During the Mid-Autumn Festival, I gave my parents each a red envelope with 2,000 yuan. But my mother held the envelope, hesitating. "Mom, just say what's on your mind." Seeing me ask, she finally spoke up: "I see you got a promotion recently, right? Your salary must have gone up quite a bit. Your brother started giving us 8,000 yuan each starting from the Dragon Boat Festival last month. Yours should increase too, otherwise people will say I'm not treating my children equally." 8,000 each meant 16,000 total. That wasn't a small amount, so I called my husband to discuss it. To my surprise, his answer shocked me. He said: "Mom likes to keep things equal, right?" "Then ask her for me: our family is about to receive the village land subsidy, right? How much are Mom and Dad planning to give us?" 1 I knew about the land subsidy my husband, Travis, mentioned. It was a subsidy from the village, not much. For our family of four, the total subsidy was only 800 yuan. For all these years, I never thought about asking for that money. I didn't expect Travis, who was usually generous, to suddenly care about such a small amount. I couldn't help but mock him: "It's only 800 yuan in total. Divided among individuals, it's only 200 yuan a year per person. That's not even enough to fill your gas tank once. You're a big boss, surely you're not going to be petty over 200 yuan?" Travis was acting strange today, every sentence dripping with sarcasm. "So what if I'm a boss? Does money fall from the sky for bosses? You say I'm petty, but isn't your mom petty? If she's not petty, then let her give you that 200 yuan. It's almost Lily's birthday, let's treat that 200 yuan as a birthday red envelope for Lily." I laughed out loud: "Travis, what do you mean? You don't think my mom kept my share of the subsidy because she's stingy, do you? It's only 200 yuan in total. Even if Mom offered, I'd be embarrassed to take it." "Travis, I don't know what's gotten into you today, you sound so aggressive. You know very well how my mom treats you, right?" Travis was an orphan. After my mom found out, she felt very sorry for him. Every time the family harvested peanuts or corn, they sent us dozens of pounds. He ate so much good food, doesn't he know better? I thought reminding him would soften his tone. Unexpectedly, Travis seemed to have swallowed dynamite today: "Yes! Mom is good to us! Sending heaps of peanuts and corn. Since she's so good, she shouldn't mind giving 200 yuan for Lily's birthday, right?" It seemed Travis was fixated on that 200 yuan subsidy today. "So if my parents don't give that 200 yuan today, you won't agree to give them the 8,000 yuan red envelope?" I was getting angry too. I thought Travis would readily agree to give my parents money like before, which was why I discussed it with him. After all, we're married, our money is pooled. We also agreed that any expenditure over 10,000 yuan requires mutual consent. But I never expected Travis to refuse so adamantly this time. "Giving money is fine, but you must first ask Mom for me. The village subsidy is coming soon. Since she claims to treat everyone equally, how much is she planning to give us?" "Sarah, you know very well, calculated by headcount, you should get 200. Your parents wouldn't be unfair over just 200 yuan, would they? Then how can she have the nerve to say she's afraid people will say she's unfair?" Travis said hatefully: "If you ask me, your mom is unfair. It's not that she's embarrassed not to give you this 200 yuan subsidy, she simply doesn't want to give it!" I was already annoyed about having to work on the Mid-Autumn Festival, and now Travis was being so sarcastic, I instantly flared up: "Travis, don't be shameless. It's just 200 yuan. Do you think I'm like you, a child without a mother, who can't even get 200 yuan!" Between husband and wife, sometimes when arguing, we really say hurtful things. We stab where it hurts the most. These words poked Travis's sore spot directly. He shouted on the other end: "Yes, I don't have a mother to give me money. Sarah, let me tell you, so what if you have a mother? You still can't get the money! What's the difference between having a mother and not having one for you?" Could I tolerate him talking about my mom like that? So I roared: "Fine! Travis! I see it now! You're just mentally unstable because the festival is coming, jealous that I have parents who love me! 200 yuan, right? I'll ask my parents for it right now! If my parents give it, this 16,000 red envelope will be deducted entirely from your salary card!" Travis was tough too: "Fine! Go ask your mom! If she really gives you this 200 yuan subsidy, I'll pay the whole 