48: Chapter 48 A Gift That Makes People Envious

In the Ji Family's small courtyard.

Ji Baoxiu and his wife were busy working.

Suddenly, they heard the noisy chatter of children.

"Grandpa Ji! Grandma Ji! Auntie Guangli is back! She's driving a huge, black car! And there's a really handsome uncle with her!"

These were the children who had received candy at the village entrance; they ran over as fast as they could, shouting breathlessly at the entrance of the Ji Family's courtyard.

"Coming, coming!"

Ma Guilan excitedly wiped her hands on her apron repeatedly, while Ji Baoxiu, leaning on his cane, shuffled to the courtyard gate in a few steps, craning his neck to look.

Ji Guanghui and Ji Guangke also hurried out, their faces filled with both anticipation and curiosity.

Soon, not just them, but neighbors and even villagers from further away who had heard the commotion gradually gathered near the Ji Family's small courtyard.

That's how it is in the countryside; whenever there's something new, especially a major event like a prospective son-in-law visiting for the first time, it always attracts half the village to watch the excitement.

Before long, twenty or thirty people were standing by the courtyard gate and along the base of the walls, the constant hum of their discussion filling the air.

When the black car slowly drove up and stopped in front of the Ji Family's gate, the crowd's chatter reached a small crescendo.

The car doors opened, and Cao Kun and Ji Guangli stepped out once again.

Facing the dense crowd of curious gazes at the courtyard gate, Cao Kun remained composed, the smile on his face becoming even warmer and more approachable.

Ji Guangli walked quickly to her parents' side and softly called out, "Dad, Mom."

"Oh! It's good to have you back, good to have you back!" Ma Guilan took her daughter's hand, looking her up and down with slightly misty eyes.

Ji Baoxiu looked at the dignified and impressive Cao Kun, nodding repeatedly. He wanted to say something but felt a bit constrained.

Cao Kun took a step forward and bowed slightly to the two elders, his attitude respectful. "Uncle, Auntie, hello. I am Cao Kun. I should have visited you both much sooner, but I've been busy and kept delaying until today. I'm truly sorry."

As he spoke, he pulled out a cigarette and first handed one to Ji Baoxiu.

"Young man, you're far too polite! Quick, come inside, sit in the house!" Ji Baoxiu took the cigarette, his hands shaking slightly as he hurriedly made way.

Cao Kun wasn't in a hurry to go in. He glanced at the growing crowd and knew this was the perfect time to display his strength and gain face for Ji Guangli and the Ji Family.

He took out two unopened packs of Chunghwa cigarettes from the car, handed them to Ji Baoxiu, and said loudly, "Uncle, take these two packs. Distribute them among the uncles, elders, and neighbors. Consider it a small token of my appreciation."

Low gasps of surprise erupted from the onlookers.

Usually, when things were done in the village, giving out cigarettes worth ten or twenty yuan was considered decent. To give out Chunghwa right off the bat?

This immediately made people look at Cao Kun in a new light.

Ji Baoxiu looked at the two packs of cigarettes in his hand, feeling both happy and pained.

He was happy that this prospective son-in-law was giving him so much face, but it pained him that... such good cigarettes were being handed out to these onlookers. What a waste!

He usually smoked the cheapest Hongqiqu, which cost six yuan a pack.

But with everyone watching, how could he say no?

He could only force a smile and carefully open a pack to start distributing cigarettes to the men around him.

Those who received a cigarette had faces beaming with joy as they repeatedly thanked him. Those who didn't receive one craned their necks to look, their eyes full of envy.

While Ji Baoxiu was busy handing out cigarettes, Cao Kun turned back to the car.

He gave Ji Guangli a look, and she understood, coming over to help.

The main event was beginning!

Cao Kun first pulled out a sturdy cardboard box from the very back of the trunk. The words "Moutai Wine" on the box shimmered in the sunlight.

Holding the box, he walked over to Ji Baoxiu and Ma Guilan and set it down steadily.

