Xing Jiafu said, “Your mother and I aren’t the kind of lazy people who lie around doing nothing and wait for our children to support us. We’ve been working our backs off in the fields, going years without even buying a new set of clothes. Who do you think we’ve been doing all that for? Isn’t it for you kids?”
“Having you hand in money is still for your own benefit in the end.”
He looked at Baolan.
Baolan lowered her eyes, her face showing none of the moved expression he expected.
Xing Jiafu felt a little disappointed.
Baomei quickly chimed in, “Dad, you’re right. We’ll all listen to you.”
Baolin said, “That’s true.”
Baozhen added, “Dad, I’m still young, but when I grow up I’ll definitely help you.”
They all stated their positions and then looked at Baolan together.
Baolan had already come up with an idea. She said straightforwardly, “Alright, I can contribute part of my wages.”
Xing Jiafu finally heard what he wanted and beamed. “Good, good. I knew you were a good child.”
“Wait, Dad, I’m not finished yet.”
“Go on, go on.”
“I’ve started working, so it’s no problem to give back to the family. But big brother will soon finish his apprenticeship. Starting next year, he’ll be taking jobs and earning money. Shouldn’t he also contribute to the household and support the younger ones?”
Xing Jiafu froze.
“My suggestion is: for anything under eight yuan, whatever amount big brother contributes, I’ll contribute the same.”
Xing Jiafu was about to speak, but Baolan cut him off. “Also, the money I hand in goes to you. Big brother’s contribution, however, should be kept with me. We’ll each keep records of income and expenses. Dad, you’re an accountant—you should understand.”
“What do you mean by that?” Xing Jiafu frowned. Why was she picking a fight with Baosong?
“It means I don’t trust you. I’m worried you might gang up to trick me out of my money. And I want to prevent big brother from just claiming he’s paid when he hasn’t,” Baolan said bluntly.
Xing Jiafu: “……”
Baomei said, “Second sister, that’s too harsh. We’re all family…”
“Big sister, stay out of it. I’ve got even harsher things to say—do you want to hear them?”
After shutting Baomei down, Baolan continued:
“Big brother and I will contribute household money until Baolin gets assigned a job. After Baolin starts working, however many years and however much money we’ve contributed, he’ll have to contribute the same total amount. Baozhen doesn’t count until she starts working—once she does, same rule.”
“Dad, what do you think?”
If Baolin got into a technical secondary school, it would still be four years before he graduated and got assigned a job. Four years later, Baolan would be nineteen and likely talking about marriage—at that point, continuing to give money to her natal family wouldn’t be appropriate.
At eight yuan a month, that’s ninety-six yuan a year—not a small amount. Their family didn’t even earn eighty yuan a year from raising pigs.
Still… this was extremely calculating.
Xing Jiafu’s feelings were complicated. “Baolan, you really refuse to take any loss at all.”
“Why should I take a loss? If I’m willing to, you’ll just arrange endless losses for me.”
Xing Jiafu choked on his words.
He now regretted bringing up the Chen family matter too early. If he had known Baolan was capable enough to pass the worker exam, why would he have even considered an exchange marriage?
And it was also the second daughter’s fault—if she had ability and ideas, why didn’t she tell her parents earlier? Look at how things had turned out now. Besides, what parents in the world are ever wrong? Over such a small matter, she had already grown distant from them.
Xing Jiafu took a puff of his pipe, thinking that letting Baosong contribute money wasn’t entirely unacceptable.
First, he needed to placate Baolan.
As for Baosong… it wouldn’t hurt for the boy to learn how to save money anyway. In the end, it would all still belong to him.
Baolan continued, “Also, for the next few months, I won’t be giving money to the family. I have nothing right now—I need to buy bedding, clothes, a basin, a bucket, and small items like tooth powder, soap, and shampoo. All of that has to come from my wages. I won’t have any extra money.”
“Why buy those unnecessary things?” Xing Jiafu said. “I’ve always told you not to compare food and clothing with others—compare achievements and studies instead.”
“You didn’t let me go to school either. I’ve grown up wanting to eat and dress a little better—that’s not illegal. This year’s wages I’ll use myself. After the new year, whenever big brother starts contributing, I’ll start contributing too.”
Xing Jiafu puffed on his pipe silently.
Baomei interjected, “Second sister, we have bedding at home. You can take a set.”
“Do we have any extra at home? Oh, right—there are two new quilts. But aren’t those prepared by Mom for you and big brother’s weddings? Big brother definitely won’t give his. What about you? Are you willing to give me your dowry?”
Baomei flushed bright red.
Ignoring her, Baolan turned to Xing Jiafu. “Dad, do you agree or not?”
