When Lin's father signed for the parcels, he found two of them. One was from his family, sent by his daughter. The other was from his eldest brother, sent by his eldest nephew. Lin's father put away the two parcels. He did not open his own parcel. He had no choice. Before the family split, it was his mother who had the right to open the parcel. After the family split, it was his wife who had the right to open the parcel.
When it was time to get off work, Father Lin put on the two packages and went back to the Gaoshanyao Production Brigade. It was very close from the town post office to the Gaoshanao Production Brigade. With Father Lin's pace, it took less than half an hour.
When Lin's father arrived home, the people in the production team were just getting off work. Everyone saw Lin's father carrying two packages back and looked at him curiously.
“Second brother…” Uncle Lin was also among the people going down to work. When he saw his second brother, he called out.
Father Lin was exhausted from carrying two packages all the way. When he saw Uncle Lin, his eyes lit up: "Brother, your package is from Yiyang."
Uncle Lin heard this and hurried over: "Why are you sending such a big package?"
Father Lin: "My daughter also sent it. It should be sent by the two siblings together."
Uncle Lin asked curiously, "What did Qingqing send you?"
Father Lin: "I don't know either. I've never opened it."
The two talked as they walked home. The villagers behind them looked on and said with envy: "The family of Lin Lao Da and Lin Lao Er is really blessed. The children send packages back every year."
"That's right. Who says daughters are bad? Look at how filial Qingqing is. Not only does she send gifts, she also arranges jobs for the people at home. Even a son can't compare to such a filial daughter."
"That's right. If you raise a daughter well, she's no different from a son."
"That's not true. Not every daughter can be as successful as Qingqing from Lin Laoer's family."
"That's true. Qingqing herself has become a cadre, and her husband is a high-ranking officer in the army. After all, there are not many such cases."
Lin Family
Although the Lin family split up, everyone still lived in the same courtyard. For example, the second branch of the Lin family had three rooms, one for Lin's father and mother, one for Lin Qingqing, and the house of Lin Luming was newly built. In addition to these three rooms, because the kitchens could not be used together after the split up, the second branch of the Lin family built another kitchen.
When Uncle Lin and Father Lin arrived home with their packages, there were several chimneys in the Lin family that were smoking. Not only did the second house have a kitchen, but the first and third houses were no exception. After all, all three families had some spare money, so they would naturally build a kitchen.
Lin's mother was registered in the county town, but because Lin's father and Lin Luming were both in the countryside, she did not live in the county town either. She only went back to the county town every month to collect welfare. When she was in the countryside, she also went to work, and her work points were recorded in Grandma Lin's household registration. The brigade never disliked the fact that there were too many people working, so the brigade leader certainly had no objection.
Although Lin's mother's work points were recorded in the name of Grandma Lin, her working hours were not based on the production team's. For example, when she went to the county town, she did not need to ask for leave from the team leader. However, she would greet the team leader and the villagers when she went to the county town, asking them if they wanted to bring anything to the county town. She usually went to work on time, but she would leave work earlier in the afternoon because there was no one to cook at home after the separation, so she would cook half an hour earlier.
Lin's mother likes the current situation very much. The family is harmonious, the husband has a stable job, the daughter is promising, the son is still studying, and she lives in the county. Because of the separation, the third room is more harmonious.
Because of Lin Yiyang's work, the first and second wives have always been harmonious, and the third wife may feel a little aggrieved. Later, when the family was divided, Grandma Lin gave the third wife 500 yuan more, and the third wife's grievances were gone. So now, the relationship between the three branches of the Lin family is very harmonious.
Mother Lin had just received welfare from the county these two days, and gave the cloth coupons to the third room, because Lin Sanbin from the third room had also reached the age to get married, and the second room had clothes to wear and no weddings, so they didn't need the cloth coupons, so she gave the cloth coupons to the third room. Of course, the third room did not take the benefits in vain, as their family had more people and more private plots, so they planted some vegetables, but the second room had no private plots and could not grow vegetables, so the third room took the cloth coupons and would be given some vegetables.
Not only cloth coupons, but also oil coupons, soap coupons, etc., Lin's mother would take them out and share them with Grandma Lin, the first and third wives, and would also receive vegetables from them in return.
Therefore, the Lin family now lives in harmony only if the several branches of the family interact with each other in a courteous manner.
Lin's mother had prepared dinner and was waiting for her husband and son to come back. Her son got out of school early and came back early, so when her husband was not back, he was doing his homework in his room obediently.
Mother Lin sat there, tapping her legs, and saw Father Lin and Uncle Lin coming back with packages. Mother Lin's eyes lit up: "Boss, you are carrying a package? Is this sent by our daughter?" Who else could remember the packages at home except the daughter
"That's right." Father Lin put the package in front of her and said, "Wife, you open it." As he spoke, he looked at it curiously, also wanting to know what his daughter had sent.
Mother Lin rolled her eyes at him and said, "Take it to your room."
"Has my sister sent something?" Lin Luming heard the noise outside and ran out of the house.
So, the family of three stayed in the house, not even taking time to eat, and first looked at the package that Lin's father brought back.
