When the crowd heard Xiao Quanren’s comments, they were startled. What did the Wise One mean? Was he saying that the couplet Xiao Luo had written was even better than his own? The Wise One had been a scholar since the time of the Qing Dynasty, and what’s more, he had spent most of his life practicing calligraphy. Xiao Luo was just a shade over twenty, so how could his skills in calligraphy possibly be better?

  “You flatter me, Wise One,” Xiao Luo said with a smile.

  “Neither haughty nor humble, neither conceited nor rash. Xiao Luo, a great future awaits you!” old man Xiao Quanren held Xiao Luo’s hands tightly, giving him considerable praise.

  “The Wise One is right. Xiao Luo is bound to attain great achievements in the future.”

  “It is said that sharpening a chopper will not hold up the work of cutting firewood. Xiao Luo’s few years in university has given him an entirely different temperament.”

  “Yes, indeed. It is the reason why Miss Ji took a liking to Xiao Luo.”

  Everyone heaped lavish praises on Xiao Luo.

  That didn’t sit well with Xiao Qiudong, who stood seething silently in the crowd, gritting his teeth and shaking in anger. He felt his sense of superiority crumble and that he had lost his position as the most outstanding youth in Luo Village. All the glory and limelight had now shifted to Xiao Luo.

  All the praises he heard gradually made him lose his mind, and in a spiteful voice, he uttered, “He just a gigolo who gained his status all because of some rich lady. Is he that worthy of your high praises?”

  It was in a moment of sheer frustration that he said those words. But he said it precisely when the crowd went silent, and hence, it was audible to everyone gathered at the Seekong altar. The instant they heard that they turned and glared at him.

  Old man Xiao Quanren’s expression changed, and he was displeased. “Qiudong, what are you mumbling about?” he said.

  Murmurs of discontent and criticism could be heard from the crowd.

  \r \r \r

  With all eyes on him, Xiao Qiudong felt the heat and panicked for a moment. But, he quickly regained his composure, seeing that what had said was already spoken, the time for fear had passed. Instead, he puffed his chest, keeping his chin up confidently and said, “Wise One, I’m telling the truth. Xiao Luo is just a salaryman who only earns about 80 thousand dollars every year. With that income, even being able to save up 50 thousand dollars at the bank is already considered good. It has been four years since he graduated, is it not? Only capable of saving up 50 thousand dollars a year at this point in his life is nothing to flaunt and be proud of.” Then gesturing to Ji Siying, he added, “The only thing he can show off now is his girlfriend, Miss Ji. But to Miss Ji, I have a piece of advice for you. Those fairy tales you read will never happen in reality. You might believe in love, but what about your family? Would they allow you to marry a poor brat like Xiao Luo, born from a mediocre family and who can’t even afford a house and a car? The answer is definitely, ‘No.’ I am convinced that you both will break up sooner or later. Marriage can only happen between people of matching social status, but what you have is……”

  “Enough!!!”

  A booming voice thundered from within the crowd, causing Xiao Qiudong to halt abruptly.

  Xiao Qiudong turned his head, and he saw it came from Xiao Ping. Xiao Qiudong was puzzled, doubtful, and angry all at once. He stared at Xiao Ping coldly and yelled, “Xiao Ping, what did you have for dinner, explosives?!”

  “Xiao Qiudong, what are you saying? The three of us have been friends since we were young. We played in the mud, stole the Wise One’s loquat, and even snuck out swimming in the river together. Luo is now living a great life, and I’m genuinely happy for him, but why are you not? What are you implying now? Can’t you bear to see Luo doing better than you? Are you only happy when Luo is inferior to you in every single thing? Xiao Qiudong, do you have a mental problem or what?” Xiao Ping rebuked him loudly, unable to tolerate his antics any longer. Xiao Qiudong had crossed the line this time.

  “I have a mental problem? Hu-huh……”

  Xiao Qiudong scoffed, “Isn’t what I said true? If he hadn’t gotten his hands on a rich girl, he’d just be nothing more than a fart!”

