Chapter 489: You Actually Hid Money

April 13, 1985, Lunar Calendar Year of the Golden Ox, 24th day of the second lunar month.

Auspicious for: Praying for blessings, sacrifices, marriage, opening markets, transactions.

A day in advance, Wang Wang Jianqiang's parents and relatives arrived in the capital to propose marriage to the Huang family on behalf of Wang Wang Jianqiang, to discuss the marriage of Wang Wang Jianqiang and Huang Huang Suwen. Li Li Zhongfa, as a "respected" elder, was invited by Wang Wang Jianqiang to act as a matchmaker.

Huang Huang Suwen and Wang Wang Jianqiang had known each other for more than two years, and the two were in love and everything was ready. So they decided to keep the proposal and engagement simple. This time they discussed it, and they were ready to get the certificate and hold the wedding later.

After Li Li Zhongfa arrived in the capital, he was invited by Wen Wen Qingsheng to drink, and the Wang family was picked up to Wang Wang Jianqiang's courtyard on North Second Street.

In the past, Wang Wang Jianqiang had been hiding it, but he couldn't hide it anymore. Otherwise, tomorrow at the banquet, if the Huang family's relatives asked, "Did you sleep comfortably last night?"

And the Wang family replied, "We all stayed in the

Wouldn't that make people laugh at us?

When it comes to the engagement, it won't just be relatives from the Wang family; there will be plenty of relatives from the Huang family too. If we make a scene and become a laughingstock, both families will lose face.

That is why Wang Wang Jianqiang's small courtyard appeared before the eyes of his hometown relatives for the first time.

As soon as the Wang family members entered Wang Wang Jianqiang's courtyard, they looked around carefully, wanting to seriously discern how this person, who used to be a simpleton, was actually doing in the capital.

Wang Wang Jianqiang had rarely returned home in the past two years, but he sent money home every month. Some relatives said he had truly made something of himself, while others guessed he was just puffing himself up to look bigger than he was.

Now that they were looking closely, didn't they understand everything?

Given the obsession our countrymen have with houses, you can tell whether a family is doing well or not just by looking at their home.

"How many rooms are there? The north room, the east room, the west room... Good heavens, I can't even count them all."

"Whoa, is this the outhouse? If I hadn't seen the latrine, I would have thought it was the kitchen! It's actually this clean."

"Isn't Third Son not very good at his studies? Why are there so many books in this room?"

"This is called a study. Haven't you seen it in the movies? The study of those billionaires looks just like this."

"He wasn't even as good as me when he was in school, but this..."

Everyone was saying different things, but everyone knew that Wang Wang Jianqiang had definitely made something of himself.

Wang Guan Dasheng, the second elder of the Wang family, was considered a man of the world in the family; he was knowledgeable and experienced, and he couldn't stop praising Wang Wang Jianqiang's house.

"Qiangzi, this house of yours is not bad at all; it's spacious and well-proportioned. Not to mention among our younger generation, even if you count your Second Uncle here, your conditions are top-notch. You really have great ability!"

"Second Uncle, please don't flatter me," Wang Wang Jianqiang said with a smile. "I didn't think about buying property at first. It was Brother Peng and the others who wanted to buy houses and helped me pick one up along the way. Otherwise, how would I have that ability?"

Wang Guan Dasheng patted his nephew's shoulder and sighed, "You can't say it like that. Being able to make good friends is also an ability, and a great one at that. I think our old Wang family will have to rely on you to hold up the main beam in the future!"

This time, when the Wang family came north to the capital to propose marriage, logically speaking, Wang Guan Dasheng should have been the "decision-maker," but Wang Wang Jianqiang had invited Li Li Zhongfa over instead.

If this were in the past, Wang Guan Dasheng would have flipped the table long ago.

But now, he didn't have a shred of temper, because the current Li Li Zhongfa was absolutely a popular figure in Qingshui County.

Although Li Li Zhongfa had retired to the second line and become some sort of "Hong Kong Capital Consultant," compared to when he was a bureau chief, his influence hadn't diminished in the slightest.

Ever since the Qingshui County Food Company went into production, its products had been in short supply, and it had already begun its second round of expansion. Even the provincial television station had reported on it repeatedly.

Everyone had seen it on TV; those workers had admitted in front of the interview microphones that their monthly wages exceeded one hundred.

Exceeded one hundred! That was higher than the section chiefs of other units.

So, as soon as the expansion project began, everyone started pulling strings and looking for connections, hoping their own children could enter the Qingshui River Food Company as workers.

But no one's connections were as effective as a single word from Li Li Zhongfa.

And when the New Year came around, the top leaders of the county would all come to pay their respects to Li Li Zhongfa.

Not to mention that young talents like Jin Peng and Hao Hao Jian, who were legendary for having made a fortune, were all said to have been supported by Li Li Zhongfa in the past few years.

Wang Guan Dasheng didn't understand what a "Godfather" was, but in his eyes, Li Li Zhongfa was that kind of figure.

Wang Wang Jianqiang used to call Li Li Zhongfa "Master" out of respect for the connections between the older generations, but now, if he could deepen that relationship, he, as the Second Uncle, must support it.

Although he was an elder, he might even have to rely on the reflected glory of his junior, Wang Wang Jianqiang, in the future!

But while the Wang family's Second Uncle could figure it out, the other elders of the Wang family might not necessarily understand.

The Wang family was a large clan. Wang Wang Jianqiang's father, Wang Daguang, was the sixth child. He had five older brothers; the eldest had passed away long ago, leaving four. According to the naming customs in Qingshui County, Wang Wang Jianqiang had to call them all "Uncle."

