CHAPTER 60: CHAPTER 60 ENVY

"Jianguo, why are you following Xiaoxiao in making a fuss? Your sister-in-law just lost control for a moment; it was truly not intentional. How can you keep holding on to this? Besides, both my parents and I have endured this for so many years! Now with all this talk about splitting the family, how do you expect the villagers to view your elder brother? Isn’t this telling everyone that your elder brother is not filial?"

Fan Jianfeng cares about face — he is someone who cherishes his reputation in the village.

How could he accept his parents suddenly wanting to split the family?

Wu Jin’ai is also anxious.

She glares fiercely at Jiang Xiaoxiao.

It’s all because of this little girl stirring up trouble.

Why should there be a division of the family out of the blue?

There definitely cannot be a division.

Her mind naturally calculates the pros and cons, staying with the elders — the elders’ rations were all in their hands, really relying on that little ration from the grandparents. Otherwise, wouldn’t her four sons go hungry?

Also, the money sent back every year by the younger uncle and aunt — they could justifiably ask for some of it too.

Life wouldn’t be so tight then.

Now it looks like that’s going away.

It’s no wonder she’s anxious.

"Jianguo, your words are interesting. When do dad and mom give you and your aunt, isn’t it always sending a hundred catties of grain? How is it alright for you to get supplemented, but not us? Aren’t we all sons? You also shouldn’t fool dad and mom into being too biased.

Mom and dad, we are all sons, and fairness should be maintained.

We’ve worked hard for so many years, taking care of you, even if there’s not much labor, there’s still toil, right? You two elders can’t just hurt our pride like this. Then how would the villagers see the two of us?"

Fan Jianfeng remains silent; his wife’s combativeness — he totally trusts it.

He lets Fan Jianguo speak.

He still holds anger inside.

Seeing her younger uncle rendered speechless by her older aunt, Jiang Xiaoxiao immediately speaks up.

"Older aunt, your words are not fair. Grandma and grandpa did send grain to younger uncle and my mom, but whenever younger uncle and my mom returned, didn’t they give you money and grain coupons, fearing complaints in front of you? Whenever did you not happily accept them?

Moreover, wasn’t the money and the grain coupons always more than the grain sent to us? You can’t happily accept the money then turn around and deny it. During festivals and holidays, did younger uncle and my mom ever fail to send home any gifts?

Those pork, white sugar, suet cakes, and canned food didn’t just end up in grandma and grandpa’s mouths; and your sewing machine — wasn’t it my mom who painstakingly saved for three years to buy it for you?

Why don’t you mention all of these?"

Jiang Xiaoxiao directly exposes the situation — knowing Fan Xiuying never lacks in courtesy to prevent her parents from being bullied by her sister-in-law.

Younger uncle was the same, mainly to prevent the sister-in-law from causing trouble for the parents all day long, sparing them difficulty.

Their attitude was rather to suffer themselves than let the parents endure any grievances from the sister-in-law, yet it’s still like this now.

Wu Jin’ai feels embarrassed with a face full of awkwardness.

Indeed, this is true — she took away their money and grain coupons — how can she deny receiving them?

The parties involved are right here.

The sewing machine stood in the room, her sewing machine didn’t cease to stir envy from the women in the village — many held unique relationships with her, all wishing she would someday make garments for them.

"Nonsense! You from the eldest family, when did you take their money and grain coupons? Didn’t I say not to take them? We’re all one family. The grain I give is from us elders, shouldn’t I, being old, have the right to manage my ration?

And about the sewing machine, didn’t you claim your family’s mother worked all her ways to get it for you? You’ve been lying to us old folks?"

The old man slams the table out of rage.

Wu Jin’ai jumps in shock.

She had agreed at that time convincingly, but couldn’t resist being tempted by the money and grain ticket.

There are sons at home waiting to use them to get married — where isn’t there a need for money?

They aren’t like the second or third child whose family could have jobs with secure income.

Their family relies solely on their land.

