Because they were waiting for the married girls to return home for a family reunion, no one left. They planned to go back after having dinner on the second day of the Lunar New Year.
There are plenty of rooms in the house, plus the empty room in the back, so they can squeeze in and sleep. Since she had promised Grandpa, Yu Yin prepared everything she needed to—food and drinks, plenty of them—so they could play for a few days.
Yu Yin didn't have time to spend with them, but since she had come to visit, she decided to keep the elderly couple company and chat with them.
When Zhong Liang came over before the New Year, he brought up the previous suggestion. Yu Yin made up her mind that she still needed to do something, and couldn't just give up prematurely. She was fortunate enough to have a second chance, and she couldn't waste the original owner's merits; she wanted to do something meaningful for society.
Yu Yin was upstairs busy with her project plan, thinking about where to start.
Downstairs, Lu's mother felt heartbroken. She had slept in the guest room last night, and when she got up to use the toilet in the middle of the night, she didn't need a chamber pot or to go to a public toilet; there was an indoor toilet with flushing.
She visited the house yesterday and found that it had a shower, a washing machine, and a refrigerator. She had only heard about these things from others, but she never expected that Yu Yin would actually be enjoying them.
Although the eldest aunt also admired Lu Shurui's family for living a good life, she knew that it didn't belong to them. Although she favored sons over daughters and was very careful with money, it was only for her own small circle. She wouldn't suffer as much as the second son's wife.
"My cousin's family lives in a completely different world from ours; it feels a bit unreal."
Lu Xiaogu's daughter, Hu Feifei, stayed here for one night and truly felt the differences. She had been here before, but only saw the surface. She still only knew about many things at her cousin's house from what she had heard.
“Feifei, look, this is what life is all about. If you work hard, you can find a husband with similar conditions, and we can benefit from it too.”
Bai Lan Hua looked at her sister-in-law with great anticipation. If that were really possible, they would also benefit from it.
"Second sister-in-law, what nonsense are you talking about?"
"I'm not talking nonsense. You are a college student, you don't know, college students are very popular now. Many rich people want to go to college, it's prestigious. I've heard a lot of people say that."
Hu Feifei looked at her smug sister-in-law and was so angry that she couldn't speak. What a despicable face! She looked like she was going to sell her by the pound.
"I didn't say anything wrong. If you envy someone's life, then go and strive for it yourself. What's there to be so high and mighty about?"
Everyone found their own places to while away the time and enjoy the view, realizing they might never have the chance to live in a house like this again in their lifetime.
Grandpa Lu was chatting with his sons. The eldest and second eldest sons had both retired and were at the age where they could enjoy their grandchildren.
"Boss, has Shuxin written back? How is she doing?"
“Shuming had written to me before and I replied. He said he was doing well, that he had been assigned a job after graduation as a high school teacher, and that he had three children who were all doing well. After that, we didn’t keep in touch much.”
Uncle Lu wasn't that sexist, but he was weak-willed and afraid of his wife. Actually, he was afraid of arguments and trouble, so he pushed everything onto his wife. He lived his life in a daze.
"Second son, your mother and I are over eighty years old. We don't know when we'll just fall asleep and never wake up again."
"Dad, why are you saying these things? You're healthy, you won't do that."
Mr. Lu is over sixty years old, but he feels very happy because he still has his parents, which gives him peace of mind.
"It was bound to happen sooner or later. Thanks to Shurui and Yinyin, we've been doing very well these past few years. This time, we're also thinking that before we die, we can all get together and take a family photo to remember this time. That way, when we meet our ancestors, we'll have something to show for it."
The old man also wanted to take this opportunity to give some advice to his troublesome children, which could be considered his last words.
“I’m not worried about the eldest son. Although his wife has her faults, she is truly devoted to her husband and son. As for the daughter, there’s nothing we can do. She’s stubborn to the core and we can’t change her.”
"There's nothing to worry about with the third son's family. His wife has always done a good job, it's just that she's become a bit too attached to the one-child policy. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings, boys and girls are the same. The third son should persuade his wife not to become estranged from his children. In the future, when you get old, it will be your daughter-in-law who will truly take care of you."
Although the old man never relied on his daughter-in-law in his life, they enjoyed the blessings of their granddaughter-in-law. In a family, the woman is the leader and the core.
“I’m not worried about you or me, second brother. I’m mainly worried about your wife. She’s already driven herself to a dead end, and she shouldn’t try to turn back. Keep an eye on your wife and don’t cause trouble for Yin Yin. For the sake of Yin Yin taking care of your elderly parents, you should also treat Yin Yin well.”
“Yinyin’s good life is something she earned through her own hard work, not something Lu Shurui earned. You have no reason to demand that she compromise with your wife. They can never live under the same roof in their lives.”
Don't try to win someone over if you don't click with them!
The old man was afraid that after the two elders passed away, his second daughter-in-law would catch demons and disrupt Shu Rui's family's good life.
"Dad, I remember. I will definitely keep an eye on Shujin's mom and won't let her interfere with Shurui's or the other children's lives. We have a house, a pension, and are in good health. We can live on our own."
Mr. Lu understood his father's worries. His wife was getting old, and for some reason, she was becoming increasingly concerned about material things. He could easily see her longing for the life Shu Rui and his family lived. However, he advised against being envious of what wasn't his, emphasizing the importance of simply living his own life well.
After giving instructions to his son, he also spoke with his son-in-law.
"Guoqiang, let me say a few more words to you. Lu Wei went to the Third Front with you without hesitation back then. After coming back, she will have a sense of loss. Please be understanding. Also, the children are all grown up and should be independent. They can't always rely on their parents for help. You should think about it carefully."
"I understand, Dad. I'll discuss it with Lu Wei."
The old man had been talking for so long that he was a little tired, and was helped back into the house by Mr. Lu.
Others gathered in small groups, marveling at Lu Shurui's good life.
In her study, Yu Yin had already made a plan outlining what she needed to do in 1983. Time waits for no one, and many things were developing rapidly. She needed to find her place in the market before a large influx of Hong Kong and foreign businessmen arrived.
Yu Yin stretched and didn't rush downstairs. She could guess what most of them were thinking: they envied their lives, but that envy only lasted, and they didn't think about doing anything to change their own lives.
Later generations say that the 1980s were a golden age, the easiest time to start a business. However, only a few people were able to seize the opportunity. Most people could only envy others while living day to day, hoping for a windfall.
Putting aside everything else, even in the dried goods store, He Dong and Liu Hang's wives, while taking care of their children, also run a stall to earn money, and I heard they've made quite a bit. Before the Lunar New Year, Liu Hang and He Dong both bought houses, and after tidying up, they can move in.
Life is lived, not observed!
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