Chapter 435: Peaceful Years
When Zhuang's mother finished speaking and no one responded, she continued:
"If I can go to the US next year, no, it should be this year. It would be great if I could come back to celebrate the New Year this year."
"Yes, yes, by then all your and dad's illnesses will be cured. It won't do if they don't! Because you have to take care of his life. You can't let your eldest brother do everything like he does now. After all, your eldest brother has to go to work during the day and has no time to feed him." Zhuang Hualin couldn't help but retorted.
Zhuang's mother rolled her eyes at Zhuang Hualin and said, "He's such a grown-up, why should I take care of him? I just don't know what kind of job he can find when he comes back..."
Zhuang Hualin sneered again:
"Mom, he's a grown man, that's his own thing to think about, not yours. He's been in there for eight or nine years, and he hasn't even figured out what to do when he gets out. What else do you expect him to do?"
Let's see how he has reformed in there! If he has reformed and works diligently, he will have no problem supporting himself, but if he remains the same, then I think I can only rely on you.
Why don't you just use your salary to support him until the day you leave? Then my brother will be there for you! My brother will continue to support him, and when he leaves, there will be nothing we can do. He can handle the rest of his life on his own. Hey, let me make it clear first, this is none of my business! I'm speaking to my family."
When Mr. Zhuang heard this, he became angry and put down his chopsticks.
Zhuang's mother was also unhappy: "Hua Lin, your brother has suffered so much in there, and as a sister, it's ok for you not to feel sorry for him, but why are you so sarcastic?"
"Eat, eat." Zhuang Chaoying didn't help either side, but interrupted their conversation.
Pengfei immediately responded: "This bean sprout is delicious, Mom, you like it the most, eat it."
As he spoke, Pengfei picked up some bean sprouts with chopsticks and put them into Zhuang Hualin's bowl.
But since the topic was brought up, Zhuang's mother did not intend to stop. She continued:
"I think Ganmei has changed a lot. He has suffered a lot over the years and will definitely cherish his future. But with this stain on his reputation, I'm afraid it will be difficult for him to get a job in a private factory..."
"Go to the mountains to plant medicinal herbs, to raise aquatic products... Oh, I also heard from my sister-in-law that she was young and uneducated and couldn't find a job, so she followed others to pick lotus roots. The work was hard and no one wanted to do it, but the wages were not low!" Zhuang Hualin said seriously.
"It's okay to work as a porter, carrying rice or cement. Meals are provided and you can have enough to eat." Xiangdong added that he is very strong and used to earn some money by doing labor to supplement his family, but later he had more and more physical injuries and had to give up.
In short, it's all hard work, either tiring or in a bad environment.
Zhuang's mother waved her hands hurriedly, "That won't work. Growing herbs and raising smuggled goods are all in remote places, where the food and accommodation are very poor. He can't be a porter, even worse. He's not even half the size of Xiangdong, how can he carry anything?"
"Mom, if you have something to say, just say it. Whether you are tired or not, let me be frank. I have no money to give you and I can't do anything to help you. Don't count on me." Zhuang Hualin picked up a piece of the few pieces of meat in the bowl and gave it to Xiangdong, and picked up another piece for Pengfei.
Zhuang's mother thought the same thing, so she said:
"I was thinking, why don't we open a small shop? It doesn't require a lot of investment, it's not complicated, and we don't have to work for others and look up to others. We can open it for a while, and when the beauty comes out, we can start right away."
Zhuang Hualin looked at Zhuang Chaoying.
Zhuang Chaoying took a deep breath and said:
"Mom, I think we should forget about this. First of all, it's still early. What if she has her own ideas after she gets out of the US?"
Secondly, even if you want to open a shop now, my dad is like this, and your health is only so good, who will do the work? It's not just sitting there selling things, there are many other things to do! Buying in goods, returning goods, displaying goods, which one is not a problem? You can't say that I have to help you do these things after get off work during the day!
That's definitely not possible! I have my own things to do at night. I have to write a book! Besides, I can't do everything at night!
