CHAPTER 509: CHAPTER 492: UNGRATEFUL

Wu Jin’ai’s face fell immediately.

"Second son, do you have any conscience saying this? Our father’s death cost a total of 1800 yuan, and you’re asking the two of us to come up with half, 900 yuan. You know very well that your elder brother and I rely solely on farming to live, so where can we get this 900 yuan from?

We earn barely one or two hundred yuan in a year, and after expenses for food and drink at home, there’s hardly any money left. You pay thousands to rent a store. Such a small amount, and you’re unwilling to contribute. Are we still family?"

She originally wanted not to contribute anything from her family.

Who would have thought that Fan Jianguo would say that?

"So, brother, you mean the same thing? Let your younger brother pay it all while you two just take advantage and keep all the gift money."

The old lady had never seen someone so shameless. How did the eldest become this way now?

The old lady was heartbroken.

"Mom, that’s not what I meant, Mom! You know about the situation in my family. I... sigh! Mom, second brother, to be honest, the eldest and second in the family are about to get married, the arrangements are made, but the family truly has no money.

Now if we give the bride price to the eldest, the second can’t get married. Jianguo, as an elder brother without any ability or promise, I’ve become a burden on the family’s children.

Over the years, I understand that you have contributed the most to the family. Xiuying is better than me; I haven’t taken care of my parents at all. I feel guilty about it, today when my wife and I say these things, I actually have no face.

Life is so hard that it forced me to become this shameless person, otherwise your brother wouldn’t have turned into someone like this."

Fan Jianfeng was deeply ashamed to be spoken to so bluntly by his younger brother and mother on his face. He knew that no matter how this matter was handled, he was on weak ground.

"Brother, what you’re saying, as I understand it. To put it well, you’re sincerely admitting you have no ability and apologizing to me, saying nice words to mom. Of course, the outcome is to force me to help you.

This matter has only two possible outcomes: one is that I, as your younger brother, seeing my elder brother living such a difficult life, soften my heart and naturally, let this matter slide.

It becomes good for you, good for me, and good for everyone.

The other outcome is that I, as your younger brother, feel unconvinced and uncomfortable. Why should I pay this money alone? Then we part ways, tear each other apart. This money, I won’t take! From then on, our two families don’t associate."

Fan Jianfeng was taken aback when his younger brother confronted him.

"Second son, I didn’t mean it like that, I’m not trying to force you."

"The family is all here now. Brother, sister, mom are all sitting here, including the niece. Brother, you’ve talked about how difficult life is at home, complaining for a long time. Saying you have no ability or promise, but who is born with ability and promise? What you’re saying, as your younger brother, I truly dislike hearing.

No one is born knowing how to do everything. Life is lived by people, regarding taking care of parents, I can endure, I can concede, it doesn’t require you to spend money, nor do you need to worry about mom and dad’s future affairs.

But do you really feel at peace in your heart? Later on, when your own children also can’t take care of you two because they have no ability or promise, using it as an excuse, how do you plan to live your elderly days?

The eldest son says he can’t support you, the youngest son says he can’t support you either. If all the children shirk responsibility like this, I’m just asking you, when you two grow old, who will you rely on for retirement?

Brother, everyone has hands and feet, everyone grows two hands and two legs. Facing difficulties, you can only push forward; there’s no such thing as hiding from a problem. I can earn money, and you can also earn money, as long as you think of ways and the family’s heart works together.

There’s no earning money. If you have no money, it’s truly because you have no ability, no promise, because you didn’t think in the direction of earning money, didn’t use your brain, didn’t find ways, purely relying on others, expecting them to give you money and sweat.

Haven’t you had enough of such a life, brother?"

The words hit Fan Jianfeng’s face like stones, Wu Jin’ai and Fan Jianfeng found it hard to withstand.

Fan Jianfeng remained stern-faced, "I’m your elder brother, how can you be so disrespectful? You might have the ability now, but how can you look down on your elder brother? Now you’re lecturing me? With a bit of money, you act like the boss, trying to rule this family?"

He’s embarrassed, but it’s a common problem for many, demanding respect at the cost of suffering.

The poorer people are, the more they demand respect, Fan Jianfeng is one of those.

Clear as day, using the family’s lack of money as an excuse to scheme for his brother’s money, yet still wanted to play it as if he was being noble.

His wife could cry poverty, but the aim was to get others to fork out money.

Yet when people say it outright, he feels insulted, flies into a rage, and insists on demanding respect as the older brother.

Jiang Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but mockingly smile at her elder uncle.

Just like her previous life, what her younger uncle said wasn’t actually meant as an insult, but merely a reminder that their family had many boys. If they truly wanted to accomplish something, seizing opportunities in this era, becoming wealthy wasn’t impossible.

People in rural areas now can become ten-thousand-yuan households, let alone their city lives.

Although the elder uncle was in the countryside, people there could thrive through farming or breeding; it’s not unheard of.

Their family had many boys with hands and feet. If they couldn’t earn money, just thinking to take a little from parents or from the younger brother, exploiting others to live, that’s not considered poverty.

Fan Jianguo wasn’t angry. His words had goodwill; if his elder brother and sister-in-law wouldn’t listen, then it was the final words between them. Since such opportunities to sit down for talks are rare, it won’t bother him if he doesn’t associate with them in the future. He was about to have his own family soon, and wouldn’t hinder his life for the sake of his elder brother and sister-in-law.

"Brother, if you want to listen, listen. If you don’t want to listen, forget it. If you think my words are disrespectful and meant to oppose you, humiliating you, then you’re really overthinking.

If we weren’t real brothers, I wouldn’t say these words. To a stranger on the street, even if they’re so poor they’re begging, I probably wouldn’t utter a word. At most, I’d offer them a bun.

The words are laid out today. Mom, I won’t ask you for future retirement money, nor for any medical expenses if you get sick. However, when the time comes, the proper costs for mom’s affairs should be what they are.

It’s impossible for you to tell people in the village how filial your son is, how well the affairs were handled for dad, and then when money is needed, it’s me, the younger one. Good deeds are not done that way; that’s not the logic.

So, for dad’s funeral costs this time, half of each, I won’t pay even a penny more. It’s the same for the future. You’re responsible for yourselves."

Fan Jianguo got up, seeing that his elder brother was unappreciative, he didn’t want to continue.

The whole family was tired from this, Jiang Xiaoxiao and Song Moting came all this way, and the family’s children were left with the elderly. With this time wasted on nonsense, they might as well hurry home so everyone can get some proper rest.

So many things have happened continuously over this period, exhausting everyone.

Haven’t they seen how their mom’s face has changed from fatigue, each becoming a lot thinner?"