1970s: My childhood sweetheart ran away, and I turned around and married the wildest chief.

Furthermore, when the house was built later, Miao Cuiying specially expanded the main house, leaving a large main room for her most favored fourth son. The furniture and furnishings in that room were much better than Lu Minghui's room. In the past two years, as conditions improved, Miao Cuiying even paved a cement floor for him.

The family currently has four rooms in the east wing. The first room was given to Lu Minghui, and the remaining three rooms were given to the third son, Lu Mingkang, who got married and had children early and was initially favored.

There are four rooms in the west wing: one is the kitchen, two are where the second son, Lu Ming'an, and his daughter live, and the last one is for the youngest son, Lu Mingyu.

The main house also has two separate small bedrooms. Entering through the door left by the living room, one of these bedrooms is for the youngest daughter, Lu Mingyue, and the other is for Miao Cuiying's married eldest daughter, Lu Mingzhu. It can be said that everyone in the family has their own room, even the children, with boys living in one room and girls in another.

Only Lu Mingqian doesn't have her own room.

Lu Mingqian had made a fuss about this several times since she came back, but each time she failed.

Lu's mother had a grudge against her and was determined not to give her that face.

At this moment, in the east wing, Lu Mingqian was complaining to her younger brother about the bad things her stepmother had done.

"She has always been domineering and suppresses my brother and me at every turn. She wants to take all the good things in the house. Last time, when my fourth brother got married, she practically emptied the house to give to him. When I heard about it, I came and said a few words. My father was so infatuated with her that he actually scolded me and told me not to interfere. It's outrageous."

Lu Mingqian got angry when she remembered that Lu Mingzhou got married a few months ago and Lu's mother had collected supplies from all over her hometown to take with her.

Those all belong to the Lu family; they should all belong to her younger brother.

"She's so old, an old lady, I don't know what kind of spell she used to make Dad still listen to her after all these years. If you don't come back soon, there will be no place for us siblings in this family."

Their father wasn't an ordinary commune head; he was a retired soldier who had done quite well in the army. He learned a lot there, including literacy, management skills, accounting, and knowledge of various weapons. He was injured and later wanted a peaceful life, so he returned to his hometown.

As the commune leader, he was also the commune's accountant and in charge of production in their area. Compared to the surrounding area's brigade leader, who was also the militia leader in the past, he wielded considerable power.

Although he was no longer in the military, his rank was not reduced, and he continued to receive his salary according to his previous administrative rank. In fact, he was promoted once later due to his good performance over time.

These days I earn a salary of a little over a hundred yuan a month, not even counting all the benefits and bonuses.

This income is enough to support a large family in the countryside.

At first, none of them knew. Lu Mingqian only found out when she was a child by eavesdropping on her father and stepmother talking. She was shocked at the time. How many rural cadres could earn such a high salary?

After she got married and her younger brother went out to work, her father stopped giving them money. The two thousand yuan they received each year was all spent on that bitch Miao Cuiying and her children. How could Lu Mingqian not be angry?

Lu Minghui glanced at his angry eldest sister and comforted her, "They've been married for so many years. Back then, Mom was always in the countryside and didn't spend much time with him. She was busy taking care of the elderly and children at home. Now, my brother and I are also away from him most of the time. All that's around him are that woman and her children. Of course, Dad is biased towards them."

"Big sister, you've done so much for me all these years. Don't upset stepmother anymore, and try to improve your relationship with Dad. He has power and influence here, and his salary is high. If you can win him over, at least your life will be a little easier, and it won't be so difficult to get him to give you some financial support!"

After a pause, Lu Minghui sighed and continued, "Look at these kids in the family, aren't they all supported by Dad? The second son isn't very bright, but he still got married and had kids. The third son isn't very capable, but he had eight kids. Those five sons are always running around, and their wives don't even work. How can he support so many kids on his meager salary? Isn't it Dad who's supporting them?"

"Lu Mingzhu married into the city. When she got married, Dad must have given her a lot of dowry. He probably put a lot of money into her job at the department store. As for the fourth son, he's Miao Cuiying's most favored son. He put even more money into his job. You saw it yourself during his many years in the army. You never saw him bring anything home. He must have kept all his salary for himself!"

"Your younger brother and sister-in-law both have jobs now, all arranged by Dad. As long as Dad is willing, he can take good care of each of his children, so don't keep making him angry, or you'll only suffer in the end."

Lu Mingqian already resented her father for treating her badly, and now, after hearing what her younger brother said, her resentment deepened.

Those were all her family's things, but unfortunately she couldn't enjoy them; they were all taken away by her stepmother.

Why is Dad so biased? She's also Dad's daughter, why doesn't he love her?

"Why should I fawn over him? My surname is Lu, and I have a share in this family. My mother worked like a slave in this family back then, so why should I lose everything just because she's dead?"

Lu Mingqian's eyes reddened with hatred. "Lu Mingzhou is back this time. I specifically told you this so that you can come back and teach him a lesson. You should find a way to deal with him and not let him continue to be so arrogant."

"When the third brother's wife came back, she said that he had also become a brigade commander. I couldn't believe it, but there was nothing I could do. She said that the fourth brother lived in a two-story house in the family compound. The furniture and appliances in his house were all provided by the army. The house had several rooms on the upper and lower floors and was very spacious, like a palace."

"Didn't you say that only division-level officers get housing? A brigade commander is equivalent to a deputy division commander, could he really be a brigade commander already? He's only twenty-eight, how is that possible?"

This is the real reason why Lu Minghui came back this time.

He is thirty-five years old this year. Back when the college entrance examination was not yet abolished, he was admitted to a military academy through proper examination. After graduation, he joined the army and married the daughter of a leader. Now he is only a brigade commander. Lu Mingzhou joined the army when he was a teenager and did not study much. He had never been married before. The girl he married now, according to his third brother's wife, is not the daughter of a leader in the army. How did he become a brigade commander?

Lu Mingzhou had sent a telegram to his parents well in advance of his return to visit his family. After Lu Mingqian found out, she informed her younger brother.

Lu Minghui took a special vacation at this time, bringing his wife and children back to see Lu Mingzhou, just to test his abilities and find out his current situation.

At this moment, Xu Li, who had been silent until now, exclaimed in surprise, "He's only twenty-eight years old, never attended military academy, and is only a brigade commander. Are you sure?"