Chapter 112: Chapter 112: Favoring Sons over Daughters
“Grandpa, Grandma, I’m back!” As soon as Xia Chuyi entered the Xia Family’s doorway, she shouted, almost wishing her voice wouldn’t carry.
No sooner had her voice faded away,
“Xia Chuyi, you damned girl, why are you even back? Weren’t you going to change your surname to Zhao?” Grandma Xia’s angry scolding came blasting out from the main room.
Having offended Grandma Xia’s beloved grandson, Xia Chengzu, this treatment upon returning to the Xia Family was expected.
She saw this coming and just laughed it off nonchalantly.
“Sister Mei, Sister Mei, are you there? The matter written in the partition agreement about finding you a job is settled, your appointment letter has arrived!” She stood at the entrance to the courtyard, cupping her hands around her mouth like a megaphone, and yelled energetically inside.
“What did you say?” The three words echoed from all directions.
The door creaked open, and Xia Mei rushed out like a gust of wind.
“Really? Give me the appointment letter quickly!”
Before she could get her hands on it, she was shoved from the side, and she nearly stumbled and fell.
“Big brother, what are you doing!” It was Xia Chengzu who had pushed Xia Mei.
Xia Chuyi had come to the Xia Family’s home, trailed by Xia Chengzu, who had also rushed up upon hearing her words.
“What’s a girl like you doing getting a factory job?” Xia Chengzu reprimanded Xia Mei fiercely.
Then, he turned his head, looked at Xia Chuyi with arrogance, and said, “Xia Chuyi, give me the appointment letter.”
Seizing what they wanted by force was the usual way of the main household.
“Don’t you dare, it’s mine!” Xia Mei’s eyes were red with urgency.
The siblings were at a standstill.
Xia Chuyi took a couple of steps back, not handing it over to either of them.
Soon, Grandma Xia and Aunt Xia also came out of the house.
“Mom, look at big brother! That’s my appointment letter!” Xia Mei tugged at Aunt Xia, stamping her foot and whining.
Aunt Xia looked somewhat embarrassed, glancing at Grandma Xia and not daring to speak up.
But Xia Chengzu twisted his neck around and yelled at Grandma Xia, “Grandma, look at this situation!”
His tone was full of determination to get what he wanted.
Grandma Xia smiled kindly at her well-behaved grandson, patted his hand, and soothed him with her words, “Don’t worry, Grandma understands. What’s yours will be yours.”
Meanwhile, Xia Mei, fuming with anger, also called out, “Grandma!”
But Grandma Xia simply ignored her.
“Chuyi, is that appointment letter in your hand real?” Having calmed down Xia Chengzu, Grandma Xia stared intently into Xia Chuyi’s eyes and asked.
Blinking seriously, Xia Chuyi replied, “Of course it’s real. Why would I lie to you? If I were to lie, wouldn’t it be exposed the moment you visit the county office?”
“You didn’t use the martyr quota for that appointment letter, did you?” Grandma Xia asked again.
She had learned from past mistakes.
She was already afraid of using the martyr quota again.
“Of course not,” Xia Chuyi shook her head, “Why would I dare to just give away the martyr quota?”
She had long before refused that quota.
A gleam flashed in Grandma Xia’s eyes, and she said, “In that case, give the appointment letter to Chengzu.”
These days, job substitutions were common, and since the appointment letter Xia Chuyi had wasn’t tied to a martyr quota, anyone could claim it.
After Grandma Xia finished speaking, Xia Mei immediately shouted in anger, “Grandma! That’s mine!”
Seeing that Grandma Xia remained unmoved, she called out to Aunt Xia, “Mother…”
Sadly, Aunt Xia looked from one to the other, torn between her son and her daughter, at a loss for words.
Xia Mei bellowed furiously, “You favor boys over girls! Biased!”
Knowing she couldn’t rely on the elders, Xia Mei stepped forward and faced Xia Chuyi directly, saying, “Xia Chuyi, you promised me this job!”
“You must give me that appointment letter!”