Chapter Forty-Five: Wealth in a Remote Mountain Draws Distant Kin

"Ferrari? What's a Ferrari?" Second Aunt Yang looked utterly bewildered.

For a rural woman who hadn't even finished second grade, she'd never heard of such a brand.

Yang Jiachen slapped his forehead, exasperated. "You don't need to know what a Ferrari is. All you need to understand is that the car is expensive—ridiculously expensive! Just one of its wheels could buy our entire family car."

"What on earth!" Second Aunt Yang was instantly dumbfounded.

"How could a car possibly cost that much?"

"If you don't believe me, just ask anyone you like. If you’d scratched even a patch of its paint just now, selling our car wouldn't be enough to pay for it. Do you get that? Always looking down on people through a crack in the door—sometimes, as your son, I just don't know what to say to you!"

"But… but how could he afford such a fancy car? If one wheel costs a hundred thousand, wouldn't the whole car be several million? Did he steal it or something?"

"Steal? Mom, please, be sensible! Stealing a car worth millions would land you in prison for life. Besides, how rich do you think people are who drive those cars? How many bodyguards must they have? Who would dare steal such a car? Unless they've grown tired of living!"

Second Aunt Yang plopped down on the ground. "So, are you saying Yang Xiaofan has made a fortune? I used to look down on his family every day—he must hold a grudge against me, right?"

"So you know you were wrong before?"

"How was I supposed to expect their family to turn things around? No, we need to hurry home. Now that he's so well-off, we should quickly go and reconnect. After all, your dad is his uncle. If he’s in a good mood and finds your dad a job or something, our family will prosper. Come on, let's stop by the market first and buy some gifts—get something with a nice brand."

Yang Jiachen didn't object to this. After all, even he couldn't help wanting to curry favor with a relative who could drive a Ferrari.

...

Meanwhile, as Yang Xiaofan pulled up to his house, he saw quite a crowd of villagers gathered nearby.

Of course, they weren't all clustered at his doorstep; instead, they chatted in front of the neighboring houses.

In the countryside, people loved nothing more than gathering in small groups to chat.

Not congregating directly at Yang Xiaofan’s door made it seem like they weren’t just there to cozy up to him.

As soon as Yang Xiaofan drove up with his two sisters, everyone greeted him warmly.

“Xiaofan, you’re back!”

“It’s been a while—how have you been in Northern Jiangsu?”

Their eyes brimmed with envy as they glanced at Yang Xiaofan’s car, but no one complimented him on it; instead, they greeted him with heartfelt enthusiasm.

They knew how to flatter in just the right way, these were people with sharp instincts. This way, it seemed their closeness with Yang Xiaofan was genuine, not driven by his wealth.

If not for the years he’d spent being looked down upon, Yang Xiaofan himself might have been swept off his feet by all the attention.

Villagers who used to be indifferent or even dismissive now treated him as someone important.

Yang Xiaofan couldn't help but sigh at the sheer power of money.

His two sisters had never seen such a scene before. Both were visibly excited, especially the younger, Yang Xiaoqing, whose eyes sparkled and cheeks flushed, walking as if she could float away.

Yang Xiaofan got out of the car and greeted everyone with a polite smile—just enough, no more.

There were too many people to greet individually, and some hadn’t been particularly friendly to him before.

Yet those he did acknowledge stood taller, chests out, as if speaking to a great dignitary.

Those he didn’t greet seemed to shrink, quietly envying the others.

Before long, Yang’s mother arrived on her tricycle. Before she could say a word, several of the able-bodied villagers hurried to unload the fertilizer and seeds from her cart and carried them inside.

Soon after, a few distant relatives arrived too, driving or riding e-bikes, each bringing gifts—fine liquors like Heavenly Blue, or fancy drinks they’d never usually buy.

The villagers eagerly helped carry the goods.

Anyone passing by would have thought Yang Xiaofan’s family was hosting a celebration.

Once inside, Yang’s mother began fetching stools for everyone, but they all insisted she rest, happy to stand.

Those left without stools weren’t angry; instead, they stood beaming to the side.

Those who got a seat sat stiff and upright, like schoolchildren honored by the privilege.

The whole scene was so absurd, it reminded Yang Xiaofan of an old story—Fan Jin Passes the Imperial Exam.

Yes, that bizarre tale from middle school literature class.

Before he drove home in a Ferrari, none of his neighbors had ever been so warm. At most, they’d greet him in passing.

But today, they lifted him up as if he were an emperor visiting incognito.

Even elders bowed their heads slightly, showing him utmost respect.

Such a thing would have been utterly unthinkable in the past.

Yet Yang Xiaofan felt no excitement. He knew perfectly well they just wanted to latch onto his success.

Just then, amid a blaring of horns, he heard his second aunt’s voice.

“Make way, make way—everyone move!”

Second Aunt bustled in, carrying a case of Heavenly Blue and a carton of premium yogurt.

Yang Jiachen followed, arms full of gifts. Mother and son hurried inside, laden with goods.

No sooner had they set the gifts down than Second Aunt strode over, her voice booming with ingratiation.

“Xiaofan, about what I said earlier—pay it no mind. I’m here to apologize.”

Yang Xiaofan smiled coolly.

“Second Aunt, you’re too polite. We’re family after all. I wouldn’t take a little quarrel to heart.”

Though he disliked her usual behavior, Yang Xiaofan was generous with his words. After all, a few pleasant phrases cost nothing.

Seeing he wasn’t upset, Second Aunt beamed and continued, “I knew it—our Xiaofan is so promising, how could you hold a grudge against your aunt?”

Then, lowering her voice mysteriously, she added, “By the way, Xiaofan, what business are you in these days? How do you make so much money?”