Chapter 46

However, Xu Ran’s kindness got him in a big trouble.

Early the next morning, those people who came to work yesterday went to the wasteland with hoes after breakfast.

And there were another swarm of people standing at Xu Ran’s door, after hearing that hearty meals were offered yesterday and that the first-prize winner could get fat meat as an award, so they all wanted to join.

Xu Ran looked at these people, explaining patiently that now he had got enough workers, maybe next time for them.

These people were in no position to request any more, all leaving disappointedly.

Of course, there was always someone being a pain in the neck, like Xu Ran’s eldest uncle’s and third uncle’s families.

This time it was the villiage head responsible for the employment. Having received Xu Ran’s wine, the villiage head must try his best for this task, not to mention that Xu Ran had also bought 100 kilos of brown rice from him with a pretty good price.

Therefore, all the people he had found for Xu Ran were honest and diligent. The families of Xu Ran’s eldest uncle, third uncle and his father hadn’t received any news about this employment.

Xu Ran’s eldest uncle’s spouse and third uncle’s spouse had kept bothering Xu Ran, “Xu Ran, why don’t you come to us when you are in need? There’s no need to spend so much money on hiring others.”

“Right. We are all here and you go to others. Why not give the money to us?”

“Anyway, your eldest uncle is your elder. Why don’t you invite him?”

“And your third uncle, that’s your father’s brother.”

They echoed each other’s words around Xu Ran.

Hearing the words of his third uncle’s spouse, Xu Ran laughed. How could he have the nerve to say that his third uncle and his father were brothers! Yes, they really were brothers and so alike-both like to take advantage of others and married the same type, like the old saying, “birds of a feather flock together.”

Xu Ran would have argued with them if he was not afraid of them spreading rumors.

“My uncles’ spouses, it was not me who didn’t offer you this job, but it was the village head who was in charge of the employment. When the village head was recruiting the day before yesterday, you were not there, were you? We had got enough people yesterday, so no more needed now. You’d better leave.”

“Even outsiders can do it. Why can’t your eldest uncle? Just add him to the list and cast someone out.”

Hearing what the spouse of his eldest uncle said, Xu Ran got angry, “How can you say that as an elder?  Who do you want me to cast out? If I do so, what reason I should give him if he has done a good job? Tell him that my eldest uncle will take his place, and he has to leave becasue of not my relative? You should just say these words only here, and I won’t tell anyone else. You had better forget this idea!”

“Why not say? You are my nephew and it’s reasonable enough to keep your eldest uncle a position. You pay the money and you are the boss! I don’t care. You must give your eldest uncle a job. Besides, I will take the cook job.”

“And your third uncle, he must have a position as well.”

The spouse of Xu Ran’s third uncle immediately chime in as soon as the eldest uncle’s spouse finished.

Xu Ran got even angrier. ‘Who are you to get the job? When I was in trouble, where were you? You guys mocked me a lot when I was a fool. Now you claim we are a family. He thought in his heart.’

Xu Ran sneered, “Do you remember that I had been a fool for seven years? Do you remember what you had said and done at that time? I’ve remembered it clearly. And when Xu Cheng asked for the family division, I was shut out, terribly wounded. Where were you then? I guess you must have closed the door tightly, afraid that Tongtong and I went to you with Tangtang and Guoguo.

“You must have felt relieved when you heard that we went to Wu Mei for help, right?”

“My uncles’ spouses, to be honest, we wouldn’t go to you even if we starved to death. I remembered how my father and daddy treated me and how you treated me. As what I had said during the family division, we would have no relationship with my father and daddy, neither with you, whether we are alive or not. Now you all come to me because we’re living a better life. Do you think you can always bully me like you did before? My uncles’ spouses, I have a word for you, you reap what you sow, sooner or later. You will pay for it.”

Seemingly frightened by Xu Ran’s grim expression, the spouses of Xu Ran’s eldest and second uncles cried out at the same time.

Pretended to see nothing, Xu Ran said calmly, “My uncles’ spouses, you’d better leave while no one is here.”

The spouse of Xu Ran’s eldest uncle had intended to say something, but he was pulled by Xu Ran’s third uncle’s spouse, leaving sullenly.

Before left, he gave Xu Ran a fierce look.

Xu Ran rubbed his stiff face after they had left. It really was not easy to pretend to be cold.

Getting rid of the headache, Xu Ran turned back into the house pleasantly to share the victory with Liu Tong.