Chapter 622: Grandma's Love for Her Grandchildren

Of all pursuits, education is the most noble.

Reading can clarify principles and improve one's cultural quality and cultivation.

Books are also the spiritual food of mankind; a person's knowledge and learning come from reading and studying.

Ye's mother had visited various small villages and schools with the Women's Federation. She knew that many children dropped out of school after finishing second or third grade to go home and do farm work. Even when teachers visited to persuade them, parents were reluctant to pay the tuition to keep their children in school.

Each person is responsible for their own children, and she couldn't control her grandchildren. But being able to help subsidize them a little was good, so they wouldn't be so short-sighted as to stop their children from going to school just to save a little tuition.

Moreover, all three sons had bought shops this year, and Dongzi had even bought a boat. She figured they must all be tight on money.

Whatever help they could give, they had already given. She could only help subsidize the children's tuition a little. She didn't have much more, and the two old folks had to save money for their own retirement.

She figured that if they kept tossing and turning, the two old folks would have to dig into their own coffins to help out. (Specifically pointing at Ye Yaodong)

The three sisters-in-law were happy to hear that the extra red envelope money was for the children's school registration. Ye's second sister-in-law smiled and said, "Mother is so generous. It's different now that you're working."

Both the eldest and second sisters-in-law had three children in school, which cost five or six yuan for registration. This directly helped cover half the cost. Who wouldn't be happy?

Ye's mother glanced at her after handing out the red envelopes and said unhappily, "When have I ever been stingy? Even before I started working, I never shortchanged you. Which year did I give less in red envelopes? Which month did I not take good care of you during your confinement? You never had to spend a penny on food and drink."

Ye's second sister-in-law paused, then reacted and smiled, "Right, I just wanted to say that other grandmothers don't think about helping share the tuition burden. Who raises their own children is their own business, but no one is as generous as you."

Lin Xiuqing also helped speak up, "And that's not all. When we bought the shops, Mother and Father also gave money—300 yuan each, totaling 900 yuan. That's a lot."

Ye's eldest sister-in-law also smiled and said, "Yes, Mother is more well-off after starting work, so she can help us out. She helps with big things and small things, and now she's even helping subsidize the children's tuition..."

"Don't think about how much I can help. We two old folks haven't earned much money, and we still have to save for our retirement. You young ones have to work hard; you can't rely on us old folks to do the work."

Although Ye's mother enjoyed hearing what they said, she still spoke with her usual sharp tongue and soft heart.

"Yes, yes, Mother is right. You and Father should work a little less while you're still young." Ye Yaodong said with a grin, while helping her pour the wine.

Ye's mother patted him. "Then you just wait for your father and me to work until we're half in the coffin, and then we'll go enjoy retirement at the same age as your grandmother."

"There's nothing wrong with that. If you really don't do anything, you'll feel uncomfortable sitting around, won't you? I'm doing this for your own good."

Ye's mother rolled her eyes at him, while Grandma nodded repeatedly with a smile.

"Right, right. Work until you're old, keep working. Only by staying active will your bones not rust."

After saying this, she beckoned to the children who were excitedly peeking into their red envelopes with one eye open. "Come over here. Grandma also has a red envelope for you, one for each."

The children cheered again. They hadn't expected Grandma to have prepared one for them too, as she never had in the past.

"I have one less year left for every year that passes. I'm at this age now; I have food and drink, so money is useless to me. I'll give you some red envelope money to buy things to eat."

Ye Chenghai took the lead and said, "Thank you, Grandma. I wish you good health and a long life."

The other children followed suit, shouting their well-wishes.

The room was filled with the chatter of children, making it exceptionally lively. Some people who had finished their reunion dinner earlier even ran to the windows to peek.

Grandma's wrinkled face bloomed like a flower, and she was overjoyed, saying "good" repeatedly.

After the children received their red envelopes, they ran outside. The red envelopes they had received at home earlier had all been confiscated by their respective mothers.

Although these two red envelopes would also be confiscated once they got home, they could stay in their pockets for a little longer, and they might be able to hide a dime or two, or buy some firecrackers first.

Ye Xiaoxi also had the red envelopes from Ye's mother and Grandma tucked into her pocket, with the red corner sticking out, looking exceptionally eye-catching. Lin Xiuqing didn't immediately take them all away; since they were given to the child, she would wait until they got home to collect them.

After the children ran off, although the room wasn't as lively, it remained warm. Everyone chatted and laughed, and the atmosphere was much more harmonious than in previous years.

