Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Unfilial
"It's too late. I'm afraid I'll get a headache if I can't finish it. I want to boil some water tomorrow and wash my hair separately."
"Um."
"Zhao Zhanming, if you're free tomorrow, could you help me get the kettle and make some water?"
“…”
Zhao Zhanming was a little surprised and hesitated for a moment.
Washing your hair...does someone need to rinse it? Isn't that something you just rub twice and it's done?
Lu Qinghe: "At home, my brother or sister-in-law helps me wash it. It's more convenient this way, and if there is foam later, it can be washed away more cleanly."
Although he didn't quite understand why it was so troublesome for Lu Qinghe to wash her hair, Zhao Zhanming nodded after hesitating.
"Can."
"Great, let's rest now."
"Um."
The kerosene lamp went out and the room became quiet.
The reason why he had to bring the child with him was to give Zhao Zhanming some self-esteem as a man.
Otherwise, you can just get into the same bed with him/her and say that he/she is not good enough on the wedding day. This will hit his/her sore spot and will not be conducive to future family harmony.
Just pretend that she doesn't care, Zhao Zhanming doesn't have such a heavy psychological burden.
In the dim light, Lu Qinghe looked at the three children between herself and Zhao Zhanming, and closed her eyes with peace of mind.
On the other side——
Comrade Zhao Zhanming, whom she thought had no psychological burden, turned over several times after his breathing became stable before he gradually fell asleep.
-
The morning in the mountains was covered with a thin layer of cool fog.
Lu Qinghe had just finished washing up and was about to call the children to get up and clean up for dinner when she saw Zhao Zhanming coming back.
He was still wearing the same dacron shirt he wore at his wedding yesterday. There were still water droplets hanging on his short hair on his forehead, and a few drops were slowly sliding down his already strong features.
I have to say, this man looks pretty good.
"Qinghe?"
"……Um?"
"I said let the kids go wash up first, I want to discuss something with you."
Lu Qinghe came to his senses and responded. The two of them called the children who were still rubbing their eyes out of bed, sent them out and closed the door. Only then did Lu Qinghe ask what was going on.
"My salary, as we agreed before, will be handed over to you to manage after we get married."
That's what happened.
But Xue Lanhua had told her that no family would give all the money to the new wife right after getting married. Besides, this was their second marriage with children. If they really wanted to bring it up, they had to wait for some time. Otherwise, given Lu Qinghe's personality, she would have asked what was going on last night.
If I bring it up now, she won't have to ask again later.
Lu Qinghe didn't bother to be polite and said directly, "Yes, after all, our family will have four children in the future, and there will be a lot of money to spend at home and outside. If you are busy during normal times and I am at home taking care of things, I will be restricted in what I do without the financial power in my hands."
Zhao Zhanming frowned, "No need to explain these things, I won't go back on my promise."
"That's fine. Do you want to hand in your passbook now or..."
Zhao Zhanming turned around and took out a square red notebook from the pocket of another piece of clothing.
Zhao Zhanming: "It contains all my savings over the years, and there's about a hundred yuan in change. I was afraid I might need it if something unexpected happened. I'm discussing this with you about the subsidy I'm sending home."
"Before the divorce, I gave half of my salary home and half to Fan Meiyun. Later, when I left Zirui alone at home, I gave 30 yuan home every month."
Thirty is a lot of money, even enough for the Zhao family to eat and drink and save a lot.
Lu Qinghe listened to him and glanced at the passbook.
"Two thousand two hundred and two??!"
As soon as the words came out of his mouth, Lu Qinghe quickly covered his mouth. Fortunately, they both kept their voices down, otherwise if the Zhao family heard it, they would definitely be jealous.
"How much is your salary?" Lu Qinghe suddenly realized that she seemed to have never asked Zhao Zhanming about his salary.
"It used to be sixty, but now it's one hundred and eleven. Adding up all the miscellaneous benefits, it's almost one hundred and thirteen."
"hiss……"
One hundred and three!
My God, that number sounds scary even now.
She had never come into contact with soldiers before. Even though the Lu family and the villagers had some understanding of what soldiers were like, they had never come across an officer like Zhao Zhanming. They knew that his salary might be high, but they never thought it could be so high!
"Did you save all this after joining the army?" Lu Qinghe closed the passbook and asked carefully.