Xing Jiafu coughed. “Your brother is just a new carpenter. Most likely no one will hire him. No work means no money. Unlike you—you get a fixed monthly wage, rain or shine.”
“That’s his problem. Did he seriously learn his craft? Does he work hard? He should look for reasons in himself.”
“Besides, how much has he spent from the family? And how much have I spent? Dad, I found this job on my own. The family didn’t help at all. There’s no reason for me alone to support the whole family.”
“If he doesn’t contribute, I won’t either. Of course, don’t worry—when you’re old, I’ll still give you support money.”
“Think it over.”
After saying that, Baolan went to fetch water to wash up and prepare for bed. She had to get up early tomorrow to catch a boat.
As soon as she left, Baomei and Baolin exchanged glances. They both felt that Baolan had suddenly become sharp and difficult, and they couldn’t quite adjust.
Baozhen said, “Second sister just got a job—what’s there to be so proud of? Dad, when I get a job in the future, I’ll hand all my wages to you. I won’t be stingy like her.”
It was a grand promise, but Xing Jiafu didn’t comment. The youngest clearly wasn’t as smart as the second daughter. His expectations for her were simply that she would marry into a wealthy family and help her brothers.
“Go to sleep,” Xing Jiafu said, waving them off after finishing his pipe.
That night, Xing Jiafu and his wife lay in bed talking for half the night.
He blamed Li Sanniu for being too harsh on Baolan, while Li Sanniu scolded him for being too weak—even unable to control his own daughter.
As they talked, they began arguing. Eventually, Li Sanniu slipped into the girls’ room.
Half-asleep, Baolan felt someone touching her pillow. She opened her eyes and, after a moment, realized the room was lit by a kerosene lamp. A figure sat at the bedside, crying.
“Mom?”
The crying paused. Li Sanniu turned to her. “Baolan, I have no choice. Your brother is like that—if I don’t plan for him, who will?”
She began recounting all the hardships she had endured since marrying into the Xing family—how her mother-in-law mistreated her, how they were given a broken pot when the family split, how when she gave birth to the eldest, she only got one egg mixed into a basin of hot water and still had to share a bowl with the third child… and so on.
Baolan could recite it all by heart.
“Your big brother has suffered cold looks since he was young. I want to find him a good wife so he can hold his head high. You’ll help Mom, right?”
“I’m doing this for your sake too. If your brother marries well, you girls will have better prospects too. If he brings home a crippled widow with children, wouldn’t that look bad for all of you?”
“Baolan, you’ve always been the most obedient. Now that you’ve made something of yourself, just take out some money to help the family through this difficulty. Mom will remember your kindness.”
Baolan said nothing. Li Sanniu began sobbing.
After a while, annoyed, Baolan pushed Baomei hard. She didn’t wake up.
Even a pig should have woken up by now—she was probably pretending.
Seeing that Baolan didn’t comfort her like before, Li Sanniu cried even harder, sobbing as she cursed, “I’ve said everything I can, good and bad—what else do you want me to do? Should I just die so you’ll be satisfied?!”
“Oh heavens, why did I give birth to such ungrateful children? Asking you to hand over some money and you play tricks with your own parents—you don’t feel sorry for me, you all want me dead! Fine, I might as well die!”
As she spoke, she pulled out a length of hemp rope from who-knows-where and wrapped it around her neck. “Come on, strangle me! Strangle me! You’ll be happy once I’m dead!”
Baolan watched her performance numbly.
“Heavens, just take me away! I don’t want to live anymore!”
Li Sanniu then threw the rope over the bed frame as if to hang herself.
Watching her busy act, Baolan suddenly felt like laughing. She said, “Mom, do you think big sister and little sister are pretending to sleep?”
Li Sanniu froze.
“Mom, it seems it’s not just me—no one feels sorry for you. Maybe you should reflect on yourself. Is there something wrong with how you educate us? Or with how you handle things?”
“That’s enough. That’s about it. I’ll give you the space—go on, continue. I’ll go sleep at Baoju’s place. I still have to travel tomorrow—try to be a little considerate.”
With that, she got up. She noticed the sack in front of the cabinet had been untied and rummaged through. Snorting, she tied it back up, picked it up, and went out to knock on her third uncle’s door.
Baoliang rubbed his eyes as he opened it. “Second sister, what’s going on?”
“My mom’s making a scene again. I’ll sleep over at Baoju’s. Second brother, sorry to disturb you.”
“It’s fine. You have to travel tomorrow—go get some rest.” Knowing full well what his aunt was like, Baoliang looked at Baolan with sympathy and let her in.
In the inner room of the west wing, Baoju was sleeping soundly. Baolan didn’t wake her and simply squeezed in beside her to make do for the night.