Chapter 328: Chapter 328

Gong Tao and his group hurried to the Gong Family, only to find the mourning hall not set up, and the household was in complete chaos.

It can’t still be unresolved, Gong Ruini inhaled sharply. They hadn’t had enough of the quarrel at the hospital, and now they’re causing a scene back home.

Apparently, causing a scandal at the hospital wasn’t enough; they need to continue their wailing at home too. It’s as if the Gong Family is bound to become infamous.

Cai Ming grabbed Gong Tao’s arm, "Don’t try to intervene, whatever you say will not be appreciated."

Still arguing after all this time, it’s not like no one’s tried to mediate; it’s simply that no one can. Her own man should not be doing something foolish.

Gong Tao nodded, "Gong Qiang is the eldest brother, plus Zhang Lan is there."

Seeing Gong Tao’s family appear made Gong Qiang breathe a sigh of relief, "Taozi, you’re here! Look, they’re still arguing."

Are they trying to pin this on the old man now? Gong Ruini really wanted to give Gong Qiang a middle finger; it’s just ridiculously excessive.

"Gong Xiaoyu is your son."

"You are Gong Zheng’s older brother." ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ N0v3l.Fiɾe.net

"Weren’t you always boasting that you’re the eldest, the pillar of the family? Step up in critical times. Didn’t you always say your words have the most weight?"

Pfft, trying to use him like a tool, do they really think he’s a complete fool?

Gong Tao glanced around and didn’t see Gong Zhuang; he figured he must’ve gone back to fetch his wife and children.

But not spotting Zhang Lan was puzzling to Gong Tao, "Why isn’t Mom here?"

"Mom, Mom collapsed," Gong Qiang said angrily, "She started sucking up to the fourth brother as soon as she learned Gong Zheng had made something of himself, humph."

For Gong Qiang, this was particularly infuriating. His mother’s behavior was clearly condescending towards him. Though Gong Xiaoyu’s reputation took the hit this time, it essentially elevated someone else over him.

"Gong Zheng has already left home, given his room to Xiao Yu, how could they ask Gong Zheng to move back when he returns?" This wasn’t merely about a room, it was a matter of pride.

Gong Qiang and Gong Xiaoyu were of one mind—they absolutely must not yield this time, or else their family status would be irreparably lost; anyone could trample the main family into the ground.

This reasoning sounds utterly absurd; anyone with a bit of common sense knows Gong Qiang’s argument is bullshit.

Cai Mei Na worried Gong Tao might say something unpleasant, "That’s an issue between you and the fourth brother’s family, right now the focus should be on preparing Dad’s funeral."

To cause such a scene over one room—can’t imagine how bad it’ll get discussing the house next. And more pressing are the Dong family’s promissory notes.

Previously, Gong Qiang and Gong Zhuang were united in their stance that the Dong family should relinquish the house; now Gong Zheng seems to have aligned with them.

Gong Ruini looked at Gong Zheng and Gong Xiaoyu arguing fiercely; she really couldn’t believe it. People always said Gong Zheng looked decent, like a refined intellectual; otherwise, he couldn’t have married the leader’s daughter, Wu Rui.

Now he seemed like a proper hypocrite, capable of arguing so vehemently with Gong Xiaoyu, lacking any essence of an educated person.

"Mom, doesn’t all this arguing affect things?" Gong Ruini suddenly remembered Gong Zheng was supposed to be getting promoted soon, but now causing such a mess and implicated as one of the culprits in Gong Dajiang’s death. Isn’t he afraid of this spreading and becoming a target?

Could it be that the transfer order has already come through? But if he already had the order, wouldn’t he be in a good mood and ignore Gong Xiaoyu?

Also, why does Gong Xiaoyu seem like he’s deliberately provoking Gong Zheng? Wait, is this a trap set by Gong Qiang and his son for Gong Zheng?

Indeed, there’s no need to make such a fuss over a room.

But how could Gong Zheng miss all these signals that she herself can see? Even in anger, he shouldn’t fall prey to provocation so easily.

In the end, Gong Ruini couldn’t grasp the strategy in all this, she just knew if someone really wanted to seek their doom, you could only watch them find it.

Even though Gong Qiang was speaking with Gong Tao, he was keenly aware of Gong Ruini’s movements—especially since Gong Dajiang kept praising Gong Tao’s way of raising kids, how well he’s raised Gong Ruwen and his siblings.

Previously it didn’t matter since they hadn’t seen it, but now he’s not impressed. Hearing Gong Ruini’s comments, he paid a bit more attention.

"Some people, when they tread too smoothly, require a lesson," although Gong Qiang didn’t directly say it, his meaning was clear—it was intentional.

Getting acknowledgement? Gong Ruini was stunned. She thought Gong Qiang would deny it at least in part, but he admitted it swiftly, which was quite odd.

Additionally, it sounded like a warning to Gong Tao, implying he’s not just any fool; it’s a shame all his cleverness is used on family rivalry.

Was that a warning? "Big brother, you’ve become really formidable, but no matter how formidable you are, you still end up sweeping streets at the factory district—these are tough times."

"I wonder which section of the road you’ll be sweeping. If it’s the factory entrance, that could be troublesome." The factory front, though easy to stand out, also easily reveals dissatisfaction to leadership.

"Brother, you’re as usual focused on stifling the development of others. But think, now that Father’s gone, who would give face to you, the sweeping elder brother?"

Gong Tao originally had no intention to mock, but Gong Qiang’s behavior was beyond excessive. He kept trying to impose lessons on him—where did he get that audacity from?

"Mom likely isn’t supporting you anymore, is she?"

"Even Mrs. Lian doesn’t support you, do you think relying on Gong Xiaoyu will suffice?" A teen who doesn’t study, doesn’t work, but hangs with bad crowds—what future can that lead to?

No matter how Gong Tao looked at this nephew, he increasingly felt he’s becoming more reckless, if he’s not properly guided soon, he genuinely worries he’ll end up in juvenile detention.

Originally, Gong Tao wanted to offer some advice, but seeing how Gong Qiang considered Gong Xiaoyu so "capable," why play the villain?

"With money and the house at stake, do you think being the eldest counts?" Gong Tao cast a disdainful glance at Gong Qiang, then moved aside to watch Gong Xiaoyu and Gong Zheng’s commotion.

Zhang Lan doesn’t care, Gong Qiang doesn’t care; as the unwelcome Gong Family reject, there’s even less reason for him to bother.

Gong Qiang was enraged, his initial plan was to pull Gong Tao into the mess, ideally causing an incident that drags him into the police’s grasp, then sent a notice of penalty to the Northeast to disrupt his prosperity there.

But Gong Tao didn’t take the bait; instead, he mocked Gong Qiang, who vowed to remember this humiliation and repay it one day.

"What’s so smug about being a mere farmer in the Northeast?"

"A country bumpkin, what do you have to show off?" Gong Qiang was infuriated by Gong Tao’s easygoing demeanor; he spoke without a care for repercussions.