The Third Uncle frowned and said, "Qiangzi, is this TV of yours 21 inches? What is this... a VCR? Your mother's room only has a 17-inch black-and-white one. You even bought a VCR?"

The Fourth Uncle stuck out his chin, acting all high and mighty: "Qiangzi, you even have a refrigerator here! Your mother's room doesn't have one yet! It's not that I want to lecture you, but you aren't being filial enough..."

The Fifth Uncle was even more direct; he sat down on a chair with a grand air and beckoned Wang Wang Jianqiang over.

"Qiangzi, you bought this house and so many electrical appliances; you must have spent a lot of money, right? Then why did you say you had no money when I sent you a telegram to borrow two thousand yuan last month?"

"Exactly! During the New Year, we asked you to find a job for your cousin, and you kept making excuses. It's not like we asked you to arrange a cadre position for him; isn't a job paying two hundred yuan a month easy to find?"

Wang Wang Jianqiang looked at the group of elders with a blank expression, as if he were looking at a bunch of fools.

But what he didn't know was that in the eyes of these people, he was the "dim-witted, foolish" one.

This was no wonder; after following Jin Peng, Wang Wang Jianqiang basically didn't want to go home. And the two times he had lost his temper at home—beating his second brother Wang Li Dayong and confronting his mother Fan Fan Chunhua—both incidents were considered "family scandals," and the family hadn't told outsiders the details.

So these people still thought Wang Wang Jianqiang was the same soft persimmon he used to be, one that could be kneaded and bullied at will.

If I don't bully you a little, how can I show off my ability as an elder? How can I demonstrate my dignity as an elder?

Don't say they are evil people; this world is just like this. When a new official takes office, they light three fires—isn't that just to burn the soft persimmons?

Who would be stupid enough to burn an iron plate?

Then why do they like bullying soft persimmons?

Because after bullying them, the other party will at most cry a little; they definitely won't explode like a firecracker with a "boom," making the situation impossible to clean up.

But today, Wang Wang Jianqiang, facing the accusations of a group of elders, didn't even offer a smile.

This time he notified the family to come to the capital to propose marriage to the Huang family, but he didn't say so many people should come. As a result, nearly twenty people showed up in a swarm.

If everyone acted like an elder and pointed fingers, wouldn't this marriage proposal be ruined by them?

So Wang Wang Jianqiang just swept his eyes over them and said coldly, "Uncles, you all know what I was like growing up. No one loved me, no one cared for me; I was just a bit better than the beggars on the street.

But I've been working hard to earn money outside these past few years, and I haven't forgotten my family. I renovated the house for the family the year before last, helped my second brother get a wife last year, and I send my mother eighty yuan every month.

My mother's TV is black-and-white, so what color is the TV in your house?

My mother doesn't even dare to say I'm unfilial, so what? Do you think I'm unfilial?"

Wang Wang Jianqiang confronted the group of elders with two sentences, then turned to his father, Wang Daguang, and said, "Dad, you explain it to the uncles; don't let them have any misunderstandings.

Tomorrow is the day to finalize the marriage; we can't have any more unpleasant words popping out then."

Wang Wang Jianqiang's father, Wang Daguang, looked at his son and said weakly, "These are all your elders; what's wrong with them saying a few words to you?

You just listen carefully. If you don't listen to the elders' words, you'll suffer for it. Listening to the elders... there's no harm in it."

Wang Wang Jianqiang's mother, Fan Fan Chunhua, also said, "That's right, that's right. The uncles traveled a thousand miles to help you propose; what's wrong with them saying a few words? You won't lose a piece of flesh..."

Wang Wang Jianqiang frowned, knowing that what was bound to happen had finally arrived.

Ever since Wang Daguang and Fan Fan Chunhua entered his courtyard today, their mindset had changed.

Why did it change?

Because Wang Wang Jianqiang had been hiding money.

Wasn't it agreed that his monthly salary was over a hundred and he sent eighty home? Then where did such a big house, such new furniture, and so many electrical appliances come from?

A son who hadn't even split from the family and lived on his own had actually learned to hide money? Was that acceptable?

According to current customs, whether the young couple's money can be managed by the young wife is still up for debate! Shouldn't the money earned before marriage be held by the mother?

If you dare to hide money, you're turning the world upside down.

It was only because Wang Wang Jianqiang had lost his temper at home twice before, letting his parents know his strength, otherwise Fan Fan Chunhua might have started cursing by now.

"Did you hear that, Qiangzi? Your father and mother have both said it. Today you must be reasoned with. You're almost a married man; how can you still have no respect for your elders? If the woman's side finds out, won't we be a laughingstock?"

"Exactly. If you still keep this stinking face tomorrow, we'll just not go. Being so disrespectful, isn't that shameful enough?"

Because of the indulgence of Wang Daguang and Fan Fan Chunhua, the arrogance of the elders flared up again.

And seeing Wang Wang Jianqiang's face turn dark, the Wang family's Second Uncle hurriedly stood out.

"I say, what are you all doing? You're all grown up; why are you still getting angry with a child?"

"What did you come here for this time? Is this the time to borrow money? Is this the time to find jobs for the children?"

"Don't be confused, all of you. For Qiangzi's whole life, he only needs you to support the scene during his engagement and wedding. What, do you have to peel a layer of skin off him too?"

"I say, Old Six's wife, you've arrived at the house, and instead of boiling water and pouring tea for everyone, you're catching Qiangzi and lecturing him with such gusto, aren't you?"

Wang Guan Dasheng first scolded his brothers and sisters-in-law, then promised Wang Wang Jianqiang, "Qiangzi, don't think too much. These are all your elders; although their words are unpleasant, they will definitely not delay your life's big event."

(End of chapter)