Chen Xingling refused and insisted on returning to Yucheng on the fourth day of the first lunar month.
Ying curled her lips and said, "It's not good for men to go out and make money while you stay at home to take care of the children. Aqi is so busy, you will only cause trouble for him. The house here in my hometown is spacious and has many rooms. It's not like you don't have room to stay!"
Chen Xingling knew that she had always wanted him to stay and continue to work like a cow and do housework for her. In the past, she was a punching bag and could only let her arrange things for her, but now she is no longer the same as before!
She can only make her own decisions in her life.
Seeing that she still insisted, Ying said angrily, "What if he was kidnapped by bad guys? It's no use regretting when you are kidnapped to the deep mountains and old forests with no one to help you. Little Tiger is the eldest grandson of our Gu family! If he does something bad, I will never forgive you!"
Chen Xingling didn't want to argue with her, so he took Xiaohuzi out to make a phone call.
Telephones were very expensive in those days. A landline phone would cost thousands of dollars, and it was not always possible to install one. Except for some large units, only post offices could provide telephone services.
Phone calls are expensive, long-distance calls are even more expensive, and the starting price is usually more than two yuan. Therefore, most people choose to use telegrams for long-distance communication, and the fee is calculated by the number of words. As long as the text is not long, it can generally be afforded.
Chen Xingling's family didn't have a telephone, but the village committee installed a landline last year. Her parents quickly asked her eldest brother to send her a telegram, saying that she could call if there was any emergency, and they also sent the area code and phone number.
It is still the Chinese New Year holiday, and other windows of the post office are closed. Only the telephone service is still open for a few hours a day.
Fortunately, there were not many people making the call, and only three people waited in line before it was their turn.
Unfortunately, the call didn’t go through the first time, so I could only stand aside and continue waiting.
Ten minutes later, I called again and this time the call was finally connected.
Chen Xingling repeated her father's name several times in her native dialect, and then asked him to go home and tell her that she would take the train back to her parents' home on the morning of the fourth day of the New Year.
In fact, she had sent a telegram before the New Year, but she was worried that her parents would miss the message because they were out at sea, because the seafood business was very, very hot before the New Year, and every household in the fishing village would go out to sea.
Therefore, she decided it would be prudent to make one more call.
After paying the money, she walked back happily with little Tiger.
Unexpectedly, as soon as I arrived at the door, I heard my father-in-law cursing and yelling!
"No wonder you refused to come back to the city even though I kept asking you to! What's there at the foot of Pingshuo Mountain that would make you refuse to come back? It turns out you were bewitched by a fox spirit in the mountains!"
Chen Xingling paused, secretly surprised.
Could it be that my mother-in-law already knows about Gu Yi's affair?
"Mom! Don't say such harsh words!" Gu Yi pleaded awkwardly: "It's not as strict as you think... I want to stay in Pingshuo Mountain because - because the scenery there is very beautiful. Although life in the mountains is a bit hard, the people are simple and honest, and they are hardworking and down-to-earth."
Ying pointed out: "Don't try to fool me! Your brother found a country fisherwoman, and I was still angry when I talked about it! The next time you went to the countryside, you found a village girl! What's wrong with your vision? Do you have any brains?"
Gu Yi hesitated: "Nothing..."
"Second brother!" Gu Miao interrupted: "Is this true? Tell me! Don't follow the elder brother's way of acting first and asking for permission later! You are different from the elder brother, be careful that mom will not forgive you!"
Gu Yi was extremely annoyed and said angrily: "Shut up! Will you die if you say less? You are the only one who has so many problems every day!"
"I-I am not doing this for you!" Gu Miao said angrily, "If you marry a girl from the mountains, will you be able to return to the city in the future? Do you want to stay in Pingshuo Mountain for the rest of your life?"
"Return to the city immediately!" Ying said gruffly, "No problem this time! If you dare to refuse to come back again, this must be the real deal!"
Gu Yi was anxious and begged: "I will only stay for a few more months - at most half a year!"
"No!" Ying snorted coldly, "Not even for half a day! Write the application to me now, and I'll accompany you to the Pingshuoshan Village Committee to get it stamped and approved in a few days. Don't delay any longer!"
"Oh! Mom!" Gu Yi continued to beg: "Can you listen to my explanation? I can't come back for the time being! Give me a few more months - okay?"
At this time, Chen Xingling led Xiaohuzi in and went to the yard.
Little Tiger jumped over, hugged Gu Yi's thighs familiarly, and acted like a spoiled child: "Uncle! Let's go play on the street!"
Gu Yi met Chen Xingling's gaze and dodged with a slightly embarrassed look.
"...Sister-in-law, you are back."
Chen Xingling nodded, walked into the kitchen, poured a bowl of water, used another bowl to dry it, and called Xiaohuzi in to drink water.
In the yard, Gu Ying and Gu Miao surrounded Gu Yi and tortured him again, forcing him to write an application immediately. "Otherwise he must have something to hide, and he must be hiding something from his family." blah blah.
Gu Yi dodged back and forth anxiously, annoyed: "I've already told you! Give me a few more months!"
Ying asked sharply, "Why does it take several more months? Why? Didn't you say you would explain? Explain it clearly!"
Gu Yi was anxious and helpless, so he turned around and hid in the kitchen.
Ying and Gu Miao followed closely and forced him to write the application immediately so that he could return to the city and prepare for employment after the New Year.
Gu Yi was angry and upset, his eyes were red.
"Can't we just wait a few months?! Mom, two months, okay? Just two months! I'll decide after the spring!"
Ying shook her head: "No, come back immediately, or else there will be more trouble!"
Gu Yi cried out "Ouch!" and tried to walk out in frustration.
Ying and Gu Miao hurriedly chased after him.
Chen Xingling couldn't bear it any longer and spoke loudly, "Ayi said he wanted to wait a little longer, he must have his reasons! He-he wants to go to Yucheng with us to see the employment situation there, and then make plans!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Ying and Gu Miao suddenly turned around and stared at her in surprise.
Gu Yi in front was stunned for a second, then nodded hurriedly.
"Yes, yes! Big brother asked me a while ago if I wanted to work in his shipyard, and I said I would wait and see. The day after tomorrow, my sister-in-law and Xiao Huzi are going back, and big brother asked me to go with him so that I can take care of them on the way. Big brother also asked me to stay in Yucheng for a while to see if the employment situation there is suitable for me."
Ying looked at her youngest son suspiciously, then looked at Chen Xingling.
"Really? Archie arranged it?"
Chen Xingling looked at his brother-in-law who was bowing and clasping at the back, and nodded calmly.
"Aqi told me that he really wanted Ayi to work in Yucheng. He also said that he hoped he would continue to study and take the college entrance examination, but Ayi said that he had missed too much knowledge and would not be able to pass the examination in eight years. Aqi thought that he had a good foundation at the shipyard, so he wanted Ayi to work there as well and try to find a job for him."
What she said was coherent and well-reasoned. Ying had indeed heard before that her eldest son wanted his younger siblings to go to college, so she believed it immediately!
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