Chapter 43 Firewood and Coal Money
Zhao Fengxiu glanced at them and said irritably, "What do you want to be praised for? You need praise for doing a little work!"
Do you need praise when you eat? Do you need praise when you poop or pee? What a big baby! Don't you use pine needles?
"Not eating or bathing? We're telling you to collect pine needles and only carry pine needles? Five baskets, why not five baskets of firewood!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Jianguo trembled.
"Mom, gathering pine needles is tiring enough. The nearby mountains are all other people's land, so we'll have to go further away if we want to find them."
Dad took us more than ten kilometers away! We worked from morning till night, our feet were so tired, and we only had five baskets left.”
Liu Jianbang chimed in, "Yes, Mom, don't be so picky, be content."
I finally got a day off, and now I have to do this? Why go through all this trouble? Nobody's family is like ours; we were so embarrassed on the way back.
Everyone keeps asking us where we got it. Don't we have any pride?
Even Liu Shiping said, "Hey, wife, why do you have to do this? It's not like we don't have the money. Why not just buy it? Why go through all this trouble?"
Rejected, Zhao Fengxiu put her hands on her hips and said, "I asked you to go out, and you have so many excuses! Let me tell you!"
The weather is getting a bit colder now, and the price of firewood and coal is going up! Your Liu family's hometown isn't nearby, and they don't farm anymore; only your third uncle's family is still farming! Without fields, land, or mountains, what will you eat if you don't gather or forage?
"Who's going to pay for this? Who's going to pay for it? Do you expect me to pay for it for you? Don't even think about it!"
Liu Jianguo said, "Didn't our family pay 30 yuan? Jianbang and the others each paid 20 yuan. With that much money, where can't we buy something?"
Zhao Fengxiu said, "That's just money for your food, drink, and household expenses! It's not money for the rising price of firewood and coal! And it's certainly not money for your parents' retirement!"
That little bit of money isn't even enough to support you all! Why should I, your mother, pay for your expenses? Dream on! All of your uncle's children readily contribute money without any discussion, unlike you.
I've urged you three times, begged you four times, and you still expect me to force you! And you still haven't handed over everything; you're holding back a little!
"If you don't pay, get out of here! Don't eat or drink anymore, I can't afford to support you all!"
The five of them sighed helplessly.
Liu Jianbang said, "Mom, so what exactly do you want?"
Zhao Fengxiu waved her hand and said, "Either you pay for firewood and coal, or you go and collect pine needles and firewood for me every week! One week for pine needles and one week for firewood. If you can't get it, don't go home."
I can't afford to serve so many rich guys!
Liu Shiping was at a loss. "Alright, honey, you can manage the shop on your own. I'll get it for you every week."
Liu Jianguo felt like the sky had fallen. "Dad, what are you saying? I'm no good! I'm a teacher! Do you know how people point fingers at me on the street? Don't I have any dignity?"
Zhao Fengxiu immediately replied, "Five yuan!"
Liu Jianguo was shocked: "You're robbing me!"
Zhao Fengxiu said, "If you split it equally, it's only one yuan per person per month for your family, which is already very cheap. If that's not enough, then it'll be 10 yuan. Otherwise, you'll have to rely on your bones to get through the wet winter!"
Liu Jianguo immediately fell silent, his face darkening as he turned away.
Zhao Fengxiu then looked at the others, "Are you going to hand it over or not? If not, go back to gathering pine needles and firewood! This is just the beginning; I didn't expect you all to be so useless!"
Seeing his father do nothing, Liu Jianbang gritted his teeth and said, "I'll pay it too."
Zhao Fengxiu said, "Three pieces!"
Liu Jianbang said, "Three yuan it is! I'm not going! Let the fourth and fifth brothers go. Anyway, they are the strongest and most capable. They're still standing."
After saying that, they both lay down on the spot.
Liu Jiancheng said, "We can't do it either! Dad is only thinking about what's in front and not what's behind. My second brother has been suffering from back pain and other aches and pains the whole way!"
Third Brother is always either pooping or peeing! It's just me and Jiangong cleaning up their messes!
If they're not going, then we're not going either!
Zhao Fengxiu spoke up, "You two also get three yuan."
Liu Jiancheng was dumbfounded. "No way? Mom, I just found a laborer, and I'm really going to have to pay you out of my own pocket, pay you for the house."
Liu Jiangong's head was buzzing; he felt helpless whenever money was mentioned.
"I don't have any money either. I've been working for the mechanic for free these past few days. I'll give him another ten yuan a month if he finishes his work, but I can't even afford to pay my household expenses. Mom, can you please not be so heartless?"
Zhao Fengxiu said, "Are you heartless? Not as heartless as you! We've raised four of you uncles all these years and you haven't given us anything! You're all grown up, and all you do is pick up a basket of pine needles a day! What are you going to do about carrying firewood?"
Your third uncle's children are all capable and good at making money, and they are filial to your third uncle without hesitation! And what about me?
"You're fifty years old and still doing this? Do you have any conscience?"
Zhao Fengxiu's retort left them speechless, and they had no choice but to hand over the money.
That night.
Liu Jianmei was the only one who hadn't submitted hers yet; she and Liu Jianli were in charge of preparing the food.
At the dinner table, the father and his five sons looked resentful, were covered in dirt, and seemed uncomfortable, fidgeting with each other.
But because they were so tired and hungry, they wolfed down the food as soon as it was served!
Zhao Fengxiu questioned them about their work. Apart from Liu Jianguo being good and Liu Jianbang being okay, the other three were not doing well!
Liu Jianmei has still not been found!
Liu Jiancheng and Liu Jiangong were from the same family. Liu Jiancheng had found a better master who was willing to take on apprentices.
Liu Jiangong would have to work for free for a while to earn about ten yuan a month!
In the evenings and at night, they have to help carry things onto the truck to barely earn 20 yuan. Now, each of them has to pay three yuan!
After clarifying the situation, Zhao Fengxiu didn't care and went straight to Liu Jianmei, "What do you say? You haven't found a job, and you can't even gather pine needles and firewood? What can you do?"
Liu Jianmei hung her head, feeling wronged. "Mom, I tried my best. I searched everywhere, but they all don't want me."
She even...wanted to introduce me to some shameful things! I refused! Mom, please give me some more time.
Zhao Fengxiu left no room for negotiation: "I'll give you three more days. If you still can't find work, I'll personally arrange something for you to do."
Upon hearing this, the other three sons were filled with envy, and they almost broke their chopsticks from biting them!
Liu Jianmei has managed the shop and is so naive; she's very likely to take over the shop management. She's a highly sought-after person!
Because when Liu Jianmei was minding the shop, there were always more customers buying oil!
Lin Jingyi quickly said, "Mom, I just remembered something. It seems that Jianguo School needs someone who can organize data. I wonder if Jianmei can do the job."
If she wanted, Jian Guo could take her to try it out. The job wasn't difficult, and it was easy and safe. The salary was only a dozen yuan, not much, but if Jian Mei was diligent and gained the boss's favor, promotion and a raise would be a piece of cake!
Maybe I can earn 19 or 20 yuan, which should be enough to cover household expenses and the cost of firewood and coal. Isn't that right, Jianguo?
Liu Jianguo glanced at her calmly, "Many people are competing for it. Even if Jianmei goes, it might not be hers."
Lin Jingyi said, "Then just tell me if it's true or not? If it is, that's enough! Jianmei is Mom's darling, of course we should do everything we can to help! She's your own sister, aren't you going to do your best to help her?"
Zhao Fengxiu looked suspicious.
What's wrong with Lin Jingyi today? Did the sun rise in the west?
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