Back to 1984: Let's Work Hard Together to Raise The Kids!-Chapter 313: The Hen Who Doesn’t Lay Eggs

The Tang family had no idea about An City’s customs; they only knew that the Xu family’s sincerity was overflowing, which made them more polite to Lin Ying.

Lin Ying did not argue with them, and the matter of the bride price was settled just like that.

The Tang family stayed for a sumptuous lunch at home with Lin Ying and the other two, then politely sent them off.

As soon as the door closed, Tang’s mother excitedly held Tang Jing’s hand, tears welling up, "This is wonderful, this is wonderful, you’ve found yourself a good family!"

According to Lin Ying, the bride price and money for buying things from the Xu family amounted to three hundred thousand.

Three hundred thousand is not a small amount for an ordinary family.

Tang’s father smiled and reminded from the side, "We should inform her brothers and sisters about the Little Fifth’s marriage, see if they want to come and join the fun."

The Tang family were outsiders and had few relatives and friends locally; for a big event like a daughter’s wedding, they needed some relatives to come and support.

Tang’s mother nodded repeatedly, "We should, we should, I’ll make the calls, should we inform the second son?"

At these words, Tang Jing and Tang Yu both changed their expressions.

Ding Ruman quickly took her son back to their room.

Seeing the children’s reaction, Tang’s mother sighed silently and shook her head, "Forget it, forget it, since you don’t want to, just pretend I didn’t say anything."

Tang Jing didn’t want her mother to be upset, but couldn’t stand her mother’s soft heart, so she reminded coldly, "Mom, if Second Brother had any conscience, he wouldn’t have disappeared for so many years making everyone worry. If he really had an accident, that would be one thing, but he made money out there and was afraid we’d find out, while he enjoyed himself alone outside.

If it weren’t for Little Brother going to Guangdong Province to ask around, we’d still be worrying about him. Does that make sense? Later, when Little Brother exposed him, he got angry and cut ties with us. Why do you still care about such a son?

In my opinion, you’ve had so many children, one ungrateful one won’t make a difference!"

She was polite and tolerant with everyone but couldn’t forgive when it came to Second Brother.

Tang’s mother nodded in acknowledgment, her eyes red as she instead tried to persuade the siblings, "If we don’t call, we don’t call. It’s a happy day, don’t get angry. I’ll call your brothers and sisters, inform them so they can come join the fun. By the way, have you been to Xiao Xu’s house in Guangdong Province?"

Everyone looked at Tang Jing.

Tang Jing honestly nodded, "In the city, it’s a private villa, several floors altogether. I didn’t dare to tell you before; I stayed there."

Tang’s father and mother exchanged a look, gaining a deeper understanding of their daughter’s assertiveness.

The older couple didn’t say much, immediately going to call relatives in their hometown.

Time quickly reached the end of the year.

As Xu Jian’s wedding date drew closer.

In Pingxi Town, Lin Ying and Xu Dahai returned to the village earlier to notify friends and relatives to come to the wedding, also handing out wedding candies to everyone.

While Wang Ximei was strolling outside, she saw several families in the village eating wedding candies and curiously asked, "Who’s getting married?"

The candies for weddings and daughters being married off are different. Weddings are grander, usually with cookies, chocolates, drinks, all sorts of snacks in a big package.

The elderly at the village entrance, upon seeing it was Wang Ximei who asked, had quite the expressions.

Wang Ximei’s sister-in-law hurriedly came forward, took her hand, and whispered, "Xu Jian from Dahai’s family is getting married, you didn’t know?"

Wang Ximei’s face changed immediately, snorted proudly, "It’s none of my business, why do I need to know?"

With that, she turned around, walking away without looking back.

Once home, she started venting to Old Xu, "Did you know Xu Jian’s getting married?"

Old Xu smoked sullenly, grunted, "I heard."

Wang Ximei was furious, "You knew, so why didn’t you tell me? Made me look like a fool when I went out!"

Old Xu was quite innocent, "We’ve not been in touch for years. Over the years, we haven’t mixed in with them, and they haven’t reached out to us about anything; why would I mention it to you?"

Wang Ximei was so mad she stomped her foot, "You’re really heartless, with no thoughts whatsoever! I heard that the eldest grandson and his wife had another fight, don’t know what’s going on! What’s the use of marrying a hen that doesn’t lay eggs, might as well have him divorce and find another one! Can’t let Xu Jian that brat be the first to have a child."

All these years, she’s been holding back, wanting her eldest son’s family to live better, overshadowing the second son’s family, making the second son regret cutting ties with them.

Unfortunately, ideals are beautiful but reality is harsh. The eldest son’s family didn’t make the big money she hoped for; instead, life became increasingly ordinary. The eldest grandson, who they had pooled family resources to nurture, turned out to be average in capability. It was also thanks to the efforts of the eldest couple that he got a position in a town state enterprise.

The job was respectable, but the salary wasn’t high. Supporting himself was no problem; supporting a family was a stretch.

The only advantage the eldest grandson had was finding a partner early on. She was a teacher at the town school, which was somewhat decent.

Initially, Wang Ximei was quite satisfied with this engagement, eagerly hoping to hold a great-grandchild soon. But after waiting year after year, there was no movement from the eldest grandson’s wife’s belly. The couple often argued over the issue of children, the fights being particularly fierce in the earlier years, and the situation hasn’t eased now.

Wang Ximei gradually shifted from hope to disappointment, now blaming the eldest couple for finding an unhelpful wife for the grandson, often speaking ill of the granddaughter-in-law at home.

Still, the elderly couple lived in the village; otherwise, if they lived with the grandson, Wang Ximei would certainly have caused the grandson to divorce.

Old Xu didn’t like to listen; he turned away and ignored her, only speaking leisurely after a long while, "Divorce and remarry don’t require a bride price? Back then, the eldest couple spent several thousand marrying this daughter-in-law, including the money for the wedding banquet, totaling tens of thousands."

"Then let her return the bride price to me!" Wang Ximei blurted without thinking, feeling more and more that the woman shouldn’t be let off that easily, and quickly called Xu Jie, asking him to consider divorce and reclaiming the bride price.

Coincidentally, Wang Fengying was beside Xu Jie, helping him apply medicine. Listening to her mother-in-law’s words, she immediately had an excuse and followed up, advising, "Son, I think your grandma makes a good point. Besides being better-tempered and having a decent job, Xu Fangfang offers absolutely nothing else.

The most crucial thing is she can’t have children and has a bad temper. She can act to the death over a fight, beating you up hard. Such a woman is like an ancestor; we can’t afford to provide for her!"

Xu Jie inhaled sharply in pain, closing his eyes impatiently, "Easy for you to say, but if we really divorce, how do we split the assets? She’ll want a share of the house!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Fengying became anxious, "Why should she? We gave a few thousand for the bride price back then, and the house was bought by your dad and me. She can’t even lay an egg, yet she dares to want a share of our house? Dream on!"