Old Lady Zhou had been somewhat relenting, but upon hearing Zhou Xuennian accuse her of favoritism, she suddenly became irrepressibly angry.
"You say I’m biased—have your books been read in vain? Am I biased? Yes, I am biased; that’s why over these years, whenever you wanted to study, your father and I let you be. Who has been managing our lands and fields? Your younger brother. What have you done?" Old Lady Zhou scolded, "I’m biased, yes, I’m so biased that I haven’t had you out in the fields helping your brother, letting him look older than you despite being only in his teens!"
Old Lady Zhou’s words weren’t without basis. Years of laboring in the fields had exposed Zhou Xueli to the elements, his skin tanned and rough, making him look almost thirty despite being not yet twenty.
By contrast, Zhou Xuennian, who had only studied without working the land and lived in comfort, appeared much younger dressed in his scholar’s robes.
So, it’s no wonder Old Lady Zhou was angry—it was perhaps justified for her to favor her younger son.
Yet she hadn’t expected her eldest son to be so ungrateful as to speak to her in such a way.
"You are so ungrateful and unappreciative, you might as well not study any longer, because your books haven’t taught you how to be a son or a brother!" Old Lady Zhou angrily cursed.
Zhou Xuennian was sprayed with her spittle and wiped his face with his sleeve, then forced a smile and cajoled, "Mother, I was just speaking my mind—don’t take it to heart. I didn’t mean it."
Old Lady Zhou sneered, "Even without meaning to, you manage to stab me in the heart. If you had intended to, would you not have taken my life?"
"Mother, look what you’re saying—how can you put your son to such shame? I apologize to you, don’t be angry. If you become ill from anger, I would be unforgivably guilty." Zhou Xuennian kept up his smiling face, and was now massaging her feet and shoulders, spewing out flattery as if it cost him nothing.
At the end of the day, he was her flesh and blood; no matter what, Old Lady Zhou couldn’t stay mad at him, and her expression softened slightly.
"Mother, is there really only ninety taels left?" Seeing Old Lady Zhou’s changing expression, Zhou Xuennian cautiously asked again.
Old Lady Zhou said, "You know very well that we don’t have much harvest at home. We live mostly off your father’s old savings and the modest income from our fields. Over the years, how many times have you continuously asked for money for various reasons?"
"Mother, haven’t I also earned some by copying texts?"
Old Lady Zhou said mockingly, "How much have you earned from copying? It’s not even enough to cover the expenses you incur. And your wife, don’t think I don’t know she’s been skimming money off the top."
Discussing this issue infuriated Old Lady Zhou. She tightly controlled the family income, and since they hadn’t divided the property, even what the elder son earned was supposed to be handed over. However, the amount turned in was always insufficient, and sometimes there was none at all, presumably because Madam Lu had taken some for herself.
Not only was the full amount of silver not being turned in, but she also had the audacity to ask for more from Old Lady Zhou. How could she not be furious?
Zhou Xuennian looked embarrassed and said, "Mother, that money was also for my use. Don’t worry, as long as I pass the examination for Scholar, and with a little more effort, I might secure an official position at the Yamen. Then I can repay you double the silver."
Old Lady Zhou looked at him intently, "Are you so determined to take this silver away? Do you realize this is what our family depends on in a crisis? And there’s Dajun; your wife wants to arrange a marriage for him. Doesn’t getting married require silver? If you take it, what kind of marriage can he hope for?"
Zhou Xuennian’s gaze darted away.
Seeing this, what more did Old Lady Zhou need to understand? The anger that had just subsided surged again. She said, "Go down, I need to think about this."
Zhou Xuennian had no choice but to leave, but not before saying, "Mother, just remember, once I become a Scholar, our family’s fortunes will turn. That’s the only thing that matters."
Old Lady Zhou was thoroughly exhausted.