I Got Rich in Period Fiction
Chapter 455: Helping You is a Favor, Not Helping is Duty

Chapter 455: Chapter 455: Helping You is a Favor, Not Helping is Duty

He was so busy at the time that when his in-laws came to look for him, he didn’t even know what had happened.

His eldest son was about to follow the transport team to haul supplies, and being away from home, what could he say? He only instructed him to be careful and to talk about anything further when he returned.

And then, at long last, when he finished his business, his eldest son also returned.

However, his daughter-in-law was still staying at her parental home.

After asking, he discovered that the daughter-in-law wanted to transfer to a different unit and hoped Mr. Wu would put in a word for her with the county leaders. Qiao Tianbao naturally refused. He felt he couldn’t bring himself to say such things; his daughter-in-law’s current job was also okay. Even though it was in a factory run by a sub-district office, wasn’t it still a factory?

Some people couldn’t even get into it if they wanted.

Qiao Tianbao’s wife Fan Chunmei got angry at that, saying how difficult it had been for her to marry into the family. Initially, the Qiao Family was rural, while she was from the city. She had already sacrificed so much and didn’t expect to rely on his family for anything. Over the years, it had been her contributing to the family finances. And now, finally, they had a relative they could be proud of. She wasn’t asking for money, not a single cent; she just wanted him to help by saying a word and transfer her out from the factory run by the sub-district office to any governmental or public service unit in the county, which would be much better than her current workplace, that was on the brink of not paying salaries and laying people off.

As a permanent worker, her transfer would be within regulations, just depending on a word from him. After so many years, had she ever asked anything of him?

Qiao Tianbao initially stayed silent and just listened quietly. But when Fan Chunmei saw that he wasn’t saying anything and spoke without holding back, she accused her aunt-in-law of being a home-wrecker and questioned why one would acknowledge a father like that. Had it been the old days of poverty, they would have no expectations, and their hearts would feel more at ease without others speaking sarcastically.

Now, when they could extend a helping hand, they did nothing. What good was acknowledging such relatives? Worthless as dog fart...

In short, she said many nasty things, and in a moment of anger, Qiao Tianbao slapped her.

Over these many years, this was the first time the couple had argued, and the first time Tianbao had raised his hand. Naturally, Fan Chunmei couldn’t stand it and took the child back to her parental home.

Qiao Tianbao was angry too. When her mother came to find him, he also felt wronged. Indeed, his aunt-in-law now had a wealthy father but that was their own matter. To help was kindness; not helping was their right, and it had nothing to do with him.

Besides, had he not borrowed prestige?

He had been promoted at his unit. Wasn’t that thanks to Mr. Wu’s influence?

Whenever Aunt-in-law and Qiao Qingyu came over, when had they not brought her something? Now, their children’s attire and accessories in this county were the trendiest.

What more did they want?

But his mother-in-law didn’t see it that way. She thought that exchanges between family members were normal. If you give me a foot of cloth, I’ll give you two ounces of oil. It couldn’t be measured so precisely, and besides, a word from Mr. Wu could be more effective than spending money on favors.

Why couldn’t they go to Mr. Wu?

If you don’t go, how do you know Mr. Wu won’t help?

Qiao Tianbao obviously wouldn’t discuss such matters with his parents. He signed up for a transport mission at work, but eventually, he did come back, and the matter still needed resolution. Then Mr. Wu and Qiao Qingyu became aware of the situation.

Mr. Wu just smiled and said nothing.

Qiao Qingyu thought for a bit then headed to the old house.

When Qiao Tianbao saw her come over, his face flushed red. Her coming proved Mr. Wu knew, and how was he to face others in the future? When he saw Mr. Wu later, could he lift his head up at all?

Qiao Qingyu said, "Brother Tianbao, don’t overthink it. Actually, what your wife said has her reasons."

Taking shortcuts is preferable for everyone, rather than going the long way around unnecessarily.

But Qiao Qingyu herself didn’t even know the details of the argument between Fan Chunmei and Qiao Tianbao.

Old Lady Qiao spoke irritably, "I know you don’t want your Brother Tianbao to resent your sister-in-law, but how does what she said make any sense? People should take only what they’re owed, and besides, people are inherently greedy and never satisfied. You can’t start such a precedence; they should live within the means of their own capabilities..."

Uncle Qiao looked at Qiao Tianbao furiously, "No matter what, you are a man. You shouldn’t lay a hand on your wife, regardless of what she says or does. You can reason with her, but you should never resort to violence. Now, go and apologize to her, or else I will no longer acknowledge you as my son."

Wang Guihua, who stood by the side, also slapped Qiao Tianbao’s back, saying in a tone of disappointed anger, "Some achievement that is, getting tough with your wife, you worthless fool..."

One has to say, the Qiao Family had a good family tradition; laying hands on a woman was seen as being no better than a beast.

However, Qingyu felt that things might not be so straightforward and had a feeling that Uncle Qiao might still have something he hadn’t told her.

She couldn’t help but think of her second cousin, Qiao Shuibao, who worked in the security department of a sugar factory in the neighboring county.

To her knowledge, these cake factories and sugar factories of the 1980s would soon go bankrupt.

Bankruptcy meant layoffs, layoffs meant no job, no job meant no income, so it was only natural for the Qiao Family to set their sights on their own grandfather’s support.

But their grandfather, although not a stranger to the Qiao Family members, did not have much of a close bond with them.

And with so many people, helping them out could be endless.

She agreed that this precedent couldn’t be set because once it was, things would take a different turn. However, you couldn’t just ignore your eldest sister-in-law when she was without a job after a layoff.

Opportunities were everywhere now, but for those accustomed to state-owned enterprise employment, becoming self-employed seemed humiliating to them.

Essentially, they still asked for a stable job for life.

Qingyu asked Qiao Tianbao, "Brother Tianbao, what kind of job does your wife want?"

Before Qiao Tianbao could reply, Uncle Qiao interrupted from aside, "Don’t worry about it; it’s none of your business. Just go home, and don’t talk to your grandfather about these things here."

Qiao Qingyu asked, "Uncle, did Brother Shuibao also call you?"

Qiao Zhiyuan’s gaze flickered, and he quickly waved his hand, "Why would he call me? That ungrateful thing hardly ever comes back once a year."

Tianbao hastened to say, "Qingyu, go home quickly. Don’t get involved in this. Regardless of everything else, it was wrong for me to hit her. I’m going to pick up your sister-in-law and apologize to her. I’ll bring her back home..." After saying this, he got on his bicycle and left in a hurry.

Qingyu went home. Mr. Wu glanced at her; she smiled at him, then went about her own business.

Since Uncle Qiao wasn’t talking, she wouldn’t ask either. After all, life must be lived on one’s own. She had helped the Qiao Family pave many paths, and if only they would follow them, their lives shouldn’t be too bad.

That includes Brother Tianbao and the others in the city too.

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