Five years of marriage, always separated [1970s]

The weather was hot, so it was not suitable for suits and leather shoes. Geng Zhiye was dressed simply, with army green trousers and a white shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows. But his hands were stained with blood when he was young, and he had been in the army for many years. He was in a high position and his temperament made ordinary people intimidated.

Nanny Xiao Wang stopped suddenly, and the couple stood up slowly, apologized stiffly, and then said that they had something small to do with their daughter and would not delay her work.

Ye Fan instantly realized that the two people were Xiao Wang's parents.

Geng Zhiye thought it was another family affair that would be difficult for an honest official to judge, so he signaled Ye Fan to go inside and let the babysitter solve it herself.

The babysitter could handle it, so she wouldn't cry like Liu Bei. Ye Fan signaled Geng Zhiye to go in first. Geng Zhiye was worried that the babysitter would quarrel with her parents and run into Ye Fan, so he raised his eyebrows at Ye Fan and said, "I'm not going anywhere."

Ye Fan turned to Xiao Wang helplessly: "Stop crying, go wash your face, and we can talk nicely."

There was also a bathroom in the front yard. Xiao Wang turned around and ran straight to the bathroom, as if her parents didn't exist. Ye Fan took a few steps forward and asked Xiao Wang's parents, "What happened?"

Xiao Wang’s father: “It’s nothing serious.”

Her mother agreed that her daughter was ignorant.

What parents consider trivial may be a big deal to their children. For example, Chen Xiaohui's daughter was devastated when she lost her candy. For Ye Jingjing, her world was devastated when she lost her computer. For graduates without money, one month's salary is everything they have.

Xiao Wang has never cried in the few years she has worked for Ye Fan. She only complained a few words when she missed home, which shows that she is strong. Xiao Wang is also diligent. She cleans the places that need her once every five days on average. When Ye Fan is away on business, Dabao is at school and can't come back, Erbao and Geng Sensen are at work and not at home, Xiao Wang will not run out when it is her turn to rest. When Yu Wentao is sick or goes to the hospital, buys groceries and collects rent, she follows.

Seeing how attentive Xiao Wang was, Ye Fan had to show some concern: "What's the big deal?"

Maybe Ye Fan's smile made the couple relax unconsciously, Xiao Wang's mother started to nag that she was a girl in her early twenties and she should have found a partner but she insisted on opening a store. Before Ye Fan asked what kind of store she wanted to open, she said that her daughter didn't know anything and how could she open a store. Ye Fan was so good to her, how nice it would be to work in Ye Fan's house.

Yu Wentao once said that Xiao Wang wanted to set up a stall to sell vegetables.

The cost of opening a store is high, but the cost of setting up a stall is low. You can buy a second-hand human-powered tricycle, rent a room, put a glass display window on the tricycle, buy two stoves and a few cheap steel pots, go to the market to buy some things and braise them.

Xiao Wang earns 200 yuan a month, and half a year's salary is enough for her to work for a year. With her skills, she can make ends meet even if business is not good at the beginning. Working for a period of time will definitely earn her more than working as a part-time worker.

Ye Fan was not destined to be an idler. In Geng Zhiye's words, "No one in the family is destined to enjoy a good life", so she naturally likes people who are ambitious. Ye Fan also said at the time that she would ask Han Dawei to take care of her for a few days. She regarded Han Dawei as her master and would bring him some gifts to show her filial piety during festivals.

Ye Fan heard Xiao Wang's mother say that making money is not as important as getting married, so he didn't explain that it was not a store but a stall: "There's no need to cry about this."

Xiao Wang came out of the bathroom, her face was pale, but her eyes were red, and she looked very ugly. Xiao Wang didn't care about these things at the moment. Tears came out as soon as she opened her mouth. She explained in a sobbing voice that her parents didn't not support her opening a store, nor did they want her to get married early. These were all excuses, just to get her to take out the money.

