Family Meeting
At the Xu family's side, it was almost dark and the parents had not arrived yet, so they had dinner first. Except for two young couples and children who, for unknown reasons, ate the simple meal with relish, only Xu Nian and Xu Fengcheng were distracted.
But Xu Hongqi was more direct and brought the wheat kernel soup directly into the house.
Fortunately, the ordeal didn't last long as Xu's father and mother arrived home. Seeing that they looked a little tired, Xu Nian hurried to the kitchen to get some rice and steamed buns. The couple then simply washed themselves and sat at the dining table.
He took a few big gulps of the food Xu Nian brought him, and he felt a little more relaxed.
Seeing that his youngest son was actually a bit well-behaved, he didn't hide it from him and said to him, "We agree. We'll ask Hongqi later."
Xu Fengcheng's nose and eyes felt sore after hearing this, but the smile on the corners of his mouth couldn't suppress his happiness. The other people looked at his parents in confusion, but Xu Qinghua and his wife didn't say anything more.
After everything was settled, Xu's parents and Xu Fengcheng went together to look for Xu Hongqi. Xu Nian had just quietly told her parents what she had said to Xu Hongqi in the afternoon. Perhaps because they thought she was still young, they did not let her go with them.
Seeing this, the eldest and second brothers Xu were of course surprised and asked their sister, "What did you just say to our parents? Why are you still being so secretive?"
It would have been fine if they hadn't mentioned it. As soon as Xu Nian mentioned it, she felt like there would be a "battle" at home even if she got the job. But since she didn't know the specifics yet, she could only lie to her two brothers and say, "I didn't say anything. I just don't want to study every day. I'm discussing it with Mom."
Second Brother Xu smiled innocently, "If you don't want to learn, then don't learn. It's no big deal if you take a break." Then he was elbowed by First Brother Xu, "What do you know? If Dad hears this, he'll definitely kill you."
After teaching his second brother a lesson, he turned to his younger sister and said, "Nian Nian, I won't be staying in our house for long. You should study hard and don't just think about playing."
What could Xu Nian say? It was just an excuse, so he could only agree and say yes.
The four people who were discussing matters were also talking in the room.
Father Xu asked with some embarrassment: "Hongqi, what do you think about what Nian Nian told you this afternoon?"
Xu Hongqi didn't expect Father Xu to be so direct, but he had made up his mind and answered directly: "Uncle, I thank you for helping me this time, but I'm not a child anymore. I don't know how I will survive in the future."
Then he added, "My household registration is still in the county, and I can only receive some basic living supplies every month, but most of them are... You know that family, I have no way to help them."
Before he could say anything after he finished speaking, he saw that the three members of the Xu family were already upset and angry after hearing what they said.
Father Xu pondered for a long time and said, "Hongqi, we don't want this job anymore. You're such a pitiful child. Your parents are good people. They've helped me and your aunt before. It's really us who are greedy. Don't worry, we'll definitely get your job back."
After saying this, Xu Fengcheng was a little confused. When he reacted, he called out, "Dad, what do you mean?"
After hearing this, Xu's mother felt a little disappointed, but thinking about the past, she didn't say anything more.
This was beyond Xu Hongqi's expectations. He originally just wanted to get more benefits, not to work. He knew that even if the job came to him, he would not be able to hold it firmly, and it would be of no use.
Why should others bother him? After all, he never believes that good things like pie falling from the sky will happen to him.
Direct rejection is definitely not an option. This family is all very sincere people. I can only pretend to be lonely and say, "Uncle, I don't really care about work. I still want to continue studying."
After hearing this, Xu's father felt even more guilty. Other children could still remember to study under such conditions. He looked at his son again and felt pain in his eyes. Seeing him looking at him eagerly, his heart ached.
I could only say to Xu Hongqi apologetically: "Son, if that's the case, uncle will tell you the conditions for us to sell you your job. If you think it's okay, I will shamelessly take advantage of you."
Xu Hongqi was afraid of causing trouble so he quickly said, "Uncle, please don't say that. Your family has helped me so much."
