Chapter 509: Ten Thousand Each
Chapter 509: Ten Thousand Each
In the countryside, even a thousand yuan was a substantial sum. Wang Xiaomei secretly breathed a sigh of relief as she received this money; at least now she wouldn't have to rely on her fourth brother for everything.
Wang Lin invited the village head and the brigade secretary for a meal, and his household registration was transferred back to his maternal home. Since they only wanted to transfer the registration and not claim any of the village's fields, the villagers didn't object, and at most, a few gossipy folks muttered behind their backs.
With her and her children's household registrations now under her parents' names, Wang Xiaomei couldn't hold back her tears. It took Wang Dajie a while to console her.
From the time the Wang family went to the Xias to demand justice to when Wang Xiaomei got a divorce and transferred the household registrations of her children back, Wang Xiaowu hadn't shown his face for five days. Wang Lin didn't go looking for him, and neither Wang Fu nor Wang Da Ge mentioned him, as if there wasn't such a person in the family.
On the sixth day, Wang Lin went to town. He first asked Wang Dajie and her husband to come home for dinner in the evening and then went to the market to buy ingredients. Luckily, someone was selling beef, so he bought twenty catties of it, as well as some pork and fish.
Seeing that he was buying so much, Wang Mu couldn't help but fret and said, "It's not easy for you to earn money. If you want to eat meat, just buy two or three catties. Why are you buying so much?"
Wang Lin smiled and said, "Mom, I haven't been home for two years. I want everyone to get together for a meal. I didn't feel like celebrating before because of Xiaomei's situation, but now that she's divorced and the household registrations are settled, let's have a reunion dinner tonight."
Wang Xiaomei's heart skipped a beat. "Third Brother, are you going back to Pengcheng?"
Wang Lin nodded. "The boss gave me half a month off. Counting the time for traveling back and forth, it will take seven days. I'll have to leave tomorrow."
Wang Xiaomei was a little reluctant to let him go, but work was important, so she didn't dare ask him to stay a couple of days longer.
There were five siblings, plus their parents and children, for a total of 27 people. Eight people per table meant they would need three tables. And according to Wang Lin's request, there should be at least eight dishes on each table.
Wang Mu and Wang Xiaomei couldn't handle all the cooking by themselves, and the best cook in the family was Wang Da Sao, so in the afternoon, the two sisters-in-law came to help.
In the house, Wang Da Ge asked, "Fourth Brother, are there many jobs in Pengcheng? Can you take my eldest nephew and second nephew there to work?"
Wang Lin didn't agree. "Your eldest nephew will only be sixteen next year. Our boss only hires people who are eighteen or older. First Brother, Second Brother, Shunzhi, and the others don't like studying, so they can learn a skill like carpentry, masonry, or blacksmithing. Once they have a skill, when they turn eighteen, I'll find them a job in Pengcheng."
"Also, for the girls in the family, if they like studying, support them in their education. Whether or not your sons are filial in the future depends on the wives they marry. Girls are more considerate, and if they are educated and successful, they will definitely take care of their parents."
Wang Da Ge was the oldest at 36 years old. He had gotten married at 18 and had a daughter first, so his son was only 15 this year. His son didn't like studying and had dropped out of school after elementary school to work on the farm.
Wang Er Ge was more quick-witted. "Linzi, Shunzhi and the others are still too young, but I think First Brother and I should be okay, right?"
Wang Lin didn't agree with this either. "First Brother, Second Brother, if you don't have a skill, you can only do hard labor, and you might not even get paid in the end."
In Pengcheng, you needed to be educated to make money. If his older brothers went there, they might be taken advantage of and wouldn't even dare to fight back. He could take care of them if he were in Pengcheng, but the problem was that he wasn't there!
Wang Da Ge said, "Linzi, let First Brother and me work in your factory. With you taking care of us, no one will dare to bully us. Linzi, First Brother and I don't mind hard work or tough jobs."
