Back to 1984: Let's Work Hard Together to Raise The Kids!-Chapter 207: An Accidental Encounter at Dawn

Chapter 207: Chapter 207: An Accidental Encounter at Dawn

Xu Xian looked at Xu Dachuan incredulously, "Dad! How did you come to this realization? Before, pushing you to strive for success was like asking for your life!"

Xu Dachuan rolled his eyes speechlessly, "You guys told me to strive for success by working in the fields. I put in all the effort, and how much can the crops sell for? Even if they make money, Grandma takes it all. How much do I get to keep? Why should I do thankless work?"

Xu Xian’s second sister, Xu Jing, blinked hard, "Dad, are you now determined to take us to a better life? What about Little Sister? She still needs to go to school!"

Xu Xian had dropped out of school, but the youngest, Xu Ya, was still in elementary school.

Xu Dachuan stroked his chin, thought for a while, and then waved his hand, "We’ll deal with it later. Let’s go to Guangdong Province first, and sort it out once we’re there. We can’t just leave your little sister behind."

Xu Ya clung nervously to Xu Xian’s arm, "I want to be with Mom, Dad, and Big Sis. I don’t want to stay here alone."

Xu Dachuan was pleased.

The next day, as soon as dawn broke, Xu Dachuan checked out and took his wife and daughters to the market to buy some steamed buns and soy milk for breakfast while waiting for the bus.

Xu Dahai and Xu Kang also came out for breakfast. Seeing the third brother’s family with a pile of luggage standing by the roadside, the father and son were bewildered.

They stood for quite a while, confirming they weren’t seeing things.

At this moment, Xu Dachuan noticed Xu Dahai and his son, and immediately approached them warmly, "Big Brother and Ah Kang, how come you’re up so early?"

Xu Dahai pointed to the noodle shop nearby, "Brought Ah Kang out for something to eat. He hasn’t been back in a while and should meet people. Early morning, join us for a bite."

Xu Dachuan thought for a moment, nodded in agreement, and invited his wife and daughters to follow him into the store.

Xu Dahai asked them what they wanted to eat and what extras they wanted, but all three nieces shook their heads, only wanting plain noodles.

Xu Dahai simply decided for them, adding meat, eggs, and sausage to their bowls.

Zhang Guizhi felt a bit embarrassed, "Second brother, you’re too generous, adding so much, they can’t finish it all."

"If they can’t finish it, eat slowly." Xu Dahai didn’t waste words, and after ordering the meal, he sat down and asked, "Where is the whole family off to so early in the morning?"

Xu Dachuan ate his noodles and mumbled, "Got kicked out, planning to try our luck outside."

Xu Dahai and Xu Kang were stunned.

"What do you mean kicked out?" Xu Dahai continued to ask.

Xu Dachuan straightforwardly recounted the events of last night, "Second Brother! Just because I don’t usually say anything doesn’t mean I don’t understand. I know exactly how Mom and Dad see me; I just don’t want to argue with them. Instead, they push it further and further. Am I just born to be their servant? Praise me when they’re happy, kick me out when they’re not!

Kicked out, so be it! From now on, whoever wants to serve them can go ahead. I’m done! Don’t try to persuade me; I’ve made up my mind to leave this time!"

Xu Dahai silently slurped a mouthful of noodles, "I’m not trying to persuade you, just want to tell you, everyone must be responsible for their own decisions. You’re not a young lad anymore, you have a family to care for. Since you’re leaving, you need to think about how to proceed in the future, about the future of your three kids! It’s alright if the two older ones quit school, but you still have to find a solution for Little Ya’s schooling."

Xu Dachuan nodded repeatedly, "Don’t worry, Second Brother, I will."

After eating noodles, they left the shop.

As they parted, Xu Dahai took 500 yuan out of his pocket and gave it to Xu Dachuan, "Here, take this."

"Second Brother..." Xu Dachuan was genuinely moved. They say it’s easy to add flowers to a bouquet, but hard to give timely help.

The day before, Big Brother was present, watching them leave without giving a penny or saying a word. Conversely, it was the Second Brother, who didn’t get along well with him, who gave 500 in one go. Who is sincere, and who is insincere, became crystal clear to them at this moment.

The bus arrived, and the five of them got on, waving goodbye to Xu Dahai and Xu Kang, heading toward an uncertain future.

Xu Kang withdrew from his thoughts and looked worriedly at Xu Dahai, "Dad, now that Third Uncle is gone, with no one left around Grandma and Grandpa, will they come to bother our family instead?"

Xu Dahai chuckled and sneered, "What are kids worrying about! Things were so tense before that the whole village knows your grandparents don’t think much of our family and broke relations themselves. As long as I don’t reach out, how could they come to us on their own? Wouldn’t that just show they’re slapping their own face? Your grandma has been proud her whole life, she’d never bow down. They’re most likely to go and bother your Big Uncle’s family.

It’s just right that your grandparents have favored your Big Uncle his whole life. It’s time for him to give back to them."

Knowing Xu Dashan well, he knew that Xu Dashan and his wife surely wouldn’t be willing to live with the old couple. Time would reveal who was good and who wasn’t.

The fourth day after Xu Dachuan’s family left, Wang Ximei couldn’t take it any longer and began to complain to Xu Father, "I’m exhausted, there are so many things at home, and no one to help! They’re all debt collectors!"

Xu Father puffed on his pipe for a while before musing, "Tell Eldest to get the third back. He’s been hiding out long enough; let’s just forget about this time. If there’s a next time, I’ll break his leg!"

Wang Ximei didn’t want to hold up any longer either, so when Xu Dashan got back, she told him, "Tomorrow you go to Guizhi’s family to get your brother’s family back and give him a proper scolding while you’re at it. I only said a few words and he got so angry. At his age, he ran away from home. Aren’t they ashamed?"

Seeing his parents relent, Xu Dashan secretly exhaled and agreed immediately.

The next morning, Xu Dashan caught the 7 a.m. bus to the Zhang family. After much effort, he found Zhang Guizhi’s family but was told Xu Dachuan’s family hadn’t come. Even the neighbors confirmed that the Zhang family couldn’t be lying.

At that moment, Xu Dashan was overcome with panic, regretting that he hadn’t chased them down that night. What should he do now? Where could he find them? Where could Xu Dachuan go with his entire family?

Thinking it over and coming up with nothing, Xu Dashan could only shakily take the bus back to Pingxi Town.

As soon as he reached the town, he hurried to Xu Dahai’s shop, "Second Brother, something’s wrong! The third has vanished!"

Xu Dahai put on a puzzled look, "Big Brother, what nonsense are you talking about? How could such a big person like the third suddenly disappear?"

"Oh! I’m serious..." Xu Dashan, looking worried, told the story of that night. But in his recount, it turned into Xu Dachuan being willful and reckless, taking his family and running away from home.

Xu Dahai’s lips twitched hard, "Big Brother, I actually know about that day. Because early that morning, Ah Kang and I saw them getting on the bus while we were having noodles. We were too far away to catch up and ask clearly, didn’t expect it was like this."

Xu Dashan’s mind exploded, "What did you say? They took the bus and left?"