16,000, and from now on, you manage my salary card!" Married for two years, every time I asked Travis for his bank card, he had various excuses. "I cover all household expenses, and money for parents is split evenly. What more do you want?" I thought about it. Since the money I earn is in my hands, there was no reason to manage his salary card. But now since he offered it himself, why would I refuse? I agreed immediately: "Fine, get your card and password ready. Watch me throw the 200 yuan my mom gives me in your face!" 2 I just sat on the sofa after work when Travis came back. As soon as he entered, he asked teasingly: "So? Did you call? Did you get the money?" I rolled my eyes at him: "Can't you see I just sat down and haven't even had a sip of water?" Travis rolled his eyes back at me and lay down on the chaise longue next to me. "That's perfect. Now that I'm back, I can witness the miracle with you. Start calling." I clutched my phone. The phone showed the chat history with my mom from today. At that time, I transferred 4,000 yuan to her and said: "Mom, I have to work on Mid-Autumn Festival and can't come back. Here's a red envelope for you and Dad each. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival in advance." I transferred money according to the usual custom. After getting married, except for 10,000 each for New Year, the other festivals like Mid-Autumn, Dragon Boat, Double Ninth, Father's Day, and Mother's Day were 2,000 each, never changed. Actually, I gave money before marriage too, but it was just me giving it then. After getting married, Travis said he wanted to show his appreciation too, so we split it half and half. But after giving the red envelope this time, my mom suddenly called me. I was still working then. Seeing her hesitating, I whispered: "Mom, just say what you have to say, I'm working." Seeing me ask, she said: "Sarah, I see you got a promotion recently? Your salary must have gone up quite a bit, right?" I was stunned, not knowing what promotion my mom was talking about. After a while, my brain caught up. Last month I passed an exam, and my technical qualification rating went from C to A. I posted it on my Moments. My mom might have thought this was a promotion, but actually, it was just a higher qualification rating. My salary did increase, but only by 500 yuan, not the promotion to a high official making big money my mom imagined. So I wanted to explain: "Yes, Mom, but it's just a technical rating upgrade, salary only increased by..." Before I could say 500, my mom interrupted me. She said hurriedly: "Actually, your brother started giving 8,000 red envelopes since the last Dragon Boat Festival. I was too embarrassed to tell you, but I thought about it, I must treat you siblings equally. One can't give so much more than the other. If people find out, they'll laugh at me for being an unfair mother." When my mom said this, I was too embarrassed to mention the 500 yuan raise. Because according to my mom, my brother started giving my parents 8,000 each earlier this year, and I was still following the old rule, giving only 4,000. At this time, my boss came and urged me: "Technician Sarah, the client is here, hurry to the conference room to report on the project progress." So I covered the receiver and said to my mom: "Mom, let's talk about the red envelope later, I have to work now." After the meeting, when I recovered a bit, I remembered what my mom said about the red envelope, so I called Travis. That led to the conversation above. "What? Afraid to call?" Travis lying on the sofa looked like he was watching a joke. "If you dare not call, then your salary card will be managed by me." Saying that, Travis turned over to rummage through my bag. I quickly covered my bag: "In your dreams!" "I'll call right now! Get your salary card ready." Travis turned back, opened his bag, and took out several cards from his wallet. "A savings card, a salary card, a bonus card, all here. Come and get them if you can!" I grabbed the three cards in my hand: "Hmph, get the passwords ready for these three cards. They will definitely be managed by me in the future!" Saying that, I called my mom confidently. 