Diary of Getting Rich Quick in the South

"What else can you do besides covering me in your saliva?"

"Ahem, I've been having a lot of social engagements lately, and I'm feeling a bit weak. Want to try again?"

"Do you even believe what you're saying? Alright, stop messing around, just say what you need to say... Also, hurry up and untie me, my hands are killing me from being squeezed."

"Honey, I just wanted to tell you about my cousin coming to stay with me..."

Listening to the conversation coming from the room, I felt a little lost. I didn't know if my cousin's wife would take me in. If she kicked me out, I would be left homeless.

My name is Chen An, An as in peace. My mother said she doesn't ask me to be rich and powerful, she just wants me to live a peaceful life.

Because my stepfather was an alcoholic and a gambler, he would go home and beat my mother when he lost money. After losing money again, he actually mortgaged my mother.

In a moment of madness, I grabbed a brick and smashed it open on his head. I don't even know if he's dead or not. I was completely stunned when I saw him lying in a pool of blood.

My mother practically dragged me onto the train, telling me to go stay with my cousin and never come back.

My cousin dropped out of junior high school to work in another province. I heard he's doing very well these past few years; he owns a car and a house, and even married a beautiful university professor.

My cousin's wife is named Su Wan. She is very beautiful, with big eyes and a small mouth. Her figure is better than any model I've ever seen on TV. When she wears high heels, she is half a head taller than me.

The look in her eyes was full of disdain, and she kept a straight face the whole way back with me.

I know she looks down on me because I come from the countryside.

As soon as we entered the house, she pulled my cousin into the room to talk, leaving me alone in the living room.

After a while, my cousin came out wearing a pair of shorts, shirtless, and with a grim expression, but when he saw me, he managed to force a smile.

I glanced into the room instinctively and found the door ajar. Through the crack, I could see my cousin's wife lying on the bed reading a book, wearing a thin silk nightgown, with her two long, beautiful legs crossed.

I quickly turned my head away, not daring to look any longer, but I couldn't help but glance at her cherry-like toenails out of the corner of my eye.

Do you smoke?

My cousin sat imposingly on the single sofa opposite me, blocking my view.

I quickly waved my hand and said no.

"It won't get better; smoking is harmful to your health!"

My cousin lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and casually asked, "Why did you suddenly come here? It's over a thousand kilometers from your home. I thought you'd stay there after graduating from junior college."

I dared not say it was because I hit my stepfather, for fear he would take me to the police station. I only said that I wanted to come to the big city to look for opportunities.

My cousin didn't ask much about that topic, but he did ask me what I studied in college.

I said, "I don't know what I'll be able to do with computers in the future."

I used to think that anyone who studied computer science could sit in an office and become a boss, but after graduation I realized that it was not easy to find a suitable job.

So for the past two months I've been staying home, either helping with farming or going to the market with my mom to sell vegetables.

My cousin frowned and thought for a while before saying, "Alright, since you've come out of the mountains, you should make a name for yourself and your mother. I'll take you around these next couple of days to see if you're suitable to work for me. If you are, I guarantee you'll be driving a Mercedes within two years."

You can drive a Mercedes-Benz in just two years?

I was so excited that my nose started to tingle, and I kept thanking him.

"It's too early to say thank you now. If you can't do it, there's nothing I can do." My cousin waved his hand.

I thumped my chest loudly: "Cousin, don't worry, I can do any dirty or hard work, I definitely won't let you down."

My cousin stubbed out his cigarette, patted my shoulder, and chuckled, "Alright, you've been on the train for two days, you must be exhausted. Go to your room and rest. I drank too much last night and I'm still a bit sleepy, I'll go take a nap."

When my cousin entered the room, I was still in a state of extreme excitement, my mind filled with his words about driving a Mercedes within two years.

I clenched my fists tightly and secretly vowed: No matter what my cousin asks me to do, I will study hard and, once I have money, I will bring my mother out and give her a good life.

The room I stayed in was the nursery that Su Wan had prepared for her future child, but for some reason the two of them never had a child, so the room was empty. The walls were pink and there were plush toys everywhere.

I put the plush toys in clean vacuum bags and put them in the closet. I glanced at the brand-new bed sheets and duvet covers I had prepared for the children, hesitated for a moment, and then simply lay down on the floor.

My cousin's wife already looked down on me because I came from the countryside, so I couldn't afford to dirty her new bedding, lest I become disliked.

I had just lain down when I heard arguing coming from next door. I could only vaguely make out that Su Wan didn't like me living here and was asking my cousin to find a reason to kick me out.

An hour later, my cousin knocked on my door.

"Are you up yet? It's lunchtime. Come out with me, I'll introduce you to some people."

When I heard that my cousin was going to take me out, I was so excited that I quickly opened the door and said that I had been awake for a long time.

I thought Su Wan had gone with us, but I didn't see her even after we left the house.

"What are you looking at? Get in the car." My cousin stood next to the black Land Rover and urged me impatiently when he saw that I was not getting in.

Sitting in the passenger seat, I asked somewhat guiltily, "Isn't my cousin-in-law going to eat?"

My cousin started the car and casually explained, "Why would a man bring a woman along when he goes out on business? Besides, she doesn't like those kinds of occasions. Also, don't call her 'sister-in-law' anymore, call her 'Sister Wan'."

Why?

My cousin said irritably, "Just call me whatever I tell you to call me. Why are you talking so much? What are you asking for all the time?!"

I weakly uttered an "oh".

But does Su Wan genuinely dislike those kinds of occasions, or does she simply dislike eating at the same table with me?

After hesitating for a moment, I cautiously said, "Cousin, I don't think Sister Wan really likes me living here. Should I move out?"

Mentioning his wife, his cousin's face darkened: "Move out?! You came all this way to stay with me, and I'm making you move out? Where do I put my face? What will my aunt think of me?"

"But……"

"No buts, it's settled then."

Seeing my cousin's stern face, I didn't dare to say anything more. I secretly vowed that once I made money next month, I would move out. I couldn't let him and Su Wan have a conflict because of my situation.

Sitting in the car, I touched the leather seats, feeling incredibly envious. This is a luxury car worth millions. I wonder when I'll be able to drive one.

Seeing me keep touching the chair, my cousin couldn't help but laugh and scold, "Stop touching it like that, or you'll rub off the color. I'll show you some better chairs to touch later."

I asked him, "Aren't we going out to eat?"

My cousin didn't answer, but raised an eyebrow at me: "Xiao An, do you have a girlfriend?"

My face flushed red to the roots of my neck, and I lowered my head, stammering, not knowing how to answer.

I do want to be in a relationship, but people look down on me, a poor boy from the countryside. Even though I'm 22, I've never even held a girl's hand.

When my cousin saw my expression, he burst into laughter and patted my shoulder forcefully: "Leave this to me. I'll take you to a great place later and broaden your horizons!"