112. Work-family conflict
"When are you free?" Ning Jin asked.
"It'll be another month or so. My experiment has just started. What's wrong? Is there any plan?" Su Yu asked.
“Summer is almost here, and your dad still needs to go see a doctor, have you forgotten? He’s waiting for your message at home. If you can’t find the time, I’ll take him. I won’t come over next time I have time off.” Ning Jin gently pinched her ear. She’s been incredibly busy lately, and she only moved back in after he came. Even then, they only see each other in the evenings. During the day, she’s either in the forest or in the countryside with Xiao Yuan and two female classmates.
"I haven't forgotten." She leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, and took his hand, placing it on her shoulder. "Give me a massage; my neck hurts a bit. My plan is to have Xiao Yuan and Ping An take my dad to Jincheng after a while, once they're on vacation. Otherwise, if I go back to pick him up, take the train to Jincheng, get him a doctor's appointment, and then bring him back, it will take at least ten days. I can't spare that much time."
“Then I’ll take him. His medicine is almost gone, and Dad’s getting a little anxious.” Ning Jin chuckled. After taking medicine for so many years, the old man hardly coughs anymore, but he feels uneasy if he doesn’t take it. He heard that once, his eldest sister took him to stay for a few days, and since she hadn’t brought enough medicine, she told him not to take it that night, but to take it again when they got back to his third sister’s house. He didn’t sleep well all night, and at dawn, he had to go back without even eating, only feeling relieved after drinking the medicine.
"Then take him there and let the old doctor take your pulse and loosen up your bones." Once her neck stopped hurting, she pressed him down on the kang (a heated brick bed) and massaged his muscles and bones. "Your body is too stiff. Tomorrow, come with me to the countryside to dig a pit and get some exercise and sweat it out."
Su Yu pondered for a long time. She didn't want Ning Jin to drive the truck to deliver goods anymore. He had been doing it for more than ten years, and his shoulders and neck were uncomfortable. But she only mentioned it slightly, and he refused, saying that now was the time to make money. If she mentioned it again, he would say that she looked down on him.
Ning Jin only spent a day and a half in Northeast China. Once the goods were loaded onto the truck, he would leave after Lao Wang contacted someone to smuggle the goods. He would only take 30% of the money from the two of them smuggling goods, while Lao Wang would get 70%.
"Dad, I'll take you to see a doctor tomorrow. You can come back to my house with me today, and we'll go straight to the county tomorrow morning." Ning Jin went to her third sister's house to pick up her father-in-law.
"The letter of introduction hasn't been opened yet."
"It's open. I went to find Brother Qingguo, and it's already open." Ning Jin walked into the house, picked up the little girl who used to herd sheep with her grandfather, took out two rubber bands with red beads from his pocket, and asked, "Are they pretty? I think they're very pretty."
“I think it’s pretty too, Uncle. Where did you buy it?” Xiaoya asked, touching the red beads as if she had seen pearls for the first time.
"Someone gave it to me, so I brought it back for you." Last time he came back from the south, he saw a hitchhiker buy a big bag of these things, so he casually took two and brought them to Su Yu. She thought they were too tacky, so he brought them back. Seeing how much the little girl treasured them, he still thought she had good taste.
I had dinner at my third sister's house that night. Her eldest daughter, Xiaoyue, is already married, and Xiaoxing is in high school in the county. She comes home once a week. There are only two adults, two elderly people, and Xiaoya, who is about to graduate from elementary school, at home.
"Xiaoyu is graduating soon. Where will she be assigned to work?" Suhe asked.
"I don't know either. She was among the first batch of students to graduate after the college entrance examination was reinstated. There was no precedent to follow, so I guess she herself didn't know where she would be assigned."
"It would be good if she could be assigned back here. Her parents and siblings are all here, and it would be lively if she came back." Su He frowned. "It's just that she shouldn't have bought a house there in the first place. Job assignments are unpredictable. What will happen to the house when everyone leaves?"
"Eat your food. You didn't even finish elementary school, yet you're worrying about college students." Her husband put a piece of food into her bowl. "Even food can't shut you up. The mother and her two children are all in the same city. Surely one of them will stay. If none of them can stay, they can sell the house. How can they lose money? If the younger sister doesn't buy a house, where will the fifth child sleep? On the street?"
Ning Jin quickly interrupted, "The house isn't expensive, it's fine even if we don't sell it. Let's eat, and after we eat, I'll take Dad back to town."
