Rebirth to a Military Marriage : GOOD MORNING CHIEF

Chapter 21 - 25

Chapter 21: Quarrel

"Owes you and has to repay?" Qiao Dongliang smiled coldly. "Who was the one who suggested having a second child, trying for a son?"

Back then, it was Old Ding who said that it would be too lonely to just have Zijin in the family and that they should have a second child. Even though it was against national planning policy, Old Ding said that having a second child was more important than work or career prospects.

Qiao Dongliang admitted that he was undoubtedly a traditional Chinese man who felt the need for a son to carry on his family name. But he also knew that such things could not be forced.

Upon listening to his wife's suggestion, he was tempted or rather muddle-headed enough to give up his work and future, all to try for a son.

Qiao Dongliang did not have any regrets having this daughter, Qiao Nan. What he regretted was giving up everything for having a son.

If not, his wife would not put all the blame of quitting their jobs and not giving birth to a son on Nan Nan.

"Old Ding, I kept quiet but that doesn't mean I was unaware. You should know what it was like at Ding family and how you grew up at that family. So now you want Nan Nan to go through all the hardships you faced? Is it Nan Nan who owes you or you who owes Nan Nan?"

Ding Jiayi grew up in a family that was extremely patriarchal. Back then it was the old friend of Qiao Dongliang's father, a veteran cadre who introduced Ding Jiayi to Qiao Dongliang. The veteran cadre was hoping that they would lead a better life.

Qiao Dongliang's parents had passed away and he did not have any relatives.

For people like him, it was very difficult to get married.

It just so happened that Qiao Dongliang was only a platoon leader then, slightly better than an average soldier, but did not have good prospects. So it was difficult to find someone of matching status. People from lower rank would not do, while people from higher rank would not take a fancy to him.

And so it was difficult to find a wife.

As for Ding Jiayi, she came from an average family, but she had three younger brothers.

Her parents wanted to hold a grand wedding for their three sons and they would each have their own house; and so there was not enough money to get by.

So her parents decided to set their sights on their daughter, Ding Jiayi.

Ding Jiayi brought up her three brothers single handedly. In spite of this she was like the servant in the Ding family. She had to do all the chores but there was never enough for her to eat and she still got frequent scoldings from her parents.

But Ding Jiayi was not stupid, she made use of the chance to read her brother's books while looking after him.

At times, she could even coach her brother in his studies.

And so with the on and off studying, Ding Jiayi finally managed to grasp the elementary school syllabus through self study. She managed to learn most of the Chinese characters.

In Ding Jiayi's time, her standard was considered very high.

When Ding Jiayi grew up, her parents had no intention of keeping her at home. They wanted her to work and earn money to support the family.

Their idea was to find a "good family" for her, get a good bride price and marry her off.

At that time, Ding's parents had already sourced a family and even decided on a bride price. Even though they were marrying off their daughter, everyone could tell that they were in fact selling off their daughter.