NOVPUB
Chapter 271: Chapter 261: You Pay First
"A sewing machine?" Li Hongjun frowned and asked.
"Yeah, brother, I just want a sewing machine. When big sis got married, our dad even made several trunks for her dowry. But Mom said all the family money went to Hongqi’s education, and now there’s nothing left for me." As Li Xianghe spoke, tears began to drop.
"Why are you crying? Just tell me what you want, and your second brother will take care of it. How could you be left out?" Qiu Shuping got upset when she saw her daughter pining over this. "Besides, your brother going to college is the priority. Once Hongqi makes something of himself, he can lift you up in no time, and that’s better than anything." Her words were also meant for Li Hongjun, implying that even if her younger son was a bit muddled and made some mistakes, eventually he would be a college graduate, a significant person no soldier could hope to match.
Li Hongjun didn’t say anything; he knew his own family’s affairs. They could indeed afford a sewing machine, but that was Yunfang’s hard-earned money. His salary, after helping out his comrades and supporting his wife and children each month, didn’t leave much to save.
He looked around his own house, and although not destitute, Yunfang hadn’t allowed herself to buy any big items. He couldn’t bring himself to ask his wife to spend money on a sewing machine for his sister.
Seeing her second brother’s expression, Li Xianghe knew it didn’t bode well, so she quickly said, "Second brother, Dad said he isn’t asking you to pay for it. It’s just that there’s no money at home right now, so he’s asking you to cover it first. You give Mom and Dad one hundred yuan every year for their care, right? Dad said it can be deducted from that. Whenever it’s paid off, then you can give them money again."
Li Hongjun remained silent. He wasn’t a three-year-old child; sweet words now could lead to who knows what later. He wasn’t exaggerating; his mother could truly make such a scene.
Qiu Shuping was displeased with her daughter’s suggestion since it was essentially money out of her pocket. However, if it could work, then that would do for now. She could always find an opportunity to ask her second son for money later. She didn’t believe he would abandon his parents over this.
"What’s the matter? Dad has already said so much, are you still unwilling to pay?" Qiu Shuping was already feeling crabby, and seeing her son still not give any indication and just frown made her even angrier. "Tell me, why is your heart so hard? I raised you myself, through all the hardships, even if there’s no credit, there’s still labor. Now when we ask for your help, you’re reluctant? You ungrateful wretch." Qiu Shuping had forgotten her initial reason for visiting her son’s house, such was her nature; everything had to conform to her wishes, or she would throw a fit. This was indeed her only tactic, and it generally worked well on the Li family. Thankfully, remembering not to burn bridges with her second son, she managed to keep her tantrum in check, refraining from throwing herself onto the kang and causing an outright scene.
"Mom, it’s not that Hongjun doesn’t want to pay, it’s that we truly don’t have that much money," Shen Yunfang finally spoke up.
She was laying on the kang and couldn’t bear listening anymore. What kind of mother would demean her own son in front of his wife? Moreover, she knew Li Hongjun’s temperament; in this situation, he would either explode with anger or continue to sulk, none of which would help solve the actual problem. So, it was up to her to negotiate with her mother-in-law.
"What do you mean ’no money’? Who are you trying to fool?" Qiu Shuping turned her anger towards her daughter-in-law. "How could I not know how much my son earns each month? And now you’re lying to me about being broke, do I look like a three-year-old to you? And still, you live large at home, enjoying pig’s trotters and elbow meat. Did you grow such a gourmet mouth?" 𝓃𝓸𝓋𝓅𝓊𝒷.𝓬𝓸𝓂
This was outright jealousy. Ever since she saw the food at her second son’s home, she was filled with envy and regret—good food that was wasted on Shen Yunfang. If they hadn’t split the family, if her son hadn’t married this woman, all the good food and her son’s salary would have been hers.
"Mom..." Li Hongjun suddenly stood up, looking ready to burst into flames.
How could he allow his wife to suffer such injustice, with his own mother scolding her like this in front of him? It would be different if his wife were at fault, but it was clear that his mother was just picking a fight.
Seeing that things were going south, Shen Yunfang quickly grabbed hold of Li Hongjun. It wouldn’t do for the two of them to start fighting in their own home. Regardless of who was right or wrong, it wouldn’t sound good if word got out. Worse, Li Hongjun could be labeled unfilial, which was the last thing he needed since he still had to make a career in the military. Gossip of that nature, true or false, would not bode well for his future.
"What’s the matter, what’s the matter? What are you yelling for?" Qiu Shuping also glared with wide eyes.
"Alright, with that temper of yours, don’t just stick around inside. Hurry up and go get some more bean buns for mom. I put them in the jar in the backyard, go check there," Shen Yunfang ordered him out.
Li Hongjun was still somewhat worried, but thinking of how cunning and careful his wife was, surely she wouldn’t be at a disadvantage, he went out to fetch more stuff for his mother.
"Mom, there’s no need to be upset. I didn’t like the way you spoke just now. What do you mean by me eating and drinking extravagantly? Let’s not even mention that I’m in my postpartum period and need to eat well to nourish the baby, but considering the current situation, with the New Year and all, isn’t it right for me to prepare the best from what we have? I can’t believe that you and dad would just have flatbread with salted vegetables during the New Year. Besides, Hongjun only comes back once a year. Even if I have to make do with bran and vegetables usually, I should at least prepare something nice for him to eat when he’s here. Don’t you agree, mom?" Shen Yunfang explained to her mother-in-law calmly and rationally, choosing to win her over with virtue instead of anger.
"Also, mom, it’s not that Hongjun doesn’t want to agree, it’s that we really don’t have that much money. A tiny sewing machine alone costs one hundred and thirty or forty; where are we supposed to get that much money? You see how it looks like Hongjun has a decent monthly salary, but you haven’t seen how much he spends."
Shen Yunfang then began to list in meticulous detail the allocation of Li Hongjun’s salary to his mother-in-law. He had to help out a few comrades every month, and that was a large chunk of his money, almost a third of his salary. He also needed to participate in social interactions in the army, which meant he had to keep another third for himself. The remaining third was what he sent back home.
That little ten or eight yuan Shen Yunfang didn’t dare to spend recklessly; she was saving it. In the past few months, Li Hongqi had started university, and she had contributed fifty yuan, and then she had stayed several days in the city to deliver the baby, which cost a fair bit. With Hongjun coming home for the New Year, Shen Yunfang did not want to shortchange him, so she bought some meat, thinking to nourish him.
After adding it all up, they had only been married for a year; how could they possibly have any savings? It was already good enough that they were not in debt.
Qiu Shuping listened carefully, and after hearing her daughter-in-law’s words, she did some thinking herself. Her daughter-in-law was right; taking into account everything she said, it did indeed seem that her son truly couldn’t afford a sewing machine.
However, she hadn’t really expected her son to be able to save any money from his salary. Before he was married, he could send her ten yuan a month, and the rest he spent, so she actually had her sights set on the money in her daughter-in-law’s possession.
