"Aunt Guihua, you can’t say that. Look, your family watches TV, and if we watch along, it’s the same. We’re all paying for electricity anyway, so just let us watch with you."
"Yes, Sister Guihua, we’re all neighbors here. Whenever you need help, we’re here for you. Now that you have a TV, let us bask in its glow a bit."
Facing the villagers’ myriad of comments, Zhang Guihua stood firm and reasoned with them: "Helping is one thing, watching TV is another; they’re not the same. If your family needed help, I’d be there right now. It’s not that I won’t let you watch; even my own family has to limit our viewing time. We can’t watch it continuously. Do you know how expensive this TV is at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative? It costs several hundred! Such an expensive item can’t just be watched whenever. We have to take care of it."
After all, she was now the grandmother of the Little Prodigy, and couldn’t afford to be as reckless and quarrelsome as before; she had to win people over with virtue!
Old Granny Diao, who always had issues with Zhang Guihua, wasn’t grateful at all and said sarcastically, "Ah, Guihua, let me tell you, we can’t be too petty as humans. We’ve lived in the same village for so many years; we’re not blood relatives, but our affection is no less than that of kin, right? Now, just over watching TV, you’re making all these excuses—it’s really too petty."
Some villagers, envious of the Jiang Family’s good life, saw an opening and chimed in: "Yeah, Aunt Guihua, your family is doing so well, and Changhai is such a good earner, do you really lack that bit of money for electricity?"
Upon hearing these comments, Zhang Guihua’s face turned cold and she burst out furiously, "Pah! You’re just speaking without feeling the pain. Not letting you watch TV makes me petty?! Just because my family is doing well, I have to provide free TV for you? Pretty thoughts for such ugly minds! I see you all just want to take advantage without spending a penny, watching my TV for free, but that’s not going to happen! There’s no such thing as a free ride in this world."
In fact, everyone present could somewhat understand Zhang Guihua’s stance. If they had such an expensive TV at home, they would probably want to keep it hidden as well.
Although it was a pity they couldn’t watch TV, most were still reasonable and supported her, saying, "Oh, come on, let’s calm down. We’re all good neighbors here; don’t let a dispute over TV watching turn us into a laughingstock. What Aunt Guihua said makes sense; let’s just understand each other’s points."
"Indeed, the TV is indeed a precious item. It’s only right to treasure it."
Old Granny Diao and the woman who initially spoke sarcastically, seeing that other villagers were siding with Zhang Guihua, were very displeased.
Pah! All dazzled by the sight of money.
Admiring Changhai like he’s some big shot, just because he’s an effective worker, trying to curry favor with Zhang Guihua, that shrew!
But knowing they were fewer in number and weaker in argument, they were sure they couldn’t outtalk the opposition.
Yet admitting defeat was too shameful, so with a disdainful expression, Old Granny Diao snorted coldly at Zhang Guihua: "Don’t want to watch, then don’t watch, who cares!"
After saying this, she turned and walked away as if she really didn’t care.
Zhang Guihua shouted after her, "Don’t care? Fine, don’t care. Come again, and you’re nothing but a dog!"