In the evening, as soon as Xu Lixia got home from get off work, she went to the kitchen to check on the dinner preparations.
Fortunately, all three sisters in this family have been doing chores since they were young; it's not a matter of whether they know how to do it or not, but whether they want to or not.
"Why is all the food cold? Wasn't it hot before?" At the dinner table, Zhan Hongyu looked at the vegetables in front of him that were completely cold, his face full of displeasure.
“Eating cold food in the dead of winter is bad for your health, little one, don’t eat it. I’ll have your second sister heat it up.” Xu Lixia looked at Zhan Hongyu with concern and gestured to Zhan Chunyun to heat up the food. “From now on, cook like the third brother. Prepare all the ingredients first, and then cook them after we get home. If you can’t cook, can’t you watch? The third brother is younger than you, but he cooks better than you.”
Thinking about what she was going to say later, Zhan Chunyun didn't refute it and immediately got up to heat up the dishes.
Since everything was already cooked, after heating the pan, I just stir-fried it a couple of times and then scooped it up. In less than two minutes, it was time to eat again.
Seeing that everyone was almost finished eating, Zhan Chunyun quickly stuffed two big mouthfuls into her bowl, finished the rice in her bowl, and then sat up straight on the stool.
Taking a deep breath, he said, "Dad, Mom, I have something to say."
Zhan Zhiqiang and Xu Lixia glanced at her, but continued eating, picking up food for themselves without saying yes or no.
Despite her reluctance, Zhan Chunyun said, "I don't want to go to the countryside."
“Your mother and I have no choice. Your younger sister and brother are still in school, and we can’t give you our jobs.” Zhan Zhiqiang knew that many working families had given their jobs to their children so that they wouldn’t have to go to the countryside, but he was unwilling to do so.
He is currently a level four fitter at Jiangcheng Machinery Factory, earning 55 yuan a month; Xu Lixia earns 32 yuan a month. Whether it's him or Xu Lixia, having given their jobs to their children, they both have to start as apprentices/temporary workers, which reduces their wages by more than half. If it were Zhan Hongyu, there would be room for negotiation, but only negotiation.
"I didn't want either of your jobs." She was also aware of her own limitations; even Zhan Hongyu might not get a job, so she had never even considered it.
"So what are you thinking?" Xu Lixia didn't know what the second son was up to. "Yesterday, Officer Lin made it clear that if you don't volunteer, you won't be assigned to any particular place. I heard that some places have a lot of sandstorms and you can't take a shower even once a year. You'll have a hard time if you're assigned there."
“Yes, Second Sister, what Officer Lin said yesterday was very good. You are a high school student. After you go to the countryside, you will definitely be able to make a name for yourself in the rural areas with your knowledge.” Zhan Hongyu still had the passion from Officer Lin’s “speech” yesterday. Yesterday he couldn’t wait to go to the countryside, and today he could still persuade others to go to the countryside.
"If it's so good, why don't you go? You always refuse to go back to your hometown, let alone go to the countryside!" Zhan Chunyun was already in a bad mood. Of the family, she was the only one who wanted to go to the countryside. Her third son used to be a quiet person, but recently he has become more "shrewd." Her fourth son is the treasure of the family. Even though the whole family went to the countryside, he would never go. Now he's making sarcastic remarks.
As soon as Zhan Chunyun finished speaking, Xu Lixia objected: "Speak freely, why bring up your brother? Your brother is still so young, so what if he doesn't want to go to the countryside? He doesn't need to go to the countryside in the first place."
"Speak properly. What exactly do you mean? You've been arguing for so long. If you don't speak properly, we're going to sleep." Zhan Zhiqiang was unwilling to listen to his youngest son's nonsense about going to the countryside. Didn't he, having come from the countryside himself, know whether going to the countryside was good or not?
"What I mean is..." Seeing that her parents were getting anxious, Zhan Chunyun quickly said what she had been thinking about all night: "Isn't my older sister getting married soon?" As she said this, she glanced cautiously at Zhan Chunhua, "After the wedding, she won't have to go to the countryside anymore... I was thinking of transferring my older sister's job to me, so I won't have to go to the countryside anymore."
"Impossible!" Zhan Chunhua immediately refused upon hearing that she was after her job. "Absolutely not! I won't agree!"
"Big sister, don't be so heartless." Seeing her older sister refuse, Zhan Chunyun immediately stepped forward, grabbed her arm, and pleaded, "I can forgo my salary and give you all of it. You can earn a salary without going to work, how about that?"
"Not good." Zhan Chunhua wasn't stupid. They might say nice things now, but once the job was given to her, it wouldn't be up to her to decide. In this family, no one could be trusted. She'd rather not get married than be without a job.
"Oh, sister, I'm just using your job as a temporary solution." Seeing her sister's straightforward refusal, she panicked a little and quickly tried to make amends: "I'll keep looking for a job later. I graduated from high school, so the job I find will definitely be better than the one I have now. I'll give you the job I find then, how about that?"
Hearing her say that, she was indeed a little tempted, but she still firmly refused: "No, I don't agree!" Everything else is just empty talk, but the work she gives out is real.
"Sister! You're my own sister, you raised me yourself. I'm about to be sent to the countryside, what's wrong with using your job to tide me over? Why are you being so stingy? I've already said I'll give you all my salary, and I'll give you all my salary when I find a better job, why don't you still agree? Can't you just care about your sister?"
"You know I'm your eldest sister. I didn't continue my studies after graduating from elementary school so I could take care of you, the third brother, and the fourth brother. I raised you all. And now you're trying to take advantage of my job? Zhan Chunyun, you're really something."
Zhan Chunlan and Zhan Hongyu exchanged a glance, and seeing that the conflict had spread to them, they waved their hands repeatedly: "No, elder sister, we are very grateful for your care."
"This is none of your business, Zhan Chunlan. Go and clear the table and wash the dishes!" Xu Lixia quickly sent them away when she saw that they were in the way.
Zhan Chunlan: But it's not my turn to wash the dishes today!
After glancing at the battle situation on the desktop, she decided to give up, lest she get herself into trouble.
Once inside the kitchen, Zhan Chunlan moved slowly and gently, as if afraid of making the slightest noise and being unable to hear the conversation in the living room.
Looking at her stubborn older sister, Zhan Chunyun felt helpless. She had thought a lot yesterday. If her sister still didn't agree, she would offer her all her salary. If her sister still didn't agree, she would offer her a good job in the future. This was all she could offer, but her sister still wouldn't agree.
She didn't understand. Her younger sister was about to be sent to the countryside. If she had a job, she wouldn't have to go. She knew how hard life was in the countryside. Why couldn't her sister feel sorry for her? She wouldn't lose anything.
Zhan Chunhua became even more convinced of one idea: it's better to rely on yourself than on others!
If she hadn't gone to such lengths to find work back then, she would have gone to the countryside too. Now she has a job, her parents want her salary, and her younger sister is eyeing it too. No matter how nice the words are, or how big the promises are, if you can't actually have it, it's all empty talk. This is her only means of livelihood, and no one can take it away from her.
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