"Uncle, Guangli told me you enjoy a drink now and then. Keep this case of wine and enjoy it slowly." His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone present.

A whole case of Moutai!

The scene fell silent for a moment, then suddenly erupted with a buzz!

Moutai! That was the legendary wine!

A whole case! How much must that cost?!

Ji Baoxiu stared at the box, his eyes wide. His mouth hung open, but he couldn't find the words to speak.

Immediately after, Cao Kun took out two cartons of Chunghwa.

"These two cartons of cigarettes are specifically for you. Please take them."

After the cigarettes and wine came the gift for Ma Guilan.

Cao Kun took out the brocade box containing the gold bracelet and opened it. The golden, heavy bracelet lay on black velvet, its patterns ancient and elegant.

He handed it to Ma Guilan with both hands. "Auntie, this is our first meeting, and I didn't know what you'd like, so I picked out a bracelet. I hope you like it."

Ma Guilan had never seen such expensive and beautiful gold jewelry in her life. She took it with trembling hands, feeling the weight of the gold. It made her heart flutter and race. Her eyes instantly turned red, and she could only repeat, "This... this is too precious... Child, this won't do..."

"Auntie, as long as it looks good on you, it's worth it," Cao Kun said with a smile.

Then, he turned to the stunned Ji Guanghui and Ji Guangke. Like a magician, he produced two more phone boxes—the latest 17 Pro models.

"Guanghui, Guangke, I heard from your sister that you both just got into college. These two phones are small gifts from your sister and me. I hope you like them."

Ji Guanghui and Ji Guangke could hardly believe their eyes!

The latest flagship phones!

They had only seen them online or in the windows of phone shops in town!

Both of their faces flushed with excitement. Ji Guanghui took the phone and blurted out, "Thank you, Brother-in-law!"

Ji Guangke followed immediately, her voice crisp, "Thank you, Brother-in-law!"

This "Brother-in-law" made Cao Kun feel elated and Ji Guangli's cheeks flush slightly red, while the onlookers felt a complex mix of emotions.

But it wasn't over yet!

As if he had opened Doraemon's pocket, Cao Kun began to continuously pull things out of the car.

Gift boxes of American Ginseng, Donkey-hide Gelatin Cake, high-grade tea, imported olive oil, premium nut gift sets, beautifully packaged pastry boxes, and even two sets of packaged Silk Quilts... All sorts of things soon piled up into a small mountain in the open space in front of the Ji Family's gate!

The sunlight hit this dazzling mountain of gifts, which were clearly worth a fortune. It was a dizzying sight that made many people feel uneasy.

Wang Caifeng and the others, who had just been suspecting the cigarettes were fake and the car was a rental, now stared at the glaring case of Moutai, the golden bracelet, and the mountain of high-end gift boxes. Their mouths hung open wide enough to fit an egg, and their faces burned as if they had been invisibly slapped several times.

The other villagers also broke into exclamations of wonder and envious chatter.

"Good heavens, how much money must this have cost!"

"A whole case of Moutai! I've never seen that in my life!"

"That gold bracelet looks like it has some real weight to it!"

"The Ji Family has truly found themselves a golden son-in-law!"

"That girl Guangli, her hardships have finally turned into happiness!"

"Old Man Ji and Ma Guilan are going to enjoy a life of luxury from now on!"

Ji Baoxiu and Ma Guilan looked at the items scattered across the ground, then at the calm and smiling Cao Kun, and finally at the envious and even somewhat fawning gazes of their fellow villagers. They felt a surge of heat rush from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads. Their backs straightened involuntarily, and their faces radiated a glow they hadn't seen in years.

The frustration and suppression they had endured for years due to poverty and the gossip about their daughter were completely released at this moment!

However, there are always those who can't stand to see others do well, their hearts sour with jealousy, unwilling to be outdone.

For example, Zhao Laosi.

He began to challenge Cao Kun.

...