At 4:30 in the morning, a military truck stopped in front of the Lu family's door. Lu Shiyi, wearing a military coat, led Zong Li and three drivers to move things.
After the New Year gifts were transported back to the Lu family, Lu Shiyi took out three cloth bags, each of which contained five meat buns, two egg-filled pancakes rolled with vegetables, and a lot of dried meat.
"This is your New Year's gift. Your sister-in-law is taking care of Hanhan, so she specifically asked me to give it to you. You can't refuse it!" Lu Shiyi saw that the driver team leader wanted to refuse, so he directly talked to Su Jin, "I have to listen to your sister-in-law's orders at home. Do you want me to sleep in the study?"
The three drivers chuckled. Lu Shiyi's words shortened the distance between them. The Lu family's status was too high, and many people felt that Lu Shiyi was difficult to get along with.
Lu Shiyi's few brief words made them feel that Lu Shiyi was no different from them and that he would listen to his wife when he returned home.
"Minister Lu, we'll take it away. Thank you, sister-in-law." The three drivers happily accepted the New Year's gift. "We'll deliver it to the old man. Don't worry."
Lu Shiyi nodded at them and said, "Please, please deliver it privately and don't let too many people see it."
The three of them immediately promised that they would get it done. Lu Shiyi watched them drive away. He looked around and found that the team members and their families were all asleep, so he went home with peace of mind.
He took off his coat and lay beside her, holding her in his arms.
"Ayi, have you moved everything?" Su Jin asked dazedly. "I packed a few small bottles of tiger bone wine as New Year gifts for Grandpa and the old men. They're for Grandpa to give as gifts."
"Wife, you are so thoughtful. I will get up and call grandpa and ask him to send it off in person." Lu Shiyi promised in a low voice.
It was dawn when Su Jin was awakened by screams outside. She sat up with the quilt and looked at Hanhan who was sleeping soundly in the crib beside the bed, his mind still not fully clear.
Screams came from outside, and even the thick windows couldn't block them out. You can imagine how loud the sound was.
Su Jin quickly put on her outdoor clothes and put Hanhan into the space to take care of him. She walked out wearing snow boots.
"Sister-in-law, has something happened?" Su Jin saw Yun Feng in front of the door, opened the gate, stopped and looked at the crowd.
Yunfeng reached out and held Su Jin's hand: "Why don't you wear gloves when you come out? Is Hanhan still sleeping?"
"I was woken up. Hanhan was still sleeping. I thought I would watch the excitement at the door for a while and then go back." Su Jin explained to Liu Yunshan and Yunfeng.
Liu Yunshan came from her home, and contrary to her usual behavior, she did not join the crowd to adjust herself.
"The New Year is coming soon. My mother's family said they were coming to visit relatives, and Wu Dimei welcomed them happily. But when they were about to leave, they made huge demands and wanted to take away all the New Year's goods that Wu Dimei had prepared." Liu Yunshan sympathized with Wu Dimei.
It turned out that Wu Dimei's parents were in the First Brigade. Because Wu Gang lost both his parents in the mudslide, Wu Dimei's parents began to become more and more demanding. They asked Wu Gang and his wife to pay more money under the pretext of honoring the elderly.
Wu Dimei used to take good care of her mother's family. Wu Gang was away on missions all year round. When Wu Dimei's father was still alive, the old couple could still help Wu Dimei. After Wu Dimei's father passed away, Wu Dimei's mother changed and was no longer as sensible as before.
Instigated by her two sisters-in-law, Wu Dimei's mother came over to ask for something.
"Mom, even if you sue me in the imperial capital, I am not wrong. I supported you two when dad was alive. Dad asked me to record all the lists. Since dad passed away, the things you asked for are more than the cost of supporting you." Wu Gang's wife took out the list from her pocket and handed it to Liu Chuchang on the spot.
Liu Chuchang handed it to the team member beside him and read it out in public. After Wu Dimei's father passed away, the items on the list continued to increase, which made the patrol team stunned.
"Captain Liu, something happened on the farm this year, so I had to prepare two New Year gifts and had no time to visit my parents," Wu Gang's wife cried. "I followed the standard for visiting my parents' home and sent them New Year gifts, but they thought it was too little. I stayed here for three days, got to know the family well, and then they kept asking for things."
After hearing this, everyone denounced Wu Gang's wife's family, and the family members left in accordance with the regulations.
"Rules? Who stipulated that we should give so little to my parents?" Aunt Guo sat on the ground and started crying, saying that her daughter was unfilial.
Family members all advised Wu Gang's wife to reduce the frequency of her visits to her parents' home.
However, the Guo family was not happy and kept shouting that Wu Gang's wife was instigated by someone. Wu Gang's two sisters-in-law cried and cursed the family members.
"Wu Gang is not at home all year round, and we all help our sister. If it weren't for the Guo family, could Wu Gang carry out the mission wholeheartedly?" The Guo family insisted that their son-in-law must be filial to his wife's family.
The family members were surprised by what the Guo family said. After Wu Gang got married, they only saw his wife carrying large and small bags of things back to her parents' home.
"Mom, I have given a lot to the family. In addition to your alimony, I also pay for the tuition of my four nephews." When Wu Gang's wife heard her family slandering Wu Gang, she angrily told the truth.
Wu Gang trusted her and gave her control over the family affairs. She helped her family, but was still despised by them.
"Whose daughter doesn't support her nephews after getting married?" The old lady of the Guo family stood up and glared at Wu Gang's wife. "I told you to be nicer to your nephews. If Wu Gang treats you badly, your nephews will back you up."
Wu Gang sneered at the elders of the Guo family: "It would be great if they didn't bully Xiaoxu. They still want to support her. Xiaoxu is always bullied by these kids. When have you as parents ever supported her?"
After he finished speaking, many villagers who supported the Guo family fell silent. The Guo family had a good life in recent years. According to Wu Gang, these were the reasons why Xiaoxu sent the money back to her parents' home.
The villagers became increasingly disdainful of the Guo family, and told others that it was the sons who worked hard to earn money. Now, the truth has been revealed.
Xiaoxu is an honest person. He always puts the money directly into his pocket. Unlike the other two daughters of the Guo family, they always take things out in a big way, as if they want the whole village to know.
"You are too honest. You should learn from your two sisters." The villagers could not stand the Guo family's sophistry and directly persuaded Wu Gang's wife.
"Wu Gang, this is your family affair, but since the Guo family broke into the farm, we have to handle it impartially." Wu Jun looked at Wu Gang and said, "You decide whether to take responsibility."
Wu Gang and his wife looked at each other, and Wu Gang's wife shook her head at him.
"Minister Wu, my wife has done enough for her family. I hope the Guo family won't come looking for us again." Wu Gang discussed it with his wife last night and decided to say it publicly. "We will send someone to deliver the filial piety we owe them."
The people of the Guo family were not happy and started making a fuss again. The village chief and Wu Jun both agreed with Wu Gang's decision.
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