Chapter 848 - 580: Kindness
The uncle-in-law crossed his legs, sat in his seat, cracking sunflower seeds, and rolled his eyes at Xia Liang.
"You're such a grown-up now, been out there for a year and finally come home, and you don't even bring a gift for your uncle? Is it appropriate to eat and drink for free? Where's your filial piety?"
Xia Liang frowned a bit, he had indeed brought something, but the uncle-in-law was relentless, speaking in a sarcastic tone.
"Your uncle and aunt really cared for you for nothing!"
Xia Liang raised an eyebrow.
Uncle frowned at the words.
"What are you saying? He's from the younger generation, don't bother with children. Besides, why let the kids buy gifts? Xia Liang works hard outside, it's not easy for him. As long as he comes back to see his uncle, I'm very happy, hahaha~~"
Uncle smiled kindly.
The uncle-in-law was still unrelenting.
"I'm telling you, Xia Liang's generation has serious problems! No respect for elders! Lacks manners! Look at this, he comes home after so many years and doesn't even prepare a gift, let alone an expensive one! Your uncle loved him for nothing."
Xia Liang was also a bit annoyed; this was purely the uncle-in-law picking on him for a small mistake, not letting go, and at the same time embarrassing him.
Some relatives have this problem, using their seniority to impose moral judgments on younger people.
They constantly talk about how the younger generation is, but they have low moral standards themselves, yet they like to stand on a moral high ground to criticize young people.
Come home less often? Unfilial!
Marry late? Unfilial!
Didn't bring heavy gifts? Didn't give big red envelopes to younger ones? Unfilial!
They have many rules, and young people end up feeling more and more afraid to come home.
Xia Liang exhaled a breath.
"Uncle-in-law, what gift did you prepare for my uncle?"
Xia Liang raised an eyebrow.
"Tell me, I'm listening."
The uncle-in-law did not expect Xia Liang to talk back, his eyes widened.
"How dare you speak to elders like that? No sense of hierarchy!"
Xia Liang smirked.
"This has nothing to do with hierarchy. If you criticize me for not preparing enough of a gift as disrespect to Uncle, then what gift did you bring?"
The uncle-in-law's face went stiff.
Damn!
What could he have brought as a gift?
Just a bag of eggs and a box of milk!
He's considered the stingiest relative in the family!
Every time he goes to his father-in-law's house, he wishes he didn't have to bring gifts, freeloading a meal and a drink.
The reason for picking on Xia Liang was to elevate his own high and mighty image to blend in!
Such small tokens, it's humiliating to even mention them!
The uncle-in-law's face stiffened.
"Haha, of course, I brought a generous gift for your uncle, you're just a kid, stop asking questions! This isn't your place to talk."
But Xia Liang pressed on.
"I'm just asking, what did you buy for my uncle? Let's not talk about anything else, but I'm sure my gift is three times more expensive than yours!"
The whole family was taken aback.
Wow~~
This Xia Liang really isn't backing down!
No matter what you buy, mine is three times more expensive?
This is too audacious!
The uncle-in-law's face turned as purple as a purple eggplant, and he suddenly stood up, pointing at Xia Liang's nose.
"You, today you've really crossed the line, huh? Are you intentionally trying to embarrass your uncle-in-law?"
Aunt also joined in to scold Xia Liang.
"Xia Liang, how can you talk like that? Hurry and apologize to your uncle-in-law!"
Xia Liang replied calmly.
"It was him who was relentless first, Uncle-in-law, you're always the stingiest in the family! During past New Year's, didn't the stuff you brought for everyone never exceed one fen? And you're still here lecturing me about not being filial enough?"
The uncle-in-law was about to explode in front of the whole family.
He regarded himself as a "leader" with some status in the family.
Belonging to the type who is not very capable but has a big temper, never contributing much at home, but quite skilled at picking faults.
"Today, no one tries to persuade me!"
He was so angry he was hopping mad.
"Didn't you say I never give your uncle good gifts? I'll let you, you little brat, see today! What a real wealthy person is!"
He stormed downstairs.
In no time, he came rushing back with a big box in his arms.
Uncle quickly urged.
"It's the New Year, you all, don't quarrel anymore, let's just have a meal together, no need for your gifts."
The uncle-in-law sneered.
"Today, let's let Xia Liang see and understand his uncle-in-law's prowess!"
He opened the box, it was full of Maotai, and these Maotais looked quite vintage, probably at least decades old.
The whole family was in shock.
"Oh my, what is this?"
"Maotai? Vintage liquor?"
"Maotai prices have skyrocketed, just these bottles are worth quite a bit."
"Yeah, is Uncle-in-law splurging today? How did he get so much money?"
"Haha, did you see that?"
The uncle-in-law became complacent, chuckling condescendingly.
"What do you think? I'm just bringing in the opening gift, this is the real New Year's gift I'm sending—an entire box, 40 years of Maotai! From 1980!"
He looked provocatively at Xia Liang.
"Kid, do you know how much a new bottle of Maotai costs now? How much does an 1980 Maotai cost?"
Everyone inhaled deeply.
"'80 Maotai?"
"A whole box?"
"A new Maotai sells for 3,000 a bottle; goodness, how much is that worth?"
Aunt became nervous when she heard it.
She grabbed the box of Maotai, scolding.
"Hou Zhiguo, haven't you drunk too much before you even drank? This Maotai is so valuable, how can you give it as a gift? Didn't we agree on gifts not exceeding one fen?"
After she finished speaking, she suddenly noticed the surrounding silence~
Aunt blushed red!
Oops, she accidentally said the words in her heart out loud.
The uncle-in-law had a scheming look, lowering his voice.
"Your brother is so easygoing, even if we send it, just ask for it back later, won't you? You think I was really going to send it? Besides, this is what the leader in our unit asked me to buy, where could I have this much money?"
Aunt suddenly understood, giving a thumbs up!
Her husband is a driver for the unit leader, and in a moment of inspiration, thought of using the leader's Maotai to put on a show for his family!
Brilliant!
With Uncle's kindness, they could pretend to be filial by sending it today, and after the relatives leave in the afternoon, get it back themselves!
Perfect!
Too perfect!
Aunt turned her face and started her performance!
"Haha, see me, I'm so forgetful, this is what I asked him to buy for my brother!"
The elder uncle and aunt exchanged glances!
They knew their sister and brother-in-law well, being the most stingy in the family, always coming empty-handed and freeloading for years; how could they afford such expensive gifts?
The second uncle-in-law looked arrogantly at Xia Liang.
"See that? Kid! Ever seen money? Do you know how much a bottle of Maotai costs now? 30 fen! A 40-year-old Maotai, just one bottle costs 6 points! There are 12 bottles in this case, how much is that? The more they're in a case, the more expensive they are, understand? This number!"
He was full of bravado, sticking out one finger!
"1 Yuan!"