So from now on, you two will each give the family fifteen yuan a month; that's for food expenses.
At this time of year, based on supply, a pound of corn costs only about eight cents.
However, the Sheng family had many children, and the food supply was insufficient, so they had to buy food at high prices.
On the black market, a pound of grain coupons cost 33 cents, and with the cost of the grain itself, it came to a little over 40 cents per pound.
Of course, buying grain from the Dajianchang area wasn't that expensive, but it still cost more than two mao (0.2 yuan) in total.
Sheng Xiping and his wife were both young and had big appetites, so the grain they bought for fifteen yuan wasn't much at all.
"Mom, fifteen yuan isn't enough! What about oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar? We can't just take advantage of the family for everything."
"Okay, let's give twenty to our families first, and then we'll see how things go later and give them more."
Before Sheng Xiping could speak, Zhou Qinglan interrupted.
Zhou Qinglan wasn't stupid; she wouldn't fuss over a few dollars.
They got married but didn't separate their households. They ate and lived with the Sheng family, and the Sheng family didn't have to worry about anything at home.
I can leave work and eat on time every day, without even having to cook. It's so convenient!
The couple pays twenty yuan a month, and she can still save more than eighteen yuan from her salary, which is enough for miscellaneous expenses. Sheng Xiping can save all the money he earns.
If they separate and live independently, won't they have to worry about everything themselves, from daily necessities to social obligations? Won't they have to pay for everything themselves? Where won't there be expenses?
Whether twenty yuan a month would be enough is another matter, and it wouldn't be as peaceful as it is now.
In interpersonal relationships, it is always the case that one should yield to others when there is not enough, and this is also true between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law.
When the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are constantly at odds, there's never a moment of peace in the family.
If both the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law follow the rules and give way to each other, the family will be much more harmonious.
Men no longer have to be caught in the middle, and their work goes smoothly.
Sheng Xiping had always worried that his mother and daughter-in-law might not get along, leaving him caught in the middle and suffering from both sides.
In hindsight, I was overthinking it. The mother and daughter get along quite well. I hope this isn't just a temporary phenomenon, and that it can continue like this forever.
"Mom, let's do as Qinglan said. We'll give the family twenty yuan every month. If it's not enough, just let me know."
Sheng Xiping spoke up and tried to persuade the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law who were being polite to each other.
Zhang Shuzhen originally wanted to help her son and daughter-in-law more because she felt sorry for them having just started their own family.
Since her daughter-in-law was so understanding, what else could Zhang Shuzhen say? She could only nod in agreement.
And so, Zhang Shuzhen divided the remaining seven hundred yuan in two and handed it over to Zhou Qinglan along with the account book.
"Girl, keep the money. You can use it for any expenses you and your husband need in the future."
Don't neglect to give your man money on ordinary days; always make sure he has some.
He spends his days visiting friends and acquaintances, and he often goes hunting in the mountains to buy bullets and such; it's not good if he's penniless.
Zhang Shuzhen was still a little worried, so she gave Zhou Qinglan a few more instructions.
"Mom, don't worry, I won't interfere with his spending."
Xiping doesn't smoke or drink. If I'm too strict with him, his friends will laugh at me.
Zhou Qinglan laughed as soon as she heard that.
During the few days she returned to her parents' home, her mother gave her a lot of advice and told her many ways to get along with men.
Zhou Qinglan is such a diligent and studious person, she must have remembered everything.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Shuzhen didn't dare to argue any further, "Yes, yes, that's right."
"It's your life as a couple, Mom won't interfere. You two can get along well on your own."
After a son gets married, the mother should consciously withdraw and not interfere too much, nor should she take advantage of her position as mother-in-law to boss people around.
Whether they separate or not, their son is already married, so they should mind their own business and not interfere in how the young couple lives.
That was enough of the conversation; there was no need to continue. It was getting late, so Zhang Shuzhen urged Sheng Xiping and his wife to go back to their room to rest.
So the young couple took the money and the account book and went back to the west room.
The power is cut off at 9 p.m., and everyone has to finish tidying up and go to bed before then.
Sheng Xiping stayed with Zhou Qinglan for three nights in Songjianghe.
On the first night, there were many relatives at home, and everyone was crammed into the Zhou family's two and a half small rooms. How could anyone feel comfortable doing anything?
Although the two of them stayed in the west room for the next two nights, Sheng Xiping didn't dare to be too presumptuous out of consideration for the feelings of the Zhou family.
They were newlyweds, deeply in love, how could they possibly resist?
So on their first night back at the Sheng family home, Sheng Xiping clung to his wife, and the two of them made love until midnight before finally falling asleep.
Young, healthy, and full of energy, Sheng Xiping got up early the next morning, feeling refreshed, and busied himself fetching water and chopping wood.
Zhou Qinglan, on the other hand, was probably too tired and slept until almost seven o'clock before getting up.
Thankfully it was Sunday and no one had to go to work, so Zhang Shuzhen said that no one should wake Zhou Qinglan up and let her sleep a little longer.
After breakfast, the dogs were fed until they were half full, just as Wang Jianshe and a few others came looking for Sheng Xiping.
The group, carrying guns and leading dogs, left the forest farm and headed straight for Zhang Lianxiang Hill.
They had only walked four or five miles into the mountains when Erlang Shen started howling. The leopard tilted its head back, sniffed, and started howling as well.
Needless to say, there must be traces of wild animals in the vicinity.
"Erlang Shen, stop shouting, we need to find Hei Xiazi first."
Sheng Xiping patted Erlang Shen's head, signaling it not to bark. The main task today was to find Hei Xiazi; the other prey could wait until they returned.
Erlang Shen was temporarily calmed down and stopped barking, and the group continued walking forward with the dog.
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