The three older children all restrained their thoughts and went to cut grass with baskets on their backs.
Li Yunqiang didn’t go to work either, sitting idly in the office. Life had improved, but the harmony at ho could never return to what it was before.
By evening, the three kids returned ho listlessly. They had t their quota for grass cutting today, yet they were still very uneasy.
After all, Li Yunqiang rarely scolded or hit the kids before because he was the youngest in his family growing up. In that environnt, he was quite pampered and never punished.
So he was reluctant to scold or hit the children, but after realizing how the three had turned out, he started questioning whether his approach to parenting was flawed.
Nobody spoke at the dinner table, and the previous atmosphere of happiness was no longer there.
Xiang Dong felt it was too oppressive, and it couldn’t continue like this at ho. However, he felt powerless, as it was an issue between their parents.
After dinner, the four children were responsible for wiping down the table and washing the dishes. "Big brother, we were spanked today. Dad said we don’t have to study dicine anymore and won’t be allowed to go to school in the future."
"You must have snuck out to play again today, right? Then you deserved to be spanked."
"Big brother, I still want to go to school, but I really don’t like studying dicine. I can’t understand a word of it."
Xiang Dong looked at his three brothers staring at him pitifully.
"Then why don’t you just tell Dad directly? If you can’t handle dicine study, then earn work points, and later take classes with Teacher Jiang."
The three of them lowered their heads. They had been raised freely since childhood and had beco wild. Making them settle down wasn’t sothing easy; it was a habit ford since they were young.
"Do you three not want to go to school anymore? Are you just thinking of farming for the rest of your life?
In the future, even if you want to go out and work, it’s not just about whether you can find a job; without an education, no one will even consider you."
They hadn’t thought about this issue; they were just focused on playing for now.
"Think about it yourselves. I understand what Dad ans. Since you lack ambition, you can earn work points and support yourself."
"But we’re still young."
"Young? You’ll grow up one day, won’t you? By then, if you can’t study or work, how will you start a family? Who would want to live life with you?"
Xiang Dong finished speaking with a helpless sigh; even if he said these things, they wouldn’t understand.
Li Yunqiang lay on his own while Liu Cuilan lay beside him, reaching out a hand to place on his waist, only to be pushed away.
This had never happened before. Her husband was usually very enthusiastic about such things, so why would he reject her when she was the one being affectionate?
Liu Cuilan felt very embarrassed, but in the end, she was just angry with herself and dared not make a fuss.
Li Yunqiang was particularly troubled; today, his brother-in-law’s family ca by, and that was definitely because Liu Cuilan inford them.
His second brother had strictly said that this news must not get out. How many people would be envious?
How did his brother-in-law’s family know? There was no need to even think about it.
Did this woman have no understanding of her husband’s difficulties?
After being married for so many years, didn’t she know what kind of person he was? If he could do it, such a great thing, why wouldn’t he think of his relatives if he didn’t have to pay for anything?
But she was just intent on making things difficult for him.
In reality, Li Yunqiang was truly wronging Liu Cuilan. She could be a bit cunning. After marrying Li Yunqiang, she seldom helped her own family, just wanting to manage their little household.
This ti, she thought they didn’t have to spend their own money, and after all, it was her own nephew—of course, she hoped for his success.
Xiang Dong lived alone. He lay on the kang, repeatedly thinking about what Wei Kaiyun said.
Then he thought about his days in the Capital, and the work at the factory after he returned.
He didn’t mind doing so work and didn’t find it too tiring, but now the managent was formal. It was different from before.
Back then, whenever there was a good opportunity, it would surely go to Chaoyang and them.
Now with Chaoyang gone to the Capital, all the good opportunities went to Brother Hongjun. In fact, Li Shuzhi wasn’t that young anymore, but he lacked ambition. If he were like Brother Hongjun and learned to drive a tractor, wouldn’t he be better off like himself?
He had talked to Dad about it, but it was Shuzhi himself who was unwilling. Who knew what he was thinking?
He only realized now how regretful he was. Only now did he understand that all the earning opportunities in the village were handed over, limited to matters in the Capital and the village.
At the ti, it was the allure of the official worker status that drew him away.
Now Xiang Dong was filled with regret. One wrong step led to another.
Even if he decided to go to the Capital now, Wei Kaiyun would never agree, right?
He was actually a very decisive person. That one ti he went to the Capital, he hadn’t followed Wei Kaiyun’s advice; Chaoyang was smart and always listened.
He had already seen Han Xiangjun’s influence. Given his good relationship with Wei Kaiyun, if Han Xiangjun had wanted to develop him, he’d never have left him in the factory without guidance.
Xiang Dong was filled with anger now. Why was he treated like this? Just because he didn’t follow their plans?
Han Xiangjun listened to Wei Kaiyun, and that resulted in him being where he was now, right?
Forget it; he resolved to keep doing his job diligently. Surely, he could succeed without relying on Wei Kaiyun.
As long as he worked hard, he would definitely succeed, and he wouldn’t have to be restricted by others.
He comforted himself, but deep down, his anger remained.
Shu Wen and the other two were still awake. "Second brother, I think big brother is right. We should talk to Dad tomorrow, start working now, and go back to classes when school resus."
"You two are fine; I can’t. I have to go to the fields, can’t be cutting grass anymore."
"Second brother, I watch them out in the fields and it’s not that exhausting. Why don’t you learn to drive a tractor? Look at Brother Hongjun, he managed to drive a tractor out after just two or three days.
It’s so impressive. Plus, you get to see the city. The only way I’ve been to the city was when we went to Uncle’s house. I’m still young now, but when I grow up, I’m going to learn to drive a tractor."
"I tried, but I just can’t handle the steering wheel. How could you drive if you can’t hold it steady?"
With that, the two younger ones fell silent. Li Shuzhi was genuinely worried. He hadn’t done much work since childhood—except for the big autumn harvest and spring planting—and even then he was too young for the heavy labor. But now, it was different. He could go to the fields and earn work points now, and slacking off wasn’t an option.
If he talked to Dad tomorrow, he sure would end up working.
Everyone else was studying dicine; at his age, barely anyone else went to the fields.
Going would be embarrassing, but it wasn’t like he had an option. Seeing how anxious Dad was, it was clear he was serious.
Anyway, it was the first ti Li Shuzhi lost sleep, worried about the future, not knowing what to do next. But he just didn’t want to work.
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