3 The call connected quickly. "Hello, Mom, have you eaten?" I spoke first. "Just finished, your dad is watching TV. We were just talking about you, and your call came! Look at that old saying, speak of the devil and he appears." "Yeah!" I played along with my mom. "By the way, did you tell Travis about the Mid-Autumn Festival red envelope? I say he definitely has no objection. Travis is such a good son-in-law, always polite and proper during festivals. You are the head of the house, as long as you have no objection, Travis definitely won't. Your dad and I have always treated him like a son." My mom was laughing. She probably knew I called to talk about the red envelope. I laughed awkwardly twice: "Yes! You and Dad are good to Travis, he always remembers it! He often says although his parents passed away early, meeting you and Dad is his blessing." Travis curled his lips and picked up the newspaper on the table. But his eyes kept glancing at me. I knew he was staring at me. My mom saw I didn't mention giving money, so she spoke first. "By the way, don't send that 16,000 red envelope via WeChat later. Transfer it directly to the bank card, otherwise I'll have to withdraw cash. Your dad and I don't know how to use that thing well. It's easier for us to save it if you transfer to the bank card." Only then did I realize my mom didn't accept the 4,000 red envelope from the afternoon. My heart sank. Were they so sure I would give 16,000? After all, Lily is not yet one year old. I don't have in-laws to help, relying entirely on myself. Just the nanny and housekeeper cost 12,000 a month. Although Travis pays for it, we have formed a small family after all. Travis's salary only rose to 16,000 after Lily was born, and my own salary only broke 10,000 after my technical rating rose to A plus the annual bonus. According to my mom, giving 8,000 starting from now on holidays means paying 16,000 just for October. Wait, I looked at the calendar. In previous years, we also had a tradition of giving red envelopes for the Double Ninth Festival. That means paying 32,000 to my parents just in October. Not to mention New Year's Day and Spring Festival later. Calculating roughly, the holiday money for a year adds up to nearly 200,000. But Travis and I combined only make a little over 310,000 including salary and bonuses. Did my parents not calculate this? Why suddenly raise the holiday money so high? My heart tightened suddenly. Is there something wrong with my parents' health? Because Grandpa and Grandma both died of cancer, I suddenly got scared. Could it be that my parents are sick and hiding it from me and my brother? But they need money for treatment, so they ask us siblings to give double red envelopes so they can secretly see a doctor. Thinking of this, my heart was high in my throat. I hurriedly asked my mom: "Mom, is everything okay at home? Is anyone uncomfortable?" "If you and Dad have any problems, you must tell me and brother. We are a family, don't hide it." My mom was confused: "What problems could your dad and I have! Sarah, don't talk nonsense there. If you think we are asking for too much, just say it, don't beat around the bush asking this and that." I heard my mom's impatience and hurriedly explained: "No, I was just thinking, you and Dad are already receiving pensions. Although not as much as the elderly in the city with eight or ten thousand, you have nearly four thousand, which is definitely enough in the countryside. Suddenly asking me and brother for so much money, I thought something happened to you and you dared not tell us!" Seeing my genuine concern, my mom softened her tone: "Oh, you think too much. We have food and drink, what could happen? Rest assured, your dad and I are in good health! It's just seeing Old Li's daughter next door bringing back tens of thousands a month, your dad and I are envious. Thinking you got promoted? Your brother's job is stable too, so we thought you children could be more filial to us, letting me and your dad show off too. Otherwise, that Old Li showing off his daughter's transfer chat records at the village entrance all day is so annoying!" Hearing about Old Li, I breathed a sigh of relief. Back then, Old Li's family had three daughters in a row, and people said their family was useless. As a result, all their daughters went to university and did well. Heard that the eldest daughter, Nana, sends hundreds of thousands home a year. My dad and Old Li came from the same production team, and Old Li's wife was my dad's first love, so it's normal for my mom to be jealous and want to save face. Just as I was about to agree to give my parents a 16,000 holiday red envelope in the future, Travis kicked me. I glared at him: "What are you doing!" Travis threw down the newspaper, pointed to the three bank cards on the coffee table, and whispered: "Do you still want them?" I remembered my bet with Travis. Fine! Isn't it just a 200 yuan land subsidy! Just let my mom give it to me. Then I can not only perfectly solve the family conflict but also officially manage all of Travis's money. Simply killing two birds with one stone! Thinking of this, I kicked Travis back. Growled: "Got it!" Then I said to my mom: "Mom, speaking of Old Li reminded me of something. Doesn't our village issue a land subsidy every October! I met Old Li's eldest daughter Nana a few days ago. I praised her for doing well and earning a lot. Nana joked that it was all because her dad gave them the village land subsidy every year. "My dad often says, land money, land money, have land, have leisure, have money. Although the village land subsidy is not much, it is very auspicious and brings good luck. He puts it in a red envelope every year and solemnly distributes that subsidy to us children. Not to mention, every time I receive this land subsidy prepared by my dad, my business profits soar several times, and receiving it basically means smooth sailing for the business. Don't you think this land subsidy deserves a lot of credit?" I repeated what Nana told me to my mom. After finishing, I changed the subject: "Travis and I just had Lily! The financial pressure is up, and we are preparing to do some small business ourselves. So, Mom, can you give me my share of this year's land subsidy? I also want to ask for good luck." I've said this much, and the reason is sufficient. Moreover, that subsidy is only 200 yuan per person. I thought my mom would agree readily. Unexpectedly, my mom hesitated again. "That money, not much, what good luck can it have." "Sarah, don't worry. Isn't Lily about to have her first birthday at the end of the year? Mom will give our Lily baby a big red envelope then, guaranteed to be more auspicious than the land money you mentioned." "No, Mom, Lily's birthday is still early. Travis and I are starting our business this month. That subsidy happens to be issued this month, isn't it perfect!" I acted coquettishly: "Mom, don't think I'm embarrassed to ask for just 200 yuan. I want this money just for good luck. Nana is a big boss, don't all business people believe in this! We are just starting business, learning from these big bosses, maybe it really will be smooth sailing." I thought my mom felt 200 was too little to give, so I emphasized again that I didn't mind, just for good luck. But my mom still seemed very troubled on the other end of the phone. After a long time, she said: "Sarah, I probably can't give you this year's subsidy." "Ah? Mom! Why?" My heart tightened, thinking my mom really had something big hiding from me? But her next words shocked me. 4 My mom said: "Didn't your brother also want to do business recently? Last time I met Li family's daughter Nana when she returned to the village, I chatted with her. She didn't know if she was modest or joking, saying her business did well thanks to the subsidy red envelope Old Li prepared for her." "I asked casually what subsidy red envelope, Nana said what else could it be, it's the village land subsidy." My mom said awkwardly: "If you mentioned it earlier, Mom would have given you that 200 yuan. But your brother asked before you. He said he wanted that land subsidy this year. I've already prepared the red envelope for him, ready to give it to him when he comes back for Mid-Autumn Festival." I thought, what a coincidence. I didn't expect my mom and I both chatted with Nana and both mentioned the auspiciousness of the land subsidy. But on second thought, something was wrong. The land subsidy is 800. Nana's family also distributes 200 red envelopes to each person. Our family also has four people, can't we also distribute 200 to each person? Thinking of this, I blurted out: "Mom, since brother and I both want to do business and want good luck, isn't it fine for brother and me to each get 200!" Exactly! Whether divided by headcount or by affection, 200 each is a very natural thing, right? I didn't know what my mom was troubled about. Unexpectedly, my mom spoke without thinking: "If I give you 200, doesn't it mean giving away half of your brother's good luck? That won't do!" After speaking, my mom probably didn't feel anything wrong and continued: "If you really want this money, wait a bit longer, wait until your brother's business gets bigger and stable." I never expected that asking for a 200 yuan land subsidy would fail like this. I was full of anger and couldn't help complaining: "Mom, what do you mean giving away half of the good luck? Am I not a member of the family?" My mom quickly replied: "Sarah, Mom didn't mean that! Of course you are family, but there is only so much luck. If you take some, he takes some, isn't it gone?" "Your brother is a boy, he will have to buy a house and marry a wife in the future. He needs to make money more than you now. Why do you have to fight with him for this little money?" Honestly, when talking