Chapter 54

The Xu family had become accustomed to their aunt’s behavior. She was in her late thirties, approaching forty, and her personality was set in stone, unchangeable.

Although Grandpa and Grandma Xu had always indulged their aunt, even now, they couldn’t completely abandon her.

However, they only indulged her themselves. They wouldn’t demand the same from their two sons, nor would they expect their daughters-in-law to tolerate their clueless daughter.

Xu’s mother was a fiery woman, and the aunt dared not provoke her. Xu’s second aunt was gentler, but Xu’s second uncle was protective of his wife and children.

Xu Di had some fragments of memories from her childhood. When she and Xu Yong were mischievous and got into fights with other village children, leaving them crying, it was always Xu’s second uncle who stepped in to resolve the situation. He never hit or scolded them for such incidents.

If they encountered someone unreasonable, Xu’s second uncle wouldn’t tolerate them either, arguing his case.

The small incident caused by the aunt didn’t affect anything. It was a rare occasion for the family to gather, and they couldn’t let one bad apple spoil the whole bunch.

In Xu’s mother’s eyes, her younger sister was a bad apple.

Grandma Xu had prepared chicken, meat, and fish in advance. Knowing that her eldest son’s family would arrive early, she had prepared everything beforehand.

Xu’s mother and second aunt were cooking in the kitchen, while Xu Di and her elder sister-in-law helped out.

Grandma Xu had called Xu Mei away, presumably to talk to her.

Xu’s elder brother was responsible for watching the children, while Xu Jun and the younger ones from the second uncle’s family had disappeared.

Xu’s father was talking to Xu’s second uncle. Xu Yong would be graduating from high school soon, and they needed to find him a way out.

“Dazhi, Xu Yong graduates from high school in July. What are his plans?”

“He doesn’t know yet. The school hasn’t said anything.

Brother, nowadays, city kids graduate and come to the countryside in droves. We don’t have city residency, so finding a job is even harder.

This year, the village has some recruitment quotas for the army. I want to see if he can get selected.”

Xu’s second uncle knew his elder brother didn’t have any good solutions, otherwise, Xu Mei wouldn’t have stayed in the south and not returned.

“What are the chances?”

“There’s no problem on the village side. Dad has connections, and no one can pull any strings.

I’m afraid that once it goes higher up, he might be replaced.”

Xu Dazhi wasn’t stupid. There were recruitment quotas every year, but only a few actually got in.

Which village child wasn’t strong and healthy? But in the end, there were always reasons for them to be rejected. It wasn’t just their brigade, many other brigades were the same.

“It’s a pity we don’t have any connections in the army. Otherwise, with a word, the opportunity that belongs to us wouldn’t be easily taken away.”

Xu’s father was helpless. Things had been chaotic these past few years, and there was no place to reason.

“Who says not? The entire brigade doesn’t have anyone who joined the army. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be so passive.”

Xu’s second uncle thought about how his child would also have to follow in his footsteps, facing the earth and the sky, working hard every day, earning a few work points, with no hope for the future.

“Let’s see. I don’t know if our factory will be recruiting apprentices this year. If not, even temporary work would be fine. We’ll secure a position first and wait for opportunities.”

Xu’s father couldn’t do anything either. His nephew didn’t have city residency. Otherwise, with his eighth-level machinist status, he could arrange a temporary job.

“Well, there’s no use rushing. It’s still half a year away. Let’s wait for opportunities.”

The two brothers talked for a long time, but they couldn’t come up with any good solutions.

“Brother, second brother, Happy New Year!”

Xu’s aunt came home, bringing her husband and child.

Xu’s uncle, Yan Zhiwei, was six feet tall, with handsome features, thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a square face.

Even though he was almost forty, it was evident that he was a good-looking man.

Xu’s aunt had been infatuated with his good looks back then, ignoring her parents’ advice and stubbornly marrying into the Yan family.

