How can I justify myself as a Magnate if I don't indulge myself?

Gu Jianguo, who was usually so mild-mannered that people almost walked all over him, got angrier and angrier as he spoke about this issue, until he couldn't help but slam his hand down on the table...

His way of thinking was very traditional, and he had always placed great importance on these matters.

As a child, if Gu Heng said something disrespectful about the ancestors during New Year's or Qingming Festival, he would inevitably get a beating.

Listening to his dad's words, Gu Heng was also unusually quiet, without much to say.

He was rather indifferent, and in his life, aside from his parents, there were few others he cared about, let alone those ancestors who had been dead for decades or centuries. It was just that their customs were such, and he could only choose to accept them. Otherwise, he didn't even want to get involved with the annual rituals like tomb-sweeping...

"Xiaoheng, when the village collects money later, can I contribute a bit more? Just use the money you just transferred to me.

You have made something of yourself now, and it can be considered a blessing from our ancestors. I'm thinking of contributing more money so we can fix the ancestral hall sooner and let our ancestors settle in. That way, we, their descendants, can fulfill our filial duties."

As he spoke, Gu Jianguo turned his questioning gaze towards Gu Heng...

Without realizing it, Gu Heng had become the mainstay of the family, and even Gu Jianguo felt the need to consult Xiaoheng's opinion before making decisions...

Hearing this, Gu Heng just shrugged. He scoffed at the idea of ancestral blessings. If there really were any blessings, it was the system that had blessed him. Nevertheless, he didn't plan to thwart his old man—as long as he was happy, that was fine.

He casually said, "That money was transferred to you to use as you see fit. It's fine for you to spend it however you want; If it's not enough, just ask me for more."

"That's great, that's great..."

Seeing his son's support, Gu Jianguo felt relieved.

Xu Hong, listening to their conversation, couldn't help but ask, "Son, what money did you transfer to your father?"

Before Gu Heng could answer, Gu Jianguo revealed it himself: "Just now, the boy transferred 200,000 yuan to me so I could pay off the family debts of a few thousand yuan. I thought after paying it off, there would still be over a hundred thousand left.
Your next read awaits at empire

The villagers said the cost to rebuild the ancestral hall was 30,000 yuan per household. Now that my son is successful, I plan to pay for two households, 60,000 yuan, to speed up the repair of the hall."

Upon hearing this, Xu Hong instantly became enraged.

She slammed down her chopsticks and exclaimed, "What the fuck are you talking about, Gu Jianguo! You think you're so grand! While others don't even want to contribute 30,000 per household, you're throwing in 60,000! Do you have too much money to spend? If you have spare cash, why don't you give me some to spend?

If you're so capable, donate with your own money! Why use my son's money? My son followed you through hardship from a young age; what have you done for him? Now that he's made something of himself, that he's earned some money through hard work, you want to use his money to show off? Putting on airs like you're someone important!"

Usually met with laughter, Gu Jianguo could not hold back this time either. He too slammed his chopsticks down and pointed at Xu Hong's nose, yelling, "What do you mean I'm pretending to be all high and mighty?

Doesn't Xiaoheng bear the Gu surname? Are my ancestors not his ancestors? People always say, 'bring glory to the ancestors'! What is this if not bringing glory to them?

I, Gu Jianguo, may not have had the ability to bring glory to the ancestors, but now my son does. What's wrong with spending a bit more to fix the ancestral hall? This money is for the old ancestors, knowing that they have such a successful descendant like Xiaoheng would allow them to walk with their heads held high!"

Gu Heng, who had been quietly eating his meal, was taken aback by the sudden argument...

Just a moment ago everything was peaceful, but in the blink of an eye, a quarrel had erupted.

Before Gu Heng could interject, Gu Jianguo banged the table and walked towards the door...

The angrier Xu Hong got, the louder she shouted after him, "Bullshit about honoring the ancestors! I think you just want to play the fool!!"

However, this time, there was no reply from outside, and Xu Hong could only sit back down, fuming...

"Alright, alright, what's there to argue about? If my dad wants to donate more, let him donate more. It's just tens of thousands; why get so worked up over it..."

Gu Heng set down his utensils, patted his mother's back, comforting her while helping her cool down.

"It's not that I'm angry! I can't stand to see the money you worked so hard for wasted by him!"

Women are made of water, and even someone Xu Hong's age was no exception. She started to tear up as she spoke...

"When other people's sons buy cars or houses, which parents don't chip in a little? We're not capable enough to help our son, and that's fine, but now we're dragging him down! Using our son's money to play the fool! I can't stand it!"

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face as she touched Gu Heng's head, sobbing, "Others only know that my son bought a nice car, that he's going to spend a lot of money on building a house; they have no idea how much he's suffered! Others might not know, but shouldn't his father be aware?!"

Having started working in his teens and never asking for money from home in five or six years, whenever I tell others about this, I say how sensible you are, but my heart aches more than if it were pricked by needles!

Why should other people's children live comfortably while I, as a mother, am of no use and can't help at all?

You are flesh of my flesh; how can I not feel heartache for you!

Listening to his mother cry more and more painfully, Gu Heng could only hug her head and repeat the words "I know" over and over again...

....

Outside, Gu Jianguo sat on the steps, smoking a cigarette, and listening to Xu Hong's sobs, feeling equally upset...

But soon, after soothing his mother fairly well, Gu Heng walked out from the room, took a seat next to him, and lit a cigarette...

Father and son sat on the steps together, puffing clouds of smoke.

"I didn't mean what your mother said, I just wanted to bring glory to our ancestors once..."

It took a while before Gu Jianguo could express this thought with a trembling voice.

Just like Gu Heng aspired to stand out among men, Gu Jianguo had always dreamed of bringing honor to his ancestors...

Unfortunately, he wasn't as lucky as Gu Heng to activate a system; he had to live an ordinary life like most people...

He had thought he'd never be able to fulfill his wish in this lifetime, but in his old age, Gu Heng gave him a glimmer of hope; his son could easily achieve what he didn't have the means to do...

It was precisely for this reason that the always honest Gu Jianguo chose to indulge himself for once, wanting to make a name for himself in the construction of the ancestral hall.

Listening to his father's words, Gu Heng smiled frankly and put his arm around his shoulder, "No need to explain; don't I know my own father?

"I've come to terms with it, I'm old enough not to compete anymore. I'll listen to your mom; we won't donate too much, just the right amount."

Hearing this, Gu Heng winked at him while holding his cigarette, "Don't worry about it, leave it to your son to handle.

"Keep the money I give you and spend it slowly."

For a son, what's the big deal about fulfilling an insignificant wish for his father?

After saying this, he stood up, helping Gu Jianguo to his feet as well.

"Let's go, it's time for the meeting."

"Right, off to the meeting."

Just as the two were walking shoulder to shoulder to the village committee courtyard, a cough sounded from behind.

They both turned around to see Xu Hong looking at them with a sideways glance.

Seeing this, Gu Jianguo as usual caved in, "Wife, are you coming too?"

Xu Hong gave him a look, "What about the pride you had when you threw down the chopsticks earlier?"

Gu Jianguo could only manage a sheepish smile...

Watching Gu Jianguo's submissive manner, Xu Hong didn't continue to harp on it, she locked the front door and walked ahead of the father and son.

"How can I not go to the village meeting? Am I not a part of Anping Village just because you father and son are?"

She said, walking proudly ahead...

Looking at her demeanor, father and son exchanged a smile...

They say poverty makes for a sad couple, but the harmony and stability in Gu Heng's family, despite years of poverty, had a lot to do with Xu Hong's temperament...

She was always the fiercest with her words but also the softest at heart...