Wealthy Beauty in the 60s
Chapter 106 - 105 Contradiction

Chapter 106: Chapter 105 Contradiction

"Your father and I had three sons and three daughters, naturally hoping our children would be successful. Baoguo was a good student since childhood, and your father and I naturally worked hard to support his education. You and Weiguo didn’t like studying, and the job at the furniture factory was also gotten for you by your father through a friend. You were hired permanently within two years. At that time, your father was still working in the power plant, but his health was not good, and when Weiguo finished his studies, he took over your father’s job."

"When you grew up and needed to get married, your father and I also made great efforts to save money for your marriages. As for housing, the family had only this small courtyard; the third child and his wife got married and applied for a dormitory, no longer living at home. The second child and his wife also had housing provided by their employer; you too had your own dormitories, but instead you chose to live with us old folks, still expecting us to serve you. If you talk about favoritism, it would be towards the eldest child. If you don’t want to live with us old folks, then move to the dormitory at your factory. It will be easier for us old folks to live by ourselves, and it won’t be lonely or worrisome for us."

"Mom and Dad, no, I’m the eldest son, it’s my duty and obligation to support you," Jianguo blamed Zhao Xiaolan too; it was inappropriate for her to stir up conflict between the parents and their two brothers and their wives during the New Year.

Mrs. Xia looked at the eldest son and said, "The job at the power plant was taken over by Weiguo from your father, so it belongs to Weiguo. Now that Weiguo has injured his leg, that job should go to Rong. The father’s position is inherited by the son; it’s not for you in the eldest branch to worry about. Weiguo has many children; it’s tough for his family. You don’t think about what would happen if Rong didn’t take over Weiguo’s job—how could he support his large family? Weiguo has been your younger brother since childhood, and you all were fond of him. When Weiguo first took over your father’s job, you had no objections; now that Weiguo is injured, you eye his job."

"Mom, I surely haven’t," Baoguo immediately clarified his stance; he was doing well at the newspaper and had no interest in his brother’s and nephew’s jobs.

Jianguo glared fiercely at Zhao Xiaolan and was about to speak when Mrs. Xia continued, "Xiangzi and Yanzi are both working at the furniture factory. If you work hard, naturally there will be opportunities for advancement. Initially, Xiao Fei was good at studying, and I hoped you would let Xiao Fei continue education. Since Yanzi was weak academically, that chance to go to the countryside should have been given to Yanzi. But you insisted on sending Xiao Fei instead. Otherwise, Xiao Fei might be in university by now."

With these words from Mrs. Xia, Jianguo and Zhao Xiaolan dared not say anything. They had a son and two daughters. Compared to the eldest son and the sweet-talking, charming youngest daughter, the eldest daughter was introverted and less likeable. When one of the three children had to go to the countryside, they chose the eldest daughter. Hence, the eldest daughter grew resentful, and after going to the countryside for a few years, she neither returned home nor did she send back a single letter.

At this point, Xia Xiao also understood the family conflicts. Her father’s job at the power plant was also taking over his grandfather’s position, but she hadn’t expected his job to end due to an injury preventing him from working.

Her family nominated her big brother to take over, which displeased her uncle’s wife who felt this was her grandfather’s job. She argued that her big brother was too young and it should be her older cousin stepping in. Her mother naturally disagreed, so there were disagreements on both sides.

And the grandparents were also in favor of her big brother taking over her father’s job, causing her uncle’s wife to feel that the grandparents were biased.

The Xia brothers each married and started their own families. The uncle was a skilled worker at the furniture factory, working at the same place as his wife. His eldest son and youngest daughter also worked at the furniture factory. But apart from the uncle being a permanent employee, his wife, eldest son, and youngest daughter were all temporary workers.

So initially, the uncle’s wife wanted her eldest son to take over Xia Xiao’s father’s job and secure a permanent position, feeling her father’s job was also a replacement for her grandfather’s. Now, she believed her older cousin should take the position, seeing him as the grandfather’s eldest grandson.

The uncle had three children; the firstborn was his eldest son Xia Xiang, the second and third were daughters Xia Fei and Xia Yan.

The second uncle also had three children; the firstborn was his eldest daughter Xia Wen, the second pregnancy yielded twins, Xia Wei and Xia Kang.

In this comparison, Xia Xiao’s family had the most children, with Xia Chunrong and Xia Xiao, and below them, three younger sisters and one younger brother, totaling six children.

Now, securing a permanent job was extremely challenging, with many temp workers competing fiercely for positions.

Xia Xiao didn’t blame her aunt for having such thoughts, but it was somewhat unethical considering her family’s circumstances at that time. If her brother hadn’t had the job at the power plant, it would have been difficult for their entire family to survive.

From the recent conversation, her cousin from her uncle’s family was already in high school with good grades, soon to be college-bound, yet unexpectedly, her parents had chosen her to go to the countryside between her brother and sister, leading her to harbor resentment and cease contact with her family.

She guessed her aunt often complained about the grandparents being biased, leading to her older cousin and another cousin preferring their maternal grandmother’s home more, distancing themselves from the grandparents, causing further discontent.

Finally, the meal was prepared by Xia Xiao, while the rice cakes and sweet dumplings were made by Li Wenjuan, Zhao Xiaolan, and Wang Jinying.

When it was almost time to eat, Xia Xiang and Xia Yan hadn’t returned, making Jianguo and Zhao Xiaolan anxious. Given today’s conflicts, the grandparents were already displeased. If their son and daughter didn’t return on time, the dissatisfaction would only increase.

And since the New Year’s Eve dinner was supposed to be a family reunion meal, if Xia Xiang and Xia Yan didn’t return, it would be even more unacceptable.

Jianguo tugged at Zhao Xiaolan, "Why haven’t Xiangzi and Yanzi returned yet? You go look for them quickly."

Zhao Xiaolan responded, "Why don’t you go look for them? You didn’t object when they left."

"Quickly bring them back, otherwise, Mom and Dad will be even more upset later," Jianguo said.

"Okay, okay, I’ll go look for them. These two are too thoughtless; they should be back by this time," Zhao Xiaolan said, then left.

Once Zhao Xiaolan had left, Jianguo exhaled a sigh of relief, feeling also that his son and daughter were too thoughtless. Today, being New Year’s Eve, they should have returned early to celebrate with everyone. Now Jianguo felt embarrassed facing his parents and his two younger siblings.

Mrs. Xia remarked, "You, not disciplining your children properly, letting them run wild without manners."

"They are indeed too thoughtless," Jianguo quickly agreed.

Mrs. Xia said no more. Initially, she thought Zhao Xiaolan was clever, and since the eldest was honest and simple, he needed someone like Zhao Xiaolan to get by better.

But Zhao Xiaolan was overly shrewd, and while it’s acceptable to scheme against outsiders—considered a skill—it’s another matter to scheme against one’s own family, which Mrs. Xia deeply disliked about Zhao Xiaolan.

"Whatever you do, I and your father are at this age now; we just want to live a few peaceful days. Who knows, one day we might just be gone," Mrs. Xia spoke irritably.

"Mom, it’s the New Year; why bring up such inauspicious things?" Weiguo anxiously said.

Baoguo also chimed in, "Mom, have a heart-easing New Year; don’t think too much. Spend your days in whatever way makes you comfortable; don’t short-change yourself."