Chapter 28

Rural relatives aren't so particular. In the morning, they bought the ingredients, and Aunt, Auntie, Cousin, and Young Auntie all pitched in. A few large tables of dishes were prepared in no time.

The next day, they would hold a washing ceremony. Cigarettes, alcohol, and drinks filled a room, and there was no need to go out to buy them. Uncle and Second Uncle-in-law were fond of drinking, and plenty of good wine was provided, as usual, they got drunk. After sending them to their rooms to sleep, everyone pitched in to clear the tables, clean the living room, and wash the pots, pans, and utensils, then happily went out to visit the temple fair.

It was time to feel proud and elated!

Comrade Lao Han opened a pack of Yuxi cigarettes and put four boxes in his bag. Worried that there were too many acquaintances and not enough to give out, he thought for a moment and took two more boxes. He tucked his T-shirt into his pants, so people could see his beeper.

Li Taipeng loved helping his father-in-law carry the bag and loved showing off with his father-in-law. He followed behind, excited and happy.

They had the demeanor of genuine nouveau riche, and they couldn't let them down, so Han Bo could only grit his teeth and go with them to "parade" the streets.

"Old Wang, Old Wang, it's me, Baoguo. Here, have a cigarette. I have a grandson now, it's a celebratory cigarette."

"Secretary Wu, Secretary Wu, do you remember my son, Xiao Bo? He graduated and has officially started working, assigned to the county, as the deputy head of the security department at the silk factory."

...

Having a successful son and a grandson, seeing the envious looks of acquaintances, Lao Han was happier than getting a big job. He walked along, distributing cigarettes, beaming with pride and glory.

The dream came true again. A man in his thirties was constantly taking out money and buying lottery tickets amidst laughter, winning a few bags of laundry detergent and a few towels. His face flushed, he said, "I'll come back later," and squeezed out of the crowd to go home for more money.

"Dad, today is a good day. Shall we try our luck too?" A basin with over a dozen bundles, each bundle containing a hundred tickets, two hundred yuan per hundred tickets, it would cost two to three thousand to buy them all. Han Bo only had a bit over two hundred yuan in cash, so he had to ask his father.

"Sure, I'll buy, you tear them." Lao Han was happy and without hesitation took the bag from his son-in-law, pulling out a large bill.

"Dad, Ruirui has just come into the world, he can bring us good luck. Let's buy a few more."

"Two hundred?" Showing off is one thing, but lottery tickets are another. Spending money on something unreliable, Lao Han was a bit reluctant.

Han Bo didn't give him a chance to hesitate. In front of a group of onlookers, he grabbed the bag, stood on tiptoe, and pointed to the leftmost pile of lottery tickets, saying confidently, "Comrade, please calculate how much that basin costs. I'll take all of them. My sister had a son, I'm an uncle now, I'm happy. It would be great if I win, but if not, it's a contribution to the sports cause."

Selling lottery tickets is a task, and the staff were delighted, warmly inviting, "No problem, no problem, comrades, please make way, give this young man some space."

"See that? That's a real boss. The guy before just pretended to be rich, bought two hundred and ran off."

"Seems like Han Baoguo's son, Han Baoguo makes money from engineering."

...

People's names and reputations, they actually knew him, Lao Han felt a bit elated. But how much would that big basin of lottery tickets cost? He had over four thousand in the bag, for the grandson's washing ceremony. This kid, not knowing the value of money, he shouldn't have brought him out.

"One bundle, two bundles, three bundles, four bundles... here are seventy-eight tickets, a total of 3,480 yuan." The staff, fearing a mistake, counted several times and used a calculator to double-check.

Tearing so many tickets takes time. They brought out three plastic stools and let the three big spenders sit and tear slowly. It's not easy to meet a rich person, and they hoped that after tearing this basin, they would feel unsatisfied and tear a few more.

Winning a big prize is a dream, Lao Han felt a bit pained, deciding to go home and settle accounts with his son. Money gone, but he couldn't lose face. He rubbed his hands and said seriously, "A big basin, a lot of work. Xiao Bo, Taipeng, you're quick and have good eyesight, tear more. I'll tear one and count one."

Spending over three thousand for a pile of paper, at least it should win a color TV!

Lao Han felt pained, and Li Taipeng, who had been taught to be honest and diligent since his apprenticeship, felt even more pained, holding a bundle of lottery tickets, his hands trembling slightly.

Han Bo didn't care about that, quick and agile, tearing and discarding tickets one by one, bundle by bundle. Unlike his father and brother-in-law, who carefully examined each ticket, afraid of making a mistake at first glance. A bag of laundry detergent, a towel, another bag of laundry detergent, soon a pile of worthless prizes accumulated around him.

"Loss, tore six bundles, and only won these, not worth it."

"Still so many left, who knows until the end."

"Han Boss is rich, tearing for fun, doesn't matter if he wins or not."

The onlookers chattered, and the staff kept encouraging, "Comrade, don't rush, tear slowly, the big prize is at the end. The grand prize is a luxury Santana car, the first prize is a regular Santana car, the second prize is a small car. If you tear it, it's yours, drive it home right away."

"Smart people look once, fools look many times. Want to tear, pay for it. Don't want to pay, go elsewhere, what's there to see?"

"Move, move, move forward. Who let you bring your bicycle in?"

The Han family's generosity attracted more and more onlookers. Chief Chen and Old Huang patrolled over, worried about a crowd, and started dispersing them. Just as they had persuaded some to leave, Han Bo suddenly stopped, staring intently at the words "Grand Prize," extremely excited.

"Comrade, are you tired of tearing?"

"Not tired, I've torn it. Dad, Brother-in-law, I told you Ruirui could bring good luck. See, this luxury Santana is ours!"

Lottery tickets are almost like a scam, how could such a good thing happen? Lao Han waved his hand, "Don't joke, tear quickly, finish and take me to the county to look at houses."

"Grand Prize, not joking."

The staff came over and looked, stunned. Chief Chen squeezed in and couldn't help exclaiming, "Damn, the richer you are, the luckier you get. Han... Han Boss, Han Bo, you, you have to treat us."

"Chief Chen, really... really won?" Lao Han was doubtful.

"Really won."

"What prize?"

"Grand Prize, don't believe it, look yourself."

Lao Han rubbed his eyes, confirmed it several times, and was overjoyed. He picked up the unopened tickets, giving them to the onlookers, laughing, "My grandson can win a grand prize just after being born. This luck, he'll definitely be a big boss when he grows up. No more tearing, come, come, one for each, like giving out celebratory cigarettes."

...

PS: New book, climbing the charts. Clicks, collections, recommendations, reviews, anything you can give, the success of the new week depends on all of you.

Thank you to the book friends "好书就追" (Chase Good Books), "加糖的白酒" (Sweetened Baijiu), "吾是水中鱼" (I Am a Fish in Water), "往事☆随缘" (Past and Fate), "海边的农庄" (Farm by the Sea), and "A$「卐」沙之舟「弦空」" for your generous support and repeated support. Thanks O(∩_∩)O

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