Ji Changze's mission is to guard people who will have their lives ruined by various types of scum.

Then, he transmigrated as these scums.

–A pampered youngest son from the 80s.

–The babied genius who keeps squeezing his parents care.

–Phoenix man with a high education who prefers to be lazy.

–Unfilial child who refuse to acknowledge his parents because he considers them a burden to himself.

After Ji Changze came through.

–The unmotivated lazy hearted youngest son turned out to be the richest man in the area.

–The giant baby turned out to put all his energy into research.

–The useless phoenix man turned the tides when his wife's family almost came to bankruptcy.

–The ungrateful son returned to his hometown to find a famous doctor for his parents.

Ji Changze opened his eyes and had just sat up, when a disgruntled middle-aged female voice outside could be heard raising her voice to scold someone:

"I didn't even ask for three wheels and a ring! He wants a bike and you're not happy about it?! As the eldest brother, it costs money to get a bicycle for your brother's wedding, and you're still a public servant in the city, so you can't be so heartless!"

(TNote: three wheels and a ring = also known as the four major items, is a term used in China in the late 1950s. It refers to the four household items that the country was able to produce at that time and were hoped by every family. The four household items are: a radio, a bicycle, a sewing machine and a watch.)

Ji Changze didn't leave, but continued to listen quietly to the noise outside, while listening, he checked the memory of the body's original owner.

This place was in the midst of nation-building, and it is still in an era where eating together from big pots is common, as well as doing collective work.

The original owner's home was in a small village in the north. He had one brother and two parents, and he was the youngest child.

Generally speaking, the youngest son should be favored, even here.

At first, it was because he was sweet-mouthed and could coax people to do things for him. Although he was lazy and incompetent, he was especially good at promising big things. 'Just wait for me to be successful in the future…' he often said, and coaxed his parents to be biased towards him.

Later, his elder brother got married, and his elder sister-in-law was the only daughter from the family of a salesman of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives in the city. It was impossible to give up such a good position and follow her husband to the countryside, so his father-in-law tried to find a connection and later found him a job in the city.

In this age, normal workers were very common, and the original's brother would be crazy not to go, so he went along to the city. Because he could not afford to buy a house there, he was living in his in-law's house.

Also, because workers are not good at asking for leave, they can't come home to visit often.

This made the original owner's parents dissatisfied, and felt that their son, who they have worked so hard to raise, has become biased toward his wife's family, which made them feel ashamed when the villagers said that their son has ignored his family.

So, what was just a preference for the younger son evolved directly into a disapproval for the elder child, and overwhelming love for the younger one.

After all, in their eyes, the eldest son has run off to be a son to his in-laws, and the youngest son is still their own.

With the eldest son as a negative example, the original owner, who had a sweet mouth, said that he wants to stay with his parents and be filial to them for a lifetime, each and every day. Whatever he does is always good in his parents' eyes.

Always lazy and absent from work?

That's because he is weak.

Not working hard, and eating faster than anyone else?

Of course, if you are weak, you should eat more and recover your strength.

Lazing around in bed every day, sleeping, walking the dog and teasing the cats instead of doing work?

It's family attachment, and it's better than just thinking about running out the door every day.

Their eldest son was a hard worker before he got married, but what happened? He got married and became someone else's son.

The body's original owner was crooked, lazy and liked to take advantage of others. Now, he was even more confident in living with the old parents, but also asked his parents to pressure his older brother and live off him with them.

His older brother is a filial man. Although he was reluctant to work in the city, half of his monthly salary was handed over to his parents. As soon as he took a break, he came back to see his parents again with food and drinks, and it was only natural that all this money and stuff went to the body's original owner, so he lived a nice little life.

There was no reason to worry about eating and drinking, and when he came of age, the original owner began to think about marriage.

The problem is that although he has no skills, his vision of a future wife was quite a lofty one. He despised the rustic girls in the village, and only likes the pale, tender, and good-looking kind of girls.

The point is, he's attracted to that kind of girl, but that kind of girl is not attracted to him.

One time, he was lazy and didn't go to work. When he strolled home, he happened to see a beautiful schoolgirl from the same village who happened to fall into the river. His eyes lit up, and he plopped into the river and fished the person up.

Don't get him wrong, he didn't do a good deed.

He was trying to take advantage of the situation by making the girl feel indebted to him.

The owner fondled her smoothly. The female student was half confused at that time and didn't realize it. When the villagers around him heard the noise and ran over, all they saw was him just pulling the person out of the water.

For the original owner, it was an astonishing and risky attempt at taking advantage.

Unexpectedly, a few days later, he heard that the female student caught a cold at the time, and had a high fever when she came home. She was too busy to take care of her sick mother and father, who broke his leg. Nobody knew how, but the fever made her lose her voice and she became mute.

Originally, she was a good-looking high school student. Her future was definitely not limited to this small village, but now all of a sudden, she had become mute. Even with a high school education, there's a lot of jobs out there. But who would hire someone who can't speak?

Her father broke his leg and can't work, her mother is sick and has to spend money on medicine. She was mute and couldn't find a job. Because she was an only child, she had to take care of her parents. If she wanted to cure her mother, she had to have money to buy medicine, but where would she get the money?

The schoolgirl had no choice but to go to a matchmaker on her own to help her find potential in-laws. She also asked to get a bride price, so that after she got married, the man would help to take care of her family.

(TNote: Bride price = this is money paid to the bride's family from the groom, different from a dowry. Some call it tradition, some call it paying to buy a bride.)

The money she asked for was according to the doctor's estimate for the mother's medicine. If she bought medicine to slowly nurse her mother's body, she would at least gradually get better.

The problem is that they were all villagers, and they weren't rich. The bride price she set was three times that of what would be considered ordinary. But now, she was mute, and she couldn't find a job even with a high school degree. Who would want to spend money to marry her?

Besides, it's not cost effective to spend money, and also take responsibility to care for her maternal family afterwards.

Others didn't want to, but the original owner thought differently.

He was greedy for her good looks and good figure, so whether she is mute or not, her appearance was good enough.

When thinking it over later, he realized he was just planning on marrying someone for the happy ending.

At first, his family didn't agree. They felt she would not contribute to the family, and that her parents would only be a burden right now. It was useless to marry such a daughter-in-law, but they couldn't resist the original owner's insistence on marrying.

So they gritted their teeth and agreed to the bride price, using money from the elder brother which he had sent to them.

This is why the original owner was not satisfied. He had to declare that his wedding was a big day, wanted money to buy things, and also asked for a bicycle to make a scene. He lied to his parents to make them ask his Older Brother for a bicycle, said he'd pay for it when it arrived, and then turned around and spent all the money.

When the Older Brother came to ask for the money, he went back to his parents to argue, saying that the Older Brother didn't consider his married family when he sent the money, and he needed it back to supplement his Sister-in-law's family.

Now, however, he stepped on the minefield in his parents' heart. The most taboo thing for them was to raise the eldest son to go to someone's home as a 'kept son-in-law', so naturally they didn't hesitate to stand on the side of the younger son.

The original's Brother was sullen in his heart. He was a filial child. He was supposed to stay the night, but because of this mess, he felt that his parents were biased and that he really couldn't stay at home. So, he drove back in the dark.

It turned out to be too dark, and there were no streetlights at this point, so he slipped and fell into the pond.

In the middle of the night, he wasn't as lucky as the schoolgirl who had someone come out to save her. He splashed a few times, and sank.

When the eldest son died, the original owners' parents were confused. They were angry that the eldest son had left them to go to the city and become someone else's 'son', making them feel ashamed and ridiculed, but had never thought of the possibility that he would die.

They were both nearly blind with tears and remorse.

Only the original owner was heartless, and when the Older Brother was buried, he tossed around the idea of having to conduct his own wedding.

Meanwhile, as for the marriage, the bride herself was saved by the body's original owner, and in the most desperate and helpless time, it was him who agreed to marry her and help her take care of her parents, which was enough to make a young girl full of hope for her future husband.

In the end, the original owner's bride price was paid, but he had no intention of helping her take care of her parents.

Anyway, he has eaten up everything, and taken home a wife. They belong to each other now, but he doesn't act like it. He just doesn't take care of them. What could an unemployed, mute wife do in this situation?

At that moment, the female student also found herself falling into a trap, and wanted to get a divorce, but she couldn't get it because she couldn't speak. She angered the body's original owner and was beaten as a result.

When the two elders were there, he could still be stopped. When the two elders died early because of heartbreak and loneliness, her life was completely plunged into domestic violence and gloom.

She was pregnant twice, and once she was with twins. But in the end, because of domestic violence by the original owner just before the birth, she gave birth to a pair of stillborn children.

At the last pregnancy, she happened to give birth to a daughter, who had a high fever. However, the original owner thought it was a girl was worthless and refused to go to a doctor. He was clever enough to cool the child with cold water.

As a result, that day in the middle of winter, when she was already sick, she was wiped with cold water and not given dry swaddling clothes. Thus, the baby girl died.

The loss of her child drove her completely insane.

While still in confinement, she abruptly chased the body's original owner with scissors and stabbed him to death, after which the original owner died and she was arrested for voluntary manslaughter and spent the rest of her life in jail.

Ji Changze read the original plot and thought the body's original owner was really impressive.

He alone, directly or indirectly hurt his wife, his parents, the older brother, the older sister-in-law, and three children. A total of eight people.

[Ding! The memory has been transmitted, and the task is to protect the parents, wife and children, change the set ending, and not be out of character. Please choose whether to stay or not. ]

Ji Changze: [stay. ]

After the system released the task, it went offline.

The voice of the middle-aged woman outside was still loud and clear, filled with righteousness and intense discontent:

"I have long known that when you get a wife you would forget your mother. When you go to the city and become a city man, you forget your brother, who was still suffering in the countryside! You also don't want to think about it. When Changze didn't learn to swim, you took him to play. As a result, he fell into the river and almost drowned. If it weren't for his great fortune, how could he live anymore? What did you tell me when your brother just woke up? You said it was all your fault. You will take good care of your brother in the future. Is that what you think of him now?!"

"Just a bicycle. You and your wife are working in the city and can't afford it? This morning, I thought you'd come back to see us because you're so filial to me and your father, but what happened? You turn around and ask about money for the bicycle, go out and ask around for the married son who begs his parents for money!"

Ji Changguang sweated profusely as she scolded him, and could only explain in a weak voice, "Mom, you have to be reasonable, this money was originally lent to Changze by Huifen and I, how can it be asking for money from you?"

"Bah! When you went to the city to be a kept son-in-law, Changze lived with your Father and I. If you ask him for money, isn't it asking us for money?! You insist that we give this back?! OK! I'll go to your factory and ask, and see if your leaders also think that it's right for you to do this, that's right! If they think it's right, I'll pay it back in full!"

Ji Changze listened for a while, and also could tell that Mother Ji was a clever woman. At first glance she seemed to be a country bumpkin spilling her guts, but was actually threatening to make a scene at the place where the eldest son worked, while bringing up the past to guilt the elder brother.

She is Ji Changguang's mother. If she accuses her son of not being filial, he will be looked down upon by others, or possibly even lose his job and reputation.

Ji Changze understood it was just to scare Ji Changguang after he was done listening. Although the parents of the Ji family have been pressuring their eldest son for being someone else's son-in-law, it's their own child, so they can't really harm Ji Changguang and make him lose his job.

But Ji Changguang didn't know that, which left him helpless.

In these times, jobs and reputations are important, and while being threatened by accusations, he's sure to go soft.

Sure enough, the sound of Ji Changguang's urgent objection immediately came from outside, "Mom, what do you think you're doing? You and Dad were not the ones who told me to help haul the bike before, so I thought…"

"What did you think!? You are the older brother, and now Changze is getting married. It's good enough that I didn't ask you for money. Just buy a bicycle, and now look at your grievance. Come on, you don't want to keep pushing. It's too late now. I'll ask the in-laws tomorrow, about how they are willing to send out their son-in-law to beg. They obviously married a daughter out, and finally forced my son to be a kept son-in-law. Now, they're thinking of various ways to take money from our Ji family and take it for themselves. Heh, it's really disgusting!"

That said, Ji Changguang immediately became anxious.

If his mother was to make such a scene, his wife would have no reputation. Ji Changguang could only hastily coax:

"Mom, I won't take it back, we don't want money. This bike will be given to Changze, so don't get mad at us again."

"That's more like it!"

Mother Ji glared viciously at her son, thinking that she had just said so much that Ji Changguang wouldn't let up, but as soon as she spoke of her daughter-in-law, he hurriedly agreed. She suddenly became angrier.

Who's more bitter than she? She gave birth to a son, worked hard to raise him, and then he got married and forgot his mother!

She didn't look pleased. She smacked his hand away and turned to enter the house.

As a result, she just turned around and saw Ji Changze, who was coming out of the house.

"Is Changze going out?"

Mother Ji's face, which had been so rigid, immediately smiled and greeted him with warm affection. "Didn't you say you wanted to sleep after eating? It's not time for dinner yet, why are you awake now? Are you hungry? Mom put dried sweet potatoes in the house. It's still a little cold. Eat in bed. I'll take them to the house for you."

Behind her, Ji Changguang's face was dim.

He brought the dried potatoes and didn't even bother to eat them, just so his parents could enjoy them instead.

But in the end, he didn't get any good treatment, and he was scolded.

Ji Changze looked at his Older Brother, but spoke sweet words to mother Ji. "Thank you, Mom, it's very kind of you to think about me in everything. I will definitely be filial to you and my dad in the future, and let you live in a big house. Every day, you can eat whatever you want."

This coaxed mother Ji to smile a little more, and her eyes were full of happiness when she looked at her lovable youngest son: "You are a very loyal child."

After that, she looked back at her eldest son and snorted coldly: "Not like your brother, who is really a white-eyed wolf."

(TNote: White-eyed wolf = ungrateful person.)

Ji Changguang, who hands over half of his salary every month, and thinks of his parents when he sees something good to eat and drink, stayed silent.

He was aggrieved. Such a big man was very anxious and almost shed tears.

Ji Changguang just couldn't figure it out. How could his parents be so biased? It was obvious that he gave more than Changze, and thought of his parents in everything he did, but how come they always had only Changze in their eyes?

It's not just a matter of getting a bicycle ticket, it's also a matter of spending all of his savings, and despite that, he hasn't even gotten a single good impression from his parents.

(TNote: bicycle ticket = in the 80's people still used tickets to exchange for things, like food, clothing, and stuff. it was still a time transitioning from government rationed stuff to commercialization.)

Frustrated, Ji Changguang had planned to stay at home for the night before going to the city the next day, but now, he suddenly didn't want to stay.

His parents didn't like him anyway.

He spoke in a muffled voice, not bashful enough to say that he was jealous of his brother, instead he casually pulled out an excuse to leave. "Mom, I will go back now, because Huifen is still at home waiting for me to eat dinner."

This was done out of a childish anger.

'You don't care for me, but someone does, and I'm not without a place to live and food to eat.'

Turns out it was okay if he didn't stay the night, but when he made the excuse, mother Ji was so angry that she nearly swung a big broom at her oldest son.

What a stupid thing to do, to not to stay in his own home, and instead run away to his father-in-law and mother-in-law's house! It wasn't easy to come back to see his parents, but he didn't even want to stay in the house, just for the daughter-in-law?!

Why did she have such a bad son?

"Go! You go! Who is stopping you, get out of here!"

Ji Changguang, who had been scolded for no reason, was even more wronged. He turned and walked out. Ji Changze saw that he was going to set foot on the 'drowning road' and hurriedly chased after him.

"Older brother, I'm just going to the outhouse, come along."

