Chapter 80: Chapter 81: Not Buying a TV
Translator: 549690339
Initially, the salesperson upon seeing Tang Zhinian’s clothing, knew he was from the countryside and would presumably be unwilling to spend so much on clothes for a child. But in the end, Tang Zhinian did fork out the money without batting an eyelid. The banknotes he handed over were whole bills, but without any change.
Later, he lifted Tang Yuxin up and sat her on top of the tricycle. The brothers went on to buy sunflower seed candy, peanuts, and other New Year goodies, as well as spring couplets. As they passed a department store, Tang Zhijun paused.
“Bro, we should buy a TV. It’s not sustainable to keep going to the village center to watch one,” he suggested.
Tang Zhinian pondered – a television was a considerable expense nowadays. Previously, they could only dreamt of owning one, let alone buying it. But now, they were financially capable. With more than ten thousand at hand, a television could last them over a decade. Even if they didn’t watch, Yuxin would. Thinking of his daughter’s future, he braced himself and decided to get one. Nnêw n0vel chapters are published at novelhall.com
“Indeed,” agreed Tang Zhinian. Concealing their monetary success seemed impossible. Buying the television would unsettle the other villagers and their close neighbors. It wasn’t unusual for villagers to resent another’s sudden wealth, regardless of how hard-earned it was.
They hadn’t become overnight millionaires.
Months of tireless work had paid off, but to their fellow villagers, the sum they had earned was something a whole family might take more than a decade to accumulate.
The plans for the television and a new build were scrapped for now.
After much thought, Tang Zhinian decided to postpone the construction of a new house until the next year or the year after. Tang Zhijun was young enough to wait a few years for his marriage. At Tang Zhinian’s age, he should have been wed by now. But his previous engagement fell apart after his bride-to-be fell ill and passed away before the wedding.
The villagers were superstitious, claiming that Tang Zhinian was jinxed, that his fate would bring harm to his wife. And even with the diminishing values of a maiden, no one was willing to offer their daughter to him, especially given Tang family’s poverty. Tang Zhinian resided in the last of the clay-brick houses in their compound, whereas Tang Zhijun lived in the small shack in the field, which made it even impassable for Tang Zhijun to find a wife.