The Analects of Righteous Father's Collapse Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Unquestioning Filial Piety 9

Author: 打字机N号

T /N: This is a MTL work. I tried to edit as best as I could, any mistake plz do put your comment and I will edit it ASAP. This is my first attempt on chinese novel so please cheer me up! I hope you will find this novel as interesting as I do.

Xu Xuexue still remembered what her married older sister told her long time ago.
　　
Whether a woman will have a good life after marrying depends on three points. First, your own mother's attitude. Second, your own ability and temperament. And the third point and also the most difficult point to achieve. That is your husband's support.
　　
These three points, as long as they managed to achieve one, a woman's life in her husband's family will not be too difficult. 
　　
It's just that Xu Xiuxiu's life was so hard, and none of these three requirements were achieved by her. 
　　
Since she got married, her own family basically stop contacting her. Even during the New Year, they are not willing to visit Xu Xiuxiu. They always gave an excuse that they were tie up due to the autumn harvest. How can she ever hope for such family to help her whenever she was wronged by others?
　　
As for her own ability, Xu Xiuxiu is hard-working person. But how many woman in the country who are not. In addition, her temper is also weak. She easily let people flatten and push her around.Even though her husband's family approve her but it didn't stop them from bullying her.　

Speaking of her husband, that person was full of filial piety. He recklessly obeyed the words of his parents to work for the family. Even though he also knew that he had been wronged, but he still insisted on fulfilling his filial piety. What's more, he had also dragged Xu Xiuxiu into the mess. Such a husband, Xu Xiuxiu could no longer count on him to support her. 
　　
But now everything is different. Her husband had completely changed due to being broken-hearted. Not only he no longer stupidly listened to her in-laws, but he is also getting more and more considerate of her. 
　　
Before Jiang Liu hit his head, Xu Xiuxiu could never imagined that she will be able to use the skin cream or apply the clam oil on her hand, or even wearing this brand new scarf. She did not even dare to imagine that this man will help her to boil the water for cooking after labouring at the field all day. 
　　
During this time, she finally found her inner strength. She no longer needs to swallow her grievance when facing those people. She can now also express her own ideas and make her own stand.

Xu Xiuxiu thought that finally she started to live like a person.　　

Unlike Xu Xiuxiu's happiness, Wang Xuemei, who finally realized what Xu Xiuxiu had said, was completely blown up.　　

“What are you doing? Why do you want to smash that? We do not have enough things in this house for you to spoil indiscriminately.” 
　　
Miao Caifeng who came out from the house and saw her second daughter-in-law smashing the pail immediately reprimanded her for her action.

“Mom, you don't know. Da jie dare to say-"

Wang Xuemei started to complain when she suddenly realized that she really do not have any position to do so. She was younger than Xu Xuexue. Even if she wanted to have that scarf, if the other person do not want to give it to her, it was not wrong. People will only say that she, Wang Xuemei, was being petty, but other people will never criticize Xu Xiuxiu for being stingy. 
　　
Since the separation of the family, the attitude of the old lady clearly indicated that she no longer wanted to meddle with this eldest son of her. If she were to complain to the old lady this time, she was afraid that it will attract the old lady's reproach instead.

“What happened to you?” 
　　
Miao Caifeng asked with a raised eyebrow.　　

“Nothing, it just that, after big brother made money, he bought a new scarf for da jie. I just saw her outside showing it off. The big brother is really, earning money yet still did not give anything to mother. You can see that his previous filial piety was not sincere at all."

Wang Xuemei turned a blind eyes as she tried to sow discord.　　

“We are already separated. If they wanted to buy anything just let them be. But you still dare to provoke me with it."

When she heard Wang Xuemei's words, Miao Caifeng's face suddenly turned sour. It was unknown whether it was due to Wang Xuemei provocation or because her heart was actually angry that his eldest son had disregarded her as a mom.

“Even if the family is separated, you are still his mother."　

Wang Xuemei whispered to herself. It could not be that this two old people really wish that her husband will take care of them forever?　　

“Hey, when the first and second house separated, we had written it all in black and white. We already agree that you and Hai-zi will support us in the future. We also agree that this ancestry house will be given to you two. However, if you wish not to do so, just tell us early. We do not need for your sympathy. Even if the both of us need to work, your father and I won't starve without the two of you."

The old lady's eyes was wide open, glaring at the person in front of her. Although she was an open-minded person, but obviously from her expression, she will tear this daughter-in-law's mouth if she ever agree to her statement.

However, because of his own little son still working under his father-in-law's, Miao Caifeng did not say anything too ugly.She still need to leave Wang Xuemei some face.

“Mom, what are you talking about? Do you think Hai-zi and I are that kind of person? You can rest assured that Hai-zi and I will definitely support you and father-in-law.”　　

Wang Xuemei immediately changed her word. Now this two old ones can still work in the field. Her mother-in-law can also help her caring after the two children and share the housework. She was not so stupid to say that she is not willing to help them to support the family, let alone letting go of the house deed. 
　　
Her family's condition is really good. However, all the family properties were left to her several brothers. As a married daughter, her family can only help her man get a job. Therefore Wang Xuemei really valued the house she lived in now. She already considered it as hers.

“It is good that you know it.” 
　　
Miao Caifeng raised her eyebrows and glanced at Wang Xuemei. She grabbed the bucket and turned toward the kitchen.　　

