Chapter 66

“What do you think you are? Why would my partner’s family arrange a job for you?” Fu Qingshan sneered coldly.

“I’m your own younger brother,” Zheng Dajiang said, looking at Qiao Xinyi. “If she wants to marry you, she has to please me, her little uncle, and get me a job, or else our family won’t agree to her marrying in!”

“I’ve lived this long—when have I ever acknowledged you as my brother?” Fu Qingshan found the man utterly ridiculous. And there was no way he’d agree to her marrying in; where did that confidence come from?

“I brought my partner home to tell you I’m getting married, not to seek your approval. She doesn’t even have to please me—so what do you count as?” Fu Qingshan sneered again. “Who in this whole house shares my surname? Am I even from the same family as you, Zheng Dajiang?”

Qiao Xinyi showed no respect to the Zheng family. She thought Fu Qingshan’s words were hilarious—utterly blunt—and laughed out loud.

After Fu Qingshan’s sharp remarks made Zheng Dajiang lose face, and hearing a woman openly mock him in front of so many people, Zheng Dahe grit his teeth and glared fiercely at Qiao Xinyi.

Fu Qingshan then kicked the chair under Zheng Dajiang’s butt, sending both chair and man crashing to the ground. “Watch your eyes. If you keep staring at her like that, I’ll gouge them out!”

“Dad! Mom! Look at second brother!” Zheng Dajiang slammed the ground angrily.

He’d fought with the Fu since childhood but never won. When young, he couldn’t win; now Fu Qingshan was in the army and stronger, still unbeatable. Because he couldn’t fight back, and Zheng Youliang and Zhang Zao couldn’t control Fu Qingshan, Zheng Dajiang could only complain but dare not retaliate.

Zheng Dajiang was Zhang Zao’s beloved child. Seeing him bullied by Fu Qingshan, Zhang Zao was heartbroken and quickly rushed over to help him up, then looked at Zheng Youliang.

“Child’s dad, say something!” Zhang Zao said. “Even if we don’t share the same surname, aren’t we still family? Listen to what Qingshan is saying—bullying your brother when young is one thing, you can say he was too little to understand. But still bullying him now that he’s grown up—what kind of thing is that?”

“You’re the one who doesn’t understand,” Qiao Xinyi suddenly chimed in.

Her words stunned everyone into silence, all turning their heads to look at her.

“Why is everyone staring at me? I’m not wrong, am I?” Qiao Xinyi said. “I really opened my eyes. Who do you think you are demanding a job from me? Is Zheng Dahe my kid? Should he call me Mom or Ancestor? Should he worship my ancestors at festivals?”

“If reading so many books is useless, then tell Zheng Dahe not to study anymore,” Qiao Xinyi rolled her eyes and added, “Go tell your county government that studying is useless. Or go tell the Ministry of Education.”

Qiao Xinyi’s words left the three Zheng family members speechless.

Zhang Zao used to think studying was useless, but now she deeply regretted it. Having a degree meant you could take factory job exams, get into college, and then eat the country’s rice—become a cadre, and bring honor to the family.

Last year, two educated youth from the town got into college, and the commune sent them off with drums and gongs. It became a proud event in the town.

Zheng Dajiang was nineteen now, and still hadn’t found a partner because he didn’t have a job. And he didn’t have a job because people looked down on him for his low education—something Zhang Zao understood all too well.

But she didn’t want to admit that it was her lack of knowledge that caused her child not even to have an elementary school diploma, nor did she want to admit that her son was slow-witted and bad at studying, even unable to compare to the two children of the capitalist’s daughter. So when it came to Zheng Dahe, Zhang Zao especially hoped he could get into college to bring her some face and allow her to hold her head high once in front of Fu Qingshan. But some things are one thing when you think them yourself, and quite another when others expose them.

Qiao Xinyi’s words were very blunt. Zhang Zao looked at Fu Qingshan, who remained indifferent and even smiling, and she reached out to push Zheng Youliang, saying, “You and I go out.” Without waiting for any objection, Zhang Zao dragged Zheng Youliang out all the way to the far corner of the courtyard, then finally let out a roar of frustration.

“What does Fu Qingshan mean by that? He and his short-lived older brother and sister-in-law act like that! And the person he found as a partner is the same! I’m his stepmother. Being a stepmother isn’t easy. He targets me, and I can tolerate that.”

“But you are his biological father, right? Does he even take you seriously?”

“My sons Dajiang and Dahe are also his biological brothers, right? Fu Qingshan said he’d hit him right in front of you, his own father! And his partner, the first time she came to our home, didn’t even leave anyone any face!”

“And it’s like this before she’s even married in. When she really moves in, won’t we, as the parents-in-law, have to eat humble pie?”

Zhang Zao kept venting. Zheng Youliang, also stirred up, clenched his fists but then relaxed them again.

“What else can I do? I’m already this old—how can I control the second son?” Zheng Youliang gritted his teeth. “The second son has been spoiled by the eldest!”

“I don’t care. I definitely don’t agree to this daughter-in-law!” Zhang Zao said. “The one the second son brought home, you saw her. You also saw Liu Yun. Any sensible person would know which one to choose as a daughter-in-law, right?”

Zhang Zao was frantic inside. “I originally thought the second son brought home someone from the provincial city, which is definitely better than the county town. If her family could get the third son a job in the provincial city, Dajiang would finally have some standing.”

“But look at her attitude. Does she have the attitude of someone marrying in as a proper daughter-in-law?”

Zhang Zao said, “But Liu Yun’s attitude is completely different. She calls you ‘uncle’ when she sees you, and even calls me ‘aunt’.”

“Liu Yun also said that once she marries Fu Qingshan, she’ll be part of our family, the true sister-in-law of the third and fourth sons. Her family has connections, and getting the third son a formal job in a factory won’t be a problem.”

Zhang Zao rolled her eyes toward the main room. “The girl sitting in there hasn’t even called you by name, let alone me! I have no complaints if you and the second son don’t like my niece from my side of the family, but Liu Yun is a worker-peasant-soldier university graduate. Except for having been married once before and having a child, what flaw does she have that makes her not match the second son?”

“Liu Yun herself said she’ll leave the child she had with her previous husband with her parents to raise, so it won’t trouble her—that’s basically like having no child to hold her back.”

“The second son is twenty-six this year. Liu Yun is only a year older. Older girls are more sensible, better at taking care of people, speak nicely, and look competent. Having a daughter-in-law like that to show off is a matter of pride. Having a daughter-in-law who shares our heart means the second son will respect you as his father.”

Zhang Zao’s words convinced Zheng Youliang completely. The thought that Liu Yun could help get the third son a formal job made Zheng Youliang like her even more. Once the third son’s job was settled, the fourth son would also rely on this sister-in-law’s family support.

“But the second son’s household registration is no longer here. What use is my disapproval? Didn’t he say he was just here to notify us?”

Zheng Youliang irritably scratched his head. “How did I end up with two rebellious sons like the eldest and the second? They’ve always loved making trouble since they were young.”

“We can’t control him if his registration isn’t here. But doesn’t he want to take Xiaozhou and Xiaoyu away? The household registration for those two kids is still with us. If he doesn’t listen, we won’t let him take them.”