Help others? It's better to help yourself - Chapter 54

After cleaning up the dinner table, Shen mother took out the paper money, grain ration book, supplementary food book, and industrial tickets, and kept calculating.

Xu Jing’an picked up the grain ration book from the table, which had Chairman Mao’s instructions printed on it: “… The issue of saving food must be given serious attention. Set a ration per person. Eat more when busy, eat less when idle. Eat dry food when busy, and a mixture of half-dry, half-watery food when idle, supplemented with sweet potatoes, green vegetables, radishes, melons, beans, and taro. This matter must be handled with utmost care.”

Shen He and his family had a separate household registration from Shen father and mother. Although they bought things together every month, the grain ration books, supplementary food books, and other tickets were kept separately.

“Mom, is there anything else we need?”

“I’m calculating how much fine grain we can get. I’ve been saving for a few months, and if I add next month’s ration, I can get at most 20 pounds of white flour and 5 pounds of millet.”

“That’s not enough. I still have some here. If it’s not enough, should I go borrow some from work?” Xu Jing’an tentatively asked Shen mother.

“No need, this is plenty. Besides, how much can Zhuang Zhuang and the others get? They still need to be fed with fine grain. Having these things to eat is better than what many people have. Wanting more during confinement—what more do you want? If the eldest daughter-in-law isn’t satisfied, let her go to the eldest son. Don’t come to me!” Shen mother said without hesitation.

She never interfered in the relationship, closeness, or gift-giving between the eldest and second sons (such as going to congratulate relatives during festive times).

Although the eldest son worked early, Shen mother always saved the money he sent separately and never used it for the second son.

Similarly, the second son’s family lived with them, but she never used the second son’s money to help the eldest, even though the eldest son was 35 when he finally had a child.

The couple would help their children as much as they could, but if they didn’t have the ability, that was just because the parents were incapable, and the son wasn’t lucky enough to have a good start.

They never interfered with one child’s life over the other, nor used their status as parents to suppress one child. The boundaries between parents and children, and between brothers, were clear, allowing for genuine affection to remain.

They didn’t want to stir up trouble. In the end, parents might feel at peace, thinking they were being fair, but the reality was that neither side was satisfied. Everyone would feel like they were being taken advantage of and would feel wronged in their hearts.

If you want a certain kind of life or want to become a certain kind of person, you have to work for it yourself. Parents wouldn’t despise a child for being incapable.

To be honest, when a child is born, parents simply wish for the child to be healthy and safe. As long as the parents are alive, they can feed their son. Beyond that, they can’t rely on much more—parents’ abilities have their limits.

In March 1976, just after the lunar new year, Shen mother packed the swaddling clothes and clothes she had prepared for her future grandson, took her personal belongings, and boarded a train to the military.

Once Shen mother left, the three children became a problem. Mao Mao and Dou Dou had no one to look after them, and Zhuang Zhuang had no one to pick him up from school.

After discussing it, Shen father took on the responsibility of picking up Zhuang Zhuang. Xu Jing’an’s workplace had a nursery that cost two yuan per month, and she was responsible for taking care of the other two children.

The little cart that had been custom-made reappeared. Every day, Xu Jing’an would walk to work with the two kids, and after work, she would pull them back.

Shen He, being a flexible worker, helped with the pick-up and drop-off when the unit wasn’t busy.

This continued for over three months. Shen mother called to say that Gu Panpan had given birth to twins, a pair of boy and girl twins.

Originally, Shen mother had planned to return after taking care of her daughter-in-law’s postpartum period, but now, with the addition of two more children, it was clear that the eldest daughter-in-law couldn’t handle everything alone. If she didn’t help, it would be their son who would be worn out.

The eldest son was often out on missions, which was dangerous. Even when he was at the military base, he would train all day long, with no time to rest. Shen mother felt bad for her son and wanted to make things easier for him.

Shen mother thought that she would wait until the children were a little older, and the daughter-in-law could manage better before leaving. She calculated that it would be at least another year.

Though Shen father missed his wife, he was happy for his eldest son. Shen mother was not young anymore, and Shen father was worried she would tire herself out. Without saying much, he just wanted to find someone to make two baby strollers.

There was a small baby stroller at home, but with three children taking turns using it, it had become quite old. Having a new one would certainly make things easier.

The person to help with this was Wang Gang. Over the past few years, Wang Gang had honed his skills.

“Gangzi—are you at home?”

“I’m here, I’m here,” Wang Gang replied, busy coming out of the house, still covered in wood shavings.

“Been busy lately?” Shen father handed him a cigarette.

Wang Gang took it, lit it, and exhaled a puff of smoke. “Busy? Not really. You know my skills, Uncle. I can’t do big furniture, just small stuff here and there.”

“Besides, when these things are made, they’ll last at least seven or eight years, right?”

The quality of things nowadays was unquestionable. If someone made something that couldn’t be used, their reputation would be ruined.

Shen father nodded. “That’s true. After all, it’s made of wood; it should be sturdy.”

“Uncle, is there something you need?” Wang Gang hoped that Shen father was asking him to work, as earning a few extra yuan would allow him to buy some treats for the kids.

Over the past few years, the Shen family had ordered two different types of small carts from Wang Gang. Many people, after seeing them, specifically requested carts just like those from the Shen family.

Shen father didn’t waste any time: “Today, the army called. My eldest son has suddenly got two more kids. Your aunt is there helping out. But she’s getting old, so I thought I’d ask you to make two more baby strollers to send over. At least it will give your aunt a little break.”

As soon as Wang Gang heard this, he immediately congratulated Shen father: “Uncle, that’s great news, congratulations! Don’t worry, I’ll get to work right away. I won’t delay you.”

Shen father handed Wang Gang the blueprint for the strollers, didn’t say much more, and left.

Wang Gang looked at the blueprint and saw it wasn’t difficult. It was just like the one before, but with an added basket for carrying things. He figured he could finish it in half a month. If he worked quickly, he could even make enough money to buy half a jin of meat. Thinking this, he quickly got to work as soon as it was daylight.

Ten days later, Shen father received two finely crafted baby strollers. As usual, Shen He sent Wang Gang half a jin of pork.

Xu Jing’an took out two jin of brown sugar and three jin of millet she had bought earlier, and Shen He found someone to exchange four bags of milk powder. They sent everything, including the strollers, together.

The brown sugar and milk powder had taken Shen He half a month to collect. For some reason, brown sugar had been in short supply at the time, and they couldn’t get any stock.

Xu Jing’an was so thoughtful towards Gu Panpan because when she and Shen He got married and had their three children, Shen Yue, as the eldest brother, had helped them by sending ration coupons.

Shen Yue was a soldier, and the ration coupons he sent were military-issued, valid everywhere!

Each of the three children had a plane, tank, and sailboat made from bullet casings, all handcrafted by Shen Yue. Although Shen Yue hadn’t returned in years, the children’s longing and admiration for their uncle had never waned!

Zhuang Zhuang even had to hold his for a while every night before going to sleep, and would not allow anyone else to touch it.

She and Shen He were carrying on Shen Yue’s affection!

The children weren’t just Gu Panpan’s; they were also Shen Yue’s. Out of respect for Shen Yue, the couple made sure to care for them with dedication.

For both families, mutual giving and receiving were key to long-lasting relationships.