Chapter 280. Envy
Family's New Year dinner was on 31st December 1979.
In fact, the other three branches were interested in getting together for the meal.
However, Lin Qing He declined. She expressed that everyone can eat their own food. Da Wa hadn't come back this year. Without full attendance, they might as well forget it.
As for the matter of Zhou Qing Bai and the boys set off to the capital after New Year, it hadn't been announced yet.
On New Year's Eve, when she came to the old Zhou's house to find her sisters-in-law for some conservation, Lin Qing He mentioned it.
The three sisters-in-law were shocked.
"Huh? After New Year, Fourth Brother will move to the capital along with Er Wa and San Wa? What will happen to your home here?" Eldest Sister-in-law uttered in a daze.
"Father and Mother are here. They will move to our place in the future." Lin Qing He answered.
Father Zhou and Mother Zhou had no objection. Going over, they'll be in a spacious house. Also, there were so many chickens and ducks in the backyard.
"Once we're gone, keep an eye out on Father and Mother for me, sisters-in-law. The elderly are high in age. They should stop doing farm work." Lin Qing He continued.
As for old-age support, how it was before was how it'll be now.
Ever since the family separation, there had been no conflict within old Zhou Family about Father Zhou and Mother Zhou's old age care.
Completely different from other families, who often fought over this matter.
"That's not a matter at all. About Fourth Brother and the boys moving to the capital. What's the story with the accommodation and household registration?" said Third Sister-in-law.
"I'm employed by the school this year and now become an English teacher at Bei University. The school has assigned me a place that is sufficient to live in. The household registration is much simpler. My school unit will help get it accepted. There is no problem." Lin Qing He smilingly assured.
Her family's Qing Bai had completed gathered all the necessary documents for the relocation of the household registration. The family can simply settle down once they reached the capital.
Hearing this had Eldest Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, and Third Sister-in-law stunned.
Fourth's wife was too competent!
Work, household registration, and so on were all sorted?
"And Fourth Brother's work? Is it settled?" asked Second Sister-in-law.
"I rented a shop for Qing Bai over there. At that time, he'll be self-employed and sell dumplings." Lin Qing He also answered.
"Be self-employed? Fourth Brother is willing?" Third Sister-in-law uttered in surprise.
"Why would he be unwilling? It's also relying on his hands to make money. Don't think about it so much. There is no shame in doing a business. Only when one doesn't have food to eat and go steal and cheat, that it would be ashamed." Lin Qing He said.
"Qing He, have you received any news from the capital? Will there be arrests in the future?" Eldest Sister-in-law asked.
"I heard Mother mention that you have raised a lot of chickens?" Lin Qing He smilingly responded
"I'm raising more than a dozen." Eldest Sister-in-law nodded.
"Wait until next spring. You can grab two and find a place to squat then." Lin Qing He said, "If someone investigates, you can just say that someone in the family is in post-natal confinement and go to Xiao Mei's house. If no one checks, then go to the entrance of the hospital and have a look."
Eldest Sister-in-law was a little scared: "This...what to do if I get caught?"
"The one in bureau is Qing Bai's comrade-in-arms. If anything goes wrong, you can just bring out Qing Bai's name." Lin Qing He soothed.
After today, it'll be '80. 1980! A brand new year. The spring breeze is shining on the earth and the spring flowers are blooming. There'll be no need for a letter of introduction when entering the city. No one cared about it.
What crime could carrying two chickens be?
"It will get better and better in the future. Many people in the capital are doing business." Lin Qing He said.
"A lot of people in the capital do business?" Eldest Sister-in-law immediately zoned in.
Second Sister-in-law and Third Sister-in-law stared at Lin Qing He.
"If not, do you think I will let Qing Bai be a self-employed?" Lin Qing He looked at them.
Lin Qing He didn't continue on this topic. She had said everything that should be said. As for whether they want to taste the sweetness, it was up to them.
Everything in the city required money. And the green in the countryside wasn't worth much right? But there were some people willing to buy it when transported to the city.
However, Lin Qing He stopped at bringing up this business. She had stated there was no problem. If they didn't want to do it, it wasn't like she could force them to.
"Er Wa and San Wa will go over there to study. Don't know if they'll get used to it or not?" remarked Third Sister-in-law
"Er Wa will only be in the second semester of year one of high school in the next semester. Still early. As for San Wa. Maybe the education system will be reformed when it's his turn." Lin Qing He didn't pay it any heed.
She had forgotten when year three began to appear in junior high school and high school systems. It was around the middle of the eighties though.
This semester, San Wa was just beginning the second semester of junior high's first year. Too early.
On ther other hand, she will keep an eye on Er Wa. Plus they got the capital's household registration. He can get some points deduction. So he'll at least get admitted.