Ye Fan couldn't help but look at Xiao Wang's parents. The couple looked embarrassed. Xiao Wang's mother said that she couldn't hold the money and helped her save it. Xiao Wang's father scolded her, saying "You don't know how hard it is to make money, and you don't know how to live."

As soon as Ye Fan saw their angry faces, he knew that they really wanted money. But they also really didn't support opening a store and asked her to get married early. Xiao Wang's parents were not very literate and had lived in a rural area with little information for many years. They had old ideas and believed that children must get married when they grow up. Not getting married would bring shame to their ancestors.

Even if her parents believed that Xiao Wang could run the store with Ye Fan's help, what if? The Wang family didn't have much money, and her parents couldn't afford to gamble. But they were far away and couldn't keep an eye on Xiao Wang all the time, so they thought of cutting off the source of the trouble - coaxing their daughter's money away and saving it.

Ye Fan suspected this was the case, but he didn't say it directly. Instead, he asked Wang's father indirectly, "Is the house broken and needs to be rebuilt?"

Xiao Wang's mother shook her head: "No. Boss Ye, my daughter has no money to spend with you. We used the money she earned last year to pay off our debts, and the money she earned last year to renovate our house. We don't need her money now."

Ye Fan: "Xiao Wang's brother is not young anymore, right?"

Xiao Wang's mother nodded: "He's not young anymore. He'll be in high school in two years."

This means it's too early to get married. Junior high school doesn't cost much, Xiao Wang's two months' salary is enough, and Xiao Wang doesn't need to use all his savings. Ye Fan said: "How about this, let's both take a step back, Xiao Wang's money will be kept with me. You two can see what's going on here, and you will never be greedy for her salary."

Xiao Wang immediately agreed.

However, her parents looked embarrassed.

Ye Fan was not in a hurry and waited for them to think about it slowly. After a while, the aroma of food drifted over from the main courtyard, and Xiao Wang realized that it was time for Ye Fan to eat: "Auntie, you eat first, I'll talk to you later."

Ye Fan: "Don't worry. Let's make a deal. I'll take your parents out for a bite to eat, go shopping, and then send them back."

When the old couple heard that they were asked to go back, they became anxious and asked their daughter when she could withdraw the money.

Xiao Wang blurted out: "No money!"

Wang's father was so angry that he wanted to hit his daughter, but when he saw Geng Zhiye, he didn't dare to do it. He pointed at his daughter and said, "Look, Boss Ye, have I raised her for nothing? I shouldn't have asked her to study!"

Speaking of "schooling", Ye Fan was also quite surprised. Xiao Wang's family was poor and she was a girl, so it was not natural for her to go to middle school. There were many people in Chang Guangrong's factory who were about the same age as Xiao Wang and whose families were better off than hers. They dropped out of elementary school and came out to work.

Thinking of this, Ye Fan said, "Xiao Wang, your parents have raised you so hard and sent you to middle school, how can they not give you a penny? Give me some face and give your family 50 yuan a month." He said to Xiao Wang's parents, "Six hundred a year is not a small amount, right?"

Xiao Wang's mother nodded subconsciously, and then looked embarrassed when she realized something.

Seeing this, Geng Zhiye thought to himself, it’s not over yet.

"Xiao Wang, is there anything else?"

Xiao Wang was afraid of Geng Zhiye and nodded instinctively.

Ye Fan asked: "What else?"

Xiao Wang looked like he didn't want to let anyone know about the family's shame. Ye Fan wanted to persuade him, but Yu Wentao came out of the main courtyard. Ye Fan thought that her mother-in-law was not at home, but when he smelled the fragrance, he realized that she was cooking in the kitchen. Seeing her, Ye Fan asked directly, "Did you know?"

Yu Wentao heard the family of three arguing.

Yu Wentao pointed at Xiao Wang's father and said, "This one asked Xiao Wang to take a few hundred yuan so that her cousin could get married." She pointed at Xiao Wang's mother and said, "This one asked Xiao Wang to take a few hundred yuan so that her brother could repair the house."

Xiao Wang nodded, looking dissatisfied: "Why should my cousin ask me to pay for his wife?"