Saying that, he playfully reached over his older brother's shoulder, as if they had a good relationship, and pulled a befuddled Ji Changguang out of the house.

Outside, Ji Changze said directly, "Older brother, why do you always make Mom angry? She was so angry that her face was green."

Ji Changguang was still befuddled by the sudden willingness of his younger brother, who had never been close to him, to go with him, and when he heard this, his heart soared with aggravation.

He said in a muffled voice: "I didn't annoy Mom. She doesn't like me."

"Nonsense."

Ji Changze was still the same: "Mom likes you very much. When you first went to the city, Mom cried every day when she thought of you. She talked about you when cooking and eating, and she mentioned you at least 800 times a day."

Ji Changguang, who was in the middle of the 'Mom and Dad don't love me and my brother and only want to spend my money' phase, looked up in disbelief. "Really?"

"Really, why would I lie to you? I heard Mom say your name so much it made my ears ring."

Ji Changze is not lying, mother Ji has been talking about her eldest son every day.

But it was all while gnashing her teeth.

Ji Changguang, who didn't know about the details, felt his heart become a little lighter. "Mom actually thinks about me like this?"

He thought his Mom didn't like him.

"Older brother, I'm not the one talking about you. Mom and Dad love you so much, so why do you always do things that make them sad?"

Ji Changguang was stunned. "I didn't do anything that made them sad."

"You still say no? Just tell me. You gave us a bike today, right? No matter who hears of your gift, it's one to be praised, so why is it that when it comes to you, Mom doesn't praise you, but scolds you?"

Ji Changguang shook his head blankly.

Ji Changguang patted him on the shoulder. "Speak for yourself, Mom already thinks you've been snatched away by your wife, and now you're acting like you're afraid that Mom doesn't hate my sister-in-law enough already. What did you just say? You and your wife see each other every day in the city. Mom and Dad see each other a few times a month, but you still want to go home and have dinner with her, so how can Mom be happy? Can she not feel that this son of hers has been raised for nothing?"

"I'm not … I don't think so, I …"

"You didn't think so, but you said so. I know you have a good relationship with your wife, but is it good to show off in front of your mother? Ah, she gave birth to you and raised you. And then, you turned and ran off to your wife's house. You didn't want to stay at home for one night. Tell me, how can your Mom be happy?"

Ji Changguang lowered his head. "I really didn't mean that."

"I also know that you didn't mean it. So, pay attention to it next time. I'll put in a good word for you. You should also boast about my sister-in-law's filial piety in front of Mom. Every time you buy something, you need to mention my sister-in-law. It'll be weird for Mom to be affectionate to someone she never sees."

"Anyway, next time, when you mention something, just say that your wife insisted on buying it for Mom and Dad, and I'm sure Mom won't scold you."

Ji Changguang noted it down, looked at his Brother with a little more gratitude, and with a little more intimacy, asked in a small voice.

"Changze, then why do you think Dad and Mom had to let me buy you a bicycle for you if they also love me?"

If she wasn't biased toward Ji Changze, why would she say that?

Ji Changze snapped his fingers and counted for him, "Look, when we were kids, you took me out to play, but you didn't watch me because you were so focused on playing, so I fell into the water, do you remember that?"

The tall man in front of him nodded.

"I've always had a good body and a smarter brain than you when I was a kid, you remember that too, right?"

Ji Changguang nodded again.

Ji Changze: "Since I fell into the water and almost drowned, I have become physically weak, and I can't do this or that, and as you know, my brain is not as smart as before."

But not being able to do this and that, was all a pretense by the original owner in order to take advantage of being sick and not work, and be freely given food and drink.

But Ji Changguang didn't know.

Recalling that he almost killed his younger brother in the past, he showed some embarrassment in his eyes. "Changze, I really didn't mean it at that time …"

"I know, I know."

Ji Changze appeased him. "Older Brother, you certainly didn't mean it, but think about it, why didn't I go to school before? Isn't it because I am weak and can't get up early? Look at yourself again, you are in good health, you have gone to school, and you became a worker after graduation. What about me, your brother?"

He sighed, as if he was very sad: "Just because I drowned when I was a kid, I'm weak, and because I'm weak I can't go to school, I can't go to the city and work like you can. Because I was physically weak and couldn't do farm work and find a job, finding a wife is so hard for me. Because it was hard to find a wife, I found one who was mute. Although I like my wife very much, in our situation, we definitely need to keep up appearances in the village, so wouldn't we need a bicycle?"

"If I hadn't drowned when I was a child, wouldn't I be working in the city now like you? Getting paid that much every month! And, would I be using a bicycle to save face? I'm sure I wouldn't have to!"

The logic is as flawless as 'you ate my egg, the egg could become a chicken, and the chicken would have laid more eggs, in conclusion: you ate my entire chicken farm'.

(TNote: I bow to thee… master of word tai chi… make me your disciple!)

Combined with Ji Changze's righteous expression and attitude, it was more convincing.

"So, brother, do you think you should give this bike, or not?"

The honest man Ji Changguang was fooled successfully, and nodded stupidly.

"Yes, it should be yours!"

He was filled with guilt at the thought that he had actually rejected his brother because of the bicycle, and didn't even want to stay home.

"Changze, I'm the one who didn't think of it before. Please don't blame me as your elder brother."

"Eh, we're family, that's a bit harsh to say."

Ji Changze smiled and patted his older brother on the shoulder:

"I forgive you."

After some persuasion (deception) by Ji Changze, he successfully pulled his eldest brother back from the 'drowning road'.

He was full of himself, saying 'I'm doing this for your own good'. The brother took Ji Changguang's shoulder and walked along to the front door of the house alongside him.

"You, don't always be angry with Mom. You should be soft with her, and then accompany Dad to do some work and say more good things. You're Mom and Dad's own child, can they really ignore you for a lifetime?"

Ji Changguang is a large, broad-shouldered man, who is awkwardly being pushed forward by his brother and can't help but want to retreat. He only manages to force out a few words after a while.

"But how do I say it?"

Ji Changze stopped pushing him, and stood still to think.

In fact, Ji Changguang really has nothing to say to his parents, he is honest and had no bad intentions. Even if he really likes his wife, he has never thought of staying away from his parents' side because of her.

That's right, he's not very talkative.

But just now when he was desperate to go home, he had to use his wife's name as an excuse. If he left his parents to go back for his wife, how could Mother Ji not be mad at him?

If this was Ji Changze, he could settle the matter in less than 5 minutes, but as this was Ji Changguang, a simple, honest man….

Ji Changze thought for a moment, reached out, and patted his brother on the shoulder. "Brother, if you are like this… I'll teach you a few phrases to say, and when you go in later, you can tell Mom and Dad that…"

The two brothers were standing at the door whispering, when a man passing by carrying firewood saw them and greeted them with a smile from afar.

"Changguang is back, are you seeing your parents?"

Ji Changguang couldn't speak very well, so he smiled at the man and greeted him, "Seventh Uncle!"

(Tnote: Seventh Uncle = this Uncle must be a distant cousin of his parent's and is number seven by seniority.)

On the contrary, Ji Changze, who was not called out, was in high spirits all of a sudden. He walked up to the big man in a few steps, reaching out to help him hold the wooden frame in which the firewood was placed, then speaking as his face stretched into a smile.

"Yeah, isn't my brother on vacation? He just came back with some stuff. Uncle, you've just come down from the mountain, haven't you? Aren't you tired in the cold? I'll hold some of your things for you. By the way, Seventh Uncle, the bamboo shoots you gave me last time were particularly delicious, do you still have any at home?"

"Yes, yes, this time I went up the mountain and found a little bit after digging, just inside the basket. You look through it. There is firewood on top. Take it back and eat it quickly."

Ji Changguang watched his brother's smile grow, and followed him with special enthusiasm. His brother's words were so sweet when he said, "How can I take it for free? In this case, Seventh Uncle, I'll help you hold the back and you can relax, I'll send you home, just as a thank you for giving us bamboo shoots to eat."

Their Seventh Uncle's wrinkled face smiled benevolently, and he looked at Ji Changze with a notably affectionate gaze.

He also boasted, "You are a child who knows how to care for people and is very filial."

Ji Changguang was watching his brother speak very well, but noticed his brother's hands were only holding onto the back of the bamboo basket with a little bit of effort.

It was as if he suddenly realized why his Mom and Dad preferred Changze every time when forced to choose between the down-to-earth and capable him and the sweet-talking Changze,.

At the same time, Ji Changguang suddenly had a question in his heart.

Is it possible that Changze was talking to the Seventh Uncle so much in order to teach his brother?

Just as he was thinking, Ji Changze stood ready aside his Seventh Uncle, not forgetting to wave back at Ji Changguang. "Brother, you go back first, don't forget what I taught you, if you do as I say, it will work."

After thinking about it, he added, "It doesn't matter if you can't. I will definitely put in a good word for you when I come back. Don't thank me. You are my brother. If I don't help you, who will?"

Ji Changguang, who was still mulling it over in his head, was immediately touched.

What a good brother!

When he was a child, Changze's body was weak because of him, and when he grew up, Changze couldn't hope to have any future aspirations. Yet he was still kind and even willing to help his relationship with their parents.

He even complained about Changze before, thinking that Mom and Dad were encouraged by Changze to ask him for money and things.

What a mistake!

For a moment, Ji Changguang looked at his brother with guilt.

"Okay brother, don't thank me, hurry inside, it's weirdly cold. Tonight we'll sleep in one room, I'll tell you about what I said earlier."

Seeing that Ji Changguang's gratitude had increased, Ji Changze wasn't surprised.

Anyway, as long as the older brother doesn't go out at night and fall into the ditch…

The point now is that he, a poor man who lives off of his Mom and his Dad, was getting married.

Before the original owner asked for money from his parents, and spent it all on food, drinks and movies, Ji Changze felt that it was unacceptable for him to get married in this situation.

And he still owes the older brother's family a bicycle.

Fools taken care of by fools, no, it's younger brother taken care of by brotherly love.

Ji Changguang had saved up for so long, so he definitely had to pay it back.

Ji Changze's mind quickly spun through multiple possible solutions, and he turned his head to follow his Seventh Uncle.

He called the man Seventh Uncle, and this one, of course, also had the surname of Ji, but wasn't quite Ji Changze's biological uncle, rather a third cousin. In seniority, he was Ji Changze's uncle.

These days, even though everyone eats from a big pot, they're all from the same village, so if you go up to the mountains and get yourself some food, no one will say anything. It's just that the terrain on their side is very dangerous on the mountain, and it's only the old Seventh Uncle Ji, who learned some hunting skills from their elders when they were young, who dares to go up the mountain and still manage to get out.

(TNote: everyone eats from the same pot = is a metaphor for the egalitarian in distribution.)

Because he always goes up the mountain, occasionally he would pick up bird's eggs, mushrooms, winter bamboo shoots and so on. The body's original owner, who was too lazy to work and had eyes for good food and drinks, pestered the man.

Every time he met the Seventh Uncle coming down from the mountain, he approached him and succeeded in getting something to eat from him.

He is said to have had a wife and a son when he was young, and his son left first when he was 5 or 6 years old, and his wife wasn't too healthy and followed suit. The man was poor and an emotional mess at the time, so he never sought another.

He was particularly fond of children, probably because he lost his own son too early. Especially when the original owner was white and clean (lazy, no work, no tan), and looked at him (food in his hand), and his sweet mouth said "When he grew up, he would give his uncle a pension (for the sake of free food)", and the fully convinced Seventh Uncle Ji couldn't wait to treat this child as his own.

It can be said that the reason why the original owner could grow up so white and clean was 30% as a result of being close to Seventh Uncle Ji.

While the Seventh Uncle Ji regarded the original owner as his own child, the original owner only regarded him as a good fool for believing him.

After eating and drinking, he could still affectionately call him Uncle. When the uncle couldn't do any more work, and couldn't go up the mountain to get food, he avoided him and left, the original owner's memory of that event felt bleak and miserable. In fact, he didn't think about how much the Uncle wanted the original owner to take care of himself, just hoping to get a descendant's filial piety, not to mention sending money and food, just to have someone visit him like family.

As a result, the elder cherished the child, but met a white wolf like the original owner.

It's not like no one in the village had never seen this type of thing happen. After all, the original owner's behavior simply screams the four big letters of shamelessness.

(TNote: shameless = 厚颜无耻 [hòu yán wú chǐ] = four letters/pinyin characters in the word shamelessness, literally read: thick face no shame.)

When a child wants something, he can still be said to be thoughtless. Now that he's in his late twenties, he could still shamelessly follow behind an old man who has worked hard to find a bit of food in his sixties, in order to leech food off of him.

Be ashamed of yourself!

The old man's walk was already shaky, but the original owner still cheats food from him. Even animals wouldn't do such a thing!

But Ji Changze did it.

Ji Changze followed Seventh Uncle Ji all the way, and he didn't feel the disdain of the villagers passing by.

He reckons that all these glances, if they were summed up, would amount to one sentence:

[Look at this shameless man, cheating the old man again.]

Honestly, the average person wouldn't be able to endure being looked at with such contempt by so many people.

Fortunately, Ji Changze was thick-skinned.

On the way, when people looked at him, he looked at them back with particular confidence, as if to say, 'I'll do whatever I want.'

Otherwise, people are very susceptible. When others see him, and he seems guilty, then those suspicions will only get even brighter.

But now, when people look at him, he looks righteously back at them, and the people watching subconsciously look away or down.

Ji Changze held the firewood basket carried by Seventh Uncle Ji in one hand, so he walked gallantly all the way past them.

That self-confident attitude made people who looked at him with disdain involuntarily look away (from their guilty conscience) and pretend that nothing had happened.

They didn't react until Ji Changze walked away.

No, it's Ji Changze who obviously did something wrong. What are the people guilty of?

They don't shamelessly take advantage of the elderly.

This Ji Changze is really getting stinky and shameless.

Ji Changze, who arrived at the Seventh Uncle's house, was really deceiving the old man. "Seventh Uncle, I took the winter bamboo shoots you gave me to my buddy in the city last time. His wife especially likes to eat them, so she asked me to see if I could bring them to him again. He is willing to spend money to buy them. I'm not sure I can say this just now on the road, but do you think you could sell him these winter shoots of yours?"

Seventh Uncle Ji was cheerfully holding the winter shoots to give him a fill, but now when he heard that Ji Changze actually wanted to pay, he even waved his hand.

"No, you can just take it, what do you need to pay for?"

"Eh, ah, you are my Uncle, and not his Uncle, our uncle and nephew certainly don't talk about money, but to my buddy, there still has to be a good deal. He won't feel too good, getting something for free."

Ji Changze takes money out of his pocket as he speaks, calculates, then takes it and puts it into Seventh Uncle Ji's hand. "You can keep it, and he doesn't want it only this time. Next time, Uncle, if you get these wild goods from the mountain again, he will spend money to buy them. Look at your torn clothes! Take the money, buy new clothes that are thick and sturdy. And this bedding, too! Isn't it cold, sleeping with this?"

Seventh Uncle Ji looked at the money in his hand blankly. "He spends money every time? Isn't this profiteering? That's no good, the Leader said that it's a sign of capitalism, and it will be punished."

(TNote: China in the 80's; capitalism was a big no-no, but starting to be discussed in the government.)

Ji Changze actually knows that the country is already trying to change its economic policy at this time, but he had to try it out first. Their party is not fully established, and new laws are probably not going to be passed for a while, and business is still not open and honest.

But …

Who says he is doing business?

Ji Changze said, "Uncle, what are you thinking, that I'm that kind of person? This is not about capitalism, this is my friend, whose wife is pregnant, and every day she wants to eat this and that, but he has no ticket to buy such things. That's why he asked me to ask you."