Wang Lin said helplessly, "First Brother, Second Brother, it's not that I don't want to take you there, but I... I actually don't work in a factory. I just said that so that Dad and Mom wouldn't worry."
The two brothers were stunned. Wang Er Ge anxiously asked, "Linzi, then what... what do you do? Don't tell me you're doing something illegal or criminal?"
Wang Lin laughed bitterly. "Second Brother, where is your mind? I'm a bodyguard for a rich person. The pay is high, but it's dangerous."
Wang Er Ge curiously asked, "What kind of person needs a bodyguard?"
Wang Lin briefly explained, "A rich person. Some people want to take shortcuts, so they target these rich people. If they kidnap them, they can demand a large ransom and live a life of luxury. But the chances of success are very small, and even if they get the money, they will be pursued by the police."
At this time, Wang Dajie and her husband arrived with their six children.
Wang Lin invited them into the main room and then called his parents, two sisters-in-law, and Wang Xiaomei into the house as well. Wang Xiaomei was the last to enter, and he asked her to close the door.
Everyone found his actions strange.
Wang Lin didn't keep them in suspense and explained, "Dad, Mom, I just told First Brother and Second Brother that I don't actually work in a factory. I went to the city to be a bodyguard for a rich person. The pay is high, but it's dangerous."
"Five months ago, my boss was targeted by kidnappers. To protect him, the four of us bodyguards were injured. I was relatively lightly wounded and recovered after a little over a month."
Fearing that Wang Mu would worry, he rolled up his sleeves to show a scar on his arm and said, "I hurt my arm, but it's fine now... "
Before he could finish his sentence, Wang Mu grabbed his hand, her eyes brimming with tears. "Linzi, let's not do it anymore. Let's not do it."
Wang Lin shook his head. "Mom, this is the only thing I know how to do. Otherwise, I would have to come back and farm. But I transferred my household registration back late, and I don't even have any fields. How would I survive if I came back? Not to mention finding a wife?"
Wang Fu didn't say anything. He just lowered his head and puffed on his pipe.
Wang Lin picked up the luggage bag on the ground and placed it on the table. He unzipped it and took out a bundle that was tightly wrapped in newspaper.
He used scissors to cut the bound threads, then tore off the newspaper to reveal a thick stack of cash inside. All of it was in crisp new 100 yuan bills, an absolute fortune.
The entire family was stunned.
Wang's father asked with concern, "Lin... where did you get so much money?"
Wang Lin smiled and said, "Our boss is generous. Seeing that we were injured while protecting him, he gave us a reward. Feng Ge, who was most severely injured, received 200,000 yuan, and since my injury was relatively minor, I received 100,000 yuan."
He sighed and said, "Big Brother, Second Brother, Big Sister, I know you each have your own difficulties. I'm giving each of you 10,000 yuan. You can decide whether to use it to build a house or start a small business."
Second Brother quickly said, "How can we accept this? This is your hard-earned money; you should keep it for yourself."
First Brother also said, "Linzi, now that you have money, you should get married soon and have a couple of kids. That way, life will be more meaningful."
The two sisters-in-law, Wang Da Sao and Wang Er Sao, wished they could stuff their brothers-in-law's mouths shut.
Wang Lin smiled and said, "Big Brother, Second Brother, Big Sister, Little Sister, those of us in this line of work may encounter danger at any moment. This money is not only to help improve your lives but also because I fear that something might happen to me. In that case, Dad and Mom will have to rely on you."
Hearing this, Wang's mother's eyes welled up with tears again. "Fourth Son, let's not do this anymore. Please, let's not."
Wang's father knew his son's stubborn nature, and that once he had made a decision, he wouldn't change it. "You said a few days ago that you would get married and start a family in five years. Does that mean you plan to continue this work for five more years?"
Wang Lin nodded. "Yes, another five years. By then, I'll have saved up a substantial sum, enough to live comfortably even if I stop working."
"Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Second Brother, Big Sister, if I stay safe and sound, I will definitely marry a city girl. So, there's no need for you to arrange a marriage for me."
