Chapter 209: Harsh Words
In the county town, on West City Road, Ou Guohua stared at the massive building under construction and exclaimed, "Oh my God, the first floor is already so big, and they're planning to build three floors?"
Zhang Xiuping smiled and explained, "It's not what you think. We don't need all three floors for the restaurant. The first floor is enough. The other two floors are being built for future businesses."
Ou Guohua suddenly understood. "Oh, I see. I thought all three floors were for the restaurant. That would've been way too big."
Father Ou looked around and said with admiration, "Yuntai, your father has such foresight. Building three floors when only one is needed for the restaurant—I can't even imagine how much money this must cost. Your father's courage is truly unmatched."
Deng Yuntai, who deeply admired his father, nodded in agreement. "My father is incredibly bold. We were all hesitant about starting such a big venture, but he always encouraged us to go all out. He wasn't afraid of losing money."
Father Ou added, "Your father has really invested a lot in training you."
Since the building was still under construction, there wasn't much to see. After chatting for a few minutes, the group headed to East City Market to buy groceries.
This time, Father Ou insisted on paying. It was one thing to stay at someone else's house for ten days or half a month, but he couldn't let them buy food and cook for him too. That would be taking advantage of their kindness.
Over the next few days, while waiting for the baby to arrive, the Ou family explored the county town.
Back in Thatchfield Village, at Deng Changyuan's home, tensions were brewing.
During dinner, Mrs. Deng, feeling uneasy about her sister-in-law going to the county town to give birth while she had given birth at home, finally couldn't hold back her resentment. "A Yuan, your wife going to the county town to give birth must be costing a lot, right? Now that our family has just paid off our debts, I think we should avoid unnecessary expenses."
Deng Changyuan frowned. He knew his sister-in-law was narrow-minded and guessed she might feel imbalanced about his wife's decision, but he hadn't expected her to confront him directly. After all, he earned at least 80% of the family's income. Couldn't he spend his own money on his wife's delivery?
He glanced at his eldest brother, who avoided his gaze, and then at his parents, who remained silent. It was clear they also disapproved of his wife going to the county town to give birth. His younger siblings, having no say in the matter, simply focused on their meal.
Feeling uncomfortable, Deng Changyuan said calmly, "Sister-in-law, you can say this to me, but don't say it in front of my wife. I know you're worried about the money and think it's a waste for her to go to the county town to give birth. But let me remind you, this money was earned by me, not taken from our parents."
Mrs. Deng, taken aback by her brother-in-law's defense of his wife, retorted, "A Yuan, you did earn this money, but we haven't divided the family yet. No matter who earns it, the money belongs to the whole family. If everyone spends it as they please, wouldn't that lead to chaos? Besides, I'm not wrong. Our family has just paid off its debts, and we're still tight on cash. We should avoid unnecessary spending."
Deng Changyuan turned to his eldest brother. "Brother, is this what you think too?"
Deng Changxing hesitated. "A Yuan, our family's financial situation isn't great. We should save where we can."
Disappointment flashed in Deng Changyuan's eyes. He then looked at his parents. "Dad, Mom, do you also think this money shouldn't be spent?"
Chang Yuan's mother, unsatisfied with her daughter-in-law's decision to go to the county town without consulting the family, said, "A Yuan, I know Yuntai's wife went to the county town to give birth, so your wife wants to do the same. But look at Uncle Jiu's family's conditions compared to ours. If you want to compete with them, do you have to spend money inviting the county theater troupe to perform at your child's birth and full-month celebration?"
Deng Changyuan replied firmly, "Mom, this isn't about competing with anyone. Giving birth in the county town is much safer than at home. This isn't a waste of money; it's a necessary expense."
Mrs. Deng scoffed. "For hundreds of years, women in our village have given birth at home, and no one has ever said it's unsafe. Why is it unsafe for your wife to give birth at home?"
Deng Changyuan, losing patience, said, "Sister-in-law, since you're so opposed to this, let's divide the family and live separately. Then you can save your money as you like, and I'll spend mine as I like. We won't interfere with each other. What do you think?"
Hearing this, Deng Yuncai, who had been silent, finally spoke up. "Nonsense! Who said you could propose dividing the family?"
Mrs. Deng panicked. She had only felt uncomfortable about her sister-in-law's special treatment and hadn't intended to split the family. Chang Yuan's mother, too, was alarmed. She had only wanted to teach her daughter-in-law a lesson, not provoke her son to such extremes.
Deng Changyuan, unshaken, said, "I'll make this clear: I don't want anyone saying such things in front of my wife. Otherwise, we'll separate and live our own lives."
Deng Yuncai, feeling his authority challenged, scolded, "A Yuan, you're getting out of hand! Without my consent, no one can divide this family."
Deng Changyuan replied calmly, "Dad, normally, we can't divide the family without your consent. But don't push me to my limits. If you do, I'll ask Uncle Jiu to mediate the division. Let's see if the family can be divided then."
Deng Yuncai was left speechless. While he was the head of the family, if his son sought Uncle Jiu's help, the decision would no longer be his to make.
The rest of the family was stunned into silence. After all, Deng Changyuan was the primary earner. As long as they weren't foolish, they would never consider splitting the family.
(End of this chapter)