si-mexico Chapter 60 The Mindset of the Poor
Chapter 60 The Mindset of the Poor
Unbeknownst to them, during the renovation of this house, numerous hidden cameras were installed for security reasons, both in Gong Qiang's house and their own, all accessible to Lin Yue on her phone. This was actually a reminder from the government; for the safety of the entire family, government personnel could monitor both houses remotely, primarily focusing on the perimeter, the outer ring of surveillance cameras. These were regularly guarded by government personnel, while the monitoring inside the houses was controlled by Lin Yue.
Lin Yue overheard the entire conversation between Gong Yong, Gong Qiang, and their parents in the room. She thought to herself, "They're never satisfied." Thinking of her own parents and brothers, and wondering if she could give some of her money to her brothers' wives, she worried about potential resentment from them. She feared that giving them money directly might breed resentment. What should she do?
After some final thought, Lin Yue decided to go back to her hometown to discuss it with her parents. Just then, news came from the coal mine her father had invested in when he was younger. The owner had finally emerged from his financial difficulties and was beginning to return the money her parents had invested and the profits they had made. Perhaps giving the money back to her brother through her parents would be more acceptable to his wife.
Lin Yue stopped thinking about it, packed her things, and set off on her journey back to her hometown. Along the way, she had mixed feelings, both hoping to resolve the issue and worried that new troubles might arise.
Over the weekend, Lin Yue told Gong Yong that she needed to go back to her hometown and couldn't tell anyone, including the children. After the children fell asleep on Friday, Lin Yue called Diao Jing and went back to her hometown that evening.
At a bend in the forest road about a kilometer from her hometown, Lin Yue parked her car and drove home. Near her house, she parked in the courtyard of the former local government building. She took out many spiritual fruits and rice from her spatial storage, along with a sheep, half a cow, rabbits, chickens, eggs, and duck eggs, filling the trunk, back seat, and passenger seat to the brim.
It was past 10 p.m. when she got out of the car. She knocked gently on the door. Her parents were already asleep, as were her grandparents. She called them to get up and come down to get her things. When her parents saw Lin Yue return, her mother, who had been helping her brother with his child, was also home. The elderly couple were startled to see so much stuff in the car. Thinking that leaving it in the car overnight would definitely make it smell bad, they quickly carried the raw meat on their shoulders and into the room.
The elderly couple thought about it; so much raw meat was a problem. Chicken, fish, and rabbit could be stored in the refrigerator, but half a carcass of beef and a whole sheep wouldn't do. After thinking for a long time, the old man decided to hang the sheep and beef in the middle of the house, figuring that it was October and the weather was a bit cold, so hanging them overnight shouldn't make them rot. Then they brought out the eggs. The old couple were a little annoyed, saying they had plenty of free-range chicken and duck eggs at home, why bring these back? City eggs might not be as good as country eggs. Lin Yue didn't say anything, only that someone had given them to her, and she couldn't finish them, so she brought them back.
Next came the fruit. The elderly couple were delighted to see the fruit, saying that the only seasonal fruit they had at home was oranges. They were happy to have these fresh fruits to eat. Without washing them, they took two, wiped them on their clothes, and tasted them. They found them delicious and were very happy.
The noise woke Grandpa and Grandma. Grandpa didn't move, but Grandma, slipping on her shoes, opened the door and asked, "Who's back? It's so late." Dad said, "Mom, your granddaughter's back. She brought you lots of good food." Grandma, still slipping on her shoes, slowly walked into the main room and saw a sheep, half a cow, and various fruits and eggs. She was overjoyed: "How can there be so much? When will we ever finish it all? Both refrigerators are full, and the third one is full too. Why don't you get some for yourself?" Grandma said to Lin Yue. Lin Yue smiled and said, "Grandma, I missed you. I thought you hadn't had any good food, so I brought it back for you."
The family sat together, and although it was late at night, a warm atmosphere filled the house.
Lin Yue helped her grandmother to bed, then pulled a large black travel bag from under the passenger seat and carried it upstairs. Lin Yue's parents followed, as Lin Yue's bed hadn't been made yet.
After going upstairs, Lin Yue's mother quickly came to Lin Yue's room, pulled down the white cloth covering her bed (it was dusty), and quickly wiped it clean with a basin and cloth before putting it back on the bed. Lin Yue put her travel bag on the metal cabinet in the room. Her parents were busy in the room, wrapping, tucking, and making the bed. Lin Yue asked about the situation at home, and they both said everything was fine.
