Chapter 259: Chapter 259

Zhao Xuran noticed Gong Ruini’s exhaustion yesterday and thought this girl might act up, but surprisingly, she quietly completed the assignments he gave her.

Zhao Xuran was taken aback; after all, back when Zhao Guangran had to complete so many tasks—not even as many as this—he’d already be complaining nonstop.

Now with Gong Ruini, there are no complaints. What’s going on here?

"I just thought knowing how to swim could save my life." Yesterday Cai Meina explained why she wanted her to learn to swim, though Gong Ruini doubted Zhang Lan had such boldness.

Besides, it’s not like they could quickly return to the Northeast. It was difficult to get there once, spending so much time on the road, and the old couple might not adapt.

But then again, Gong Dajiang is someone incomprehensible by normal standards.

A person always preoccupied with how the Gong Family could bring glory to their ancestors, believing that as long as the Gong Family could rise, anything would be worth doing.

Sigh. Having an unremarkable first son and grandson of the Gong Family is genuinely tiring.

"Ah, to save your life?" Zhao Xuran wanted to tell Gong Ruini there’s no need to joke, but seeing how serious she looked, he realized it probably wasn’t a joke.

But in the village, who would be a threat to her? Zhao Xuran was confused.

"Hmm, to save my life, because some people might do anything crazy to ensure the Gong Family’s golden child doesn’t feel threatened by me and my brother." Gong Ruini calmly revealed whom she might be obstructing on their path to wealth.

The Gong Family’s golden child? That Gong Xiaoyu? Zhao Xuran was puzzled. "What does he have to do with you?"

How could a useless person compare with Ni Zi? Moreover, Gong Ruini and her siblings were all in the Northeast and unwilling to return, so why were the Gong Family people so worked up?

"Didn’t Uncle Gong write back refusing the proposal?" They couldn’t possibly want Gong Ruini and her siblings to return, could they? Follow current novels on NoveIＦire.net

"He indeed refused, but my grandfather wouldn’t give up so easily. In his eyes, we should all make sacrifices for the Gong Family." Gong Dajiang thought of the Gong Family as a whole. As long as the family was doing well, wouldn’t the golden child’s life be good too?

Gong Dajiang’s idea made sense, but unfortunately, Zhang Lan couldn’t understand it and thought the old man had given up on them.

"You know my uncle would sell out my dad for a stranger’s promise."

"Now that they see their interests threatened by my brother and me, who knows how crazy they’ll get."

Gong Ruini genuinely couldn’t understand. "We’ve already retreated to the Northeast, completely abandoning matters back home. Why do they have to drag us back in?"

Gong Qiang hadn’t secured his position, all because Gong Tao instigated things behind the scenes, and hadn’t even used the ginseng to help Gong Qiang, the Gong Family’s first son, build connections.

Gong Ruini really didn’t know how to complain. Things had already become so rigid. Could merely saying "Gong Family member" resolve everything?

Contributing to the Gong Family? This sentiment indeed suits the big families nowadays. For instance, her mother’s family was just a bit unstable; Zhao Xuran couldn’t understand how, despite things turning out this way, they kept making a fuss.

"Only contribution is required; who would willingly do it? They’re not fools." Zhao Xuran sat quietly on the bank, watching Zhao Guangran play joyously in the river with friends.

In this era, are there not enough people who only contribute? If not for the Gong Family’s excessive actions and Zhao Gang persistently brainwashing beside them, Gong Tao and his wife would be typical contributors.

"My grandfather always thought my dad would agree." Gong Dajiang kept pestering their family because he banked on Gong Tao not leaving them unattended.

He was gambling on Gong Tao’s soft heart, yet failed to realize that even the softest-hearted person develops their thoughts after repeated harm.

"Uncle Gong..." Zhao Xuran recalled his dad’s evaluation of Gong Tao and didn’t know what to say.

"My dad is just a good-natured man. If not for his indifference or negligence, things might not have been dealt with so easily." Though Gong Tao was her dad, Gong Ruini had to speak the truth.

If Gong Tao had been more assertive, making Gong Dajiang realize this son had potential, no matter how much Gong Qiang defamed him in front of Gong Dajiang, would the latter be deceived so easily?

That was quite a blunt assessment. Zhao Xuran was genuinely curious how Gong Ruini could evaluate her dad like that without any embarrassment.

"If only my grandfather would give up, that’d be fine. But I’m worried they won’t and will come over." They last came in winter and said there was nothing to bring back, which was normal. But now it’s summer, and they might be tempted, possibly visiting in the fall.

One wants to take them away; another wants to threaten them, and of course, they all agree on returning fully loaded.

While Gong Ruini and Zhao Xuran contemplated the possibility of Gong Dajiang coming over, Gong Dajiang himself, after receiving Gong Tao’s letter, was furious for quite some time.

However, he wasn’t surprised by the outcome. If Gong Tao wanted to let Gong Ruwen return, he would have agreed when it was first suggested, rather than delaying until now.

"It seems a visit is necessary." The longer they stay in the Northeast, the more those kids will brainwash Gong Tao’s family.

Gong Dajiang now had money, so he could leave at any time. Yet recalling what Gong Tao wrote, he felt a bit uneasy.

How could it be claimed he discussed this with anyone when Gong Tao said it was based on Gong Zheng’s suggestion?

This made Gong Dajiang quite distrustful because Gong Zheng hadn’t lived at home for a long time, so how would he know his thoughts?

"Hmph, trying to scare me." Gong Dajiang was convinced it was a tactic by Gong Tao to intimidate him.

To be safe, Gong Dajiang stopped talking to himself, keeping things as before. He wouldn’t go out in the hot summer, let alone take the train, which would be unbearably stuffy.

Ever since visiting the Northeast in winter, Gong Dajiang hadn’t considered traveling in summer; it would indeed be self-torture.

Zhang Lan had been observing Gong Dajiang for a long time but couldn’t see any sign of him wanting to go to the Northeast, which made her breathe a sigh of relief.

Zhang Lan hadn’t expected Gong Tao to bring up Gong Zheng writing a letter, which gave her quite a scare, and she was continuously grateful they’d made Gong Zheng write it earlier, effectively pinning the blame on him.

Zhang Lan couldn’t imagine the old man’s reaction if he knew it was Gong Qiang who leaked it.

Life at home was becoming increasingly difficult. The old man gave only a little monthly allowance, enough for two to eat, but not enough to support Gong Qiang.

Zhang Lan hadn’t considered falsifying accounts to pocket extra money, but after a few attempts, the old man started buying groceries himself, leaving her with no money, causing much frustration for the old woman.

Living without money was tough. Zhang Lan couldn’t ignore the changing attitudes from her son and daughter-in-law, but the old lady had to persist.

Aside from Gong Qiang, Zhang Lan really didn’t know who else she could rely on.