Chapter 20 A Family of Three

Xie Yun compared the original owner's memory and found that the changes in pig farming policies in the original world and the current world were similar.

Last year, selling a pig gave out 5 feet of cloth coupons and 15 kilograms of grain. That's a significant decrease from the previous two years. In 1966, the bonus was 7 feet of cloth coupons and 25 kilograms of grain. I wonder if it will drop again this year.

"It's time to eat. What are you two doing? Standing in the pigpen, don't you mind the stink?"

Zhang Ruifeng had already prepared the meal, but when she saw her daughter and son standing in front of the pigpen, she couldn't help but say something.

Xie Shen said with a smile: "Watching the pig eat, I wondered how much meat it would gain from eating this, and how much money it could sell for."

Zhang Ruifeng: “…”

Xie Yun said, "Mom, I got some cloth coupons from selling pigs this year. Add those from the team and I'll make new clothes for you and Mumu."

"I won't do it, you two will do it."

Xie Shen said, "I won't make them, I'll make them for you two. I'm still growing, so it would be useless if I made them. You two can alter your old clothes for me to wear. When I grow up and stop growing, I'll make new ones for you."

Zhang Ruifeng smiled and said nothing more.

The brigade gave each person three feet of cloth coupons each year, but it wasn't enough. Everyone had to take turns making new clothes. This year, we had to make clothes for both children. Binbin was older, so he needed to pay a little attention to his appearance. As for Mumu, we didn't make any clothes for him for the past two years, so he kept wearing leftovers.

At the dinner table, Zhang Ruifeng said to Xie Yun, "Aunt Dai came to our house today and wanted to be your matchmaker. I turned her down as you asked. Have you changed your mind?"

Xie Yun said firmly: "No, I won't get married."

Xie Shen also said: "My sister won't get married."

Zhang Ruifeng turned her chopsticks over and knocked him, "What do you know! Men should get married when they are old enough, and women should get married when they are old enough. Your sister may not want to get married, but you can't stop her from getting married. Similarly, you may not want to get married, but it's wrong for your sister to stop you from getting married."

"My sister said she won't get married!"

"I know. I'm just worried that she'll change her mind."

"I haven't changed my mind. I won't get married. Mom, you did a good job. If I want to get married, I will find someone myself. No matter who is the matchmaker and how good they say the other person is, you just don't agree!"

"I see. I think the conditions of the family she mentioned today are pretty good. If you hadn't told me in advance, I would have agreed."

Xie Shen asked curiously, "Whose family is this?"

Zhang Ruifeng glanced at him and asked, "Want to know?"

"think."

"Want to get involved in family affairs?"

"think."

"Want to help your sister with some advice?"

"think!"

"Then you have to swear that you won't say anything we say at home outside! Not a single word!"

Xie Shen pinched his mouth, then released it after a moment. He clenched his fist and placed it beside his head, swearing, "I, Xie Shen, swear to the great leader that I will never tell anyone what I say at home!"

Zhang Ruifeng and Xie Yun looked at each other and smiled, "Well done! Our Mumu is a real man. He will definitely be able to shoulder the burden of the family in the future."

Xie Shen patted his chest confidently: "I can do it!"

Zhang Ruifeng added, "If your sister doesn't want to get married in the future, you have to take care of her, understand?"

"Know!"

"Then I'll tell you, it's the Zheng family at the east end. They have the nicest house in our brigade."

Xie Shen said, "When I grow up, I will find a way to earn money to build a big house for our family so that my sister won't have to live in someone else's big house."

Xie Yun smiled and said, "Well said. Besides, there are so many people in his family. Even though the house looks big, it may not be livable."

Zhang Ruifeng smiled and said, "I heard that when soldiers reach a certain rank, their wives can follow them. So maybe the third son of the Zheng family will bring his wife with him to the army in the future."

Xie Yun disagreed, "We have to wait. It's not easy for us rural soldiers to get promoted. Besides, even if he gets promoted to a level where he can bring his family with him, do you think he will bring his wife with him? Will his mother agree? If his daughter-in-law is at home, there will be an extra laborer and someone to serve. Zheng Laosan will send his allowance back, and the whole family will benefit. If his wife accompanies him, will these benefits still be available? Not to mention Zheng Laosan's mother, I'm afraid his brothers and sisters-in-law will not agree."

Zhang Ruifeng thought about it and nodded, feeling that what his daughter said made sense.

Xie Yun added, "If his wife stays at home while her husband is away for a long time, do you think she can have a good life in the Zheng family? She will definitely do the most work, eat the least, and speak the quietest. She will be the material to be bullied. If other members of the Zheng family want to gain benefits from Zheng Lao San's family, they will not flatter her, but will more likely suppress her."

Zhang Ruifeng felt a pang of sympathy when she heard this. Fortunately, her daughter had warned her about this early on, otherwise she might have agreed, and her daughter might have lived this kind of life in the future.

If she married into the Zheng family, she might not only have to work in the fields like she did at home, but also take care of the whole family. Binbin worked at home, but how many people were there in the Xie family? They'd take turns and fight over tasks for three people, and they wouldn't think it was a big deal. But the Zheng family was large, with many children, and so much housework. If all the chores fell on her daughter, wouldn't she be exhausted?

Not to mention the frustration caused by unfair distribution of housework!

Moreover, you have to live as a widow every day!

Thinking of this, she said sincerely: "I've lived for almost forty years, and I haven't thought as clearly as my daughter. You're right, the Zheng family looks glamorous, but it's not necessarily a good place to go. Fortunately, you told me in advance. If you hadn't, I might have agreed today."

Xie Shen said, "If my sister wants to get married in the future, she can find a live-in man. Let the man come to our house. I will look after him and ask him to work harder and not bully my sister."

Zhang Ruifeng thought for a moment and said, "People who don't have sons are looking for a son-in-law. We have you, who would be willing to come?"

Xie Shen said, "When he comes, I'll educate him well, and then I'll leave and become someone else's son-in-law. That'll be all right, right?"

Xie Yun: “…”

Zhang Ruifeng: “…”

Both mother and daughter almost burst out laughing.

Xie Yun said, "There's no rush. Let's not talk about it for now. Anyway, I don't want to get married now. I'll talk about it when I want to. If you want to help me teach someone a lesson, you have to practice your skills first and be able to win a fight. Otherwise, if you can't even beat them, how can you support me?"

Xie Shen said, "Sister, don't worry, I will take first place in every exercise in our school from now on!"

"Then do your best! I'm rooting for you!"