He glanced at his third sister, and surprisingly, she wasn't angry. If he had spoken to Su Laoyao in that tone, he would have been beaten so badly he couldn't even get out of bed.
After eating, Ning Jin walked towards town with Old Man Su. Old Man Su asked, "Xiao Wu, are you making money driving a truck now?"
"What's wrong? Don't worry, Dad, we have enough money for your medical treatment. Although I'm the only one earning money in our family now, I'm also the only one spending it. Xiaoyu and Xiaoyuan are being supported by the school, so we don't lack money." He thought the old man was going to give him the money from selling the sheep again.
"Don't try to fool me. You think you can hide what you're doing behind my back from others? Ever since your youngest son married you, your family's food and supplies, even with two more people working, wouldn't be enough to make ends meet for half a month with all the meat and oil coupons we've been given." Old Man Su glared at his youngest son-in-law and continued to press, "Do you make a lot of money smuggling goods on the side?"
Ning Jin coughed and chuckled twice, pretending to be stupid, and said, "Dad, I handed over all the money I earned, I didn't do anything bad."
"What, would I rob you of your money?" Old Su laughed angrily, insisting on getting to the bottom of it: "How much do you earn in a month?"
The man sighed inwardly and said truthfully, "Two years ago, I could earn two or three hundred a month. Starting this year, there are more people doing small businesses and more people buying goods from both the north and south. Besides my salary, I can earn more than five hundred a month. Dad, this is illegal. Don't make me take any of my nephews or nephews-in-law with me in this car. Young people are impulsive. They can easily slip out after a few drinks and some boasting. If that happens, I'll end up in jail. I won't do it."
"You've misjudged me. Everyone has their own fate. I'm just an old man, I don't concern myself with the affairs of young people." Talking while walking is tiring, and Old Man Su couldn't walk any further, so he sat down to rest.
He picked up a twig and scratched it on the ground, frowned and pondered for a while, then said, "Xiao Wu, money can't be earned enough, people are the most important. I've calculated that before Lao Yao went to university, the two of you could save at least a month's salary. Let's say fifty, over the years that would be four or five thousand. Add to that what you've earned in the last three years, and you'd have a total of fourteen or fifteen thousand. And that's the minimum. You two definitely have more than that."
Ning Jin shook his head. "I really don't know how much. I hand over my salary as soon as I get paid. I ask Xiao Yu for money no matter how much I spend. All the savings are in her name. I've never worried about it."
"I didn't ask you for money, look at how eager you are to distance yourself." Old Su glared and threw the tree branch in his hand at him.
Ning Jin shrank back and dodged, then explained with a smile, "I'm clarifying, not trying to deny it. I really don't know what you're saying. Dad, if you're going to settle accounts, you should settle them with Su Laoyao."
Old Man Su stared at him without saying a word. He had witnessed his youngest daughter's methods before. It was impossible for her to lie about having money in her hands, but he didn't believe that all the money was in her possession. Besides, his son-in-law was doing side jobs, and whether he got paid a lot or a little was entirely up to him. No matter how much he complained about being poor, he couldn't fool this old man. They were both men; who didn't know what the other was thinking?
“I’m not trying to settle accounts with you. I just think that as long as you earn enough money, that’s fine. There are four of you in your family living in two different places. When your youngest child graduates, you might end up living in three different places. Why don’t you change jobs? Go and earn money in one place with your wife and kids.” He revealed his true purpose. He was afraid that if his youngest daughter and her husband were separated for too long, they would develop all sorts of messy thoughts and ruin their family.
“No way. Now I can earn in a month what I used to earn in a year. Everyone else is making money, how can I quit my job and run away? Besides, things are expensive now. There are TVs for sale in the south, they are good things, but they are expensive. If I only take the fixed salary from the factory, it will take me two or three years to afford one.” Ning Jin pulled the old man up. “Let’s get going.”
"I have to criticize you for this. You're too greedy. There are plenty of good things out there. Do you think you can buy them all? I've never even heard of that TV you mentioned. In the past, landlords had hundreds of acres of land, and they could sit at home and still have more food than they could eat. If I thought as much as you, I would be thinking about getting rich every day and dreaming about picking up gold."
"Why aren't you saying anything?" He poked him with his cane.
"Is Father right in his criticism?"
