Fang Xiu fell silent upon hearing this.
On normal days, when she occasionally did a few days of housework, she felt completely exhausted. If she really had to do it for half a month, she believed she would be worn to death.
Pingying gave her a sidelong glance, took a large bamboo sieve out of the house, and spread out the hawthorn in the courtyard.
Not long after, Luo Dashan, Zhou Yunmei, and Luo Zhiyong returned from working outside.
Seeing the mud on Luo Zhiyong's legs, Pingying immediately went over to support him, "Did you also go to the fields today?"
Luo Zhiyong saw her urgency, his stern features slightly softened, and he gently shook his head, "No, I just sat by the fields, handing some things to mom and dad, I didn't actually work in the fields."
Pingying saw that not only Luo Zhiyong's trousers but also his upper clothes were covered with a lot of mud. She knew in her heart that, even if Luo Zhiyong was just handing things over to Luo Dashan and the others, he must have been in the fields. She felt somewhat uneasy inside, thinking that Luo Dashan and Zhou Yunmei were not caring enough toward Luo Zhiyong.
With so many people in such a big family, if there was work to be done, couldn't they call on those staying at home, like Zhiming, instead of allowing an injured person like Zhiyong to go to the fields?
So, she helped Zhiyong sit down in the courtyard and hinted, "Your leg hasn't healed yet, better rest up. With so many people in the family, if there's work to be done, we can go instead."
As soon as Fang Xiu heard Pingying include 'we' in her remark, naturally, she was included as well, and she immediately spoke up in protest, "If you want to go, you go. I won't. I don't know how to do farm work."
Pingying gave Fang Xiu a stern look and scolded her, "You claim you don't know how to work. Do you know how to eat? Don't you realize that the food and clothing you enjoy come from the hard work of others?"
Afterwards, Pingying deliberately greeted Luo Dashan and the others, "Dad, Mom, if there's more work in the fields later, just call us to do it. You're at such an advance age and still busying around; it's unreasonable for us young people to just sit at home."
Pingying said this pleasantly, which of course made Luo Dashan and Zhou Yunmei happy.
Moreover, she said 'a whole family', which means she included herself; even if others didn't want to go, they would have no excuse.
Zhou Yunmei immediately responded with a smile, "Alright, that's settled. If there's a lot of work to be done in the future, I'll call you guys to help out. Just like cooking, you can take turns helping."
When Zhiyong heard Zhou Yunmei's implication that she had no intention of asking Zhiming to work, he frowned and reminded her, "Mom, there's also Zhiming. In the future, when you're working, take him along. A grown man like him, doing nothing, just staying at home every day, who is going to provide for him?"
As soon as Zhiyong finished speaking, Fang Xiu, who was sitting nearby, immediately started to argue with him, "Big brother, that's not right. Although you send some money home every month, you should be doing that. You are on the outside, while Zhiming is in the countryside. Isn't it right for you to look after the family more? Why force my Zhiming to work like this."
Pingying found Fang Xiu's words amusing. It seemed as if she was implying that Zhiyong joined the military only by benefiting from Zhiming's favors and should therefore contribute selflessly to the family, even taking care of them both for a lifetime as if it were his duty.
Considering she was her own sister, constant quarreling would not only be laughable to outsiders but would also lead to disrespect from her mother-in-law.
Thus, Pingying shifted her strategy. She didn't directly address Fang Xiu but suddenly turned to Zhou Yunmei and asked, "Mom, Zhiyong is doing well in the military, why didn't you send Zhiming to the military back then?"
Yun Mei didn't understand the meaning behind Pingying's words and honestly replied, "Why wouldn't I have sent him off? It's just that Zhiming was physically unfit and didn't pass the military medical examination."
Pingying suddenly realized and nodded, "So that was it. I thought it was because when Zhiyong enlisted, each household could only have one spot, and Zhiming generously gave up his spot to Zhiyong."
"That's not..." Yun Mei began, but suddenly understood the purpose behind Pingying's question. She immediately stopped herself and fell silent.
Pingying looked at her with a smile, "That's why I think our Zhiyong's current position in the army is all due to his own efforts. His salary isn't earned by sitting idle either; he works very hard every day to bring back that pay. We're all family here, we shouldn't only think about others, we should also understand the hardships they face outside."
After pausing for a moment, Pingying continued, "Moreover, since we're talking about a family living together, the expenses should be shared among everyone. It can't all fall on one person. We shouldn't quibble about who earns more and who earns less, but at the very least, everyone should do their best. Otherwise, how can the family get by?"
Yun Mei internally disliked what Pingying was saying, but kept quiet externally because what Pingying said made sense. If she made a scene, it would be her who people gossiped about.
But Fang Xiu was not one to read the room; she glanced at Pingying and retorted irritably, "It's just work, if you don't want to do it, then don't. No one is forcing you. What's the use of all this nagging?"
Upon hearing this, Yun Mei looked at Pingying with schadenfreude, as if to say even your own sister speaks this way.
Pingying frowned at Fang Xiu, thinking she really needed to teach her a lesson when she had the chance. Otherwise, she'd think she could treat Pingying the same way she did back at the Fang Family.
But before Pingying could speak, the usually quiet Dashan said, "I do think Pingying makes sense. Besides, Zhiming has gotten married now; things can't be like they were before. Starting from tomorrow, if he doesn't find work outside, he'll come work in the fields with me every day."
"We are farmers; not knowing how to farm is out of the question. Even if he goes out to work, he will eventually have to come back to farm."
Dashan was honest and didn't talk much, but precisely because he didn't talk much, when he did speak, it mattered.
It might also be because during this period, Luo Zhiyong often filled Yun Mei's ears, insisting on changing Luo Zhiming's lazy habits, and Yun Mei did not object but nodded in agreement.
Only Fang Xiu stood in the yard with reluctance, resentfully looking at Pingying, and then muttered in a very soft voice, "No wonder people in the village say mom favors big brother over Zhiming."
Although Fang Xiu spoke softly, she wanted the family to hear, managing the volume just right so that everyone in the yard heard what she said.
Yun Mei immediately scowled at Fang Xiu, "Fang Xiu, what are you saying? What do you mean I favor big brother over Zhiming?"
Fang Xiu couldn't wait to have the matter brought into the open and blurted out indignantly, "Isn't it true, mom? Think about it. Big brother is an officer in the army, a man of the state, living in the city, drawing a high salary every month, his life is so good."
"Poor Zhiming is going to be stuck in the countryside for a lifetime. Even though big brother says he can find him a job in the city, it's all talk now, we still don't know if it can be done. He's just resting at home before finding work, and you all can't even tolerate that."
Saying so, she paused deliberately, glancing at Luo Zhiyong, "Unlike big brother who has been resting at home for so long, you serve him every day without a single word of complaint.
"So," Fang Xiu shook her head theatrically, lamenting, "I think, whether at home or outside, one has to have power and money to gain respect. Otherwise, no matter where you go, you'll be looked down upon."