Chapter 82: Are These Two Here to Squeeze Us for Money?
Chapter 82: Are These Two Here to Squeeze Us for Money?
After buying their items, Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei headed straight for the Jiang family home. The city was full of bicycles, so Zhou Chenglei stuffed all their purchases into a woven plastic bag, carrying it in one hand while holding Jiang Xia's hand with the other. He was worried she might get bumped by a passing bike, so he kept a firm grip on her.
Jiang Xia walked with empty hands, her mind focused on memorizing the route. The Jiang family lived in a residential complex that had been built a few years ago, complete with all modern amenities. The building had five floors, and they lived on the third, which was just right—neither too high nor too low.
Zhou Chenglei knocked on the door. Jiang Xia's younger brother, Jiang Dong, opened it with a smile. "Sis, Brother-in-Law, you finally made it! Dad was worried sick."
Zhou Chenglei replied, "We were held up a bit on the way."
Jiang Xia gave Jiang Dong a small smile, subtly observing him. He was tall, nearly six feet, with a commanding presence and a hint of scholarly refinement. He looked nothing like her. According to the novel, he was a student at Jing University, currently in his first year and due to enter his second in September.
Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei walked inside. Zhou Chenglei greeted their parents, "Dad, Mom."
Jiang Xia also called out naturally, "Dad, Mom."
She glanced at her parents, noting that the original protagonist bore no resemblance to them, while Jiang Dong looked a lot like their father.
Her eyes then fell on a shyly smiling woman sitting on the sofa. She wasn't sure who it was. Could she be Jiang Dong's girlfriend?
Jiang Dong walked over to the woman and introduced her. "Sis, Brother-in-Law, this is my girlfriend, Ye Xian."
He then turned to Ye Xian. "Xian, this is my sister, Jiang Xia, and my brother-in-law, Zhou Chenglei."
Ye Xian gave a forced smile. "Hello, Sister Jiang Xia, Brother Zhou."
Zhou Chenglei glanced at her and merely nodded.
Jiang Xia smiled politely. "Hello, Ye Xian. Are you also a student at Jing University?"
Jiang Dong replied, "She's in the foreign language department at Q University, always top of her class, and she's proficient in both English and Russian."
Ye Xian smiled, a hint of pride in her eyes. "You're exaggerating, I'm not that good."
Jiang Dong laughed at her. "I'm just being honest, no need to be modest."
Jiang Xia saw the goofy grin on his face and thought, _He's definitely love-struck!_
In the novel, when Jiang Dong learned that the original protagonist had been abused by Wu Qizhi, he beat him up to avenge his sister. Wu Qizhi later caused a scene at the university, leading to Jiang Dong's expulsion. Ye Xian then demanded a breakup.
Jiang Dong, being love-struck, couldn't bear to let her go. Ye Xian took advantage of the situation and asked Jiang Father to arrange a job for her brother. Once that was done, she asked for a job for her sister, and then another for her cousin, and so on, as if she wanted to place every relative in the family on the payroll.
When the family's clothing factory went bankrupt, and the original protagonist was beaten to death by Wu Qizhi, Jiang Father, in his grief, accidentally killed Wu Qizhi and ended up in prison. After the incident, Ye Xian took all the family's money and ran off with another man, leaving Jiang Dong devastated.
Zhou Chenglei had come to visit his father-in-law and noticed the lack of warmth from the family. They didn't need to pay much attention to Jiang Dong's girlfriend, so he opened the woven plastic bag and said to Jiang Xia, "Give these to your parents."
Jiang Xia snapped back to reality. "Dad, Mom, A-Lei bought some things for you."
Jiang Father looked at the large bag and frowned. "Why did you buy so much? We have everything we need. Don't waste money next time. Xiaxia, why didn't you stop them? Why do you need to buy things when you come home? Just come and see us when you have time; you don't need to bring anything."
Last time, her son-in-law had bought everyone a watch, along with some wine and a lot of health supplements. Earning money from fishing wasn't easy.
The elderly couple received welfare and subsidies from their units every quarter and during holidays, so they didn't lack for much and didn't want their daughter and son-in-law to waste money.
Jiang Mother also said, "Last time, you brought so many things. We can't even finish them all. What's the point of wasting money?"
Ye Xian glanced at the burlap bag and lost interest immediately.
What could be in a burlap bag? Probably just some dried vegetables, a dozen pounds of sweet potatoes, and peanuts. Nothing valuable at all.
Her own family was poor, but they hadn't been as shabby as this. She had even bought Jiang Father and Jiang Mother malted milk, milk powder, and Da Qianmen cigarettes. She had prepared these before knowing how well-off Jiang Dong's family was.
Of course, she had suspected that Jiang Dong's family was well-off, but she hadn't expected it to be this good.
One parent was a city official, the other a factory manager. Two cars were parked downstairs in their neighborhood: one for his father and one for his mother, both provided by their units because they often traveled for work.
And yet, the fool Jiang Dong had ridden a bicycle to the train station to pick her up!
She had never even sat in a car before!
Moreover, the Jiang family had a nanny and a driver. Today was Sunday, so Jiang Father and Jiang Mother didn't have to work, and the nanny and driver were resting.
Jiang Xia said, "Most of it is dried stuff from home. It doesn't cost anything."
A look of disdain flashed in Ye Xian's eyes. She had guessed right.
She had heard from Jiang Dong that his sister had married into a small fishing village, and her brother-in-law was a retired soldier who now fished for a living.
Were they here to mooch off the family? She wouldn't let them do that once she married into the family.
Jiang Xia took out a box of pens and a set of clothes and handed them to Jiang Father. "Dad, this is from your son-in-law."
Zhou Chenglei said, "Xiaxia picked them out."
Jiang Xia then placed two bottles of Maotai on the coffee table.
Jiang Xia thought that this wine could be a good investment to buy more of in the future when they had more money.
Jiang Father frowned when he saw the brand of the pen and the set of clothes. "Why spend so much money? We really don't need it! You know I have clothes and don't lack for anything."
Ye Xian looked at the items, surprised. These things were worth only a few dozen yuan, right?
Then, Jiang Xia took out a set of cosmetics, a set of skincare products, and another set of clothes. "Mom, this is from your son-in-law."
Jiang Mother saw that they were the same brands of cosmetics and skincare products she used, which were imported and not cheap. She was almost out of them, but she still said, "I haven't finished using these yet. You don't need to buy more next time."
Ye Xian didn't recognize these brands of cosmetics and skincare products, but they looked very high-end.
Jiang Xia then handed a pen to Jiang Dong, an imported and well-known brand. "Your brother-in-law bought this for you."
Jiang Dong was very excited. He had wanted it for a long time but couldn't afford it. His father was strict, and he only allowed him to use domestic brands. "Only my brother-in-law understands me!"
Having a brother-in-law was great. Last time, he had given him a watch he had been longing for, and this time, it was a pen.
Ye Xian glanced at the pen. Jiang Dong's pen was more expensive than Jiang Father's.
Jiang Father's pen was a domestic brand, while Jiang Dong's was imported. She had wanted this brand for a long time but couldn't afford it.
Ye Xian couldn't help but feel a bit excited. Earlier, Jiang Father and Jiang Mother had given her a red envelope as a gift. Surely, her sister and brother-in-law had also prepared something for her?
(End of Chapter)
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