"Why?" Li Jianguo asked.
Liang Yuemei was also looking at Li Long, wanting to hear his thoughts.
"Think about it. What would Dad do if he received the money?"
"What else? Go to the market for a few jin of meat, buy some rice and flour, then get some oil to prepare for New Year."
"And the rest?" Li Long pressed.
"The rest... he'd probably take it to the card table. He might even brag about how filial his son out here is." Li Jianguo laughed as he spoke. He could picture exactly what his father would do.
"Then wouldn't all the relatives know?" Li Long asked.
"Of course. Once the money arrives and they announce it over the brigade's loudspeaker, everyone in the brigade will know." Having spent over a decade back home, Li Jianguo knew that well.
They actually sent things back home at the end of every year, though little money, since their share never amounted to much. This year, thanks to Li Long, they had more money on hand, so he wanted to send more.
Their father rarely spent money normally, but whenever he had some, he liked going out to show off. He would even play cards for stakes of one or two fen.
"Then what do you think will happen come Start of Spring?"
Li Long's question stunned Li Jianguo. What would happen?
"If you send fifty yuan home, a whole bunch of relatives could show up here come Start of Spring, looking for somewhere to stay. They'll say Dad agreed and told them to come to you for work, to have you help them find a way to make a living."
Li Long spoke very calmly, but to Li Jianguo and Liang Yuemei, his words were like a thunderclap.
Li Jianguo felt that