Chapter 214

Chapter 214

Wang Shoucheng was deeply disappointed by the barrage of complaints and accusations from his sons.

These were the sons he had raised—apart from the eldest, who wasn't born to him and his wife, and whom he favored, how had he shown favoritism to the others? Everything he did now was for the whole family. If any son succeeded, wouldn't they remember the good of the others?

This bunch of ungrateful wretches!

All of them were fighting over immediate benefits.

Wang Shoucheng had a lot of complaints in his heart, but for the sake of this already unstable family, he remained calm.

Seeing the faces of his sons ready to fight, he didn't show any disdain. He still looked like a stern patriarch, patiently educating his sons.

"Sit down, all of you. Look at yourselves—what kind of spectacle are you making?"

Wang Shoucheng spoke, and the others had no choice but to sit down.

Wang Laosan was anxious and wanted to speak up, as he was the only one with a son and needed to fight for his son and daughter-in-law.

But before he could continue being the troublemaker, Zhao Cuihua pulled him back down, preventing him from getting up.

Wang Shoucheng sighed under their gaze. "Look at yourselves. You can't keep your cool, which is why I didn't want to tell you about this beforehand. This relative of ours has been distant for a long time.

Even your grandfather didn't interact much with them.

I only mentioned it recently because Old Fifth and his wife wanted to visit. If we could gain something, then our family would have a connection with them.

If we get nothing, we won't lose face by keeping it secret.

But look at all of you, always fighting over everything.

I didn't expect Old Fifth and his wife to secure jobs.

When they came back during dinner, you all started arguing."

Wang Shoucheng cleverly defended himself, calming everyone down a bit.

Except for Wang Qingfu and Zhao Cuihua.

Wang Qingfu knew his father must have known about the success beforehand; otherwise, he wouldn't have given money to Old Fifth and his wife. It was a choice between Old Fifth and him.

Zhao Cuihua thought simply: if the old man was willing to give money, he must have known everything.

"That's right, Father. My wife and I just tried our luck. As brothers, if our lives improve, we won't forget the rest of you. We've discussed it, and I'll give up my job to see if we can arrange something.

If we can keep it within the family, that's best. Even if we can't, we'll still get some benefit.

And we can try again in the future."

Wang Qingqi also tried to persuade them, thinking about how to achieve what his wife had said on the way.

His wife wanted to buy a house in the county since both of them now had jobs there. Buying a house was a serious matter.

But this family...

Zhou Jiaojiao was also thinking about a house, and her attitude wasn't bad.

She returned so high-profile partly because she couldn't hide it and partly because she wanted a house.

When Wang Qingqi spoke, Zhou Jiaojiao continued: "That's right. We plan to go again next year. Second Brother, our family will surely improve. Now that I'm working in the county, I plan to hand over the black market business to the sisters-in-law."

Liu Xiaoe immediately became excited. "Really? When... when can I start learning? Can I learn well?"

"Don't include me. I don't want to do anything. My husband is already helping you. I don't want to learn any secrets—I won't do it." Zhao Cuihua refused outright.

She only wanted the benefits, not the risks. If her husband got into trouble, at least she could take care of her son. Besides, what good could come from Zhou Jiaojiao?

Chen Fang didn't expect Third Sister-in-law, who usually loved taking advantage, to refuse. She hesitated.

"Well..."

"If Third Sister-in-law doesn't want to, that's fine. Fourth Sister-in-law?" Zhou Jiaojiao was displeased with Zhao Cuihua's lack of cooperation but didn't mind.

Zhao Cuihua and Eldest Sister-in-law were both lazy and stupid. Not getting the pastry recipe was their own loss.

Asked directly, Chen Fang hesitated for a moment but nodded. "I'm willing."

"Father, since I won't be home often, I plan to give the recipes for the pastries we make to the two sisters-in-law." Zhou Jiaojiao acted generously.

Wang Shoucheng was a bit unhappy. Old Fifth's wife was too naive—shouldn't these recipes be given to him to distribute to the other daughters-in-law? Was she trying to take charge of the family?

"Do as you see fit," Wang Shoucheng said, not looking very pleased.

Zhou Jiaojiao didn't care and continued excitedly: "Now that I've given the recipes to the sisters-in-law, they're no longer exclusive. Everyone should understand the loss. We're a family, but I shouldn't bear all the losses, right?

Father, I hope the sisters-in-law can compensate me with some money after getting the recipes."

"What? Money?" Liu Xiaoe was surprised. Why would they need to pay money? Weren't they a family just a moment ago?

Chen Fang also frowned. They hadn't received much money lately.

Moreover, the family was still paying off debts incurred by her brother-in-law. How could Zhou Jiaojiao ask for money now? Besides, her leg injury was caused by Zhou Jiaojiao, and she hadn't even settled that score yet.

Zhao Cuihua felt relieved now. Indeed, Zhou Jiaojiao would never do anything that would result in a loss.

Isn't it so?

She's been waiting for them here.

Zhou Jiaojiao didn't expect them to be so resistant. Immediately, she became unhappy, furrowing her brows and looking at them with some grievance as she asked, "Shouldn't I be paid? Even if we're family, I can't just give everything away.

This secret recipe is exclusively mine. I've been fine with sharing the profits with the family.

But now that everyone wants to know it, it won't belong to me alone anymore, and my loss will be significant.

Second Sister-in-law, Fourth Sister-in-law, you're being unreasonable.

At the very least, each of you should pay three hundred, or else the black market business will have to be put on hold."

Zhou Jiaojiao was determined to get the money.

She didn't believe they would be unwilling to part with this sum.

Liu Xiaoe, upon hearing three hundred, immediately fell silent.

This matter had to be decided by her husband.

Chen Fang also frowned. Three hundred yuan was something she could afford.

After all, her husband hadn't bought a job before, so they had saved up their money.

However, parting with three hundred yuan at once still pained her.

We're all family; why should we have to pay?