Cuihua hadn't expected that mentioning going to see a play would cause so much trouble, and she felt a little embarrassed: "Sweeties, how about I make you some malted milk powder?"
Five and a half jin and six jin shook their heads at the same time: "Milk, you drink it yourself, and give some to Great-Grandma too."
Yan Xiaonan smiled, got up and went to the kitchen to make malted milk powder. Now there was more malted milk powder than they could drink. It was a gift from her uncle, a gift from Ai Dang, a gift from Chen'er's parents, and a gift that Yan Ge and Yan Zheng specially bought.
When Yan Xiaonan came out carrying the malted milk powder, she saw Dongnan and Xinan sending money to their mother for her retirement. A thought struck her: since she had brought her parents and grandmother to the capital three or four months ago, Dongnan and Xinan had not sent any money for their retirement.
Dongnan took out twenty yuan from his pocket: "Mom, I know that Ai Dang will definitely invite us to his wedding, so I didn't send you your retirement money. I wanted to hand it to you in person."
Southwest quickly pulled out twenty yuan and handed it to Cuihua: "Mom, this is mine. I feel more at ease handing the money to you personally."
Cuihua was reluctant to accept the money, as she had saved several thousand yuan, and her two children had worked hard, while they still had two more children to raise. However, Yan Xiaoqiang took the money, saying, "It's only right to give money to our parents for their old age; you have that responsibility."
It's only right to raise children to provide for you in your old age. Besides, all the money in our family comes from Nan Nan. Without Nan Nan, would you even dream of buying a house in Beijing? We have a lot of savings now, and apart from the necessary household expenses, the rest all belong to Nan Nan.
Therefore, we must accept the money our son gives us; it is their responsibility and obligation. We cannot refuse to accept their retirement money just because we have money ourselves; that would be unfair to Nan Nan.
Cuihua immediately understood what her husband meant. Yes, the children should provide for their retirement. They couldn't just push the responsibility onto Nannan because they had burdens. How hard must it be for Nannan? Cuihua wanted to slap herself a few times.
Six-pound and five-and-a-half-pound children saw this and remembered it in their hearts: "Mom and Dad, when I grow up and earn money, I will take care of you when you are old."
Xuemei and Tang Xiaoling felt warm inside. This must be how the Yan family's family education came about. One generation supports the next. Caring for one's parents in their old age is a virtue. Everyone will grow old. This virtue should be passed down from generation to generation so that parents can have someone to rely on in their old age.
Yan Erqiang looked enviously at the money in Yan Xiaoqiang's hand, and suddenly said to Yan Zheng, "Yan Zheng, you didn't give me a penny during your six years in the army. Why don't you give me some money for my retirement?"
Yan Zheng sneered: "I served in the army for six years and saved up five hundred yuan by living frugally. It's not even enough to pay back the money you owe your grandmother for her old age. How dare you ask me for your old age money? Why don't you have a job?"
Yan Erqiang was speechless. These two things were like a tight band around his head, and just a little recitation of the incantation could make him regret it for the rest of his life. Today, Yan was reciting both tight band incantations perfectly.
Just as Yan Erqiang was about to lose his temper, Yan Daqiang spoke up: "Second brother, you have no job and no money right now, but you must find a job when you go back. Before you go back, I will give you thirty yuan. If you still can't find a job after you've used up these thirty yuan, then you can fend for yourself."
Yan Erqiang didn't know how to describe his current feelings. There was hatred, regret, pain, and bitterness. All the joys and sorrows, the sweet and bitter experiences of life, except for joy and anger and sweet and bitter, were rushing towards him, and he could no longer bear it.
He walked unsteadily towards his house, his back already showing signs of age. Yan Yanzheng watched Yan Erqiang leave and suddenly felt a pang of sadness. How could he really not take care of him in his old age? He just didn't want him to be a parasite.
Southeast had never had a good impression of Yan Erqiang. He snorted and picked up Fubao, running towards his room: "Mom and Dad, I'm taking the child to sleep for a while."
Southwest asked Tang Xiaoling to take the child back to the room to sleep, as she wanted to chat with Nannan.
Xuemei was also very sleepy, but thinking about how many people would be eating that evening, she felt she had to help her mother: "Mom, I'll cook with you."
Cuihua felt a little embarrassed. Her daughter-in-law had come all this way and she hadn't even let her rest properly. However, she really needed Xuemei's help. Xuemei was always efficient and quick when she worked. Before long, the kitchen was filled with the sounds of clanging and banging.
"Xuemei, how are you doing in the county town? Are you settling in?" Cuihua asked.
"Mom, the house in the county town was allocated by the school, and the furniture was also rented from the school. In winter, we don't use a kang (heated brick bed), but a coal stove for heating. Fortunately, the house is small, so it's still manageable. Also, cooking and stir-frying are done in a communal kitchen, so everyone knows what your family is eating today. It's much more comfortable to live in the house in our hometown." Xue Mei poured out all her dissatisfaction.
Cuihua was startled: "Xuemei, is the communal kitchen you're talking about like the educated youth settlements back home, where there's only one stove and everyone takes turns cooking?"
"No, Mother, it's a kitchen where several families cook, and everyone uses their own coal stove to cook rice." Xuemei explained while gesturing to Cuihua, who felt that Xuemei and the others had a very difficult time.
If I eat well, I'm afraid of getting conjunctivitis; if I eat poorly, not only will I not get enough nutrition, but I'm also worried about being laughed at. What should I do?
Xuemei told Cuihua, "Mother, Dongnan is writing his thesis. If all goes well, he'll definitely get a raise by the end of the year. Also, Nannan wants us to find a shop near the school so we can sell some daily necessities next year and have some income."
Cuihua's eyes lit up: "Nannan said so? Then it must be right. Have you done it?"
Xuemei smiled. Both her mother and Dongnan had said the same thing: "Mother, we've found it. It's a small courtyard with shops facing the street on the outside, three rooms in the back, and a small courtyard in the middle with a well. The only problem is the price; they're asking for 800. Dongnan is negotiating with them, and if they can get it down to around 600, we'll buy it."
Cuihua clicked her tongue in amazement. "So expensive! In the county town alone, a courtyard costs eight hundred, while in our Mushroom Village, a row of houses only costs a little over two hundred, and there's still so much empty land. We can build houses whenever we want in the future."
"Southeast said that 700 is the highest the other party can sell it for. Luckily, Grandma gave us 500 yuan as a family division fee, which came in handy this time. Grandma is really wise." Xuemei thought that she and Southeast had saved up 300 yuan over the years by living frugally. Without the money Grandma gave them, it would have been impossible to buy this house.
"Then let's buy them. We can sell some of the things the students need and make a profit. It'll be a bit tiring, though. Fu Bao is still so young, he's not weaned yet." Cuihua supported Xue Mei.
"No, I'll wait until she's weaned in ten months. By then, we should be able to buy the house. I'll tidy it up, and once she's weaned, I'll send her to daycare. That way, I'll be able to free up my hands to work." Xuemei told Cuihua about her plans.
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