Because Luo Zhiyong was doing well in the military, the battalion secretary was also enthusiastic towards him.
When he saw them, he even got off his bike specifically to greet Luo Zhiyong.
The two casually chatted about Luo Zhiyong’s military matters, then after exchanging pleasantries, they were ready to head home.
But before the battalion secretary mounted his bicycle, it seemed as if he remembered something else. He called out to Luo Zhiyong, "Oh right, Zhiyong, your military redemption slip has arrived. It’s your salary, right? I gave it to your mother a few days ago, she mentioned it to you, didn’t she?"
Luo Zhiyong was taken aback, and so were Fang Pingying and Luo Honglan standing beside him. Zhou Yunmei hadn’t mentioned anything to them, nor had any other family member.
But since the battalion secretary said so, it must be true.
Not wanting to make a fool of himself in front of others, Luo Zhiyong smiled and said, "Yes, she mentioned it."
After the battalion secretary left, Luo Zhiyong’s face darkened, and he said to Fang Pingying, "The issue with the redemption slip must have been kept secret by mom on her own."
Fang Pingying didn’t speak, but she was certain that was the case. She didn’t know if the other family members were aware, but the three of them definitely weren’t.
"Let’s go, back home to ask mom," Luo Zhiyong said with an unhappy expression.
When they got back home, the whole family happened to be there.
It wasn’t clear what the family was just talking about, but when they saw the three of them arrive, everyone’s expression froze for a moment, and they said nothing more.
Only Luo Dashan, who was sitting at the entrance, seeing all the hawthorns they had brought back, immediately got up to help, smiling as he said, "You’ve brought back quite a haul this time."
Fang Pingying replied with a smile, "Yes, the hawthorn season is almost over. If we don’t pick them now, they might not taste as good, so we collected them all. We can sell them slowly when the time comes."
Fang Xiu glanced at Fang Pingying, then made a suggestive look towards Zhou Yunmei.
Zhou Yunmei nodded, signaling her to go ahead and speak.
Fang Xiu blinked with a smile, then, with a grin that seemed half-mocking, said to Fang Pingying, "Big sister, you must earn quite a bit of money from these hawthorns, yet I haven’t seen you contribute much to the household, have I?"
Fang Xiu had not fought with Fang Pingying for a while and thought she might have changed, but now it seemed like they were on the verge of another argument.
And it wasn’t just Fang Xiu alone, there was also Zhou Yunmei and the siblings Luo Cuilan and Luo Zhiming. It seemed as if they were already plotting something just as she returned.
Fang Pingying scoffed coldly; as the saying goes, "Meet force with force and floods with dikes," and she was not afraid of them ganging up against her.
She stopped what she was doing and looked up at them as if amused, "So, how much money do you think I should give to the family to be fair? I haven’t used any of the household’s possessions."
Fang Xiu cynically laughed, gesturing casually towards the yard and countered, "How can you say you haven’t used anything? Aren’t the household’s firewood, the stove, and even bowls and chopsticks things that cost money?"
"You..." Luo Zhiyong also realized that Fang Xiu and the others were trying to stir up trouble again today. He stepped up beside Fang Pingying, wanting to speak up.
But Fang Pingying placed a hand on his chest and gently pushed him back, indicating that he should sit down and rest for a bit.
Between Fang Xiu and me, this is a contest between women, and besides, Fang Xiu is my little sister, it’s not suitable for Luo Zhiyong, as an elder, to intervene. It’s best if I deal with this myself.
"The firewood was gathered from small tree branches that Hong Lan and I chopped down when we had nothing else to do. The larger logs at home simply can’t be used for burning. I didn’t break the stove or the dishes either; are you saying I should pay for those too?" Fang Pingying coldly stared at Fang Xiu,
"If we really start charging like that, does that mean every time the family uses dishes to have a meal, it should be charged separately?"
"I can’t be bothered with you. Just now, the family discussed it, since you want to do this business at home, you can’t just pocket the profits yourself. You should give more money to the family." Unable to win the argument with reason, Fang Xiu began to act shamelessly.
So it turns out, the whole family had conspired. Fang Pingying glanced over at Luo Zhiming and Luo Cuilan who were silent at the side, raising her eyebrows playfully.
As for Luo Dashan, Fang Pingying trusted him, he would never stoop to their level.
Luo Zhiming and Luo Cuilan kept silent, their expressions somewhat awkward.
Fang Pingying, with a somewhat puzzled expression, questioned them, "Then tell me clearly, why should I give more money to the family?"
Not waiting for their response, Fang Pingying began to tally the current expenses of the household,
"Right now, I’m paying for the family’s groceries, and I’m the one who buys whatever is missing from the house. If I really do make a lot of money in the future, I’ve already told Mom that I won’t skimp on their share. Do you really want me to give you pocket money every month like before you were married?"
"We would accept it, even so," Fang Xiu said with overt confidence.
Fang Pingying sneered, "Of course you would, not just pocket money. I fear that if all the family’s money was handed over to you, you’d accept it without a thought for anyone else’s well-being."
"Pingying, that’s too much. What do you mean by not caring for anyone else’s well-being? She didn’t say anything like that." Zhou Yunmei jumped in, obviously siding with Fang Xiu.
Fang Pingying had long guessed that it was Zhou Yunmei’s idea for Fang Xiu to step in, and she knew Zhou Yunmei would eventually be unable to resist speaking up, probably scheming for a long time.
Probably, ever since she started trying to make money, and Fang Xiu asked her about it once, they had already harbored the intention of forcing her to pay up.
No wonder Fang Xiu has been unusually nice to her recently.
So, she didn’t find it abrupt, but instead turned towards Zhou Yunmei and said, "So your meaning is, when I work, you all don’t care about anything, but when it comes to making money, I’m naturally supposed to share with you?"
"There’s a share for helping you work?" Zhou Yunmei pointed at Luo Honglan and grimaced, "Even Hong Lan helps you with work every day, and yet I haven’t seen you pay her much."
Upon hearing this, Luo Honglan immediately clarified, "Mom, Sister-in-law has given me money; she’s saving it for me. She’ll give it to me when I need it."
"Shut your mouth, you little brat," Zhou Yunmei scolded Luo Honglan, and continued to say,
"Speaking of this money issue, your sister didn’t say anything wrong, before you said Zhiyong’s salary wasn’t high, so we reduced the family expenses; I didn’t blame you for that. But now that you can earn money, why shouldn’t the family live a little better? And indeed, you are doing business at home using the family’s possessions."
Fang Pingying was speechless, why does Zhou Yunmei, even though clearly unreasonable, still feels so self-righteously confident?
Not wanting to argue about this, she looked at Zhou Yunmei and said, "Mom, so you mean the same as Fang Xiu, suggesting that in the future, if I use anything from the house for my business, I must naturally share the money with you, right?"
Zhou Yunmei nodded and was just about to affirm it.
But Luo Zhiyong cut her off, asking directly, "Mom, I just met the brigade secretary, and he said you took my salary for this month, is that correct?" (To be continued. If you work, we welcome you to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)