Perhaps it was because they didn't live together, so there were no frictions. Distance makes the heart grow fonder. It was rare for the whole family to eat together, so everyone was close, and each family's standard of living had improved significantly this year.

Local reunion dinners were usually eaten early. By three or four in the afternoon, every household had started their reunion dinner. After eating, they would start their card games, and after offering incense at the Mazu Temple at night, they would heat up the food for another meal before going to sleep.

Ye Yaodong, like all the men in the village, patted his butt and left after the meal to find friends to play cards.

He stayed until midnight, offered incense at the small Mazu Temple, ate a late-night snack at the old house, and then returned home.

At this hour, the village was still brightly lit. The electric lights were rarely left on until dawn, but it was the same for their house.

Just as he locked the front door and prepared to enter the room, he saw Grandma coming out of her room with a package of red paper, looking a bit puzzled.

"What are you doing? Why aren't you asleep yet?"

"Come here." Grandma beckoned to him with a smile, then sat down at the table.

Ye Yaodong was confused and sat down at the table, looking at her. "What are you doing? What's wrapped in the red paper? Money?"

It looked quite like it, and they had a local custom where any money left over at home during the New Year had to be wrapped in red paper for storage, signifying prosperity and the hope for wealth to roll in.

Why would she be dealing with money in the middle of the night?

Looking at the square red paper packets stacked on the table, he seemed to vaguely understand.

Grandma touched his arm and smiled kindly. "This is for you. You're successful now, and the little money I've saved is too little for you, but it can at least help you a bit. Although you always say you have enough money, with such a big business, how could you not be short on funds?"

"Originally, all my money was meant for you. You weren't grown up the past few years, just like a child, so I could only keep saving. I wanted to save more, thinking I'd give it to you when I couldn't go on anymore, so you could have an easier life for a few days."

"All these years, I couldn't bear to give red envelopes to those other children, just wanting to save more for you. Seeing you so successful this year, I'm happy from the bottom of my heart. Giving you this money early might be more useful."

"I don't have much ability, and I've only saved this much in half a lifetime, but it can at least lighten your burden. The burden of the whole family is on you..."

Grandma rambled on, and Ye Yaodong felt a sourness in his nose, almost tearing up.

He also thought of the thick stack of money Grandma had secretly handed him before she passed away in his previous life.

At the same time, he understood why Grandma had been so stingy with red envelopes for the younger generation these past few years—she had been saving them for him.

And she had been generous with the red envelopes for the little ones this year because she saw that he had made a lot of money and was living well, so he didn't need her money as much.

No wonder he hadn't seen her all day until the reunion dinner—she had gone to visit the eldest and second brothers' homes, probably to give red envelopes to the great-grandchildren there too.

His heart felt sour and uncomfortable. He took a moment to compose himself before saying, "Don't give it to me. Like you said, I've earned a lot of money this year, so I don't need this. You should keep it for yourself, buy something to eat, or give it to the younger ones if you like. Buying things for them makes them happy, and you'll be happy too."

Grandma pushed the red paper packets toward him and smiled. "I have some left, and I kept all the coins. Otherwise, it wouldn't do if the little ones wanted to buy something and had no money."

"No need. I have money. I've earned a lot this year and haven't borrowed from anyone. I don't need your money. I'll tell you when I'm really short."

"Take it, take it. Whether you're short on money or not, it's meant for you. You've spent a lot buying me this and that this year. I'm at this age, and money is useless in my hands. I can't earn money at my age, and I can't save much more. Giving it to you early or late is the same; giving it to you now might be useful. Take it!"

Grandma stuffed the red paper packets into his hand and held his hand to prevent him from pushing them away.

"Just take it. I won't be at ease if you don't. I'll be at ease once you take it, and I won't have to worry about it being eaten by mice."

Ye Yaodong laughed. "This new house has only been built for a year, where would there be mice?"

"I say there are, so take it. Also, why don't you take half and hide it, and give the other half to Ah Qing?" She whispered the second half of the sentence, fearing Ah Qing in the room would hear.

Ye Yaodong couldn't hold it in anymore and almost burst out laughing.

Was Grandma teaching him how to hide private money?

"Don't laugh, don't laugh. I'm serious. Keep some for yourself, and keep a little in your pocket so you don't have to keep asking her for money..."

"You must have seen the two yuan I hid after buying pork the other day, and that's why you came up with this on the spot, right?"

"Hehe, a grown man can't have no money in his pocket. Hide it, keep a little in your pocket, and you won't have to worry about losing it. I didn't give it to Ah Qing directly when you came back because I wanted you to keep some for yourself." ===== CHAPTER 623 =====