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Chapter 115: Chapter 110: Visiting Relatives (Four)_2
Shen Yunfang cooperated by sitting on the bed across from him, face-to-face. This was also one of the reasons she came for a family visit. Ever since she and Li Hongjun’s mother had a conflict over money and grain, she had been thinking about having a proper talk with Li Hongjun. After all, getting married was no small matter; some things had to be talked through.
"Yunfang, I want to discuss something with you, how about you join the army with me after we get married next year?" Even though it was phrased as a question, the tone was assertive.
From the letters he received from home, he could tell that his future mother-in-law did not like him, and his father was indifferent to everything. He really couldn’t rest easy leaving his wife alone at home after the marriage. Besides, he didn’t want to be separated from his wife, so the best solution was to have her join him in the military.
"No way." Shen Yunfang rejected the idea without a second thought.
Li Hongjun’s eyes sharpened instantly, "Say that again."
"Why are you glaring at me?" Shen Yunfang shouted with feigned strength, finding his stare a bit frightening.
"Comrade Shen Yunfang, I must seriously warn you to address the problem without emotions. We’ve come this far; if you don’t marry me, who else do you plan to marry?" Li Hongjun said sternly.
He could indulge her in everything else, but he couldn’t indulge her in refusing to marry him.
Shen Yunfang rolled her eyes. What did he mean by "we’ve come this far"? What had happened? Apart from a little kissing and cuddling, nothing had happened. And even if it had, that wouldn’t make marriage compulsory.
"Am I wrong? I’ve read the letter your mother sent you, not a single good word about me, and she even said she’d disown you if we got married. I’m also considering your feelings here—it’s not right to disown your mother over getting married, is it?" Shen Yunfang spoke with her head held high, as if that would give her words more force.
Li Hongjun could no longer maintain his severity at her cockfight-like expression, and with a chuckle, he ruffled her hair.
"What are you doing? Speak with words, not with your hands and feet," Shen Yunfang protested, pulling her head back.
"Alright, it seems you, young comrade, have a lot of grievances. Now I’m giving you a chance to voice them all out. The organization will resolve each one of them, ensuring you can drop the burden and advance lightly." Li Hongjun relaxed, leaning back in his chair with the demeanor of a leader in a heart-to-heart talk with a subordinate.
"Fine, since you put it that way, I’ll speak my mind." Shen Yunfang gathered her thoughts before asking, "What’s your view on the issue of your mother coming to my place asking for money and grain?"
"Didn’t I already state my opinion in the letter? You did the right thing." Li Hongjun raised an eyebrow at her, feeling it was obvious—hadn’t he made himself clear? "I’ve said it before; it’s my duty to show filial piety, not yours. If you manage our small home well without giving me worries, that’s enough."
Shen Yunfang nodded, pleased with Li Hongjun’s response, and then shared her own plans.
For the next three years, until 1977, she had no intention of leaving Gaijiatun. She planned to use these years to start a breeding business at home. Having visited the army, she realized that the conditions there were no better than at home. So, she preferred to raise pigs for a couple more years, saving up enough meat to ensure a comfortable life wherever they lived later.
Furthermore, selling a year’s harvest on this outing had netted her a considerable sum, giving her a taste of success; she wanted to work hard for another two years so she could afford to raise children in the future.
They couldn’t rely solely on Li Hongjun’s modest salary, and they still had to give a portion to their parents out of filial duty. She didn’t want a life where she had to count every penny just to afford some meat.
Even without conditions, she was determined to create them to have a good life.
"So I’m planning to work hard at home for the next couple of years, save up some money, so that when we have a child, he can have meat when he wants meat, soup when he wants soup." These were Shen Yunfang’s true feelings, but she omitted a detail: marrying Li Hongjun wasn’t a necessity for her, but having children in the future definitely was. In such circumstances, she believed it wasn’t too much for her to want to create a better living environment for her own child.
Furthermore, she had no intention of staying in the countryside for the rest of her life. Once the college entrance examination was reinstated, she was definitely going to leave. By then, with a full purse, she could live well anywhere.
Li Hongjun fell silent. It hadn’t occurred to him that the girl might not want to marry him. Following her thoughts, he also started to think about the future of their children. He considered his meager salary and the life that Old Zhou’s family was leading.
"Alright, I agree with you working at home for a few years, but this won’t delay our marriage." In the end, Li Hongjun gritted his teeth and agreed. He had learned from a letter that his girl was quite good at raising chickens and ducks. As long as it didn’t tire her, he would let her do it for a couple of years. Meanwhile, he could focus on working hard in the army for the next two years, aiming for a promotion to increase his salary.
Shen Yunfang looked at him, hesitant, struggling to voice her next thoughts.
Li Hongjun, what was he missing? Her subtle expressions were instantly discovered and thoroughly analyzed. "If you have something to say, take this opportunity and speak up."
Shen Yunfang glared at him. How could he be so domineering?
"Have you ever considered, we’re not even married yet and your mother is already making blatant trouble at my home? If we do get married, she’ll become even more unbridled. Maybe things could be better when you’re around, but have you thought about what it would be like for me to deal with your mother if you were in the army? You should have noticed that your mother and I don’t get along. If you leave, there’s a good chance I would end up fighting with your mother, and don’t expect me to be a submissive daughter-in-law. And as you know, your mother is quite forceful. If I respond wrongly, she could even ransack my home."
"That’s why you should come and live with the army after we get married," Li Hongjun thought to himself.
"Another thing, I shouldn’t have to tell you what kind of person your mother is. If we get married and I continue living in Gaijiatun, raising chickens and ducks, just imagine how often your mother would come asking for eggs and such?"
He didn’t even have to think about it; Li Hongjun knew the answer. And it wasn’t just his mother—his sister-in-law and his younger sister, too, would not be left out.
"When that time comes, should I give them to her or not?" Shen Yunfang asked.
She definitely couldn’t give in; otherwise, there would be no end to it. She wasn’t raising chickens and ducks just to feed others for nothing. And here was the problem: if she refused, wouldn’t the Li Family bear down on her?
Shen Yunfang gave Li Hongjun a moment to think before she continued, "So I was thinking, to avoid all these troubles in the future, how about we split the household after getting married? That’s what I’m truly aiming for."
Li Hongjun considered the possibility of splitting up the household, but in the end, he shook his head. "It’s tough; my dad will definitely not agree." The older generation had their convictions, and they believed that one should not split up the family when there were elders at home.
Shen Yunfang spread her hands, resigned, "Well then, it seems you’ll have to find yourself another wife who your mother likes."
Li Hongjun’s eyes narrowed dangerously. So, she’d been waiting for him to say that.
He didn’t give her any time to sense the danger. In one quick step, he moved forward, and with a gentle push, leaned in, pinning her between him and the bed, "I don’t want to hear that again, understand? Remember, you are about to become a soldier’s wife and must have the excellent qualities of a qualified one. Don’t be afraid of difficulties; we can work together to overcome them. It’s not like us to back down at the first sign of trouble."
