Chapter 99
Ye Fenghua became increasingly angry as she spoke.
"They're dreaming!" she sneered. "I let it go back then, but why should I give them my job now? Even if I don't want to do it, I'd rather give it to someone else than give it to them."
She didn't genuinely want to give up her job to her sister-in-law back then; she was pressured by her whole family until she agreed.
Even after all these years, this matter has remained weighing on her mind, and she has been unable to let it go.
Whenever she is alone, she can't help but wonder what would happen if she hadn't given up her job back then? Would she be living a more comfortable life, without having to worry about every penny?
Ye Fenghua never expected that her family would have such thoughts again after she finally got a job.
It felt like going back to those days, when the whole family pitched in to force her to give up her job to her nephew.
The reasons are almost the same: back then it was to help the older brother get married, now it's to help the nephew get a decent job so he can find a partner in the city.
How could Ye Fenghua possibly agree to that?
Needless to say, this job wasn't assigned to her by the military; it was given to her by Gu Xi.
Just for this reason alone, she absolutely cannot give this job to her nephew from her maternal family. Otherwise, what kind of person would she become? What would Gu Xi think of her? What would others think of her?
Putting that aside, she'll be getting a permanent job after the New Year, with a decent monthly salary. Any normal person would be reluctant to give up their job, even if offered to pay for it. She's a mother with four children to support, and she really doesn't want her children to experience the hardship of not even having money for tuition.
Moreover, her family members had the audacious idea of making her give the job to her nephew unconditionally.
Does she look like such a stupid person?
“I refused them outright,” Ye Fenghua said. “My parents, brother, and sister-in-law all looked very unhappy; they weren’t nearly as welcoming as they were when they came in…”
Ever since she got a job, her family has always been extremely welcoming to her, treating her like a distinguished guest.
Ye Fenghua had previously complained to Gu Xi about this, and their attitude made her feel uneasy.
Looking back now, it seems they probably had this in mind all along, which is why they were so enthusiastic towards her. Once she gives up her job like before, they'll probably revert to their old ways, just like they did back then.
Gu Xi listened silently, then asked, "And then?"
"My parents were furious, so furious they wanted to kick me out and wouldn't even give me a meal... But Lao Miao was still there." Ye Fenghua couldn't help but smile as she said this, "Lao Miao seems quite amiable, but he's from the military after all, how could I really let them kick me out?"
Commander Miao knew that his wife sometimes gave some money to her family to help support them, but since this money was considered as a daughter supporting her parents in their old age, he naturally didn't say anything.
After all, my parents-in-law are old and can't work, so it's only right that their married daughter gives them some money.
Even if they didn't spend the money on themselves, but instead used it to subsidize their sons, that's their business.
Commander Miao naturally couldn't stand by and watch others bully his wife, not even his parents-in-law.
He sat there without saying a word, just staring at his brothers-in-law, making them break out in a cold sweat, so no one dared to say anything.
Ye Fenghua laughed and said, "They always thought Lao Miao was a good-tempered person. How could that be? He just doesn't hold grudges against them for my sake. If they were to kick me out because of this during the New Year, Lao Miao would be the first to object without me even having to say anything."
They ended up having a meal at the wife's parents' house before leaving.
Otherwise, if a married woman returns to her parents' home on the third day of the Lunar New Year and leaves before even having a meal, what will outsiders think of her?
Gu Xi smiled and said, "Fortunately, Commander Miao is here. Commander Miao is on your side."
"That's a must, otherwise I'll make him pay." Ye Fenghua said fiercely, but a smile appeared in her eyes. "Seeing that they didn't dare to utter a sound, I was actually happy."
Commander Miao always seemed to be smiling, and his good temper was so good that even the children felt that their father was gentler and easier to talk to than their mother.
The Ye family, accustomed to Commander Miao's good temper at home, naturally shared this view.
This time, however, Commander Miao turned cold, which startled them.
Commander Miao didn't give the Ye family much face this time, not even his father-in-law and mother-in-law.
Logically speaking, as a daughter, Ye Fenghua should side with her parents who gave her life and raised her, and shouldn't let Commander Miao make such a scene, since these are all her relatives.
But in the end, she didn't say anything, and was actually happy inside.
Ye Fenghua sighed, "Sure enough, I was too stupid back then. I couldn't resist their pressure and foolishly gave up my job. Now I'm not stupid anymore. I'd rather never go back to my parents' home than give my job to my nephew. Even if they make a scene in the army, I'm not afraid."
That being said, how could ordinary people dare to cause trouble at the military base?