"Stop trying to fool me. I know you don't care, but you need to be careful. You're a husband and a father. You have to take care of your family. You're never home. Be careful, or my daughter might find me another old man to marry you." Old Man Su threatened him angrily. In reality, he was worried that Xiao Wuzi wouldn't be able to control his lust and might do something to betray his daughter in a moment of folly.
When a man suddenly becomes rich, he gets arrogant. His once clear mind seems to be filled with mud. He no longer cares about his family, and the children he cherished become dispensable.
Ning Jin remained silent, wondering if Su Yu's absence this year had caused his father to worry that her heart wasn't at home. Thinking about it, he was quite touched. It seemed his father-in-law was very satisfied with him and had even started giving him pointers behind his daughter's back.
"Father, don't worry, Xiaoyu has no ulterior motives. Besides, both of my children are still tied to her. Where would she find a new son-in-law for you? You can put your mind at ease. Your only son-in-law can be me."
Old Su stared at him like he was an idiot. Fine, he'd better tell his youngest son. Writing a letter would be much more pleasant than talking to him.
However, Ning Jin had already etched the gratitude into his heart. From the moment he left home for Jincheng, he treated Old Man Su better than his own father. Even the old doctor clicked his tongue when he saw him, saying, "Brother, you are blessed. This son-in-law is more filial than your own son."
"Yes, filial piety." Old Man Su had enjoyed the personal care along the way, which dispelled his thoughts of giving advice to his youngest son. With Xiao Wu's undisdainful attitude, he would never go looking for another father-in-law.
"Dad, what do I lack that makes you feel this way?" A composed man entered, looking to be in his early forties, making Ning Jin, who was standing at the door, appear rough and rugged.
“This is my son. I’ll have him take your pulse.” The old doctor stepped aside and said, “I’m getting old and have been cooped up at home for over ten years. I want to go out and travel. From now on, my son will take your pulse whenever you come. I raised him myself, so you don’t need to worry about his medical skills.”
"That's good, that's good. It's good that there's a tradition. It would be a loss if your excellent medical skills weren't passed down," said Old Man Su.
"Countless things from our ancestors have been lost to time, so my skills are nothing special."
This is true, and it's also a pity. Old Man Su didn't respond. If this were to be discussed, it would take three days and three nights to finish. It's better to keep it to himself, lest he get so angry that he can't breathe at night.
After Old Man Su took his pulse, the middle-aged doctor inserted acupuncture needles into him. Ning Jin sat down and said, "Doctor, please take my pulse too, to see if there are any problems. Also, please loosen up my bones. I drive a truck, and when my shoulders and neck hurt, I get irritable and don't want to do anything."
Old Man Su glanced at him upon hearing this, "You don't listen to the advice of your elders."
Ning Jin smiled but didn't reply. Ten or twenty thousand sounded like a lot, but he had two sons who would get married soon after graduation, and he didn't want to prepare a house, the three major items (house, furniture, and dowry) for them. Besides, Su Yu was about to start working and earning money, and he couldn't just quit his job and find an easier one to live off her, could he? He was forty-three, not sixty-three.
"It's too far away. If it were in the same county, I would come for a massage every time I come back from driving." Before, when he was being massaged, it hurt so much that he wanted to roll over onto the bed and run out of the house. Now that he has recovered, he feels relaxed all over, as if he has become four or five years younger.
"I'll give you two acupuncture needles. Your cervical spine isn't very good. If you can't change jobs, try to shake your head often, turn your head with your shoulders, and move around more."
The son-in-law and father-in-law sat facing each other, both covered in dazzling silver needles.
"Xiao Wu, you still need to listen to what I said before: people are more important than money. Right now, you're just like me, all red and pale, smoking like crazy. Don't follow in my footsteps and end up with a medicine bottle in your hand all the time." Old Man Su continued to nag.
"I know, I'll move around more." Ning Jin kept his head still, afraid that the needle in the back of his neck would shift. After thinking it over, he finally agreed, "I'll do this for another four or five years and then I'll quit."
I still need to write to the youngest son; I can't persuade him anymore. Old Man Su looked at this stubborn ox and thought: Everyone says I'm stubborn, and here's another stubborn one. Birds of a feather flock together; my stubborn nature has been passed down.
*
"Su Yu, you'll be going out to work this fall, but it's arranged by the school and is negotiable, not mandatory. Is there anywhere you'd like to go? I was thinking that since you haven't finished your previous thesis report, we can expand the sample size. You can choose a suitable place to do the experiment, and I'll submit it for you."
