Chapter 217: San Da Ma Is Anxious

San Da Ma left a group of people stunned; they had originally wanted to laugh at her family's situation, but after her tirade, they ended up being the ignorant ones.

Although she had won the argument among the women, once she returned home her worry instantly changed her face.

Just then, Yan Jiecheng came back.

She immediately called him over.

She said to Yan Jiecheng with a solemn expression.

"Did you hear what I just said?"

Yan Jiecheng looked puzzled.

"I heard it. What's wrong?"

San Da Ma slapped him angrily and then snapped.

"What's more, it's been so long—why haven't you two made any progress?"

"You're just hoping to see your parents become a joke, aren't you?"

Yan Jiecheng was dumbfounded; his mother's tirade had actually convinced him too, and he didn't know what she was up to now.

"No, Mom, didn't you just say that?"

"The disaster hasn't passed yet—it's not a good time for him to have a child."

San Da Ma gave him another slap.

"I was just saying that for others to hear—you actually believed it?"

"Having a child is a burden—you know what that means? Don't think they're just being fooled by me now, but if you still don't have an heir later, believe it or not, they'll stab you in the back and kill you."

"Hurry up and give me a child."

"Otherwise, not only will you be unable to hold your heads high, but we old folks won't be able to either."

Only then did Yan Jiecheng understand the reason, and he also felt a sense of urgency.

"Mom, that's easy for you to say, but we have no time—Yu Li and I both need to do odd jobs, and every penny we earn we hand over to you."

"We can barely afford food—how could we afford a child?"

He began to complain about his poverty, and he still took to heart some of what those women had said.

He realized that now was the perfect time to gain advantages from his mother.

San Da Ma spoke angrily.

"What do you mean, saying your parents abused you?"

"We haven't split the household yet—I'm still the one in charge of this family."

"You're the eldest in the family; looking after your younger siblings is your duty."

"Even if we split, you still have to contribute this money."

"Do you think it's easy for your father to support you? This is how you repay the family, and yet you're already thinking of splitting?"

"I'm telling you it's impossible."

"Give up on that idea."

Yan Jiecheng didn't expect his mother to react so strongly; although he felt some resistance to the idea of the eldest supporting the family, he didn't strongly oppose it.

He knew his family was struggling.

Moreover, judging by his parents' calculations, even if he wanted to split, it would be impossible.

"Mom, my dear mother."

"I only said one sentence—where do you get all this trouble from?"

"I didn't mention splitting the household either."

"But you want the donkey to work and yet refuse to feed it grass."

"We as a couple are exhausted every day; when we get back we're limp like noodles, we still aren't full, and when we go out to work we lack the strength—where would we get the energy for all this?"

"If you want to raise a grandson, then improve our living conditions first."

"For example, if you work, you must give us time to rest—at least two days off a week."

"As for food, shouldn't we also be fed enough?"

"You yourself said that if a pregnant woman isn't well fed, it's bad for the child."

"There are many good things, but we won't go into them."

"At the very least, let these steamed buns, porridge, and vegetables fill us up."

"And the fish my father caught—we shouldn't sell it all; at least we should use some to improve our health."

"Look at Yang Qing—when he brings back things from outside, does he sell them? Doesn't he just eat them himself?"

"Although they mostly eat steamed buns too, at least they make vegetable dumplings."

Yan Jiecheng's tirade left San Da Ma feeling angry with nowhere to vent.

Because everyone uses her words to suppress her, leaving her speechless, but if they really acted as Yan Jiecheng suggested, the Yan family truly couldn't survive.

However, the couple has still earned some money these days, and it's all in her hands.

Using their money to improve their life isn't out of the question.

"You want double days off? Do you even have odd jobs every day? It's more like three days fishing, two days drying nets."

"If you get another day off, you might as well not work at all."

Yan Jiecheng strongly opposed.

"Mom, what are you talking about?"

"You think odd jobs are that easy to find?"

"Last time we didn't run our legs off just to find work, did we?"

"Going out every day to look for work isn't necessarily any easier than working itself."

Sometimes, hearing there was work in the southern part of the city, I rushed over, but the job was already gone.

We have no bicycles, no money for the bus, so we take a tricycle.

Is it normal that we can't outcompete others?

We are not idle either.

San Da Ma impatiently waved their hand.

Fine, fine, fine, it's all your reasoning.

I haven't seen Yang Qing having it so hard either.

Even Li Da Xiong can find a temporary job.

What can you still accomplish?

Yan Jiecheng fell silent, because this is reality.

San Da Ma saw him fall silent and snorted.

You can rest one day each week.

Let you eat more food, child—hurry up and get it done.

Having gained the benefit, Yan Jiecheng happily agreed.

Mom, just wait and see—within half a year, you'll definitely be holding a grandchild.

San Da Ma didn't fuss over this time either.

I've promised you this, so don't let us down.

Yan Jiecheng repeatedly promised to work hard.

That evening, he told Yu Li about the matter, and Yu Li also felt that this indeed needed to be put on the agenda.

Alright, then let's put in more effort.

The child's matter stirred up the whole courtyard.

Yang Qing, however, was feeling the resistance facing his renovation business.

He racked his brains, but up to now he has only managed to secure a dozen or so renovation contracts.

These contracts can only be said to barely feed Master Lei half-full, not enough for a construction crew's work.

Although he likes the big pie he draws, he can't accept that the current prospects are a bit bad.

If it weren't that most of his workers are old and slow, they'd now be facing a situation with no work to do.

Yang Qing, this isn't what you said.

You should know that in our north, there are several months when construction cannot be carried out.

If you can't find work again, we'll just throw in the towel.

Yang Qing hurriedly grabbed Lei Gensheng.

My fault, my fault—I didn't consider everyone's tolerance for a better life during these special times.

I'll take care of this matter.

Lei Gensheng said doubtfully.

Can you solve it?

Yang Qing nodded firmly.

I will definitely be able to solve this for you.

If really impossible, then put some effort into acquiring a courtyard.

A large courtyard would keep them busy for a month.

But what he really wants to do is expand the renovation department's business scope.

Although their street is large, there really aren't many weddings happening.

Moreover, the baby boom will take another two years; only after several years, due to population growth, will business surge.

Moreover, the current climate is still fine; it hasn't yet reached the time when they sense danger and frenziedly sell houses.