’t help but fall into thought.
……
At 2 p.m., Jiang Da and Han Yunru arrived at the old lady’s house. Jiang Teng and his wife, as well as Jiang Qin and her husband, were all there.
The old lady, Qiu Shufen, sat on the sofa with a stern face, putting on quite the “head of the family” posture.
She carried the air of an old matriarch from a large ancient household.
“Where’s Old Two? Why didn’t he come?”
Uh!
Jiang Teng pursed his lips, thinking the old lady really had no sense of propriety, bringing up exactly what shouldn’t be mentioned, clearly knowing big brother and sister-in-law had issues with second brother…
Jiang Qin also secretly glanced at Jiang Da’s expression, sure enough, it had turned colder.
Ever since the incident with Yang Jinqiu, Jiang Hua had repeatedly avoided appearing in front of Jiang Da and Han Yunru.
Mainly because it was too awkward.
Not only had he coveted his sister-in-law, but his own wife had nearly killed someone, and was sentenced to prison for intentional injury, still not released…
What kind of mess was this?
Although Jiang Qin had a thick skin, she still had basic moral standards.
If this got out, wouldn’t she lose face too? How could she hold her head up in her in-laws’ family?
“Mom, second brother said he’s on a business trip and can’t come. He already told you before, why ask again?”
Jiang Qin’s tone carried a bit of complaint.
If they angered big brother and sister-in-law, then the matter they planned next… how would they even bring it up? How would they negotiate?
The old lady: “Is that so? I’m old, my memory’s bad, always annoying people!”
Jiang Qin really wanted to roll her eyes but held it in: “Mom, what are you saying? I didn’t mean that!”
“Enough. Since the eldest is back, let’s make things clear today.”
Jiang Da sat silently. Hearing this, he only gave a light “mm.”
Qiu Shufen’s gaze flickered: “I heard you’ve moved to the capital?”
Jiang Da: “Mm.”
“How long are you planning to stay?”
“We plan to settle there permanently.”
Bang!
The old lady slammed her hand on the coffee table. “Ridiculous! I’m not even dead yet, and as the eldest son you’re already eager to run off to another place, is this your idea of filial piety?”
“Was it this woman’s instigation?” The old lady pointed at Han Yunru, her gaze sharp. “When you married her, I already knew she was a troublemaker, someone who would stir our whole family into chaos and unrest!”
Han Yunru frowned, about to defend herself.
But Jiang Da spoke first: “It has nothing to do with Ah Ru. This was a joint decision.”
“Your decision? What decision? Moving to the capital? You don’t know anyone there, what right do you have to move? Isn’t it because of this woman? I heard she found her biological parents, and they happen to be from the capital. What, are you planning to become a live-in son-in-law?”
“Yeah,” Jiang Teng’s eyes rolled, “big brother, you just left like that. Honestly, I still can’t quite accept it. After all, our whole family is in Linhuai, you’re basically leaving your hometown, aren’t you?”
Back then, Jiang Da was dark-skinned and ugly, not very bright either, pushing a cart selling pancakes, living a half-life of hardship, unable to even buy decent clothes, raising a wife and children in poverty.
Who would’ve thought that in just three or four short years, fortune would reverse, he had become the richest among the three brothers.
That alone would be one thing, but the key was that he also raised two excellent children.
No need to mention Jiang Fuyue, future high-tech talent. It was said that last year she won some foreign “Kesla Prize,” was named and praised on national news, called the “Light of China” and a “rising academic star”!
At the time, their family of three sat in the living room watching TV, still unable to quite believe it.
Jiang Teng: “No way, right? Probably just someone with the same name.”
Liu Shuting: “Exactly! How could a golden phoenix possibly fly out of some backwater place?”
After hearing this, their son Jiang Kai rolled his eyes directly. “That is Sister Yue, okay? Her photo was even posted, are you two blind?”
He didn’t have a single trace of jealousy.
Jiang Teng: “……”
Liu Shuting: “……”
That night, Jiang Kai gave them a full crash course on Jiang Fuyue’s legendary deeds. The couple listened with mouths agape.
Jiang Teng even raised a soul-level question: “With someone as dull as my big brother, could he really have such a smart daughter?”
Anyway, he didn’t believe it.
Jiang Kai: “Believe it or not, that’s the reality. Even if you don’t believe it, you can’t change the fact.”
The couple: “……”
“You sure have a good mentality. You all share the same surname Jiang, she’s that outstanding, and you’re not even a little jealous?”
Jiang Kai: “?”
Jealous? Is he even worthy?
“Give me a break. People only get jealous of competitors on the same track. For example, Mom, are you jealous that Audrey Hepburn is prettier than you, or that Marilyn Monroe is sexier?”
“When it’s not the same level of competition, it’s meaningless.”
Liu Shuting: “……” She was actually speechless.
“So, we’d better recognize ourselves first. Don’t be too ‘ordinarily confident’, especially you, Dad!”
Jiang Teng: “……” So love disappears like this?
After talking about Jiang Fuyue, then came Jiang Chenxing.
In the past, he was just a skinny, small “bottomless pit” who couldn’t even grow tall. How did he suddenly become a popular streamer and sign with a talent agency?
Nowadays, streamers make a lot of money. Just casually taking an ad can earn tens or even hundreds of thousands.