Father Wang: “Borrowed!”

"Have you paid back what you borrowed last year?" Xiao Wang asked.

Wang's father opened his mouth and said, "Everyone has difficulties. Does your uncle still owe you money?"

Xiao Wang was probably tired from talking before and didn't bother to talk nonsense anymore. She turned to her mother and said, "My uncle's house is the same as grandma's. Grandma can live there but he can't?"

Her mother said without thinking: "Your cousin has been looking for a partner in the past two years, who would be interested in that house?"

"Then don't look for it!" Xiao Wang said.

Her mother almost breathed out more than she breathed in.

Yu Wentao looked at Ye Fan. This was the situation.

Ye Fan had a headache. If Xiao Wang's younger brother wanted to get married and Xiao Wang had money but didn't want to pay, Ye Fan could persuade him to pay now to reduce the burden on his parents and let his younger brother take care of them when they get old. What kind of thing is this, a cousin and a younger cousin?

No wonder Xiao Wang cried in anger.

Ye Fan: "Xiao Wang, isn't your cousin rich?"

Xiao Wang muttered, "That's my aunt's cousin."

Ye Fan: "You can also find her. Isn't your uncle her uncle? She works harder and earns more. She is richer than you."

Xiao Wang's eyes lit up and she turned to her mother: "I'll borrow it if my cousin lends it to me." She said to her father: "My aunt is cleaning at Boss Chang's factory, and my cousin works in the factory. They are richer than us, so ask my uncle to borrow it from my aunt."

Xiao Wang's parents were suddenly speechless.

Ye Fan pulled Geng Zhiye and said, "Xiao Wang, don't let your parents go back empty-handed, and don't bring too much money. It's not safe in the car. I have to go to the company in the afternoon. Let's eat first, and you can talk to your parents." He winked at his mother-in-law, and the family of three went to the main courtyard.

Xiao Wang's parents looked at each other. How could they continue the conversation since she said that?

The old couple was reluctant to ask their daughter to resign. Today was the first time they urged her to get married. They planned to let her work for another two years and find a partner when she was 23 or 24 years old. So the old couple did not dare to ask their daughter to go back with them.

Xiao Wang didn't pay, so he could have scolded his daughter for being ignorant, but now Ye Fan dragged a few people to defend him, so he couldn't even say that. The old couple had no choice but to stare blankly. Xiao Wang was confident, not afraid of his parents or feeling wronged, and he didn't move, letting them look at him.

The old couple agreed with their family that they would go today and come back today. Seeing that she was determined not to pay, they could only sigh helplessly.

Seeing this, Xiao Wang went into the house to get a hundred yuan and some change, took them out for dinner, bought some specialties from the capital, and then sent them to the station.

She was also worried that her parents would use their family's name to borrow money for her uncle and her younger uncle, so she wrote to her sister and brother to tell them about this when she came back from the station. The two of them lived close to each other, so she asked them to keep an eye on it.

After finishing today's work in the morning, Ye Fan did not go to the company. If there is an emergency, the secretary will call her. Ye Fan and Geng Zhiye woke up from their nap and went to the study. When they heard Xiao Wang's voice, Ye Fan could not help but say, "Every family has its own problems." Geng Zhiye: "You can't tell the difference between relatives and strangers, you are confused!"

Ye Fan: "Maybe I'm too kind and soft-hearted and value family affection."

"Isn't Xiao Wang their biological daughter? They don't feel sorry for their daughter who works hard to earn money, but feel sorry for her brother instead."

Ye Fan: "Let's say our family, Dabao is rich, but Sensen is poor and waiting to get married, would you ask Dabao to lend money to Sensen?"

Geng Zhiye said bluntly: "Why marry a wife if you don't have money? You can't even support her even if you marry her!"

Ye Fan was speechless.

Geng Zhiye was happy to see this.

Ye Fan grabbed the mouse and hit him.

Geng Zhiye stood up and held her wrist, and with his other hand he pulled the chair closer to him: "When will Leilei get married?"