Zhao Zhanming thought for a moment, "Before my divorce a few years ago, I usually kept 20 for myself and sent the rest home. The portion I gave to my family was considered filial piety to my parents. When we divorced, the portion I gave to Fan Meiyun, as well as the remaining money in my passbook at the time, all went to her."
"These are the savings I've made over the past three years. My family hasn't heard about my salary increase yet. I know my family's situation well. If I send it all back, I won't be able to save any money. If not for myself, I have to consider Zirui and Zimo's future as well."
After seeing what her in-laws' family looked like, Lu Qinghe nodded in agreement.
Lu Qinghe: "But after all, your parents raised you. Even though we're taking the child away this time, if we don't give him a cent, the villagers will inevitably gossip about him."
Zhao Zhanming is a soldier. Even if his adoptive parents have many faults, he still has to maintain the proper respect. There is still a long time to go. Besides, it is 1965 now. When the situation becomes tense next year, no matter who it is, any personal problem will easily give people an excuse to accuse him.
"That's why I'm discussing this with you. I think that from now on, regardless of the month, we can send a complete one back at the end of the year. What do you think?"
The largest denomination of banknotes now is fifty.
Fifty dollars a year is within Zhao Zhanming's tolerance.
Lu Qinghe thought about it carefully and said, "I agree for now. When we go to Hua City in the future, the children will be older and the parents will be older. If there are any other situations, we can discuss it together."
"good."
After agreeing on something, the two of them told Zhao's parents the result while the children were out playing after dinner.
"What???"
The two brothers who had already picked up their hoes to go to work suddenly stopped and retreated.
Sun Juhua's hands even trembled, and the dishes and chopsticks almost fell to the ground.
Wang Cuiping didn't dare to show Zhao Zhanming her displeasure and could only point at Lu Qinghe. "I think you're really going to make a scene! You've only been married for one day, and you're already instigating your eldest brother to be unfilial to his parents. Those who know you're going to join the army think you're going to have fun out there. You don't even care about your own parents and in-laws!"
Zhao Zhanming stood in front of Lu Qinghe, his eyes sharp, "Wang Cuiping, I still don't know when you will have the right to speak in this family."
Wang Cuiping was stunned, and recalled the scene a few years ago when Zhao Bowen went out to play cards and lost money, and was beaten up by Zhao Zhanming when he came back. She couldn't help but shrink her neck.
"I, I haven't made any contributions over the years, but I've worked hard. I, I've helped a lot..."
"Second brother, since your wife wants to settle accounts like this, let's settle accounts. I sent a lot of money home in the early years, and later I found out that you owed money for playing cards, so I also gave you a lot of money. Why, do you want to settle accounts with me now?"
Zhao Bowen, who only knew how to brag behind others' backs, was so scared by Zhao Zhanming's glare that he almost wet his pants. He felt an inexplicable pain in the place where he had been beaten before.
"Brother, Cuiping didn't mean that. Cuiping, mom hasn't spoken yet, why are you butting in?"
"I……"
Zhao Bowen: "What are you talking about? Big brother is right. It's not your turn to speak!"
Zhao Zhanming gave the order, and Zhao Bowen pulled her back, so Wang Cuiping was so angry that she could only stare blankly.
Sun Juhua glared at you and said in a sharp voice, "Lu Qinghe, I originally agreed to this marriage because I thought you were a good person. How could I have done anything wrong to let you push my son like this! You will be the first and I will be the fifth. You are going to join the army, right? Unless I die, don't even think about joining the army. Stay at home and help with the housework!"
Lu Qinghe looked at him calmly. "You don't need to use filial piety to pressure others. Filial piety is not just about words. The neighbors and villagers have seen what Zhao Zhanming has done for the family over the years. Even if you go out and make a fuss, we have the annual remittance receipts. Besides, we only offer 50 yuan a year for the sake of our own small family. If he is truly unfilial, he won't even get 50 yuan."
"Besides..." Lu Qinghe frowned. "Mom, don't you know? Zhao Zhanming's report was submitted a few days ago. You don't have to worry about joining the army. The higher-ups have already approved it."
Sun Juhua's shouting had no effect on Lu Qinghe. Seeing that she was calmer than anyone else, Sun Juhua felt more aggrieved and uncomfortable.
She had been in charge for decades, but she never expected that she would be choked twice by a young girl in her old age. She was so angry that her heart ached.
"Lao Zhao! Lao Zhao, come here quickly! I'm so angry I'm going to die, Lao Zhao——"
Sun Juhua couldn't argue with him, so she just started crying.
