CHAPTER 321: CHAPTER 321: GIVE YOU 50 BUCKS

"Dad, we really hope you can come with us to City Z," Xu Xiuxiu said as she fed the twins, talking to Mr. Xu, "but if you really don’t want to go, that’s fine. Take good care of yourself at home and if anything comes up, you can go see my oldest sister and second sister. They’re both still in our hometown and can get there quickly if needed. And we will call home more often."

In fact, her thoughts were quite simple. If Mr. Xu wanted to go to City Z, he could go; if not, she wouldn’t force him. After all, she wouldn’t stay in City Z for long. Once things were settled in Soup City, she would take the children to Imperial City where their father had gone. Moreover, in three or four months it would be Chinese New Year, and they would return to their hometown anyway. Since Mrs. Xu had passed away not long before, Mr. Xu would surely find it hard to let go so soon. It would be better to wait until New Year’s to discuss the matter when the sorrow of Mrs. Xu’s death had lessened somewhat, making it easier to persuade Mr. Xu to move to City Z.

"It’s decided then," Mr. Xu spoke calmly and dispassionately, "you’ve already been delayed by your mother’s passing. If there’s anything urgent, you should hurry back to City Z in the next few days. I’m just fine on my own; no need to worry." He then continued, turning to Xu Xiuxiu, "Sanya, you’re the older sister, and your fourth sister is still unmarried. Your mother was planning to arrange a marriage for her, but now she’s suddenly gone... Ah!" Mr. Xu sighed in resignation.

"I don’t have the heart right now to arrange a marriage for her. You’re smart, steady, and have your own ideas. Keep an eye out for your sister when you can. If there’s a suitable match, give them a chance to meet. Si Ya is not getting any younger, and these days there’s no need to observe three years of mourning. She is already of age, and if she waited three years, who would want her?" Mrs. Xu’s biggest worry before her departure was about their youngest daughter, Sanya, since she had been through an ordeal, leaving Mrs. Xu with a burden of guilt even in death.

"I understand," Xu Xiuxiu nodded in agreement, already having her own considerations about Jingjing’s situation. If it weren’t for the fear that Jingjing might be psychologically scarred, Xiuxiu would have already discussed marriage with her.

Hearing this, Mr. Xu looked down and continued eating with satisfaction: "Si Ya, don’t be too picky. Marriage is about finding someone compatible to live with. As long as the person is honest and decent, and if they don’t mind your past..." Mr. Xu’s voice choked up, for in those days, a young woman who had been tarnished and had a miscarriage would rarely find someone willing to marry her. But as a father, he couldn’t bear to watch Jingjing live her life unmarried: "If you find someone suitable, we can forget about the dowry. Sanya, as her older sister, help her out. Your mother saved some money for her dowry; I’ll give it to you later to hold for Si Ya. With some money in her hands, she won’t be too bullied after she’s married." Mr. Xu was thinking ahead, deeply worried Jingjing might be scorned by a husband because of her past.

"Dad, you keep Mom’s savings for yourself, Si Ya has me, her older sister. I won’t let her down," Xu Xiuxiu sincerely assured him.

"What do I need that for? I’m here in the countryside, I don’t need to spend much," Mr. Xu bluntly retorted.

"Keep it to buy some food and drink for yourself, and don’t skimp on your expenses. Jingjing is capable now, she’s saved some money herself. With my help, if she finds a suitable match, she won’t have to fear being looked down upon," Xu Xiuxiu had already planned everything.

Even though men of this era had high expectations for women, with some serious searching, one could always find someone who would not scorn Jingjing for her past. Xiuxiu didn’t believe that because of what had happened, Jingjing should feel inferior.

"I might as well let you keep the money for Si Ya since I’ll just be sitting on it," Mr. Xu still insisted, unable to imagine what use he had for keeping the money.

"Dad, please don’t push the money issue away. You and Mom should keep the savings to yourselves. My salary from my third sister every month isn’t low, and I’ve saved some on my own," Xu Jingjing also spoke up, aware of the affection her parents had for her. She only came to realize it after Mrs. Xu was no longer around. Perhaps this was human nature, not understanding until something was lost: "As for my marriage, don’t worry too much. I’ll think about it when I meet the right person." Xu Jingjing had little illusion about marriage by now.

Finding a man who didn’t mind her past and whose personality and temperament meshed well with hers was enough.

"Alright, if you all have your own plans in mind, just arrange them as you see fit," Mr. Xu said when he saw that Xu Jingjing felt the same way, no longer insisting on giving her money. He was still strong and could live for a few more years. When it was time for the fourth daughter to marry, he would give her the money then.

Because Mr. Xu had no intention of moving to Z city, Xu Jingjing and Xu Xiuxiu took time to call back Xu Qingqing and the eldest sister Xu Fangfang to discuss the care for Mr. Xu. Xu Qingqing was heavily pregnant and due to give birth in a couple of months, so she had little time to take care of Mr. Xu. The only suitable candidate left was Xu Fangfang.

Xu Fangfang was a bit unhappy when she heard the plans of Xu Xiuxiu and Xu Jingjing: "We’re all daughters alike. I understand you’re capable enough to make a living in big cities. But as the eldest, I don’t have that ability. Yet, I’m not just idling at home—I’m struggling daily with debts and working the fields!" She glanced meaningfully at Xu Xiuxiu as she spoke.

"Sure, taking care of our dad is something we should do, but you can’t take it for granted. We sisters have to take turns. If you can’t take care of the elders in person, then you can’t skimp on daily expenses. If I look after our dad, it can’t be for free. Hiring a nanny in the city costs a good sum every month! We’re sisters after all. We should understand each other. You should also discuss how much it’s appropriate to give me every month," Xu Fangfang shamelessly suggested with thick skin.

Xu Jingjing had helplessly sat down with Xu Fangfang from beginning to end. During the days of Mrs. Xu’s funeral, the two sisters hadn’t even spoken. Now, they were sitting at the same table for discussions, bound only by the name of sisterhood but with a relationship that was in name only. Everyone had also forgotten the events of the past and did not bring them up.

Xu Xiuxiu hadn’t intended to propose that Xu Fangfang take care of Mr. Xu alone, but since Xu Fangfang had been so forward about it, she felt a bit disheartened. Xu Qingqing, already heavy with her pregnancy, had become much less temperamental. All three sisters looked at Xu Fangfang in stunned silence.

"We’ll give you fifty yuan a month. When you have time, come home more often, help Dad with laundry, and buy some food and necessities. You can keep the extra as compensation for the hard work," Xu Xiuxiu decided definitively.

"Fine," Xu Fangfang calculated in her mind, feeling like she had taken advantage, and readily agreed.