The Scum Gong Begs Me to Get Back Together, but I Just Want to Get Rich

Although every family had scriptures that were difficult to recite1, he and Lin Chengyu were indeed born in two different worlds. The things they experienced were quite different, but when he confessed everything to Jiang Xiao, even Yue Cheng was a little surprised as he stood beside him.

After all, this is the company’s private information, and additionally topped with many twists and turns at home, so he didn’t really treat Jiang Xiao as an outsider.

“There’s nothing I can’t tell you now,” Lin Chengyu reached out to wipe the brown sugar stains from the tanghulu around the corner of Jiang Xiao’s mouth, his eyes were gentle, “Xiao Xiao, if you have anything to do in the future, remember to come and ask me any questions. I’m willing to discuss it with you and I really want to be able to help.”

Jiang Xiao turned his head away, not wanting to take his offer. “Forget it, it’s your Lin family’s business, it has nothing to do with me.”

Now he knew why the Lin family went bankrupt in his previous life. The relatives of the family who were about to swallow their fortune, this point overlapped with his situation.

No matter what, Jiang Xiao still wanted to go home to celebrate the New Year, he still had to leave early today, and Lin Chengyu would probably wake up when he left.

But it sounded like Lin Chengyu was really ruthless. At the end of the year, he forced this matter on the old man, wouldn’t you be afraid of him being tired?

When he met Lin Chengyu in his previous life, he didn’t have any relatives around him. It was estimated that this grandfather was not ‘lucky’ in his previous life. Most likely, it was a physical problem. Shouldn’t he be bed-resting at this time?

Lin Chengyu and Uncle Yue exchanged glances, Uncle Yue understood it and walked a little further away.

He seemed to know what Jiang Xiao was slandering. After Uncle Yue left, he also talked to Jiang Xiao about it. “My grandfather had a heart attack in his previous life, and he was not treated in time. He was sent to the hospital a bit late, and no matter how hard we tried to save him, he never came back.”

Grandpa Lin was only in his early sixties this year and he was in good health normally. However, he was stimulated by the company’s bankruptcy. After Lin Feng succeeded, he went to explain to the Old Man about the matter clearly, scolding him for being partial to the Eldest2 since he was a child, and never looking at him.

At that time, everything was the Old Man’s fault: the family business was gone, and the relatives were separated.

Grandpa couldn’t bear it and had a heart attack on the spot.

“My uncle has already started planning. I can’t change his dissatisfaction and hatred. Since the wound already exists, it’s better to expose it as soon as possible. Grandpa will know sooner or later that the matter will only get worse. At this time, he will only be a little angrier and felt a little bit of grievance, okay?” Lin Chengyu sighed.

It’s true that Lin Feng was a white-eyed wolf. Yongjiang’s entire foundation was earned by Grandpa Lin and Lin family’s Eldest, and his current status in life was given to him by others.

Howeer, he was right. Grandpa really favored Lin’s family’s Eldest more. In all fairness, he was smart and filial. He had been with him through the wind and rain since he was young. He had outstanding abilities and was almost impeccable. He spent a lot more time with him. How could it be the same, emotionally?

However, this eldest brother had a hard life and passed away during his prime. Although there was Lin Chengyu left, but for Grandpa Lin, his most beloved son was gone. A white-haired man to send off a black-haired man was like a man losing half his life.

Since then, he didn’t want to manage the company anymore and put all his thoughts on Lin Chengyu. Now that Lin Chengyu was older, he didn’t listen to him after he had his own ideas. He seemed to have fulfilled his son’s life entrustment and usually had no activities. Sometimes he locked himself in the study all day long without a word.

Sometimes Lin Chengyu was really worried about him, so he went in. When he saw his grandfather sitting blankly on the chair by the window, holding some things his father left him, he didn’t know what his grandfather was thinking.

Looking at him like this, Lin Chengyu was also anxious. He had experienced the feeling of the most important person leaving him, and he knew the life that felt like a walking dead. There must be something to pull people out of this state. Such a grandfather needed a little ‘stimulation’, whether it’s positive or negative, so he could regain the purpose of life.

Lin Chengyu naturally cared about his grandfather. At this time, he should be more ruthless. It would be most useful to show him some facts which would not cause serious consequences.

After a quarrel at home, Lin Chengyu came out to look for Jiang Xiao, only after he was sure that Grandpa was really fine. He had changed the doctors at home and would take care of him from time to time.

