Thinking that every family would share fish today, Li Qingyun did not send pickled fish to Lao Zhai and Cheng Jie.
A fish was also cooked at the old house today. It was a rare good day throughout the year. Grain was distributed yesterday and fish was distributed today. Mother Gu made a pot of corn and flour buns and slaughtered a small fish to make braised fish.
Their family had many people and a lot of labor, so they divided five fish, four large and one small.
For the remaining four fish, Gu's mother asked Gu Lao Da to clean them up, spread them with coarse salt and marinate them. The next time they would be eaten would be during the Chinese New Year or when entertaining guests.
After dinner, Gu's father and mother called Brother Gu and Sister-in-law Gu over, and the whole family sat together to discuss.
"This year, work points are valuable. We have four strong laborers in our family, and we have a handicraft to supplement our income. Plus, our two little kids can occasionally earn a few work points. So, this year, our family has received a total of 432 yuan.
This is the most money our family has received since the disbanding of the "big pot" system. The per capita rations we received are enough for us to eat if we save them, so we have not asked for the work-based rations for the time being. We will go to the team to exchange them if they are not enough.
No one can tell whether the harvest season gets better or worse each year. Last year I worked so hard and only earned about 200 yuan, but this year I earned double that.
We farmers all depend on God's will for our livelihood. Life is getting better and better. Now that we have some extra money, your mother and I are thinking of asking you if you would like to split up the property like the second brother's family did."
As soon as Gu's father finished speaking, his eldest brother Gu said, "Dad, didn't we already agree that I would take care of you in your old age? Why are you bringing up the matter of dividing the family property again?"
"When a tree grows tall, it branches out; when a son grows up, he branches out. This is only natural. Now your mother and I can still work and support ourselves without any problem. When we can no longer work, you two brothers can talk about the issue of supporting us in our old age.
Tingchuan, you are the eldest in the family. You have been with us all these years, and it has been hard for you. Mom and Dad know it in their hearts. "Father Gu patted his son's shoulder and said.
Mrs. Gu had already made up her mind. She wanted to separate so much. It should be a good feeling to carry the family's money and food by herself, right?
Although things are good now, she doesn't want to live under the control of her mother-in-law for the rest of her life, so she gently tugged at Brother Gu's pants, frantically hinting that he agreed.
Brother Gu hesitated for a moment.
"During the years of famine and the communal dining system, our family relied entirely on the salary sent back by the second son, so your mother and I did favor him when it came to marrying a wife. We admit that.
But you know that his betrothal money, and the money he later gave out to buy a house and clean up, were all saved from the money he sent back over the years.
We are all made of flesh and blood. Your mother and I are always thinking about you. Life was hard before and we had no spare money, so there was no other way for us to live together.
The economic situation has gradually improved in recent years, and the amount of money distributed has increased year by year. After deducting the living expenses throughout the year, I have also saved some money.
If you want to split it up, we'll use the money to build you a brick house. Even though you and your wife only have two daughters, if you take good care of them, you won't have any trouble finding a good home in the future. You'll also have a skill, so you won't have to worry about your life for the rest of your life. Your mother and I will be relieved too." Father Gu said with deep emotion.
Children are a debt. Although it is sometimes inevitable that we cannot take care of everything, parents all love their children.
Brother Gu was also very touched. Although he didn't say it, he sometimes felt that his parents were more partial to the second brother's family. It's not that he didn't mind, but as the eldest brother, he was used to giving in to his younger siblings.
Unexpectedly, his parents actually thought a lot about him. This grown man couldn't help but burst into tears for a moment.
"Dad..." I had a lot of things I wanted to say, but when they came to my lips I couldn't stop crying and couldn't say anything.
Seeing her husband like this, Mrs. Gu was afraid that he would say that he had lost the brick and tile house he had obtained, so she immediately rushed to speak: "Thank you very much, Mom and Dad. Don't worry, we will separate the family but not the house. After we build the big tile house, you can still live with us. Tingchuan and I will take care of you in your old age."
She is also smart. The two old people can still work, and her father-in-law has good skills and earns a lot of money every year. She says she will provide for their retirement, but in fact it is still unclear who will provide for whom.
Mother Gu was well aware of her thoughts and pouted, "Your father and I will not be living together with you guys anymore. This old house was built by your father when we got married. I've lived here for half my life and I can't leave."
Brother Gu saw that his parents really wanted to separate, and his wife also wanted to separate and had mentioned it to him many times in private, so it would be a good idea to take this opportunity to separate.
My parents have helped our family a lot over the years. I have received little care for the two children of my second brother. My eldest and second daughter were raised by my mother when they were young. It is indeed time for them to live an easier life, so he finally agreed to the decision to divide the family.
Mother Gu took out a box containing a stack of money.
"Since the second son went to the army, he has sent money home for seven years, a total of 840 yuan. In the first few years, there was famine and the family was poor. The eldest son wanted to get married and Tinghua wanted to go to school, so we spent all the money sent by the second son, a total of nearly 300 yuan. It can be said that it was the second son who supported our family.
Of the remaining five hundred and four, two hundred was used for his marriage. When they separated that year, he also spent dozens of dollars on buying a mud house in the village and purchasing some things.
He still had about 300 yuan left, and this money should be returned to the second son. The year they separated, we only bought him an old mud house and didn't give him a penny. At that time, your father and I were worried that his wife would spend it recklessly, so we helped save it and told the eldest son about it." Mother Gu calculated it one by one.
Brother Gu felt a little embarrassed. When he got married, his family was extremely poor and even the betrothal gift came from his younger brother's allowance. He felt really embarrassed when he thought about it now.
So he immediately nodded in agreement: "It should be returned to the second brother."
Mrs. Gu also knew that the money had nothing to do with her, so she nodded and agreed to give it.
Mother Gu put the cloth bag containing 300 yuan aside and said, "The rest is our family's savings over the years. It was only in the past few years that we really started to have extra money. In the first few years, we saved a total of 320 yuan, and we just received 432 yuan this year, a total of 752 yuan.
Your father and I have discussed that you should use this money to repair your house first. If there is any money left, we will split it equally and then officially separate from now on.
With this house as your back, you can work hard for the rest of your life and your life will be fine. Your father and I will be relieved.
Big brother, your dad and I say we care about the second brother, but in fact, you are the one who really benefits, and you know it in your heart.
Over the years, the second brother has earned everything by himself, without spending a penny from us. We live with you and have supported you a lot. Your father and I earn a lot of work points every year, so how much can we two old people eat?
The future depends on you. Your father and I are old and want to live a more relaxed life. We used to be afraid that if we separated you, your life would be difficult. But now society is getting better and better. If you work hard, you won’t have too bad a time.”
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