I couldn't take it anymore; when I went home for Chinese New Year, the family genealogy book ha

The blind date controversy came to a dramatic end.

Jiang Chen's days were thus quiet for two days.

Liu Cuifen and Zhang Li never dared to appear in front of the Jiang family again.

The villagers' opinions have also completely unified from the previous various speculations.

Everyone accepted that Jiang Chen was a "big shot" they couldn't even imagine, and no one dared to gossip behind his back anymore.

That afternoon, the winter sun made a rare appearance, its warmth feeling pleasant on the skin.

Jiang Chen moved a small stool and sat in the yard, basking in the sun while studying the [Health and Longevity Talisman] that he had stored in his system inventory.

This thing is priceless.

It's the best choice to use it on Grandpa.

But how to use it is a problem.

I can't just tell Grandpa, "I have a magic talisman that can extend your life by five years," can I?

No wonder people would think he's crazy.

Just as Jiang Chen was pondering whether he should find an excuse to take his grandfather to the best hospital in the provincial capital for a comprehensive physical examination, and then "incidentally" use the talisman,

A somewhat thin and hunched figure appeared at the gate of the courtyard.

The figure lingered at the doorway, hesitant, wanting to come in but also looking hesitant.

Jiang Chen raised his head and squinted at the scene.

He recognized the person who came.

He is Jiang Xiaobei, a cousin from my second uncle's family.

An honest student who is a sophomore in the provincial capital has returned home for winter break.

Jiang Chen's gaze naturally fell on Jiang Xiaobei's feet.

Those were a pair of domestically made sneakers of an unknown brand.

The shoe uppers were white, but they had been washed until they turned gray and even yellowish.

The edges of the shoes had cracked in several places, revealing the gray lining underneath.

It's obvious that the owner of these shoes has been wearing them for a very long time.

It seemed out of place in this cold winter.

Upon seeing these shoes, Jiang Chen's mind conjured up the honest, even somewhat timid, faces of his second uncle and aunt.

In Jiang Chen's memory, his second uncle's family was the most bullied family in the entire Jiang family.

Whenever Aunt Liu Cuifen had any chance of gaining an advantage, the first family she would think of was theirs.

I borrowed your hoe today and won't return it; I'll ask you to help with the farm work tomorrow and won't pay you.

Even when the land was being distributed, he took advantage of his power and forcibly occupied half a ridge of land belonging to his second uncle's family.

As for my second uncle and aunt, they could only vent their anger at home, unable to say anything.

When Jiang Chen was a child, he often saw the couple hiding in their room sighing and complaining because they were bullied by their aunt.

Unexpectedly, their son, Jiang Xiaobei, was just like them, so honest that it was heartbreaking.

Jiang Xiaobei hesitated at the door for a long time before finally seeing Jiang Chen sitting in the courtyard.

He was startled, his face instantly filled with fear and a hint of undisguised envy.

He stood at the door, nervously rubbing his hands together until his knuckles turned white.

Finally, he mustered his courage and, stammering, shouted:

"Chen...Brother Chen."

The sound was so faint, like a mosquito humming.

Jiang Chen sighed inwardly as he looked at his reserved demeanor.

He gave a gentle smile and waved to Jiang Xiaobei.

"Xiao Bei, you're back from vacation?"

"Come in and sit down. What are you doing standing at the door? It's so cold outside."

Hearing Jiang Chen greet him, Jiang Xiaobei felt as if he had received a pardon, and cautiously stepped into the courtyard.

As soon as he came in, there weren't enough eyes to take it all in.

The gleaming white tiles in the yard, the brand-new smart dishwasher by the wall, and the enormous television set in the main room that looks like a movie theater screen…

Finally, his gaze fell on the imposing black Audi A6L in the center of the yard.

The sleek lines of the car body and the four gleaming silver ring logos were like magnets, firmly attracting his gaze.

His eyes were filled with longing, admiration, and... an even stronger sense of inferiority.

He subconsciously pulled his faded sneakers back a little, as if afraid of getting the clean yard dirty.

Jiang Chen saw all of this.

He brought out another small stool from inside the house, placed it next to himself, and patted it.

"Sit down, don't stand."

Jiang Xiaobei sat down stiffly, her back ramrod straight, her hands on her knees, like a primary school student waiting for a scolding from her teacher.

Jiang Chen chatted with him for a few minutes, asking about his school and final exam results.

Jiang Xiaobei answered honestly, but his voice was still very soft, and he didn't dare to raise his head.

There was a moment of silence.

Jiang Xiaobei seemed to have finally mustered the greatest courage of her life.

He looked up at Jiang Chen and revealed the true purpose of his visit.

His voice was still trembling.

"Brother Chen... I... I heard from the villagers that... you're very capable now..."

"I...I want to ask you something..."

"I heard that delivering food is particularly lucrative in the county during the Spring Festival, with each order paying more than ten yuan."

He lowered his head, his voice even softer, filled with remorse.

"I'm thinking of... doing a part-time job for a few days to ease the burden on my parents, and also... to earn some tuition and living expenses for next semester."

"But...but I don't have an electric scooter, and my phone...is too laggy, I can't even grab any orders."

As he said this, he raised his head, his eyes filled with a hint of pleading and hope.

"Brother Chen, you have a wide network of connections, I wanted to ask you... do you know anyone who could... could rent me a cheap, used electric scooter?"

"I'll pay you whatever it takes, as long as I earn the money, I'll pay you back right away!"

Jiang Chen listened quietly.

He looked at his younger brother, who was so sensible that it broke his heart.

Looking at his fists clenched tightly with nervousness, and the worn-out sneakers on his feet that seemed out of place for his age.

Then I think of his honest and simple parents, who never argued with anyone in their lives and would silently endure being bullied.

Jiang Chen's heart was deeply touched in a tender spot.

In the Jiang family's generation, besides himself and his sister...

Perhaps, only Jiang Xiaobei in front of us can be considered a truly promising talent.

Through his own efforts, he was admitted to university, hoping to change his destiny through knowledge.

Even during holidays, he still thinks about earning money with his own hands to help ease the burden on his family.

Instead of being like Jiang Wei, who only knows how to sponge off his parents and complain about his fate.

It would be such a pity if such a promising talent were to be buried because of poverty.

Jiang Chen's gaze deepened.

He made his decision.

He wanted to give a helping hand to one of the few "rising stars" in the family.

Moreover, it's not as simple as just renting an electric scooter.