Taiping Town was only about five kilometers away from the Xiao Family. Because of the Xiao Family, Taiping Town was much larger and more prosperous than other towns.
During this period, the Xiao Family's triennial enrollment had made Taiping Town even more lively. There was a lot of traffic and people coming and going. All the hotels, big and small, were full of people.
Chen Hao's family of five lived in a very remote slum at the edge of Taiping Town. A mud house of less than 30 square meters was the residence of the family of five. In this dark and damp house, where there was no sunlight all year round, a big brick kang occupied half of the room. This was where the family of five slept.
At this time, a thin middle-aged man was lying on the bed. This man was Chen Hao's disabled father, Chen Hai.
"Sigh … He has embarked on this path after all … Never mind … He can't be a cripple like me … Maybe one day …" Chen Hai shook his head and said in a desolate voice, "I … I think too much …"
At this time, it was past noon. He was thinking that if his wife could stop Tianci in time, they should be home now. However, they were still not back. His wife didn't know, but Chen Hai knew that if they hadn't come back at this time, Chen Hao must have taken the test. Since he had taken the test, Chen Hao would definitely pass. He had watched Chen Hao grow up. How could he not know about Chen Hao's talent?
Knock, knock … Just at this time, footsteps came from outside the door. Chen Hai's expression changed. The sadness on his face disappeared in an instant and was replaced by a touch of joy. He shouted as if he couldn't wait, "Ah Mei, is that you?"
"It's me." It was not his wife, Ah Mei, who answered Chen Hai, but another woman's voice.
After a moment, a woman with an angry face walked in. This woman was wearing a bright red brocade dress. She was slightly fat and had a little makeup on her face. She looked very rich. The woman glanced around the room and fixed her eyes on Chen Hai. She said angrily, "Chen Hai, have you seen my Buttface?
Chen Hai was a bit surprised. He hesitated and said, "Mrs. Dong, Buttface and Ah Mei … went to the Xiao Family …"
"The Xiao Family? What are they doing there? "
"Sister Dong, here's the thing. Tianci went to the Xiao Family's test without telling us. This morning, if Buttface hadn't come over, we wouldn't have known … he and Ah Mei went to chase after Tianci …" Chen Hai said.
"Participate in the Xiao Family's test?" Buttface's mother was shocked. "With your Tianci? He was really overestimating himself. Could he pass the test? Don't you know how dangerous that test is? Nonsense, what nonsense! I won't even allow Buttface to participate in this competition. Your Tianci … Forget it, your life and death have nothing to do with me! "Chen Hai, let me tell you something. Don't let your Tianci hang out with Buttface in the future. Buttface will inherit his father's business in the future. If he hangs out with your Tianci every day, what kind of future will he have? Also, your wife came back and told her that you've owed her half a year's worth of rent! Hmph! "
"Yes, yes, I know … Sister Dong …" In the face of such harsh words from Buttface's mother, Chen Hai didn't show any dissatisfaction on his face. Instead, he said nervously.
He knew in his heart that although Buttface's mother was snobbish, sarcastic, and mean, she wasn't a bad person. Otherwise, she wouldn't have let them owe their rent for several months. Also, for the past few years, other people's rent had been increasing again and again, but their rent hadn't increased at all. Moreover, what she said was also true. Buttface was going to inherit his father's business in the future. Therefore, he had to build a good relationship with the children of those who came and went, so that they could work well together in the future. But Buttface just liked to hang out with Tianci all day long.
At this moment, Chen Hao's excited voice suddenly came from outside the door. "Dad, we're back!"
"Uncle, Brother Tianci …" Buttface's voice, which was even more excited than Chen Hao's, could be heard. However, before he could finish speaking, he stopped abruptly. He looked at the woman in the room and said in a low voice, "Mother …"
Chen Hao was also a bit surprised. "Auntie …"
Buttface's mother glanced at Chen Hao and seemed to be relieved. Then she stared at Buttface and grabbed his ear. "You son of a b * tch, how many times have I told you not to hang out with Tianci? Is your brain made of tofu? Do you have any memory? "
Buttface screamed, but his mouth said stubbornly, "Mom, ah … Qiang, Zhong, and the others all bully me … ah, don't hit me … I don't like to play with them. I like to play with brother Tianci!"
"Play, play, play, you only know how to play. I'll see how you can inherit your father's business in the future! In the future, you'll be as poor as them. You won't even have enough to eat! You'll starve to death! "
"No way!" Buttface didn't know where his courage came from, but he said loudly, "brother Tianci has already become a disciple of the Xiao Family!"
"What did you say?" Buttface's mother's hand stopped in midair and she asked in shock.
