Chapter 12 Family Meeting

After finishing his meal, Zhang Xingwang cleared his throat and said:

"Now that I have recovered from my illness and have found a way to make money, I think it is necessary to change the current situation at home."

"You bought so many things and spent all the money you just earned? Our family still has foreign debts to pay off."

Upon hearing this, the mother said with dissatisfaction on her face.

"What's the big deal? Didn't I just say that? I have a way to make money now, and everything will get better slowly."

"Then tell me how you make money?"

"Just like yesterday, I discussed with the villagers. They sent their game to me and asked me to sell it. I got a share of the money. I also went to try hunting. I found that I have a talent for hunting and I am particularly lucky."

"Isn't that dangerous?"

"There's no danger at all. I went to talk to the third master of the pigeon market yesterday and they will take whatever they can get. There's no risk." Zhang Xingwang paused and didn't mention much about his hunting. He just patiently explained:

"The pigeon market is big and powerful, and they are more careful than me. They won't take advantage of me. It's not worth it."

"Even so, you can't buy so many things at once. I was waiting for you to sell the money and then take you to the hospital for a checkup." Then he said with a panicked look:

"Last time in the hospital, the doctor said there was nothing he could do, and told me to go home and take good care of you, and try Chinese medicine or folk remedies. When I brought you back, your fever hadn't subsided, and I was..."

I was halfway through my speech when I broke down in tears and couldn't continue.

"I'm fine now. I'll go to the hospital for a checkup when I have time. Now I can earn money, so the situation at home needs to change. Those who need to go to school can continue to go to school, and those who need to find a job can ask someone to find a job for them."

Now Zhang Xingwang has food in his pocket and is no longer worried. It is said that money is the courage of a person. Now there is no shortage of food at home, and space hunting is about to get on track. The next step is to improve the situation at home.

"It's easy for you to talk, kid. Hunting is not accurate, and you'll be in trouble if the other party doesn't ask you to sell it for them."

Wang Xiulan still looked distrustful.

"They can only come to me for the sales. I have already negotiated everything. And I will take care of the family's food rations from now on, so you don't have to worry about it."

Zhang Xingwang tried his best to defend himself, and then said to the fourth sister: "I will go to the third uncle in a few days to ask about the school situation. After we have contacted the fourth sister, you can continue to go to school, and the second sister should stop going out to dig wild vegetables all day. Our family will not be short of food in the future. You can take over the fourth sister's job, clean up the house, and take good care of the little sister."

When the fourth sister heard this, she was full of disbelief and was also puzzled:

"Weren't you talking about seeing a doctor? Why are you talking about me going back to school? Brother, are you sure you can get food? Also, I still have to pay for books and tuition to go to school."

"You don't have to worry about this, just wait to go to school. After all, I am the only man in this family. Now that I have recovered from my illness, leave the matter of supporting the family to me. Besides, we will know the result in a few days whether it works or not."

Zhang Xingwang said sternly that he had to toughen his tone now, so that he would have the final say in the family.

Looking at the eldest sister who seemed to be at a loss as if it had nothing to do with her, and the second sister who kept silent and looked submissive, Zhang Xingwang thought, it's not your turn yet.

After my fourth sister's schooling is settled, I will make clear arrangements for you two. For the time being, there are only two idle people at home, me and the little girl. When she grows up, there will only be me!

Seeing that no one was talking, Zhang Xingwang said seriously:

"It's settled for now. This can be considered a family meeting for our Zhang family. Dad is gone now, so any family matters in the future must go through me."

Then he turned to his mother Wang Xiulan and said:

"Mom, let's talk it out today. Tell the deaf old lady about what you told me last time and tell her to give up the idea. Don't have any other ideas. Tell me whatever happens. If you and your sister leave, no matter who stays at home, this family will be broken up."

No matter what, Zhang Xingwang is the man of the family, and Wang Xiulan has only been in the city for a few years and has no opinions of her own. Although the slogan of this association is that women hold up half the sky, the deeply rooted ideas cannot be changed all at once.

Otherwise, why do people call the man in the family the shopkeeper or the pillar of the family?

The current concept is that sons are more important than daughters, and sons who can earn money are even more important. This is not a matter of currying favor, but a natural thing.

After hearing what her son said, Wang Xiulan did not insist, but said with emotion:

"Okay then, Mom will listen to you."

"Okay, then our family meeting has come to a successful conclusion. I will go to my grandfather's house in the village tomorrow. When I leave, I will leave the food rations. Second sister, don't go to pick wild vegetables from today on. Stay at home.

Take a rest too."

My second sister really needs to take a rest. She is already a 20-year-old girl. If she were in the village, she would probably be a mother now.

After a summer of digging wild vegetables, running around outside, the places where we dug wild vegetables were getting farther and farther away! My second sister was a hard-working person, so she would go out all day without eating or drinking well. She was tanned and shiny, and some parts of her neck were sunburned and peeled, and her feet were covered with calluses.

Fortunately, his facial features are well-proportioned, otherwise he would be really unbearable to look at. He needs to be allowed to return and take good care of himself. Fortunately, he is still young and can still recover. If he had traveled through time a few years later, he would probably have been fixed.

The strange thing is that the eldest sister goes out every day and is exposed to the wind and sun, but she doesn't have as many calluses on her hands as the second sister. She is obviously a strong woman, but she still looks delicate and tender, which is not scientific at all.

Well, I am the only normal one in the family. My mother has no opinion and is easily influenced by others. She listens to whatever others say. If this happened in later generations, she would definitely be a liar's favorite.

The eldest sister is careless and does things in a sloppy manner. She looks frail but is actually a woman of extraordinary strength.

My second sister is just the opposite. She is a slow person and only knows how to work. She is a typical taciturn person. She keeps her head down when she goes out and never talks to people she doesn't know. She also barely says a few words a day at home. If she doesn't marry well in the future, she will be bullied to death.

The fourth sister is even more outrageous. She seems to be the most intelligent one in the Zhang family. She has a million questions all day long and is very curious. She is the hardest to fool. She walks quietly and often appears suddenly.

My little sister is still young, so I can’t tell anything. We need to keep an eye on this little girl and make sure she doesn’t grow up in a crooked way.

The purpose of the family meeting was achieved, but Zhang Xingwang felt a headache when he thought about the women in this family. It would probably take two or three years to settle these women one by one. Suddenly, he felt that he was on the road of being a tool and couldn't stop.

It seems that the plan to lie down will be delayed a little bit.

In fact, Zhang Xingwang had already noticed that the corners of Fourth Sister's mouth curved up when she heard that she might return to school.

When talking about not having to go all the way out of the city to pick wild vegetables, my second sister's eyes widened.

When she told me about the future arrangements for the family members, my eldest sister looked relieved, and even my mother seemed to have found her backbone.

Suddenly he understood what family bonds were, and as an orphan, he understood his responsibilities and obligations to his family.

It was late at night, and mother Wang Xiulan began to call everyone to bed. But this time everyone seemed to sleep more soundly than before.