But when Jindou and Jinhoo eventually start their own families, Lady Lin is their birth mother, can she truly sever ties?
After they get married, if Lady Lin wants to come back and live comfortably as a mother-in-law, maybe looking after a grandchild, could they really turn their own mother away?
Why be so foolish as to suffer at the Wang Family?
This suggestion made Lady Lin waver a bit. She also knew that once the head of the household issue came up, Jindou and Jinhoo wouldn’t be thinking of marriage for a few years.
The main household would be short of a key laborer and would have an extra burden with a bedridden patient, indeed making life difficult in the future.
However, after thinking it over, Jindou and Jinhoo would be fine, being older, but Jinguan was still young. If their birth mother left, what would she do?
Upon hearing this, Eldest Sister-in-law Lin laughed, "What’s there to fear? Just say when you Divorse, you’ll take Jinguan with you! Nowadays, families that can’t have sons want to marry women who can bear sons. Even if they can’t, they’re happy to have a cheap son to carry on their name! Who wouldn’t want a free older son who could support them in old age after just a few years of care?"
Lady Lin had no idea such a strategy existed, and after hearing her sister-in-law’s words, her heart tilted back towards her own family.
Seeing his goal achieved, the Eldest Uncle Lin didn’t speak further, to avoid saying too much and making a slip—should he dampen Lady Lin’s spirits, it would be a poor deal.
So he quickly took his leave, but not before coaxing Lady Lin into giving them the few remaining Large Coins she had on her.
After the Lin Family’s Eldest Uncle left, Lady Lin became restless and uneasy.
Looking at the head of the household lying in bed, her heart felt guilty and awkward.
When Wang Yongfu woke up and saw that the uncles had left, he asked Lady Lin about it. With guilt on her mind, she brushed him off with a few words.
When he asked again, she grew impatient, afraid that Wang Yongfu would suspect something. Her tone worsened, "Didn’t I tell you, they had business to attend to and had to leave. My brothers were concerned about your injury and came to see how you were doing. What else could they say after seeing your condition? They saw you were asleep, gave me a few words of advice, and worried about their own household matters, so they had to go, didn’t they? What could we offer them here, tea or dinner? They came from so far and didn’t even get a sip of water; you don’t expect them to stay the night, do you?"
Wang Yongfu was taken aback by Lady Lin’s sharp retort, and his resolve weakened, "I mean, it was kind of the uncles to come, and we don’t have much to entertain them with now. After we return home, we’ll make it up to them—"
"We’re in this state now; what could we possibly give back? It would be good enough not to be a burden to them!" Lady Lin replied tersely.
Wang Yongfu’s face turned pale when he heard this. He remembered he was now disabled. Yes, from now on, he would be useful to no one, dependent on others, and not being a burden was the best he could hope for. How could he possibly repay anyone?
His eyes reddened in an instant as he clenched his fist and bit his lip, staying silent.
Lady Lin realized she had said the wrong thing and wanted to soften her words, yet hesitated over whether to harden her heart instead; she found herself frozen in indecision.
For the first time since their marriage, the couple faced an awkward silence where they had nothing to say to each other.
Until the evening came, similar to the last few days since yesterday, Wang Yongfu had been able to eat. He had a bowl of thin porridge yesterday morning.
Today, he had had a few bowls of medicine, and by evening, he started feeling hungry.
Wang Yongfu also wanted to recover quickly. He had heard from Doctor Ma that he could go home in ten days, and although he didn’t say it, he was eager to return.
So, he followed Doctor Ma’s advice closely. Doctor Ma said if he felt hungry in the next two days, he should drink some porridge, which would be good for his stomach; once his stomach was better, the medicine would take effect more quickly.
Seeing that Lady Lin, who usually paid close attention to her own condition, was lost in thought all day, he initially held back. He figured her elder brother’s family must have worried for her, as they had said a few words that made it difficult for her to respond right away.
But, as dusk approached and there was still no sign from Lady Lin, he could not hold back any longer.
Unable to contain himself, Wang Yongfu spoke up, "Wife, it’s getting late. Let’s prepare some food and rest early. Someone from home should be bringing the money for the medicine tomorrow."
Lady Lin hummed, snapping out of her thoughts, and was about to get up.
But when she reached for her purse, she suddenly remembered that the last of their coins had been given to her elder brother’s family.
Instantly freezing in place, she felt a twinge of regret but didn’t find it appropriate to express it.
She stood there motionless for a long time, causing Wang Yongfu to become puzzled, "What’s the matter?"
Through gritted teeth, Lady Lin confessed, "The money father gave us last time is all spent."
Wang Yongfu was just about to nod in agreement, but then he remembered something wasn’t right. Just yesterday, Jinguan was hungry and asked for some pastries, and he had seen Lady Lin count out two large coins for him from her purse. Jinguan had wanted two more, but Lady Lin rebuked him, reminding him that they needed to save the few remaining coins for food.
When Jindou and Jinhu visited, everyone was preoccupied and didn’t eat. They left early in the morning, so how could the money be spent already?
Under Wang Yongfu’s questioning gaze, Lady Lin became angry and embarrassed, "What? My brothers came all this way to see you, they didn’t even drink a sip of water, and immediately had to rush back overnight. Isn’t their kindness worth a few coins? Have you thought about it? You were injured, and how many people from the Wang Family came? Your second brother knew but didn’t even bother to visit you once he returned from the county town. And your sister, it’s been so many days, even my own family has heard the news. She lives even farther than my family, but not even a shadow of her has been seen. Who in your family actually cares about you? Only my family remembers our kindness! And you dare to question me over a few coins, to feed them something, otherwise how can they endure a day without eating? I’ve been married to you for over a decade, and I can’t even decide how to use a few coins?"
Her words left Wang Yongfu dizzy and disoriented.
After Lady Lin finished, she covered her face and began to cry, "Life is so hard for me. I haven’t experienced a single day of happiness in the more than ten years I’ve been married to you, toiling day and night for the whole family, without recognition or appreciation. I’ve exhausted myself to this day, given birth to three children for you, and yet, I can’t even invite my own brothers for a meal without your say — what is the point of my life? What did I marry you for?"
Her crying gave Wang Yongfu a headache. Her crying and scolding made him feel he might have wronged his wife. Just as he was about to apologize, he paused — after all, he hadn’t said a word.
With only a few extra glances his way, Lady Lin had berated him so harshly. Still, he was the patient, and this was just a few days into his ailment. Was she becoming impatient already? Was this disdain for him, a sign that she no longer wanted to care for him?
A sick person, due to illness, is prone to overthinking and can become irritable from physical discomfort.
Wang Yongfu was in pain and miserable but had refrained from losing his temper out of love and consideration for Lady Lin.
Instead, he had vented his frustrations on Old Granny Zhang, his own mother.
Now, confronted by Lady Lin’s accusation, he could not help but feel indignant.