Third Sister-in-law talked about Wu Ni’s results: “It always can’t climb up. Now that Er Wa is gone, she got no one to ask.”
"There are so many teachers in the school. As long as she studies hard, she can make up for her failures with diligence." Lin Qing He said.
Zhou Yang and Wu Ni didn't come to her for supplementary classes again. If they didn't understand, they can bring it over to ask and revise a bit while they were at it. The supplementary classes were over.
Lin Qing He had to study too.
However, Lin Qing He had to admit that the two's grades were indeed difficult to achieve any higher. She had taught the learning methods. At least, their grades remained hovering in the middle.
But it was sufficient to get into high school. The entrance exam was next year.
As for high school, it was all up to them. Generally speaking, as long as they work hard and persevere, they won't do badly.
"By the way, I wonder if Youngest Sister has space for Wu Ni and Yang Yang for when they go to study in the future?" asked Third Sister-in-law.
Lin Qing He answered on behalf of Zhou Xiao Mei right away: "There are four children over there now. They're all still young and so noisy. If the two of them live there, what to do if they got disturbed? School is the most important thing. I think it is better to arrange for living on campus. But it's fine to let their uncle (Da Lin) invite them for a meal once in a while,."
Eldest Sister-in-law didn't plan to let Yang Yang go over to Xiao Mei's place. It was Third Sister-in-law who wanted her daughter to live there. Now that she heard Lin Qing He's words, she felt that it made sense.
Lin Qing He changed the subject and chatted with Second Sister-in-law: "Xia Xia has grown a lot taller and appeared more energetic this year. Is he faring well at that side?"
"The stinky boy came back and said that the food over there was especially great. Guaranteed to fill the stomach." Second Sister-in-law said with a smile on her face.
"He's currently developing. Better not eat his master poor." Lin Qing He joked.
"Won't eat til poor. The business there is doing wonderful. It's just Xia Xia is still working as an apprentice." Second Sister-in-law wanted her son to be hands-on right away.
"Take it slowly. The rules over there are all the same everywhere." Lin Qing He responded.
As Lin Qing He chatted with her sisters-in-law here, Zhou Qing Bai was talking with his brothers over there.
After finding out about moving the household registration and become a citizen of the capital after the New Year, the three brothers all held an expression of envy.
Family's New Year dinner was on 31st December 1979.
In fact, the other three branches were interested in getting together for the meal.
However, Lin Qing He declined. She expressed that everyone can eat their own food. Da Wa hadn't come back this year. Without full attendance, they might as well forget it.
As for the matter of Zhou Qing Bai and the boys set off to the capital after New Year, it hadn't been announced yet.
On New Year's Eve, when she came to the old Zhou's house to find her sisters-in-law for some conservation, Lin Qing He mentioned it.
The three sisters-in-law were shocked.
"Huh? After New Year, Fourth Brother will move to the capital along with Er Wa and San Wa? What will happen to your home here?" Eldest Sister-in-law uttered in a daze.
"Father and Mother are here. They will move to our place in the future." Lin Qing He answered.
Father Zhou and Mother Zhou had no objection. Going over, they'll be in a spacious house. Also, there were so many chickens and ducks in the backyard.
"Once we're gone, keep an eye out on Father and Mother for me, sisters-in-law. The elderly are high in age. They should stop doing farm work." Lin Qing He continued.
As for old-age support, how it was before was how it'll be now.
Ever since the family separation, there had been no conflict within old Zhou Family about Father Zhou and Mother Zhou's old age care.
Completely different from other families, who often fought over this matter.
"That's not a matter at all. About Fourth Brother and the boys moving to the capital. What's the story with the accommodation and household registration?" said Third Sister-in-law.
"I'm employed by the school this year and now become an English teacher at Bei University. The school has assigned me a place that is sufficient to live in. The household registration is much simpler. My school unit will help get it accepted. There is no problem." Lin Qing He smilingly assured.
Her family's Qing Bai had completed gathered all the necessary documents for the relocation of the household registration. The family can simply settle down once they reached the capital.
Hearing this had Eldest Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, and Third Sister-in-law stunned.
Fourth's wife was too competent!
Work, household registration, and so on were all sorted?
"And Fourth Brother's work? Is it settled?" asked Second Sister-in-law.
"I rented a shop for Qing Bai over there. At that time, he'll be self-employed and sell dumplings." Lin Qing He also answered.
"Be self-employed? Fourth Brother is willing?" Third Sister-in-law uttered in surprise.
"Why would he be unwilling? It's also relying on his hands to make money. Don't think about it so much. There is no shame in doing a business. Only when one doesn't have food to eat and go steal and cheat, that it would be ashamed." Lin Qing He said.
"Qing He, have you received any news from the capital? Will there be arrests in the future?" Eldest Sister-in-law asked.
