Zeng Xiangping wasn’t a match for his brother; his face was bruised. Both brothers insisted on their own right to the job, each convinced they were justified.
Again, Zeng Qingliang slapped one of them, and only then did they stop.
Zeng Xiangping pointed at his brother. “Zeng Xiangmin, give up. The job Mom gave me is mine. If you want it, you have to buy it from me.”
Zeng Xiangmin couldn’t stand this. If his mother hadn’t held him back, he would have rushed in again. “Zeng Xiangping, listen to me! I’m taking this job! If you don’t give it to me, I’ll make sure you don’t even finish university!”
After saying this, Zeng Xiangping slammed the door to his room.
Inside, Zeng Shuyi quickly sat back on the bed, silently giving her brother a thumbs-up. “Good job, Xiangmin.”
“Third sister, do you think I’m being too much, or is big brother?” Zeng Xiangmin fumed.
“Of course big brother is,” Zeng Shuyi sided with her brother. “We’re all Mom and Dad’s kids, why should he get all the benefits while we suffer? I’ve wanted to say this for a long time. You did well.”
She enjoyed the drama and, from every angle, big brother was clearly in the wrong.
With third sister’s support, Zeng Xiangmin felt even bolder. “Anyway, I want him to give me the job. I’m so frustrated under carpenter Feng. At least at the cotton mill, I’d be a formal worker.”
Apprentices can’t afford to throw tantrums, but formal workers are different. Even if they slack off or argue, they won’t be fired.
As long as he had no ambition, Zeng Xiangmin could just coast through the job.
Zeng Shuyi heard her brother complain about carpenter Feng. “Keep it up, Xiangping. If you need anything, just tell me.”
“Third sister, what do you think about me writing a Dazibao against Wang Zhigang like this?” Zeng Xiangmin suddenly suggested.
Zeng Shuyi said it wasn’t appropriate. “This is different from Wang Zhigang’s case. Besides, if you cause a scene like that, you’ll embarrass Dad. Do you think Dad would let you keep making trouble at the cotton mill? What if he lays a hand on you? You can’t really hit Dad, right?”
Regardless of whether Zeng Xiangmin was right or not, fighting with Dad meant everyone would side with Xiangping.
Zeng Xiangmin was at a loss. “Then what should I do?”
Zeng Shuyi thought for a moment. “I think you should find a way to get a hold on big brother, like you said. You really can’t let him go to university. As for what kind of hold, Mom and Dad won’t be able to do anything about you. You’ll have to figure that out yourself.”
Because even she didn’t know.
Zeng Xiangmin was deep in thought.
Next door, Wang Juan was applying some antiseptic on her husband’s wounds and whispered sympathetically, “Xiangmin is so unreasonable. Even if he wants the job, he can’t lay a hand on you.”
“Ah, Mom and Dad spoil him too much, that’s why he’s so unruly,” Zeng Xiangping said, aching all over from the fight. “He wants my job? In his dreams!”
Hearing this, Wang Juan hesitated for a moment. “Then… how did you fool them?”
Wang Juan resented her own family but still wanted to speak up for her brother.
Zeng Xiangping saw through his wife’s thoughts at once. “I’ll get a better job after university. There’s no way I’m going back to that hopeless cotton mill. Although tuition is free, I still have to pay for train tickets and meals. From now on, I won’t get a salary. I have to sell the job to support myself.”
“That makes sense.” Wang Juan was convinced. “You have no salary while studying, so it’s better to have some money in hand. Wei Bing is pretty good; he’s cared about me since we were young. Could you ask my parents for a little money?”
Zeng Xiangping’s face instantly darkened. “Wang Juan, I’m serious. I still keep in touch with your parents because you do. But if you want me to tolerate them like before, that’s impossible. If you bear me a son, I’d give your brother the job. If you bring this up again, we’re done.”
He angrily turned off the light and lay with his back to Wang Juan.
Wang Juan feared he’d ask for a divorce, so she hurriedly said, “I’m just mentioning it. Don’t be mad. I’ll do as you say.”
“Leave me out of you and Xiangmin’s business. I don’t believe he can snatch my job.” Zeng Xiangping didn’t take his brother seriously. No one could stop him from living well.
Once he got to university, socializing and currying favor with teachers would cost money everywhere. Since Heaven gave him the chance, he wanted to be the favored son.
