On the small stone table in the Jiang Familyâs yard.
Jiang Taoâs dad, Jiang Wen, was playing Chinese chess with the neighbor, Jiang Tianming.
The two had been neighbors since they were little, playing together without a care in the world as they grew up.
Moreover, as children, they both fed on Jiang Taoâs grandmaâs milk.
Theyâre not biological brothers but even closer than real brothers.
The two old buddies get along really well, but they canât help but bicker once in a while.
When things get heated, they even have a spontaneous wrestling match.
However, no matter how serious the quarrel gets, theyâll be back on good terms within a week at most.
When itâs time to play chess, they play chess; when itâs time to drink, they drink together.
"Our second child really doesnât know how to live properly."
"Without even discussing it with me and her mom, she went and bought a BMW for over 300,000."
"Weâre just small farmers; whatâs the point of buying that thing! Arenât they all just a chassis and four wheels."
"Cars, as a concept, should just serve as transportation. Spending tens of thousands extra for face is just burning money!"
"This year, the wine she brought back was also 5,000 yuan per case Wuliangye."
"Weâre just farmers, where do we need to drink such expensive wine, itâs pure waste!"
"My wife and I, combined, donât even earn as much in a month as this case of wine is worth."
"On the fifth day of New Year, when we donât go visiting relatives, come over, and we brothers can open a bottle of Wuliangye to taste."
While Jiang Tianmingâs words seemed like complaints, his proud little expression clearly showed that he was boasting about how capable and competent his second child was.
Jiang Wen didnât even bother to expose him!
Theyâve been friends for decades, who doesnât know whom?
You old boy just wanted to show off a bit in front of your buddy!
"I say, Jiang Tianming, if weâre playing chess, letâs just play chess. Can you stop babbling and interrupting my thoughts?"
Jiang Wen waved his hand irritably, knowing that even if his two sons combined, theyâre not even as good as one of Jiang Tianmingâs.
This fact always made Jiang Wen feel overshadowed by Jiang Tianming, having to silently watch him show off every time.
Trying to show off himself, he never gets the chance.
The elder son works as an ordinary worker in a chemical plant in a nearby town, barely earning over 5,000 a month by working tirelessly.
The two school-aged sons at home cost nearly a thousand just for monthly meals.
Along with various household expenses, they can barely save up to 10,000 a year, living a tight life.
The younger son drives a freighter in Beijing for a living, and after various expenses, he can only pocket about 40,000 to 50,000 a year.
In contrast, the neighbor Jiang Tianmingâs family.
The eldest son excelled in studies from a young age, went on to graduate school, and now works as a manager in a company in Shishi.
According to Jiang Tianming, their eldest son has an annual salary of over 300,000, definitely a high-income earner.
Their second son wasnât great at academics and didnât even finish high school before dropping out.
But he has a sharp mind and is good with words.
Working in the cityâs liquor business, he can earn 200,000 to 300,000 a year too.
The gap between the second generations of the two families is enormous, completely incomparable!
Every year during the New Year, Jiang Tianmingâs two sons gift him high-end cigarettes and wine, Jiang Wen claims to be indifferent, but deep inside, heâs nothing short of envious!
However, envy is envy.
He naturally wouldnât demand such expensive gifts from his children, nor would he want to burden them with such demands.
"Yo! Uncle Tianming here to lose to my dad again."
Jiang Tao, carrying Maotai, walked in and greeted the chess-playing old pals in the yard with a smile.
"Oh, the second one is back, is this a gift for your dad..."
Jiang Tianming looked up and, seeing Jiang Tao carrying the box of wine, greeted him with a smile.
But halfway through the smile, it vanished and turned into surprise.
He looked incredulously at the box of Maotai Jiang Tao was holding.
With countless question marks popping into his mind: ????
Excuse me, what is this situation!
Maotai?
The Jiang Wen familyâs second child, who delivers goods, brings him a box of Maotai?
In an instant, Jiang Tianming felt the Wuliangye his son gifted suddenly lost its appeal.