about land money before, it was indeed about money. But now it's not about money, it's about sharing good luck. Just because my brother also said he wanted to do business, my mom wanted to give all this so-called good luck to him, unwilling to give me a penny? Is this not obvious favoritism? I was really angry, and my tone hardened: "Mom, if you still treat me as your daughter, your child, give me the land money I asked for. If you treat me as water spilled out, then don't give it, but don't say anything about being a fair mother in the future." My mom got angry too, saying in a low voice: "Sarah, what do you mean? We are mother and daughter, is it worth it for 200 yuan?" I also tried hard to suppress my voice wanting to explode: "Mom, you also know we are mother and daughter. Is it worth hurting my heart so much for 200 yuan? Think about it yourself. Your biological daughter asks you for 200 yuan for good luck, but you only want to leave all this good luck to your son. Do you believe yourself when you say you are not biased?" Now my mom was completely angry: "Fine! Since you say I'm biased, then I am biased! Ask yourself, all these years, have I, as a mother, let you go hungry or cold? What your brother has, when did you not have it?" I sneered: "I did have everything my brother had, but it was all old stuff my brother wore." The more I recalled, the angrier I got. My brother is a year younger than me, but he has always been taller and bigger than me. So I grew up wearing my brother's hand-me-downs. Before, the family conditions were not good, and I could understand my parents. Never blamed them. But thinking about it now, my brother wore new clothes growing up. What was wrong with buying me a new one occasionally? I gritted my teeth and realized they just didn't want to buy new ones for me. I happened to be an obedient child since childhood, never crying or making noise, so of course I didn't get fed. Thinking of this, I couldn't help but continue complaining: "And food! I did eat what my brother ate! But what the family prepared was always what my brother loved to eat. So you always said you treated us equally, I had what my brother had, but in fact? I didn't like those things at all. So seeing me not eating, you always said, Sarah, you don't like eating this yourself, don't go outside and say mom and dad are biased, only buying for brother and not for you!" "The fact? If you bought what I liked, would I not like to eat it?" Because of this 200 yuan land money, I held a breath and poured out all the grievances that suddenly surged up. My mom was silent for a long time on the other end of the phone, and after a while she said: "I always thought you were a good child. I didn't expect you to be so calculating. You remember such small things so clearly. Unlike your brother, who has a big heart. I beat him and scolded him so many times when he was young, but he always said mom was good, never said mom was bad!" Before my mom finished speaking, I interrupted her: "Of course! You beat him when he was young because he skipped class, fought, stole things, and insulted teachers. That was what he deserved. I don't do these dirty things, of course I won't ask for scolding." "Result? Dedicated to being a good child, but because I asked you for 200 yuan, I was called disobedient and small-minded. It seems better to be a bad child in the future. As long as I don't commit crimes, I'm a good child!" My mom was speechless by my retort: "Fine, your wings are hard, I'm old, can't explain to you." With that, she hung up the phone directly. I sat on the sofa angrily, unable to say a word. After a while, my mom sent me a message: "If your dad hadn't just said it, I wouldn't have reacted. I didn't expect you to be so scheming after getting married." Me: "What do you mean!" My mom: "You know best what it means! Isn't it just that you don't want to give the 16,000 holiday red envelope? Saying directly you don't want to give it, you're afraid of being pointed at as an unfilial daughter! So you deliberately found an excuse to ask for land subsidies to quarrel with me, so you don't have to give money! Don't give if you don't want to! Do your dad and I really lack your little money?" I didn't show weakness either: "You don't covet my money, that's great! Why don't you return the money I gave you before? That would be more convincing!" After sending, I threw the phone on the sofa, feeling extremely exhausted all over. Travis had already returned to the bedroom to take care of our daughter. I closed my eyes, feeling tired enough to faint. At this time the phone rang. It was my dad
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