Uncle Ji still doesn't care. He's been through the turmoil and knows what a crime it is to engage in profiteering.

The old man kept pushing the money to Ji Changze.

No, no, it doesn't work for me. I can't have this money. Changze, I live in a down-to-earth way, and I can't take profit."

"How can this be profiteering?"

Ji Changze followed the steps: "Uncle, let me ask you, you found those mountain goods, and because you care for me, you gave them to me, right?"

Seventh Uncle Ji nodded.

"I have a good relationship with my friend. I sent him some mountain products to eat. We have a good relationship, right?"

Seventh Uncle Ji nodded again.

Ji Changze continued, "Then my friend is grateful to me, and doesn't know how to thank me, so he offered some money for me to spend. It is also because our friendship is good, right?"

Seventh Uncle Ji had a confused look on his face, but he nodded.

Ji Changze clapped his hands, "You see, that makes it clear."

"Tell me again, what did I give you this money for?"

Seventh Uncle Ji looked down at the money and then at his nephew.

Stared at his nephew, then once more at the money.

"You honor me."

"Aye! That's right!"

Ji Changze smiled and eagerly patted Seventh Uncle Ji's back.

"That's not… clear."

"Uncle, don't worry, I will definitely honor you a lot in the future."

The place is so big, and there are several families next to the place where Seventh Uncle Ji lived. Now, it was getting dark, and everyone has no work to do, so they are just sitting in their yard chatting about work.

Ji Changze came out of Seventh Uncle Ji's house with a basket of mountain goods on his back, and they all watched.

See, we saw it on the road before, would Ji Changze really be so kind as to help someone out?

He was just pretending to hold the basket, yet Seventh Uncle Ji gave him so many things.

Several people were whispering, discussing how Seventh Uncle Ji was so muddleheaded that he could be fooled by Ji Changze for so long, and Ji Changze saw them.

It was a little dark, which affected people's eyesight. He squinted for two seconds before he found a familiar face.

"Old Uncle Zhao."

The old man who was smoking a tobacco cigarette and listening to the discussion was stunned, and looked over at the other person.

As a result, he saw Ji Changze smiling at him, all out of place, and opened his mouth to speak. "I remember your family has a flatbed tricycle, tomorrow I want to go into town to buy something for my wedding. Can you lend it to me?"

Old Uncle Zhao's expression immediately froze.

The flatbed tricycle was something his family had owned, or something his father had left behind before.

But lending it to Ji Changze …

Considering Ji Changze's reputation in the village for being lazy, going to work and trying to slack off, even though he hasn't stolen anything, but isn't that irrelevant?

With such a character, it's a wonder people could rest assured their items would be returned when lending him things.

But if you don't lend it, people can't wrong someone smiling! Besides, they are all from the same village. Ji Changze is not the kind of person who looks honest, what if he doesn't lend it out and the person complains about it and does something?

Lend, or don't lend…

He didn't know what to do.

Seeing Old Uncle Zhao's struggling face, Ji Changze didn't embarrass him and just went into his yard, pulling Old Uncle Zhao inside.

They walked into Old Uncle Zhao's yard, then he smoothly shut the gate.

"Eh, eh, what are you doing?"

Ji Changze can clearly feel that Old Uncle Zhao, who was holding his arm, had stiffened his entire body and was looking at him as if he was some kind of murderous demon who could pull out a knife and slash people at will.

He had to say, this vigilant look made him want to make fun of the old Uncle Zhao.

Changze put his hand behind his back …

And took the basket.

Alas, the old man was too old to get frightened, so it was better for him to be honest.

Old Uncle Zhao stood there wary and puzzled, watching Ji Changze take down the basket, grab some wild yam from inside it, and place it in his hand.

He was confused.

"What are you doing?"

Ji Changze's attitude was very natural. "You lend me the tricycle, I appreciate you, take these yams, there's no need for pots or anything else to cook them, just get some firewood and make a pit to cook them."

"No, no, how bad is that, take it back, take it back, we don't do that capitalism thing."

Knowing that Ji Changze didn't want to slash him, and rather wanted to give him a wild yam, Old Uncle Zhao relaxed and hurriedly pushed the yam back.

Pushing back and forth, he suddenly noticed.

No, he hasn't agreed to lend the tricycle, has he?

Without waiting for him to ask, Ji Changze spoke first.

"How can it be capitalism, if we are from the same village? If I use your tricycle for nothing, that's called capitalism. Old Uncle Zhao, we are from the same village, you mustn't ruin me."

Old Uncle Zhao was frightened.

He couldn't care less about the fact that he hasn't agreed to lend the tricycle yet, but he just doesn't want to receive anything, right?

How can this be harming him?

Seeing him stop pushing, Ji Changze took a few quick glances around the yard, quickly locating the flatbed tricycle. He directly stepped forward and pushed the tricycle over, while naturally saying,

"You can accept it, otherwise I would be too embarrassed to borrow this, and if you don't want to eat it, how can you deny it from the little grandson at home? Xi Ziyi has a smart look on his face, but he's skinny and small. If his diet stays strong, he'll definitely be smarter. In the future, he would come back as a college student."

After he finished speaking, Old Uncle Zhao's heart, which had been shaken just now, moved even more.

Yes, his little grandson is so young, and he doesn't eat enough every day. These wild yams should be treated as extra meals at least, and they can be eaten for several days if they are saved.

Besides, as Ji Changze also said, his little grandson is smart, so how can he not keep up with his diet? Now everyone is eating the same pot of rice, and he is not allowed to cook at home. Wild yam is a good thing, and it can be cooked by throwing it in a fire on the ground.

But lending it to Ji Changze…

His reputation in the village was still in a bit of a conundrum for Old Uncle Zhao in the end.

On this side, Ji Changze put the basket on the flatbed and waved his hand. "Okay, take your stuff, I'm leaving."

"Don't worry, next time I borrow the tricycle, I'll send you something. I can't be a capitalist freeloader."

He would return it later!

Ah, that's worth a lot more than a few wild yams.

That may be worth dozens and dozens of yams!

Why is he so confused?!

He didn't know, he doesn't understand it!

It's just borrowing the tricycle anyway!

Old Uncle Zhao was busy putting down the wild yam and welcomed it with special enthusiasm. "Shall I give you a hand?"

Outsiders had seen Old Uncle Zhao's being dragged in abruptly by Ji Changze, so they were watching and peeking around.

"Ji Changze won't beat people, will he?"

"Probably not, at any rate, he's from the same village, and that Old Uncle Zhao still watched him grow up."

"This boy is so messed up, I can't really tell, but I think, shouldn't we go in and take a look?"

As the few people just spoke, the door suddenly opened, and Ji Changze pushed the flatbed tricycle out.

His white face, which the villagers always thought as a symbol of slacking off and not working, was talking while pushing the tricycle.

"Hey, you are too polite, Uncle, don't worry, I will return it tomorrow when I return from the city."

Then Old Uncle Zhao also followed out with the wrinkles on his face squeezing out like a flower, and spoke with a warm tone.

"There's no rush, there's no rush, it's fine if you return it in a few days."

"Then thank you Uncle, I'm off now…"

Ji Changze didn't look at the people who were previously picketing the doorway, now standing staring off to the side.

Even if the shock on their faces at the moment was as great as seeing the sun coming up from the west.

He had the flatbed and the mountain goods, so now he was ready to make a little money. Ji Changze, who felt that he was happy to be alive, pushed the tricycle, smiled and waved his hand back again, before going straight toward the Ji's house.

In the end, he had a mixed reputation in the village. No one dares to say anything when he is present. They have been watching him leave, and he couldn't hear them. Those people asked Old Uncle Zhao,

"What did Ji Changze tell you just now? How come you lent him your tricycle? Are you not afraid he won't return it or break it?"

Old Uncle Zhao waved his hand and looked disgusted. "Don't talk nonsense, I watched Changze grow up. Isn't it normal for me to lend him the flatbed tricycle?"

He was quite happy, thinking Ji Changze would give him a few wild yams by lending him a tricycle once.

His little grandson will no longer have to complain about being hungry at night and have nothing to eat.

The several people who heard this: "…"

No. Was the worry on his face, when Ji Changze asked him to borrow his car a moment ago, fake?

"Is that what Ji Changze told you? Or did he scare you?"

"What nonsense, how could Changze scare me?"

Old Uncle Zhao stared at the person who said this sentence.

What if these people spread the word that Ji Changze had scared him and Ji Changze knew, and wouldn't give him wild yams next time?

"Changze is actually quite good, in fact, but his reputation has been ruined by the rumors in the village before. Don't you guys talk nonsense out there, I wanted to lend him that tricycle, ah, I just like the nice kid."

The people outside were stunned. "…"

Ji Changze is nice?

Is he nice?

Old Uncle Zhao went back to the yard. He had to hide those wild yams well.

When his grandson returns, he will quietly take him to eat yams tomorrow.

He left, but the others were dumbfounded.

This isn't a dream, is it?

Or did the sun really come up from the west?

Ji Changze is nice?

"Changze, that's very kind of you. I told Mom the words you taught me before. She really acted much better toward me. She just brought over a blanket for me to cover at night."

When Ji Changze returned to his room, his eldest brother Ji Changguang was already sitting on the kang bed waiting for him with an excited face, and as soon as he saw him come in, he eagerly welcomed him.

(TNote: Kang bed = a heated raised platform that is used as a bed, usually made of stone and wood with layers on top, with a place to put charcoal/small fire underneath.)

"Dad had a smile for me too, and told me to bring Huifen back with me next time."

This made Ji Changguang happy. He always worried that his parents didn't like his wife, but he must be filial to his parents and knew that his wife had done nothing wrong.

He didn't know how to adjust, so he had to come home alone every time, to separate the two sides from each other.

As a result, he learned what Ji Changze taught him today, and said that working in the factory was a bit hard, but it's nice to be able to squeeze in some time off to go home and see Mom and Dad. Huifen could hardly squeeze time off, but every time he came home with things, she carefully picked them out. If they're angry that Huifen is not coming, next time it'll be their marketing agency that won't let it happen. He was going to let her come home on holiday as well, and the look on Mom and Dad's faces literally softened, visible to the naked eye.

Ji Changze thought, it's weird not to smile.

The biggest knot in the heart of the Ji family's parents is that their eldest son ran away to the city, living in the daughter-in-law's family, eating the daughter-in-law's family's rice, and his work was also found by the father-in-law. Isn't that just a live-in son-in-law?

In the village, only the most useless men became kept sons-in-law, and they had no dignity in their wife's family for the rest of their lives.

Their family had no money, but at least they had done their best to raise Ji Changguang. But as a result, he just ran away.

In addition, Ji Changguang never speaks and doesn't bring his wife back to see his parents. He thinks it's to separate the conflicting feelings, but in fact, in the eyes of the Ji parents, who were already complaining, it's the eldest daughter-in-law who looks down on the elderly parents.

Ji Changguang was such a kept son-in-law, so of course he and his wife couldn't be bothered to come.

It's no wonder their heart couldn't be comfortable.

However, what Ji Changguang said today shows that his status at home was okay, and he also said that their eldest daughter-in-law is not unwilling to come, but she couldn't get away from work, and all the things he brought before were picked out by their eldest daughter-in-law.

With the conflict out of the way, of course the two elders couldn't get angry.

Seeing that Ji Changguang was still overjoyed, Ji Changze patted him on the shoulder. "Brother, please remember to say more about Sister-in-law's filial piety in front of our parents next time. It's late, go to sleep, we have to go to the city tomorrow."

"Into the city?"

Ji Changguang was stunned and asked his younger brother, "Are you going to the city, too?"

"Yes, isn't the weather getting colder and colder? And the road isn't safe. I just happened to need to go into the city recently, so I'll go with you and we can look out for each other."

Ji Changze climbed onto the bed and quilt, easily saying, "And it's always Sister-in-law or you coming back to our house, none of us have ever visited Sister-in-law's house. That's not nice. I'll go to Sister-in-law's house to greet her tomorrow."

Ji Changguang was even happier.

If it had been before, he would have rejected it, thinking that Ji Changze only wanted to eat and drink for free.

After all, the brothers had never been close, and Ji Changze was like this too.

But now …

He looked happy: "Then tomorrow, brother will treat you well."

Ji Changze was also impolite. "That's a good feeling, brother, I've long wanted to go to my Sister-in-Law's house, but while I'm staying at your in-laws' house, don't get me any good wine or food, just make some home-cooked food."

"How could we have a good time like that? You're sure to be treated well."

Ji Changguang didn't intend to use the money from his father-in-law's family. He still had money. Although it's not much, it's definitely enough for a good meal for his younger brother.

Ji Changze had made his bed and lay in it.

"Older brother, you can rest assured, I wouldn't eat and drink for nothing. My buddy in the city got some high-grade gifts, saying that it is the most nourishing and rare mountain goods. Okay, tomorrow I'll send a share to Sister-in-Law's house, it will definitely give you some face."

Changze was still trying to gain him some face.

TNote: face = euphemism for pride/ dignity/ respect.)

And he actually doesn't want to eat and take things for free!

Ji Changze would have had to laugh a few times if he knew what his older brother was thinking.

No one is lenient these days, who would eat and drink for free?

Besides, don't you have to bring gifts for relatives?

However, Ji Changguang didn't even think about that, thanks to the image he had of his younger brother in his mind.

After all, it's always been to eat and take things for free, and now it suddenly got better. Ji Changguang simply 'wanted' to be moved to tears.

How nice…

Why didn't he notice before?

Changze is such a good brother!

Early the next morning, Ji Changze got up and went out for a few laps.

He went up the hill and waited for a while. He made a small bow and arrow with branches and vines, and actually managed to snag a pheasant.

The pheasant was dead the moment it was hit. Ji Changze just picked it up, thought about it, turned around and removed the vines on the bow and arrow, wrapping them around its neck a few times.

Seeing its new shape, Ji Changze nodded satisfactorily.

Now, this pheasant that died from a shot with a small bow and arrow had turned into a pheasant choked to death by strangulation.

This death seems to have become more respectable.

The pheasant must be very grateful to him.

It's gratifying.

When he came home with the pheasant, he happened to bump into the whole Ji family.

Father Ji and Mother Ji, originally thought that their youngest son was sleeping late as before. They were shocked to see him come home with a pheasant in his hand.

"Changze, where did this pheasant come from?"

Father Ji's appearance and figure were similar to Ji Changguang's, and he also had the same honest temper. He asked his question openly when he saw the pheasant.

Mother Ji was more alert than her husband, and almost as soon as she saw that Ji Changze was carrying a pheasant in his hands, she got up and hurriedly shut the door.

Although the investigation is not as strict as it was in the beginning, letting Seventh Uncle Ji gather mountain goods from time to time was nothing, but how can mountain goods and pheasants be the same?

(TNote: investigation; meaning that the government investigates what people do to get things outside of the government-approved rations; especially if reported by someone.)

This is meat!

Now, apart from dividing pork every year during the Chinese New Year, the heads of families can't get oil and water all year round. To put it bluntly, if someone was greedy for meat, a rat coming to one's feet was a treasure.

But now that the year was bad, even rats were no longer seen.

After closing the door, Mother Ji quickly came to Ji Changze: "Yes, Changze, where did this pheasant come from?"

Ji Changze threw the pheasant to the ground, and his face was full of the familiar smugness in front of his family as he boasted. "I caught it. Dad, Mom, let me tell you, why else would I say that I'm very productive? I woke up early this morning and went out to the toilet. As soon as I came out, I heard a pheasant squawking, which made me upset. Anyway, I couldn't sleep, so I went up the mountain."

