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Chapter 445: The Money Dispute
Chapter 445: The Money Dispute
After playing with fireworks on the beach for over an hour, it was already close to 9 pm when they returned home.
Zhou Chengxin and Tian Caixia brought the children back to bathe and get ready for bed.
Not long after leaving the courtyard, Tian Caixia asked her sons:
"Grandpa and Grandma, how much New Year's money did they give you?"
The brothers replied in unison, but with different amounts:
"Five yuan."
"Ten yuan!"
"Two yuan!"
"Two yuan!"
Tian Caixia: "..."
These little rascals were already starting to deceive people!
Even daring to lie to their parents!
"You little brats, how dare you lie to me! Grandpa and Grandma gave you ten yuan each, and you still dare to say it was five, two, or one yuan! Only the second brother is the most well-behaved!"
Zhou Wenguang: "Who told you to deceive our New Year's money every year!"
"Yes! Every year, you deceive our New Year's money!"
"Was I lying? I was just keeping it safe for you!" Tian Caixia asked again, "How much New Year's money did your Uncle and Aunt give you? Don't lie, next year when your aunt gives birth to your little brother, your parents will have to give them back the same amount."
The children replied in unison:
"Ten yuan."
"Did Uncle and Aunt give you ten yuan each?"
"Yes, Uncle and Aunt gave us ten yuan each."
"What about the red envelopes Aunt gave you during dinner? Each of you got two or three of those."
"Those were two yuan each."
Tian Caixia couldn't help but click her tongue, Jiang Xia was indeed very generous.
"What about Uncle and Aunt? How much did they give?"
"Uncle gave two yuan, and Aunt gave fifty cents."
That was the same as previous years, as Tian Caixia had also given Zhou Ying fifty cents.
However, this year, Zhou Chengxin gave Zhou Ying and Zhou Zhou five yuan each as New Year's money.
Thanks to having given birth to many sons, Tian Caixia managed to earn quite a few red envelopes from Li Xiuxian every year. This year, she earned less, but she still came out on top! Moreover, if Zhou Chensen found out that Zhou Chengxin had given Yingying five yuan, he would make up for it next year.
However, this year, Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Xia's child hadn't been born yet, so they had essentially profited over a hundred yuan from the couple.
Even if Jiang Xia gives birth next year, she'll only have three children, while Tian Caixia has four, so she's always ahead in terms of New Year's money!
Tian Caixia happily said, "Where's the New Year's money? Hand it over to me, and I'll keep it safe for you."
The children instantly became dissatisfied.
Zhou Wenguang: "You're lying! Every year you say you'll keep it safe for us, but in the end, it all goes into your pocket! When we ask you for money to buy things, you don't give us a single cent! I'm not giving it to you this year; I'll keep it myself."
"Yes! Every year, you take our New Year's money! I'm not giving it to you this year; I'll keep it myself."
"I'm not giving it either; I want to keep it myself."
"I won't give it to you either; I want to keep it myself!"
Tian Caixia, exasperated: "If you receive New Year's money, it's because your father and mother also give out New Year's money to others! Give it to me quickly; what do you need so much money for?"
In the past, the grandparents gave the children two yuan each, but this year, with more money in their hands, they gave the children more New Year's money.
Tian Caixia had received a red envelope of five hundred yuan from Zhou's parents, making a total of one thousand yuan, which was why she asked the children.
The couple had received a total of two thousand yuan in red envelopes from the grandparents.
This was more than what they had given the grandparents for the New Year.
Thinking about it, they felt a bit embarrassed.
"No way!" The children immediately ran home and hid their New Year's money.
Tian Caixia went after them.
Zhou Chengxin: "Forget it, let the kids keep their New Year's money since they're older now."
Tian Caixia: "What are you talking about? What do kids need so much money for? They'll just waste it all!"
This was money given by family, and each child now had forty to fifty yuan, which was equivalent to an adult's monthly salary! How could they let the children keep it?
At the new house, Li Xiuxian saw that Zhou Chensen was as steady as a mountain and grew anxious: "Should we go back to bathe and sleep too?"
"You go ahead! I'll stay and keep them company." Zhou Chensen wasn't in a hurry. The old residence was right across the street, and after his brother's family returned home, he continued sitting in the living room, watching TV with his parents. He planned to stay until midnight and then return home after seeing the New Year in.
Li Xiuxian couldn't sit still and said to her daughter, "Yingying, it's getting late. Mom will take you back to bathe and sleep."
Zhou Ying: "Tonight, I'll sleep here with my sister, and I'll bathe here."
Li Xiuxian: "It's the New Year, and you should sleep with your parents. Be good! It's so late, and you'll be cold if you bathe by yourself. Mom will help you bathe."
"No!"
