Back to 1984: Let's Work Hard Together to Raise The Kids!-Chapter 303: Shameless Request

Lin Yi furrowed his brows, seeing them with large bags, he knew this group was planning to stay in Nanyu. He waved his hand dismissively and sat on a stone, lighting a cigarette, "There have been no Dang people in Nanxi for a long time. Shanglin Village’s been demolished, and we’re now living in resettlement housing. I help out at the shop during the day, Ah Qin goes to work, and Wenjun is busy with business outside.

At home, it’s just Yaya and her husband. She’s resting here for her pregnancy, can’t entertain you. If you don’t mind, you can rest at my place."

Zhu Fugen was stunned for a moment, then quickly shook his head, smiling obsequiously, "We don’t mind, we don’t mind."

So, Lin Yi rode his diesel tricycle and took them to the small single room in the resettlement housing.

This resettlement area housed all the village folks, just scattered. Left and right neighbors all changed. Lin Yi had a house here because his old one was demolished, and the government allocated him a temporary place as required.

The room had only a bed, a cabinet, and a folding table, mainly for making tea. The bed was just for napping, lying down. There were few things inside, and no signs of cooking at all.

Lin Yi knew this too, so he explained proactively, "I usually eat at the shop, sometimes at Ah Qin’s, sometimes live there, sometimes at the shop, occasionally come back, no fixed place."

To Zhu Fugen and his wife, it sounded like Lin Yi was being neglected in his old age.

Seeing this in a different light, they felt grateful that they had a son. Although he couldn’t do much, at least he could take care of them in old age!

Zhu Fugen quickly pulled his son, Zhu Laigui, out, telling him to greet people.

Zhu Laigui didn’t give Lin Yi a proper look, disapproving, "Dad, didn’t you say great uncle has a big villa? This rundown house isn’t much better than ours. I don’t want to stay here!"

Zhu Fugen was extremely embarrassed, his face alternated between green and white, glaring as he lightly smacked his son, "You’re talking nonsense! If it weren’t for you refusing to study, we wouldn’t have worked this hard to bring you out for work! We’re here in the city, and you’re still complaining. Think you’re some young master, huh? Still dreaming of living in a villa?"

Li Lan protectively shielded her son, "Alright, stop it, he’s still young and doesn’t understand! Great uncle won’t mind, will you?"

Li Lan quickly looked towards Lin Yi.

Lin Yi acted as if he didn’t hear, without any response.

This made the couple feel awkward, unable to find a way out.

Zhu Fugen composed himself, glanced at Li Lan, signaling her to take their son out. Only then did he discuss serious matters with Lin Yi, "Great uncle, as you see, our boy is quite rebellious, doesn’t listen or like to study. We tell him to go East, he insists on going West. We had no choice but to bring him out; we can’t let him idle at home forever!"

Lin Yi listened with a curious expression, "How old is he?"

"Fourteen."

Lin Yi immediately frowned, "He’s only fourteen, why bring him out? Which employer would dare hire him? He’s still a child!"

Zhu Fugen frowned immediately, "Great uncle, we asked around in the county town, it’s the same. We thought people in your city were more experienced, couldn’t you think of a way?"

Lin Yi laughed angrily, "Think of what way? We don’t do illegal things! We already helped you clean up once back then, don’t talk about family ties anymore!"

Zhu Fugen hearing this realized Lin Yi still bore a grudge about the past, his eyes reddened, "Great uncle, we already know we were wrong back then. We didn’t think it through, and later Alan had another child, it was a girl too, so we gave her to someone else to raise."

Lin Yi stared in disbelief, "So how many daughters did you have?"

Zhu Fugen raised four fingers, "In total, we had four. Except the eldest stayed at home, the other three were given away. This son is the fifth, our precious.

Because he was hard to come by, my parents spoiled him rotten, can’t scold or hit. Alan treats him like a treasure, giving him the best stuff since young. The result, you see, he became spoilt, not willing to study, causing trouble in school, and threatened not to go anymore.

Said he’d rather work than keep studying. My parents said, since he’s already 14, if he doesn’t study, he should work for two years, then at 16, he can date and marry. We also thought it’s fine. For men, getting married early, having someone take care of him, that’s good."

Lin Yi was dumbfounded, numb, like it was his first time knowing Zhu Fugen, "Zhu Fugen! Are you out of your mind, or have your parents lost it? What era is this?

Even an old guy like me knows how important education is, don’t you? Oh! So young and can’t endure the hardship of studying, what else can he do? Also! What fallback does your Zhu family have for him?

Are you wealthy or do you have a business for him to inherit? If you let him mess around with nothing, do you think working all his life is good enough?"

Zhu Fugen was left speechless, but a man of his age still had some self-respect, so he muttered in defense, "Nothing wrong with working! People from our village made money going out to work!"

Lin Yi just felt tired, difficult to communicate, waved his hand powerlessly, "If you’ve decided, why come to me?"

Zhu Fugen pulled a long face, snorted peevishly, "Great uncle, I just thought since it’s rare for us to visit the city, we’d come see you, and maybe get your help. Since you’re not willing, we’ll find our own way, we’re leaving now."

Saying this, Zhu Fugen dragged his luggage and walked out, glancing at Li Lan and Zhu Laigui, barking, "Let’s go!"

Li Lan hurriedly pulled her son along, whispering, "So what now?"

Zhu Fugen pouted, "They don’t think much of us poor relatives, won’t help! Let’s go, our village still has a few working on construction, we’ll find them for help. The whole family can go to the site. Remember, when people ask how old the son is, say eighteen."

Li Lan nodded repeatedly, pulling her son aside, repeatedly reminding him, "Remember, listen to your dad, or we’ll send you back to school."

Zhu Laigui rolled his eyes impatiently, "I know!"

Seeing his son was unhappy, Zhu Fugen also got heated.

Li Lan couldn’t help but complain, "Cousin’s family’s doing so well, yet they didn’t even let us in or cook a meal for us. How could relatives be like this?"

Zhu Fugen thought of their previous visit to the city and Lin Yi’s attitude now, guessing the reason, he impatiently scolded, "Stop talking! Great uncle still wants to dig up the past, why didn’t you mention that?"

As soon as the past was brought up, Li Lan shut her mouth immediately.

Zhu Laigui curiously asked, "What’s the story with the past? Mom, Dad, did you hide something from me?"