"I heard Mother mention that you have raised a lot of chickens?" Lin Qing He smilingly responded
"I'm raising more than a dozen." Eldest Sister-in-law nodded.
"Wait until next spring. You can grab two and find a place to squat then." Lin Qing He said, "If someone investigates, you can just say that someone in the family is in post-natal confinement and go to Xiao Mei's house. If no one checks, then go to the entrance of the hospital and have a look."
Eldest Sister-in-law was a little scared: "This...what to do if I get caught?"
"The one in bureau is Qing Bai's comrade-in-arms. If anything goes wrong, you can just bring out Qing Bai's name." Lin Qing He soothed.
After today, it'll be '80. 1980! A brand new year. The spring breeze is shining on the earth and the spring flowers are blooming. There'll be no need for a letter of introduction when entering the city. No one cared about it.
What crime could carrying two chickens be?
"It will get better and better in the future. Many people in the capital are doing business." Lin Qing He said.
"A lot of people in the capital do business?" Eldest Sister-in-law immediately zoned in.
Second Sister-in-law and Third Sister-in-law stared at Lin Qing He.
"If not, do you think I will let Qing Bai be a self-employed?" Lin Qing He looked at them.
Lin Qing He didn't continue on this topic. She had said everything that should be said. As for whether they want to taste the sweetness, it was up to them.
Everything in the city required money. And the green in the countryside wasn't worth much right? But there were some people willing to buy it when transported to the city.
However, Lin Qing He stopped at bringing up this business. She had stated there was no problem. If they didn't want to do it, it wasn't like she could force them to.
"Er Wa and San Wa will go over there to study. Don't know if they'll get used to it or not?" remarked Third Sister-in-law
"Er Wa will only be in the second semester of year one of high school in the next semester. Still early. As for San Wa. Maybe the education system will be reformed when it's his turn." Lin Qing He didn't pay it any heed.
She had forgotten when year three began to appear in junior high school and high school systems. It was around the middle of the eighties though.
This semester, San Wa was just beginning the second semester of junior high's first year. Too early.
On ther other hand, she will keep an eye on Er Wa. Plus they got the capital's household registration. He can get some points deduction. So he'll at least get admitted.
Third Sister-in-law talked about Wu Ni’s results: “It always can’t climb up. Now that Er Wa is gone, she got no one to ask.”
"There are so many teachers in the school. As long as she studies hard, she can make up for her failures with diligence." Lin Qing He said.
Zhou Yang and Wu Ni didn't come to her for supplementary classes again. If they didn't understand, they can bring it over to ask and revise a bit while they were at it. The supplementary classes were over.
Lin Qing He had to study too.
However, Lin Qing He had to admit that the two's grades were indeed difficult to achieve any higher. She had taught the learning methods. At least, their grades remained hovering in the middle.
But it was sufficient to get into high school. The entrance exam was next year.
As for high school, it was all up to them. Generally speaking, as long as they work hard and persevere, they won't do badly.
"By the way, I wonder if Youngest Sister has space for Wu Ni and Yang Yang for when they go to study in the future?" asked Third Sister-in-law.
Lin Qing He answered on behalf of Zhou Xiao Mei right away: "There are four children over there now. They're all still young and so noisy. If the two of them live there, what to do if they got disturbed? School is the most important thing. I think it is better to arrange for living on campus. But it's fine to let their uncle (Da Lin) invite them for a meal once in a while,."
Eldest Sister-in-law didn't plan to let Yang Yang go over to Xiao Mei's place. It was Third Sister-in-law who wanted her daughter to live there. Now that she heard Lin Qing He's words, she felt that it made sense.
Lin Qing He changed the subject and chatted with Second Sister-in-law: "Xia Xia has grown a lot taller and appeared more energetic this year. Is he faring well at that side?"
"The stinky boy came back and said that the food over there was especially great. Guaranteed to fill the stomach." Second Sister-in-law said with a smile on her face.
"He's currently developing. Better not eat his master poor." Lin Qing He joked.
"Won't eat til poor. The business there is doing wonderful. It's just Xia Xia is still working as an apprentice." Second Sister-in-law wanted her son to be hands-on right away.
"Take it slowly. The rules over there are all the same everywhere." Lin Qing He responded.
As Lin Qing He chatted with her sisters-in-law here, Zhou Qing Bai was talking with his brothers over there.
After finding out about moving the household registration and become a citizen of the capital after the New Year, the three brothers all held an expression of envy.
Thanks for the chap! 🙂
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chap
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chapter!
ReplyDeleteIt's always a pleasure reading their everyday life...
Thanks Boss TL... >3>
Ikr~ I'm also checking this site for an update everyday. I like to read it as if it was me living with them.
DeleteThanks for the chapter!
ReplyDeleteLess than 500 chapters to go ...😍
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