Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 1006 Tradition?

Hao Xiaodong's family was also having dinner at home.

Because of Hao Xiaobo's beating, the Hao family experienced a complete turnaround, with their standard of living improving dramatically. Now they have meat and eggs with every meal, they don't just eat stale rice anymore, and the children even have pocket money.

Guan He placed a piece of food on her son's and nephew's plates, and said to Hao Xiaodong, "I might have to go on a business trip for the next few days, it will be three or four days."

Hao Xiaodong asked, "Where to?"

Guan He said, "Xingcheng. Mr. Li talked to me today. They're building a food factory over there. The equipment will be there in the next day or two, and I'll be taking a few experienced workers with me. But I won't be staying there for long; I'll come back once everything's arranged."

Hao Xiaodong nodded.

Hao's mother looked at her son, then at her daughter-in-law, and thought for a moment before saying, "Xiaohe, if you ask me, our family has recovered now. Xiaodong and Xiaobo both have formal jobs, and our circumstances have improved. You can choose whether or not to continue working this job."

"You know, it's not right for a woman to have to go on business trips, sometimes for several days or even a week at a time. Xiao Bo is alone, and Xiao Hai and Xiao Tao need someone to look after them. The house needs cleaning, washing, mending, and everything else needs to be done. It can't all be done by an old lady like me, don't you think?"

Guan He paused for a moment, looked at her mother-in-law, then at her husband, and after a few seconds of stunned silence, said, "Let me think about it."

Hao's mother said, "What else do you need to think about? I know you care about your family. Back then, the family was in such a state that we relied entirely on your and Xiaodong's meager salaries to make ends meet. I know that. You are a filial and good daughter."

Now that things are better at home, you don't need to go out and work anymore. You can just stay home, take care of the kids, and cook. Isn't that great? We women, our lives are all about taking care of our families, our husbands, and our children—that's our duty.

Hao Xiaodong said, "Mom, eat your food. Let's talk about this."

Hao Xiaobo said, "Why should my sister-in-law have to stay at home to take care of the kids and cook? Mom, do you know how well my sister-in-law does her job? You and Dad aren't old and can't move. Besides, even if one day you can't move or do anything, I'll hire someone to take care of you, okay?"

"Times have changed, Mom. Now we talk about gender equality, and women hold up half the sky. It's not like your time. Besides, my sister-in-law was doing her job perfectly well; why would she quit if she had no problems?"

Hao's mother slammed down her chopsticks, glared at Hao Xiaobo, and said, "You think you're going to turn the world upside down? You've grown up and are now lecturing me. Isn't earning money to support the family your job as men? Your father takes care of everything outside the home, and I take care of everything inside. We've gotten by like this all our lives, haven't we?"

"You two are the same age, aren't you? Why do you have to compare yourself to others? How come the rules passed down from our ancestors have changed for you? A woman's duty is to be a good wife, mother, and homemaker, to serve her husband well and raise the children properly. That's what she should be doing."

Mr. Hao tapped the table lightly with his chopsticks and said, "Let's eat, let's talk after we finish eating. But what your mother said makes sense. It's a Chinese tradition, after all. It's not really proper for a woman to be out in public."

Guan He lowered her head, slowly put down her bowl, and said, "Mom and Dad, you can eat slowly, I'm full." She then got up and went into the house with her head down.

Hao's mother said, "Look, look, this is what happens when you run around like crazy outside. You can't say anything to her. What I said wasn't reasonable? What I said was wrong?"

Hao Xiaobo put down his chopsticks and said, "I'm not eating either. This is utterly unreasonable. Is this still the old society? My sister-in-law is good enough, what more do you want? Why can't my sister-in-law go to work?"

Hao Xiaodong said, "Xiaobo, say less. Mom, this needs to be discussed. I'll talk to Guan He about it when I have time, okay?"

Hao's mother slammed down her chopsticks and glared at Hao Xiaobo: "You think you're all that now? You think you're so capable? So capable your wife ran away? Do you want your brother to end up like you? Huh? Is this still a home? Are we starving or freezing? Do we really need to send a woman out to wander around for a few hundred yuan a month? Isn't this just being wild and unable to settle down?"

Hao Xiaobo said, "Mom, are you being reasonable? What's wrong with my sister-in-law? She used to be so poor she couldn't even afford food, what did she say? Don't you know what our family would be like these past two years without her? Now that things are a little better, you're causing trouble. Does my sister-in-law have to be home all the time? I should have said I'd rather die than take this money. At least we could manage when we were poor, but now that we have a little money, we can't even make ends meet."

Hao Xiaodong said, "Mom, Guan He hasn't had a good life with me all these years; she's suffered and been poor. Now that things are better, let her go to work if she likes. Isn't that earning money? What are you doing here?"

Hao's mother said, "Making money? How much money? Can't we just live a normal life? What woman can be out every day? Now look at this, going on business trips for three or four days, what about after that? Is it going to be one month, two months, one year, or even half a year? How can we live like this?"

Hao Xiaodong said, "There are plenty of women working. Aren't factories all women? Don't they have a good life? Business trips are necessary for work, and it's because I'm doing a good job. Others would love to go but don't have the chance. Mom, can't you just settle down and stop doing these things?"

Hao Xiaobo said, "Do you know what my sister-in-law does now? She's the deputy factory director. Once the factory next door is built next year, she'll be in charge of over a thousand people, you understand? Do you know how much my sister-in-law makes a month? Over two thousand. You think you can just quit like that?"

Besides, Xiaowei trusts my sister-in-law and asked her to help manage the factory. You just want to throw it away? Do you know the factory is short-staffed? Don't you have any conscience at all? How did we get to this point?

Mr. Hao was taken aback: "Your sister-in-law earns over two thousand a month now?"

Hao Xiaobo took out a cigarette, looked at the two children, tucked the cigarette behind his ear, and said, "Of course, do you think just anyone can be a factory manager? Who knows what will happen when the factory expands next year?"

Now they're going to build a separate factory for instant noodles, and they've already bought the land. Do you even know how big that factory will be? Just the factory building alone will take up almost thirty acres. Either Xie Xiaolong or my sister-in-law will be in charge. Such a bright future, and you're just going to ruin it with a single word?

It's only because my sister-in-law is filial, family-oriented, and has a good relationship with my brother that she's so kind. Do you believe I would have turned against her if it were anyone else? Do you really want my brother to have a good life? Mom, you're just starting to cause trouble now that things are going well. Do you think I don't know your temper and personality?

You think having a few tens of thousands of yuan makes you a big shot, like you're rich? My sister-in-law will earn more than that in a year when she becomes a factory manager. What can a few tens of thousands of yuan buy in today's society? It's worth more than a house.

"Things aren't like they used to be, Mom! Can't you just give me a break? This area is full of relatives and coworkers. Can't you at least let my brother, sister-in-law, and I have some dignity in public? Do you have to make things so messy that people have to point fingers and gossip?"

Hao's mother remained silent with a sullen face. Hao's father asked, "Xiao Bo, are you serious? How do you know about building a factory over there? You even know how big it is?"

Hao Xiaobo said, "I went to see it. A few days ago, they were working on the ditch, and they also need to build a big boiler over there. They asked me to come and take a look."

(End of this chapter)