Geng Leilei's girlfriend works in the tax department. She is Geng Sensen's junior, and her uncle is Geng Laoda's childhood friend. They haven't been in touch for many years, and they don't know each other's family situation, and they have never thought about getting married. When Geng Laoda returned to the capital, the two families got in touch. This year during the Spring Festival, he asked his son to pay New Year's greetings to Geng Laoda. Geng Laoda asked his two sons to return the greetings, and then the family knew that both of Geng's children were single.

Geng Sensen is good at speaking. He is OK as a friend, but he feels unsafe as a husband. This friend of Geng Laoda introduced his niece to Geng Leilei. Coincidentally, both of them put their careers first and don't like to go out on holidays. They can sit face to face and read books all day without getting bored, so they are very satisfied with each other. A few days ago, the two elders took time to meet and said that it was a bit early to talk about engagement after getting along for a short time.

"Engagement on Mid-Autumn Festival. Wedding by the end of the year if nothing goes wrong." Ye Fan opened the drawer and took out a small box. Geng Zhiye opened it and found a golden bracelet: "Why is it similar to the wedding gift you gave Huihui?"

Ye Fan: "I bought six. One for Leilei, Sensen, Benben and Huihui, and two for Liangliang and Xiaoyatou."

Geng Zhiye: "Didn't you buy any for Xiaoqin's kid?"

Ye Fan shook his head: "I asked Aunt Yu if she should buy another one. She said that when she gets old, she would leave a jade bracelet for the little one and a gold bracelet. These are what I bought for her before, so she doesn't want me to spend money on them."

"What's hers is hers."

Ye Fan: "If the old lady has an opinion about my daughter, listen to her first. Little Bit is not only Xiaoqin's daughter, but also Lai Fu's. For Lai Fu's sake, I, as her aunt, must also prepare something for her."

"Laifu is good. He has become the second-in-command of the department, but he is still as humble as before." Geng Zhiye weighed the bracelet: "Not to mention Chen Xiaohui's daughter, even when Jingjing got married, this bracelet would have been out of date."

Ye Fan snatched it back: "What do you know? Gold never goes out of style!"

Geng Zhiye sneered, opened the drawer and took out the remaining ones: "Are they different?"

"The weight is the same." Ye Fan chose the ones that were 100 grams.

Geng Zhiye thought a pattern looked good and asked, "Why didn't you buy one for your second child?"

Ye Fan opened the cabinet on the other side: "I chose it a few days ago. It's a birthday present."

Geng Zhiye put his things away, "Where's mine?"

Ye Fan rolled his eyes and opened the bottom drawer, which was full of small boxes of the same size. Geng Zhiye was surprised and delighted: "I have ten watches?"

"Even Geng Dabao is still filial to you." Ye Fan looked at him wearing all the jewelry on his hands and suddenly felt that he had intensive phobia. "Why is he like Erbao when he was a child?"

Geng Zhiye: "People of my age don't deserve toys?"

"It comes with a watch." Ye Fan put the bracelet away and closed the drawer. "You can only wear a watch in your life."

Geng Zhiye nodded: "You buy me a suit, a belt, and leather shoes, but I don't have time to wear them." He paused and asked: "Am I saving money?"

"Save money!" Geng Zhiye's biggest expense is gifts. Apart from this, his monthly salary is enough for him to spend for a year.

Geng Zhiye was satisfied and took off his watches one by one and put them on the table, looking at them one by one and playing with them: "You said Xiao Wang, her aunt, cousin, and her aunt are all in the city, how come her uncle and her uncle are so poor that one can't afford to marry a daughter-in-law, and the other is so poor that he has to borrow money to build a house?"

"Because they are lazy." Ye Fan said, "It is also possible that they feel that working for others is inferior to others. It is also possible that their parents are reluctant to let their son, who will bring honor to the family, come out."

Geng Zhiye clicked his tongue and put on the latest model.

