Chapter 81: New Year’s Eve

The Xie family is currently in chaos. Yesterday evening, after Xie’s father discovered the letter wedged in the door crack, he followed the instructions on the letter and found a household in the neighbouring village.

According to the letter, Xie Zugen was gambling over there.

Xie’s father was reluctant to believe it. He had always taught Xie Zugen not to get involved in gambling. How could Xie Zugen end up gambling?

However, considering Xie Zugen’s recent actions, he had no choice but to believe it.

Xie’s father, not looking like a police officer, walked into the gambling den without interference. There, he found Xie Zugen with red eyes from losing.

Furious, Xie’s father approached to strike, but he was stopped by Zhou Laoda’s men.

Later, Xie’s father and Xie Zugen were taken to an adjacent room by Zhou Laoda’s people.

It was only then that Xie’s father learned that Xie Zugen owed Zhou Laoda twenty thousand yuan.

Twenty thousand! He actually owed twenty thousand!

Xie’s father was infuriated with Zhou Laoda, but since Zhou Laoda had many underlings, he dared not confront him directly and only took Xie Zugen away.

Watching Xie’s father leave with Xie Zugen, Zhou Laoda lit a cigarette, took a puff, and blew a smoke ring. “It’s almost New Year. Let’s take a day off tomorrow; relocate the day after.”

Those who owe money might not willingly repay; some might even resort to drastic measures like reporting them.

The Xie family could end up facing such trouble.

Of course, these people usually don’t have a good ending.

When Xie’s father brought Xie Zugen home, he intended to scold him. Xie’s mother, unaware of the situation, tried to intervene and accidentally got hit twice.

But once Xie’s mother learned about what Xie Zugen had done, she stopped intervening.

Twenty thousand—her son actually owed twenty thousand outside!

This was a significant amount!

She had been thinking she spent a bit too much during the day—three cents on fried buns and dumplings, two cents sharing fried chicken bones with others—only to find out her son owed twenty thousand!

Where would they get so much money?

Xie’s mother could only wipe away her tears.

At this moment, Xie’s father suddenly remembered he had some money saved by Xie Zugen. He hurriedly searched and found the passbook missing!

In recent years, the brick factory had been doing well, and Xie’s father had accumulated about twenty thousand. He gave his son ten thousand to save, but now that money is gone.

His son used to have some savings, but that was also gone.

Now, in his hands, there were only the other ten thousand that he had kept secretly without telling Xie Zugen. Meanwhile, Xie Zugen owed twenty thousand outside!

Despite this situation, Xie’s father still wanted to keep it under wraps. He didn’t want others to know about it.

However, early in the morning on the first day of the new year, Zhou Laoda came with his men, demanding the money.

In their rural community, houses were often built close together, and few people lived in separate houses. This way, they could support each other.

On New Year’s Eve, everyone would be at home, so if someone came to collect a debt from the Xie family, the neighbours would inevitably find out.

This was a complete loss of face and substance!

This money, of course, Xie’s father didn’t want to repay. He wasn’t stupid; he knew the money Xie Zugen lost probably ended up in Zhou Laoda’s hands. The money Zhou Laoda lent to Xie Zugen might have been what Xie Zugen initially lost. But Zhou Laoda warned that if they didn’t repay, he would break Xie Zugen’s legs.

Xie’s father indeed had some skills, but his abilities weren’t enough to intimidate Zhou Laoda’s group.

This year, the Xie family wouldn’t have a good time.

After Zhou Laoda left, more people came to the Xie family, all asking about the situation. Some genuinely cared, while others only pretended to care, secretly hoping the Xie family would suffer.

Regardless, the words they spoke stabbed at the hearts of the Xie family: “With so much money, can you repay it?” “Zugen, how could you be so foolish? After this spreads, who would want to marry you?” “Old Xie, you really need to discipline your son!” “If the child isn’t good, this family will be ruined!” “I always said having only one child isn’t good.”

Xie Zugen blushed with embarrassment and suddenly exclaimed, “You only know how to blame me, but it’s not just me who gambled! Gao Changdong and Sun Jinshan, they also gambled!”

He saw Sun Jinshan yesterday!

However, they weren’t acquainted, so they didn’t speak to each other.

The people who came to enquire about the situation were taken aback.

The Sun family.

After someone told Sun’s father about the Xie family’s situation, Sun’s father looked at Sun Jinshan with a bit more favor. Even though this son of his was carefree, liked to dress up, and even had his eye on a married woman, at least he didn’t gamble!

As Sun’s father was thinking this, someone came to him and said, “Old Sun, Xie Zugen said your son Sun Jinshan also gambled!”

Sun’s father immediately grabbed a broom.

Sun Jinshan also jumped up and said, “I didn’t! I just went to watch! I only went once!”

But going once was still going, and he would still get beaten.

The matter involving the Xie family had caused quite a stir, but since the Xie family lived far from the Jiang family, it wouldn’t normally reach them so quickly.

However, since Xie Zugen exposed Sun Jinshan, someone specifically came to inform them, “I heard that Sun Jinshan also gambles. You should think carefully about your daughter marrying him.”

The Jiang family knew about Sun Jinshan’s situation, and they weren’t too angry. But Uncle Jiang still lectured Jiang Liping, “Liping, you must control Sun Jinshan. You can’t let him gamble. Look at Xie Zugen; he lost tens of thousands.”