Lin's mother quickly opened the package and took out the things one by one.
"Looking at the size of these shoes, they are the Liberation Shoes my daughter gave me." Father Lin happily picked up a pair of Liberation Shoes and put them on his feet to try them out.
Mother Lin said: "There are three pairs of cotton shoes here, but they don't look like cotton shoes..."
Lin Luming: "My sister said in the letter that these are short cotton boots. I have one pair each for my parents, grandparents, and me." In fact, they are snow boots, but they are not made of fur, but cotton, just right for the family to wear in winter. Lin Qingqing has a cooperation with the supply and marketing cooperative. When the supply and marketing cooperative has cotton in winter, Director Ma will tell her in advance, so Lin Qingqing can really buy a lot of cotton.
"Short boots and cotton shoes? They're just like rain boots." Father Lin said, and then he put his Liberation shoes aside and tried on his snow boots. "Oh, these shoes are so warm."
"It looks warm, but you've been walking all day, take it off quickly. What if it gets smelly?" Mother Lin rolled her eyes at Father Lin.
Father Lin chuckled and took off his shoes. Not only did Father Lin like it, but Mother Lin and Lin Luming also liked it.
After three pairs of snow boots, Lin's mother took out a cotton jacket: "This is the cotton jacket written in Qingqing's letter, for mother." Lin's mother was not jealous. The mother-in-law was always good to her daughter, and Lin's mother was grateful, so she was not jealous of her daughter buying things for her mother-in-law. She put the cotton jacket and snow boots together, and then continued to look at things. Then she exclaimed: "So much cloth."
These cloths were all defective cloths that Lin Qingqing bought at the supply and marketing cooperative. In the past few years, she had stockpiled a lot of defective cloths, so she sent a lot to the Lin family. But it wasn't much, she was very careful and gave each of the three people in the second room a set of size.
In addition, there are two cans of milk powder.
Lin Qingqing wrote in the letter that one can of milk powder was for her grandparents, and the other can of milk powder was for her father and mother.
Mother Lin picked up the things that Lin Qingqing had given to the two elders, and in her hand was a letter from Lin Qingqing to the two elders, and then went to the main room: "Dad... Mom..."
"Hey..." Grandma Lin came out as soon as she heard the sound. She naturally knew that her two sons had brought back packages, and she also knew that they must have been sent by her grandson and granddaughter. So when Lin's mother called, she responded, because she was also curious about what her granddaughter had sent back. When she came out, she saw Lin's mother holding so many things, and she asked, "Are these all sent by Qingqing?" As she said that, she stepped aside and let Lin's mother come in.
"Yes, they are all sent by my daughter." Mother Lin carried the things into the main room and put them down. She handed Grandma Lin a letter and said, "Mom, this is a letter from Qingqing to you." Then she said to Grandpa Lin who was eating, "Dad, Mom, take your time to read it. I'm going back to eat."
As soon as Lin's mother left, Grandma Lin handed the letter to Grandpa Lin: "Old man, come and read the letter. I will give our granddaughter something for us."
Just at this moment, Aunt Lin's voice came from outside: "Mom..."
"Yes." Grandma Lin responded.
Then, Aunt Lin also came with some things. Seeing the things on the chair in the main room, Aunt Lin also knew that they were sent by the second wife. "Dad, Mom, this is the filial piety money that Yiyang and his wife gave to grandpa and grandma this month." Aunt Lin took out five yuan. The son would send ten yuan every month, five yuan to them and five yuan to the old couple. Lin Yiyang and his wife had a good income on the farm, and sending ten yuan every month would not affect their lives.
Moreover, Lin Yiyang was raised by Grandpa Lin, and he was very filial to Grandpa Lin, just like Lin Qingqing was to Grandma Lin. Therefore, Lin Qingqing, a granddaughter from another family, gave the old couple five yuan every month as filial piety money, and Lin Yiyang, the eldest grandson, would naturally not refuse. So, like Lin Qingqing, he also discussed with his wife and gave the old couple five yuan every month, and also gave his parents five yuan every month.
Grandpa Lin and Grandma Lin accepted the filial piety money given by their grandchildren. Firstly, they did not feel guilty about accepting it, and secondly, they also had a plan. They seemed to have accepted it, but in fact, when they died, they would divide the family property among them.
After Aunt Lin left, Grandma Lin looked at the gifts and said, "Old man, the first wife gave me a cotton jacket and a can of milk powder. This cotton jacket is for you. The second wife gave me a cotton jacket, a can of milk powder, and two pairs of cotton shoes. This cotton jacket is for me. They should have discussed it. And these cotton shoes, made by my granddaughter, are very special. Tuck your pants in and the cold wind won't get in. By the way, what did my granddaughter say in the letter?"
Grandpa Lin first took out the five yuan that was in the letter, then smiled and said, "Qingqing wrote in the letter that she is pregnant."
"What? Is this true?" Grandma Lin yelled, and then she turned and ran out, "Second son's wife, Qingqing wrote in the letter that she was pregnant, why didn't you tell me?"