Wasnât he totally being outdone!
"When did the second one get back, wasnât wine already sent over, so why..."
Jiang Wen, halfway through his sentence, also noticed that the box Jiang Tao was carrying was actually Maotai!
Jiang Tao grinned and said, "Made a bit of a windfall this year, bought some good wine and cigarettes for you, upgraded for you a bit."
"You kid, really, really! Why buy such expensive wine! This box must cost over 10,000!"
Looking at the Maotai in his sonâs arms, Jiang Wen was both surprised and happy.
The smile that disappeared from Jiang Tianmingâs face appeared on his.
He felt so happy inside, wanting to burst into loud laughter!
At this moment, Jiang Wen felt like he ate two pounds of pistachios, incredibly delighted!
"Itâs New Year, letâs drink well, Iâll bring this inside, you two continue."
Jiang Tao cheerfully said, taking the box into the main house.
"Jiang Wen, how much did your second make this year? With the house construction and renovations, I heard money is tight..."
Jiang Tianming looked at Jiang Wen puzzled, feeling todayâs events were quite surprising.
"I usually donât ask about the kidsâ matters; whatever they earn is theirs, has nothing to do with us old folks."
"Come on, letâs keep playing, watch how I wipe you out!"
Having been somewhat down earlier, Jiang Wen became a bit more enthusiastic after the visit from his second child.
"Iâm not playing, Iâm not playing, I need to go to the market and see if thereâs more to buy."
Jiang Tianming came to show off the good cigarettes and wine gifted to him, but ended up being outshone himself.
He naturally didnât want to stay any longer.
It was boring, too boring!
Despite Jiang Wenâs repeated attempts to keep him, Jiang Tianming left in a huff, not even finishing the advantageous chess game he was playing.
"Second, did your wife know you bought such expensive wine and cigarettes?"
Seeing his son come out of the house, Jiang Wen asked worriedly, hoping it wouldnât cause any conflict between the young couple.
Jiang Tao laughed, "She knows, her dad also got a box of Maotai and two cartons of Huazi, kept it even on both sides."
"How much did this cost!"
After the initial excitement, Jiang Wen felt a bit sorry for the money his son spent, thinking it unnecessary to invest in such things.
"You shouldnât have spent so much; just a small token would have been more than enough!"
"With that money, you could have bought Lili and Xiao Xue more clothes!"
Mom, Tian Xiaomei, also started to feel sorry for the money spent by her youngest son.
"Hehe, donât you two know me yet? Am I someone irresponsible? Just accept it."
"I got wine and cigarettes for dad, didnât get anything for you, here, take this."
While speaking, Jiang Tao reached into his pocket and handed a bulging red envelope to his mother.
"This is..."
Tian Xiaomei felt the thickness of the envelope and was immediately surprised.
Jiang Tao chuckled, "Not too much, just 10,000, count it yourself, I wonât be responsible if itâs short."
"No, no, mom canât take this money, bring it back for you and Lili to spend."
Tian Xiaomei quickly handed the money back to Jiang Tao, thinking about secretly giving Jiang Tao some money instead, how could she take money from him?
"Iâm telling you, just take it, your sonâs making money now, and the same goes for Xu Liâs mom, it kept even, no bias."
Jiang Tao joked with a smile, "If you donât take it, should I not give anything to the mother-in-lawâs side either? What would Xu Li think of you?"
"Ah, this..."
Hearing it could affect the relationship with the in-laws, Tian Xiaomei didnât dare to refuse anymore.
"Thatâs right, keep it well."
Seeing his mom no longer refusing, Jiang Tao also smiled.
This was the first time since his marriage he was able to honor his mom, the first time giving her money.
A subtle sense of achievement emerged in Jiang Tao.
Previously, he didnât even have the skill to manage his own little family, naturally unable to take care of his parents.
Now, with capability in hand, not only must he let his wife and kids live better,
but also his mom and dad!
Heâs both a husband and a father, and also a son.