With that, he kicked the pheasant on the ground. "Well, as soon as I saw it, my body immediately started to gain strength. When I went up, I began to chase it and it started to run. How can it run past me? It has two legs, and I have two legs. My legs are longer than the pheasants'. After my efforts, this pheasant was caught by me, strangled and brought back."

After listening to Ji Changze's boasting, none of the Ji family members present believed it.

Don't they know what Ji Changze is like? He was weak from childhood, outrunning a flying pheasant was insane for anyone, but he couldn't even outrun another man.

Ji Changguang squatted down and picked up the pheasant and looked at it. He found that the wild grass like vines were still wrapped around its neck. He looked up at his younger brother, "Changze, this pheasant seems to have died after being entangled in the wild grass."

"Oh, really?"

Ji Changze's face didn't change and he immediately changed his stance. "I just remembered it wrongly, it was actually a vine that I wrapped around its neck that killed it."

Oh …

The Ji family immediately understood.

It seems that this pheasant was not killed by Ji Changze, but was entangled and killed by vines somehow, and was discovered later.

But still, he was trying to persuade them.

Changze was weak and usually couldn't run. How can he outrun a pheasant?

Ah, young people just love to talk big…

When Father Ji opens his mouth, he intends to tear the flimsy excuse apart. "Changze, this pheasant… it's not you…"

Mother Ji suddenly hit his arm and motioned for him not to talk. Father Ji could only swallow the rest of his words, then watched as his wife looked at their youngest son with a praising expression, and spoke in a coaxing, maternal tone.

"Ai yo… Our Changze is really great, being able to catch a pheasant. As I told you, he is the most promising son."

After saying that, she was still not satisfied and went to look at Ji Changguang again. "Yes, Changguang, your brother is promising, right?"

Ji Changguang nodded and cooperated with her: "Yes, Changze is."

He felt that his brother was so good and humble that it was rare for him to show off. Even if he was only boasting, he should cooperate.

Not only did he praise it himself, he also went to look at Father Ji to continue. "Dad, don't you think so?"

Father Ji also reacted, looking at his eldest son, then at his wife, and then at the pheasant on the ground. "Yes, yes, yes, our Changze is just awesome!"

Never mind how this pheasant got here anyway.

Why can others get pheasants from the mountain, but they can't?! It didn't matter!

Their family's Changze is amazing!

No one thought the pheasant was really caught by Ji Changze, after all, they knew him well and they knew he didn't have it in him.

But you have to praise his actions!

At that time, the Ji's yard was filled with false praise.

It's rare to have meat, and it's such a big pheasant on top of that. Mother Ji was so happy that she directly picked up the pheasant and said she would pluck it to clean it up. It just so happened that there was some salt left in the house before. She could marinate the meat and keep it for a long time.

Ji Changze directly interjected. "What about stewed chicken, then. Mom, I want stewed chicken."

Mother Ji was now in a dilemma. "Changze, how do we make this chicken stew? We don't have an iron pot in our house. How can we cook it?"

And now the team won't let themselves open a fire. So, if they cook it out in the open, what if the smoke comes out and it gets discovered?

(TNote: team; meaning in the 80's villages were considered farming production teams, and usually the village leaders were the team leaders.)

"I'm going to my sister-in-law's house today, aren't I? I'll take it to my sister-in-law's home. It just happens to be my first visit, I felt bad not taking something, these city people are cooking their own, and don't have to sneak around to cook a chicken."

While talking, Ji Changze put his hand on Ji Changguang's shoulder, raising his eyebrows and showing pride. "What's more, my older brother has been taken care of by my Sister-in-law since he married her. Although it's said that the two have good feelings, our family has to help Changguang hold up some face."

Ji Changguang was immediately moved.

He really didn't expect his brother to be so kind to him.

Such a delicious pheasant, yet he was willing to give it to his father-in-law, just to keep up appearances.

Mother Ji didn't look very good.

Although what Ji Changguang said yesterday made her heart a little bit sad, right now, a pheasant has graced their table. That so much meat was not eaten at home, and rather sent to outsiders…

How could she be willing?!

"Such a big chicken, but we haven't eaten any of it ourselves. Your sister-in-law is of a working-class family, so how can they lack any meat?"

Seeing the light in Ji Changguang's eyes dim as a result of his mother's words, Ji Changze looked like he was careless.

"Older brother, Mom is afraid that if we take the pheasant back, you would be ashamed. There's no shortage of meat at your sister-in-law's house."

How could Mother Ji mean this? She wanted to open her mouth to speak, but Ji Changze pulled her arm aside with a quick glance.

"Mom, this pheasant can't just be sent over there, it has to be processed. Come on, I'll go with you to pluck its feathers."

He waited until he had pulled Mother Ji into the house before he dropped her arm.

Mother Ji shrugs it off. "Changze, why are you stopping me? Our family has 'given' their family a son. Now your big brother has become someone else's and we're still blindly giving them meat to eat, why should we?"

"Ehhh, Mom, why are you so foolish?"

Ji Changze looked like he was thinking 'I'm the smart one, I'm the right one,' and patted the pheasant in his hand. "We can't stew the chicken in our hands, but your son wants chicken stew. Can you cook it?"

"It's not all going to be given to them! I'll just deliver some meat, and with such a large chicken, they won't even be able to eat half of it. It's a great deal for their family."

Mother Ji didn't feel good.

It's fine for a good son to go to someone's house.

It's not easy to get a pheasant here, so why should it also go to that Liu family?

"Don't worry Mom, I'm sure I'll bring back chicken stew if I take this pheasant over there."

"Bring it back? Who's going to let go of fresh meat when it's just sitting there?"

Ji Changze said, "Don't worry, your son has a plan. Mom, I'm telling you, don't ever say those things you just said to me in front of my older brother, and anyway, in the future, you'll say nice things about him in front of him and be more considerate."

Before Mother Ji's eyes could glaze over in anger, he then added, "I'm telling you, older brother didn't really become a kept son-in-law, but you see how good Sister-in-law's family is to him. If our family keeps pushing him out, it's not good for him. Think about it, big brother is still filial to you now, but after a long time, he would lose his heart for our family."

Seeing the expression on Mother Ji's face become thoughtful, Ji Changze struck while the iron was hot. "Now you have to be kind to Changguang, so that he feels our family is really warm and really good to him. When the time comes, Sister-in-law's family will not win over his heart again. The real parents who were good to him, or the in-laws, the one to choose is clear to him!

"But if it were his biological parents who treated him badly, and his in-laws, who treated him well, it would be hard to say which one to choose then."

Yes.

Mother Ji was full of fire, but when her youngest son said that, she also gradually felt as though the situation was exactly what Changze had said.

Ah…

Her youngest son is smart! Such a quick thinker!

Outside.

Ji Changguang waited in the yard with an uneasy face, craning his neck and peeking in.

Finally, the door opened, and he hurriedly stepped forward. He looked nervously at his Mom who came out and dryly called out, "Mom."

Mother Ji went forward with the pheasant and a smile on her face: "Changguang, your brother is right. Your father-in-law and mother-in-law have taken care of you for so long, and our family doesn't have anything to thank them with. It's rare to have pheasants. Mom will clean it up so you can bring it over and thank the in-laws properly. "

Ji Changguang widened his eyes and even stuttered in shock. "Mom, do you really want me to bring the pheasant back?"

"It's not a lie."

The mother in front of him smiled very lovingly, and as far as Ji Changguang could remember, such a smile hadn't been seen on Mother Ji's face since he'd moved in with his wife.

His eyes turned red with emotion. "Mom, I don't want this pheasant. Changze got it. You guys worked hard, you should keep it."

Mother Ji thought, "Of course, it should be kept!"

But even if pheasants are delicious, the son is more important.

She tried to smile kindly.

"No. You've been living in your father-in-law's house for so long that you should more or less show it. After all, you are the son of our Ji family. How can you live in a house for no cost? Be good, I'll go clean the poultry."

Ji Changguang was moved to tears and stood there for a long time as he watched his mother take the chicken to boil water.

"Older brother."

Ji Changze tapped him on the shoulder from behind. " Older brother, I've got some fabric. Please help me pack those mountain products. They look better packaged and will sell well … No, it's better to send it to Sister-in-law's house to make you look good."

Ji Changguang was even more touched.

For his parents who gave up eating a pheasant.

For his brother who worked hard to prepare gifts.

He was so happy.

Mother Ji handled the pheasant well. Touching the wings after they were de-feathered, and almost couldn't resist cutting off some meat and saving it for her own family.

But thinking about what her youngest son told her.

Between son and pheasant, she could only choose son.

When she packed up the pheasants and looked around for things to pack, Ji Changze in the house was also teaching Ji Changguang how to pack these mountain goods.

There are quite a few fabrics available at home, thanks to Mother Ji's temperament of hiding all the good things. When she bought new fabrics, she was reluctant to use them, so she kept them in the cupboard waiting to make new clothes for the New Year.

As a result, a mouse entered the cabinet, and the good cloth was bitten, getting several big holes. Not to mention making clothes, when they were made into sheets, it was necessary to find another cloth to fill those big holes.

At that time, Mother Ji hated it so much her teeth itch, and she took the whole family to rummage through the boxes to find the mouse. If the mouse had been caught, they would roast it with fire. However, she just couldn't catch it, and finally she could only fold these fabrics against the bottom of the box angrily.

Now, Ji Changze and Ji Changguang tore them into small strips of cloth, and tied them together to make beautiful bows.

Ji Changguang had never seen this packaging method before, and asked him curiously, "Changze, what's this for? I thought we were going to wrap these mountain goods?"

"Yes, I thought there weren't enough for bags."

Ji Changze started quickly, and quickly gathered up these bows: "Just wait until we go to the city and buy a box."

Although Ji Changguang still didn't understand the use of doing this, he thought about when his younger brother told him that the packaging was better so that his older brother could have face in the Liu family, so he kept his mouth shut and continued to help.

The two brothers folded the bows and prepared the mountain goods before putting everything on the flatbed and setting off.

Before departure, Ji Changguang, who has never been given a ride before, was enjoying it.

Mother Ji took his hand, eyes full of reluctance, and kept telling him: "Hurry up on the road, it's so cold these days, don't freeze to death."

It's rare for her to pull him to talk instead of his younger brother. Ji Changguang was so excited that he nodded repeatedly: "Mom, don't worry, Changze and I have long legs, we'll be there soon, we won't freeze."

Mother Ji still didn't feel at ease. Her pheasant, which has just been cleaned, would be frozen.

She took her eldest son's hand again and said, "Next time you come to see us more often, don't always come once in a while."

Send more things and make up for her pheasant.

Ji Changguang looked at his mother's face, and nodded his head again, showing guilt in his eyes.

He is really unfilial. When he went to the city, he couldn't spend time with his parents, and complaining that they only love Changze.

Now that he's leaving. Seeing that his mother was so unwilling to let him go. It was only when she looked like she wanted to hold him back from leaving, but had to let go, that he realized how much she didn't want to let him go.

"Mom, I'll be back often, don't worry, go back."

Ji Changguang really had the urge to stay at home, but he couldn't. He needed to continue to work tomorrow and can't help but leave.

So, he could only endure his heart, and slowly let go of Mother Ji that was holding his hand firmly.

"Older Brother, let's go."

Ji Changze with a piece of hay in his mouth, saw Ji Changguang coming, got up from the crate, threw the piece of hay, and called him along.

Ji Changguang nodded, looked back and saw that his parents were standing at the door, and their faces were unwilling.

He felt distressed and happy in his heart.

The brothers went away.

Mother Ji was still standing fixedly in place, and had been watching their figures disappear around the corner before she wiped the corners of her mouth with a face full of reluctance.

"Oh, my big fat chicken, damn it."

Although the road to the city is not too difficult, it is also long and off the beaten track. There are three rivers on the road. Although there are sporadic residents around, they were far away from the river.

Ji Changze looked out while passing a river, and then said to Ji Changguang, who was pulling his car: "Brother, stop for a while."

Ji Changguang stopped doubtfully, then watched with a dazed face as his brother pulled a curved hook made of a needle out of his pocket.

"Changze, what are you doing?"

"I don't think there are many people near this river, and the water isn't shallow. Maybe there are fish."

Ji Changze rummaged in his pocket as he spoke, took out a mass of cotton thread, skillfully tied it to the hook, folded a small dead branch next to it and tied it on the rope all as a fish float, and hooked a small piece of meat down from the pheasant, threw the hook into the water, and tugged on the cotton yarn, and looked down.

The series of actions were flowing, the whole thing took absolutely no more than three minutes.

Ji Changguang: "…"

He just stood in place for a while, Changze looked like a leisurely fisherman.

"Changze, stop that now. We have to go to your Sister-in-law's house, or we'll miss lunch."

"Wait for me."

Ji Changze never looked up from the water and said without looking back, "I'll catch another fish and take it to Sister-in-law's house."

Ji Changguang scratched his head helplessly. "Changze, some time ago, the fish were almost caught to death. It's fine anyway, how would you even catch one?"

—whoosh!

The young man sitting by the river jerked up the line in his hand, and a large, fat fish was lifted straight to shore with it.

Ji Changguang: "…"

He watched as Ji Changze picked up the fish and tossed it onto the crates then covered it, with a full face of befuddlement.

It shouldn't be.

Before, he listened to his parents say that everyone didn't have enough to eat, so they tried their best to get food. The fish in these three rivers had already been caught and disappeared.

On the way to continue his journey, he couldn't help but ask Ji Changze.

"Hey, isn't it simple? The river is surrounded by weeds, and it doesn't look like someone stepped on it, which means that no one has been fishing in the river for a long time. No one can fish except children in our area. If we look at the river below, the current is strong, and the water under the bridge is surging, the small fish must have been washed away. If there is a fish, it would be a big one, so I tried it."

Ji Changguang was even more dumbfounded.

What Ji Changze said he actually knew all of this, he just never thought of combining them and never thought that combining them would result in a big fish at the bottom.

"Changze, why are you so smart? People would never think of that."

"Haven't I always been so smart?"

Ji Changze shrugged his shoulders, as if he was ignorant: "As for the others who can't think of it… You either are planting or farming every day, and go to bed when you finish your work. How can they be flexible and know how to think about food?"

Ji Changguang came to a sudden realization.

Yes, everyone else works hard every day, but his brother, who doesn't work every day, wanders here and there and lays around.

But isn't there time to think about something else?

It seems that there are advantages to not working.

There were fish and there were poultry, and listening to Ji Changze droning on about how he definitely couldn't be embarrassed this time, Ji Changguang's heart swelled with pride.

Although his wife's family is very kind to him, Ji Changguang was not the kind of person who eats soft rice, and his heart will definitely be uncomfortable, feeling that he has taken advantage of his wife.

(TNote: eating soft rice= eating for nothing / taking advantage of the family.)

But now, his family was gifting poultry, fish and mountain products.

The family has to buy meat and also meat tickets. They hadn't eaten meat for a long time. His wife would be happy.

Ji Changze lazily lagged behind, looking at his big brother's excited face as he wondered what he had thought of, and slipped away to buy a small box from the supply and marketing shop.

The mountain goods were put in and tied with a bow.

Ji Changze was crafty, and with this arrangement, this ordinary little box looks upscale all of a sudden.

He patted the little box and put it away.

The end result was pretty good.

When Ji Changguang knocked at the door, it was his wife Liu Huifen who opened the door.

"You're back. " The smile on Liu Huifen's face hadn't fully spread before she saw Ji Changze, who was waving his hand behind her husband, greeting her.

