"Well, I have to take care of the old lady every day, so it's inevitable that I can't always be there for her. You see, you don't even tell me what's wrong. Let me put it this way, if there's anything I can't do well, please bear with me. If you need anything in the future, just come to me, and I'll take care of it for you." The old lady saw that Qin Xiaoyu was there to cause trouble, so she quickly came over to shut her up.
"Everyone knows what's going on here, let's get down to business, the succession." As soon as Qin Xiaoyu finished speaking, her cousin-in-law immediately sat up straight and pricked up her ears.
"My aunt told me that she wants to give the succession spot to Tang Long. Mom, you don't have any objections, do you?" Qin Xiaoyu suddenly turned to Hanhan's grandmother.
"Ah, I, I have a problem with that." Grandma Hanhan thought she had no chance and was already annoyed by Qin Xiaoyu's scolding. But unexpectedly, Qin Xiaoyu actually gave her a chance to speak.
"What's your opinion? Just listen to Xiao Qin." The old lady interrupted impatiently. She had already figured out that no matter how much they bickered, they were still from the same root. It seemed this matter was going to fall apart.
"I said, this is a matter for the Tang family, and it's best if everyone discusses it together. If you have any opinions, just say so," Qin Xiaoyu said magnanimously.
“Then I’ll say it. As you all know, Wenzhi’s younger sister, Wenwen, has been unemployed at home for a year. She can’t even get into a large collective. This will affect her finding a husband in the future, won’t it? If we’re talking about closeness, she’s Wenzhi’s own sister, a direct relative.” Grandma Hanhan hurriedly put her daughter’s affairs first.
“That makes sense, my sister-in-law is closer to Wenzhi.” Qin Xiaoyu nodded.
“You can’t say that. Wenwen will get married sooner or later. What does it matter what kind of job she has? Tang Long is the eldest grandson of the Tang family.” The cousin-in-law said anxiously.
"Your Tang Long is a good student, he might have gotten into a good university. It's a pity he's working in a factory now." Grandma Hanhan decided to use flattery to her advantage.
"Don't even mention it! What's so great about it? You only got 38 points in math and English on your last exam." His sister-in-law usually wouldn't say this, but now she didn't care about Tang Long's feelings. Tang Long, annoyed, got up and walked out.
"Boys have staying power; maybe they'll make a big push in their senior year of high school and succeed," Grandma Hanhan continued praising.
"What's the point of trying? I think you're just a good-for-nothing. You should just get back to work."
"No, the spot has to go to Wenwen anyway. We can't leave an old maid at home."
"Give it to Tang Long, that's the eldest grandson!"
The room was filled with noise.
"Stop!" Qin Xiaoyu raised her hand, and the room fell silent, everyone staring at her.
"It seems there's some controversy. Let me finish speaking. After I'm done, you can decide who gets the spot."
Hearing that she had more to say, her cousin-in-law and Hanhan's grandmother became quiet and sat back down in their chairs.
Qin Xiaoyu took out a pen and wrote on the paper as she spoke: "Hanhan is five years old. Counting until he's eighteen and independent, there are still thirteen years left. Let's calculate my younger sister's age as the same, also thirteen years. Let's say the monthly living expenses for the two children are thirty yuan, which is three hundred and sixty yuan a year. Three hundred and sixty multiplied by thirteen equals four thousand six hundred and eighty."
Qin Xiaoyu looked up. The room was unusually quiet. Everyone looked at each other, their eyes full of expression.
“The child isn’t just mine, nor is he just Wenzhi’s. I’ll divide these expenses in half, one half for each family, which is two thousand three hundred and forty yuan. After taking over Wenzhi’s job, the first year will be as an apprentice, with a monthly salary of eighteen yuan. After a year, he’ll become a full-time employee, and his salary will increase every year thereafter. It’ll only take a few years to break even. Think about it. Whoever contributes two thousand three hundred and forty yuan will get Wenzhi’s job. Any objections?”
"What? Are you crazy? Selling spots for over two thousand yuan!" The old woman had reached her limit. She jumped up, snatched the paper, tore it to shreds, and threw it directly at Qin Xiaoyu's face.
"Okay, you abstained, I understand. What about you?" Qin Xiaoyu turned to look at Hanhan's grandparents, whose faces were flushed and pale, and they didn't know how to respond.
"Mom, let me do the math, it seems alright, a quota for a state-owned factory for a little over two thousand..." My cousin's wife said in a low voice, afraid of saying something too absolute.
"You know nothing! Get out of here, all of you. We don't keep people like you in our family. Don't dirty my place." Before Qin Xiaoyu could even get up, her cousin stood up first. He had been silent the whole time, but now his face was flushed.
"What are you looking at? Come on! Go home! I'm not afraid of bad things happening, I'm afraid of bad people!" He was yelling at his wife, but he was really angry at his aunt. Qin Xiaoyu was a little confused. Shouldn't he be angry with her?
"I'll take this spot." Standing at the door was Hanhan's aunt, Tang Wenwen, who had been listening for who knows how long.
Qin Xiaoyu had always kept her distance from this sister-in-law. This girl was unusual; she almost never got involved in family disputes, and when she got home, she would shut herself in and read. She wasn't particularly beautiful, but she exuded a scholarly air about her, and everyone in the family was a little afraid of her.
Hanhan's grandparents were initially at a loss, but after hearing what their daughter said, they immediately had an idea.
"Alright, we'll take the spots. No more discussion."
"Then you guys get ready tomorrow and send the money over. I'll take my sister-in-law to the factory to complete the formalities." Qin Xiaoyu was really worried that no one would take her suggestion, and that she would offend people without getting any benefits, which would be a bit awkward. Now she breathed a sigh of relief.
She only realized how much she had sweated when she got back inside; the back of her shirt was soaked. In her previous life, she had lived for twenty-five years and had never been this assertive. She always believed what others said and didn't dare utter a word. This time, she finally got her head held high and felt incredibly good.
My little sister is already asleep on the edge of the kang (heated brick bed), while Hanhan is sticking her little bottom out sewing a quilt, looking very serious and cute.
"Don't prick your hand, let me do it," Qin Xiaoyu said quickly.
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