Chapter 9: Where Did the Money Come From?
Mu Zhenguo and He Cuifang both wore grim expressions. Their daughter-in-law’s anger clearly wasn’t directed at the eldest son—it was aimed at the youngest. She was worried the younger son might stay at their house too long! Sure, the house was under the names of the eldest son and his wife, but half of the mortgage was paid by the elderly couple. And now their youngest son didn’t even have the right to stay a few extra days?
Mu Lantu was a little surprised. His sister-in-law used to treat him well. Staying over for a few days during summer and winter breaks was common, and she always hosted him warmly. Why the sudden change…? Soon, he figured it out: it was because he had graduated. No one knew when he’d find a job, and Yang Xiurong was worried he’d stay at their home for too long. If he ended up working in the county, he might even live with them long term.
Mu Lantu could understand Yang Xiurong. He didn’t like others invading his personal space either. But come on—he hadn’t even said he planned to stay, had he?
“It’s such a minor thing to get mad about. I just forgot, that’s all,” Mu Hongtu patted Mu Lantu’s shoulder. “How about I call my mother-in-law and explain the situation? Or… Lantu can go back to our rural house for a few days, then come back once she leaves.”
By “home,” he meant the old rural house.
He Cuifang frowned. “That place hasn’t been cleaned in days. How can anyone stay there?”
Six years ago, Mu Zhenguo and He Cuifang were still working the fields, farming ten mu of land. Later, when Mu Hongtu and Yang Xiurong decided to buy a house in the county—especially since they had a second child and considering Mu Lantu’s future college and marriage expenses—Mu Zhenguo used all his savings and borrowed some money to open a convenience store in town. Once Mu Hongtu’s house was renovated, the elderly couple moved in to live with their eldest son: one managed the store, the other took care of the kids and house chores. Their farmland was leased out. They usually only returned to the countryside once a week by motorcycle to tidy up the old house and maintain the vegetable garden.
It had been five days since their last visit. Plus, there had been strong winds recently—dust must be everywhere.
Mu Hongtu said casually, “Just clean it up. No big deal.”
His nonchalant tone finally pushed He Cuifang over the edge. She slammed her chopsticks on the table.
That gave Mu Lantu an opening to speak. “No need to worry. I’ve booked a hotel.”
Everyone turned to look at him.
“Lantu, are you serious?” He Cuifang worried this was just an excuse so he wouldn’t lose face about staying in his brother’s house.
Mu Lantu smiled reassuringly. “It’s true. Just look at my luggage—there’s no way I only brought this little after four years in college. I have another suitcase at the hotel.”
Mu Zhenguo said, “Let’s eat first. Xuanxuan, Xiaoyu, come eat.”
Once they sat down, Yang Xiurong glanced at the spread of dishes and frowned.
“Mom, it’s rare for little brother to come back. It’s fine for the food to be a bit fancier, but isn’t this too much? If we can’t finish, it’ll just sit until tomorrow, and leftover food isn’t healthy.”
He Cuifang smiled kindly. “There won’t be any leftovers! Your father and I will get up at midnight for another round!”
Yang Xiurong choked on her words, then turned to Mu Lantu. “Lantu, which hotel are you staying at? Good ones in the county aren’t cheap.”
Mu Lantu politely replied, “Guoji Hotel. It’s fine.”
Mu Hongtu laughed and said to Mu Zhenguo, “This kid’s throwing money around again. Dad, you’ve got to rein him in. I know the Guoji Hotel—it’s the best in the county. Even the cheapest room is ¥1,200 a night. If you have so much money to burn, maybe give your eldest son a little too, instead of playing favorites.”
Mu Zhenguo felt a stab of frustration. Favoritism? If anyone had been favored, it was Mu Hongtu! But even if he was angry, he kept it in. The wine he’d prepared was quietly put away—he’d originally planned to drink a few cups with his sons.
“Eat. Can’t whatever you want to say wait until after dinner?”
He Cuifang sighed and held back Mu Hongtu, her eyes a little misty.
[Host, are you seriously putting up with this?] 005 jumped out, agitated. [How many years has it been since you’ve been treated like this?]
[What’s the alternative? Mom and Dad are still traditional. They’ve always expected to live with their eldest son in their old age.]
Mu Lantu picked out some food for both parents and put it into their bowls. “Dad, Mom, eat up before it gets cold. Mom’s cooking is amazing. Back at school, I’d often think about it.”
He Cuifang finally smiled a little. “Alright, let’s all eat. It’s so late, Xuanxuan and Xiaoyu must be starving.”
During the meal, aside from the two kids eating happily, no one else had much of an appetite.
After eating, Mu Lantu helped He Cuifang with the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen.
The others sat in the living room.
When Mu Lantu returned, Mu Zhenguo said, “Perfect timing. This Saturday, I’ve invited your sister, brother-in-law, your uncle’s family, and your aunt’s family to the county for a meal. They can also help you look for a job.”
