CHAPTER 458: CHAPTER 458: STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

Gong Ruwen has always been a generous child and a good brother, but even a good brother can have a day of jealousy.

"Ni Zi, I feel like once the little brother is born, there’ll be no place for us." Gong Ruwen pulled Gong Ruini aside and pointed at Gong Tao, who was reading a book to Cai Meina’s belly.

Following Gong Ruwen’s finger, you could see Gong Tao giving prenatal education to the baby in Cai Meina’s belly. Is there something wrong with that?

Since Zhan Jing often read medical books to the baby in her belly back then, the born Zhan Banxia and Zhan Zisu became interested in medicine, which made Gong Tao see the light.

The problem is that Gong Ruini has no objection to prenatal education and actually supports it, but please dad, don’t read such deep and difficult history books to the little brother.

Gong Ruini really wants to ask if dad plans to raise an archaeologist. The profession sounds good, but it doesn’t make money, and it’s hard to support oneself.

Gong Ruini knows that as long as she’s around and with dad’s relationship with the Zhao Family, life won’t be too difficult. But the key issue is whether dad will be pleased with a freeloading little brother.

"We didn’t have such treatment when we were born."

"They’re already thinking about what name to give the little brother."

Gong Ruwen didn’t know what treatment he received in his mother’s belly, nor did he know how his parents treated him after he was born, but he was sure his little sister didn’t get such good treatment, which made him very unfair.

Listening to the boy beside him babbling, Gong Ruini was dumbfounded, wondering why he suddenly thought of such a problem.

"Actually, dad is just nervous, bro. Think about it, Guang Ran has a brother and a little brother, and we only have you and me, it’s really a bit boring."

"Once the little brother is born, we should educate him well, and he can be an assistant in the future." Although more siblings often mean more disputes, if everyone has prospects, and doesn’t make a fuss over petty money, Gong Ruini genuinely believes the relationship won’t turn sour.

An assistant, huh? Gong Ruwen thinks his little sister is overthinking, but then he imagines Zhao Xuran stepping out with three little brothers behind him, feeling prestigious, whereas he has only his delicate sister trailing behind, which doesn’t seem impressive.

"Then let mom give birth to a couple more, we can work harder to earn money." Gong Ruwen feels the pressure of being the elder brother in their family.

What kind of kids worry like this about raising a younger brother? Gong Ruwen thinks medicinal herbs make money, but doing just one deal a year isn’t enough.

"Sis, think about how we could earn money, just regular earnings." Gong Ruwen decided to discuss this with his sister.

Heeheehee, Gong Ruini looked at the humble, seeking-knowledge Gong Ruwen, really wanting to slap him. This kid must have water in his brain, thinking about earning money to raise a brother. Did he discuss this matter with family head Gong Tao?

Did you get Gong Tao’s approval? Gong Ruini feels her big brother is really being overly concerned.

Could her big brother have caught some of Zhao Guangran’s immature tendencies from spending too much time together? Gong Ruini thinks it’s highly likely.

"Bro, you’re the brother, not the dad." Gong Ruini can poke fun at Zhao Guangran, for that kid has Zhao Xuran to protect him, and even if worse comes to worst, he can teach him a thing or two, but her big brother has no one to guide him.

Oh, you think Zhao Xuran should handle it? That’s an option, but Gong Ruini wants to say that this is Gong Family’s internal matter and shouldn’t be known outside.

"Of course I know I’m the brother." Gong Ruwen acknowledges this point.

His sister is still worried about various things, "Don’t worry, I’ll talk to dad, but I think we should best come up with a plan."

Gong Ruwen doesn’t want to approach dad with wanting to help relieve his concerns but having no plan whatsoever, that would be like teasing the old man.

"Ni Zi, although dad didn’t say it directly, I think he’s quite tense. I heard Uncle Zhao say he wants to buy houses for Brother Xuran and the others, do you think dad is under a lot of pressure?" Gong Ruwen, while not much of a talker, is a keen observer.

Gong Ruini knows this, as she was present at the time, but does the old man really need to be so tense? "Our family isn’t big, and dad only needs one house for you and one for the little brother."

As for Gong Ruini, she doesn’t dare to hope Gong Tao will buy her a house. Of course, Gong Ruini won’t be jealous; houses these days are family property and are generally given to sons.

Instead of thinking about how much her parents might give her, it’s better to find a way to earn money herself.

"You’re a girl, mom said you need a dowry, otherwise you’d be looked down upon." Cai Meina wouldn’t harangue Gong Ruini about these things, but she often pulled Gong Ruwen aside and said them.

Dowry? My goodness, Gong Ruini wants to say she’s far too young, is Cai Meina considering these matters too early?

"Mom said she was looked down upon by the old lady because back then the Cai Family demanded a bride price, Gong Family complied, and she went alone to the Gong Family." Just hearing this made Gong Ruwen feel injustice for his mom, especially with uncle Cai Ming continually mentioning her hardships, so Gong Ruwen vowed his sister wouldn’t experience the same.

Gong Ruini really didn’t know this; turns out Zhang Lan looked down on Cai Meina because of this, and partly because she didn’t like her son Gong Tao.

Gong Ruini really couldn’t understand why, after treating Gong Ruini as if they’d sold her to the Gong Family, the Cai Family would still receive some consideration, truly a pushover.

"If my future husband ever looks down on me for not having a dowry, I won’t want him." Gong Ruini thinks Zhao Xuran, being an overbearing CEO, shouldn’t care about her dowry.

Hmph, if he really cares, Gong Ruini has no option; she can’t completely clean out the family’s possessions for her wedding.

"Bro, you don’t want such a brother-in-law either, right? A good man should earn his own money." Gong Ruini has always instilled this idea to Gong Ruwen.

Even Zhao Guangran, a somewhat immature kid, never thought about freeloading from parents, at most pondering shortcuts to make money.

"Yeah, yeah, sis, don’t worry, your brother will always be your backup." Gong Ruwen now imagines if he’s the only guy, it’ll really be unreliable.

"Once little brother is born, let mom have another one in a few years, then we can teach them well." Gong Ruwen suggests that with their three brothers plus Brother Xuran’s four, it’d be seven brothers, definitely enough to support their sister.

A few years later, Gong Ruini chuckles, if they had them consecutively, there’s a chance, but family planning policies will soon make that idea impossible.