After that, Grandpa really started to take care of the company’s affairs. Although he was angry, he was not so angry that he had a heart attack. He even recently heard from Uncle Yue that Grandpa ate a few extra bowls of rice and his speech had become stronger.

The company was built by him and his eldest son, so he would never let these moths eat and destroyed them. This was the vitality that came from himself.

Lin Feng had also settled down for a while recently. Although Lin Chengyu didn’t know what he was thinking in his heart, he always behaved on the surface.

“If my uncle doesn’t mess with things, I’m willing to take my time, but the family is out of my control. Uncle Yue and I sometimes tried to push the flames, but it’s counterattacked.” Lin Chengyu couldn’t help but sigh after saying this, “When my grandfather closed his eyes in my last life, he left me with nothing. He had said, he only had regrets. I often had nightmares afterward, hating myself for blindly trusting others, hating why I didn’t have enough ability at that time, I…”

When he said this, he looked up to see Jiang Xiao and didn’t say any more. Forget it, it’s not suitable to talk about this with Jiang Xiao, it’s just bitterness, and he’s not in a good mood to hear it.

“I’m sorry,” Lin Chengyu lowered his head, “I’ll take care of the things at home, don’t worry.”

Jiang Xiao fell silent with him after hearing this. Later, he started to tidy up the goods at the stall.

“Xiao Xiao?”

“I closed the stall because there are no customers today. My mom is still waiting for me at home. You should better go back early and accompany… your family.”

He said the last sentence a little quietly, but Lin Chengyu heard it, and his tone was not as blunt as usual. Lin Chengyu laughed all of a sudden and helped him clean up together. “It’s better to go back early, the nights are getting colder in winter, so don’t stay outside for too long.”

Jiang Xiao was also very proficient in packing things now and after a short while, he packed everything up as Lin Chengyu followed behind him step by step.

When Jiang Xiao was about to walk home, he stood there, hesitated for a while, but couldn’t help but turned his head and said a few more words, “I didn’t know these things in my previous life.”

He could guess that Lin Chengyu’s family should have been rich in the past, which could be seen from his living habits, but he didn’t know about Yongjiang Company and was even less clear about the devious ways of them closing.

Before Lin Chengyu could speak, Jiang Xiao spoke again.

“I thought for a moment, it would be great if I knew this in my previous life,” he said, “If…”

It’s not like he didn’t have such thoughts before. If Lin Chengyu was willing to treat him like this in his previous life, half as much as he now, Jiang Xiao wouldn’t be like this. He wasn’t a piece of wood. Now he always rejected Lin Chengyu, but he could tell whether the other party was trying to please him or not3.

If in his previous life, Lin Chengyu was willing to open his heart to him and was willing to share everything with him, the two miserable people could hug each other to keep warm. He would know why Lin Chengyu’s character became like this and the two of them would always be able to solve it.

It was a pity that there was no if.

The fact was that Jiang Xiao used his softest side to hug him, who was a thorn. This new wound added more to his old wounds, and the pain felt like it pierced his heart, but now Lin Chengyu was able to act as if he was immune to everything.

It was too late; everything was too late.

“Your grandpa will want to talk to you when he recovers from this. Go back, take care of your family, and don’t come to me,” Jiang Xiao said, “Treasure the family members who can be saved, and don’t waste time on people who have no fate.”

Jiang Xiao attached great importance to feelings, and it was not easy for a blood-tied family to stay behind. If you could have a home, you would be confident in everything you do outside.

After he finished speaking, he went back without looking at Lin Chengyu again.

The two of them were not each other’s family.

After Jiang Xiao returned home, he stopped thinking about it and started to get busy again. He tidied up a bit and went to the kitchen to prepare dishes.

He had previously agreed with Uncle Ye that he could visit today, and he had prepared gifts. He wanted to add a few dishes in the evening so that everyone would be happy to eat. That way, he could be considered sincere.

The Ye family helped him a lot. For tonight, Jiang Xiao had to cook a few heavy dishes, which took some time, but he did it attentively and meticulously.

The kitchen window was facing down and sometimes he could see Lin Chengyu there down there, standing, looking up to his home. After more than an hour, he looked through the window while stewing chicken and mushroom soup and saw that the other person had already left.