Finally, if you say the investment is small and not complicated, that's because you don't know anything. If the investment is small, anyone can open one. Then why aren't there small shops everywhere? It's because some people can't afford to open one or it's not easy to make money!
It's not complicated. Let's not talk about other things. Just finding the source of goods is not a matter of one or two days. Do you know where to buy the goods? Do you know who has the lowest purchase price? Do you know how much you can sell it for to make money? Do you know that some things have a time limit? You can't even recognize all the words on the certificate. How can you do these things?
Do you think you buy things from state-owned stores and then sell them in your store? If you are more expensive than state-owned stores, who will buy from you? If you are cheaper than state-owned stores, how can you make money?
Oh, just look at Old Wang across the alley, sitting in front of his shop chatting everyday, looking quite comfortable, right? Anyone comes in to take things, collect money, and give change. Don’t you know that his sons are too busy to keep up? It’s just that Old Wang is old and doesn’t ask him to do those things!”
Zhuang's mother pursed her lips and said, "Give it a try! We can learn it little by little."
"Then you have to rent a shop first. Rent is not money! Don't always think about spending your pension! How many people are there who are so rich and yet open a shop?" Zhuang Chaoying said heavily.
Speaking of money, Zhuang's mother said, "Your father's and my pension plus a little bit from you, and..."
Zhuang Hualin knew that she was about to be mentioned, so she immediately pinched Xiangdong's thigh.
Xiangdong groaned and looked at Zhuang Hualin, who was winking at him.
Xiangdong understood that the two of them had agreed before that if Zhuang Hualin gave him a hint, he would have to take action.
So his face changed, he frowned and pretended to be fierce, and put the bowl on the table with great dissatisfaction.
As luck would have it, Zhuang's mother disliked him and gave him a bowl with a chip and cracks. He was very strong, so the blow was not heavy, but the bowl broke into two with a crisp sound, and the rice scattered on the table.
The room was dead silent.
Zhuang's mother looked at Xiangdong nervously.
Pengfei swallowed his saliva and said, "May you be safe every year."
After saying that, he ran into the kitchen, got another bowl, and helped his father put the rice on the table back into the bowl.
"Xiangdong, don't be anxious. I know. Didn't you just hear me and my mother say that we have no money? The money is all in your hands. I don't have it even if I want it!" Zhuang Hualin continued.
Zhuang's mother frowned and wanted to say something but swallowed it back.
She looked at Zhuang Chaoying, but she didn't expect him to lower his head and eat. Then he said vaguely, "I don't have any either."
Zhuang's mother asked anxiously: "You get paid every month and save money every month, how come you have no money left? Where did the money go?"
"Mom, why are you more anxious than me about where my money went? My money is deposited for a death date and cannot be taken. I will not touch this money and will leave it for Tunan to use for his marriage." Zhuang Chaoying said firmly.
Zhuang Hualin gave his brother an approving look.
"Ah! Leave it to Tunan!" exclaimed Zhuang's mother.
"Mom! Why are you making such a fuss? Who else should I give my money to if not Tunan?" Zhuang Chaoying's voice became louder.
"No, you are not..."
"No matter how much he makes trouble, I'm still his father, and he's my son! This little money isn't good enough. I need to save more. Xiaoting will be older in a few years, and I'll have to save even more. Otherwise, why am I working so hard to write a book?"
At this time, Zhuang Chaoying's expression was very serious, and he didn't seem to be joking.
Mother Zhuang didn't want to lose face. She was confident that she could force Zhuang Chaoying to submit. Hearing this, she said awkwardly:
"Yes, the child has grown up and will soon start a family, but look at how capable you are. When you get married..."
"Mom, it's not that I'm capable, but you're unwilling to give. Gan Meisan turns a ring, and I only have a thermos and a washbasin. I don't want Tunan's wife to blame him for having such a stingy father. Because I'm already so far behind Aling, and I don't want them to look down on me."
Mother Zhuang pursed her lips and shut up.
The rest of the meal was unusually quiet.
As soon as they finished their meal, Zhuang Hualin and his family of three immediately fled from the Zhuang family.
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