The smile on her face froze at once.

How did this rascal get here?

Ji Changguang didn't see that his wife didn't welcome his younger brother. Because he was imagining beautiful scenes all the way here, his face was full of smiles, and he turned to his younger brother in a good mood and beckoned:

"Changze, come and greet."

Ji Changze immediately slipped forward and smiled very brightly: "Hello Sister-in-law."

Liu Huifen nodded with a quick smile: "Changze is here."

"Yes, it seems that I have never been to Sister-in-law's house, so I said this time I should have a look. I was exhausted along the way. By the way, Sister-in-law, have you started cooking yet? Make some good food."

Watching the younger brother-in-law who was not at all out of place, stretch his legs and swagger into the house, Liu Huifen almost smashed the door.

She hadn't seen Ji Changze much, but she was all too familiar with his scoundrel behavior.

Isn't that what he justifiably asked for, that bicycle?

As a result, the bicycle was bought but the promised money was not paid.

Does he know how difficult it is to get a bicycle ticket?

Do you know how much it costs to buy a bicycle?

How can there be such shameless person in the world!

If it weren't for Changguang's face, she couldn't wait to drive the person out with a big broom.

Seeing Ji Changze enter the house, Liu Huifen took a deep breath and looked at her husband, "Changguang, what's going on? Why did he come? Did he return the money to us?"

Ji Changguang was now able to see that his wife didn't like his brother and quickly explained: "Huifen, in fact, Changze is not what you think. He's quite nice, and he's especially nice to me as his brother, so maybe it was really a misunderstanding on our part before."

Liu Huifen: "?"

Liu Huifen: "… what do you mean?"

Ji Changguang thought she didn't hear clearly, and smiled and repeated: "I said Changze, is actually very kind to me."

Liu Huifen: "…"

In the room, Ji Changze poked his head out and shouted to him: "Brother, why are you still at the door? Come in quickly and pour me water to drink and find some food. I'm starving."

Afterwards, perhaps feeling a little bad about that, the little bastard added, "And it's so cold out, you don't want to freeze to death."

"Look how nice Changze is."

Liu Huifen watched his own man smile happily, and showed off to her: "How sweet, and how grown up to worry about me freezing to death."

Liu Huifen: "…"

Husband! What's wrong with you, husband? Did you selectively ignore those words that instructed you to work?!

Have you forgotten what we said about Ji Changze being an asshole who only wants money and stuff from us and doesn't remember us, have you forgotten?!

Seeing that Ji Changguang walked into the house with a face full of happiness and waited on his younger brother.

Liu Huifen's face went blank.

It's over.

Her man.

It's possessed!

Ji Changze has never been to his Sister-in-law's house, but he's no stranger to it.

Outside, Liu Huifen was still confused about how her husband had suddenly changed his temper, as the husband had very naturally moved himself to a bench and sat down, crossing his legs as if he was waiting to be served.

On the other hand, his big brother was also really nice to him, walking quickly into the house and giving him water to drink and snacks to eat.

He just sits there comfortably, and now and then says something without any sincerity. "Brother, don't bother. We are brothers, you don't have to be so polite to me, just give me some plain boiled water and let me sit."

"That's not okay."

Ji Changguang found some dried sweet potatoes and put them in front of his younger brother with a smile. "You have never been here before, so I have to take good care of you."

"By the way, I remember we have some rock sugar, it would be better to put it in water, I'll get it for you."

Liu Huifen watched her husband enter their house, and then took a look at her brother-in-law, who was sitting in their house looking like he was enjoying himself, and she also entered the house in anger.

As soon as she entered, she saw Ji Changguang rummaging through the rock sugar.

"Ji Changguang, what's the matter with you?"

Liu Huifen was an only daughter, and Father Liu and Mother Liu loved her. Therefore, although she's not very feisty, she wouldn't keep her grievances to herself.

She directly grabbed her husband's arm and asked, "Didn't you go to your parents for money? Is the money coming? Why did you bring Changze back?"

Even if you bring him here, you still serve this scoundrel like that?!

She was afraid he forgot how much Ji Changze had taken from them since they got married.

Ji Changguang was looking for the sugar attentively. When he heard his wife's words, he remembered that he had not explained the bicycle to her yet.

Although he now feels that the bicycles should be given to his younger brother, Ji Changguang wasn't the kind of person who thinks only about his parents and younger brother, and didn't care about his wife's feelings. He immediately looked awkward and carefully explained it.

"Huifen, let's not ask for this money. In fact, it's my fault that Changze is physically weak now, and has a hard time finding a wife. Now he has found a wife, the bicycle should be regarded as a gift to celebrate his wedding."

Liu Huifen. "…"

She almost suspected that something was wrong with her ears.

"Ji Changguang, what are you talking about?!"

"Don't you know how much the bicycle costs? Why should you give Ji Changze the money you have saved for so long? And it's your fault that he couldn't marry a wife?! It's his own laziness and bad reputation. Otherwise, with his face, how could you still think he couldn't find a wife?!"

Ji Changguang hurriedly said: "No, Huifen, that's not the case. Changze is not lazy. He is physically weak, so he couldn't work. He is diligent."

Liu Huifen. "…"

Ji Changze, who is waiting for people to serve him like a big master outside, is diligent?!

Sure enough, Ji Changguang is just possessed, right?

"Listen to me, we misunderstood Changze before. He is a good boy, let me tell you …"

Ji Changguang's words hadn't finished yet, but they heard the courtyard door opened again, and then in came the voice of Father Liu and Mother Liu.

They're back.

The couple had to stop the conversation for a while and go out to tell them about Ji Changze's visit to the house.

Liu Huifen was very good at handling this problem. Although Ji Changguang lived and ate at their home now, Liu Huifen always gives him a face in front of her parents and outsiders.

Just like this time, even if she was dissatisfied with Ji Changze, she would only pull her husband into the house and talk.

Out in front of Ji Changze and her parents, she certainly won't tear down Ji Changguang's standing.

Ji Changze also heard the noise outside. When his older brother and sister-in-law came out, he stood up and looked like a good man.

"Dad, Mom, this is Changze, Changguang's younger brother."

Liu Huifen introduced him to her parents as if nothing had happened.

Ji Changze looked at Father Liu and Mother Liu.

Both of them have jobs. Mother Liu is a laborer, and Father Liu worked in a state-owned hotel, and also found a job for his daughter as a salesman in the supply and marketing agency. This family is not much in the later generations, but now, it's said as very good.

The two people were a little surprised when they saw Ji Changze.

After all, there were no holiday visits, and the relationship between Ji Changguang and his family wasn't so good before, especially Ji Changze, who asked for things from Ji Changguang before without any concern for face. When he suddenly came over this time, it was easy for people to think of ulterior motives for his appearance.

But both of them also were polite to their son-in-law and greeted him with a smile on their faces even though they had heard their daughter talk about Ji Changze's bad reputation before.

Anyway, they only had to treat him to a nice meal.

Ji Changguang was honest, good to their daughter and good to them. Father Liu and Mother Liu were still happy to give their son-in-law this much.

As a result, after the greeting, they were greeted by the smiling spirited young man, completely unrecognizable as someone with a bad reputation. He walked over and said,

"Uncle, Aunt, actually I've been wanting to come and see you for a long time, it's just that these years haven't been very good, and the family can't bring anything to formally visit. This is also a coincidence, I caught a pheasant and caught a fish in the river. I thought it would be a good idea to bring these things with me, and that's why I came with my older brother."

Liu Huifen rolled her eyes in her heart as she listened to the preceding words about not being able to come visit because they couldn't get anything.

That's a lie. Right now, every family is very poor. Even if he grabs a handful of wild vegetables and comes to visit, it can be regarded as bringing something, and no one would say anything.

It must be an excuse!

As a result, she froze when she heard pheasant and fish.

It can't be.

Ji Changze has this ability?

No, even if he really had this ability, he's such a jerk; How could he catch a pheasant and some fish and bring them to their home?

It must be a lie!

Unfortunately, Ji Changze really wasn't lying.

He went outside, rummaged through the tricycle's flatbed, and found the pheasant and the fish that had been plucked and cleaned.

In the not-so-warm sunshine, Ji Changze, with a fowl in his left hand and some fish in his right, stood in the courtyard and smiled at the Liu family.

"On the way here, I hid it for fear of being seen, and forgot about it."

Liu Huifen. "…"

She's not dreaming, is she?

Father Liu and Mother Liu didn't know what Liu Huifen knew too clearly, and now there was a surprised smile on their faces.

Father Liu smiled and said, "We are all relatives. Why are you so polite? You can come to the house without taking anything, our family doesn't have this rule."

Mother Liu also said, "Yes, Changze, this pheasant and fish are valuable, take them back quickly. You are Changguang's brother, even if you didn't bring anything, our family would definitely treat you well."

"How can I take it back when I've brought it all here."

Ji Changze went to the kitchen and smiled at the two elders. "In fact, it's useless to put these in our house. We all eat in the commune, otherwise we would trouble ourselves. It's just thinking that my sister-in-law's family is from the city? This meat is brought for you to eat, and it is not cheap out there."

Ah, this kid is really sincere…

Father Liu and Mother Liu suddenly changed their long-standing view on Ji Changze.

There is no cooking in the villages, you had to sneak around! But it's really not allowed. Now, you need tickets for everything you buy in the city, and meat is more expensive. There were few tickets in the first place. This pheasant and fish add up to so much meat, so if Ji Changze can exchange something with someone quietly, it can be exchanged for a lot.

But in the end, he actually brought them all directly to their house.

If he doesn't value their home, he wouldn't do such a thing!

For a moment, both of them looked at Ji Changze in a much more intimate way.

After a long while of protesting along the lines of "Meat is too expensive for us", "No, uncle and aunt, this is for you", "But your family is spending too much, and we really can't take it", "if you feel sorry about it, Uncle, Aunt, take a bowl and let me take some back for my parents to eat, and let them taste it"…

Ji Changze successfully accomplished the goal of "Delivering pheasant meat and fish, but walking away with cooked pheasant meat and fish".

Father Liu and Mother Liu felt that he was an honest child just like Ji Changguang.

Look, he hunted down pheasant meat and fish, his own family didn't even have a bite to eat, but he actually gave them all to them, whole.

Even if he only bought half a chicken, or only fish, it was a great gift.

After all, it's too difficult to have meat these days.

Liu Huifen watched Ji Changze sit in the house and have a good talk with her father.

"Uncle, you like to play chess. Coincidentally, I like it too, but I can't play myself. I just like to watch others. I think it is played by learned talents. Why don't you teach me, Uncle?"

Father Liu also has a hobby of playing chess, and his favorite thing was usually that people say he had culture, but now he met Ji Changze, and both his favorite points were tickled.

He perked up all of a sudden, laughing more than he had in three days, pulling Ji Changze inside and talking non-stop, literally wishing this was his son.

Liu Huifen:. "…"

Ji Changze was fond of watching people play chess, which he knew well.

But isn't that because all the old men in the village bet on something in chess, like peanuts or something?

Ji Changze likes to walk around and see if he can get some peanuts to eat!

Huifen was looking at the two angrily while chopping the pheasant, when Mother Liu came in with a smile. "Huifen, Changze is not like what you said before. This child has a good heart. Just now, he taught me that washing my face with rice washing water can make my face white and smooth. Try it next time. By the way, let me tell you, this child is funny. He said, if we go out together, people will think I was his sister. Is your mom that young? Talking to this child is so funny."

Liu Huifen didn't miss the fondness in her Mother's eyes for Ji Changze: "…"

Crazy.

Everyone in her family is crazy!

This Ji Changze was a devil, how could he bewitch people?

Liu Huifen looked down at the pheasant on the chopping board, thought about it, and took a drumstick and set it aside.

Mother Liu: "What are you doing? This pheasant is from somebody else. Later, one drumstick will be given to Changze, and the other will be taken back to your in-laws."

Liu Huifen: "…"

The money and things she and Changguang sent to Ji's family were enough to buy a lot of drumsticks.

It just so happened that Ji Changguang also came in with water, so Liu Huifen hastily grabbed him. "Changguang, tell me, what's going on with Changze, is there something he's begging you for since he's so courteous today?"

This was a typical weasel paying New Year's greetings to chickens!

(Tnote: weasel paying New Year's greetings to chickens = Idiom meaning; Beware of suspicious folk bearing gifts, they are sure to be ill-intentioned.)

Now the whole family had been deceived by Ji Changze as if they were blind. She must fight for the last line of defense.

Ji Changguang's face was full of doubts. "No, Changze has never come, so he wanted to visit."

Who are you kidding?! Why haven't I seen him come visit before?

Liu Huifen's eyes narrowed slightly, and she felt that things weren't so simple. When she thought about it, she suddenly thought of something. "Wait, is it okay on your parents' end if these things were sent to our house?!"

She knows that her in-laws never liked her very much.

"Yes, Mom also told me to take good care of you, saying that I am burdening my father-in-law. And, it's only because you're virtuous that a grown man like me can live at home."

Liu Huifen froze.

She was shocked and even stuttered: "Mom, your mom really said that?"

No way. Didn't her mother-in-law treat her with disdain?

Ji Changguang responded, "Yes, by the way, Huifen, I want to make an effort and see if I can move up."

Liu Huifen asked, "Didn't you always think it was good to stay like this before?"

She also told Ji Changguang many times before to tell him not to just mope around, but also want to think about whether to work upwards. It's so tiring to be a worker all the time.

And Ji Changguang just won't listen. Did he change his temperament today?

"It was Changze who told me it wasn't okay to be like this all the time, and he told me last night to be nice to you. These days, it's not easy to find in-laws who could be so helpful to a son-in-law like me, and Huifen, you're from the city, and are good-looking and educated, and you have a good job, so how can I be worthy of you if I remain at the same position?"

Ji Changguang smiled and said, "Changze also said that we have been married for some time. Although it seems that the salary is almost the same, in fact, you have been working harder at home. We are going to have a baby soon. When the baby is born, it will cost more money. I have to work harder to make you and our child live a good life."

Liu Huifen was shocked by his words.

What she fancied was that Ji Changguang was honest and kind to her.

But if Ji Changguang could earn more money, she would certainly be happier.

Ji Changguang took his wife's hand again and said, "Huifen, really, you have worked hard."

Liu Huifen blinked, and the ends of her eyes were a little red. She was embarrassed and turned away from him, and pushed her husband gently. "It's good that you know."

"In fact, I didn't think of these things before. It was Changze who told me."

Liu Huifen pouted. "Your brother can see more clearly than you can."

After saying that, she took out the drumstick she kept before and put it back.

She didn't see that Ji Changze was really sensible.

Did he really grow up?

Ji Changze's meal at Liu's house could be described as a feast for the guests.

None of the Liu family members were the kind of people who wanted to make a fuss. Since he brought the pheasant and fish, they didn't skimp on the good food either, and a table was set for noon.

And, he was given a special big drumstick holder.

Ji Changze wasn't polite at all. Since they gave it to him, he would eat it.

If it had been before, Liu Huifen would have thought that this boy was thick-skinned, and didn't even push back a bit and said that he wasn't here to eat and drink.

But now she's happy because of what her husband told her before, and she didn't think about it at all.

After dinner and washing dishes, Mother Liu spoke to her in a particularly happy tone, "I think Changze is quite straightforward and gets along with your Dad. It seems that you really misunderstood him before."

Liu Huifen looked back and saw Ji Changze sitting there learning to play chess with Father.

He was still crossing one leg over the other.

It's also true that there was no decency in all of his body.

He was even smiling like a gangster.

It was clearly identical to the image she had seen in the past, but why was it so unappealing?