Seeing that his sisters-in-law's eyes were glued to the money, he took out a stack and handed it to Wang Da Sao. "Sister-in-law, 10,000 yuan each. Please keep this money safe."
Wang Da Sao tremblingly took the money. Then, Wang Er Sao, Wang Da Jie, and Wang Xiao Mei each received their share, their hands shaking as they accepted the money.
Wang Lin had brought 50,000 yuan this time, intending to give 10,000 yuan to each of his five siblings. However, since his younger brother had disowned the family, this money naturally wouldn't go to him.
Instead of giving the remaining 10,000 yuan to his parents, Wang Lin gave it to Wang Da Sao, saying, "Sister-in-law, please keep this money with you. In case Dad or Mom gets sick in the future, you can use it for medical expenses."
Hearing that it was for her in-laws' future medical needs, Wang Er Sao had no objections.
"Okay."
Wang Lin advised, "You should deposit this money in a savings institute tomorrow. Not only will it earn you interest, but it will also be safer there. Keeping it at home may attract thieves if word gets out."
Wang Er Sao said, "Our house is too small to accommodate everyone. I plan to build a new one with Second Brother. We applied for a plot of land last year, and tomorrow we'll go to get the bricks and tiles."
Wang Lin offered suggestions, but whether they listened was up to them.
That evening, the three brothers drank themselves into a stupor. Only Wang's father felt the wine in his cup was bitter, and he tossed and turned restlessly in bed that night. Wang's mother felt the same way, her heart aching as if it were being sliced by a knife as she thought about her son's dangerous occupation and her inability to stop him.
The next morning, after breakfast, Wang Lin left, dressed in his usual semi-old clothes and carrying his semi-old luggage. However, the villagers were puzzled to see Wang's entire family seeing him off, as it was an unusually grand send-off.
After Wang Lin left, the busybodies in the village asked about what had happened, curious as to why Wang Lin was receiving such a grand send-off this time. But Wang's family only said they were reluctant to part with their younger brother and didn't elaborate further.
On the same day, Wang Er Sao's family ordered bricks, tiles, and other materials to build a house. Not long after, news spread that First Brother and Little Sister had bought a storefront in the county seat. And if that wasn't enough, First Sister and her husband had also purchased a plot of land to build a house.
With such big moves from the four siblings, it was clear to everyone that Wang Lin had given them money. Otherwise, how could they afford to build houses and buy storefronts? This was especially true for First Sister, whose husband was honest and incapable of earning much money, and who had always been looked down upon by his parents.
Upon receiving this news, Wang Wu returned home to ask his parents about the money. However, only Little Sister and her two children were at home when he arrived.
When he inquired about the money, Little Sister said, "Yes, Third Brother gave each of us 10,000 yuan. First Brother and I bought a storefront in the city, and we plan to start a business there next year."
She was skilled in making snacks and intended to sell pastries. As for what Second Sister would sell, she wasn't sure. Second Sister hadn't mentioned it, so she hadn't asked.
Wang Wu asked anxiously, "What about my share? Do Dad and Mom have it?"
Little Sister coldly hmphed. "Third Brother said that since you don't acknowledge Dad and Mom, you're no longer considered part of this family. So, not only do you not get a share of this money, but you also won't receive any of the family's property in the future."
Wang Wu was both anxious and angry. "Why? I'm also a son of this family."
Little Sister coldly replied, "Because you asked your nephew to change his surname to Wen. Because of your heartless and ruthless behavior, you didn't visit Dad when he was in the hospital recovering from his injuries for three months."
Still not satisfied, she continued, "Third Brother has already promised that when Shunzi and the others turn eighteen, he will find them work in Pengcheng. As for you, just stay with the Wen family and be a good son-in-law. Don't even think about the family's money and assets; it will do you no good even if you do."
Wang Wu went to his mother to ask for money, but his father, who had returned home upon receiving the news, drove him out and declared that he no longer recognized him as his son. He even threatened to break his legs if he ever showed up again.
(End of Chapter)
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