That evening, the atmosphere at the Old Zhou family’s dinner table was somewhat uneasy. Old Lady Zhou and Zhou Xuennian both had concerns on their minds and were not in good spirits, making the dinner table particularly gloomy. Old Lady Zhou took a couple of bites and then stopped eating.
Lady Liang watched with a cold eye, her eyebrows furrowed slightly as she glanced at her eldest brother-in-law and saw that he, too, had a deeply furrowed brow. It made her even more convinced that there was some major issue between them that they were unaware of.
What on earth could it be?
The younger ones, clueless about the situation, ate as usual, but it was Little Tiger, the youngest, who suddenly threw down his chopsticks and clamored, complaining that the food did not taste good and demanded that Old Lady Zhou give him mooncakes to eat.
Today, Madam Zhou had sent over festival gifts, including mooncakes that looked particularly expensive and exquisite. Everyone had their eyes on them but hadn’t had a taste before Old Lady Zhou took them away.
Children are always fond of snacks, and Little Tiger kept thinking about the taste of those mooncakes and wanted to eat one.
If it had been a normal day, Old Lady Zhou might have coaxed him with a few words, but today, in her bad mood, she did not bother to coax him and instead scolded with a stern face, "You have rice to eat, why do you want mooncakes? Those are for offering to the Lady of the Moon during the festival; you can’t eat them first. These days, you should be grateful that you have something to eat at all, yet you’re not cherishing your blessings, not knowing better. One is , and so is another."
Old Lady Zhou’s sudden outburst took everyone by surprise.
"I want mooncakes, mother, I want mooncakes," Little Tiger started to throw a tantrum.
"If you keep this up, you won’t even get your rice. Go outside and stand!" Old Lady Zhou was infuriated.
Little Tiger, never having seen such a scene before, was scared into crying out loud, his cries ringing through the air.
Madam Lu was not pleased, saying, "Mother, it’s just a mooncake. Just cut it and let the kids have a taste to satiate their craving, what’s the big deal?"
Really, it was just a child’s craving. Was it necessary to get so angry?
"You say it so lightly. It’s only a mooncake, so why don’t you bring out some silver and buy it then? You’re so stingy, would you actually be willing to buy it?" Old Lady Zhou glared at her fiercely.
Being scolded in front of everyone, Madam Lu exploded, her lips trembling as she too began to cry. "What’s this about, mother, taking out your anger on me? Even if I was willing to buy, I would need silver, and everyone knows that you control all the family’s money."
Her words had put Old Lady Zhou on the back foot.
Old Lady Zhou, her veins bulging with anger, pointed at her and said, "You!"
Zhou Xueli, always dutiful, quickly tried to soothe his mother and looked toward Zhou Xuennian, "Big brother, aren’t you going to do something? Sister-in-law is becoming bolder!"
Zhou Xuennian was already frustrated and barked at Madam Lu, "If you’re not eating, get out, take Little Tiger with you." Then he turned to attempt to appease Old Lady Zhou, as he was still hoping she would bring out some silver.
Madam Lu, her face red with anger, slammed down her chopsticks and dragged Little Tiger out with her.
Old Lady Zhou grew even angrier, "Look at her attitude! Who is she angry at?"
The two brothers tried to placate their mother with little sincerity.
Lady Liang also attempted to soothe her with a few words and then quietly ate her rice, feeling somewhat uneasy inside.
If it was not for some troublesome matter, her mother-in-law would not have rebuked her sister-in-law . But what exactly was the issue?
Zhou Xiuer was curious too, but she did not meddle and only gave Zhou Dajun a nudge.
"What are you doing?" Zhou Dajun glared at her fiercely with a full face of anger.
"What, reincarnated from a starving ghost? Won’t you go and check on mother?" Zhou Xiuer said.
"If you want to go, then you go. I want to eat," Zhou Dajun replied, holding his bowl of rice close, he scooped up most of the dish and went to the door to squat and eat.
Zhou Xiuer, furious, stopped eating, put down her bowl and chopsticks, and went to her mother’s room.
Old Lady Zhou, after being coaxed by her sons for a while, allowed Zhou Xuennian to support her as she returned to her room.