Chronicle of the 70s
Chapter 37 - 037 two hundred yuan (revised)

Chapter 37: 037 two hundred yuan (revised)

Li Erfu was stunned on the spot; he hadn’t expected that his wife wanted the money for their two unmarried sons. While he hesitated, Li Jianqing, with tear-filled eyes, looked at Li Erfu and said, "Daddy, how could you not think of little sister? I can quit school, I can study on my own. Can you not give little sister away for adoption?"

Li Erfu gazed blankly at his teary-eyed little son, suddenly realizing that his son had grown up, but in such a harsh way—it was heartbreakingly uncontrollable, and he found himself speechless for a long while. Not proceed with adoption? How could he, when their home was in such chaos?

Li Erfu, unwilling to face his son, turned his face away without making a sound.

Seeing his father remain silent, Li Jianqing stubbornly stared back at him, unmoving.

Ge Sanmei stepped forward to pull her little son, lamenting how this wretched girl had somehow bewitched San’er to also worsen their relationship.

Li Jianqing dodged and ran outside the cave dwelling.

Ge Sanmei called out a few times then sat down somewhat irritably.

Third Uncle knocked on his smoking pipe and sighed, "It seems that Er Fu also shares this opinion, so let’s talk about how much money you want?"

Ge Sanmei’s eyes lit up and she moved her mouth, then started thinking again.

Jianwen said it had to be at least one thousand yuan, but that was too much; even though Li Huai Ren was a military man, his monthly salary was only a few tens of yuan. One thousand yuan would take years to save without eating or drinking.

After mentally calculating, Ge Sanmei spoke, "I’m not asking for much, just six hundred yuan. Xiang has grown to be fifteen years old, and I’ve raised her all this time; these six hundred yuan would be my compensation for the hardship." She pretended as if she hadn’t asked for too much.

Everyone present gasped—six hundred yuan! In the city, a good job only pays about ten to twenty yuan, and even for official workers. As for their production team, a family’s annual earnings for five fully working members only amounted to about three hundred yuan—a sum like six hundred yuan could be what a family saves over five or six years.

Li Dafu frowned at his brother and sister-in-law, annoyed, "Er Fu, are you just going to let your sister-in-law spout nonsense here?"

Li Erfu lifted his eyes, and his mouth twisted into a sinister smile, "Big brother, let’s settle at six hundred yuan, make it a cut-off deal, draft a document. From now on, Xiang and my family, Li Erfu and Ge Sanmei, will have nothing to do with her. Her future marriage, wealth, poverty, life, and death will all have nothing to do with us." After speaking, he seemed both sorrowful and evasive as he squatted down, covering his face and saying no more.

The people around murmured sympathetically. Li Erfu was truly ruthless, demanding six hundred yuan outright—it was not a small sum, and many envied him.

Sitting next to Li Xianglu, Old Mrs. Wu began to cry with soft whimpers. Liu Aidang quickly turned to console her, "Mom, please don’t cry, your eyes are not good. Crying too much damages the eyes." He avoided mentioning the current matter and did not speak of letting Li Xianglu come to live with them so as not to trouble the old lady; he feared that speaking out at this moment might prompt her to agree.

Next to her, Li Xianglu gently patted the old lady’s shoulder, finding herself at a loss for words.

Seeing this, Third Uncle coughed and asked, "Huai Ren, what do you think should be done about this situation?"

Li Huai Ren, in his twenties and serving in the military, stood up straight and scanned around, "Since Er Fu’s family has made a decision, then let’s proceed as you have suggested." He paused and then added, "But this document should also be drafted, kept by the clan, our two families, and the child’s household registration should be in my name."

By this time, Li Erfu also stood up, his eyes bright red. Hearing Li Huai Ren’s words, he nodded and then addressed Third Uncle, "Let’s do as Uncle Huai Ren suggests."

The document was drafted swiftly. After the adoption, Li Xianglu would be Li Huai Ren’s granddaughter, with duties to show filial piety and care through to the end.

And thereafter, she would bear no relation whatsoever with Li Erfu’s family, not in marriage, death, or any other matters.

Then came the time for both parties to sign.

