CHAPTER 438: CHAPTER 438: A REASON TO LAUGH AND CRY

Zhao Xuran was already used to his younger brother’s frequent changes of mind and had developed a habit of not bothering with it.

If he had to have a good talk with this kid every time Zhao Guangran changed his mind, it would be exhausting, so he might as well let it go and let him act crazy for a while. Maybe he’ll be fine afterward.

Zhao Xuran had gone through this countless times. As long as Zhao Guangran didn’t exceed a certain boundary, within that range, he wouldn’t mind how much trouble Zhao Guangran caused.

Zhao Xuran didn’t care, and neither did the Gong Family Siblings, who were busy packing their own luggage. Originally, if they were taking the train, a lot of things couldn’t be brought to Beijing, but now that was not an issue.

"Brother, I don’t want to take these old pieces of furniture. We can come back and stay here later." Although this place might become their summer residence, some furniture should still be left, so Gong Ruini planned to leave some of the old furniture.

Gong Ruini didn’t really like the craftsmanship or the materials of the wood, so she decided to leave it here to prevent the house from looking empty and unattractive when they came back.

"Alright, take the clothes with us." Gong Ruwen was also busy packing books, as the family had an extraordinary number of books.

These books were the best testimony to their days in the Northeast. Some furniture and clothes could be left behind, but not the books.

Zhan Banxia and Zhan Zisu were also packing under the guidance of Zhao Xuran and Hua Miaozhu, while the young master Zhao Guangran had no intention of packing.

Gong Ruini found this very strange, but she thought maybe Zhao Guangran was still angry because Zhan Jing and the others went to Beijing without taking him.

There’s nothing to be done, dealing with a rebellious kid is difficult. Even Zhao Xuran doesn’t bother with him, so Gong Ruini wouldn’t look for trouble either.

Initially, Zhao Xuran thought his brother was variously unhappy, so he endured it, thinking Zhao Guangran would improve after a while. Unexpectedly, the kid showed no signs of improvement, which really irritated Zhao Xuran.

"Zhao Guangran, stop right there." Zhao Xuran felt a headache when he saw his brother heading out early with a fishing rod again.

Was there any fun in going fishing every day in the cold winter? Although the fish he caught were cleaned, marinated, or smoked, Zhao Xuran would rather have his brother stay at home than prepare all this food.

Zhao Guangran impatiently stopped, "I’m going fishing." Hmph, nobody took his words seriously, just letting them go in one ear and out the other.

If he kept listening to his big brother, who would bother to listen to him in the future?

"Fishing, fishing, all you do is fish all day." Watching Zhao Guangran’s nonchalant demeanor, Zhao Xuran felt irked and really wanted to teach his brother a lesson.

But recalling their grandmother’s words, Zhao Xuran’s rising anger subsided a bit, "Can we talk?"

What’s there to talk about? Zhao Guangran figured his brother wouldn’t listen to him anyway, but he still listened for a while.

Not causing trouble anymore was a relief to Zhao Xuran, but the conversation with Zhao Guangran made no progress, which utterly frustrated Zhao Xuran.

"Can you believe a kid his age is worried about this stuff?" Zhao Xuran was troubled, "Which other kid is like him?"

Gong Ruini was stunned, thinking perhaps Zhao Guangran really didn’t want to go to Beijing, especially since his reason was the high cost of living there.

That was a reason, but if a family head in his thirties said it, it would make sense to Gong Ruini, as raising a family is a big responsibility. But Zhao Guangran was still young with parents and a big brother above him, it wasn’t his job to worry about this, yet he insisted on it.

"Doesn’t he know that studying here won’t necessarily lead to success later?" The educational development trend favors better quality in big cities, that’s why Zhao Gang and the others want to move back to the city.

Partly because they have aspirations, but also because they believe the Northeast doesn’t develop as well as big cities, wanting their children to have better futures.

Now there was finally an opportunity to go to Beijing for better education and a brighter future, but it seemed Zhao Guangran was the one messing it up.

"What should we do then?" Gong Ruini didn’t know how to persuade, "He may be a penny-pincher, but how could he be so calculative?"

Gong Ruini admitted that the expenses would be higher in Beijing, but she argued that going to Beijing opens opportunities to make more money, "We can sell the herbs and rice from here in Beijing to earn more."

"He said making money could continue here, by farming, gathering herbs, and hunting, and this would earn more." Zhao Xuran felt exasperated yet amused.

The calculation wasn’t wrong for more earnings now, but the kid had no foresight, only seeing immediate gains, "Short-sighted."

Zhao Xuran agreed, "Indeed, quite short-sighted."

Hmph, of course, his brother was sharing their discussion with Gong Ruini, turning it into a critique on him.

Not a discussion but pointing out his faults, which really angered Zhao Guangran, "What are you saying about me?"

"How am I short-sighted?"

"Why don’t you think about how many kids are as wealthy as me?" Zhao Guangran bragged, his hard-earned money from the past two years was comparable to an adult laborer’s income in the village.

Not to mention comparing with kids his age, he had long given up comparing with his big brother and Gong Ruini, knowing they were out of his league. Competing with them would just frustrate himself.

Still, his brother shouldn’t call him short-sighted, Zhao Guangran couldn’t accept that.

"How am I short-sighted, say it." Zhao Guangran’s face was long, clearly unhappy.

Sigh, wasn’t this guy off to fish, why did he come back, if Gong Ruini knew he’d eavesdrop, she wouldn’t criticize him.

Now caught red-handed discussing him, it was awkward indeed.

Who was Gong Ruini? Though a bit awkward, she quickly composed herself.

It wasn’t about tension, since being caught was fact, denying was futile, she might as well be straightforward, "Isn’t your perspective short-sighted?"

"Didn’t you hear your brother agree?"

"Whether you go to Beijing is your decision, I’m definitely going." So many good opportunities await discovery there, already behind stepping in now, and if she didn’t go, Gong Ruini would regret it.

No way, people with advanced skills are formidable, and hers, unfortunately, aren’t remarkable.