  “Xiao Qiudong, what has gotten into you? What is this insanity you’re showing in front of the Seekong altar?” Xiao Dizhang shouted, clearly angry and disappointed in Xiao Qiudong.

  “Uncle Dizhang, I’m not insane, I’m just presenting the facts. Why does everybody think that I’m insane? Okay, so Xiao Luo can write calligraphy, he’s good looking and has caught the eye of a rich girl, but these aside, he’s nothing! Graduating from a university means he can only be a salaryman. I didn’t attend university, but I own a house, a car, have a wife, and everything Xiao Luo doesn’t have! Compared to me, what does he have to be proud of, and what can he flaunt?”

  Xiao Qiudong had thoroughly lost his mind, convinced that he wasn’t crazy, but everyone else was. As far as he was concerned, Xiao Luo was just the garbage who had managed to seduce a rich girl, so was he worthy of all the praise? Why didn’t anyone look into his success and excellence instead? In his mind, the people here were just a bunch of fools.

  He pointed at Xiao Ping maniacally and sneered, “I’m not lending you the 120 grand anymore. Do whatever you want. Even if the loan sharks chop your hand off, it has nothing to do with me! Trash like you who failed in doing business deserves it. If I were you, I wouldn’t even have the face to come back for the New Year!”

  “You……”

  Xiao Ping was humiliated, and his entire body trembled in rage.

  “Xiao Qiudong, what a terrible friend you are.”

  “Everyone has their ups and downs. Xiao Ping is one of our own, but you refuse to help him when you can do so. Aren’t you afraid of retribution from Seekong?”

  “How arrogant. No matter how much money you make, no one in our family will be happy for you.”

  The crowd roundly denounced him.

  Xiao Qiudong was adamant, and he responded, “Lending money depends on sentiment; since when is it a duty? As you are all so warm-hearted, I suggest you collect 120 thousand dollars among yourselves and lend it to Xiao Ping!”

  His insensitive remark silenced everyone.

  Xiao Dizhang sighed, shaking his head and said, “Qiudong, why have you become like this?”

  “I didn’t change one bit. I am still me.”

  Xiao Qiudong glared at Xiao Ping and scowled, “When you borrow money, you should have the appearance and attitude of someone who is borrowing money. You need my help, and yet you have the cheek to speak to me in that way. In that case, why should I help you? You are acting so high and mighty even when you have to borrow money from me. By the time when you pay me back, should I have to treat you like a prince or what?”

  Xiao Ping was humiliated, and he accepted the shame, but on the inside, he was devastated. Even after returning to his village, he still had to endure being trampled upon by his childhood friend and clansman, and eat humble pie. What he was facing now felt even worse than what he had experienced out there.

  “Ping, I’ll lend you the money!”

  Xiao Luo said, stepping forward. Hearing his faint words made Xiao Ping’s eyes widen in surprise. “Give me your bank account number, and I’ll transfer the money to you right now.”

  When his grandfather had asked him to help aunt Taoxiu’s family, he already made plans, but the chance didn’t present itself. Besides, Xiao Ping hadn’t approached him but went to Xiao Qiudong for help instead. Since Xiao Qiudong was willing to lend him the money, he couldn’t just tell Xiao Ping not to accept the help from Xiao Qiudong. But things were different now, and he was determined to give Xiao Ping a helping hand.

  “Luo, you……”

  Xiao Ping looked a Xiao Luo, then looked at Ji Siying.

  Xiao Ping was conflicted as the last thing he wanted was to burden Xiao Luo. If Xiao Luo’s career were like Xiao Qiudong’s, he’d undoubtedly have borrowed the money from him, but that wasn’t the case. Listening to what Xiao Qiudong had said, Xiao Luo could only have saved 50 thousand dollars per year, at the most. He couldn’t bring himself to borrow 120 thousand dollars from Xiao Luo, and he had to be considerate of Ji Siying’s feelings. If Xiao Luo was to borrow him Ji Siying’s money, won’t that make it more difficult for him to face the Ji family?” ……