Mother Liu was still chattering, "Your in-laws are treating you well on their side too, they're in the countryside and now they're not allowed to raise chickens and ducks, so it'll only be harder for them to eat meat than us. But even after all that, they told Changze to send the pheasant and fish he caught. I used to say they didn't look too close to our family, but now I guess I'm overthinking it."

Liu Huifen immediately forgot to think about Ji Changze.

Yes, the attitude of her in-laws was the key.

It would only be a great thing if they really did what Changguang said, and now her mother-in-law knew how to understand her, too.

Both mother and daughter were in a good mood as they cleaned up the kitchen.

When stewing chicken before, Mother Liu specially reserved a large bowl of pheasant, and most of the pheasant meat was in it.

Plus, there was half a fish, and their own dishes. She packed a basket full of delicious food.

In-laws would rather not eat at home and give them the pheasant and fish. Their family wasn't the kind to take advantage of it.

Mother Liu put all the food in the basket and handed it to Liu Huifen, saying, "When Changze leaves, you gave this to him. I think Changze is very kind to you. When people are good to you, you must be good to others."

"I know, Mom."

Liu Huifen took the basket and nodded her head.

Although she also felt that Ji Changze seemed to be getting better, she always felt something was wrong in her heart.

Thinking about it, Liu Huifen remembered what was wrong.

The bicycle!

Ji Changze is a sweet talker, and he coaxed Changguang to buy him a bicycle, which is an indisputable fact!

A bicycle!

Not to mention how hard it is to get a bicycle ticket, but what about the money spent on the bicycle? Changguang had saved up for so long!

Liu Huifen's face suddenly looked pale again. Mother Liu noticed that her daughter's expression was wrong, and looked at it strangely.

"Huifen, what's wrong?"

"No, nothing."

Liu Huifen didn't tell her about the bicycle, and she wasn't stupid. If she did tell them, even though it was Changguang's own money, her parents would feel uncomfortable and think Changguang didn't think about her.

And if the money doesn't come back, they would be more or less unpleasant toward Changze, and the in-laws, at heart.

It'll still be a long light caught in the middle of a dilemma.

When Ji Changze was leaving, Ji Changguang and Liu Huifen went to see him off.

Liu Huifen took the basket and handed it to Ji Changze. "Take these back to your parents and tell them that I have no days off this time. I will definitely go to see them with Changguang next time."

Ji Changze picked it up, and when he looked at Liu Huifen, he knew she had something to say.

With a second look, he figured she was definitely going to say something about the bicycle.

Ji Changze doesn't like owing people things, and if he couldn't collapse his persona, he'd just find an excuse to send the bike back now.

But he, who coaxed a bicycle by every possible means, couldn't say no.

Then he'll have to bluff.

Liu Huifen opened her mouth, "Changze, there is another thing …"

"Right!" Ji Changze immediately cut off the topic and smiled brightly. "Sister-in-law, you reminded me that there is another thing."

Under the dazed look from Liu Huifen, pulled out the crate in the back, took out the packaged small box and stuffed it directly into Liu Huifen's hands.

Liu Huifen looked down at the little box. "What is this?"

"This is something good."

Ji Changze has a 'I'm going to start bragging' look on his face, and chattering begins. "There are all kinds of mountain goods that I have carefully selected, including those that can be eaten, and those that can be baked directly as snacks. I have heard my older brother say that you two are going to have children. Sister-in-law, you must keep healthy. These mountain goods are the best and most nourishing for your health."

He began to exaggerate his credit with no shame, "I went to a lot of trouble for these things."

Ji Changguang didn't explain much.

It took a lot of effort for him to slip the money to Seventh Uncle.

Liu Huifen took this exquisitely packaged small box and looked at her brother-in-law in amazement. "Did you get this up the mountain?"

After all, there was a pheasant in front of her, and she suddenly thought Ji Changze went up the mountain to get mountain products for her.

Ji Changze said, "Never mind where I got them, sister-in-law. Anyway, as long as you know it's a good thing, you can eat it first, and I'll bring something else after you're done."

The box was expensive at first glance because of the packaging, and with Ji Changze bragging about it, Liu Huifen got embarrassed.

"How can you say that? You shouldn't trouble yourself."

"No trouble, no trouble."

Ji Changze smirked, "Isn't this just for the sake of my sister-in-law, but also for my future little nephews and nieces? We are all family. It's nothing for me as an uncle to prepare more for them. You see, my older brother takes care of me. It's just that I almost drowned when I was a child. My older brother has always been very kind to me ever since I can remember."

Liu Huifen was stunned. Was this true?

She looked at her husband next to her and saw Ji Changguang look guilty. "Don't say that. I should be nice to you. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have been in bad health since childhood, and people wouldn't talk behind your back saying you were lazy and didn't work."

Ji Changze waved his hand with a nonchalant look on his face, "I didn't want to work in the first place, so they can talk all they want. "

The more he said so, the more people felt that he was pretending to be relaxed and easy in order to make Ji Changguang feel better at heart.

Ji Changguang felt sorry for his younger brother even more. "It's all my fault. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be unable to do farm work all the time, or you wouldn't marry An Xiaolu …"

Although, there was nothing wrong with An Xiaolu's character.

But the mere fact that she was mute was enough to make Ji Changguang feel bad for his younger brother.

"Big brother, what are you talking about, Xiaolu is quite wonderful! Although she can't speak, she is a former high school student. If it weren't for her becoming mute, I wouldn't be good enough for someone like her."

Ji Changze said, "I'm very satisfied now. Since you got married, watching Sister-in-law treat you so well, I've always thought that I would marry a wife who studies well and is as gentle as her. It's my luck to be able to marry Xiaolu. Don't say such disparaging words about her in the future, just like you don't like others belittling your wife, I don't like it either."

What he said not only praised Liu Huifen for her good education and gentle temperament, but also pointing out Ji Changguang's protection of his wife and a wife loving persona was established.

For younger girls, a man defending his fiancée with righteous words…

That is enough to paint their hearts full of good feelings.

Not to mention those words before.

Liu Huifen completely forgot about the bicycle, and pushed the wooden husband next to her shyly. "Did you hear what Changze said? My family's Xiaolu is very good. Don't talk too much in the future."

Although she has never seen this future Sister-in-law, she already has a good feeling in her heart.

Ji Changze however said that An Xiaolu is as gentle as she is by nature.

Can a sister-in-law like her not befriend her!?

Ji Changze's meal at Liu's house could be described as a feast for the guests.

None of the Liu family members were the kind of people who wanted to make a fuss. Since he brought the pheasant and fish, they didn't skimp on the good food either, and a table was set for noon.

And, he was given a special big drumstick holder.

Ji Changze wasn't polite at all. Since they gave it to him, he would eat it.

If it had been before, Liu Huifen would have thought that this boy was thick-skinned, and didn't even push back a bit and said that he wasn't here to eat and drink.

But now she's happy because of what her husband told her before, and she didn't think about it at all.

After dinner and washing dishes, Mother Liu spoke to her in a particularly happy tone, "I think Changze is quite straightforward and gets along with your Dad. It seems that you really misunderstood him before."

Liu Huifen looked back and saw Ji Changze sitting there learning to play chess with Father.

He was still crossing one leg over the other.

It's also true that there was no decency in all of his body.

He was even smiling like a gangster.

It was clearly identical to the image she had seen in the past, but why was it so unappealing?

Mother Liu was still chattering, "Your in-laws are treating you well on their side too, they're in the countryside and now they're not allowed to raise chickens and ducks, so it'll only be harder for them to eat meat than us. But even after all that, they told Changze to send the pheasant and fish he caught. I used to say they didn't look too close to our family, but now I guess I'm overthinking it."

Liu Huifen immediately forgot to think about Ji Changze.

Yes, the attitude of her in-laws was the key.

It would only be a great thing if they really did what Changguang said, and now her mother-in-law knew how to understand her, too.

Both mother and daughter were in a good mood as they cleaned up the kitchen.

When stewing chicken before, Mother Liu specially reserved a large bowl of pheasant, and most of the pheasant meat was in it.

Plus, there was half a fish, and their own dishes. She packed a basket full of delicious food.

In-laws would rather not eat at home and give them the pheasant and fish. Their family wasn't the kind to take advantage of it.

Mother Liu put all the food in the basket and handed it to Liu Huifen, saying, "When Changze leaves, you gave this to him. I think Changze is very kind to you. When people are good to you, you must be good to others."

"I know, Mom."

Liu Huifen took the basket and nodded her head.

Although she also felt that Ji Changze seemed to be getting better, she always felt something was wrong in her heart.

Thinking about it, Liu Huifen remembered what was wrong.

The bicycle!

Ji Changze is a sweet talker, and he coaxed Changguang to buy him a bicycle, which is an indisputable fact!

A bicycle!

Not to mention how hard it is to get a bicycle ticket, but what about the money spent on the bicycle? Changguang had saved up for so long!

Liu Huifen's face suddenly looked pale again. Mother Liu noticed that her daughter's expression was wrong, and looked at it strangely.

"Huifen, what's wrong?"

"No, nothing."

Liu Huifen didn't tell her about the bicycle, and she wasn't stupid. If she did tell them, even though it was Changguang's own money, her parents would feel uncomfortable and think Changguang didn't think about her.

And if the money doesn't come back, they would be more or less unpleasant toward Changze, and the in-laws, at heart.

It'll still be a long light caught in the middle of a dilemma.

When Ji Changze was leaving, Ji Changguang and Liu Huifen went to see him off.

Liu Huifen took the basket and handed it to Ji Changze. "Take these back to your parents and tell them that I have no days off this time. I will definitely go to see them with Changguang next time."

Ji Changze picked it up, and when he looked at Liu Huifen, he knew she had something to say.

With a second look, he figured she was definitely going to say something about the bicycle.

Ji Changze doesn't like owing people things, and if he couldn't collapse his persona, he'd just find an excuse to send the bike back now.

But he, who coaxed a bicycle by every possible means, couldn't say no.

Then he'll have to bluff.

Liu Huifen opened her mouth, "Changze, there is another thing …"

"Right!" Ji Changze immediately cut off the topic and smiled brightly. "Sister-in-law, you reminded me that there is another thing."

Under the dazed look from Liu Huifen, pulled out the crate in the back, took out the packaged small box and stuffed it directly into Liu Huifen's hands.

Liu Huifen looked down at the little box. "What is this?"

"This is something good."

Ji Changze has a 'I'm going to start bragging' look on his face, and chattering begins. "There are all kinds of mountain goods that I have carefully selected, including those that can be eaten, and those that can be baked directly as snacks. I have heard my older brother say that you two are going to have children. Sister-in-law, you must keep healthy. These mountain goods are the best and most nourishing for your health."

He began to exaggerate his credit with no shame, "I went to a lot of trouble for these things."

Ji Changguang didn't explain much.

It took a lot of effort for him to slip the money to Seventh Uncle.

Liu Huifen took this exquisitely packaged small box and looked at her brother-in-law in amazement. "Did you get this up the mountain?"

After all, there was a pheasant in front of her, and she suddenly thought Ji Changze went up the mountain to get mountain products for her.

Ji Changze said, "Never mind where I got them, sister-in-law. Anyway, as long as you know it's a good thing, you can eat it first, and I'll bring something else after you're done."

The box was expensive at first glance because of the packaging, and with Ji Changze bragging about it, Liu Huifen got embarrassed.

"How can you say that? You shouldn't trouble yourself."

"No trouble, no trouble."

Ji Changze smirked, "Isn't this just for the sake of my sister-in-law, but also for my future little nephews and nieces? We are all family. It's nothing for me as an uncle to prepare more for them. You see, my older brother takes care of me. It's just that I almost drowned when I was a child. My older brother has always been very kind to me ever since I can remember."

Liu Huifen was stunned. Was this true?

She looked at her husband next to her and saw Ji Changguang look guilty. "Don't say that. I should be nice to you. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have been in bad health since childhood, and people wouldn't talk behind your back saying you were lazy and didn't work."

Ji Changze waved his hand with a nonchalant look on his face, "I didn't want to work in the first place, so they can talk all they want. "

The more he said so, the more people felt that he was pretending to be relaxed and easy in order to make Ji Changguang feel better at heart.

Ji Changguang felt sorry for his younger brother even more. "It's all my fault. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be unable to do farm work all the time, or you wouldn't marry An Xiaolu …"

Although, there was nothing wrong with An Xiaolu's character.

But the mere fact that she was mute was enough to make Ji Changguang feel bad for his younger brother.

"Big brother, what are you talking about, Xiaolu is quite wonderful! Although she can't speak, she is a former high school student. If it weren't for her becoming mute, I wouldn't be good enough for someone like her."

Ji Changze said, "I'm very satisfied now. Since you got married, watching Sister-in-law treat you so well, I've always thought that I would marry a wife who studies well and is as gentle as her. It's my luck to be able to marry Xiaolu. Don't say such disparaging words about her in the future, just like you don't like others belittling your wife, I don't like it either."

What he said not only praised Liu Huifen for her good education and gentle temperament, but also pointing out Ji Changguang's protection of his wife and a wife loving persona was established.

For younger girls, a man defending his fiancée with righteous words…

That is enough to paint their hearts full of good feelings.

Not to mention those words before.

Liu Huifen completely forgot about the bicycle, and pushed the wooden husband next to her shyly. "Did you hear what Changze said? My family's Xiaolu is very good. Don't talk too much in the future."

Although she has never seen this future Sister-in-law, she already has a good feeling in her heart.

Ji Changze however said that An Xiaolu is as gentle as she is by nature.

Can a sister-in-law like her not befriend her!?

Ji Changze didn't show leniency when he increased the price for the mountain goods. He sold so many at once, and when he had money in his hand, he turned around and went to buy things for his marriage.

He bought a lot of odds and ends, and when he went back, Ji Changze who went to town had returned from a rewarding journey.

He was towing the flatbed back. As soon as he reached the village, he ran into someone coming over, some old ladies.

Rural old ladies, are planes who scatter gossip and rumors on the land.

Ji Changze saw them, but before he could say anything, they took the initiative to ask, "Changze, have you gone to the city? What's all this stuff you bought?"

Saying that, they weren't shy about coming forward either, craning their necks to look at what was placed on the flatbed. If Ji Changze hadn't covered it with a plastic sheet, they might have reached out and looked through it.

Ji Changze didn't show any displeasure on his face. He put the crate down naturally and smiled, "Yes, aren't I getting married soon? I just got a few things."

The several old ladies looked at each other a few times, they all could see the disapproval in each other's eyes.

Ji Changze's reputation in the village isn't so good. Now he was going to marry An Xiaolu, who was a mute that studied so long for nothing. Many people laughed at their marriage behind their backs.

An Xiaolu had no scandals except being mute, but she was just too popular before.

After all, she was good-looking, gentle in temperament, and the key point was that she was a high school student. In the future, whether she went straight to work or to college, she would make more money, and it's not an exaggeration to say that half the men in the village her age were thinking that way.

Didn't it stir some kind of 'I like you, but you like An Xiaolu' tragedy?

The worst part was, 'I gave up on you, and the second one I liked, also liked An Xiaolu'.

There had been sour words about her in the village when she was away at school. But now that An Xiaolu was mute, she, who had a bright future ahead of her, suddenly fell into the mud, those sour words turned to cynicism.

Ji Changze's side was even simpler.

He, Ji Changze, was lazy and thick-skinned. Every day, such a grown man, made excuses not to go to work, and eats off his father and mother.

Such a person actually married An Xiaolu?!

Even if she couldn't marry those guys, seeing Ji Changze get the girl, wouldn't they be jealous?