After the elderly couple finished their work, they sat in Lin Yue's room. Lin Yue sat on the edge of the bed, and the elderly couple also sat on the edge of the bed. Lin Yue thought for a moment, took off her shoes, and went to the bed to sit cross-legged to discuss something with her parents. Lin Yue told her father that she had earned some money and wanted to give it to them. Her parents said it wasn't necessary and told her to save it herself.
But Lin Yue was worried about the current economic downturn. Her younger brother and sister-in-law's salaries, after deducting their mortgage payments, wouldn't be much left. She was also afraid that their jobs might change, and they wouldn't be able to pay their mortgage on their house in Qincheng. Lin Yue stood up, barefoot, and picked up a travel bag from the metal cabinet beside the bed, placing it on the bed. Opening the bag, she found it full of cash and twelve gold bars.
Her parents were shocked and asked how she could have so much money. Lin Yue came up with a plan: give it directly to her brother, fearing it would be difficult to handle with Gong Yong. She suggested to her father that the owner of a coal mine he had invested in when he was young had been imprisoned for a few years and had now returned the profits to the family. Lin Yue also instructed her father to put the money in two earthenware jars and secretly place them in a corner of the old pigsty where her grandparents' coffins were kept, sprinkling some ash on the jars. When Gong Yong returned for the next Chinese New Year, the money in the two jars would be divided equally in front of him and her sister-in-law. This way, her brother could pay off his mortgage, and Gong Yong would be happy to receive money from his father-in-law—a win-win situation.
After thinking it over, Mom and Dad thought it was feasible. They counted it up—it was close to 1.2 million yuan, plus twelve gold bars. The old couple agreed, saying they'd get two old pottery jars tomorrow. The rest was up to their parents. Lin Yue said she'd go back first thing tomorrow morning, and her father would handle the beef and mutton. Her parents asked why she was in such a hurry, and she said she came back specifically for this, afraid something might go wrong. Lin Yue also told her parents about the house her in-laws had bought, and how her younger brother Gong Yong and her mother were currently living there. She explained everything in detail, except for her extraordinary encounter, and only said the money was earned.
Although her parents were somewhat skeptical and hesitant to believe it, they didn't press their daughter for answers. They knew she had suffered, so the money must have come from a legitimate source. Lin Yue showed her parents the certificates, credentials, and appointment letters that the government had awarded her to special departments.
The family chatted until late before Lin Yue finally lay down to rest. She felt more at ease knowing that things had been resolved smoothly.
After Lin Yue left, she didn't expect that when her younger brother drove back to pick up the child and her mother went to help take care of the child, her parents privately told her younger brother about the money she brought back, including the amount of money, its purpose, and the plan for its distribution during the Chinese New Year.
After hearing this, the younger brother suggested to his parents: "We should only take out 800,000 yuan. We should divide 400,000 yuan among ourselves, and only take eight gold bars, dividing them into four for each family. After we've all gone to bed, Dad, take 200,000 yuan and three gold bars from the remaining 400,000 yuan and secretly give them to my wife to keep safe. Mom, you should also secretly give the other 200,000 yuan and three gold bars to my brother-in-law, Gong Yong. This way, both sons-in-law and daughters-in-law will feel that you two gave them the money secretly and that you won't think you're being biased. Besides, my sister is already married and is willing to split the money equally, so doing this will make my wife feel more comfortable."
As Lin Yue's younger brother, he felt extremely ashamed of this arrangement, since the money originally belonged to his sister. However, he had to consider social etiquette and felt that this way everyone would be satisfied.
When the parents heard this, they thought it was a good idea, as it would allow both sets of children to feel their parents' love and avoid family conflicts.
And so it went exactly as they had planned. During the Spring Festival, after the money was distributed according to this plan, Gong Yong and his sister-in-law felt very warm inside, knowing their parents-in-law were kind to them. Lin Yue, however, was completely unaware of this. She only hoped that her efforts would make her family's life better; she didn't care how the money was divided.
This is perhaps the complexity and warmth of human nature; people always strive to find a balance between family ties and interests.
When the Lunar New Year finally arrived, Lin Yue secretly returned from Rongcheng overnight with Gong Yong and their child by plane. Lin Yue also secretly gave her parents 50 yuan in cash, casually tossing it under an old wardrobe in their bedroom, covering it with a black bag. Gong Yong and his brother were unaware. But Lin Yue told her mother, who was overjoyed.
After thinking it over, they went out that very night with Lin Yue's father and got another ceramic jar, which they placed under the coffin in a corner of the pigsty downstairs. They felt there was no safer place than this. Ordinary people would feel uneasy seeing two coffins upon entering, and few would bother to pry them open, especially since it was a pigsty. Although pigs hadn't been raised there for a long time, and the jar was filled with firewood, no one would notice the two slightly worn, dusty, and chipped ceramic jars. It was indeed the safest place.
