CHAPTER 477: CHAPTER 477: REGRETFUL CAI FAMILY’S OLD FATHER

After the Gong Family sent the letter, they began to pack their luggage, while the Gong Family and Cai Family in the Southern region experienced a mix of emotions upon receiving the letter.

"Look, it’s a letter from your younger brother." Cai Zhiheng handed the letter he was holding to his eldest son.

Cai Guoqing was puzzled as to why Cai Ming would send a letter. Ever since his brother went to the Northeast, he rarely wrote letters.

Especially at this time, which wasn’t during any holidays, why would he suddenly send a letter home? Wait, could he be thinking about returning to the city?

The thought of Cai Ming coming back made Cai Guoqing feel all sorts of reluctance. Ever since Cai Ming went to the Northeast, he had been in a good mood.

Before, they had to provide for this good-for-nothing, but since he went to the Northeast, they saved on quite a bit of expenses.

More importantly, when Cai Ming comes back, it’ll be time for marriage. Although there was an agreement that his brother would completely give up the family’s inheritance, if he comes back and hangs around their parents every day, would his parents really ignore this brother?

Cai Guoqing pressed his lips tightly. Although his parents were good to him, they also treated Cai Ming well. Even if Cai Ming’s treatment was not as good as his, Cai Guoqing was reluctant to give even a little bit to Cai Ming.

"It must be nothing good." Cai Guoqing didn’t rush to read the letter, "Dad, is it that Cai Ming wants to come back?"

"It’s not that I don’t want him to come back, but you know how hard it is to find a job now. Look at the Old Ma Family next door..." Cai Guoqing chattered on about how other families’ children fared after returning to the city.

"You read the letter first." Cai Zhiheng understood his eldest son’s thoughts. He just didn’t want Cai Ming to come back.

If it were before, Cai Zhiheng might have laughed off his eldest son’s scheming. After all, everyone has their little plans, or they’d be bullied by others.

But now the situation is different. Cai Ming actually got into college, which suggests that the youngest son’s future could be very promising. Cai Zhiheng has been aware of the family’s situation over the past few years.

He has been disappointed with his eldest son, but he’s still the son he’s loved for so many years. However, now that the youngest son could get into college, doesn’t it indicate that the youngest son’s future could be very bright? This made Cai Zhiheng hesitant.

Although no one in the family participated in the college entrance examination, the restoration of the exam has been the hottest topic lately. Families whose children took the exam would be discussing the results and which university the kids got into.

Every time Cai Zhiheng heard such news, he felt a touch of sadness, always wondering if Cai Ming hadn’t gone to the Northeast, he might have also taken the exam, bringing some fame to their family. But Cai Zhiheng never took it seriously until he was surprised to realize that he could boast about having a son who had gotten into college.

Although Cai Guoqing was dissatisfied with his father’s words, he could only read the letter. He didn’t expect to be shocked by its contents for a long while. "How, how..."

It’s impossible! How could Cai Ming have gotten into college, and, "Wait, how is he with Mei Na, our eldest sister?"

Cai Guoqing felt faint. He knew Cai Ming and Cai Meina had a good relationship, but he hadn’t expected them to be together these past few years. This enraged Cai Guoqing.

"And our eldest sister also got into college." Cai Guoqing felt faint. He used to think he was better off even if he didn’t amount to much, as he was a city person.

Compared to Cai Meina and Cai Ming, who were farmers in the Northeast, he thought he was much better. But now they’ve both gotten into college. Won’t their future prospects be good?

Wait, if our eldest sister becomes successful, wouldn’t she help out a brother who’s struggling?

This thought just emerged in Cai Guoqing’s mind when he immediately dismissed it. If they were really sincere, would they not have sent some grain when the old man wrote to them?

Hmph, not a bit! And has Cai Ming not spoken badly about him in front of Cai Meina?

The more Cai Guoqing thought about it, the more he realized that even with Cai Meina and Cai Ming’s success, they wouldn’t care about his well-being. In that case, he should think of a strategy.

Cai Guoqing organized his thoughts while watching Cai Zhiheng closely. He wasn’t concerned about what others thought; he only cared about what his father thought, whether he would turn his attention to Cai Ming.

Even with the agreement, it wouldn’t matter if his parents changed their minds. As the eldest son, he could lose favor in seconds, and there’s no guarantee he would get a share of the family property.

The thought of not having a house shocked Cai Guoqing. If there was no house, where would he live? If his father could be so heartless to Cai Ming before, who knows if he’d be just as cold to this so-called eldest son in the future?

"Dad, is getting into college enough? Who cares? The family sent him to school all these years; if he hadn’t gotten into college, that’d be the problem."

"Besides, Cai Ming’s been careless and indifferent all these years. Suddenly he writes back to tell us he got into college, to show off, maybe. Who knows if it’s true? If he was capable, he’d send us the acceptance letter."

"We didn’t even know he’d take the college exam before, and now he’s suddenly telling us this. Does he take us for fools?"

"And considering his age, isn’t it about time for Cai Ming to get married over there? Could it be that he got involved with someone over there?"

Even if Cai Guoqing struggled, he often roamed outside and knew some unspeakable stories about educated youth and local village girls.

It’s not that Cai Guoqing was saying this about Cai Ming, but with Cai Ming’s frail appearance, is he suited for farm work?

"Dad, I could do farm work in the countryside, but Cai Ming is so weak." Cai Guoqing was full of disdain for his brother.

Cai Zhiheng thought about his younger son’s physical condition, knowing that farm work posed issues. "Hmm, but he’s no youngster anymore."

Though Cai Zhiheng wasn’t thrilled about having a rural daughter-in-law, if Cai Ming had indeed found one, what could he do?

Cai Zhiheng was now filled with regret. Why did he tell his son to make his own marriage decisions? If only he’d said they should consult the family first, it would have been better.

Thinking about his promising son’s future with just a rural wife made Cai Zhiheng feel like crying.

If he’d known his son would become so promising, Cai Zhiheng would never have let Cai Ming go to the Northeast.

Not to mention anything else, just getting into college means finding a wife from a good family, capable of bringing a good dowry.

And now, his heart felt so sour. He wished he could turn back time, and no matter how much his eldest son instigated, he wouldn’t have let Cai Ming go to the Northeast.

Seeing his father’s regretful expression, Cai Guoqing felt relieved that they’d sent Cai Ming away. If he’d stayed, the family wouldn’t have had a way of living. But how to keep his father from thinking about Cai Ming was a huge problem.