Therefore, there were basically a lot of talk about their marriage in the village.

Ji Changze was an unreliable boy, and he isn't a hard worker who could bear hardships. An Xiaolu would definitely suffer hardships when she marries him.

And what kind of man wants to take care of in-laws all the time? Just watch, Ji Changze would fall out sooner or later.

Nobody cared about them anyway.

These people are actually pretty accurate in their reading, and the original owner really did turn his back on An Xiaolu, and An Xiaolu did suffer for the rest of her life.

"Changze, you're getting married now. So, from now on, work harder, don't always be lazy like before, or how can you support your family?"

This is what one old lady had to say.

Gossip is gossip, but she was actually very kind. Even if Father Ji and Mother Ji love their youngest son as much as they do, they weren't so young, how much longer could they take care of Ji Changze.

Ji Changguang was the eldest brother, but he was married. Who would spend their life minding a brother who isn't very close to them?

If Ji Changze doesn't man up at this time, it would be difficult in the future.

If the original owner heard these words, he would definitely look unhappy, and he might even scold a few words, but replace it with the Ji Changze now…

"It's not that I don't want to be hard-working. It's actually, grandma, as you can see, we work hard in the fields every day, we also get up early and return late. As a result, when I look at how much I get, I feel shortchanged by this work and the lack of benefits."

The few old ladies were stunned by that.

What Ji Changze said was actually quite reasonable, but the question is, when everyone does this, how come he's the only one who's suffering a loss?

"So, what would you do if you don't work and depend on your parents for your daily bread? That's no good, you're getting married."

Ji Changze gave a dismissive example:

"The team will just feed me. I wasn't working anyway, and there was no shortage of food for me, but when I do work, the food is the same. So, I won't work."

That can truly be called a cheeky statement.

Ji Changze had a righteous expression again, it's so deplorable to even condemn.

Old lady: "That's not good enough, you can't even muddle through on your own, but Xiaolu is going to marry you later. How can this be done?"

"Xiaolu will marry me, I'm sure I won't make her suffer."

Ji Changze's statement was a decisive one, and he announced it with a proud look.

"I'll tell you what, I went to the city today to add things for the wedding. What a coincidence, I happened to run into a man who fell on the ground, so I helped him up."

Some of the old ladies had a look on their face as if saying 'you can do good things too?'

Ji Changze: "I saw that he was dressed nicely and thought that after I helped him up, they could thank me, like invite me to a dinner at a state restaurant or something."

(TNote: State-owned-restaurant = restaurants are considered a business, and are only allowed to be owned by the state at those days.)

Oh …

The old ladies had a look on their faces that said, 'That's right, that's his usual development.'

"If that person was stupid. I mean, you just gave them a hand and you would be invited to dinner."

Even dreams don't come that good…

Ji Changze shrugged: "Well, he didn't invite me to dinner."

Look, he said it…

How can there be such a silly person?

Then they heard Ji Changze say: "But that man is actually a factory director. He saw that I was young, diligent and capable, kind and honest, and I looked smart and looked good …"

He bragged about himself with a bunch of compliments, and the few old ladies listened with numb faces.

"Stop, stop, don't boast about yourself. Then what?"

Ji Changze looked so innocently, "Then he said he wanted me to be a worker in their factory."

The old ladies: "…"

What the hell?!

Ji Changze: "As a worker, ah."

The old ladies: "…"

Ji Changze held out his fingers to them, "20 yuan a month."

The old ladies: "…"

Worker?

Ji Changze?

You're lying!

Ji Changze didn't feel strange when he saw their disbelief.

That's a great job for a worker this time of year, manning up with a straight back.

20 yuan a month is more than enough.

Converted, it is almost equivalent to 78,000 in later generations, which was a huge sum for the villagers.

The key was that, this huge sum was for every month.

Ji Changze, the punk who's always been a no-good village gangster that the village people have always thought was only natural?

Impossible, impossible!

Ji Changze knew they didn't believe it.

He directly took out 10 yuan from his pocket.

"Look, this is the salary that the factory director gave me in advance, and he paid the money privately, saying that it was for me to buy things for my marriage."

When the 10 yuan came out, the several old ladies stared at it.

"This, how is that possible? You only helped him…"

It's just a little help…

"What's wrong with just a little help?"

Ji Changze patted his tricycle, and acted like he was going to have a good time exaggerating the conversation, "It was freezing, he fell to the ground, and there was no one around. If I hadn't lifted him up, he might have been lying there for a long time, and if he laid there, he would catch cold. If he caught cold, and if he had a fever, he might get pneumonia."

He stood upright with confidence, "I saved his life!"

The old ladies: "…"

Then he's narrowly right, but… but how come that factory manager asked Ji Changze to be a worker?

It doesn't make sense.

Ji Changze, "Why is it unreasonable? I'm kind!"

The several old ladies: "… you? Kind?!"

"Can't be…"

Ji Changze asked them: "Then you tell me, do workers have to be hardworking, kind, practical, honest?"

There's nothing wrong with this. Several people nodded their heads.

Ji Changze: "am I hardworking?"

The old ladies: … Definitely not.

Ji Changze: "Am I a practical person?"

There was definitely no such thing. He's the laziest person in the village, and they have never seen anyone so lazy.

Ji Changze asked again: "Am I honest?"

Definitely not!

Ji Changze? Honest? What a joke!

Seeing that they all shook their heads, Ji Changze clapped his hands; "Isn't that just kinder then?"

"The factory manager just made me a worker because I'm kind, what's wrong with that? Nothing wrong with it."

The old ladies: "… we don't think so."

Could it be…?

Ji Changze really became a worker because of his kindness?

Seeing them admit it, Ji Changze clapped his hands again: "So, be kind."

"Especially as kind as I am."

When he saw that the several old ladies had been fooled, his eyes narrowed with laughter.

It looks like, within one day, these gossip transmission matriarchs would be able to spread such a message throughout the village.

He, Ji Changze, became a worker.

Because of kindness!

When Ji Changze went back, he said the same things as he had just said to those old ladies to Father Ji and Mother Ji.

The two were immediately taken aback.

As soon as the younger son finished speaking, they didn't speak for a long time.

Ji Changze waved at them: "Dad, Mom, what are you doing?"

Mother Ji reacted and suddenly grabbed her son's arm. Her face was full of surprise. She quickly asked, "Is what you said true, Changze? Are you really a worker?"

"How can this be faked? I brought all the money back."

Ji Changze took the 10 yuan, swaying in front of his parents, and said in a particularly proud tone, "I have already spent all the money you gave me before, but that the factory director gave me advance payment, how could I get more money?"

Listening to his tone, it seems that it was a proud thing to spend the money given by the parents for the marriage.

If this was changed to other parents, you wouldn't know how stuffy they would feel.

But when it came to the Ji parents, who regarded their youngest son as their heart and soul, they would just skip over it.

It couldn't be helped, Ji Changze had done so many heartbreaking things since he was a child. If they were angry half to death every time, they would have died long ago.

To sum it up in one sentence, they were not worried about the lice.

(TNote: not worried about the lice = don't sweat the small stuff.)

Both of their attention was diverted to the fact that their youngest son, who had no future, actually went to work as a worker.

Mother Ji took the ten yuan and was very excited.

"Dad, do you see that? Our Changze has made it!"

She hadn't been so happy when Ji Changguang was a worker before. After all, Ji Changguang was hard-working and had some education. From the beginning, they never worried about what he would do.

But it's not the same with Ji Changze.

This boy has been lazy since he was a child. Let alone work hard, it was good enough that he didn't mess things up.

Although they love Ji Changze, they sometimes worry about what the younger son will do when they were gone.

It's better now!

No worries!

He's a worker, and there's 20 yuan a month.

Ji Changguang's salary was still only 25 yuan.

Mother Ji was so happy that she took her youngest son and boasted, "I've said long ago that Changze is a promising young man. Changze, when you go to the factory, you have to work hard. It's a good job, and many people in the village want to become workers, but they can't."

Ji Changze trailed off, "What's the big deal? This was the reward of my kindness. Would I become a worker if I didn't kindly help the factory director up?"

"Yes, yes, our Changze is just good-hearted."

Mother Ji cheerfully boasted a few words about her youngest son, how comfortable and soothed her heart must be.

Now that Changze was getting married, he had also become a worker, which was a double happiness.

No wonder she heard the magpies chirping by the persimmon tree at the entrance to the village this morning.

(TNote: magpie chirping = an auspicious sign.)

Father Ji was puffing on a dry cigarette. Although he didn't say much, his face looked relaxed and happy, obviously happy that Ji Changze, his youngest son, had become a worker.

"By the way, Eldest Sister-in-law's family also asked me to bring some food back."

Seeing that they were both convinced, Ji Changze turned and took the food from the tricycle and handed it to them.

"So much?"

Mother Ji looked at the dishes in surprise. Ji Changze coaxed her to send out the pheasant before and said he would bring back some dishes, but she didn't believe it at the time.

Who was willing to send out the meat that was already in their mouths?

But in the end, she saw so many dishes now. This pheasant meat, she was afraid that half the fowl was there.

Looking over it, there was actually fish.

Ji Changze didn't say that the fish was also from him, but only looked smug: "It's not. Let me tell you, sister-in-law was especially affectionate with me when I went over there. Their family immediately took out the best food to entertain me. Didn't I take the pheasants over? There were only two drumsticks, one for me to eat and the other for me to bring back."

As he spoke, his hand settling into the air, pointing to the pheasant in vain, boasting: "Sister-in-law also said that she couldn't take time off there, or else she would have come back with Elder Brother. Next time, she must take time off and come back to see you. Mom, isn't Sister-in-law very kind to our family? Why are you always bad-mouthing her?"

Mother Ji looked complicated.

Looking down at the pheasant, indeed, there was a chicken drumstick lying there.

Who doesn't know that the fattest and most delicious part of pheasants is its two legs. The Liu family didn't even touch them at all and sent them all to their Ji family's stomachs.

Thinking of what the eldest son said before, Mother Ji felt a little guilty at heart.

Thinking about it now, in fact, the eldest daughter-in-law was also very kind to them. Ever since she got married to Changguang, she always bought this and bought that and sent it back, but Changguang, that stubborn thing, never told her that these things were bought by Huifen.

It made her think that Liu Huifen, a city dweller, despised her in-laws from the countryside, and didn't come to see them. He always comes back alone without a message.

As it turns out, Huifen is dutiful to them, and she prepared everything for them.

Yesterday, Mother Ji had a bit of a grudge against her eldest daughter-in-law for never coming to see her. But today, after Ji Changze said that Liu Huifen couldn't ask for leave, that grudge was gone.

She took the dishes and smiled at Ji Changze: "Don't talk nonsense. When have I ever spoken ill of your eldest sister-in-law? I think Huifen is very nice."

Father Ji smoked in wonder, looking at his wife: "What Changze said is right. Aren't you always talking about Huifen being bad here and there?"

Mother Ji frowned. "Is that my fault?! Isn't it Ji Changguang, that little brat, who doesn't know how to talk about his wife half the time. If he didn't say anything I wouldn't know anything, would I misunderstand Huifen?!"

Father Ji felt that this matter could not be calculated like this. He puffed a cigarette: "You can't blame Changguang, you never asked him …"

"Then why don't you ask?! You're making it sound like it's my fault. Why didn't you ask Changguang who bought all those things before, and now you're saying it's me?"

Saying this, Mother Ji was very angry: "I think you and Changguang have the same virtue. Everything is my fault and Huifen's fault. You two stood by and watched the drama. Well, do you remember that when I was 25 years old, Changguang fell and your Mother blamed me? Hey, you didn't even think to help me, and you just watched me be scolded by Mother."

"Oh yeah, and Changze ran off to the side of the mountain when he was little, and your Mother blamed me for not watching the boy, did you say a word for me? No. Changguang is definitely like you. He doesn't know how to protect Huifen, and you don't know how to protect me. If it weren't for you father and son, we have no idea how good the relationship between in-laws and daughter-in-law would be, and it's all your fault!"

Father Ji: "…"

What is she scolding and blaming him for?

Seeing this, Ji Changze hurriedly interjected: "Anyway, it's okay. Next time Eldest Sister-in-law comes, we'll just be nice to her."

Mother Ji immediately changed her face when she heard her youngest son speak, and looked at Ji Changze with a face full of motherly love. Her voice was lower by an octave:

"Still, our Changze is sensible, unlike your Dad, who still brings up sesame seeds and rotten grain."

(TNote: brings up sesame seeds and rotten grain = brings up old problems from the past.)

Father Ji: "?"

He brought it up?!

He said that?

Who was it that talked about a whole bunch of things just now?

Seeing his dissatisfaction, Mother Ji glared at her husband: "Is what I said true? Are you unconvinced? Ji Aiguo, you're always like that. You never remember anything. Changze, Mom will tell you how unreliable your Dad is. When I was pregnant with Changguang, your Dad told me that he saw a beautiful patch of wild chrysanthemums on the East Mountain and wanted me to pick them for me. What happened? You're already in your 20s this year, not to mention the flowers, I haven't even seen a single leaf."

She looked very much like she was feeling indignant for Liu Huifen: "Changguang is also like this. He never said a good word for Huifen in front of Mom, which is harmful to our mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship. You Ji family men, you only know how to team up to bully me and Huifen."

After that, Mother Ji took a loving look at Ji Changze again: "Apart from my Changze, my Changze is so good, so sensible and so successful, I taught him."

(TNote: I guess his boasting was also inherited…. bruh.)

Father Ji went silent.

Ji Changze seized the opportunity and patted his chest with a proud expression. He promised: "Mom, don't worry, I was taught by you. I'm definitely not the same as Dad and Elder Brother. I will definitely treat my wife well!"

If he had said that before, Mother Ji's heart would, more or less, feel sour.

Why is the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law always tense? It's because the mother worked so hard to raise her son. But in the end, the son was going to protect and love another woman.

Especially when there was conflict between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, it's strange that a son could feel comfortable with another woman and against her.

But now, Mother Ji didn't feel sour at all.

She thought that her youngest son was really nice. Completely unlike his conscienceless father and eldest brother, particularly refreshing.

So, Mother Ji agreed loudly with a happy face, "Oh, not bad for my Changze."

Ji Changze smacked his mouth and smiled: "To show my determination to be good to my wife, I'm going to settle down now!"

Mother Ji froze, "What are you going to do?"

It's not official yet, is it?

Ji Changze, who has always had a bad reputation in the village, was full of righteousness: "Isn't An Xiaolu's mother ill? The team allowed her to cook at home, so I's going to her house to see if I could eat some food."

After that, he quickly added: "Of course, I'm not going to bum a meal, but I also wanted to help."

He? Help?

He can't even fold a blanket at home., and can't wait for other people to pass him the water to drink.

Father Ji took a puff of his dry cigarette: "What help? You're just going to bum a meal."

"How could you say that!?"

Because of the mention of those old things, Mother Ji's anger hasn't gone yet. Hearing her husband tear down her youngest son, her eyes glared back, menacingly:

"Who says our Changze is going to scrounge for food?! Changze! Mom will get you some meat, you bring it over, be nice to their Xiaolu, don't be like your father and your brother, a trap for their wives."

Then, five minutes later, Ji Changze went out with the meat from a mix of pheasant and fish, and covered it with cloth.

Mother Ji was just angry at the moment, but now the meat that came back to her mouth, left again. She felt reluctant.

Ji Changze saw this and deliberately made a show of procrastinating: "Mom, can't we eat this meat at home? An Xiaolu she might not like meat."

Father Ji passed by, smoking a cigarette: "Hehe."