Father Xu waved his hand, glanced at Mother Xu, and then said, "I understand that a regular worker's salary is 25 yuan a month, which is 300 yuan a year. Businesses are all done privately, and I don't know much about the market, but your uncle won't let you get away with anything. We'll pay 800 yuan. You'll be considered a child until you get married. If you have any difficulties, just tell us and we'll go right away."
Xu Hongqi didn't expect the Xu family to give so much. There was nothing to say about the money, but it would be impossible for him to live in school every day in the future. He needed a place to live during the holidays.
Now seeing that the Xu family was indeed a good person, he said, "Uncle, I have no objection to what you said, but I may not be able to live in Xujia Village now. I thought you could just give me 500, but can you let me live here?"
As if afraid that the Xu family would not agree, he hurriedly said, "As long as I can be independent, I will move out immediately. I won't stay long, just stay for a while during school holidays."
Xu's mother was too soft-hearted to listen to such pitiful words. Without waiting for her husband to answer, she said, "From now on, our home is your home. You can live wherever you want. There is no need for you, a child, to give money."
Then he said to Xu's father with certainty: "Old Xu, right!"
Of course, Xu's father also meant this. Now that the child brought it up, he simply said, "Uncle Taiyuan can't promise you anything. As I said before, you can stay as long as you want before you grow up and get married. It's not easy for our two families to continue this fate. From now on, we will treat each other as one family."
It was not until now that Xu Hongqi truly felt that he was narrow-minded. Perhaps he saw the world too bleakly, or perhaps he was really unlucky. Fortunately, God was finally willing to give him some warmth this summer.
Xu Fengcheng had little chance to speak throughout the whole process, but his mood was full of ups and downs. He originally thought that there was no hope, but unexpectedly, there were unexpected turns of events that made him actually successful. He was usually a very smart man, but now he could only smile foolishly.
After Xu's mother went back to the house to retrieve the money, Xu's father asked Xu Fengcheng to write a receipt, and both parties were satisfied with the result.
After the discussion, it was already late. Usually, the couple would have gone to bed at this time. Now, when they returned to their room, Xu's mother couldn't help but say, "Isn't this considered a new worker in our family? I'm really happy, but my pockets are cleaner than my face this time, so I'm really panicking."
Father Xu rubbed his head with his hands and said, "We will have a meeting at home tomorrow. Consider this money as Fengcheng borrowing from our family. After you start working, keep the basic living expenses every month and return the rest on time."
Xu's mother was a little hesitant, "Return it all? Isn't it a bit too much?"
As Xu's father took off his shoes, he said, "If there's no pressure, you'd better not take this job."
After getting on the bed, he said again: "The most important thing now is to transfer the work quickly. This is the trouble."
Xu's mother was puzzled: "Didn't Hongqi say he had a solution?"
"Then you can let the child handle it alone? Besides, his relatives are the difficult ones..."
——
When Xu Nian woke up, she felt that the weather was extremely hot and stuffy, as if it was going to rain. After staying awake in bed for a while, she remembered that she had wanted to wait for the results of their discussion yesterday, but she didn't know how she fell asleep while waiting. She thought it must be because she had overused her brain.
But when she saw her third brother's beaming face, she felt that it must have worked out.
Xu Nian finally felt relieved, but her family would definitely owe Xu Hongqi a lot of favors. However, on second thought, it was a good thing for her as well, as at least she could have closer contact with Xu Hongqi.
It started to rain before we finished our meal. By the time we finished, the rain was almost as heavy as a door curtain. The brigade loudspeaker announced three times in a row that the members would not have to go to work today.
It was the first time Xu Nian heard the broadcast and he was a little curious, but the others were used to it. The two sisters-in-law were already preparing to go back to the house to clean up, as the children were young and the house was a mess.
But before they could leave, Xu's father called everyone back, "We're not going to work today. I'm going to have a family meeting just to keep up the good times."
Xu Erge was puzzled, "What's going on in our family?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xu's mother patted him lightly and said, "Your father said it's a meeting, so just attend it."
After this commotion, everyone held back their voices. Xu's mother took out the biscuits she usually hid carefully and sent them out to play in the corridor. She also warned the older child, Tietou, "Tietou, you're the older brother. You have to watch over your younger siblings and not play in the water. If you get sick from playing in the water, you'll have to get a shot."
