Chapter 69: Secure the Job First

This is a tough one.

Lin Xiangnan looked at her elder brother with some sympathy.

His wife and mother are not easy to deal with. They both jumped into the water and asked him who to save.

One threatened with a heart attack, the other used the unborn child as a hostage. It was enough to make anyone worried.

If Lin Xiangdong and Sun Xiaod ie stayed in the city, they would face not only economic pressure but also mental pressure from Hu Meili.

Now, Lin Xiangnan couldn’t decide whether it was better to stay in the city or return to the countryside.

Lin Xiangdong knew Sun Xiaod ie’s personality, but he had just learned about her pregnancy.

Now, Lin Xiangdong couldn’t stay calm anymore. He carried his thermos and pushed open the door.

“You’re pregnant, and your motion sickness is so severe. Why did you come all this way?”

Sun Xiaod ie lowered her eyes, a little apprehensive, “I was afraid that after you came back, you would stay in the city and be with another woman, and you wouldn’t want me anymore.”

Wasn’t this forcing Lin Xiangdong to make a promise?

Hu Meili directly interjected, “I said I was dying, why didn’t Xiangdong come back? It turns out you were holding him back in the countryside.”

They had indeed argued about returning to the city. Lin Xiangdong had given his word before he got the visiting permit from the team.

There were many educated youths who couldn’t stand life in the countryside and ran back to the city to make a living on their own. The police would often conduct surprise inspections.

Without the team’s introduction letter, he couldn’t stay in a guesthouse, and he couldn’t even openly stay at home.

Although Sun Xiaod ie was scared in her heart, she was still willing to let him return to the city. This sincerity was enough.

Lin Xiangdong explained to Hu Meili, “Xiaod ie originally wanted to come with me to see you. But after she rode in the car for a whole day, she vomited so badly that I sent her back.”

Their batch of educated youths were sent to remote places. To go home, he had to walk from the team to the county, then take a bus to the city train station, and then take a two-night train. It was extremely difficult to visit home once.

After Sun Xiaod ie went back home alone, she tossed and turned and couldn’t sleep. Finally, she endured the discomfort and took the bus to find Lin Xiangdong.

“Xiaod ie has traveled so far and is tired. I’ll take her…” Lin Xiangdong glanced at Hu Meili, “I’ll take her to the guesthouse to rest.”

“What guesthouse? Do you think it’s free? We have rooms at home, why go to stay outside?” Hu Meili grumbled, pulled back the covers, and scolded Lin Xiangdong, “Hurry up and get me discharged. Day after day, you can’t cure me, and you’re making me uncomfortable.”

Hu Meili glanced at Sun Xiaod ie’s belly and couldn’t help but say, “You’re pregnant and still running around. Don’t you worry about getting sick? If you feel any discomfort now, go to the hospital for a checkup. Don’t blame me later.”

Before, when she pretended to be hospitalized with a heart attack, she couldn’t get Lin Xiangdong to listen to her.

Now, Sun Xiaod ie not only came in person but also had an extra bargaining chip. Hu Meili knew she couldn’t win, so she simply decided to be discharged.

Although she couldn’t stand Sun Xiaod ie, she was also genuinely worried about her health.

Hu Meili was a law-abiding citizen. If something happened to this child because of her, Hu Meili wouldn’t be able to live with herself.

She was sincerely suggesting it, but Sun Xiaod ie was a little wary.

“No need. I’m young and healthy.”

Hu Meili rolled her eyes and didn’t say anything more. She simply packed up her things and prepared to go home.

Seeing the newly built two-story building at home, Sun Xiaod ie was clearly stunned.

She and Lin Xiangdong lived in a tiled house in the countryside. Their house didn’t have electricity or running water. They only had a flashlight, and the water they used was carried back by Lin Xiangdong every morning. Aside from other farm work, just carrying water was tiring enough.

That night, they had leftover chicken soup and lotus root slices made by Lin Xiangxi.

The atmosphere at home was subtle, but Lin Xiangnan didn’t care. She picked up a piece of lotus root and commented, “You put too little vinegar. You should also put more sesame seeds, it’s not fragrant enough.”

Lin Xiangxi had a humble and receptive expression, “It’s really not as delicious as Uncle Fat’s. Mom was in the kitchen today, it affected my performance.”

Mainly because Hu Meili was in the kitchen, Lin Xiangxi didn’t dare to taste the food while mixing it in front of her.

Because Hu Meili would scold him for stealing food.

For heaven’s sake, isn’t it normal for a chef to taste the food?

The dishes were good, and the rice was good, but Sun Xiaod ie held her bowl, and the food tasted like wax.

The Sun family was one of the richest families in the team. When other children dropped out of school, Sun Xiaod ie was able to attend junior high school. When other children’s clothes were patched, she had new clothes every year. When she was fifteen or sixteen, she was the most outstanding girl in their team.

She thought that Lin Xiangdong was not at a loss to be with her.

But coming to the city, she saw the room Lin Xiangdong lived in. She also saw the bicycle, radio, electric fan, and thermos at home… These were all scarce items.

Sun Xiaod ie became a little insecure.

People in the city had a fixed ration of food, while in the countryside, during bad years, many families in the team would go hungry.

Lin Xiangdong was able to endure hardship, but he wasn’t actually very good at farm work. Without the food coupons that Hu Meili occasionally sent him, he would sometimes go hungry.

If Lin Xiangdong lived like this in the city, then Sun Xiaod ie could understand why Hu Meili insisted on bringing her son back to the city.

Even ordinary worker families in the city lived better than those in the countryside. They had food and drink, and they didn’t have to work under the sun or rush to harvest in the rain.

After dinner, Hu Meili said, “Sun Xiaod ie will sleep next to me tonight. After all, you haven’t gotten a marriage certificate, it’s not good to live together.”

Lin Xiangnan couldn’t help but say, “You have a child. You’re still saying this.”

Then she was glared at by Hu Meili.

Lin Xiangnan couldn’t help but feel a headache. Lin Xiangdong didn’t even care about whether he stayed in the countryside or returned to the city, what was Hu Meili making such a fuss about?

That night, when no one was around, Lin Xiangnan was about to go to Hu Meili privately and persuade her to stop.

But just as she was about to knock on the door, she heard Sun Xiaod ie’s voice.

“I can let Xiangdong go back to the city. But I don’t want to be separated from Xiangdong.”

“I know my food ration can’t be transferred, it’s a big problem, but can’t money solve it? You’re willing to spend money to buy a job for your son, why can’t you spend a little more for your grandson?”

“Money? Where do we get the money? I don’t have any money anyway.”

Hu Meili scoffed, but she didn’t say anything harsh because she was worried about the child in Sun Xiaod ie’s belly.

“Xiangdong will earn 18 yuan a month, supporting himself, supporting you, supporting me, and supporting a child later. His money won’t even be enough to buy regular rations, let alone expensive rations.”

Sun Xiaod ie knew this, but she still wanted to struggle, “Can’t you buy another job? If I also have a salary, the money should be enough, right?”

“Do you think I don’t want to?” Hu Meili said softly, “But there are only two jobs in the family now. What can I do?”

Moreover, one of those jobs was for Lin Xiangxi to stay in the city.

Lin Xiangnan stood outside the door for a while, and she didn’t plan to knock anymore.

Let them fight, whatever they want to do, even if they fight, it’s fine.

Tomorrow, she would ask Lin Xiangxi to take over her shift and secure this job first. As for the other job, let them argue all they want.