Ye Fenghua has mentally prepared herself not to return to her parents' home in the future, and will pretend that she no longer has a family.
She didn't want her family members who only took things from her for granted and never considered her feelings.
“Sister-in-law, you did the right thing.” Gu Xi said gently and encouragingly, “If they really treated you like a daughter, like family, they wouldn’t ignore your situation and only think about getting benefits. You still have four children to raise, and Cui Ni and Cui Yu are girls. You don’t want them to go through what you went through, do you?”
Ye Fenghua sat there blankly, then shook her head. "Indeed, I've always tried my best to treat all four children in the family equally. I don't want Cui Ni and Cui Yu to end up like me, being neglected at home because they're girls, and having to give away any good things to their brothers..."
From childhood to adulthood, everyone says that boys are the root of the family and are responsible for carrying on the family line. Girls will marry out and belong to other families. Only when boys are successful can parents have face and have someone to rely on in their old age.
Influenced by this idea, she once thought so too.
It wasn't until she got married and had children, her first child being a daughter, that she realized this was her child. Watching her grow up, seeing how well-behaved and considerate she was, helping with chores and sharing household responsibilities so she wouldn't have to work so hard, that she understood.
What are the differences between boys and girls?
Aren't they all her children?
Gu Xi said, "Sister-in-law, your family is clearly wrong. Great men have said that women hold up half the sky, which shows that we women are no less than men. And look at you, you have a job now, and your monthly salary is no less than your brother's. Who dares to say that your brother is more capable than you?"
Ye Fenghua couldn't help but say, "My brother doesn't have a job. He does farm work in the countryside and doesn't earn much money each month..."
“That makes sense. It means you’re better than your brother. At least you have a job and your boss appreciates you, while he doesn’t.” Gu Xi blurted out, “Doesn’t that prove it?”
Ye Fenghua: "..."
The Xu sisters, standing not far away, were speechless. "..." The older sister is at it again. She's really good at talking nonsense.
Ye Fenghua talked with Gu Xi for an hour, and finally felt relieved.
She couldn't say these things to anyone else, except Gu Xi. Listening to Gu Xi's words, she felt more and more that she had been foolish before, belittling herself too much and thinking that women were inferior to men. She even gave up her job so that her brother could get married smoothly.
When Ye Fenghua got home, she saw her eldest daughter looking at her with concern and asked, "Da Ni'er, what's wrong?"
Miao Cuini glanced at her mother. She had been worried when her mother stormed out earlier, but she returned an hour later with a big smile on her face.
This is such a big change. Could it be that he got too angry about what happened yesterday?
Hearing Miao Cuini's worried words, Ye Fenghua was speechless. She patted her daughter's head and said, "Mom is fine. I just figured some things out."
"You've figured it out?" Miao Cuini asked, puzzled.
Ye Fenghua sighed deeply: "Yes, I've figured it out! In the future, there will be something for the construction of the country, and you and Cuiyu will have something too. Mom won't be biased."
She wouldn't let her two daughters suffer the same fate she had, having to sacrifice themselves for their brothers.
If they want something, they should go for it themselves, just like their father. What kind of man would sacrifice his sisters?
**
After hearing about Ye Fenghua's experience of returning to her parents' home on the third day of the Lunar New Year, Gu Xi was inspired. After Ye Fenghua left, she went to her study to write a manuscript, which she continued until it got dark.
When Shen Mingzheng returned home from get off work, he saw only Xu Yuansheng and her sister sitting by the fire in the kitchen. There was meat stewing in a pot next to them, and vegetables that had been washed and were ready to eat after being blanched in the pot.
Not seeing Gu Xi, he asked, "Where's Xi Xi?"
"She's writing in her study," Xu Yuansheng said helplessly. "She told us not to disturb her; she rarely has inspiration."
Shen Mingzheng looked at the sky. It was so cold. She had been staying in the study the whole time. Wasn't she cold?
It's time to eat now, and if we're any later, her stomach might feel uncomfortable again.
Shen Mingzheng went to the study and saw a person sitting at the desk as soon as he entered.
Next to the desk was a brazier, enclosed by a wooden frame to prevent accidental kicking. The embers in the brazier were dying down, and the entire study was cold and lacked warmth.
"Xixi, dinner's ready." Shen Mingzheng walked over, took the pen from her hand, and held her hand, finding that her hand was as cold as ice and somewhat stiff.
He sighed and tucked her hands inside his clothes. "How long have you been writing?"
Gu Xi's hands were pressed against his abs, but because her fingers were frozen stiff, she couldn't feel anything.
She was a beat slow to react. She glanced at the sky outside and belatedly said, "Brother, you're off work?"