The disappointment on Mother Ji's face immediately turned into righteous words: "Changze, be good. How did Mom teach you? Be nice to your wife. Hurry up and go, but don't be like your Dad."

Ji Changze still looked reluctant: "Mom, I remember you don't seem to like An Xiaolu very much. Let's eat this meat by ourselves."

Mother Ji used to have some opinions about this future daughter-in-law.

She was a mute — communication was definitely not smooth.

Her parents' illnesses and injuries — a burden to the family.

Good looking — attracts the opposite sex too much.

But after having just had a one-sided argument with Father Ji, and thinking about the grievances she had suffered over the years, and the fact that she had misunderstood her eldest daughter-in-law for so long because of Ji Changguang's careless ways …

That's right, in the Ji house, Mother Ji could never be wrong.

If she was wrong, it must be because someone gave her the wrong information!

She mustn't let Changze, the last of the Ji family who can still be salvaged, become a guy who destroys family harmony like his father and brother.

Mother Ji: "Who said that I don't like Xiaolu anymore? Such a good girl with high education, good looks, and filial piety. I like her very much!"

Ji Changze: Great, the plan worked!

He wandered off with the meat.

Half an hour later, Father Ji was sitting at the entrance, smoking a dry cigarette, when suddenly he noticed his youngest son had ran back.

He raised his eyebrows and stretched his neck to look at Ji Changze's hand behind his back. "Changze, you didn't run to eat the meat and come back, right?"

Ji Changze smiled and took out his hand from behind him.

A handful of yellow chrysanthemums landed in front of Father Ji's eyes.

Father Ji stared at him with wonder: "What are you doing with flowers? You can't eat it."

"Give it to Mom."

Father Ji puffed his cigarette: "No, you… Mom only needs a few kind words to coax, she's always been pretty easy to coax."

Ji Changze: "Dad, it's easier to coax by saying nice things and flowers."

Father Ji: … It seems to make some sense.

He answered and waved his hand as if driving a child away, "Okay, okay, go quickly."

Ji Changze answered on the surface, but quietly stepped outside the door, watching Father Ji take the bouquet of chrysanthemums and walk straight to Mother Ji, who was sweeping the yard.

Mother Ji looked up and saw this scene. At first, she was stunned, and then she was fierce: "What!? Now you want to give me flowers? It's too late!"

Father Ji looks serious and places the flowers forward.

"I just think you're perfect for these flowers."

Mother Ji looked up and down at this bouquet of chrysanthemums, and her eyes stared: "Are you saying that my face is yellow?! Ji Aiguo, you want to die!?"

Father Ji did not panic and said slowly, "I mean, you are just like them, no matter how cold the day is, no matter how sad it is, you can still look beautiful. When I hold these flowers in my hands, it's like I hold you in my hands too."

Mother Ji froze, a blush showing on her cheeks.

She reached over to take the chrysanthemum and gently pushed Father Ji: "You sweet talker… I'll warm the meat up for you."

Seeing that they made up, Ji Changze stopped watching.

He leaned against the wall and touched his chin thoughtfully.

An Xiaolu had just returned from getting medicine from town, and had just reached the entrance to the village when a man popped out from behind a large tree.

Ji Changze held the meat in one hand and chrysanthemum in the other.

He passed the chrysanthemums forward.

"Comrade An Xiaolu, these flowers are for you."

"Because in my heart, you're like them, you are beautiful no matter how cold or sad the day is, it will always look beautiful."

In such cold weather, An Xiaolu abruptly blushed because of this sentence.

She even felt a little nervous heat on her back.

She dropped her eyes in embarrassment and opened her mouth to say something, but then remembered that she couldn't speak now, and pursed her lips as the loss flickered in her pretty eyes.

Ji Changze directly stepped forward, put the handful of flowers he carefully selected into An Xiaolu's hand, looked at the medicine in her hand, and asked with a smile:

"Did you just come back from town?"

An Xiaolu held the flower and nodded blushingly.

Ji Changze: "I just got back from the city, too. What a coincidence."

One came back from the town, the other from the city. Where was the coincidence?

But An Xiaolu didn't feel anything was wrong.

Ji Changze showed her the meat in his hand. "I heard that your family opened a kitchen by themselves. I'll eat at your house tonight, and bring this meat with me."

An Xiaolu slightly widened her eyes and hurriedly waved her hand.

Right now, meat was expensive. How could she shamelessly accept such a bowl of meat?

The fiancé in front of her, who was about the same age as her, saw this and immediately showed an injured expression on his face: "Xiaolu, don't you want me to go to your house for dinner?"

He looked a little aggrieved and muttered: "Actually, I don't eat much."

An Xiaolu froze for a moment, and then quickly waved her hand in anxiety, saying that he was not unwelcome.

She just… just thought that if Ji Changze brought meat, she was taking advantage of him.

She wasn't mute since she was a child, and had never learned sign language. She didn't know how to express her true thoughts. She only pointed to the meat in Ji Changze's hand, and then shook her head.

It stands to reason that this action was fairly straightforward.

It so happened that Ji Changze looked down at the meat in his hand with a blank face, and suddenly realized: "Oh, I see, you mean I brought too little? No problem. I'll go home and get some more."

An Xiaolu: "?"

Seeing that her fiancé is going to run after he had finished speaking, she subconsciously reached out and grabbed Ji Changze's arm.

Ji Changze looked back with a smile on his face: "What's wrong? Xiaolu, don't you want me to go home and get the meat?"

An Xiaolu nodded.

The smile on Ji Changze's face grew bigger: "Let's go to your house."

An Xiaolu was afraid that he would misunderstand her meaning and run to get the meat, so she quickly nodded her head.

As she walked, she suddenly felt something was wrong.

What she meant should have been pretty obvious just now.

Did Changze do it on purpose?

The pretty girl turned sideways to her fiancé.

In the not-so-sunny winter sun, Ji Changze saw her looking over and smiled at her.

Ji Changze's skin tone was very good. After all, among a group of villagers who either do farm work with a stocky figure, or get dark skin in the sun, or eat badly without nutrition and have a yellow face; He's a well-fed, well-drunk person who finds an opportunity to lazily pretend to be sick, which was raised white and clean ah…

Coupled with good facial features, clean clothes, a straight body, and such a smile, he seemed as beautiful as a dream.

Ji Changze: "Xiaolu, what's wrong?"

An Xiaolu, who had doubts in her heart, subconsciously returned a smiley. Smiling, she shook her head, indicating that it was fine.

As for doubts?

What doubts?

Never heard of it, never seen it.

The two of them are also quite a topic of conversation in the village.

But one was a positive example — smart and sensible An Xiaolu

The other was a negative example — slacker Ji Changze.

Now that they were looking to get married, the topic had increased a lot.

Now that the two were walking together, and many who saw it couldn't help but gather up.

"Don't tell me. " Someone muttered to the person next to him: "Ji Changze and An Xiaolu are quite matched when they walk together. How does that saying go? The 'talented man and beautiful woman'."

(TNote: 郎才女貌 [láng cái nǚ mào/ talented man and beautiful woman = ideal couple)

"Their appearance match, but their temperament couldn't. " The person next to him looked unimpressed.

That was something the man agrees with. After all, Ji Changze had many misdeeds, and the whole village knew it. It couldn't be faked.

Someone said:

"I don't think An Xiaolu can do anything. Her father broke his leg, and her mother is ill again. She has to lay in bed and take medicine every day. She became mute too and needs money to buy medicine. Besides finding someone to marry, what else can she do? Otherwise, she wouldn't marry Ji Changze."

Others were discussing normally. The words from a young man who previously liked An Xiaolu and disliked Ji Changze, was little bit sour:

"To say the least, An Xiaolu's grandmother is also cruel, not helping out when her own son's family is like this. She doesn't help them, but she would also make trouble at their door every day. If she was willing to give a hand to An Xiaolu's family, she won't get married to get money. But yeah, she is mute, except for that face. Except marriage, there's no way to get money."

Ji Changze has sharp ears and could hear what these people were saying.

He looked at An Xiaolu again and found that she was also aware of these whispering people were talking about them.

The girl who had just smiled shyly now lowered her eyes slightly. Her long fingers on both sides clenched, showing embarrassment on her face.

However, what the man said was indeed the truth.

Originally, she had always been the pride of her family and even the village. She suddenly fell into the mud and was poked by others; how could she not feel bad in her heart?

Seeing this, Ji Changze directly took An Xiaolu and walked forward. When those people saw them coming, they immediately shut their mouths. He suddenly amplified his voice and used the 'you can definitely hear it as long as you are not deaf' volume. He spoke to An Xiaolu with a face full of shame:

"Xiaolu, I'm so sorry. I'm just a worker now. When we get married, I will go to work in the city during the day, so I may not be able to accompany you often."

He also specially emphasized the word 'worker'.

The others who were 'looking at the sky, not at the two of them' snapped to attention. They immediately stared at them sharply.

"Worker? You?"

"That's right, I'm going to work tomorrow."

Seeing their shock, Ji Changze looked nonchalant and waved his hand at them, "It's nothing, it's just a worker, isn't it?"

The young man who just said An Xiaolu was mute and couldn't marry a good family, didn't give Ji Changze face at all. He sneered:

"Ji Changze, is that how you brag? What kind of virtue do you have to be a worker?"

"Yes, my virtue is better than your Zhang Laosan, but who made me kind? Eh, I accidentally saved a factory director. The factory director thanked me and let me be a worker."

(TNote: Laosan = Third Brother; This does not mean their brothers, this guy is the third child of the Zhang family, and Change is just trying to act like they are friendly.)

Ji Changze continued: "Don't believe it? Just wait, I'll get paid next month, 20 yuan a month."

Speaking of talking nonsense, if Ji Changze claimed to be second best, no one would dare to claim first place. His confident appearance really made the few people feel uncertain in their hearts.

Is it possible that Ji Changze really became a worker?

Ji Changze, however, didn't look at them and only focused on making Zhang Laosan angry.

This Zhang Laosan of course wasn't really called that, but his surname is Zhang, and he is the third in his family. Like Ji Changze, he was also the youngest in his family.

Similarly, his parents were also very biased towards him.

But he wasn't as lucky as Ji Changze, his two elder brothers above aren't honest people like Ji Changguang. It wouldn't end well if the younger brother wanted to take advantage of them.

Third Brother Zhang was spoiled by his parents and wanted to be lazy, but his two brothers weren't willing to spoil him. Every day, he felt like he was the most miserable person in the world.

Look at Ji Changze.

He was loved by his parents, and his eldest brother was a simpleton. He would give him everything he wanted to eat and drink. When he gets married, his brother would give him money to buy things. Every day he's just eating and drinking, being lazy and pretending to be sick.

Every day, he worked while Ji Changze lay at home pretending to be ill.

He was scolded by his two brothers, but Ji Changze enjoyed the dried sweet potatoes brought by Ji Changguang.

His parents would say that he was lazy, Ji Changze was carefully cared for by his Father Ji and Mother Ji.

Same situation, different status.

Third Brother Zhang was simply so jealous that he wanted to kick this envious guy to death.

However, he liked An Xiaolu before.

Of course, after An Xiaolu became mute and her parents became a burden at home, although he still liked the An Xiaolu's beautiful face, he didn't want to marry her.

But in the end!

Ji Changze actually wanted to marry An Xiaolu.

When Third Brother Zhang found out, he was so jealous, he almost vomited blood.

When he knew that Ji Changguang had sent a bicycle for Ji Changze's wedding, Third Brother Zhang had become so angry that he was delirious.

Just four words:

F*k you, you bastard!

Why should all the good things under the sky be taken up by Ji Changze?!

Where is this brat better than him?!

Bah! Bah! Rubbish!

Now, every time people gossip in the village bout the two, he would definitely fight in the front line by discrediting Ji Changze.

As a result, the smear hit its rightful owner back.

Third Brother Zhang firmly disbelieved that Ji Changze could be a worker.

Him? A worker? What a joke!

"Ji Changze, don't lie to people just to save face. You're a worker? Who would believe it? Just you, scoff."

Ji Changze: "I don't believe it either, but who allowed me to be one? Third Brother Zhang, you said that I have become a worker, but you aren't a worker, are you inferior to me in some way?"

Third Brother Zhang: "…"

Ji Changze touched his chin: "Speaking of, workers really don't have much to gain, just a more stable job, higher wages, better communication, and more convenient when shopping, right? Eh, I really didn't want to go, but they insisted I go. They were afraid I wouldn't go, and even gave me 10 yuan in advance."

He clapped his hands: "You tell me. I'm a man of integrity, could I not go? That's why I 'had' to become a 'worker'."

Third Brother Zhang: "…"

The others: "…"

It was as if Ji Changze wrote the words 'good for nothing' on his face.

Unfortunately, they just couldn't beat him.

Ji Changze: "Eh, looking at your expressions you're also feeling sorry for me. I can't help it, who made me so popular? By the way, Third Brother Zhang, I heard that you wanted to go to the city to find a job. Did you find one?"

As he spoke, with a friendly expression: "Otherwise, I'm also working as a worker in the city now, so come see me the next time you go looking for work in the city."

Third Brother Zhang: "… What do you want? You'll help me find a job? Are you that kind?"

The others also looked at Ji Changze with a 'that's impossible' expression on their faces.

Who doesn't know that these two don't get along?

How could he help him?

"Nope."

Ji Changze looked confident: "But I can cheer you on and applaud you while you're looking for a job."

"Ah …"

He sighed: "I am so kind."

As he spoke, he looked to An Xiaolu who was listening quietly beside him, "don't you think so, Xiaolu?"

An Xiaolu hadn't actually listen to him talk about the worker thing before, and she has always been a simple student. The man who said this was her 'savior'. When Ji Changze asked her, she nodded her head with a face full of admiration.

Changze… was really good at repaying evil with good.

Third Brother Zhang, who was about to be enraged from jealousy: "…"

The others who were forced to eat a mouthful of dog food: "…"

(TNote: dog food = euphemism for public display of affections in front of 'single dogs'.)

They could have left things at this point. Although Ji Changze wanted to, he could anger the breathless Third Brother Zhang to death.

But he was kind and didn't really intend to piss anyone off.

He was preparing to withdraw, but when he looked up, he happened to see Third Brother Zhang's eldest brother coming.

Ji Changze came up with a passing comment: "By the way, I went to the city today, and brought stuff over, it made my brother very happy. He kept boasting that I was the best brother in the world. By the way, Third Brother Zhang, I heard that you have some money in your hands, and your two brothers are good to you. Aren't you going to give them something in return?"

Third Brother Zhang looked at Ji Changze's proud eyes. He was so jealous that it could propel him to high heaven.

He angrily said: "You think it's just you two brothers who are close?! My brothers and I are very close! I'm going to town today to buy cloth and bring it back for my eldest brother and second brother!"

"Really?!"

From behind them came Eldest Brother Zhang's surprised voice.

Third Brother Zhang: "…"

He turned his head with a stiff neck, and saw his Eldest Brother standing behind him with a happy expression on his face.

Third Brother Zhang: "…"

He tried rescue it: "No … that, actually, brother …"

Ji Changze decisively grab the words:

"Yes! It's true. I heard that Third Brother Zhang was always beaten by you. I thought you had a bad relationship."

Third Brother Zhang was reminded of the past scenarios, thinking of the scene where he was beaten up every time he cheated his two brothers, and gulped down his saliva.

Ji Changze asked him this time: "Third Brother Zhang, tell me, is it true?"

Third Brother Zhang looked at his Eldest Brother's strong biceps and nodded stiffly: "Really, true."

"Such deep brotherhood."

Ji Changze lamented:

"Look at him, smiling so much."