Chapter 30 - 029 The fish that scared me...
"Ayoyo, what you’re saying isn’t wrong, but I’m still worried. I, your Auntie, only have this one son. He’s been raised by my side since childhood. After graduating high school, he’s stayed in the village, and he’s only been to the county town a few times. Now he’s going so far away, I’m really afraid he’ll get bullied out there. And another thing, why can’t we just honestly stay home and farm? Why do we have to get involved in this speculative business? So many people were arrested for it a few years ago, and yet nobody’s afraid!" Aunt Zhong was like an ant on a hot pan, completely flustered, saying whatever was on her mind: "Forty bucks a month, Xiao Qin’s younger brother and uncle said so much about that, but I just don’t quite believe it. What if it’s all a trick?"
"Auntie, it’s not far. Dongzhen City is just next door to us. Six or seven hours by train and you’ll be there," Tian Sangsang replied. "Don’t worry about it. Brother Tian is a grown man with a family now; he knows what he’s doing."
Hearing this, Aunt Zhong seemed to feel a bit more at ease. "Sangsang, how do you even know where Dongzhen City is? I just heard from Xiao Qin’s family that it’s in our southern region, not too far."
"Well, I’ve read a few books in my time. I’ve seen it mentioned before in them." After all, she was someone who had studied for years into the 21st century, comparable to the diligent scholars of ancient times. With just a glance at a map, Tian Sangsang had remembered it. She also knew that in later years, Dongzhen City developed into a bustling metropolis.
"Anyway, Brother Tian should still make sure to get all the details. Don’t just believe everything you’re told and jump in blindly."
"That’s true. I’ll have to ask Xiao Qin’s family again and get more information," Aunt Zhong said worriedly.
She had to figure things out clearly. Aunt Zhong’s heart was all over the place, swaying back and forth. No matter how she thought about it, it just didn’t sit right. Her daughter-in-law’s family wasn’t the most reliable bunch. They’d always looked down on her. Xiao Qin had two younger sisters who, even after getting married, spent all their time at their maternal home—what kind of behavior was that? And then there was Xiao Qin’s younger brother. He used to laze around at home and even refused to work in the fields. But now he suddenly wanted to start a business? The father-in-law was addicted to gambling, often playing cards with people from the neighboring village. Years ago, he even gambled away Xiao Qin’s dowry—a gold necklace. Then there was the mother-in-law, who took care of everyone at home. Soft-eared and indecisive, she never accomplished much.
Xiao Qin’s younger brother, Li Guohui, suddenly announced his plans to head to Dongzhen City, claiming he’d strike gold there. Hearing him talk, her own son got all motivated too, wanting to head out to try his luck. It’s true—young people think differently from their elders.