“Dad, I’ve decided to job-hunt in Capital.” Mu Lantu sat down beside him. “There are too few opportunities here. If I just pick some random job, I’ll rot. I’m still young—I should gain more experience. I mainly came back this time to visit you and Mom. I’ll leave in a few days.”
Mu Hongtu and Yang Xiurong stayed quiet.
He Cuifang hesitated. As a mother, she wished her child could stay close, but she also understood that his future was more important.
Mu Zhenguo didn’t object either. A grown man could make a living anywhere. If worse came to worst, they still had a backup plan at home.
“Is it easy to find work there?”
“Definitely easier than here,” Mu Lantu said. “Capital is a big city, and it’s job season now. Lots of job fairs—there will be opportunities. I’ve also made some friends at school who should be able to help.”
“Alright then. I’ll give you more money. You’ll need connections.” Mu Zhenguo looked directly at Mu Hongtu.
Mu Hongtu quickly said, “A frugal home and a rich journey—makes sense.”
Mu Zhenguo was deeply disappointed but didn’t say anything more.
“I brought gifts for everyone.” Mu Lantu opened his suitcase.
He had bought identical watches in different colors for Mu Zhenguo and Mu Hongtu, a handbag for He Cuifang, a set of cosmetics for Yang Xiurong (the most expensive kind since he didn’t know much about makeup), a Barbie for Xuanxuan, and an Ultraman for Xiaoyu.
Mu Hongtu and Yang Xiurong exchanged a glance. The elders didn’t recognize the brands, but they certainly did. Altogether, these gifts must have cost tens of thousands.
Even Mu Zhenguo was puzzled. He couldn’t identify the brands, but the materials clearly weren’t cheap. And since he usually covered Mu Lantu’s living expenses, he knew the kid couldn’t have saved that much.
Yang Xiurong couldn’t help but ask, “Lantu, thank you for the gifts. But—where did you get so much money?”
“Earned it,” Mu Lantu replied casually.
Yang Xiurong immediately asked, “How did you earn it?”
Only now did she notice that Mu Lantu’s clothes and shoes were all name-brand. Her heart skipped a beat. Could her little brother-in-law have really struck it rich?
Mu Lantu just smiled. “Got lucky, that’s all.”
“How much did you make?” Yang Xiurong pressed.
Mu Lantu ignored her, closed his empty suitcase, and turned to his parents. “Dad, Mom, it’s getting late. I should head back to the hotel. Can you see me off?”
Mu Zhenguo and He Cuifang stood up.
“Sure.”
“Big Bro, Sis-in-law, I’m off. Rest early.”
“Alright, alright. Come back for lunch tomorrow.”
Yang Xiurong responded cheerfully, and she and Mu Hongtu saw them to the door.
Once the door closed, she whispered to Mu Hongtu, “Your brother’s changed so much. Could he be… kept by a sugar mommy?”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Mu Hongtu scolded in a low voice after glancing at their kids watching TV.
Yang Xiurong pouted. “Why are you so loud? I was just saying.”
Mu Hongtu raised his voice at the kids: “Xuanxuan, Xiaoyu, go do your homework!”
After confirming the kids had gone and closed the doors, he glared at her. “If you dare say nonsense like that outside, I’ll tear you apart!”
Yang Xiurong rolled her eyes. “I’m not stupid. I wouldn’t say that out loud. But if he really is being kept, it might not be a bad thing. His sugar mommy must be loaded—we might get some perks.”
“Shut up. I’m going to take a shower.” Mu Hongtu frowned and left for the bathroom.
Yang Xiurong kept glancing between the gifts, then pulled out her phone to check the prices. The results left her more than a little annoyed. Excluding the kids’ toys, her cosmetics were the cheapest—just a few thousand. The two watches and the bag were over ¥20,000 each. What did Mu Lantu mean by giving her makeup? Was he hinting she was old and ugly?
Angrily, she tossed the cosmetics onto the sofa. A moment later, she picked them back up, eyeing the black leather bag. The design was simple, but still looked good for a younger woman…
Meanwhile, Mu Lantu and his parents had already left the complex.
They didn’t call a car right away but walked along the roadside.
“Dad, Mom, I never asked before because I was younger… But how has it been living with my brother and sister-in-law?” Mu Lantu got straight to the point.
Since it involved their daughter-in-law, Mu Zhenguo, as the father-in-law, didn’t want to comment. He smoked in silence.
He Cuifang sighed with a soft smile, pretending to be relaxed. “There’s always some conflict between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Who doesn’t have some tension? Even back when your grandma was around, she and I had our spats. It’s normal, nothing to worry about. You don’t need to concern yourself. What I do want to ask, though—where did all that money come from? You even gave me ¥4,000 today. Son, you haven’t done anything bad, right?”
Mentioning it made her both anxious and worried.
Mu Zhenguo, unaware of the money, stopped smoking and stared intently at Mu Lantu, waiting for an answer.
“Of course not,” Mu Lantu chuckled helplessly. “What could I possibly have done that’s bad?”
