Western Corner of Yang Family’s Village
An old lady angrily returned home, climbed onto the kang bed, and without caring whether it was day or night, she pulled the quilt over and lied down!
"Mom, what’s wrong with you!" The speaker was Yang Ming’s uncle, Yang Dazhu!
"Nothing!" The old lady said these two words with her back turned.
"Nothing, then why are you covering yourself with the quilt in broad daylight?"
The old lady still didn’t speak, sulking all by herself; her family couldn’t do anything but leave her alone and walk out.
"Who upset you now, mom?" Seeing her mother-in-law , the aunt quickly asked!
"I’ve had enough, your mom just does this for no reason, as if I haven’t taken good care of her." Ever since the old man passed away, leaving the old lady by herself, she’s been being gloomy and irritable, throwing fits and ignoring people at the drop of a hat—no one could stand it!
"Grandma, just now, Bao Bao saw a bullock cart taking furniture to Uncle Er’s house, and that’s when Grandma got !" It was Yang Dazhu’s eldest grandson, Yang Bapbao, who spoke.
"What? They bought furniture again? Having money but not knowing to pay off debts! It’s absolutely infuriating! No wonder Mom’s angry; I reminded her last time to keep an eye on her grandma, bought so much meat, and she didn’t even think to bring some over as a token of respect to her grandma!" His aunt complained while slapping the table—she was waiting to eat that meat!
"Why are you rambling nonsense in front of the child!" Li Dazhu, seeing his wife , couldn’t overlook it, and with such behavior from these two women at home, what good could they possibly teach the children!
"Bao Bao, go to Uncle Er’s house and tell them your great-grandma wants to see her daughter-in-law!" Yang Dazhu had no idea what else to do with his mother; whoever caused the trouble had to sort it out, otherwise nobody was effective.
That very afternoon, Xiaoxiao received the message from Bao Bao. She had to go eventually; come what may. Xiaoxiao got ready, took two kilograms of meat, and went out with her mother-in-law, grateful that the meat bought a few days back hadn’t been finished — otherwise, there would have been nothing to bring as a gift!
Uncle’s house was at the western corner of the village; their house looked newer than hers, with a bigger courtyard and more rooms. They even raised pigs in the yard, clearly wealthier than Yang Ming’s family! Xiaoxiao and her mother-in-law went straight to the main house.
"Mom, I brought your third daughter-in-law to see you!" her mother-in-law said, pulling Xiaoxiao toward the old lady on the kang.
"Hello Grandma, I am Yang Ming’s wife, Zhong Xiaoxiao! I’m sorry I haven’t visited you sooner because Yang Ming was away, and I thought we’d come together when he returned!" Xiaoxiao explained, but the old lady on the kang didn’t make a single move; if it wasn’t for seeing someone there, Xiaoxiao would have doubted anyone was present!
"Grandma, are you asleep?"
The old lady still didn’t speak, her mother-in-law giving Xiaoxiao a meaningful look. But Xiaoxiao was completely clueless, what in the world was going on here!
"Grandma, I brought some meat to help nourish you."
This old lady was too peculiar, wasn’t it her own idea to ask Xiaoxiao to come? Now she’s not speaking; was this her way of showing who’s boss? What...what should one do about this!
"Grandma, Grandma, Grandma!"
"Are you calling back spirits! I’m not deaf, I can hear!" The old lady finally stirred, slowly turning around and sitting up!
"Grandma, you’re awake! Sorry if I disturbed you just now!"
"Are you Yang Ming’s newly married wife?" The old lady scrutinized Xiaoxiao carefully!
"Not very pretty! Ugly! Not worthy of my grandson!"