Chen Hai, who was lying on the bed, also raised his head in shock. He knew that as long as Chen Hao participated in the test, he would definitely pass. But now he came back. Although it was a bit late, the test was definitely not over. So, Chen Hao should not have participated in the test. How could he have passed?
"brother Tianci has already become a disciple of the Xiao Family! Mom, in three years, I will also participate in the test of the Xiao Family! I want to be with brother Tianci. I want to learn from brother Tianci. Mom, I don't like doing business! " Buttface, who had never dared to speak loudly to his mother, was about to be separated from his only friend, Chen Hao, who had become a disciple of the Xiao Family. This completely aroused the words hidden in his heart.
Buttface spoke out his innermost thoughts. But he knew that he would face a storm from his mother. While his mother was in a daze, he hurriedly shrank to the door. If the situation was bad, he would immediately run away. As long as he ran to his father's side, he could save him from the abyss of suffering.
At this time, Chen Hao's mother, brother, and sister had just returned home. They didn't know what had happened, so they stood quietly beside Buttface.
To Buttface's surprise, his mother didn't chase after him and fly into a rage. Instead, she stared at Chen Hao and said, "What Buttface said … is it true?"
"Yes, auntie," Chen Hao looked at Buttface, then looked up at Buttface's mother and said in a low voice.
Hearing Chen Hao's affirmative answer, Buttface's mother's angry face suddenly changed. She looked at Chen Hao with a smile and said, "Good, very good! I knew Tianci would definitely have a bright future … "
"Buttface, you don't have to sneak out to take food out in the future. Just take as much as you want. By the way, Ah Mei, this house is too old, dark, and small. It's time to tear it down and rebuild it. Today, all of you will move to our house. Hmm, Buttface, later, bring your brother Tianci and his family to our house. Mother will personally cook delicious food for all of you. Tianci has become a disciple of the Xiao Family. This is such a joyous event, we must celebrate it … I'll go back and cook now! " Buttface's mother finished speaking with a face full of smiles. Then she turned around and trotted away, leaving the crowd looking at each other in confusion.
They had seen snobbish people before, but they had never seen such a snobbish person.
However, neither Chen Hao's parents nor Chen Hao had a trace of disgust. Because they knew that this seemingly snobbish woman had not only done the icing on the cake. In the past few years, she had also helped them in their hour of need. It was just that her method was a bit different.
She was not the Bodhisattva of Mercy, nor was she a saint, nor was she a fool. On the contrary, she was very shrewd. Therefore, it was impossible for her to give Chen Hao's family a lot of money and things so that they could live a rich life just because they were poor and in difficulties.
However, she had managed to not raise the rent for several years. She had even been in arrears, even though the house was old, old, and trendy. She had managed to turn a blind eye to Buttface's theft of rice, noodles, meat, and even oil, salt, and vinegar from her house.
Without these things, how could Chen Hao's family survive until today?
…
Buttface's original name was Dong Liang. He had an elder sister named Dong Yu. Buttface was weak and sickly when he was young. His parents were afraid that he would die young, so they gave him the nickname "Buttface." His father was called Dong Guoqiao. He ran a large-scale grocery store in the center of Taiping Town. His mother, He Ting, was in charge of more than 30 properties in the slums. Although they were not very rich, they were quite famous in Taiping Town. They belonged to an upper-middle class family.
Buttface and his family lived in a relatively large single-family house on the edge of the slums. There was a main house and two side houses. The courtyard was decorated like a small garden. Although it wasn't as picturesque as a small bridge with flowing water, the style was still quite elegant. Compared to the slums where Chen Hao lived, the difference was like heaven and earth.
Today, Buttface was very happy. He held Chen Nan's hand with one hand and Chen Yan's hand with the other. They were talking and laughing excitedly. Meanwhile, Chen Hao and his mother supported their disabled father and followed behind them. They did not refuse He Ting's invitation. If Chen Hao had not become a disciple of the Xiao Family, they would definitely not have accepted He Ting's invitation. Because they could not repay He Ting's kindness and could not lose face.
People could be poor, but they could not be so poor that they did not have a backbone.
Now, because of the change of Chen Hao's identity, he accepted He Ting's invitation. This meant that he would become the backer of Buttface's family in the future.
Three days later, the sky was just beginning to brighten.
Chen Hao refused Buttface's mother's request to buy him a new set of clothes. It would be a waste to buy new clothes for him. When he entered the Xiao Family, he would have the special clothes of the Xiao Family. At the same time, he refused to be sent off by others. Alone, wearing the coarse linen clothes, empty-handed and carrying his head on his shoulder, he stepped on the road to register at the Xiao Family.
…
(My new book urgently needs the support of brothers and sisters. Please collect it and recommend it … Thanks from Wu Shan!)
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