Shi Suifeng’s letter arrived once again as expected.
Opening the envelope, there was, as usual, a remittance slip inside.
In recent years, everyone’s allowances have been increasing, and now he’s no longer the man who couldn’t even afford to support his family on 66 yuan.
The monthly remittance slip, arriving without fail, was his last stubborn act as the pillar of the family.
This month, he sent back 200 yuan again.
Nowadays, according to Chen Changhai’s inquiry into Beijing’s market, his allowance there is quite comndable... Not easy, not easy indeed.
However, the few ungrateful ones at ho didn’t feel much about it.
After all, Uncle Shi’s status must have risen quickly, and even without much explanation, they have lived soundly in this military district for so many years.
That is enough.
Otherwise, a young woman bringing up five kids would surely face people taking advantage of her weakness, teased with many little vexations.
Even the housing and matchmaking worries troubling everyone now are rely minor episodes in their lives; handling them or not doesn’t really have a significant impact.
So...
Everyone has gained status, so the allowance is no longer demanded.
In other words, 200 yuan isn’t enough to support them.
Given that their current living standards keep rising, and the cost of living is gradually increasing, paired with the dwindling availability of edible wild ga, 200 yuan a month is just enough to cover the diet of a few teenagers during their growth spurt.
Why else do they say you can’t afford to raise children?
Teenagers draining their parents’ funds is truly no joke!
Even Da Dan, who hasn’t grown a single bit in height, still gobbles up three bowls of rice per al.
—An absolute waste.
...
And the day after receiving the letter, Chu River once again heaved a large burlap sack over to the post office.
The sack was hefty, and it cost quite a bit to send each package—sothing an average family could scarcely afford to do regularly.
But who could fault Chu River’s conscience?
Shi Suifeng had sacrificed everything for this family, so they couldn’t bear to let that stubborn man feel aggrieved over there.
So, everything edible Da Dan prepared, including but not limited to crispy rice, roasted yellow beans, salted peanuts, pastries, at sauce, soybean paste, and various cured ats, smoked ats, salted ats...
There was a bag full of such items every month.
Given the mail service’s practice at this ti of crossing mountains and rivers to deliver things ho, their family alone could sustain a postal position.
Of course, unlike the previous tis, this package also included a letter.
Besides the usual rambling chatter, the letter asked one question—
"Shi Suifeng, do you intend to return to Ning City in the next few years?"
"If not, should we consider renting a place to live in Beijing?"
After waiting for over a week, when Shi Suifeng received the package and saw the letter, he fell into silence.
It’s been six years.
He hasn’t been ho for six years.
Strangely enough, it’s a flaw of his character; though his real ho was still in the countryside, it never crossed his mind.
No, that’s not entirely true.
Only his childhood.
After all, as a child, he couldn’t see through the complexities of human nature.
Ignorance is bliss, but he preferred to be clear-headed.
However, despite his clarity, every ti he thought of ho, it was Little He’s image that ca to mind, even though they had nothing to do with each other.
At this mont, Shi Suifeng let out a long sigh.
—His monthly allowance was now over 200 yuan, but every month he sent 20 yuan back ho, kept another 20 for himself, and the rest was sent to Little He.
Now, he should be able to bear the responsibility of supporting the family.
But whenever he thought of it, those growing up would have beco young n by now!
Back when they were young, a monthly inco of just one or two hundred yuan, and now...
Forget it, forget it, that topic obviously can’t be delved into too deeply.
At this mont, while holding the letter, he contemplated—letting Little He and the others co to Beijing wasn’t out of the question.
Now, it seed stable.
Initially, entering the military academy, it was said there would be other assignnts after training, so no one thought about relocating during this period.
But who knew after graduating from the military academy, there would still be other assignnts, each lasting for a long ti, until finally now, everything has just started to settle.
These past six years, every month a big package, of which he received only 17 of those—an ordinary rural kid working his way up wasn’t easy.
Now suddenly seeing this suggestion, Shi Suifeng was unexpectedly tempted.
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