Zeng Xiangping turned off the light, but Zeng Qingliang and his wife couldn’t sleep.
Lin Jiazhen looked worried. “Qingliang, what kind of situation is this? I think Xiangmin has a point, but Xiangping has his reasons too.”
Both sons were her flesh and blood. How to choose gave her a headache.
For the first time, Zeng Qingliang felt some dissatisfaction with his eldest son. “I thought Xiangping was the most sensible.”
“Since he’s sensible, Xiangmin has a point too. Apprentices don’t even know when they can be promoted. But Xiangmin is almost twenty; if he doesn’t have a job, what good girl would marry him?” Lin Jiazhen started worrying about the younger son’s marriage.
Thinking about the younger son carrying on the family line made Zeng Qingliang take it more seriously. “Tomorrow I’ll talk to Xiangping. The job is yours to give, and since you’ll get a new job after university, there’s no need to fight your brother over this.”
Neither spouse sided with anyone, and they went to bed separately.
The next day during lunch break, Zeng Qingliang found his eldest son. They squatted in the grove behind the cafeteria, eating.
Zeng Qingliang looked at his son. “Xiangping, over the years, haven’t Mom and Dad treated you well?”
Xiangping was about to speak but was stopped by his father. “Listen first.”
Zeng Qingliang continued, “We gave you the job so you wouldn’t have to suffer going to the countryside. You know how Shu Yue was bullied. If you’d gone down there, it’d be the same for you. And your wife, Wang family’s bride price is the highest we’ve ever asked for. Your mom and I are trying to help you raise it.”
“When the college entrance exams were restored, when you said you wanted to take them, your mom and I fully supported you, biting our teeth to raise tuition. Now that you’re working and going to university, can’t you consider your parents?”
“But Dad, I have no salary when I go to university. I can’t expect Xiao Juan to support our family of three,” Zeng Xiangping raised his difficulty.
“I was thinking about that. Xiao Juan and her mother live at home. Food and drink are provided by your mom and me. Her salary is enough for your studies and meals. We’re happy you got into university, but you also have to consider your siblings. Shuyi said before we gave you all the best. You have to admit that.”
But Zeng Xiangping felt it was all his parents’ duty. “But Dad, I’m the eldest son. Every family is like this. Studying and working, I’m bringing honor to the family. As for Xiangmin and the others, those who got fired, those who played capitalist tricks, they don’t mind the shame.”
He paused, emphasizing, “Dad, you have to rely on me.”
“I’m hoping you’ll support us in old age. But here’s the reality: Xiao Juan can’t have children. We need your brother to have sons for the family,” Zeng Qingliang had to bring up this matter.
The lack of sons hurt Zeng Xiangping deeply. “But Dad…”
“Xiangping, if you weren’t going to be assigned a job after university, I wouldn’t be persuading you. Since you can be assigned a job, why not make it easier on your brother? Isn’t that fair?” Zeng Qingliang patted his eldest son’s shoulder. “Think about it and take care of the paperwork soon.”
He wasn’t negotiating—he’d already decided.
But how could Zeng Xiangping agree?
A job could be sold for hundreds of yuan, enough for four comfortable years of university. Without that money, Zeng Xiangping would have to tighten his belt.
From childhood, Zeng Xiangping was not one to consider his family. He thought he was the family’s hope. Now that he brought honor, they should take care of him.
He chased after his father. “But Dad, I go to university for our family’s face. If you don’t want me to at least graduate university and silently do some worthless job, then why bother going to university at all?”
This made Zeng Qingliang fall silent. He indeed hoped his eldest son would succeed, so he was proud when walking out in the alley.
But he also had to consider the younger son. Before Zeng Qingliang could speak again, Zeng Xiangping said first, “I don’t think I’m wrong, so I won’t listen to you on this. Xiangmin is young and doesn’t understand. I can understand that. But after I graduate with a good future, do you think I won’t help him?”
“Dad, we have to look at the long term, not just the present. Xiangmin isn’t really without a future. Why force me like this? If I harbor resentment, how can I help the family later?” There was a hint of threat in his voice. No matter what, Zeng Xiangping insisted on keeping the job. He wanted all the benefits and didn’t believe Xiangmin could get the upper hand.
In fact, Zeng Xiangmin really hadn’t thought of a way yet. It was at work when his senior apprentice gave him inspiration.