Reborn in '77, I have a job panel!

Uncle Qian Gaofei and Aunt Liu Fang left Qian Cheng's house without saying a word the whole way.

Qian Gaofei walked ahead, his face as black as the bottom of a pot, taking large, fast strides.

Liu Fang followed behind, having to jog to keep up, muttering to herself. At first, her voice was soft, but it gradually grew louder and louder.

"See, see, I told you that kid was a jerk!" Liu Fang muttered as she walked. "You didn't believe me, you insisted on going yourself. What was the point of going? You just got a beating and lost all face."

Qian Gaofei didn't say anything, but his face looked even uglier.

Liu Fang continued, "You're his uncle, his father's older brother."

That kid, on the other hand, didn't say a single kind word, just kept bringing up those old, trivial matters.

Forget about red envelopes, it's such a small matter. I still remember it.

"Alright, that's enough," Qian Gaofei said in a muffled voice.

Upon hearing Qian Gaofei's warning not to speak, Liu Fang became even more agitated: "Why can't I speak? Am I wrong? You can't even control a child in front of him, and you call yourself his uncle? People will laugh at you if word gets out."

Qian Gaofei stopped abruptly, turned around and glared at her: "I said stop talking!"

Liu Fang shrank back when he glared at her, but she still retorted defiantly, "Why are you glaring at me? If you're so tough, go ahead and glare at that kid."

Qian Gaofei ignored her and turned to continue walking.

He was burning with anger inside.

He was the eldest son in his family, pampered by his parents and indulged by his brothers since childhood. When had he ever suffered such humiliation?

When the family divided the property, he was the eldest son and should have received a larger share, but the old man insisted on treating everyone equally, dividing the money equally and giving him a few more acres of land.

What good are those few acres of barren land? Money is the only true currency.

He remembered this for over ten years.

Later, when his second son died, he didn't think much of it.

His second son's wife was raising two children alone; what help had he ever given her?

I've never helped.

Why should I help her? She's not his wife.

But today, that brat Qian Cheng shut him up in front of the second son's wife, leaving him speechless.

What red envelopes, what funeral money? Those are things from so many years ago. Why remember them so clearly?

What's most infuriating is that he really couldn't refute it.

Qian Gaofei grew angrier the more he thought about it, and kicked a clod of frozen earth with his foot, sending it flying.

When the two returned home, the gate was open, and the sound of children making noise could be heard from inside the house.

Qian Gaofei's eldest son, Qian Fugui, is eighteen years old this year. He is just like his father, chubby but soft-hearted, just like his mother.

The second son, Qian Fusheng, was sixteen years old, about the same age as his brother. He was also rather listless. Both sons were inside the house, fighting over something.

As soon as Liu Fang entered, she shouted, "What are you fighting over? What are you fighting over? Quiet down!"

When the two children saw their parents return, they became quiet, but they were still clutching something in their hands—a handful of candy.

Qian Gaofei ignored them, went into the inner room, sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), took out a pipe, lit it, and smoked in silence.

Liu Fang followed them into the house and shooed the two children out, saying, "Go out, go out and play. The adults are talking."

The two children went out reluctantly.

Liu Fang closed the door, sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and said in a low voice, "What about that matter? We've already accepted the thirty yuan from the Sun family."

Qian Gaofei smoked a cigarette, remaining silent.

Liu Fang grew anxious: "Say something! We've already spent thirty yuan, where are we going to get more?"

Qian Gaofei exhaled a puff of smoke and said in a muffled voice, "It's spent, what else can we do?"

Liu Fang glared: "Then what do we do? The Sun family said they have to refund the money if they can't get things done."

Thirty yuan, how can we get a refund?

We've bought all the New Year's goods, made all the new clothes, and bought clothes for the baby. What can we do with the little money left?

Qian Gaofei fell silent.

Of course he knew.

That day, Sun Xinghua came to their door, crying and begging for their help.

She said she would give Qian Cheng 30 yuan as a favor if she could get him to sign a letter of understanding and release her husband and five brothers.

Liu Fang's eyes lit up. She discussed it with him, saying that it wouldn't be difficult to handle. No matter how arrogant Qian Cheng was, he wouldn't disobey his elders. They could just say a few words and get the money. What a great thing!

The results of it?

Before he could even enjoy the thirty yuan, Liu Fang dragged him to town to buy New Year's goods.

I bought a whole bunch of things: pork, vermicelli, kelp, and candy.

Another person made a new cotton-padded jacket, one for each of their two sons, and one for each of them.

I've spent almost all my money; I have less than three yuan left.

Now that things have gone wrong, how are we going to explain this to the Sun family?

"How about," Liu Fang's eyes darted around, "we return the money?"

"Refund what?" Qian Gaofei glared at her. "It's all been spent, what are you going to give me a refund for?"

"So we're just going to leave it at that? Do you think the Sun family will agree to that?"

Qian Gaofei smoked a cigarette, thought for a long time, and suddenly said, "Qian Cheng is a difficult kid to talk to. What about Qian Lu?"

Liu Fang was taken aback: "Qian Lu?"

"Yes, Qian Lu is his brother. How could he not listen to his brother?"

Liu Fang pondered for a moment: "You mean, let Qian Lu try to persuade him?"

"Hmm." Qian Gaofei stubbed out his cigarette. "Qian Lu is easier to talk to than his brother. Go find him and tell him we're inviting him to dinner, and ask him to come over."

Liu Fang thought for a moment and nodded: "Okay, I'll go."

She stood up, tidied her hair, and walked out. At the door, she turned back and said, "What dishes are you preparing? Don't make it too shabby."

"I know," Qian Gaofei replied perfunctorily.

Liu Fang went out.

Qian Gaofei sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), pondering in his mind.

Qian Lu is an honest and simple guy; he probably won't speak as harshly as Qian Cheng.

If you explain things clearly and offer him some incentive, he'll definitely be willing to help.

Yes, that's what we'll do.

Liu Fang went to Qian Lu's house.

Qian Lu and his wife were packing at home, preparing to deliver New Year's gifts to his mother-in-law's house, when they saw his aunt Liu Fang arrive, which surprised them both.

"Auntie?" Qian Lu put down what she was holding. "What brings you here?"

Liu Fang smiled broadly: "Oh dear, isn't it almost Chinese New Year? Your uncle said he misses you two and wants you to come over for dinner tonight."

Qian Lu and his wife exchanged a glance, both sensing that Liu Fang was up to no good.

"A meal?" Qian Lu was a little confused. "Why did Uncle suddenly decide to invite us to a meal?"

"Look at what you're saying. You're nephews, what's wrong with your uncle treating you to a meal? Come on, your uncle has prepared a few dishes, let's have a family get-together."

Qian Lu's wife gently tugged at his sleeve, indicating that she didn't really want to go.

But Qian Lu thought about it and realized that since they were elders, it wouldn't be appropriate not to go.

"Okay, we'll go over in a bit." Qian Lu agreed.

"Okay, okay, I'll go back and prepare." Liu Fang smiled and left.

After Liu Fang walked away, Qian Lu's wife said, "Are we really going? That uncle of yours..."

"Go ahead, he's my uncle after all, it wouldn't look good if I didn't go. Let's finish eating early and come back early."

The daughter-in-law didn't say anything more.

After packing their things, the two went to the mother-in-law's house first. After staying for a while and delivering the New Year's gifts, they rushed back home. Once home, they put their things away, changed into clean clothes, and went to Qian Gaofei's house.