Sitting in front of the camera, chatting and singing casually, people send tips, one session can easily bring in tens of thousands, right?
And that’s not all. Last year, Jiang Chenxing went to participate in some kind of idol-making camp. After only a few episodes aired, his popularity skyrocketed and he gained countless fans.
It’s said that next he’s going to debut and officially become a celebrity, making money in the entertainment industry!
Among all this, the most uncomfortable person was probably Liu Shuting.
Her son Jiang Kai was tall and handsome, and had been learning talents since childhood. He could do vocal music, dance, and even play the drums. Professionals said he was born to be in this industry.
So Liu Shuting had always, intentionally or not, cultivated him in this direction, spending at least tens of thousands each year, if not hundreds of thousands.
But up to now, aside from winning a few dance competition awards, he had no popularity, no buzz, and as for debuting, it was still far off.
Before understanding Jiang Chenxing’s situation, Liu Shuting didn’t think much of it.
She could still comfort herself by saying it was just cultivating hobbies, quality education, and being multi-talented.
But when she learned that Jiang Chenxing had done nothing and already had tens of millions of fans, her mentality completely collapsed.
Why?
They’re all kids, all born by parents, why is it that he didn’t spend a cent and is thriving, while they spent hundreds of thousands and still achieved nothing?
Fine, since the artistic path didn’t work, Liu Shuting changed direction and began focusing on Jiang Kai’s academics.
Before Jiang Kai could “achieve something,” Little Brother Jiang’s high school entrance exam results came out,
Out of a total of 750, he scored 723, ranking 31st in the entire city.
Liu Shuting: “……” Sorry, I can’t compete anymore.
She looked lifeless, while Jiang Kai was delighted that no one was controlling him anymore, living freely.
Back to the present, after Qiu Shufen said “live-in son-in-law,” the scene became even quieter.
The old lady held a stern face, her emotional performance perfectly in place.
Jiang Da took a deep breath: “Ah Ru’s parents are indeed in the capital, but the main reason we moved there is because the two children will be there in the future. So we can’t stay in Linhuai forever, going to the capital is only a matter of time.”
Qiu Shufen sneered: “Hah! So you’re just going to ignore your own mother?”
“Yeah, big brother,” Jiang Qin said with a hesitant expression, “Mom is still in Linhuai. You left without even saying a word, it doesn’t seem very appropriate.”
Jiang Da: “The move was rushed, and there were many things to handle. We planned to tell Mom after some time.”
Ever since the last time the old lady bullied Han Yunru and Jiang Da saw it, his relationship with Qiu Shufen had grown distant.
It had always been somewhat distant before, but Jiang Da still placed filial piety first in his heart.
Now… his heart no longer cared. As long as things looked passable on the surface, it was enough.
But some people didn’t see it, or perhaps they did, but didn’t believe Jiang Da would be so resolute.
Jiang Qin sighed: “Now Mom already knows, but she heard it from others. Big brother, the way you handled this isn’t very proper!”
“Then what should I have done?” Jiang Da suddenly spoke.
Uh!
Jiang Qin clearly didn’t expect him to respond and froze for a moment: “…Of course you should have told Mom in advance…”
“And then you all surround me and express your opposition, right?”
“This… things should still be discussed properly!”
“If that’s the case, why should I tell you? So you can jump out and oppose it?”
“Wait… big brother, how can you say that? We’re thinking of Mom!”
“Then before, when I was in Linhuai, still running a street stall, why did none of you come to see me even once? Didn’t you need to think of Mom back then?”
Jiang Qin choked, casting him a resentful glance.
What’s going on with big brother? He wasn’t this harsh before!
Sure enough, once a person gets rich, they change.
The once submissive, obedient Jiang Da had actually become so difficult and hard to manipulate!
And it wasn’t just Jiang Teng who felt sour.
Jiang Qin watched as Jiang Da’s family lived in a villa, ran restaurants, had outstanding children, gradually becoming winners in life.
What she had once been most proud of, her child’s academic performance,
Compared to Jiang Fuyue, it wasn’t worth mentioning at all.
One could imagine the blow Jiang Qin suffered.
“Before, you weren’t well-off. Now that your life is better, it’s only natural for you to take on more responsibility toward Mom.”
Qiu Shufen spoke at the right moment: “You’re moving to the capital to settle down, are you planning not to take care of me anymore?”
Jiang Da: “I transfer your living expenses on time every month.”
“Hah, that little bit of money, are you feeding a beggar?”
Jiang Da raised his eyes coldly, as if seeing through everything: “Just say it, what do you want?”
The old lady coughed lightly, a bit uncomfortable, but lifted her chin high, completely justified: “Since you’ve gone to the capital, I won’t force you to come back. If things turn ugly, it won’t look good for either side, Mom is still considerate of you.”
“But, you’ve seen it too. The place I’m living in now is small and inconvenient. So, you can go to the capital, but the villa here in Linhuai, yes, the one in Yutianhua Residence, you should let me live there. It’s empty anyway, just sitting there wasting away, right? What a pity!”
This move will completely resolve the big trouble of Jiang Da’s original family. After this, the old lady can exit the stage.
Want to show your support? Go donate at Paypal or Ko-fi to show your appreciation! :)
