CHAPTER 374: CHAPTER 374: I DON’T WEAR A JACKET

Song Yuanhuan and Song Yuanming installed the big color TV very quickly because it was cold outside. Song Yuanhuan had everything prepared when he connected the wires, climbing up to the tiled roof of their house to securely install the antenna, and that was basically all there was to it.

"Bro, the TV is ready to watch," Song Yuanming’s reminding voice came through.

Upon hearing this, Song Yuanhuan carefully stepped down from the roof using a bamboo ladder. Just then, Song Yuantao returned from the county town, where he had gone to buy New Year’s goods and, by the way, to purchase a new set of clothes for Niuniu.

In the past, that girl had her mother to look after her, and later on, her sister-in-law Xu Xiuxiu’s monthly packages sent home always included something for her, be it clothes or trousers. The little girl was well taken care of and looked spirited, but to be honest, he, as a father, had never actually bought his daughter a piece of clothing. Now, for some reason, his sister-in-law wasn’t sending new clothes for Niuniu anymore. But he bore no resentment; it was a favor for someone to be willing to buy clothes for his daughter, and even if it stopped, he had no complaints.

His reason for going to the county town so early today was that his daughter had been unhappy last time because of clothing issues. Seeing her so upset, Song Yuantao thought that however tough life may be for parents, they shouldn’t let their children suffer. After all, the New Year was approaching, and buying her a piece of clothing would surely cheer her up a bit.

"Second brother, is that car outside really yours?" Perhaps men have a great fondness for cars, which represent a man’s status. As soon as he walked home, he’d heard a bunch of children in the village chattering about a car driving into the village. Last night at dinner, he’d heard Mrs. Song mention that his second brother, Song Yuanhuan, had done well and seemed to have bought a car and driven it back home. His heart couldn’t help but feel bitter.

Now his second brother had everything—a career, a wife, children, a prosperous life without financial worries, a house in the big city, and he even went to the Imperial Capital School for further education. After returning to the military, who knew how quickly he might get promoted, while he himself was mired in debt and his wife had cheated on him. He couldn’t help feeling inferior.

Yet his second brother and sister-in-law had always treated him well. Even if jealousy made bubbles in his heart, he could only swallow his feelings.

Song Yuanhuan, hearing Song Yuantao’s question, smiled as he greeted him, reaching out to take the large bag of New Year’s goods from his hands. "Mom said you went out to buy New Year’s fireworks, must’ve been tough!"

"Buying fireworks is nothing, not as capable as you, kid." Song Yuantao said, patting Song Yuanhuan on the chest with a genuine smile that carried forced cheer. "Big brother, it seems I won’t make something of myself in this lifetime." His voice dropped as he spoke, and he thought of the trip to the county town that day to buy clothes for Niuniu. He fancied a very pretty yellow suit for her, but it cost a whole twenty yuan! Hesitating for a moment, he ended up buying another jacket with a floral pattern, which cost less than ten yuan—half the price!

But here he was, still comparing the cost of a few yuan, lamenting the price of a twenty-yuan outfit as too expensive, while his brother already owned a house and a car. The difference in their situations was not just a little bit profound!

"Big brother, don’t say it like that, I’m not that accomplished myself. Buying cars and houses is all thanks to Xiuxiu," Song Yuanhuan had no dissatisfaction with his somewhat kept-man life. To be honest, in a relationship where the woman is strong, if the man lacks confidence, it’s very easy for cracks to form between them. But because he was confident enough, he never felt anything was wrong. On the contrary, it seemed he rather enjoyed it.

"Well, you still have your talents." Not everyone is lucky enough to marry a competent wife. Song Yuantao smiled bitterly as the two brothers walked into the main room, "Niuniu, come here. Daddy bought you some new clothes, they’re floral! Do you want to try them on?" Song Yuantao, seeing Song Tianxin sitting there eating a boiled egg, immediately waved her over.

"Oh!" A girl of barely thirteen should have been quite happy to have new clothes, but for some reason, she didn’t seem too excited. Quietly finishing her boiled egg, she walked over to Song Yuantao and stretched out her hand to receive the floral jacket he had bought her.

"Dad, the jacket you bought is really ugly." Song Tianxin understood the difference between beauty and quality, and this jacket was far inferior to the clothes her second aunt used to buy for her.

"Haha, Dad isn’t very good at choosing things. If you don’t like it, Dad can go exchange it for something else tomorrow, alright?" Song Yuantao scratched the back of his head awkwardly, trying hard to smile at Song Tianxin.

"Then go exchange it for something else! I definitely won’t wear this jacket anyway." Song Tianxin frowned and spoke directly.

Mrs. Song saw this and felt displeased, yet she still patiently tried to comfort Song Tianxin, "Niuniu, this floral jacket looks so nice! Why would you say it isn’t? Your dad picked it out himself. Hurry up and try it on; the New Year is coming soon. Niuniu will look so festive in this floral jacket!" Mrs. Song, saying this, reached out for the floral jacket, intending to persuade Song Tianxin to put it on.

Song Tianxin frowned, considering refusal, but seeing everyone in the house, she suppressed her temper for some reason. She let Mrs. Song dress her in the jacket, and after scanning the expressions around the main room, which seemed fairly normal, Song Tianxin finally breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"See, Grandma is right, isn’t she! The floral jacket is festive, and Niuniu looks lively in it!" Mrs. Song didn’t have much demand for style and color in clothing; she thought the young girl would look good in anything colorful due to her physical condition. Besides, she had taken a good look at the jacket; the quality wasn’t bad at all.

"It’s so garish, like I’m wrapped in a bedsheet from home. I don’t want it." Song Tianxin felt uncomfortable in the clothes. Following Mrs. Song, she went to a washstand with a half-body mirror, and seeing her flamboyantly dressed reflection in the mirror, then looking at Song Chengguang dressed like a city child, Song Tianxin’s face fell. She took off the clothes, threw them on the ground, and spoke loudly, even attracting the attention of the boy and girl twins who were eating egg custard.

"Niuniu." Ever since Niuniu had burned her and Father Song’s clothes the last time, Mrs. Song hadn’t coddled Song Tianxin as much as before. Now, seeing her act willfully and throw the clothes on the ground, Mrs. Song’s face turned completely dark, "Even if you don’t like it, you should speak kindly. What’s the meaning of throwing the clothes on the floor?" She said sternly, with a severe tone.

Today, when the kids came home, with the new car and the big color TV, she felt over the moon. But now, disturbed by her eldest granddaughter, she really had no more mood for joy. Indeed, she was Wang Qinghua’s daughter, inheriting her mother’s talent for stirring up trouble at home.