Chapter 36 Xu Laowu
When Xie Yun arrived at the brigade headquarters, people had already arrived one after another. All the leaders of the team were there, including the brigade leader, accountant, security director and women's director.
"Binbin."
As soon as Xie Yun arrived, she heard someone calling her.
At this time, the sky was just getting light, the stars were gradually disappearing, and the moon was still hanging in the sky. In the dim light, Xie Yun saw Xu Wumei waving at her in the crowd.
The girl has a round face and looks chubby and soft. She has two pigtails, big eyes and double eyelids, and looks quite pleasing.
She waved to Lao Wu, walked to the director of public security to report, greeted other team leaders, and then blended into the crowd.
Wu Mei said: "I didn't expect you to participate this year."
Xie Yun said, "I didn't expect that either. I don't think you've ever participated in one before, right?"
"Yes, it's my first time too."
"You're really proactive, coming so early. I thought I would be the first one here."
"How could that be? Hongxia had already arrived when I came. I wasn't even the first one."
"Sister Binbin."
Hongxia, who had been called out by name, greeted Xie Yun. Her name was Zhao Hongxia, the daughter of Yan Guixiang, the women's director, and a year younger than Xie Yun. During the strike and the revolution, the original owner was in her first year of high school, and this child was in her third year of junior high. They had both gone home.
Xie Yun agreed and asked, "Is this your first time training as well?"
"No, I participated last year."
Xie Yun praised her, "As expected of Director Yan's daughter, you have a high level of ideological awareness and are as capable as any man. Two years ago, I was a bit intimidated, worried that I wouldn't be able to perform well and bring shame to Liushu Village, so I didn't sign up. But then I thought, how can I know if I can perform well without practicing? I have to give it a try!"
Hongxia said, "Sister Binbin is right. The more you practice, the stronger you will be. My mom said that girls are born with inferior physical qualities to boys, so we need to practice more. With practice, we may be able to make up for our innate deficiencies and surpass them."
She lowered her voice and whispered, "When my mom glares at my dad at home, she often says, 'Just be thankful I can't beat you. If I could, I'd beat you three times a day.'"
Xie Yun and the five beauties burst into laughter when they heard this.
Hongxia's father is the director of public security, Zhao Fuguo. He served in the army before the founding of the People's Republic of China. Originally, if he had stayed in the army, he would have had a good future. However, this guy missed home and wanted to get married. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he took the initiative to apply for retirement and go home. The army would not force him to stay and let him come back.
Most of his comrades died on the Korean battlefield, and the few who survived now hold high positions. Someone asked him if he regretted retiring, saying he would have been a regimental commander if he hadn't retired. He said he didn't regret it, saying everyone wanted to be a regimental commander, but they had to survive to do so. Furthermore, as a public security officer, he was also contributing to the country by protecting the lives and property of his fellow soldiers.
Seeing that not everyone had arrived yet, the three of them huddled to the side, put down the baskets on their backs, sat on them, and huddled together, talking in low voices.
Xu Wumei asked Zhao Hongxia: "Have your parents ever fought?"
"No, we just had arguments. It was mainly because my mom scolded my dad, saying he was lazy, dull, and didn't know how to care for others."
"So what did your dad say?"
"What else can he say? He just listens and goes 'hehehe'. My mom wasn't wrong, that's just the way he is."
Xie Yun asked Xu Laowu: "Why did you think of participating this year?"
Xu Laowu lowered his head and whispered, "Well, didn't I say I was going to get married? My partner is a soldier. My mother asked me to participate in some training to understand the life of a soldier so that I can know how to care for others when I get married."
Xie Yun: “…”
Zhao Hongxia: “…”
Xu Laowu added, "My mom said that even though the military allowances are high, the training is definitely very tiring, and going on missions is risking your life. I enjoy the good life he brings me, but I have to understand his difficulties. I help him guard the rear at home and take good care of his parents. I don't want him to worry about anything, and I want him to make great achievements in the army."
Xie Yun smiled and said, "Auntie really has a long-term vision and foresight. You haven't even enjoyed the good life he brought you yet, but you have to experience the hardships he endured first. She is such a considerate and good mother-in-law. She really treats her son-in-law like a son, and even her own daughter has to take a back seat."
Zhao Hongxia glanced at Xie Yun and inexplicably felt that Sister Binbin's words were full of praise, but they did not sound like praise.
She asked, "Who is your partner?"
"Zheng Guoqiang."
Zhao Hongxia suddenly realized, "Oh, it's him. Doesn't his family have three sons? Zheng Guoqiang seems to be the third one? I think his whole family is enjoying the benefits of his hard work outside. Look at that big tiled house. When he's not at home, it should be mainly his two brothers' responsibility to take care of his parents, right? He pays the money, and the two brothers do the work. Isn't that perfect? If you marry him, all you have to do is live a good life with him, support his career, and don't hold him back, right?"
Xie Yun agreed, "Hongxia is right. They have a big family. Their parents have three sons and one daughter. Even if you are filial, you can only fulfill a quarter of it, or you and Zheng Laosan can fulfill a quarter together. There are others to take care of the rest. Don't take away the opportunity to fulfill your filial piety. Don't take all the allowance your partner sends back. Think about giving some to your parents-in-law. That's how you should be a good daughter-in-law."
She had been hoping to find a chance to talk to Lao Wu, but she didn't expect the opportunity to come. There was even someone else helping her. Her words weren't too subtle; Lao Wu should have been able to pick up on something, right?
Xu Laowu: “…”
She didn't know how to respond to this.
Would Zheng Guoqiang's allowance be sent to her? Would she be allowed to keep it, or have the final say? None of these matters were made clear during the marriage proposal. After hearing about the Zheng family's situation, knowing that she would be safe and sound, that she would have a brick and tile house to live in, and that her husband had a promising future, a good income, and was a reliable man, she agreed to the marriage. The details were not discussed. It was also unknown whether she would split up the family property after her marriage.
Logically speaking, it sounds like a fair arrangement for the third wife to contribute financially, and the first and second wives to contribute physically, to jointly support their parents. However, if she lives at home and the family remains together, is it possible for her not to work? Is it possible for her not to share the housework? Is it possible for this wife to just contribute financially?
If she has to do the same housework as the eldest and second sister-in-law, then does that mean they have to pay the same amount of money to their parents-in-law as the eldest and second sister-in-law? Not too much, right?
While she was thinking, several female comrades sat down next to them one after another. As soon as they sat down, they greeted them, interrupting their private conversation and also interrupting Xu Laowu's thoughts.
One of them said, "There are new faces this year. Binbin and Wumei are both returning for the first time, right?"
Xie Yun replied, "Yes, Sister Yuying, this is my first time participating. If I don't understand or know how to do something, I will ask you. Please don't think I'm stupid."
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