Without holding money and grain tickets securely in hand.

Should they actually take away everything like the elders?

Although Wu Jin’ai is scared by the old man’s words, she doesn’t regret them.

"Dad, this is my fault, my incompetence, a few children at home needing money at every turn, if it weren’t for my lack of ability, unable to raise a few children, their mother wouldn’t have done such things, upsetting you.

Dad, if you want to hit or scold, come to me. It’s not easy for the children’s mother."

Fan Jianfeng, in a true manly manner, steps in to protect his wife.

Wu Jin’ai looks at him with pain and love.

The old man, filled with anger, glares.

This is his son, who he keeps telling is the eldest in the family, must bear responsibility.

But treating his siblings in such a manner — is it still feasible to make the eldest care for the family later?

Can it really work?

For the first time, the old man doubts if he did something wrong.

"Grandpa, elder uncle, things are already like this. There’s really no right or wrong. The grain was harvested and taken by our family — that’s true. We exchanged money for grain — which is also true. There’s really no right or wrong; it can only be said everyone is struggling with daily life.

Elder aunt with her little calculations is also natural, considering there are children at home. It’s normal to think about one’s children.

I don’t blame elder uncle and aunt, just since the words have been laid out, grandma and grandpa’s matter should be resolved swiftly to prevent elder uncle and aunt from feeling grandma and grandpa still take advantage of them.

Grandma and grandpa are quite old.

Even if they don’t farm, their yearly ration would be enough for them.

Plus, elder uncle, my mom, and younger uncle wouldn’t be unfilial, and would definitely provide for their elderly years yearly.

The two elders wouldn’t live poorly. It’s better for grandma and grandpa to split off the family, lest everyone living together be rather aggrieved."

Jiang Xiaoxiao insists since she doesn’t have the intention for grandma and grandpa to continue living with elder uncle.

If they had not lived with elder uncle and aunt, grandma and grandpa could have lived several more years.

Fan Jianfeng and Wu Jin’ai exchange a glance.

Seems like splitting the family is a must.

But they’re unwilling to split the family.

"Parents, if you really think your son is not filial and want to divide the family, then go ahead. Let the villagers have a laugh at us. Let them see how incompetent I am as a son, even my own parents can’t stand it.

Your son truly has no face living on in this village."

This is a direct jab at the old man.

Everyone knows the old man is all about saving face — he does everything to avoid giving others something to talk about.

The old man’s hesitation shows on his face.

After all, living with the eldest is the village’s custom — which family’s elders don’t live with the eldest? Where would they live separately!

Them doing this indeed makes the villagers suspect the eldest is not filial.

Also brings back gossip amongst villagers.

Fan Jianfeng feels a ray of hope.

His father is so concerned with face.

"Grandma, grandpa, if you’re worried about villagers gossiping about our family affairs, this could be easily solved.

Externally, just tell everyone the sons and daughters in the city are filial, wanting to bring you to the city to live.

This would also lighten elder uncle’s burden, hence it’s better to separate and live apart.

This is indeed a good thing. Wouldn’t you believe asking around the village to find an elder unwilling to live a good life in the city?"

Jiang Xiaoxiao’s words immediately reassure the old man.

Indeed, when villages’ elders chat.

The most common topic is who lives a good life in the city.

A few days ago, an old buddy brought this up — living the good life in the city with the city-born son.

Didn’t see everyone’s envious gaze, each with red eyes.

There were also many making sour remarks.

Saying one son, one daughter in the city, yet haven’t been invited to live the good city life.

Kids don’t have a sense like that.

Also suspecting their sons and daughters aren’t filial.

If he indeed went — this wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Turns out to be something village folks envy.

"Alright, eldest — let’s go with this plan!"

This decision locks it in.

Fan Jianfeng chuckles bitterly; his father is actual — getting talked over by Jiang Xiaoxiao so easily.

At this point, there’s no way to change it — just hoping once the old man returns, he can be persuaded a bit, perhaps the parents may change their minds then.