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Chapter 198: Chapter 191 Are You Sending Off a Beggar
"But, since the leader thinks so highly of Hongqi, we can’t cause them trouble, can we? After hearing about this, your father insists on taking Hongqi to visit the leader." Qiu Shuping said with a sigh, "It’s a wonderful thing that Hongqi could go to college. If he really gets in, graduates, and becomes a government official, our Li Family would finally have made it. But since they’ve done us such a big favor, we can’t visit them empty-handed. You agree, don’t you, Yunfang?"
Shen Yunfang pursed her lips, now fully understanding the reason behind her mother-in-law and sister-in-law’s visit.
They must not have had enough money for a gift or were reluctant to pay it all themselves, and wanted her, who might benefit from her brother-in-law’s future success, to share the burden.
"Mom, you and dad can make the decision on this matter. We’ve divided the household, and since little brother is living with you and dad, we have no objections to whatever you decide," Shen Yunfang said with a polite smile.
Qiu Shuping could hear the implied meaning in her daughter-in-law’s words, understanding that after the family division, they couldn’t ask for money from her anymore.
"Yunfang, you can’t say it like that, although we have split up the family, it was out of necessity. There are only three brothers in the Li family; even if the bones are broken, they’re still connected by the tendons. Now that Hongqi is in need, how could Hongjun not help? Besides, once Hongqi becomes successful, he will definitely pull his brothers up with him. We need to think more long-term," Qiu Shuping said earnestly.
Shen Yunfang was surprised; she hadn’t expected her rural mother-in-law to speak so eloquently, with such depth, and even advise her to look to the future. It was unbelievable.
Shen Yunfang thought it over, realizing that as Hongqi’s older brother and sister-in-law, they couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. If they did, they would be open to criticism later. So, she was going to give some money, but how much would be up to her.
"Hmm, that really is a good thing. If Hongqi truly can be recommended to go to college, that’s definitely great news."
Qiu Shuping thought she had persuaded Shen Yunfang.
"Isn’t that the truth? If he goes to college, he can become an official or a leader after graduating. Then he could get a job in the city, marry a city girl, and for the rest of his life, he would have escaped this mountain village," Qiu Shuping dreamt of a better life in the future. As long as her younger son could get to the city, she, as his mother, would surely follow. She would look after her son’s children, cook for him, and enjoy good food every day. The mere thought of a better life made her overjoyed.
Shen Yunfang nodded in agreement. At that time, everyone was doing their utmost to move to the city, thinking everything was better there.
"So you see, the reason I came here is firstly to help you out. It must be tough managing the autumn harvest while being pregnant by yourself, and secondly, to share this good news with you. You and Hongjun are Hongqi’s biological brother and sister-in-law. He has such a great opportunity now, and if we are able to help, we should lend a hand, right? He will surely remember your kindness later on," Qiu Shuping said warmly, holding her daughter-in-law’s hand.
Shen Yunfang considered for a moment and then, as if making a great resolution, said, "Alright, I can’t just stand by if my little brother needs help. Here’s what we’ll do: we may not have much, but we have some eggs. When you leave tomorrow, Mom, I’ll send a hundred eggs back with you. Let Hongqi decide whether to give them away or what to do with them. I’ll also give Hongqi ten yuan. I don’t know much about giving gifts, so you can take the money and let him handle it. I’ll visit him again before he goes off to college."
Qiu Shuping’s lips quivered, and her eyes widened as she stared at Shen Yunfang.
Li Xianghe, who was lying on the kang bed pretending to be invisible, suddenly sat up indignantly and said, "You’re treating us like beggars, Hongqi’s college admission is such a big deal, and as his sister-in-law, you only chip in ten yuan. How can you even say that with a straight face?"
Clearly, she and Qiu Shuping were on the same page, voicing exactly what was on Qiu Shuping’s mind.
Shen Yunfang glanced sideways at her sister-in-law, her smile not quite reaching her eyes, "I bring out these old things and money and you say I’m treating you like beggars? If being a beggar meant getting treated like that, I’d gladly be one. If you look down on it so much, Xianghe, why don’t you treat me that way too?"
"I—I don’t have any money," Li Xianghe stammered, her face flushing under her sister-in-law’s gaze, as she desperately looked to her mother for help. She hadn’t expected her sister-in-law to utter such a shameless remark.
"You don’t have money, huh? Well, if I were you, I’d keep quiet." It’s embarrassing to make a fuss if you don’t have the money to back it up.
"Yunfang, your father and I have discussed it. We have to go see the leaders at Hongqi’s school and the leaders at our county’s revolutionary committee. You know, there are plenty vying for this spot, and we can’t let stinginess get in the way of your brother’s future. Just think, once your brother gets into college, how much money could he bring back home?" Qiu Shuping said, her face strained.
Mainly because this daughter-in-law was too stubborn, only willing to give ten yuan after much persuasion.
"Oh, mother, as I’ve said, I don’t really understand these matters. You and father can make the decision." Shen Yunfang dismissed the conversation.
Qiu Shuping, preventing her daughter from speaking, took a deep breath and forced a smile, "Your father and I have already figured this out at home. If we come across as stingy to the leaders, it might jeopardize your brother’s chances, so we’ve thought about preparing two hundred yuan at least, planning to give each leader one hundred as a gesture of our goodwill. We may come from a rural area, but we don’t fall short when it comes to handling matters."
Shen Yunfang didn’t respond, pondering how her in-laws wanted to offer two hundred yuan in bribes and wondering how much they expected to get from her.
Qiu Shuping could tell that this daughter-in-law was pretending not to understand, so she stopped beating around the bush and laid out her intentions plainly."
"Your father’s idea is that since there are only two brothers in the Hong family, Hongjun and Hongxing, if one does well, the others will share in the benefits. So this time, we thought Hongjun and Hongxing could each put in a hundred yuan." Qiu Shuping thought of the eldest in the family and added, "But you know your eldest brother’s situation, many kids and not much capability, unlike Hongjun who has a salary coming in from the army every month. So, I was thinking you two could contribute a bit more this time, and when your eldest brother’s situation improves, we can reconsider."
After finishing, she looked at her daughter-in-law expectantly. 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓅𝓊𝓫.𝒸ℴ𝓶
Shen Yunfang frowned, shocked that her mother-in-law would ask for so much right off the bat. One hundred yuan was equivalent to a family’s entire yearly income, and from what she gathered, since Hongxing had no money, they expected her to foot the bill. Did they mean that going to college and the two hundred yuan they needed was all supposed to come from her, as the second sister-in-law? Ha, she thought, her mother-in-law really considered her a wealthy woman.