The weather was cold, and the later it got, the colder it became. Zhou Mu also worried that her granddaughter might catch a cold during the New Year celebrations, so she said, "If Yingying wants to sleep here, let her. You can just help her take a bath here."
Li Xiuxian thought it was a good idea, and she wanted to see the elders and find out how much Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei had given in New Year's money to Yingying.
This evening, the elders had given them a total of two thousand yuan, which was an unexpected surprise! As for Tian Caixia, she didn't expect much from her.
It must be fifty cents!
While giving Zhou Ying a bath, Li Xiuxian learned that the elders and the Jiang Xia couple had given ten yuan each, and Zhou Chengxin had given five yuan, which made her very happy.
Altogether, they had received over fifty yuan, which was more than her monthly salary.
But then she thought about how Jiang Xia would give birth to three children next year, and her happiness faded.
Not only would the eldest son's family lose out on New Year's money every year, but the fourth son's family would also be at a disadvantage! And the amount given to Zhou Zhou was even more uncertain.
With this thought, Li Xiuxian felt an even greater urgency to have a son.
She also wanted to have triplets or quadruplets, instantly surpassing her two sisters-in-law.
At the stroke of midnight, the Zhou family father and son set off a string of firecrackers. After welcoming the New Year, they could finally go to sleep.
Li Xiuxian waited for Zhou Chenglei to finish bathing and return to bed before saying, "Today, Dad and Mom gave me a big red envelope, and I was surprised to find so much money inside. We only gave them two hundred yuan for the New Year. You should find an opportunity to return the money to them!"
Zhou Chenglei glanced at her and replied with a simple "Hmm."
After speaking, Zhou Chenglei covered himself with his blanket and went to sleep.
Currently, the couple slept under separate blankets.
Li Xiuxian took the initiative to crawl into his blanket and snuggled up to him, hugging him.
The couple hadn't had an intimate moment in a long time, perhaps over two months? She was feeling a bit amorous, and if this cold war continued, she wondered how she would have a child next year.
Zhou Chenglei spoke in a calm tone, "Let's sleep. I'm tired."
The night before, he had cleaned the house until late, and the night after that, he had gone out to sea in the middle of the night. Tonight, he had stayed up until midnight to welcome the New Year. After three consecutive nights of little sleep, he was exhausted, and his head ached.
Li Xiuxian: "..."
She retreated to her own blanket with a sullen face.
Outside, the sound of firecrackers continued to fill the air, keeping Jiang Xia awake. She sat at the head of the bed, reading a book.
After Zhou Chenglei finished bathing and drying his hair, he took out four red envelopes from the drawer, which he had prepared earlier, and gave them to Jiang Xia.
Jiang Xia took them and asked, "Who's this from?"
Zhou Chenglei replied, "It's from me, for you and the children."
Jiang Xia smiled, "I didn't prepare any New Year's money for you."
Zhou Chenglei's eyes softened as he sat on the bed, "I don't need it. I prepared it for you, and there will be more every year. There's something for the children and for you."
Jiang Xia smiled and caressed her belly, "My precious ones, Daddy gave you New Year's money, and so did Grandpa and Grandma. I'll keep it safe for you, and when you grow up, I'll give it to you. Grow up big and strong!"
Zhou Chenglei also smiled and placed his hand on Jiang Xia's belly.
Suddenly, Zhou Chenglei's body stiffened.
Jiang Xia was taken aback.
The couple exchanged a glance.
Jiang Xia hesitated, "Did it move?"
Zhou Chenglei was even more uncertain, "Maybe?"
At that moment, Jiang Xia's belly moved gently, and Zhou Chenglei felt as if something was brushing past inside.
Jiang Xia felt as if something was crawling inside.
But!
"It moved! It really moved!" Jiang Xia exclaimed with delight, her voice slightly trembling with excitement.
Zhou Chenglei's face lit up with a broad smile, and he nodded vigorously.
It really moved!
It was truly magical!
He leaned down and gently kissed the spot where the baby had kicked, "My precious ones, it's Daddy. Happy New Year!"
Jiang Xia gently caressed her belly, "My precious ones, it's Mommy. Happy New Year!"
Zhou Chenglei cooed to the babies, "My precious ones, did you hear Mommy and Daddy wishing you a Happy New Year? If you did, move again!"
However, there was no response from the belly.
Zhou Chenglei didn't give up, "My precious ones, can you hear me? It's Daddy."
Still, there was no reaction.
Jiang Xia took over, "Let me try!"
She picked up a few more red envelopes, "My precious ones, look, this is Daddy's New Year's money for you!"
And then the belly moved again!
Zhou Chenglei: "..."
So, his children were not only foodies and good sleepers but also little money-grubbers?
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(End of Chapter)
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