After Zhao Yuzhen settled all the children down, she went to sleep with Zhou Guoqiang.

  Zhou Guoqiang suddenly thought of asking before going to sleep: "Today his uncle got married, how much gift money did you give?"

  Zhao Yuzhen said: "I spent twenty."

  Normally, for people who have a good relationship with each other, the gift money is usually five yuan. If it's a closer relative in the family, then it's ten yuan. But this time, since it's my brother's wedding, it's definitely different. Although we're saving up to buy bricks at home, Zhao Yu Zhen still gritted her teeth and gave twenty.

  Zhou Guoqiang didn't say a word, he felt it was a bit too much in his heart but couldn't say anything.

  Zhao Yuzhen sensed something was amiss from her husband's hesitant attitude: "That's my own brother, he'll only get married once in his lifetime, and I had wanted to buy him a decent gift. But since we don't have much money at home, I didn't end up buying anything."

  The implication is that even twenty would be insufficient.

  Zhou Guoqiang retorted in dissatisfaction: "Two years ago when everyone was building houses, we only contributed 10 yuan."

  Zhao Yuzhen became angry: "What does your family's eldest son building a house have to do with us? In the past, when they had money and we didn't, we could only give less gift money. But now that we're doing business and also have some money, my younger brother got married and I spent over 20,000 yuan."

  If they continued, they would really have a falling out, so Zhou Guoqiang sullenly turned over and went to sleep.

  Zhao Yuzhen got angrier and angrier, so poor that she couldn't even take care of her own family.

  After so many years of marriage, she only buys some things to take back home during holidays and festivals. Her two sisters make clothes for their children when the season changes, but what about her? With five or six big and small mouths to feed at home, it's hard to make ends meet, and she can't even hold her head up high when she returns to her parents' home.

  Now that life is finally getting better, she certainly doesn't want to be inferior to her sisters. They both spent 20 yuan, after all! How can it be any different?!

  The couple didn't speak for several days, and the sensitive Zhou Xiaoyun was the first to feel it. Xiao Bao saw that his parents' faces were stiff and there wasn't a smile in the house, so he didn't dare say much either.

  The youngest of the two was a clever ghost from birth, although young in years but with a very lively mind, following Zhao Yu Zhen's back like a little follower who listened to her words.

  Only Dah Bao was careless and didn't notice, at home he broke a bowl and was slapped twice by Zhou Guoqiang.

  Zhao Yuzhen was both heartbroken and angry, and the anger towards Zhou Guoqiang had reached a boiling point. The two of them started arguing with each other, exchanging heated words.

  Er Ya saw her parents' voices getting louder and louder, almost overturning the kitchen roof, and was so scared that she started crying. Xiao Bao's courage wasn't big either, seeing his sister cry also wanted to cry. Zhou Xiaoyun hastily took the two of them to the main room to avoid the battlefield and prevent being affected.

  As I was about to leave, I gave a hint to Da Bao who was still in a daze. Da Bao finally came back to his senses and ran out to find his companions to play with.

  After coaxing Xiao Bao and Er Ya, Zhou Xiaoyun took the two to her neighbor's house, Da Bo, to let them play for a while. Zhou Xiaoxia was watching TV and invited Zhou Xiaoyun to watch cartoons together.

  Zhou Xiaoyun asked her younger brother and sister to sit down and watch TV with Zhou Xiaoxia and Zhou Zhihai, while she turned around and went back home to see how her parents were doing.

  When I got home, Zhao Yuzhen and Zhou Guoqiang had just finished quarreling and were each sulking. One was cleaning up the dishes in the kitchen while the other was sweeping the yard.

  Zhou Guoqiang vigorously picked up the big broom and swept the yard, sweeping away a layer of dirt, venting his anger. Zhou Xiaoyun thought for a moment and walked to Zhou Guoqiang's side, saying softly: "Dad, let me sweep the floor."

  Zhou Guoqiang swept the floor for a while, feeling much calmer in his heart. Hearing a voice behind him, he turned around to see Zhou Xiaoyun. He had always liked listening to his eldest daughter's sensible words, and his tense expression softened unconsciously: "I've finished sweeping, you can go play now."

  Zhou Xiaoyun followed behind Zhou Guoqiang, chatting with him about trivial matters. Seeing that Zhou Guoqiang seemed to have calmed down, she took the opportunity to advise him a couple of sentences:

  "Dad, don't be angry with mom. Mom is busy every day taking care of my younger brother and sister, doing household chores and working in the fields, she's as busy as a spinning top all day long. You should also understand her, since we've already given out the wedding gift money to uncle, it's not worth getting angry about this."

  The two quarreling voices were so loud that Zhou Xiaoyun couldn't help but hear them, and only then did she know what the fuse of the matter was.

  Zhou Xiaoyun said, Zhou Guoqiang had not expected it either. He also let out a sigh: "Dad, I'm not heartbroken about the twenty bucks. It's just that your older brother's family and third uncle's family have always given ten bucks when something happens, but now that your uncle is getting married, we're giving twenty. If your older brother finds out, where would I put my face?"

  Zhou Guoqiang sighed after finishing speaking, this was what he was most angry about. Zhao Gang was the younger brother of his own sister-in-law Zhao Yuzhen, but he also had biological brothers, so this matter of giving gifts should be treated equally.

  "Father," said Zhou Xiaoyun after a moment of contemplation, "I think that from now on, when we help Uncle and Auntie with their affairs, twenty yuan will be enough."

  This idea is great!

  Zhou Guoqiang's eyes lit up as he listened, and a smile finally appeared on his face. He nodded repeatedly.

  Zhou Xiaoyun went back into the house to persuade Zhao Yuzhen, who was sitting on a stool wiping away tears. When she saw her daughter come in, she immediately began complaining:

  "Hey, big brother, you tell me, is this thing your dad's fault or mine? You're just a paternal uncle and I'm just a younger brother. When he got married, both my aunts gave 20 yuan, can I just give 10 yuan? How can I show my face in front of them? What will your grandma and uncle think of me? Your dad will just complain about me, why doesn't he consider things from my perspective?"

  Zhou Xiaoyun found a stool and sat down beside Zhao Yuzhen, quietly listening to her endless complaints. She knew that at this time, saying anything to her mother was useless; all Zhao Yuzhen needed was an audience.

  Zhao Yuzhen spoke for nearly half an hour until her mouth was dry and she finally stopped. Zhou Xiaoyun poured a cup of hot tea for her, and Zhao Yuzhen took the teacup and drank the hot tea, feeling slightly calmer.