During this New Year, each member of the family has their own little thoughts, but they are all working hard for the harmony and warmth of the family.
Lin Yue and Gong Yong returned quietly, because they were riding with the Eagle Spirit. When the Eagle Spirit took Lin Yue and Gong Yong to a corner of the forest about a kilometer from their home, Gong Yong and Lin Yue got off the Eagle Spirit's back, put their car in the back seat, and filled the trunk with gifts for visiting their elders before quickly heading home.
They returned home for the Lunar New Year quietly, without visiting any relatives. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, they went to the ancestral graves with the elders to burn incense, paper money, and set off firecrackers for their ancestors. They spent the second day playing, and on the evening of the third day, despite her parents' great reluctance, Lin Yue quietly drove away with Gong Yong.
They drove to a corner of the forest, and seeing that no one was around, put the three children back into the space. Gong Yong and Lin Yue then boarded the eagle spirit and quickly returned to Rongcheng. They knew that from now on, they could only travel discreetly like this. If they continued to travel openly as before, they would easily get hurt, be watched, and never return.
Back in Fuzhou, life returned to its usual tranquility, but the experience of returning to their hometown left a deep impression on them.
During the two or three days of the Spring Festival holiday at their hometown, Lin Yue and her family of five spent their days with their elders, enjoying the rare time together. In the evenings, the family of five would sit together in Lin Yue's room and begin meditating and cultivating, absorbing the rich spiritual energy around them.
Without any external disturbances, the tranquil environment allowed them to fully immerse themselves in cultivation. Over the past few days, the cultivation levels of all five family members have improved significantly. Lin Yue is about to reach the Foundation Establishment stage, and Gong Yong is gradually catching up with her.
However, to everyone's surprise, the youngest of the three children, Xiao Bao, was the fastest at cultivating and had already successfully established his foundation. This surprised and delighted Lin Yue and Gong Yong; neither of them had expected that this little 5-year-old would possess such talent.
They knew that this was only the beginning of their spiritual journey, and that there was a long road ahead. But at that moment, the joy of the family's shared progress filled the small room, warm and full of hope.
Lin Yue's small family lived a peaceful and tranquil life, but the situation around the country was turbulent. Neighbors were constantly at odds, the smoke of war filled the air, starving civilians were everywhere, and corpses lay strewn about.
No one expected that one day the South China Sea would be bombarded by various countries. Initially, the seawater intrusion did not raise any alarm; people simply assumed it was the country conducting its own nuclear weapons tests. However, as time went on, the seawater intrusion became increasingly severe, and its depth continued to increase.
People in coastal cities initially paid no attention, but later some astute businessmen and politicians sensed the danger. People began to come to Fuzhou to buy houses. Previously, Fuzhou's housing prices were sluggish, but now there were buyers. More and more coastal residents, aware of the changing market trends, flocked to Fuzhou to buy houses and move.
Gradually, the population of Fuzhou, this metropolis, surpassed that of the central city. The streets became more congested, and the allocation of resources faced enormous challenges. But amidst this chaos, people continued to strive to live, hoping that the situation would improve.
No one expected that the seawater intrusion was just a minor problem. Various countries began using climate as a weapon, causing the weather to become extremely chaotic, fluctuating wildly between cold and hot. Grain production suddenly ceased, as the seasons no longer followed a cycle; it was neither cold nor hot as it should have been. When it should have been cold, it was abnormally hot, and when it should have been hot, it was bitterly cold. During this season, countries used the climate as a means of warfare; crops failed to grow in the fields, except for plants less sensitive to climate, such as sweet potatoes and potatoes.
Lin Yue's spiritual flowers and herbs faced the same problem, but fortunately, Lin Yue had made preparations in advance, and the situation was still under control. However, ordinary people suffered greatly; no food meant hunger, and it seemed that the difficult days of more than a hundred years ago were about to repeat themselves.
In the metropolis of Fuzhou, the food shortage exposed the ugliest side of human nature. Arson, murder, and looting were commonplace, lurking in the shadows. The streets were no longer peaceful; fear and despair filled people's eyes. The once bustling city was now plunged into chaos and crisis, with everyone struggling for survival.
Lin Yue watched all this with a heart full of worry. She knew that she had to do something to change this terrible situation.
[Dear family, I've been feeling unwell with a cold lately, so writing hasn't been easy. Please give me some encouragement! I know you're probably wondering what I'm writing about, but I don't really know either! My phone keeps popping up in my head with images, so some of the descriptions aren't great, but please bear with me!]