Chapter 28 - 10: "Jealous I Have Money to Spend?

Chapter 28: Chapter 10: "Jealous I Have Money to Spend?

Changsheng’s mother pursed her lips, her face full of disdain.

’Anyone can talk big. Does she think money grows on trees? Buying this and that.’

-

Because of two pairs of shoes, Da Zai and Er Zai zipped all over the village, instantly becoming the coolest kids around.

The two little boys even made a special trip to the Gu Family’s old house.

Er Zai strutted up to Father Gu like a peacock displaying its feathers. "Grandpa, look at my new shoes! Mom bought them for me and my brother. Aren’t they nice?"

Father Gu smiled and nodded. "They’re very nice."

Da Zai also ambled up to his grandpa and, after happily receiving a compliment, was completely satisfied.

The other children of the Gu Family heard Er Zai’s loud voice, something about new shoes, and all came running out.

When they saw the shoes on Da Zai and Er Zai’s feet, they were green with envy.

"Da Zai, Er Zai, are those the Warrior shoes the educated youth talk about?" The Gu Family’s eldest grandson, Bangbang, crouched down to touch Er Zai’s shoe, his expression full of envy.

Er Zai nodded emphatically, his eyes crinkling with a huge smile.

"My mom bought them for me and my brother."

Bangbang went to school, so he knew how rare a pair of Warrior shoes was. The envy was practically pouring out of his eyes. "Third Aunt is so generous to you."

Lin Zhao had only bought her children a pair of shoes, but their impression of her was completely transformed.

Er Zai grinned. "My mom is the most generous and best mom in the entire production brigade!"

He pushed his face forward. "Brother Bangbang, smell my face. Does it smell good?"

Bangbang took a sniff and smelled a cloying sweet scent. "It’s fragrant. What is this, snowflake cream?"

"It’s not snowflake cream. It’s a children’s face cream my mom bought specially for me, my brother, Third Child, and Fourth Child. It’s made just for kids, you know," Er Zai emphasized.

Bangbang said mournfully, "Third Aunt is really willing to spend on you."

"My mom is never willing to buy me anything." The eleven-year-old boy was almost crying with envy.

"Er Zai, can I touch your shoes?"

Er Zai immediately took off a shoe. "Sure, go ahead."

Bangbang wiped his hands on his pants, took the shoe, and exclaimed in amazement, "Store-bought ones really are different. It feels so nice. How is it to wear them? Quick, tell me."

Eight-year-old Laimei copied her brother and touched it too. "It really is different. Da Zai, Er Zai, I can’t believe you’re actually willing to wear them. If they were mine, I wouldn’t bear to."

Da Zai thought of what Lin Zhao had said, and a smile spread across his face. "I said the same thing, but my mom said... shoes are bought to be worn."

"My mom also said that when these wear out, she’ll buy us new ones!" Er Zai added.

Bangbang and Laimei’s eyes turned red with envy.

Er Zai was good friends with Tie Chui. Seeing him also staring eagerly, he waved him over. "Tie Chui, do you want to try them on?"

Tie Chui was flattered and asked with a bashful smile, "...Can I?"

"Of course you can. We’re good brothers."

As he spoke, Er Zai took off his other shoe, placing his foot right on the ground.

Da Zai frowned. "Er Zai, your foot is getting dirty. You have to wash it before you put your shoes back on."

"I know, I know, Bro," Er Zai said, waving his hand dismissively.

He would definitely be careful with his new shoes.

Tie Chui put on Er Zai’s new shoes and hardly knew how to walk, feeling as if he were floating.

Huang Xiulan watched the smile on her son’s face and felt a pang of sadness.

She wanted to buy her son a new pair of shoes too, but there was nothing she could do. The Gu Family hadn’t separated, so she didn’t have a single bit of money to her name.

At that moment, a deep sense of envy for Lin Zhao welled up inside Huang Xiulan.

’Having a strong personality and liking to stir up trouble might not be an entirely bad thing, after all.’

Second Sister In Law Gu, Zhao Liuniang, felt the same way.

’When will we finally be able to separate the family?’

Because of the Warrior shoes on Da Zai and Er Zai’s feet, a storm was stirred in the hearts of Sister In Law Gu and Second Sister In Law Gu, and it would not be easily calmed.

Gu Xing’er returned home carrying a bundle of firewood on her back. When she saw Da Zai and Er Zai, her gaze darkened.

Her eyes swept over the new shoes on their feet, and she spoke with a sharp tongue, "Living it up with my third brother’s cash and tickets, and you even run over here to show off. Is this how your mother taught you?"

Her words made the atmosphere freeze.

Er Zai, sitting on a small wooden stool, looked up at Gu Xing’er and said with a serious expression, "Your third brother is also my dad. My brother and I are my dad’s sons. It’s only right that our dad provides for us. Aunt, why are you so angry? Is it because you’re jealous that my mom has money to spend?"

Gu Xing’er choked on her words, a stuffy breath of anger caught in her chest.

THUD!

She slung the bundle of firewood off her back and threw it straight in Da Zai and Er Zai’s direction.

"You bastard!" Just as he stepped into the Gu family’s home to look for his two nephews, Second Brother Lin saw the bundle of firewood flying toward Da Zai and Er Zai. He broke into a sprint, leaped forward, and kicked the bundle right back.

It flew right back where Gu Xing’er was standing.

"AHHH—" A cry of pain was heard. When everyone looked, Gu Xing’er was lying twisted on the ground, pinned beneath the very bundle of firewood she had just carried home.