Chapter 265: Having Children
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
She was completely in the dark about the morning’s events and the reasons behind Mrs. Wang’s decision to send Aunt Yang away. Gu Zi couldn’t help but sense a connection to the red packet money Aunt Yang had received. As she continued to clean the wild onions, her ears strained to catch the conversation outside.
Someone asked, “Do you think Yang Tao would have treated Aunt Yang better if she hadn’t remarried?” After all, Yang Tao must have faced hardships when Aunt Yang entered her second marriage.
After her divorce, Aunt Yang had lived alone with Yang Tao for seven years before marrying her second husband and having a daughter. The second husband was an honest man, but his extended family had a penchant for gossip, often spreading rumors about Aunt Yang behind her back. Even her second husband’s sisters-in-law delighted in sowing discord, gradually causing friction between Aunt Yang and her husband. It was clear that Yang Tao had suffered greatly from this turmoil.
Later, Aunt Yang’s second husband fell ill, and she dutifully cared for him until his passing. It was a string of unfortunate events, one leading to another. All the hardships in life seemed to fall upon Aunt Yang.
Someone chimed in, “Actually, Yang Tao’s attitude doesn’t stem from Aunt Yang’s remarriage. It’s because he truly doesn’t want her to remarry. Imagine, a mother being treated this way by her son and daughter-in-law just because she couldn’t establish a family business for her son when she was young — what’s the point of having children?”
People often said that having children ensured you wouldn’t grow old alone, but if all children were like Yang Tao, what was the point? If everyone shared his mentality, how many elderly villagers would be driven out of their homes?
Yang Tao’s father had been irresponsible, and it was inevitable that Aunt Yang suffered as a result. Aunt Yang had the ability to build a family business, but Yang Tao’s father had been a burden. Even after their divorce, she had to help him pay off his debts. She had to work tirelessly to provide for herself and her son. How could she accumulate wealth and establish a thriving family business under such circumstances?
Aunt Yang’s father, Old Secretary Yang, was a good official. He did things honestly and never used his power.
Aunt Yang’s father, Old Secretary Yang, had been an upright official who never abused his power. However, after his departure, the Yang family lost their status in the village’s official circles. Their once-glittering reputation had faded, and someone else had taken Aunt Yang’s position as the head of the women’s department.
Earning money as a woman in the countryside was no easy feat.
“Then why did Mrs. Wang send Aunt Yang away today?” someone finally broached the question that Gu Zi was eager to know the answer to. She listened intently from the courtyard.
The informant replied, “It’s even more absurd. Didn’t the Lin family invite Aunt Yang to lead the wedding just a few days ago? Gu Zi was kind enough to persuade her mother to give Aunt Yang a generous 20 -yuan red packet. That’s not a small amount. Mrs. Wang had initially demanded that Aunt Yang hand over the money.”
“Did Aunt Yang refuse to give it to her?” someone asked, sympathy in their tone. “But honestly, if I were her, I wouldn’t have given it up either. Usually, my wife takes every cent I earn. It’s hard enough to come by some extra money, and she still wants a share. Isn’t that too much? Look at how thin Aunt Yang has become!”
Aunt Yang had once been plump and healthy, but her health deteriorated after
Mrs. Wang’s marriage to Yang Tao. It was evident why she had become so thin. It was no surprise that she lost weight while enduring mistreatment and insufficient food at home.
“She didn’t give it to her. Besides, Mrs. Wang had asked Aunt Yang to buy fish this morning. Mrs. Wang only found out that Aunt Yang had already spent the 20 yuan at the hospital yesterday. Mrs. Wang’s demeanor changed immediately, and she scolded Aunt Yang severely, throwing her belongings out. It’s just a tough situation all around.”
Tears welled up in everyone’s eyes as they heard the insider’s account. They sighed in unison, “Mrs. Wang is really pushing it. Where else can an elderly woman like Aunt Yang go?”
The informant continued, “Aunt Yang is actually quite resilient. After collecting her belongings, she went back to Little Lin Village. I suppose she returned to her old, run-down house.”
Gu Zi sat on a small wooden bench, lost in her thoughts. No one knew what was going through her mind, but she seemed distant.
Su Shen walked over and gently patted her head. “You don’t seem too happy,” he remarked.
Gu Zi snapped back to reality and looked at Su Shen. “Su Shen, your family was also quite poor back then. Did you ever resent your parents for their struggles?”
Su Shen shook his head. Although he had faced hardships in his youth, he never held any grudges against his parents. Nevertheless, it was true that he had a reserved demeanor, and he couldn’t quite understand why some people chose to complain about their circumstances..