He cooked earnestly and it tasted delicious. The smell of chicken and mushroom soup and stewed pork ribs wafted to the neighbor’s house. The next-door neighbor was also close to him. They praised a few words from the window. As Jiang Xiao cooked a lot, he gave some portions to them as an extra dish.

He had been cooking at home for half a year, starting with home-cooked dishes and snacks. Xia Wanwan gradually accepted it and was coaxed by Jiang Xiao to let him do it. She also felt that her son was talented, although it was a little strange, but she didn’t ask any more questions.

At around six o’clock in the evening, Jiang Xiao and Xia Wanwan went out. His mother wore the new clothes Jiang Xiao brought for her from Liujiang. She looked beautiful and gentle as the two of them carried gifts and big food boxes to the Ye family’s house.

Uncle Ye’s house was not far away, and they arrived there after a short walk. The Ye family’s Saozi4 was cheerful and kind, she greeted them with a smile as soon as the door was opened.

“Dimei5, come in and sit down quickly. Oh, why are you so polite? What are you doing with so many gifts? It’s already good that you come to visit!”

“Is this made by Xiao Xiao?”

“Really capable!”

Xia Wanwan picked out a woolen coat for her, but the other party refused to accept it, so he forced her to try it on. The red one fit her well and looked good on her.

Uncle Ye had a daughter who was in primary school. She was sitting on the sofa watching TV. When they came, she timidly called him ‘Gege’. Jiang Xiao gave her a beautiful school bag. Her eyes lit up, but she was still so polite as she looked at her parents first for approval.

“Thank you Xiao Xiao Gege.” The little sister thanked again crisply, took the school bag, and found that there seemed to be something inside. It didn’t look like a foam board that would fill new bags. She opened it and saw a set of beautiful Barbie dolls.

This item was still rare in Houlin County, as it was only occasionally seen on TV commercials. Jiang Xiao bought a batch of it. The price was a little expensive, but it sold out quickly.

Ye Bing didn’t go out to earn money this time, he sat at the dining table drinking some wine and eating peanuts. When he saw Jiang Xiao’s gift, he patted him on the shoulder like a brother.

“It’s better to smoke less,” Jiang Xiao didn’t forget to persuade him, “Your body is important.”

Quitting is hard. As a truck driver, Ye Bing didn’t dare to drink alcohol, so he only took some when he was not working, but cigarettes were keeping him awake. He would not drive without this in his truck.

“Don’t worry, I have a measure.”

The two families sat together for a meal, and it was enjoyable. The dinner was very sumptuous. Ye Bing even packed some good dishes from the hotel outside, but in comparison, the dishes made by Jiang Xiao were still more delicious.

Jiang Xiao returned the two thousand yuan that he owed Ye Bing and added a few hundred yuan more, counting it as a red envelope for the little sister of the Ye family.

When the money was lent out, Ye Bing didn’t think about collecting it back and Ye Saozi didn’t want to take it either.

“We have already accepted the gifts, so we have received the favor. It’s enough, It’s enough. If we truly accepted the money, it’s really regarding somebody as an outsider.”

“Aiya, why are our two families being so polite? When Ye Bing was in trouble before, if Jiang Hai hadn’t stopped him, he would have gone to prison now. At this time, we really ought to support each other.”

In the end, the red envelope brought by Jiang Xiao was accepted by the other party, but Ye Bing returned him an equally thick envelope in the name of lucky money.

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1 家家有本难念的经 (jiā jiā yǒu běn nán niàn de jīng) in literal ‘every family had scriptures that were difficult to recite’ means ‘every family goes through its problems’ (idiom).

2 老大 (lǎo dà) If we translate the literal meaning should be ‘Old One’ or ‘Old First’ but it refers to Lin Chengyu’s father, the eldest son of the Lin family. So, I just translate him as ‘Eldest’ because everyone called him Lao Da as a term of endearment. It’s similar to the second son being called ‘Lao Er’ or ‘Old Two’ or the third son ‘Lao San’ or ‘Old Three’. Funnily enough, google always translates this to ‘boss’, so like, ‘the boss of the Lin family’. Like yo… are we in a mafia novel or what.

