CHAPTER 1905: CHAPTER 1905: WELCOME BANQUET (PART 1)

Given that his salary was actually insufficient to support his family, the rather embarrassed Lu Jiang decided not to make it easy for those brats. He stomped downstairs to find some glue and stuck a bill full of writings on their bedroom door.

They lived in the biggest sunny room on the second floor, as it was shared by four people.

As soon as you walk in, there’s a bathroom on the left, two three-paneled wardrobes on the right, then a wooden bunk bed stands against each side wall with a passageway in between, and at the end under the window is a desk.

Other than that, there was no other furniture in the room.

The door opens outward, so once it’s closed, they could see the paper stuck on the door while sitting on their beds.

"Dad, what did you stick up?" Lu Erxiong, a restless sleeper who lived on the lower bunk, had just inspected his territory. Satisfied with the fluffy, soft, clean, and tidy bedding, he placed his toiletries in a enamel basin under the bed. Seeing Lu Jiang come in to stick something, he looked on curiously with wide eyes.

Lu Jiang tapped on the bill stuck on the door with his finger, "You’re all growing bigger, eating more, wearing finer clothes, and spending more, I, an old bag of bones, can’t bear the burden. I’ve specially listed a family budget to teach you what thrift and savings mean. If you’re men, don’t get lost in pleasure. Remember the principle of hard work and struggle. New for three years, old for three years, mended for another three years. Be satisfied with being full, don’t ask to eat well, abandon things that can corrupt your mind, and study hard to improve yourself."

Lu Erxiong stood on tiptoes to finish reading, puffed out his cheeks, and said, "Dad, you’re so unreasonable, the ones who cost the most are you yourself, rent and utilities are one hundred, the orphanage one hundred, the martyr’s family eighty, that’s a full two hundred eighty! Our whole family only spends one hundred on food, and the school fees and book fees for our five people only amount to slightly over a hundred, per year! So, thrift and saving should start with you."

Lu Jiang glared, "Is that spent on me? Look closely, don’t talk back to me!"

"Hmph, I’m reasoning with you, you tell me not to talk back because you have no reason!" Lu Erxiong pointed to the clothing allowance that was crossed out and changed to 30 yuan a year, bouncing up and down, calling his brothers to come support, "If you’re brothers, come and see, mom’s money for making us clothes was cut by dad, harsher than cutting by half, only a quarter left."

Zhuangzhuang, lying on the lower bunk opposite him with a chubby pillow under him, and holding a harmonica, said indifferently, "Anyway, I often wear your and third brother’s old clothes, not wearing new clothes doesn’t matter. I’m not greedy, and I don’t mind you always wear clothes until they’re ragged."

Dundun, born from the same egg as Erxiong, looked similar, had the same build, but Zhuangzhuang was smaller and conveniently wore the clothes they discarded.

Aside from Fubao, who was very vain, the living environment caused the kids not to care much about whether clothes were new or old, many of their peers around wore even more ragged and old clothes, and they never saw anyone get upset and refuse to wear them because of that.

Of course, wearing new clothes still felt delightful and different from wearing old clothes.

"Look at our little Zhuangzhuang, so understanding, and so appreciative of the parents’ hard work." Lu Jiang praised him highly, then glanced at Lu Erxiong, "Lu Erxiong, you should learn from your brother, learn the lifestyle of being frugal and plain."

Lu Erxiong showed a face full of disdain, "Dad, you are an adult, adults shouldn’t oppress us kids."

Ye Yan ignored the dispute between the father and son, ran over and squeezed past Erxiong, looked carefully at the bill, and worriedly turned to ask, "Uncle Lu, are we really out of money? I can ask my dad to send some, or I can go to grandpa’s house to eat."