“Zhiwei’s here. Come and sit.”

Xu’s father greeted him, and Yan Zhiwei sat next to his brother-in-law. He was a little afraid of his second brother-in-law and rarely came to his in-laws’ house.

“Humph, besides a pretty face, what else do you have? You’re a grown man, can’t you be more assertive? Get a divorce soon and let your wife and children have a good life.”

Xu’s second uncle couldn’t stand his brother-in-law. He had nothing but good looks.

“Second brother-in-law, my father said we’ll be splitting the family after the first month.”

Yan Zhiwei looked at his second brother-in-law and quickly revealed the news.

He was two years younger than Xu’s second brother. He had been beaten countless times growing up. Especially after he started dating Xiaohua, he avoided Xu’s second brother like the plague.

He knew better than anyone what his family situation was like. But what could he do? It was his own father, even if he was biased, he had raised them, sister and brother.

Now, the family’s situation had improved, and his father had agreed to the separation. He was relieved.

“Alright, speak properly. As long as you can split the family, that’s good. Work hard on your own, and your lives won’t be bad.

Live in harmony, don’t bicker all the time. The children will be affected.”

Xu’s elder brother also looked down on Yan Zhiwei. He felt that as a man, he lacked responsibility.

The situation was clear. Instead of trying to solve it, he just muddled through. The most infuriating thing was that whenever something happened, he wouldn’t come and discuss it with them, but would let Xiaohua come back and argue with his parents.

His sister was also spineless. Even her parents couldn’t control her, so he, as her brother, had nothing to say.

In the outer room, everyone was chatting about their lives.

In the inner room, Grandma Xu was also talking to Xu Mei.

“Ermei, no, Xu Mei, your mother said you’re getting married. What’s the man like? Is he good to you?”

Xu Mei’s relationship with her grandparents was neither good nor bad.

When she was younger, she envied how her grandparents treated Xu Di and was jealous for a while.

“Grandma, he’s good to me. We’re both educated youths and have jobs. We should be able to make a living together.”

“As long as you think he’s good, that’s all that matters. It’s so far away, be careful and keep an eye out. Don’t be like your aunt, blindly…”

Grandma Xu couldn’t continue. She pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket.

“You’re going back to the south, it’s too far away. We can’t go to your wedding, so we didn’t buy you anything.

Here’s fifty yuan. It’s a little something from your grandpa, me, and your uncles and aunts.

Use it to buy whatever you need. You’re an adult now, after you get married, live a good life.”

Most of Grandma Xu’s money came from Xu’s father, and she didn’t have much to spend on, so she saved it all.

Xu Mei didn’t expect her grandmother to give her money. She quickly declined.

“Grandma, I can’t take it. I have money. My parents gave me a lot. You and Grandpa are old, keep it for yourselves.”

“Take it. It’s a blessing from us elders.”

Grandma Xu stuffed the money into Xu Mei’s pocket and pulled her out. It was time to eat.

Everyone was present today, and there was a table full of delicious food. Everyone was relatively quiet, and nothing unusual happened.

After dinner, Xu’s father took his family back to the city.

On the sixth day of the lunar new year, Xu Mei was leaving.

“This is a bed sheet, quilt cover, and pillowcase I prepared for you. It’s too far away, we can’t go to your wedding.”

Xu’s mother said, tears welling up in her eyes.

“Mom, it’s okay, I understand. You guys take care of yourselves at home. I’m an unfilial daughter, woo woo…”

Xu Mei also cried uncontrollably, feeling heartbroken.

“This is a gift from your elder brother, sister-in-law, Xu Di, and Xu Jun.”

Xu’s mother handed Xu Mei the gifts from Dali and the others, packed the prepared food for her, and it was time to leave.

Xu Mei looked at the gifts from her siblings, and tears welled up again.

With reluctance, thinking about Li Gengsheng, she left home with mixed emotions, heading towards the unknown.