3 I think this points out that Jiang Xiao knows Lin Chengyu enough to recognize whether he was being truthful or just trying to appear meek to please him. Like usually he acted submissive and didn’t dare to cross the boundaries Jiang Xiao has set for him, but we see his occasional outbursts and one time even got violent towards Lin Heyuan. Jiang Xiao knows that he is just pretending, just trying to please him without changing his nature. But when he shared about his grandpa and his past life, that’s when Jiang Xiao could feel a trace of the sincerity of him opening up his heart. I think Jiang Xiao appreciated this more, although as he said, it was too late. Well…

4 Saozi means older brother’s wife, a sister-in-law. Both Jiang Hai and Ye Bing are not siblings by blood, but they are close neighbours, so they regarded each other as brothers. Ye Bing is older than Jiang Hai, therefore Xia Wanwan refers to his wife as an older sister-in-law.

5 Dimei means younger brother’s wife. So Ye Bing’s wife refers Xia Wanwan as a younger sister-in-law.

T/N: You know, I just read a few reviews of this novel and someone said along the line of ‘while Lin Chengyu is toxic, Jiang Xiao is an enabler’??? How is he an enabler? I think he tried to be good to Lin Chengyu by putting boundaries and not being that kind of vengeful ex like Gu Qingci from ‘The Obsessive Shou Moves On’. He tried to give themselves new chances in life, separately. In previous life he tried his best for both of them, funny if someone think he ‘never spoke up’ and just be submissive his entire life.

I think if you read carefully, not just MTL, you will find a lot of value and gem within this novel, the messages are meaningful. Although the title seemed cliché, like many other Chinese webnovels, the content isn’t. Among all the chasing-wife-crematoriums trope, I think this story is the closest to a ‘right’ redemption arc.

I don’t think people who like chasing-wife-crematoriums story only read because ‘some people enjoy seeing scum gong hurts’, we’re not some psychotic fujoshi or fudanshi (?), we can see whether the story worth the pain or not. Basically, we love to read and enjoy a vast variety of genres.

I don’t like this trope blindly. I also hate some chasing-wife-crematoriums with bad writing, like Double Pleasure, which don’t have enough boldness in the story. The characters were annoying but didn’t brave enough to be dog-blooded. A good story must go all out! Condoning r*pe but didn’t make the gong regret? What is the use! Are you a doormat!

The thing is, I’ve read quite a lot of r*pe-themed story, like ‘My Little Poplar’, ‘Professional Body Double’, ‘Sissy’, ‘Beloved Enemy’, and ‘In Love with An Idiot’, all this has dubious consent, victim to lover mindset, but the story was well written. The balance between sweetness and sourness, the desperation, regret, it’s all hit the nail for the perfect amount of dog blood. Not too much though. It was miserable enough that me as a reader have quite the satisfaction to finish the story and at least ‘accept’ the HE.

Like, you can’t say that ‘Gazes at the Scene of Debauchery’ was bad. ‘Everyone Loves Pei Jiyu’, ‘Wu Chang Jie’, ‘After Rebirth, I Become Popular in the Entertainment Industry’, ‘Transmigrated as the Cannon Fodder Abandoned by the Movie Star’ and many more, are masterpieces! Some of them deserve bad end, some of them does not. The way the author wrote about the misunderstanding, the mental illness, psychological problems, are very real and painful. It’s bare. Like ‘Transmigrated as the Cannon Fodder Abandoned by the Movie Star’ did some ‘dive’ into how someone being happy could still be trapped in depression. The way they explain these sensitive subject is wonderful. The grief in ‘Gazes at the Scene of Debauchery’ was heart-wrenching.

Like even now, we take a peek into Lin Chengyu’s own mental struggle due to his father and grandpa’s death, as well as the bankruptcy of his family’s company, because he blindly trusted his uncle.

These novels had barely 4.0 ratings, while BG novels with similar themes like ‘Unrepentant’ had 4.4 ratings (I love it so much too, the ratings was deserved). Another similar-themed novel like ‘I Just Want to Freeload on Your Luck’ had 4.6 ratings but had so many plot holes that even a dozen pack of donuts don’t have. It didn’t give any satisfaction, the villain was so one-dimensional that it was nothing, so why MC was losing to her, in the previous life? No climax, no underhanded villain, no groveling for MC’s family, nothing! Trying so hard to be fluff, but I’ve seen better fluff. 

I know preferences are preferences, but quality has standard too. A novel has to be good at what it does, no matter how sad, how bloody, how happy, how angry, or how annoying the story is. It’s the consistency that makes it good and solid. Good writing is good writing