There was a loud cracking sound.
Jiang Jincheng received a hard slap across the face; the slap was very severe.
His ears were ringing, and half of his face quickly swelled up and burned with pain.
Liu Cuie jumped up as soon as she saw her second son being beaten.
She pulled her son over to examine his face with heartache, while simultaneously scolding him.
"Boss, are you crazy? This is your own brother, why are you hitting him?"
You're not only unfilial, you even beat your brother. What are you trying to do now?
Before your father died, he told you to take good care of your younger siblings and your mother.
What are you doing now? Are you trying to overthrow the Heavenly Gang?
Seeing her son's face swollen like a small mountain, she felt heartbroken and tears streamed down her face. This time, her tears were genuine.
Unfortunately, their faces were covered in coal dust, making them look as black as Africans. If they shed a couple of tears, their faces would immediately become a mess.
"Mom, you've misunderstood me. I'm the eldest brother and I have to take good care of my younger siblings now that Dad's gone."
Was what the second brother just said even human?
What do you mean by me eating and drinking well?
Everything I have now is something I earned with my life. People have given me gifts to express their gratitude. I saved hundreds of people and almost died with a bomb.
All of these things were personally delivered by provincial and municipal leaders as a token of their gratitude and appreciation. Look, there are even words being displayed on the television.
These things represent the sentiments of the city leaders. If I send these things home, what would that make me?
Do I have a problem with the city and provincial leaders, or do I feel that their gratitude towards me is not genuine enough?
How can you just waste someone's good intentions like this?
I put it here so that reporters from newspapers in the city and province can see it and take pictures at any time. This is evidence of my commendation.
What did the second brother say?
How can we serve the people and the masses be measured by arbitrarily chosen things?
Is my mom that kind of person?
Is she really that petty, calculating, and eager to take her son's prize home?
Mom, you are a proud family member.
Sure enough, he managed to marry Liu Cuie off to Gaotai in just a few words.
Liu Cuie was startled when she heard this. She turned around and looked closely, and then she realized that these appliances were indeed marked with the words "Special Award for Comrade Jiang Tiecheng, a Special Meritorious Serviceman".
As expected, these are all rewards.
"Mom, do you think I can send these things home?"
What are those reporters filming if I take you home?
I'm a model hero recognized by the city and province; these things represent the glory of our brigade and our county.
“You are a hero. We know you should talk to your brother properly. How could you hit him?”
We didn't intend to take advantage of you.
Liu Cuie was full of complaints, and her words were tinged with sarcasm.
Seeing all the good things her son had, she had been planning to take them with her when she went home, since her own home was completely empty and poor.
If we take these things back, the people in the factory will be incredibly envious, and it will be much easier for the second son to find a wife then.
But now, hearing Jiang Tiecheng say this, and knowing that reporters keep coming over to interview and take photos, this thing really can't be taken away.
"Mom, the second son is not young anymore. He is only two years younger than me. He is already considered an adult at 18."
Now that I'm his older brother, I can still discipline him at home.
If he were to go out and say those words, have you thought about what would happen to him?
Others who hear this will think his thinking is dangerous.
"If you report him to higher authorities, just imagine what will happen to the second-in-command."
This hit the nail on the head, and sure enough, Liu Cuie was startled, as was Jiang Jincheng.
When he arrived, he knew that their factory was in a great uproar, with all sorts of so-called "newspapers" being posted everywhere.
He was certainly aware of one problem: once someone had something on him, they could uncover a lot of issues.
That won't just be a slap in the face; it will be a matter of labor education.
Jiang Jincheng immediately shut his mouth.
"Okay, I understand. You're doing this for your brother's own good."
Second brother, you really have a loose tongue. What nonsense are you spouting?
This is an honor for your brother; your brother is a hero. You should be happy for your brother.
We're family, why would we care about your brother's things?
Jiang Jincheng covered his burning face, knowing there was no way to undo the damage.
Jiang Tiecheng lit a fire in the kitchen and quickly mixed some sorghum flour and cornmeal together to make two flatbreads.
I chopped another bowl of pickled vegetable shreds, without adding sesame oil or anything else, and just served it directly on the table.
A porridge made from cornmeal, one bowl for each person.
He even locked all his fine grains, noodles, cured meat, and other things in the cupboard. His mother had never suffered any hardship in her life, and if she wanted to freeload off him, she'd have to see if he was willing to.
Thinking back to my past life, not a single member of this family was any good. Even my own mother only used me as cannon fodder, as a scapegoat.
Jiang Tiecheng was as hard-hearted as iron.
Liu Cuie and Jiang Jinhu washed their faces and finally caught their breath.
Sitting at the dining table, looking at the food on it, Liu Cuie could hardly believe her eyes. She pointed at the pickled vegetables with her chopsticks.
"Boss, why did you bring this out?"
Do you not have any flour or eggs at home?
You're the deputy head of the security department. Don't tell me you don't have food coupons.
"Mom, we don't have wheat flour or eggs. I usually eat in the cafeteria."
The factory provides meals, so they don't issue any ration coupons or anything like that. I rarely cook when I'm back in the courtyard; these things are just for emergencies.
"Besides, this place is full of places that cost money. You know what it was like when I came here."
I had to borrow money to buy bedding and other necessities; otherwise, with just the clothes I had, I would have frozen to death here.”
"If you borrow money, you have to pay it back. You can't be shameless."
"It will take me another six months or so to pay it off."
One sentence was enough to silence Liu Cuie completely. When the eldest son left, he didn't take a single penny from the family.
Liu Cuie gritted her teeth. She was starving and didn't care whether it was coarse grains or white flour.
The two of them each ate two pancakes, plus a large bowl of cornmeal porridge with pickled vegetables, and ate more than half of the bowl without worrying about it being too salty.
The two of them were still hungry when Jiang Jincheng rubbed his stomach and complained.
"Brother, the conditions here are terrible. It's not even as good as home."
"At least get some meat for Mom and me, brother. Could you get us some meat tomorrow? I haven't had any meat in over a year."
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