Drama Couple in the 80s

Chapter 36

In this regard, Song Shixia's thoughts differed from Old Man Jiang's.

Old Man Jiang believed that as an elder, he must maintain his dignity so how could he accept things from his son in law without reciprocation?

From his perspective, the young couple lived carelessly with limited income. They didn't diligently work or properly tend to their fields, and likely only had the modest dowry money received during their wedding. He feared it wouldn't last under their extravagant spending habits.

Song Shixia believed that siblings should naturally help each other and as a sister, supporting her younger brother was only right. Why bother drawing such clear boundaries within one's own family? If sisters and brothers meticulously calculated every cent between them, could they still be considered close?

One might say, Song Shixia had considerable potential to become a "brother-enabler," always prioritizing her sibling's needs. Unfortunately for her, she encountered Old Man Jiang, who adhered strictly to rules and valued face above all else. While somewhat old-fashioned, Old Man Jiang had a good heart and a strong sense of morality.

Song Shixia argued, "Since his second brother in law said it's a gift for Fengchan, he's already bought it, so let him give it away. Why make things so complicated among family? Just keep it in mind internally."

Old Man Jiang eventually agreed. He Cheng refused to disclose the price, only mentioning that he got it quite cheaply through a friend. Consequently, Old Man Jiang discreetly asked the team leader about the cost of digital watches.

Even the most well-informed team leader of Xiaoling Village had never seen a digital watch, let alone purchased one. He estimated it would likely cost around a hundred yuan or more, emphasizing how expensive these foreign items generally were.

Taking note of this, Old Man Jiang returned home and told Song Shixia, "We should bear this in mind. Next time we buy fertilizers or similar goods, we'll compensate them accordingly."

Song Shixia retorted, "Always fussing about something! Just wait until they have grandchildren; as their grandfather, you can make it up by giving generous gifts then."

As soon as this topic came up, Song Shixia's thoughts drifted elsewhere, and he muttered, "The newlyweds have been married for several months now, yet there's still no news. It should be about time."

Before the wedding, she had worried daily that her daughter might rush to give her a grandchild, constantly fearing clandestine intimacy between the couple. Now, she fretted every day over why they hadn't conceived yet.

In the end, the 5 yuan electronic watch brought from Shencheng was given to the bride-to-be as an engagement gift, reportedly causing quite a sensation among her family.

As a result, in Jiang Fengchan's eyes, Second Brother in Law became known as a man with connections - a truly good person. This made He Cheng feel somewhat uneasy.

The remaining second watch was intended for Jiang Fengshou. He Cheng's intention was for each brother to have one, treating them equally without favoritism. However, Jiang Ya insisted on not giving it to him and even cautioned He Cheng not to mention it, fearing that such a young Jiang Fengshou might become overly boastful upon receiving a wristwatch.

A few days later, school resumed after the summer break. Jiang Fengshou returned to the town middle school for his first year of junior high, leaving early in the morning and returning late at night. Each day, he rode his bicycle to school and ate lunch on campus. Song Shixia packed his meals, usually consisting of flatbread or steamed buns, sometimes with pickles sandwiched inside, as other foods were impractical to carry.