Chen Qiuyu had spent the past few months recuperating after giving birth, and now she had to take care of the child. How could she find the time to go out and work? Ren Dahai couldn't just give the money to his mother and then let his son and daughter-in-law starve to death, could he?
Ren Lao Niang didn't care whether Ren Dahai was in trouble or not. In her opinion, Chen Qiuyu was the daughter-in-law of the Ren family, and it was her duty to earn money for Ren Dahai's use. She couldn't go out and earn money while she was in confinement? Didn't Ren Lao Niang herself go back to work after giving birth? Chen Qiuyu still didn't go to work three months after giving birth. This was hypocritical and needed treatment!
Ren's mother made a scene at Ren Dahai's house, then went to her boss and cried about the difficulties of raising several children. Ren Dahai was so heartless that he refused to provide pension money after they got married.
At the time, Ren Dahai had an opportunity for a promotion. After Ren's mother went to her boss to complain, the boss immediately called in Ren Dahai for a talk.
After figuring out what was going on, the leader was also upset for Ren Dahai. Honestly, this wasn't Ren Dahai's fault. He used to send so much money home every month, but he stopped sending money in the past three months because his child was born and money was a bit tight. Unexpectedly, Ren's mother came to the army to make a scene. This really can't be said to be unfilial. After all, Ren Dahai couldn't just let his wife and children starve to death while he sent all the money to his parents, right?
Besides, Ren's parents were not that old, in their forties, and still considered strong laborers in the countryside! It was a bit too much to ask Ren Dahai to "take care of them in their old age" at such a young age.
But if Ren Lao Niang was allowed to continue making a fuss in the army, Ren Dahai's reputation would be ruined by her. Ren Dahai had always performed well in the army, and the leader had used him well. This time, the leader had specially reserved a spot for Ren Dahai for the promotion opportunity.
The leader ordered Ren Dahai to deal with Ren Lao Niang as soon as possible, otherwise, the promotion opportunity was so rare, and so many eyes in the army were watching. Secretive moves to get a promotion were not uncommon in the army. Ren Dahai's messy "family affairs" were the perfect excuse for others to attack him.
Ren Dahai couldn't persuade Ren Lao Niang. In her opinion, if Ren Dahai didn't pay her in the future, what difference would it make whether she was an officer or not? Ren Lao Niang was the kind of person who believed that if she didn't live well, no one else would live well. She didn't care about Ren Dahai's opportunities or not. Ren Lao Niang only cared about one thing: would Ren Dahai pay her in the future?
Ren Dahai is willing to give money, but he cannot give all the money to Ren Lao Niang because he has to raise a child.
Ren's mother was furious. If she didn't give him the money, she would make a scene and force Ren Dahai to quit his job and go home.
For Ren Dahai's promotion and the peace of his family, Chen Qiuyu compromised.
Chen Qiuyu suggested that Ren Lao Niang help take care of the children while she went to work at the school. Ren Dahai would still give his monthly salary to Ren Lao Niang. The money Chen Qiuyu earned would be used for their own expenses.
This time, Mrs. Ren was finally satisfied.
Chen Qiuyu canceled his leave from school and handed Ren Zhongyuan over to Ren's mother for more than three months.
A month later, Ren Dahai was promoted to the next level. And the day after Ren Dahai gave her twenty yuan, Ren Lao Niang actually took Ren Zhongyuan back to her hometown.
Chen Qiuyu had just finished her leave and couldn't get another one to go back to meet Ren Lao Niang. Ren Dahai had just been promoted and couldn't get away to go back to his hometown either. The couple, burdened by the pressures of life, could only hope that Ren Lao Niang would treat her eldest grandson well.
"Sister Yunxiang, I'm so stupid. I was so stupid that I gave my own flesh and blood to such a cold-blooded old lady." Having said this, Chen Qiuyu wiped away her tears and said.
"Sister Qiuyu, is Xiaoyuan suffering at his grandmother's house?" Zhao Yunxiang didn't need to guess; she knew what Chen Qiuyu meant. This person really cared about fate, just like Zhao Yunxiang herself, who didn't have a good relationship with her mother-in-law. When she couldn't stand up for herself and only cared about the peace of her family, no matter how well she did, no matter how tolerant she was of her mother-in-law, when it came time to bully her, her in-laws would not hold back.
"That's right! During the Chinese New Year that year, Old Ren and I took leave to go back home to visit our family. My Xiaoyuan was so skinny. The old lady was so cruel! I bought milk powder every month and sent it back, but it never went into Xiaoyuan's stomach. My ten-year-old sister-in-law, who was so plump and white, drank up all of Xiaoyuan's milk powder." Whenever Chen Qiuyu thought of this, she couldn't help but feel distressed. She saved money every month just to buy a can of milk powder for her son to increase his nutrition, but Old Ren's mother was so different. Ren Zhongyuan, who was just over six months old, drank rice soup, and Ren Xiaohua, who was ten years old, drank milk powder.
Outside the door, Ren Zhongyuan, clutching a bag of tea leaves, was about to go in but stopped dead in his tracks. Ren Zhongyuan knew his mother had been feeling incredibly pent up these past few days, but no matter how much he or his father asked, she remained silent. Ren Zhongyuan suspected his grandmother was up to something, but his mother remained silent, leaving him feeling helpless.
It’s rare that Mom likes to chat with Aunt Yunxiang, so he should just wait outside!
After Ren Zhongyuan made up his mind, he stood in the corridor outside the door and listened to the intermittent sounds coming from the room.
Those years in Hongqi Village were years Ren Zhongyuan never wanted to recall. Those memories were too tragic for him. A six-year-old child had to cook, weed, and feed the pigs, often going hungry. His digestive problems were caused by hunger.
Ren Lao Niang hated Ren Zhongyuan so much that even when she told him to do something, she did so with a tone of disgust. Ren Zhongyuan didn't understand why at first, but after listening to a few words from his uncles and aunts, he realized that Ren Lao Niang hated Chen Qiuyu, and by extension, he, "Chen Qiuyu's son."
Before coming to Kyoto City to attend school, Ren Zhongyuan had secretly resented Chen Qiuyu and Ren Dahai. According to Ren's mother, Ren Dahai and Chen Qiuyu had simply been avoiding work by sending Ren Zhongyuan, a "burden," back to their hometown for her to take care of.
Inside the room, Chen Qiuyu and Zhao Yunxiang talked about how Ren Zhongyuan would vomit if he ate too much when he first arrived in Jingyang City, and they cried bitterly. The moment Zhao Qingshan diagnosed Ren Zhongyuan's gastrointestinal problems as a result of long-term irregular eating habits, Chen Qiuyu really wanted to rush to Hongqi Village and tear Ren's mother apart.
"Sister Qiuyu, Xiaoyuan is growing so well now, and his academic performance is among the best. He will be able to get into a prestigious university after the New Year. Your blessings are still to come!" Zhao Yunxiang persuaded Chen Qiuyu.
This is how the world works. Regardless of whether the elders have any love for the younger generation, the younger generation must be filial to the elders. This has become a convention. Ren Lao Niang treats Chen Qiuyu and Ren Zhongyuan badly, and others will only say that the older and younger generations don't get along. If Chen Qiuyu dares to really fight with Ren Lao Niang, not only will the spit of outsiders drown him, but even Ren Dahai might blame Chen Qiuyu for being unfilial.
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