Jiang Liping also realised she couldn’t let Sun Jinshan gamble anymore.

She would have to keep a close eye on him in the future!

Otherwise, if Sun Jinshan lost all his money, what would she eat, drink, and wear?

She even asked Jiang Liyun, “Liyun, how should I control Sun Jinshan?”

Jiang Liping was a flexible person.

She used to be determined to outdo Jiang Liyun, but later realised it was impossible and stopped trying. At most, she would compare Sun Jinshan with Feng Yi.

Jiang Liyun advised, “Just keep an eye on him. Absolutely avoid anything related to gambling, drugs, or other illicit activities.” While ordinary people usually wouldn’t encounter drugs, the first two were prevalent issues many faced.

Jiang Liping pondered this.

The Xie family’s situation had no impact on the Jiang family. This year, they were exceptionally joyful.

When Jiang Liyun was young, during the New Year, they couldn’t eat much of the cooked pig head and rooster. But today, Wu Xiaochun had sliced a whole chicken and half a pig head, in addition to braised fish and other dishes. The table was filled to the brim.

The family enjoyed a delightful meal.

At the same time, Jiang Honghai’s family was also preparing for the New Year’s Eve dinner.

Feng Qiufeng had been working in the fried dumpling shop this morning and only returned home after ten. When she arrived, Jiang Honghai had just woken up and reprimanded her, accusing her of neglecting the family and spending money recklessly.

Her two children hadn’t had new clothes for a long time. She had bought them two new outfits, and somehow that was considered reckless spending?

Feng Qiufeng felt displeased, but her fear of Jiang Honghai over the years prevented her from speaking up. She could only bow her head and stay silent.

Jiang Honghai became even more spirited in his scolding, drinking alcohol while he spoke.

For the ancestral worship, they needed a table, so he sat on a small stool to drink.

With their financial constraints, they didn’t buy a pig head and only purchased a small piece of pork. There wasn’t much meat, but he asked for a piece to accompany his drinks.

Despite being scolded by him, Feng Qiufeng still had various chores to attend to. Apart from worshipping ancestors and the Buddhas for the New Year, she had to clean the house, wash some dirty clothes, and more.

Busy the entire afternoon, it wasn’t until dinner that Feng Qiufeng finally had a moment to sit down and eat.

With limited funds, Jiang Honghai’s parents only brought chicken heads, necks, wings, and feet to the table. Everything else was hidden away for entertaining guests after the New Year.

There was also a plate of garlic-fried eggs and a dish of pan-fried small crucian carp, providing some variety on the table.

A few days ago, when the village pond was drained for fishing, they also bought a big fish. However, that fish was reserved for guests later.

The small crucian carp was caught by the two children, and Feng Qiufeng, upon seeing them, used oil from her fried chicken to fry them briefly. It turned out to be quite tasty.

Everyone enjoyed the meal, but Jiang Honghai continued scolding Feng Qiufeng.

Even though Feng Qiufeng had been away for over a month and had visibly improved her complexion, Jiang Honghai wasn’t pleased. How could she gain weight after doing hard labour?

“Others can come home in the evening. Why can’t you? What kind of woman neglects her children like this?”

Feng Qiufeng kept her head down and remained silent, not touching her chopsticks.

But the two children were already hungry and couldn’t resist picking up their chopsticks to eat.

During this time, Jiang Anshu often sought Feng Qiufeng out, and she would save the best food for him. He felt deeply attached to her and placed a piece of meat in Feng Qiufeng’s bowl.

This caused a commotion. Jiang Honghai slammed the table and started scolding Jiang Anshu. “You little brat, all you know is eating! I’m talking, and you’re still eating!”

Saying this, Jiang Honghai reached out to pinch Jiang Anshu, who was sitting next to him.

In their family’s dining arrangement, Jiang Honghai always sat facing south, able to sit here all day. To his left were Jiang’s father and mother, and to his right were his two children, with Feng Qiufeng sitting opposite him.

Seeing Jiang Honghai about to lay hands on Jiang Anshu, Jiang Fenlan pulled her brother away to avoid it.

“This is outrageous!” Jiang Honghai stood up, ready to strike the child.

Feng Qiufeng, seeing Jiang Honghai about to resort to violence, stiffened. But she couldn’t bear to see Jiang Honghai hit the child!

During her time living in town, Feng Qiufeng had already stopped living numbly. She was growing more fond of her two children.

She stood up and pushed Jiang Honghai away.

Jiang Honghai was pushed to the ground by Feng Qiufeng, and he couldn’t get up for a while.

In his younger years, Jiang Honghai had been very strong, and Feng Qiufeng, being a woman, couldn’t possibly overpower him.

But in recent years, Jiang Honghai has been drinking day and night, consuming cheap, bulk-bought liquor. He even drank until midnight every day, staying up late every night.

He was drinking so much that he couldn’t eat much either. At the end of the day, he consumed mostly pickles and hard liquor.

Even the strongest body couldn’t withstand such abuse.

Feng Qiufeng, on the other hand, had been working in the dumpling shop, which was not an easy job. She exerted a lot of physical strength every day, kneading dough and carrying heavy objects.

In reality, Feng Qiufeng was now more than capable of easily overpowering Jiang Honghai.