Chapter 12

In fact, grandma did lend money to Si Sangu to help her through the difficult times.

But my grandmother is a traditional rural old lady. She thinks it is inappropriate for her daughter who married out to spend the family’s money. She can lend it but she has to pay it back.

Grandma doesn’t have that much money.

Although my grandfather has a pension, before 2000, it was only three or four hundred yuan. He also has the habit of playing cards and would not give the money to my grandmother. My grandfather could not save much money, and my grandmother could save even less.

With a “bang”, the door of the next room was opened.

Si’s father came out with a sullen face: “Are you done yet? Why are you telling your daughter all this? She’s just a student.”

Mother Si said confidently: “Si Wentao, ask yourself, am I wrong? Why did I only get 800 yuan when I married into your family, while your brother spent so much money on his wedding? Now, the 8,000 yuan we lent you still needs to be repaid. In my opinion, you shouldn’t pay the money back, just give it to us. Then, let my parents move to the city and let them live on the second floor.”

Mr. Si’s face turned dark.

This was a sign that Si’s father was about to lose his temper. Si Cheng didn’t want them to quarrel, let alone fight.

She quickly stopped him and said, “Mom, calm down. I’ll analyze it for you. I think the crux of the problem is still the difference between dad and uncle’s marriage, but this is a different time. Dad and uncle are a family. They didn’t settle accounts clearly before, so they had conflicts and everyone felt uncomfortable.”

“So, let’s put the past behind us and never mention it again. We must make it clear about the money issue in the future. We agreed that the money for the house was borrowed from grandpa, so we should pay it back. Otherwise, if uncle insists that the house was bought by grandpa for our family and he wants to take half of it when he comes back for the New Year, will you do it?”

Si’s mother cursed: “Bullshit!”

“If you don’t pay back the money, and uncle wants the house again, then the 10,000 yuan from Third Aunt will be a problem. What if Second Uncle insists that the money also belongs to Grandpa and asks you for a floor?”

Si Cheng doesn’t have a very good impression of his uncle.

He is the youngest in the family and is similar to Si’s mother, always thinking about taking advantage of the whole family.

Grandpa Si and Grandma Si’s education of their children is also very flawed.

The sister frantically helped her brother.

The elder brother also helped his younger brother.

If Uncle asked Dad for a floor, he would definitely give it to him. When the time comes for demolition, if my uncle asks for a quarter of the money, my father will definitely give it to him.

Father Si is like this. Once he has money, he will be very good to my sister and brother.

I have ten thousand and can give five thousand.

I have 20,000 yuan and can give 10,000 yuan.

But Si’s mother wouldn’t agree to that. The two would definitely quarrel and the house would be in chaos.

In 1999, my uncle was getting married and the family was planning to build a new building. My father also wanted to build a new house, so he sent 20,000 yuan back home.

What Si’s mother meant was that since it was their parents who built the house, the brothers should each own half.

Either the two brothers will each take half of the house that was built, or their grandparents will give another house to their father and mother.

Since Si’s father had money to renovate the house, he refused.

Half of the house. If the girl doesn’t agree to the marriage, his brother’s life will be delayed.

He even tried to force his parents to build him a house, but they were too old to do so.

Because of this matter, Si’s mother often quarreled with Si’s father.

She finds fault with him and makes trouble at home all day long.

Since I can’t take the money home, I might as well buy a house in the city with the 20,000 yuan. After the third aunt bought a three-bedroom apartment in the city, commercial housing became Si’s mother’s obsession.

In the end, Si’s father won by force, and he simply hid away. Si’s mother endured it again and again, and the third and second aunts took turns to persuade her. Grandpa Si came over and persuaded her earnestly to live a good life, and promised to give her money in the future. She gave several thousand yuan to her family before she gave up.

Mrs. Si picked up the conversation.

It was determined that the eight thousand yuan that Grandpa Si brought was the money that he said he would give to her.

Si’s mother turned her face away: “Your uncle is coming to divide the house. Your third aunt’s ten thousand yuan will not be returned. The fourth floor will be given to your uncle.”

It would save 18,000 yuan at once, and if it was distributed only to the fourth floor, of course Si’s mother would agree.

Father Si is going to be pissed off.

He has three older sisters, and he is the only son among them. He knows very well how his three sisters treat him.

He has money in hand, so it is impossible for him to borrow money and not pay it back.

Of course, when he has no money, it’s another story.

Seeing his father clench his fists, Si Cheng quickly said, “Mom, I heard someone say that if you want a harmonious family, brothers should settle accounts clearly. Dad, you also need to change your mindset. You and your uncle each have your own family, and you can’t eat from the same pot anymore.”

“Many brothers turned against each other because of interests. If you have money and are willing to give it to uncle, you can give it to him, but you can’t give it without knowing why. Uncle will feel that he is at a disadvantage and think that our family bought the house with the help of grandpa.”

“Grandpa’s money has to be repaid. Third Aunt’s money has to be repaid as well. Even if Second Uncle wants a house in the city and borrows money from Grandpa, he has to pay it back. Grandpa and grandma are old, and they need to save some money for themselves.”

Father Si looked at Si Cheng’s face, then looked at Mother Si, and said, “You are over 30 years old, but you are not as sensible as your daughter.”

Si’s mother said unhappily, “Okay, okay, you two are of the same mind, and I am in a difficult position, so this should be okay. But now that business is picking up, there are not enough people working, and we can’t go on like this. An An is already in the fourth grade, and will take the junior high school entrance exam next year. It won’t work if no one is looking after her.”

Father Si pursed his lips.

“I’ll take care of that.”

After that, he looked at Si Cheng and said, “The landlord and his family have moved out. Your mother and I will move to the third floor. You and An An, move your things to the second floor.”

“oh.”

Si Cheng wiped his hands and went upstairs to move things.

The landlord sold the furniture and other items to them at a low price.

There are water heaters installed on the second and third floors. This is what makes Si Cheng happiest. Taking a bath will not be so troublesome in the future.

She didn’t have much stuff, so she packed it up quickly.

He had already taken down An An’s things. No wonder she saw her brother’s bed was empty when she went upstairs to put her luggage away.

There were sounds of footsteps coming up the stairs.

“dad.”

“Yeah.” Father Si nodded after coming in. “School has been open for a long time, and I bought you a walkman. How is your English going?”

“It’s OK.”

Si Cheng opened his schoolbag and took out his English test paper: “I took the English test last night and got 76 points.”

Father Si pointed to Si An’s desk and asked her to sit down. He picked up the test paper and looked at it. He confirmed that it was the teacher’s score and that she had not changed it. Then he nodded and said, “Not bad, 20 points higher than your score last semester. I don’t ask for a high score, as long as you can keep above 85 points. English in junior high school is the most difficult to learn. Other subjects can be studied intensively in the third year of junior high school, but not English. I will do some dictation for you.”

Mr. Si used to be a good student, but he loved to play.

He is the son that his family has been waiting for for a long time. His grandmother, mother and father all spoil him, which makes it impossible for him to concentrate on his studies.

When I was in junior high school, I was stuck in English and failed to get into a technical secondary school.

Later, he got together with Si’s mother early in the morning.

After getting married and having children, the burden of life fell on him. He went out to work, saw the prosperity of the world, and knew the benefits of studying.

Therefore, when it comes to studying, the requirements for Si Cheng and Si An are extremely strict.