Chapter 333: Chapter 333

Gong Ruini sat under the covers, half-asleep, listening to her husband’s words in utter disbelief.

"You’re saying you want Dad to keep the IOUs?" That’s a huge responsibility, especially considering Gong Qiang and the others are practically at each other’s throats over this money.

It’s surprising they all agreed on this; originally, Gong Ruini thought they would split these IOUs and each try to collect their share.

"They’re thinking about taking the Dong family’s house, renting it out, and splitting the rent among themselves." Gong Tao could only light a candle for the Dong family.

Even Gong Zhuang strongly demanded this, and that’s exactly what Gong Qiang and the others are thinking. "When Dong Li finds out, who knows how she’ll react."

"What’s to react to? Divorce?" Cai Meina felt a bit sorry for Dong Li, but remembering the things this woman had done to her family made her feel sick.

For people like that, there’s no reason to feel sorry at all; some people just don’t deserve your pity.

"Yeah, even Gong Lili and the others say Dong Li isn’t nice, she’s really cold-hearted." Gong Tao knew that in Dong Li’s mind, her family was number one, even more important than her children, but you couldn’t say Dong Li didn’t like her kids at all.

It’s just that in Dong Li’s view, the Gong family wouldn’t ignore her children, while her brother only had her to rely on as his sister.

"Dong Li thinks she’s the children’s mother and that no matter what, the kids will treat her well. But everyone sees her favoritism." Cai Meina always tried to avoid showing favoritism, but when she did, it was towards Gong Ruini.

Luckily, Gong Ruwen never got jealous of his own sister. "Pampering her brother like that will only make him more useless, depending on her for everything."

"Just wait and see. If they really get divorced and the house goes to Gong Qiang, Dong Li won’t have an easy time." Gong Tao saw it clearly. It was said that Dong Li held various prestigious roles within the Dong family only because she could provide financial support.

Once Dong Li can no longer help out the Dong family, just watch how quickly they’ll turn on her.

Gong Tao had no good feelings towards Dong Li, especially when he knew they returned with kids but still wanted them to live in such a poor environment. "No matter how much she complains to you, just ignore her."

Gong Tao worried that his own wife would get entangled with Dong Li.

"Do you think I’m that stupid?"

"That’s Gong Qiang’s problem. Whether they divorce or not, or if they collect the debt, it’s got nothing to do with us." Cai Meina gave Gong Tao a side glance. "By the way, do you think I should go see my dad and the others?"

It’d be one thing if they hadn’t come back, but now that she’s back with the kids, it’d seem wrong not to visit the Cai family. But if they went, they didn’t really have anything to bring as gifts.

If you don’t bring gifts, then you can give money, but Cai Meina wasn’t keen on giving money. She knew her parents wouldn’t brag about her filial piety if they received money. Instead, they’d just tell people she came empty-handed.

"Maybe ask Gong Zhuang if there’s something we could trade for a gift." Gong Tao thought for a long while and finally decided to go through Gong Zhuang.

"Gong Zhuang’s father-in-law works at a pork factory. Give him some money to help get us some meat, and I’ll see if I can get some sugar."

"Two pounds of meat and some sugar should do for the New Year’s gift. Besides, we’re not eating there anyway." If he had a choice, Gong Tao truly didn’t want his kids visiting the Cai family. Content orıginally comes from n0velfire.net

But since they’re back, if they don’t visit at least once, who knows what people might say about their lack of manners—especially since the Cai family would definitely make a fuss.

"Tomorrow’s New Year’s Eve, then Dad can be buried. On the first day of the year, we’ll rest a bit and then visit your family on the second day. On the third day, we’ll pack up and leave." Gong Tao calculated everything, feeling particularly good about it.

"Finally, I can see the day we can go back." Gong Tao felt so happy he almost wanted to sing a song to express his good mood.

Gong Ruwen, with a troubled face, thought for a long time before seeing his dad was in a better mood. "Dad, have they totaled up the amounts on the IOUs?"

Gong Ruwen didn’t think these so-called relatives were easy to deal with. Even if they didn’t take this money, someone was bound to say they got too little, and what if there’s trouble?

Their son was really a worrywart, and Gong Tao pulled him closer, carefully taking a piece of paper from his pocket. "I’m not stupid, you see. It lists the IOU numbers and amounts. They’ve all checked and signed."

"When I return the IOUs, they’ll have to give me a receipt." Gong Tao had to guard against these brothers. Currently, they were polite, but who knows if they’ll stay that way later. If they dumped their troubles on him, there’d be nowhere to reason.

Clever, he had it all figured out. Gong Ruini gave Gong Tao a thumbs up. "Dad, you’re exhausted. You should get some rest."

Gong Tao had been busy half the night and was really worn out. "Let’s sleep. Ugh, without a warm kang, it’s so uncomfortable."

Lying under the covers, Gong Tao was really not used to it. "Oh right, earlier Gong Zhuang said there might be a chance to come back, but I declined. You’re not mad, are you?"

Gong Tao asked, a bit uneasy. Although his wife and kids said all sorts of wonderful things about the Northeast, it wasn’t as lively as here, and he was genuinely worried the kids wanted to return.

As for his own wife, Gong Tao knew Cai Meina might not even want to come back because there were just too many upsetting things here.

"I’d only be upset if you wanted to come back."

"Plus, you’ve already decided not to come back, so asking us now seems a bit disingenuous." Cai Meina said they’d follow Gong Tao’s lead.

"Yeah, it’s not that I wasn’t tempted, but why come back when he’s still up high? Seeing me back here, who knows if he won’t try to come after me." That’s what worried Gong Tao—the person who hurt him was still in power. Even now, with Gong Tao down on his luck, the opponent wasn’t exactly forgiving. If he saw Gong Tao and went after him again, what then?

"And then there’s the Gong family’s problems, which will probably get complicated. Will the Dong family be willing to pay back the debt?"

"Might Gong Qiang even team up with the Dong family?"

"Could Gong Zhuang and the others change their minds? We don’t know any of this, but if we’re in the Northeast, we could just not care. Still, being here, how can we not get involved?"

Gong Tao could be ruthless and ignore it, but Zhang Lan would definitely cry and fuss. Then, do you help or not help? "If you go confront the Dong family and get the money back, but there’s nothing for us, they won’t appreciate it. They’ll just think collecting with an IOU is justified."

"The Dong family will place that grudge on you." Once Dong Li got tough, it really wasn’t a joke.

Gong Tao didn’t want to return only to be endlessly schemed against and face all kinds of malicious tricks.

More importantly, "We can’t earn as much here as in the Northeast."

"Yet the living costs are high. We have to spend money on everything." As the head homemaker, Cai Meina kept the books in her mind, noting how income was low, but expenses were equally high, and there was no way to make ends meet.

Gong Ruini kept nodding. Wasn’t it just that expenses were high and there was no money to earn?

"Here, we don’t have Grandma teaching us things." Gong Ruwen pursed his lips, revealing what they were missing since coming back.

Oh right, that was what really mattered. Despite claims about the quality of education here, Cai Meina wanted to tell Zhang Lan her kids learned plenty over there, but thinking about it, she bit back the words.

"Don’t let anything slip, who knows what trouble might arise." Cai Meina really worried Zhang Lan might file a report or demand Gong Lili or Gong Peipei go over to learn things.

Either way, Cai Meina didn’t want to see that happen.

Is that even necessary to remind them? They’re not idiots; why would they invite such troubles?