Hong Huahua's million yuan in cash left everyone present in a state of disbelief! One relative, in the midst of a cigarette drag, had the cigarette drop from his hand as his eyes widened like copper bells. Others stood up in surprise, huddled together, their gaze fixed on the million!
"Xiao...Xiaoyan, you…"
Aunt Li's family was at a loss for words, their astonishment mirroring that of Gu Yongfu, Gu Yongguo, and the others.
The scene unfolded much like it had at Gu's house.
"I stayed with you, ate at your place for half a year, and even got a sweater knitted by you. I remember it all!"
"No need to mention just a few hundred dollars. It's too much to give so much money at once. We can't accept it!"
Aunt Li was still in a daze, and her husband immediately waved his hand in protest.
Though they were rural folks, the rural population was often more resilient than their urban counterparts.
While they had taken care of Fang Yan for a period of time, over the years, every time Fang Yan visited, he'd bring gifts worth a few hundred dollars. If it was about gratitude, they considered it balanced!
Now, suddenly being handed a million, it was overwhelming, something they couldn't bear.
"Uncle, this kind of thing will be known."
"And, didn't your eldest son just graduate? He'll be getting married soon. With this million, you could make a down payment on a house or even buy a car in Ningcheng, no problem at all!"
"Don't just think about yourself, think about your son too."
Fang Yan said.
Playing the family card always did the trick.
Hearing Fang Yan's words, Aunt Li's husband began to waver.
Indeed, their eldest son had recently graduated and started working. Waiting for him to save enough to buy a house and a car might take five to seven years! And then there was their younger son. Even though he had just started junior high school, education costs were a factor.
"Uncle, don't overthink it, just accept it."
"Yeah! Dad! What's there to think about? It's a million! How long would it take you to earn that? Take it!"
"Exactly! Don't hesitate. What if Xiaoyan changes his mind later? You'll regret it!"
"A million! I've never seen so much money in my life! Tsk tsk..."
The other relatives showed various shades of envy and awe.
In a situation like this, the odds of winning the lottery were slimmer than ever!
It was as though a divine windfall had landed right in their laps!
"It's settled then, Xiaoyan, I'll accept it."
"It's a shame to admit, but we didn't let you stay back then because of malicious gossip. Now that I think of it, it was us who did wrong. I apologize to you."
Aunt Li's husband expressed with a tinge of shame.
They had only been married for a short while when Fang Yan joined the family. Even though everyone knew he was an orphan, some still whispered and gossiped about the situation. Thus, they felt it necessary to ask Fang Yan to leave.
"Uncle, you don't have to apologize. It's all in the past now."
Fang Yan understood their predicament. If they hadn't let him go, he wouldn't have ended up with Uncle Gu. All these circumstances were simply coincidental.
"Xiaoyan, come! You always loved boiled bean curd when you were young. You'd ask for it every year you came. Wait here, I'll make it for you!"
Aunt Li's eyes welled with tears as she spoke, already on her way to the kitchen.
"Sure thing! Aunt Li, I've been craving your boiled bean curd!"
Fang Yan smiled and took a seat.
...
After a hearty meal and good spirits, Fang Yan left for the next house.
Apart from Gu's and Aunt Li's families, the rest were village residents who hadn't left in decades.
Thankfully, Fang Yan was driving a Land Rover, making even the rugged countryside roads navigable.
The routine was essentially the same. Upon arriving at each home, Fang Yan would exchange greetings, place the gift bag of cash on the table, and then reveal the money, causing widespread astonishment.
However, the amount Fang Yan gifted varied according to his impression of the family.
He gave 4 million to the Gu family, given their tremendous kindness—house, car, even the universal repair fluid; these were all immense gifts in his eyes.
Aunt Li's family received 1 million in cash, along with some valuable items such as deer antlers and ginseng.
For others, Fang Yan wasn't as generous.
Although he was financially comfortable, the amount he gifted depended on the level of kindness he perceived from each family.
For those who treated him well, he'd give around 500,000 yuan; for those who treated him fairly, about 100,000 yuan. And for those who had a somewhat unkind attitude, he'd simply drive up, hand over 100,000 yuan in cash, and enjoy the stunned expressions on their faces.
Fang Yan felt a sense of satisfaction when he saw their shocked and regretful looks, especially from those who had treated him poorly.
In the end, Fang Yan had visited every family in the village, giving cash gifts to all those who had taken him in and provided him with meals.
He gifted differing amounts—more than 500,000 yuan for some, less than 100,000 yuan for others.
With this money, they could all escape the confines of the village and start anew in town.
These people were naturally grateful to Fang Yan, offering profuse thanks and gratitude. Some even shed tears. Fang Yan felt a surge of sympathy for those in dire straits, gifting them an additional 200,000 yuan.
For families with children, he handed over 1,000 yuan in cash as a token of good luck.
After finishing these visits, Fang Yan found he still had more than 60 million yuan from the 100 million he'd brought.
"There's still so much left... No worries! New Year's is right around the corner, and I'll have another opportunity to spread the cheer!"