Zhao Chengshi, who was cleaning sheep dung at the door, ran in. After he found out what happened, his face changed.
"We agreed on 30 yuan a month. We've been living this way for years. Rules are rules, and we can't break them!" Zhao Chengshi wanted to get angry with Zhao Zhanming, but after thinking it over, he looked at Lu Qinghe and said, "Qinghe, you have to consider your family too."
Zhao Zhanming: "Dad, I thought about this matter on my own. Qinghe didn't push me. Instead, I discussed it with her. I have a clear account of our family situation. This thirty-day rule was set by Zirui at home in the past, and it's time to change it now."
Lu Qinghe continued, "I'm thinking about my family, so I said this. Zhan Ming has contributed a lot in the past few years. Now we both want to settle down, so it's our family's turn to think about Zhan Ming. When we go to Hua City, the children will go to school and eat, and the daily necessities of oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, kerosene, water, and electricity all cost money. If you send money back at the end of the year, we can make ends meet, and you two will also be proud. Isn't that good enough?"
The young couple's words were well-reasoned and based on facts and reasoning. No matter how they said it, they were right.
The collective anger of the Zhao family was completely suppressed by these words. Except for Sun Juhua who was still pretending to cry, everyone else was speechless for a moment.
Zhao Chengshi clenched his fists, and an expression of unwillingness was written on his old face.
Zhao Zhanming sighed, "Dad, although we haven't split up, you know I've been in the army for over a decade. I started sending money home in my first year. Now I want to live a good life. If you and Mom don't agree, why don't you ask the brigade to divide our family before I leave?"
"no!"
If we split up the family, I'm afraid we could gain more benefits.
Besides, although it is a division of the family, it is only useful to those who still live in the village.
Zhao Zhanming's household registration had long been moved to Hua City. This time, he would probably have to move Lu Qinghe and Zhao Zirui's household registration there as well. This situation is no different from splitting up the family.
No matter what, at least we can still talk about it.
Zhao Chengshi panicked, gritted his teeth, and nodded helplessly: "Zhan Ming has helped the family a lot over the years. Now that he has his own ideas, we should also be considerate of the child. I think this is it."
"What's going on?!" Sun Juhua pretended to cry and pulled Zhao Chengshi away. "Oh my god, my son is so unfilial! The child I raised with so much effort is now trying to break away from his parents. Oh my god..."
"Mom, just think of it as feeling sorry for Zhao Zhanming."
Lu Qinghe frowned and couldn't help but speak.
Zhao Zhanming glanced sideways at Lu Qinghe, with a hint of surprise in his eyes.
Lu Qinghe: "He joined the army at the age of eighteen, endured hardships and hardship, but still did not forget to send money home. It's been so many years, you can't just grab his wool. Besides, the neighbors have heard you making such a fuss, and if you continue, the whole village will know."
"Then make a big fuss! Make a big fuss so everyone can see!! See you…"
"We've only been married for one day, and your home is already so restless. What will others think of you?"
"What are you looking at me for? If I'm looking at you, it's because you're being unfilial."
Lu Qinghe spread out his hands: "Okay, then tell the whole story, let everyone hear who is right, let the surrounding villages think about it, if they have a daughter, would they dare to marry her to you as the mother-in-law? You make a fuss at home, but if it goes out, the Zhao family's reputation will be exposed. Zhao Guodong is also of marriageable age. Before getting married, they will go to the village to ask around. If they know your situation, will the marriage be easy to discuss?"
"you……"
"Qing He is right." Zhao Chengshi pushed Sun Juhua away. "It's not good to make a scene. Besides... you know your son's character well. Zhan Ming never regrets what he said. Stop making a scene."
"Old Zhao! Aren't I just thinking about our family?!"
Zhao Chengshi spat, his cloudy eyes widening. "Isn't Zhan Ming also our child? Didn't we agree back then that we would take good care of him and be responsible for him? Have you forgotten?!"
"he……"
Sun Juhua was still angry, but she was speechless after hearing this.
When they brought Zhao Zhanming home, the old couple were still young. Because they had no children, they loved Zhao Zhanming very much in the early years and agreed to raise him as their own child.
But later they had their own children, and their hearts gradually drifted away.
-----------------------
The author has something to say: Zhao Zhanming: When we moved into the new house, we had to sleep separately from the children!!!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com