Chapter 77: Contrast Is Revealed by Comparison

Everyone was full of enthusiasm and wanted to go into the courtyard to take a look.

The courtyard had a car shed that had been idle for a long time, used to pile up junk; Wu An said he wanted to buy a vehicle, and Wu Ping and Mei Yueqin only just cleared it out.

Everyone standing in the courtyard could see a brand‑new motorized three‑wheeler.

It's the year 2012, so motorized three‑wheelers are commonplace; many newlyweds, following the trend, have bought small cars.

Comparison depends on the reference point.

If Elder Wu's household were doing well and already owned a winch, Wu An buying a motorized three‑wheeler would be nothing special and might even draw a few jokes.

In fact, before this Wu An was a lazy troublemaker who hated dogs, and was driven out by Wu Yingwei, forced to live in the long‑abandoned stone old house.

Under those circumstances, Wu An relied on hard work, went sea‑fishing to earn money, and even bought a motorized three‑wheeler worth several thousand.

It was jaw‑dropping; if you hadn't seen it with your own eyes, you wouldn't believe it.

One might wonder whether Wu Yingwei also contributed money to the purchase.

That's impossible.

Everyone in the village knows Wu Yingwei's situation; he had already emptied Wu An's family assets, and this vehicle was bought with Wu An's own earnings.

That's just unbelievable!

Calling it a miracle wouldn't be an exaggeration.

"Elder Wu, your family's fortunes have finally risen."

"I told you your second son could make it; now he's doing straight work, what a guy, simply extraordinary, earning money as if it's a game."

"A An, when are you planning to buy a small car?"

Wu An handed out cigarettes to everyone.

He said some polite chatter, and everyone listened cheerfully; as long as it's a person, they wouldn't say anything untimely or unlucky at this moment.

They were certainly choosing their words carefully.

Everyone chatted merrily, "Your good, my good, everyone's good."

But Chen Gui doesn't take the ordinary path; rounding it off, he's not just an ordinary person.

"If you show off, be careful not to get struck by lightning."

"It's just a motorized three‑wheeler; I thought it was an Audi, a BMW, a Bentley."

"Look at you, as if you've never seen the world."

Someone laughed without joining in, and someone else, not tolerating Chen Gui, immediately retorted, "Uncle A Gui, A An bought his dad a motorized three‑wheeler; what did your son buy you?"

Chen Gui was furious: "I buy a lot, I don't flaunt it."

In reality.

Those close know the family affairs; his son settled elsewhere, but occasionally needs his support—let alone buying anything for him, he has to send money every month.

Wu An said, "Everyone, don't say that; last time Brother Yang came home, his car cost about two hundred thousand."

Chen Gui beamed, "A An went to university, knows more, right? His car landed at 210,000."

"Actually that's all, can't compare to luxury cars like Audi or BMW."

He said that, but his nostrils were practically flaring.

Wu An asked again, "Did he buy a house in the city?"

Chen Gui nodded repeatedly, "Bought it, bought it, over eighty square meters, not that big; houses in the city are too pricey, he bought one in the downtown area, even more absurdly expensive."

Wu An realized, "Then the car loan and mortgage must be a lot of money, right?"

Chen Gui subconsciously nodded, "Yes, yes."

Wu An squinted, "That's a huge pressure, so many loans, plus food, drink, and daily needs; I heard the sister‑in‑law is a full‑time stay‑at‑home mom, right?"

Chen Gui was also a bit agitated; "Exactly."

"Even ten thousand a month isn't enough to spend…"

Wu An laughed, "Hm?"

"Not enough to spend?"

"Then what to do?"

Chen Gui: "What else can we do, only me... I..."

Wu An asked, "What's wrong with you?"

Chen Gui recovered, wiping sweat from his forehead, "What can I do? My son is capable, can earn side income, that's what covers the expenses."

Wu An realized, "That's quite impressive; working two jobs is also pretty hard."

Chen Gui forced a smile, no longer wanting to speak.

Onlookers snickered silently; everyone wasn't a fool and knew the situation: the son's earnings aren't enough, the daughter‑in‑law doesn't work, so Chen Gui must provide support.

That's a form of reverse 'mooching' on parents.

Chen Gui kept bragging about his son's great life in the city, but Wu An's few words exposed the truth.

In fact.

It's not that Chen Gui's son is unmotivated; most wage workers are like this.

It's not easy for rural people to settle in the city; they have to fight on their own, and only after establishing a foothold can their descendants be less burdened.

Look at Wu An: he used to be a slacker, which made his father cut ties, but now the prodigal has turned around, not only earning money but also bringing seafood home daily, repairing the old house and buying a car—clearly he's made a lot.

By comparison, Elder Wu's days are obviously more comfortable than Chen Gui's.

At least he doesn't worry about his son 'mooching' on him.

Moreover, both sons are nearby, so he'll have support when old, whereas Chen Gui's son is in a big city and barely returns a few times a year.

To put it bluntly, if something untoward happens, when his son finally rushes back, he'll be a wreck.

Someone earnestly advised, "Uncle A Gui, don't be jealous of Yingwei; he had it tough before, and everyone saw that."

"Now he's doing well, we old brothers should be happy for him."

"Just don't say those sour remarks."

Chen Gui shouted, his face flushed red, "I'm jealous of him?"

"No, not at all, how could that be."

Everyone laughed uproariously.

Wu An also laughed, but his gaze was cold as he looked at Chen Gui.

His conflict with Chen Gui was huge.

Not mentioning the previous life, Chen Gui used tactics to suppress Father, became Father's superior, deliberately assigned the toughest jobs to Father, who grew ill from stress; that old fellow must bear some responsibility.

Last time, Chen Gui called Lao Tan and even guided Lao Tan's subordinates; he still remembers that debt and plans to settle the new and old accounts together.

He intends, when the election comes, to help Father get elected and crush Chen Gui.

Now a few words will make Chen Gui lose face; it's barely a kind of interest.

It's just an appetizer.

Wu Yingwei grinned, and after everyone finished smoking, said, "Alright, you big guy should head home early and check for any hidden hazards."

"A Gui, let's go too."

"The next few days, I'm afraid there will be some work."

Wu An also returned to Lao Wu.

At this moment, the rain had stopped and the wind wasn't strong; the situation seemed like the prelude to a storm, so he, uneasy, washed up, sat on the bed and called Foreman Li.

Foreman Li gave him his word that the typhoon was still far away and that he would dispatch Workers early tomorrow.

He hung up, fiddled with his phone for a while, and the rain started again.

The wind still wasn't strong.

Wu An truly couldn't sleep; his mind was filled with "green crabs crossing," so he simply put on a raincoat, grabbed his Headlamp, and braved the wind and rain, walking along the seaside toward the tidal flat.

Seaside.

The waves roared, crashing against the rocks and spraying huge sprays; the rising surf was turbulent, and Wu An watched from afar, the water reaching a height of a man.

He didn't dare get close; if he slipped, the wave would sweep him away, and unless Goddess Mazu intervened, he would surely die.

Along the way, stepping deep then shallow, he was ten minutes slower than usual, finally reaching the tidal flat.