"Yes, my second sister and younger sister have already prepared dinner and are just waiting for you to come and eat." He pulled her up, held her still-warm hand, and led her to the kitchen, where he had her sit in front of the fire to warm herself and fetched hot water for her to wash her hands.
It was warm in the kitchen, and Gu Xi then realized that she was terribly cold, her hands and feet were frozen stiff.
There's no heating here at the military base, so sitting and writing in this weather is really tough. She sighed inwardly, only able to console herself with the thought that no pain, no gain.
She is doing much better now than she did in Xujiatun.
Gu Xi quickly cheered herself up and happily ate with everyone.
“Big sister, it’s so cold in the study. Why don’t you move your desk and chair to the kitchen to write?” Xu Yuansheng suggested. “Anyway, the kitchen light is quite bright. We’ll help you move your things and bring the desk in.”
Xu Huaisheng also said, "Don't worry, elder sister, I won't disturb your writing."
Gu Xi paused for a moment, then looked at the table where they were eating. "No need, this table is fine too." She touched her nose a little embarrassedly. "I was really inspired today and rushed to write the manuscript, so I didn't pay much attention. I'll be more careful tomorrow."
The kitchen is so warm; it's much better than the study.
I'll move to the kitchen to write tomorrow.
Shen Mingzheng asked in confusion, "Didn't you say you'd write it after the New Year?"
The publisher commissioned her to write the article, but did not specify when she should finish and send it over. It was estimated that they were not in a hurry and did not intend to urge her to finish. Therefore, Gu Xi was not in a hurry either, and decided to wait until after the New Year and after Xu Huaisheng went back to school before writing.
Gu Xi said, "It's rare to have inspiration, so I wrote it down."
"Is it because of Sister-in-law Ye?" Xu Yuansheng asked. "I heard what you and Sister-in-law Ye were saying."
When Ye Fenghua came over to chat with Gu Xi about her family, she didn't try to hide it from the two girls, who politely sat a little further away.
Gu Xi nodded and told Shen Mingzheng about Ye Fenghua's situation.
Ye Fenghua has come to terms with these things; there's nothing she can't talk about. She had previously told Ye Fenghua about the story she wanted to write next, and Ye Fenghua said that she would buy a copy to keep after it was published.
Shen Mingzheng did not say anything after hearing this.
He couldn't help but wonder how much suffering and grievance she endured growing up in the Xu family, a family so patriarchal that it was almost distorted.
Although it's all in the past, I still can't help but feel sorry for her and secretly regret that when his mother brought her to Beijing, he didn't stay any longer or offer her comfort.
Or perhaps he should have gone back to Feng Min's hometown when he was young; maybe he could have met her there in Xujiatun.
But he also knew that if he had met her earlier in Xujiatun, he wouldn't have paid attention to a complete stranger like her...
-
Gu Xi wrote for an entire afternoon, and after that period of abundant inspiration, she didn't feel like picking up a pen in the evening.
The main problem is that the weather is too cold.
So when it was almost time, she went straight back to her room and crawled into bed.
It was still early, and Shen Mingzheng, who never went to bed this early, picked up a book and sat up on the bed to read.
Gu Xi was bored, so she went to bother him, but found him distracted, so she asked him what was wrong.
Shen Mingzheng reached out and pulled her into his arms, gently stroking her slender back. He wondered why she hadn't gained much weight after all this time. Only her face had gotten a little plumper, soft and chubby like a baby's chubby cheeks, which was very cute.
Gu Xi slapped away his hand that was pinching her cheek. "What are you doing? Even if my face is soft, you can't pinch it. It will hurt."
He kissed her cheek apologetically and said, "Xixi, if only I could have met you when you were little and found out you were switched at birth..."
Gu Xi was stunned at first, then thought about it and said rationally, "Forget it. If you had met me when I was a child, you definitely wouldn't have paid any attention to me."
She could picture it: how could a thin, small, and dark-skinned country girl possibly have any connection with the people in those compounds? It was impossible.
"Never mind," she said wistfully. "If I had known I was switched at birth when I was a child, I would have gone back to the family sooner. Then Yuansheng, Huaisheng, and I wouldn't have been able to get through those days of mutual support, and our relationship wouldn't be so good."
Actually, when you think about it, life in the Xu family wasn't all suffering.
At least she has the genuine affection of her two younger sisters, who give her their love instead of Gu Yuanxiang, just as the Gu family gives their love to Gu Yuanxiang.
Thinking about it this way, Gu Xi suddenly became more accepting of the Gu family's favoritism.
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