During dinner time, the aroma of meat wafted through the courtyard from time to time, making the neighbors who hadn't bought any meat extremely hungry.
At this moment, Yan Bugui's family was also eating. Smelling the aroma, the youngest daughter, Yan Jiedi, began to complain.
"Brother, you really are something else. Look at everyone else, every single one of them who got promoted bought some meat. Even Qin Huairu bought some when she got her official promotion. And look at you?"
"What? If you think I'm incompetent, you don't have to eat. I, your brother, at least give you 10 yuan a month for living expenses. Why should I have to buy meat?"
Yan Jiecheng didn't indulge his sister either. After retorting to her, he continued to munch on his cornbread, seemingly oblivious to the aroma wafting from outside.
Hearing her elder brother say this, Yan Jiedi was naturally dissatisfied and immediately began to complain.
"Mom and Dad, look at my older brother. They're just happy for him. It's not like they're asking him to buy meat every day. Is it really necessary to make such a fuss?"
Yan Bugui had been thinking about how to ask his eldest son to pay more for living expenses, but now that he heard his daughter complaining, he finally found an opportunity.
So he put down the cornbread in his hand and looked at his other two sons.
"Jiefang and Jiekuang, what do you think about whether your older brother should buy meat after his salary increase?"
Yan Jiefang has now taken over his older brother's job and started doing odd jobs, making money very difficult.
As soon as his father asked that question, he understood his father's intention, but he couldn't kick him while he was down, lest he suffer the consequences himself.
So he replied perfunctorily, "Dad, my older brother got a raise, that's good news, I congratulate him."
That's it?
Yan Bugui muttered something unhappily, then looked at the third brother.
"Jie Kuang, our family is very democratic. What do you think?"
“Dad, I’m still in school, I’m a student, I have no say. If someone buys meat, I’ll eat it; if no one buys it, I won’t take it.”
Well! Yan Jiekuang is a slippery fellow, trying not to offend either side.
This infuriated Yan Bugui, and then he looked at his daughter-in-law and felt that she was also unreliable.
Finally, seeing that no one responded, he had no choice but to step in himself, abandoning all pretense and feigning concern.
“Jiecheng, I’m happy for you that you’ve been promoted, but we also have our difficulties. I don’t have a stable job, and the household expenses are high.”
"How about this: you pay an extra 5 yuan each month for living expenses, and I'll let your mom have an extra treat every month. What do you think?"
"I don't think it's very good."
Yan Jiecheng was extremely annoyed and was on the verge of exploding.
He first ate the last bite of cornbread in his hand, then drank the whole bowl of cornmeal porridge. After letting out a burp, he wiped his mouth and spoke.
“Dad, I think you’re squeezing me too hard! Look around this compound, which other kid is like me, having to pay 10 yuan a month for living expenses? You can’t find a single one.”
Yan Jiecheng grew angrier the more he thought about it, a nameless rage burning within him that he had to vent.
"But I just got a raise today, and I was looking forward to the future. Dad, you're asking for more money again. What, can't the family survive without me?"
Faced with his son's questioning, Yan Bugui was unimpressed. He was about to say something when his aunt, Yan, interrupted him.
“Jiecheng, how could you talk to your dad like that? Do you know how hard he works for this family? If we ask you to pay an extra 5 yuan, just pay it. You can still have about 10 yuan left! We didn’t ask you to pay the whole amount, so why are you so resentful?”
"Okay, okay!"
Yan Jiecheng suddenly stood up, his face grim as he scanned the group.
"You want money, right? Well, let me make this clear today: if you insist on charging more, I'll have to move out, and I won't pay a single penny then."
After saying that, Yan Jiecheng walked straight out of the house and returned to his small room.
"Smack!"
Yan Bugui was so angry that his lips trembled, and he slammed his chopsticks heavily on the table.
"Go away, go away! I see you've grown quite capable. It's best if you leave and don't come back. You're such an ungrateful wretch."
Seeing her husband storm off in anger, and then her father-in-law getting angry, Zhou Tiemei felt helpless.
It's true that she's a kind-hearted person, but she's not stupid either. Zhou Tiemei will definitely support Yan Jiecheng in what happened tonight.
So she picked up the half-eaten cornbread, quickly stood up, and said...
"Mom and Dad, don't be angry. Keep eating. I'll go check on Jiecheng."
After saying that, she walked towards the door without waiting for the two to react.
Seeing the somewhat oppressive atmosphere inside, Yan Jiefang and the others quickly finished their meal and hurriedly went out to avoid trouble and prevent themselves from being harmed.
Once only the elderly couple were left in the house, Aunt Yan started offering hindsight advice again.
“Honey, you’re being a bit too hasty tonight. You should let the child have a break. The money hasn’t even arrived yet! Asking for it like that makes anyone uncomfortable.”
"What do you know, you're just a woman! It's better to have a short pain than a long one. If you can't get it now, how will you get it later? Don't worry about this, I have my own way."
Yan Bugui waved his hand irritably, his disdain for his wife's behavior evident.
"Do as you please, you'd be happier if you could just break this family up."
Aunt Yan was scolded and felt wronged. After saying a few words, she got up and walked out of the house.
Suddenly, the entire room fell silent, leaving only Yan Bugui sitting there, still thinking about how to make his son submit.
On the other side.
Back in his room, Yan Jiecheng had nowhere to put his feet, so he could only take off his shoes and lie down on the bed, silently making plans in his mind.
In fact, even without Yan Bugui's incident today, he had been thinking about how to move out.
He didn't have the means before, but things are different now. His monthly salary of 32 yuan is more than enough to rent a place and live outside.
He had already planned all this out; renting a place outside for 5 yuan a month would definitely be better than what he was living in now.
Then, with a monthly living expense of 15 yuan, they can definitely eat better than they do now. That way, they can save 12 yuan a month, which adds up to 144 yuan a year...
The thought of such a life makes Yan Jiecheng wish he could move away right now.
Just as he was lost in thought, Zhou Tiemei walked in from outside and closed the door.
Yan Jiecheng looked up and saw that it was his wife who had come in, then closed his eyes again.
Seeing that her husband ignored her, Zhou Tiemei was not angry. Instead, she went to the bedside, took off her shoes, and climbed into bed.
"Jiecheng, are you still angry?"
As Zhou Tiemei spoke, she massaged Yan Jiecheng's thighs, showing great care.
At this moment, Yan Jiecheng suddenly turned around and asked mysteriously, "Wife, what do you think will happen if we move out?"
Without even thinking, Zhou Tiemei replied, "My parents will never agree. Don't even think about it."
"Hmph!" Yan Jiecheng scoffed.
“If we want to move out, no one can stop us. If I cut off our monthly allowance of 10 yuan, believe it or not, we will be kicked out tomorrow.”
After hearing Yan Jiecheng's words, Zhou Tiemei fell silent.
Because she didn't know how to answer the question.
As a woman who had fled famine and was born weak and sickly and unable to have children, she was very satisfied with her current life.
Although we often didn't have enough to eat, life was still relatively stable.
Just as life was getting better and better, conflicts arose in her family, and she didn't know who to help.
Perhaps she leans more towards her husband!
Even if he has many minor flaws, the saying "a woman should follow her husband wherever he goes" is always true.
Once she understood, Zhou Tiemei made her decision.
"Jiecheng, I'll listen to you completely. I'll support whatever you do."
"Wife, thank you."
Now Yan Jiecheng was relieved. At least after leaving home, he wouldn't be abandoned by everyone, and he would still have someone to talk to.
...
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