Watching dad point at the Wuling mini truck with a hint of pride on his face, Ge Dongxu was completely speechless.
However, Xu Suya looked at her husband with eyes full of tenderness and nodded, "Don't ntion it, Dongxu, your dad is actually quite imaginative. It's just that we were poor back then, which forced him to drop out of school early. Otherwise, who knows, he might have been a high-achieving student by now. Your dad's thinking as a farr is quite advanced, and he doesn't fall behind city folks. The idea for this trip was his."
"How about that, son? If your dad didn't have so real skills, do you think your mom would have fallen for back then?" Seeing his wife speaking up for him, Ge Shengming's prideful expression grew even stronger.
"Haha! Dad, of course I know you have real skills. If you didn't, how could your son possibly have achieved what he has now?" Ge Dongxu laughed as he put his arm around his father's shoulder.
"That's right, you just inherited my excellent genes!" Ge Shengming said, growing more proud.
"Alright, a few complints and you're already flying high. Now open the car door, let's go pay a New Year's visit to your parents," Xu Suya said with a roll of her eyes, as she watched the father and son praise each other.
"Hehe." Ge Shengming gave a sheepish laugh and opened the car door.
The Wuling mini truck, though not worth much money and often used for hauling goods, was kept very clean inside.
"Dad, let drive," Ge Dongxu said.
"What, you don't trust your dad's driving? I often drive on these mountain roads; I know them well. Just sit back and relax," Ge Shengming stated as he took the driver's seat.
"You just praised him, and now you're acting so silly. My son doesn't mistrust you; he just doesn't want you to overexert yourself," Xu Suya said, rolling her eyes again.
"Hehe, I know, but I like driving," Ge Shengming laughed.
"Dongxu, don't mind your dad, he's just a hard worker," Xu Suya said, half laughing, half crying.
Ge Dongxu shook his head with a smile and got into the car.
"Have you guys planned where you want to go? I can help you arrange it," Ge Dongxu said.
"Let's skip going abroad. The furthest your dad has been is Ouzhou City, and he hasn't even fully explored his own area yet. Why go so far? So, your mom and I planned to start from Changxi County, drive all the way to see so famous spots in Ouzhou City, then drive to the Provincial Capital," Ge Shengming explained.
"A road trip!" Ge Dongxu was a bit surprised, paused, then smiled, "Dad, you really do have so great ideas. Not many people have this concept in our country right now."
"Of course," Ge Shengming boasted.
"Then I'll arrange for you a better-performing SUV," Ge Dongxu suggested.
"No need, this Wuling mini truck is just fine," Ge Shengming patted the steering wheel and said.
"Really, dad, you plan to use this truck for a road trip with mom?" Ge Dongxu was speechless.
"What? You look down on my Wuling mini truck, don't you?" Ge Shengming, touching the steering wheel, asked sowhat discontentedly.
"Dad, that's not what I an. I just think we could definitely afford a better car," Ge Dongxu said.
"No need, I think the Wuling mini truck is good enough," Ge Shengming said.
"Haha, Dongxu, there's no point in persuading your dad. Ever since he bought this car, he's been cleaning it and driving it every day. Over ti, he's grown attached to it and finds it drives smoothly. Besides, your mom is just a primary school teacher, and your dad is just a farr and a small agritainnt business owner. It's already quite impressive that they're driving a Wuling mini truck for self-driving tours. There's no need to insist on driving a luxury car; being happy is what matters most," Xu Suya said, smiling and interjecting when she saw her son still wanted to persuade them.
"Yes, I've grown attached to it!" Ge Shengming said, patting the steering wheel sentintally, then after thinking for a bit added, "Plus, I've been poor for most of my life, and it's only been in the past few years that our living conditions have started to improve. It's better to take it easy and make changes gradually."
"Since that's how you feel, I won't make a fuss. As long as you're happy, that's good," Ge Dongxu said, nodding and going along with his parents' wishes.
This year's New Year's greetings and the family gathering were held as usual at the small restaurant opened by Uncle Xu Zhewei in Xi Garden Town.
When Ge Dongxu and his family arrived at the restaurant, his maternal grandparents and the families of all three uncles were already there. However, Big Aunt Xu Suying's family, just like every year, was the last to arrive.
The status-conscious Big Auntie Liang Zhen still couldn't change her opportunistic ways. As soon as she saw Ge Dongxu and his family arrive, she imdiately went up to greet them with overt enthusiasm, unlike the other two aunties, who acted as they usually did.
Although Ge Dongxu still didn't quite like his Big Auntie's social-climbing behavior, he was ultimately happy to see her warm attitude toward his parents.
"Happy New Year, Grandpa and Grandma, I've co to give my New Year's greetings!" Ge Dongxu, just like every year, first ran over to wish his grandparents a happy new year.
Although his grandparents were quite old, having Ge Dongxu as a grandson naturally kept them in very good health, making them look at least ten years younger than their peers.
"Alright, alright, co here, take the red envelope," his grandparents said, breaking into smiles as soon as they saw Ge Dongxu, and handing him a red packet.
Today, Ge Dongxu was quietly considered the richest man in Jiangnan Province, but he still happily accepted the red envelope from his grandparents.
Soon, Big Aunt Xu Suying and her family also arrived.
"The second child, driving a sedan back ho this year! It seems you made quite a bit last year!" As soon as Xu Suying entered, she laughed and said to Xu Zhebo.
"Not just good, Zhebo's business has even expanded to Thailand," Liang Zhen added, her eyes full of envy.
Their family did quite well too, all being civil servants, but since they earned fixed salaries, they definitely didn't have as much money as Xu Zhebo, who did business abroad year-round.
"Really? Zhebo, you've kept such a tight lid on it. You never ntioned it before the New Year!" Xu Suying exclaid in surprise.
"It's just started not long ago, and I'm not sure how things will turn out, so I didn't ntion it," Xu Zhebo replied.
"You're being modest, Zhebo! You've already bought a car; that's way beyond us office workers. Who knows when we'll be able to afford a car," Jin Yimin, who worked as a clerk in the town governnt of Xi Garden Town, said.
"Haha, it's different. You civil servants have status and job security, unlike us. Look, I've made so money now, but who knows when I might lose it," Xu Zhebo said.
"Zhebo is right. I'm not worried about you all. Zhebo's situation is different, as he runs a small restaurant just around here at ho. I can see him every day and don't have to worry, but I do worry about Zhebo, who is doing business out there," Ge Dongxu's grandfather Xu Guozhong said.
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