However, Ge Sanmei hesitated and was reluctant to step forward, prompting Third Uncle to snort coldly, "What now, Er Fu’s family? Are you having second thoughts? Want the girl back?"

Ge Sanmei’s face turned red as she gritted her teeth and said, "This money hasn’t been given, nor has the grain, how could I sign and affix a seal, what if..." As she spoke, she glanced around at everyone.

People scoffed in disbelief, initially thinking she was acting like a real mother, perhaps regretting her decision, as even a fierce tiger wouldn’t eat its young. But to their surprise, it was actually because she feared that Li Huai Ren would not acknowledge the agreement and pay the money after obtaining the documents.

Li Huai Ren chuckled and said to Third Uncle, "That’s true, cash on delivery."

He then undid the top two buttons of his Zhongshan suit, reached inside, and pulled out a small handkerchief.

It was a thick stack of brand new banknotes (ten yuan denomination), and under the eager gaze of the onlookers, he counted exactly sixty notes—600 yuan, not a penny more, as if calculated in advance.

Li Huai Ren sighed and said, "This is a pension provided by the state, exactly 600 yuan. Today, if I had to give even a penny more, I would have none left."

The money was placed on the kang table; everyone stared intently at it—600 yuan was at stake.

Ge Sanmei stared intensely at the 600 yuan in front of her, wishing she could burn the money with her gaze.

Third Uncle, with trembling hands, picked up the money, moistened his fingers with his tongue, and shakily counted it before passing it over under everyone’s watchful eyes.

Ge Sanmei’s hand swiftly moved forward.

However, Li Erfu grabbed it first, glaring fiercely at Ge Sanmei before stuffing it into his pocket.

Seeing this, Ge Sanmei was about to burst into anger, but when she saw the looks from those around her, she pouted and remained silent.

Signatures were affixed, then Li Huai Ren called out to Li Xianglu, who was sitting on the kang, "Let’s go, Xiang, time to go home with grandpa."

Li Xianglu’s eyes immediately welled up with tears.

The events of today might be something she could never forget for the rest of her life. Even if Li Huai Ren hadn’t officially adopted her, she no longer wished to live in the Li Family. She had lived more pitifully than the large livestock in the production team for the past half-year. If not for the hidden food in her space, she might have starved to death long ago, not to mention being schemed against by Ge Sanmei, never knowing when she might be quietly sent off to marry some cripple or fool.

At this time, Ge Sanmei, who had received the money and grain, hesitated at the door and said, "Come in and have a meal before you go."

Li Xianglu coldly stared at Ge Sanmei, "Who does this woman think she is? Selling me off and then playing nice? Thinking that I would contribute more to this family in the future?"

Seeing her daughter’s icy gaze, Ge Sanmei murmured a few words in lament and took the lead to leave.

The crowd dispersed, leaving only Li Dafu’s family, Li Huai Ren, and Li Erfu and another person.

Li Erfu stepped forward, his lips trembling, trying to speak, but looking at his daughter’s palm-sized face, he couldn’t utter a word.

Li Dafu motioned for Li Huai Ren to go to another cave dwelling, leaving only Li Erfu and Li Xianglu in the entire cave.

Li Erfu approached the kang, carefully took out a stack of new notes from his embrace, moistened them a bit, counted twenty notes, and carefully put the rest back. He then handed the counted twenty yuan notes to her softly saying, "These years have been hard on you; keep this money for your studies. You love studying, don’t you? Your Uncle Huai Ren is a good man. As long as you are filial, he won’t hinder your aspirations."

Li Xianglu looked at the 200 yuan before her with mixed feelings. She didn’t expect Li Erfu to give her 200 yuan. In this era, a rural household of five would spend only about ten yuan a month on food and drink; 200 yuan was a huge sum, possibly constituting an entire family’s savings.

Seeing his daughter not taking the money, Li Erfu sighed, "Daddy has been weak, as you’ve seen your mother, she’s become delusional, always thinking about your brother making it big in the city to bring her glory. If you stay at home, I really fear that one day you might disappear." After saying this, tears rolled down his cheeks as he stuffed the money into Li Xianglu’s hands and said, "Take good care of yourself." His stalwart figure then walked out of the cave dwelling with resolve.