“That unscrupulous idiot, when he was born, I didn't know if I had misplaced him with other kids. He didn't want to pay off the debt, and yet still bought a new scarf for his wife.”

When she was alone, Miao Caifeng couldn't help but held the bucket and slapped it, the strength on her hand was much heavier than usual.　

These days, she heard the news that her eldest son had made a little money, and Miao Caifeng's heart was very gratified. Although she was bias, she won't curse her son just because his life is getting better than them.　

Miao Caifeng thought that if the other party can make money, then they should pay off the debt as soon as possible. After everyone anger subsidizes, she was willing to reconcile and passed his second son's child to be raised by her eldest son.

Last year, the government had resumed the college entrance examination. The rural people who did not pay much attention to study had now seen the benefit of being literate. They usually sent their children to the commune primary school to study. However in order to attend college, they need to study in higher grade. It will cost lots of money.
　　
Miao Caifeng had considered this before. It was impossible for his younger son to earn enough money to support his two son, let alone building a house for these two sons and their wife.
　　
Now the bride price is getting higher and higher.She heard that in the city the idea of giving three items dowry had been getting popular [T/N: From what I googled, they need to prepare these three item bicycle, radio and sewing machine or wristwatch].This old lady got a headache every time she thought of the future of her grandsons and their granddaughter-in-law. Since her eldest son had no possibility of having a children, she considered letting her eldest son adopts one of his nephew. In the future, this adopted son will be able support his eldest son. It will also alleviated the burden of her second son. This is actually killing two birds with one stone.　　

Of course, this was just ​​Miao Caifeng's wishful thinking. She knew in her heart that since the incident, her eldest son had been avoiding them and may be unwilling to raise his own nephew. 
　　
However, this does not prevent Miao Caifeng from expressing his views on her son's money-spending activity. The conservative temper of the older generation was that they do not like debts. At this time, she did not hear anything about her eldest son paying off his debt with the hospital. To spend money to buy an unnecessary scarf for the wife was seen as a purely a waste expense in Miao Caifeng's view. 　　

But who let them be separated now. She can only say a few words in the back. She can't even reveal her dissatisfaction in the face of her younger son and daughter-in-law. This really ruin this old lady down. 
　　
***** 
　　
On the third day since Jiang Liu's trip to the city,the higher up in the team including Big Guan finally come to a decisionand broadcasted to whole team early, asking them to gather at night. After dinner, everyone started to gather at the sundeck. Of course, those frail old ones and some who are working to feed the animal were excluded.　　

It was impossible for those higher up to discuss this matter in hush.Some people already knew about it before the meeting. It was just because there was no meeting so they could not make a conclusive move. When they heard of the evening meeting, they finally had a peace of mind in regard to this big event. 　　

During that night meeting, Big Guan briefly told the team that the department store in the city is willing to sign a contract with the team to provide them with the thatch handicraft. He then talk for a long time in regard to Jiang Liu contribution towards this endeavour as well as his role as a leader for this project. 
　　
He continued announced that starting from tomorrow, the women and the elderly who can't do heavy work will go to Jiang Liu to learn the craftsmanship. For each complete work, it will be charge accordingly. Apart from the teaching fees that they need to pay for the first two years, the rest of the income will belong to them.
　　
For the people on the team, this is an excellent money-making project. Compared with the money that they will earn, they only need to separate one-tenth of it as a teaching fees.

However, Big Guan also reminded them that the raw materials needed for weaving such as the thatched straw and bamboo shells are classified as public. Everyone who wants to pick up the work has to spend money to buy materials from the team. The money will be handed over to the country in the future.　　

Some villagers are dissatisfied by that. But Big Guan quickly explained that if they did not collect money for the raw material and sold the item made from it to the department store, the government might sue them for taking the capitalist road.  After all, this is not a small project. After their team started to earn money, there will be other people who will be eyeing them. Therefore, they need to cover everything from the base.

Fortunately, the price of the thatched grass was not high. As per their calculation, even though it will cost them around ten or twenty cents for the material, however, they should be able to sell the finished product at least forty cents each. If they minus the tuition fees, they can earn up twenty to thirty cents per item. If they can make three item in one day, they will be able to earn around two coins. In one month they might even be able to earn twenty to thirty yuans. 
　　
When did farmer ever had an opportunity to earn that much money!　　

Once everyone is thinking about it, their heart could not stop boiling.　　

"But I still need to give you a reminder. The person who are responsible working at the field should be here on time.I don't care if you want to pitch any help to this project after returning home. I want to see if anyone dare trying to escape from working when they are supposed to. I also going to warn all those people who tried to be lazy and slothful by not attending the weaving lesson. In addition to the elderly who can't work on the field, the women also need to do the farm work as usual. After you finish the work, no matter how much time you are willing to spend on the thatch? I don't care.” 　　

For the farmers, the field work is the most important thing. So most of them unanimously agreed with Big Guan. The members who were stunned by the ideal income began to wake up. 
　　
However, most of them know how to be satisfied. According to their current income, it is good that they can add several yuan for each month. 
　　
“Liu-zi is truly open-minded.” 

“That's why we didn't misread him. That child is really sincere.”　　

They started to rain Jiang Liu with praise. From now on, he is half of the team's leader.

Chapter end