Ye Fan propped his elbows on the desk, holding his chin and watching him take off and put on the clothes like he and Dabao and Erbao played house when they were children: "Her parents are also confused. They should take the opportunity to ask her cousins ​​to come to the city to help her open a store."

"Don't say that. Sometimes you don't say good things, but bad things." Geng Zhiye said quickly, "Maybe you will come to Xiao Wang tomorrow, and then Xiao Wang will look for you."

Ye Fan: "It's ok to help once or twice, but not three times, I'll change the nanny."

"What a cruel heart." Geng Zhiye looked as if he sympathized with Xiao Wang, but his expression did not suggest that.

Ye Fan hit him on the arm, and Geng Zhiye almost dropped the watch on his hand. He immediately became anxious: "If it breaks, you have to pay for it!"

"Which one of them was not bought by me?" Ye Fan complained.

Geng Zhiye: "If you give it to me, it's mine!"

The room was stuffy and Ye Fan felt sleepy after sitting for too long, so he got up and opened the window to wake himself up.

Geng Zhiye picked a steel watch, rolled up his sleeves, and said, "Ye Fanfan, I find this watch is most suitable for formal wear."

Ye Fan turned around and said, "All your watches are suitable for formal wear. I'll make you a few suits based on the watches. The casual wear company that Dabao endorsed before also makes suits. The pattern-making process is not worse than that abroad, but it's much cheaper than abroad."

"Wear it on vacation? I rarely get a few days off, why do I need to wear formal clothes?" Geng Zhiye said with disdain, "You might as well buy me a few watches with this money. Domestic ones are fine. I heard from someone that domestic watches are also good."

Ye Fan: "Our country does have many good things. I'll ask someone later."

"What's there?" Geng Zhiye asked casually.

Ye Fan picked up a small golden clock on the shelf in the study and said, "This is an antique. People can make it nowadays. Don't be fooled by the complicated craftsmanship, it is inlaid with silk and decorated with kingfisher feathers."

“Are these craftsmen still there?”

Ye Fan nodded: "They are still there. It's just hard to find. But it's not difficult to find. Chang Guangrong has many brothers and sisters and knows many people. I'll ask him to help me ask. Can I make a pocket watch for you?"

Geng Zhiye gestured to where the pocket watch was worn: "Like a warlord."

Ye Fan was speechless but wanted to laugh: "If I can't put it in my pocket, do I have to hang it on my body?"

Geng Zhiye seemed to have just woken up from a dream. Ye Fan looked at the watch and saw that it was getting late. "Will you come with me to pick up Erbao?"

"Where's Dabao?"

Ye Fan: "I don't know. Anyway, he won't let himself down. Sometimes when he doesn't have time, he asks Guangming to help him get food and other things. They both work in public institutions, so it's convenient for them to get to know each other."

Geng Zhiye put his watch away carefully and became Ye Fan's driver.

Ye Fan called Erbao in the morning to tell her that her father was back. Erbao also missed her father and wanted to take the bus back in the afternoon.

Geng Zhiye left the alley and thought of something: "Where is Erbao's car?"

"Sensen is driving it. It's been hot lately and Erbao doesn't want to go back and forth, so he left the car in the community and no one is driving it, so Sensen drove it here to use it. Dabao's car seems to be driven by my brother. I saw it in the yard when I went to my parents' house a few days ago. I don't know how they got in touch."

Geng Zhiye hesitated for a moment and asked Ye Fan when he would go to the Ye family.

Seeing that he didn't want to go but had to go, Ye Fan felt helpless: "How many years have passed."

"For so many years your mother has been so rude to me." Geng Zhiye has always been at odds with his mother-in-law.

Ye Fan sighed: "It's because you are in the army, and I have to worry about everything at home and outside. Doesn't my mother feel sorry for me?"

"She didn't want you to go to the countryside to serve in the army, so she married you to me. How could she not feel bad?" Geng Zhiye snorted, "It was obviously your family that needed me back then, and you even begged her to marry you to me."

That was the situation at the time. Ye Fan asked, "Isn't it?"

(End of this chapter)