Children are afraid of injections, and since there is food to eat, they are very easy to talk to and nod repeatedly.
After everyone was seated, the room was full. Father Xu took the main seat and said, "Our family all make a living from the land. Life is not easy, and making money is even harder. Today I said I was holding a meeting for you, but in fact, I am making an announcement."
Seeing the children looking at him silently, Father Xu said, "You've all heard about our relationship with the Hongqi family recently. It's no exaggeration to say that they are lifesavers. Now Hongqi is even planning to give his parents' jobs in the county to our family."
At this point, everyone was no longer silent, especially Mrs. Xu. "Dad, what do you mean? Are our family going to be workers?"
The others were also feeling uneasy, and Mrs. Xu asked what everyone was thinking.
Father Xu nodded at this and said, "That's true, but there's only one job, and Fengcheng has been busy doing it."
When Xu Fengcheng heard that he was mentioned, his eyes lit up and he said, "I discussed this job with Hongqi and I bought it. From now on, we won't have to worry about not having tickets when buying things."
After he finished speaking, no one spoke. Xu's father and mother looked at each other and saw it.
Xu Nian rested her elbows on her legs and supported her face while looking around at the other people's expressions. What she didn't expect was that Brother Xu and his wife were calm, but Second Sister-in-law Xu looked unhappy and anxious.
Sure enough, she didn't hold it in for long before she said, "I don't agree."
It was rare to see his second daughter-in-law so excited. Father Xu did not try to stop her and asked, "Then tell me what you disagree with?"
Seeing everyone looking at her, even her husband tugging at her arm, Xu Ersao felt a little timid, but she couldn't help but reply, "Dad, let me tell you the truth. When the family splits up in the future, you and mother-in-law will definitely follow my eldest brother, and most of the things in the house will definitely go to my eldest brother's family. This is the custom here, and I have nothing to say about it. But Hongqi's parents work at the county timber furniture factory, right?"
As he said this, he glanced at Xu Hongqi, who nodded. Because he was right next to Xu Nian's right, she could still see Xu Hongqi's calm eyebrows slightly raised. Xu Nian didn't understand why, but felt something was wrong and pouting.
Mrs. Xu saw Xu Hongqi nod and continued, "Feng Kang has also learned carpentry. Usually, people come to him to make something. In any case, he is more suitable to work in the county."
To be honest, what Xu Ersao said was reasonable and well-founded, and no one refuted it for a while.
But Xu Fengcheng stood up anxiously and said, "Second sister-in-law, Second brother didn't contribute anything to this matter. I was the one who was busy. I can't let him work."
Seeing that they were on edge, Father Xu asked the silent Xu Fengkang, "Second brother, what are you thinking?"
To be honest, Xu Fengkang definitely wanted to go, but he felt that this was his younger brother's job and it was not easy for him to get involved. In addition, he knew that he was too honest and might not adapt to staying in the factory. He glanced at his wife obscurely and said, "It doesn't matter whether I go or not, but this job is done by my third brother, so he should go."
As soon as he finished speaking, he was hit by his wife with a hammer. He burst into tears and was so angry that he couldn't speak.
Father Xu looked at it and sighed, "Second son's wife, I also want the third son to go."
Seeing Xu Ersao's anxiety, she continued, "You only considered that it would be good to work in the county town, but forgot the premise."
He looked at Xu Hongqi apologetically before saying, "Hongqi's parents' jobs are now in the hands of his aunt and uncle. Hongqi was young and it wasn't their turn to agree or disagree. But they've been working there for so long, it won't be easy for them to come back, and it'll be even harder to keep their jobs after they come. Can you and Lao Er handle it?"
"If you can, then you should compete fairly."
Xu Ersao had not expected this, but it was a pity to give up, so she stopped arguing and fell silent, but she did not say that she agreed to let her brother-in-law go.
Finally, seeing that no one wanted to sit there any longer, Xu's mother said, "Go back and discuss it. Come up with a result in the next two days. Let's get this done quickly."
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