“I want to go to the shelterbelt areas of the Northeast Shelterbelt, and if possible, I would also like to visit the pasture forest areas. The tree species I chose for my samples are all intended for long-term planting, not the kind that will be cut down for papermaking or other uses once they have grown to maturity,” Su Yu said. “Also, teacher, this thesis should be phased and continuous. The tree species I have chosen so far are mostly common species here. When I go to other places in the future, I will continue to choose tree species to supplement the selection.”
“No problem, feel free to do as you please. As long as you point in the right direction, the more the better.” Teacher Gu took out a pen and filled in the form, then instructed: “The terrain of the protective forest area and the pasture forest area is complicated. They are deep mountains and forests. When you go there, you must be accompanied by a classmate and a forest ranger. Do not go into the mountains alone.”
Su Yu nodded. Even if she had ten times the courage, she wouldn't dare to venture into the deep mountains and forests.
After submitting the application form, Su Yu was just waiting for the school to notify her of the departure time. She received a letter from her father, which Ning Jin had forwarded. She opened it in front of him and said, "Dad is complaining about you. He says you don't listen to your elders and are risking your health for money."
“I knew it was this. When I went back this time, he kept urging me to quit my job and come live with you guys. I didn’t tell him that my household registration didn’t allow it or anything. My dad is just being kind and treating me like his own son.”
"By the way, did you ask your teacher what your job assignment would be after graduation? Would you be assigned here or back?" He thought for a moment, and without waiting for her answer, continued, "It should be here, since there are no forest areas where we live."
"It could also be the northwestern desert, where the situation is even more dire," Su Yu said thoughtfully.
Ning Jin suddenly looked up at her. He was very sensitive to her emotions. "You want to go to the Northwest?" he guessed almost certainly.
“A little.” Su Yu nodded in acknowledgment. She glanced outside and saw that the door was open so she could spot anyone coming in immediately. She whispered, “It’s true that the Northwest needs tree planters more. Another reason is that I want to be away from Xiao Yuan and Ping An. I don’t want to be in the same city as them for the time being.”
The man stared at her incredulously and asked, "Did you two have a fight?"
"No, they're perfect, that's why I want to leave." Su Yu counted on her fingers as she told him, "They're clingy, family-oriented, and always ask for my opinion before doing anything. That won't do. They're almost twenty years old, they can get married after graduation. If they're not independent, how can they support a family?"
“They’ll grow up and be fine. There’s no reason for you to go to the Northwest desert.” Ning Jin advised her, “Once they graduate and get jobs, they won’t be at home anymore. They’ll naturally be able to take charge of the household.”
“One or two years is not enough, and I also want to go to the Northwest.” Well, she said what was on her mind, “My major requires me to travel around. I want to go to the Northwest desert, I want to go to the Loess Plateau. I want to do something real, something tangible, not just a written thesis or sitting in an office drinking tea.”
Ning Jin suddenly thought of her father-in-law. They were truly father and daughter; even across mountains and rivers, he could sense his daughter's thoughts. The old man was right; Su Laoyao's heart had wandered.
"Then what should I do? I can't exactly drive all the way northwest to see you again, can I? Or do you not want to see me anymore? You want me to be independent too?"
"Such a resentful tone," Su Yu bit her lip, suppressing a laugh. "No, you're my man. I could throw away anyone but you. If you want to go to the Northwest, go. If you don't want to go, I'll come back to see you, just like you've come to see me these past few years. Working in the desert will definitely give you more flexible hours. I'll come to see our two sons, and I'll come to see you even more."
"Stop trying to brush me off with 'you're my man.' You've said that to me at least five or ten times, and it's always when you're making unreasonable demands," the man complained.
"Aren't you my man? How can you say I'm just being perfunctory? I've remained chaste for you and haven't had any other men. You're calling my words perfunctory."
"Don't change the subject. You're a college student; I can't beat you at pedantry."
"So what do you want?" Su Yu asked him.
"Do you really have to go?" Ning Jin asked.
Su Yu shook her head, "This is just my intention. Work depends on the country's allocation. I'll be assigned to wherever I'm assigned. Even if I don't go to the Northwest, I can't go home. We'll still be in different places."
Ning Jin remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Forget it, let's just wait for the job assignment. The government assigning jobs is such a good thing that others would beg for."
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