I Got Rich in Period Fiction
Chapter 327: When One Achieves Tao, Must Even the Chickens and Dogs Ascend to Heaven?

Chapter 327: Chapter 327: When One Achieves Tao, Must Even the Chickens and Dogs Ascend to Heaven?

Qiao Zhihai felt that given Mr. Wu’s wealth, Qiao Zhicai should, at the very least, have given his older brothers tens of thousands of dollars each.

But no, he didn’t part with a single cent, leaving him with no face at all.

He said sarcastically, "Just yesterday, Great-Uncle asked me if the youngest had given any New Year’s money to the nephews and nieces in the family. What was I supposed to say? The youngest didn’t give a dime. My sister has been so good to their family, wasn’t it right to expect some money for the New Year? Yet, they gave absolutely nothing."

The faces of Old Man Qiao and Old Lady Qiao darkened even more.

Qiao Zhiyuan, after all, was an official. He didn’t let his parents speak, but looked at Qiao Zhihai instead. Lately, he had been full of grievances, and he had not been very diligent with the vegetable greenhouse. The chores had been handled by his own third son and nephew. It seemed that Qiao Zhihai probably wouldn’t work in the greenhouse next year.

He then glanced around the room at the dozens of people with varying expressions: some didn’t take it seriously, and some wore looks of agreement.

Especially Tianbao’s city wife, who wore a smirk on her face.

And then there were the few sons of the second brother; all of them worked in farming within the village. Yet, now their ambitions were growing.

Just yesterday, the youngest son of the second brother even asked if he could get a job in the city.

Because when Mr. Wu had first visited, even the county leaders had specially come to pay their respects.

According to these people, it was natural for one’s success to lift all those associated. But why didn’t they consider whether Qiao Zhicai was in a difficult situation?

Others might not realize it, but he could see that Old Man Qiao was not at all satisfied with the Qiao Family.

In truth, he also had some criticisms.

Things had to be taken in stride, didn’t they?

If Han Xianglan were Wu Qianyun, they wouldn’t have had any relationship with the Wu Family at all.

Could they be blamed for that?

Yet, he couldn’t say this. There were too many people in the family, with too many thoughts going around. If he said it, their relations would only become more strained in the future.

Qiao Zhiyuan sighed helplessly in his heart but still asked gently, "Second brother, what you said does make sense."

Qiao Zhihai’s eyes lit up as he looked at his parents, "See, Dad, Mom? Even big brother agrees that I’m making sense. That means the third brother’s family is just a bunch of ungrateful white-eyed wolves. The third brother used to say that when he got rich, he would do this and that. But what happened? Once he got money, he turned his back on us."

Qiao Zhiyuan sighed, then said very gently, "Second brother, how much money do you think our third brother should give us, then?"

Qiao Zhihai didn’t catch the underlying tone in his big brother’s words. He started counting on his fingers, "Our parents have always treated those two the best, with the most favoritism. For the New Year, they should at least give ten thousand dollars each as a start. And it goes without saying for you, big brother; for all these years everyone has seen your goodness, you should get at least five thousand dollars. Then there’s my older sister – she’s married, so giving her a thousand would suffice."

"And I, I’ve been nothing but good to them over the years. He really should’ve sent me five thousand dollars, don’t you think?"

Qiao Zhiyuan clenched his hands, "Oh, let me do the math. Ah, that adds up to more than twenty thousand dollars from the third brother to us."

Wang Guihua pursed her lips, but didn’t speak with her husband present.

"More than twenty thousand dollars isn’t a lot, have you not heard that even a bowl of food at Mr. Wu’s can cost tens of thousands of dollars?"

Qiao Zhiyuan said thoughtfully, "I know exactly how much money Qiao Zhicai has. After paying off his debts and adding what his daughter gave him, he’s got about six thousand and some."

Wang Guihua was aware of it too, after all, her younger brother-in-law was doing the handicraft business with his son, and now there were more than five thousand dollars in their passbook, too.

She kept her head down and said nothing, while Wang Mei beside her had reddened eyes, "Qiao Zhicai actually has so much money and didn’t share any with us. He’s really ungrateful and cruel..."

The Old Lady Qiao wanted to throw her bowl, grinding her teeth, "Wang Mei, that’s my son you’re talking about. Mind your language, or I’ll expose your shortcomings. Ungrateful and cruel, I wonder who you’re really referring to. Looks to me like you’re describing yourself."

Uncle Qiao said, "Mom, don’t get angry. Let’s not argue. The math is simple: the third brother has six thousand dollars, but according to what everyone’s asking for, we’re still short sixteen thousand. What do we do? Our third brother will have to ask his father-in-law for it."

"There’s no shame in asking. Just a simple ask, and a few thousand dollars are in hand, isn’t that nice?" said Wang Mei, justifying brazenly.

Old Man Qiao was so angry he banged the table, "Qiao Zhihai, Wang Mei, you two heartless creatures, have you no shame? Qiao Zhihai, go ask your father-in-law for money right now." Then he looked at Wang Mei, teeth clenched, "Wang Mei, you’ve taken plenty from our Old Qiao Family to your Old Wang Family. You come from a family too, with your own mother and father. What have you ever given our Old Qiao Family, even a thread or a penny?"

The Old Lady Qiao continued coldly, "That’s the truth of the matter. Why should Han Xianglan give you thousands or tens of thousands of dollars? Besides, even if she did, it would be for us old bones, not for you people at all."

Finally, Qiao Zhiyuan’s face turned, "One must not be insatiable. You were the one who stole Han Xianglan’s knotted bracelet and sold it, and up to this day, you haven’t shown an ounce of remorse. Yet you two still have the nerve to ask her for things?"

Qiao Zhihai’s face reddened and he said nothing.

The issue with the bracelet indeed didn’t look good, and it was something hard to raise one’s head over; after all, the bracelet belonged to Han Xianglan, and his wife had secretly sold it. In any case, it wasn’t a nice story.

But aside from that, they say when one man attains the Dao, his poultry and dogs ascend to heaven too. Although the Old Man’s words seemed to make sense at first, they really didn’t upon closer scrutiny.

If Qiao Zhicai’s house managed to connect with rich and noble relatives, why shouldn’t the rest of the family be able to benefit from it?

And then, here they are, stuck living in a rundown house, eating substandard meals, yet thinking life is just fine. Doesn’t he ever think about what kind of life Qiao Zhicai is living in Yun City? That’s the life of a wealthy young master, rumored to have even a television and a telephone.

However, today was after all New Year’s Eve, so under the suppression of the Old Man Qiao, everyone finally stopped the fiery argument.

But obviously, many in the Qiao Family shared the same sentiments as Qiao Zhihai.

Qiao Shengbao felt exhausted. Back when the family was poor, being able to eat an extra piece of meat made everyone incredibly happy. But now, just look at the table, chicken stew with mushrooms, braised carp, in northern vernacular, a huge pot of "gan bu leng zi" pork ribs, and "gan bu leng" fried meat. In all the meat dishes, aside from a sprinkle of green onions, not even a cabbage leaf or a radish piece was added.

And then there was the fresh spinach and tender cucumbers, which could be eaten directly from the large soybean paste jar in the past. But now, they were even fried into minced meat sauce.